MLB: Top Stories to Look Forward to in the 2017 Season

The current MLB campaign isn’t over yet, but that doesn’t mean it’s too early to think about next year. Plenty of intriguing storylines await in 2017.

The MLB season is rapidly coming to a close as we enter the final few weeks. Of course, the excitement level for the upcoming playoffs is increasing by the day. However, for some fans anticipation is also kicking in for the 2017 baseball season. This year has brought baseball fans another year of excitement, memories and moments. Now, we look forward to what is to come. The 2017 season will look to provide us with more memories, more stories and more magical moments. Here are the top stories going into the 2017 baseball season:

The New York Youth Movement

The 2016 trade deadline provided much help to teams who desperately needed it. One of those teams was the New York Yankees. Hindered by the retirements of Mark Teixeira and Alex Rodriguez, as well as the sharp declines of CC Sabathia, Jacoby Ellsbury, Brett Gardner and Chase Headley, the Yankees needed a rebuild. The Yankees went out and traded star relievers Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman, and wound up getting a lot in return. Now, the Yankees appear ready for the future. Combine the prospects that the Yankees got at the deadline with the prospects they have now, as well as the youth already in the majors, and they appear ready for the next six to seven years. It all starts in 2017, and it will be interesting to see the youth movement begin to develop into a dynamic combination.

New Stadium, New Team, New Results?

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The 2016 season may be the worst season in the history of the Atlanta Braves. As of this writing, they currently sit in last place in the NL East and are projected to finish with one of their worst records in franchise history. The 2016 season is the Braves’ last season in Turner Field, as they are set to move into their new stadium next season. Their move could bring a renewed fan interest in Atlanta baseball.

As the Braves continue to rebuild, the renewed interest may spark the Braves to go all out in the offseason. Combine that with their youth, and the Braves may possibly make a splash in the NL East. It’s hard to say if the Braves will necessarily be contenders, but hopefully they can make an improvement.

The Dream Rotation

As the old saying goes, everything that can go wrong, will go wrong. That seems to be the case when it comes to the New York Mets. In 2016, the Mets seemed to have everything go wrong. At one point, half of their lineup was on the disabled list. At another point, most of their rotation was dealing with injuries, with some of those injuries still lingering. However, barring any setbacks, next season may finally be the year of the dream Mets rotation. Zack Wheeler is due to return from Tommy John surgery, and Matt Harvey is due to return from shoulder surgery. Jacob deGrom, Steven Matz and Noah Syndergaard are dealing with injuries of their own, but should all be ready to go for next season. This may be the year Mets fans have been waiting for, and it will be interesting to see how they all fare together.

Will the Fish Remain a Halo?

Mike Trout is already an AL MVP, has already been an All-Star, and has proven that he is the real deal. In 2017, however, he may also be trade-bait for the rebuilding Angels. The Angels have an aging team, and Trout may be a better fit for a team ready to win now. The Cubs have already showed interest, and the Cubs do have a lot to give. Trout may wind up staying with Los Angeles, but the Angels are far from contenders. If Trout wants to win, a trade to a contender seems crazy, but possible. It will be interesting to see if Trout becomes a central target for trading in 2017.

Next: Braves 2017 Catching Options

Those are just a few of the many expectations for 2017. As the 2016 season winds down, the talk of 2017 picks up. Hopefully, next season will provide the same amount of excitement as this season.

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