5. Boston Red Sox
While Chicago may be the favorites to win it all, nobody has earned more buzz this offseason than the Red Sox. Boston president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski made the biggest splash of the winter when he traded top prospect Yoan Moncada in a package to the White Sox for Chris Sale. David Ortiz has officially retired and has shown no intentions of returning, but the Red Sox will be running away with the AL East next season anyway.
Sale has been the best lefty in baseball not named Clayton Kershaw since he became a full-time starter in 2012. Rick Porcello won the AL Cy Young Award, albeit in a slightly controversial fashion, and is joined by 2012 winner David Price. Steven Wright and his knuckleball looked like the real deal and Drew Pomeranz is as good a No. 5 starter as any.
The Red Sox scored the most runs in baseball last season and will see their entire lineup aside from Ortiz return to the fold in 2017. Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley, Jr. and Andrew Benintendi have the potential to form the best outfield the league, Hanley Ramirez finally won’t be a defensive liability now that he can take over the DH spot and Sandy Leon will get a full season behind the plate.
Boston’s bullpen had issues at times, but never count out a group that has Craig Kimbrel manning the ninth.