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MLB: New Year’s Resolutions for All 30 Clubs

By Jason Burke

Aug 11, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; A general view of the MLB logo with Colorado Rockies batting gear on it during the game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Colorado Rockies won 12-9. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 11, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; A general view of the MLB logo with Colorado Rockies batting gear on it during the game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Colorado Rockies won 12-9. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 23, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa (1) celebrates with second baseman Jose Altuve (27) after making a defensive play during the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports. MLB.
Sep 23, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa (1) celebrates with second baseman Jose Altuve (27) after making a defensive play during the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports. MLB. /

Houston Astros

Try beating the Texas Rangers every now and again. After going 4-15 against their in-state rivals in 2016, it’s not hard to see why the Astros missed the playoffs last year. The additions of Josh Reddick, Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran have people buzzing of what may be for Houston in 2017, but in order to take the division they’ll have to post better than a .210 winning percentage against Texas.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

I would love to just have their resolution be to shorten their damn name because I am tired of typing that novel, but we’re a super serious site and I will act accordingly. The Angels resolution for 2017 will be to live up to all of the posts that are being written about them like this one or this one. They could be an under the radar club, but nobody is expecting them to challenge for a playoff spot necessarily. Being in the conversation at the end of the year would be a big plus for the club, however.

Texas Rangers

As the 2016 playoffs began, the talk in the baseball community was that the Rangers were a bit fraudulent, with the main source of their trickery being their run differential which ended up at a meager +8. They were then swept out of the ALDS by Toronto. Given the fact that they won 95 games last season, that +8 means that they basically won all of the close games and lost a fair amount of the blowouts. Their streak of one-run luck likely won’t last for another season, so the Rangers are going to have to prove to the rest of MLB that they weren’t pretenders in 2016.

Oakland Athletics

Since winning appears to be off the table, let’s go with what has been the big news story out of Oakland this offseason–their front office. In 2017 the club has to continue to make a connection with their fans. The hiring of Dave Kaval has been a good first step and has bought some goodwill from the fan base, but the A’s will have to keep that momentum going. Signing a player to a long-term deal would be a nice start, and it doesn’t even have to be Sonny Gray (who it may actually make sense to trade once his value reestablishes itself). Locking up youthful players at a low cost is something that winning teams tend to do. Jose Altuve is going to make significantly less than the $10M that the A’s will be paying Billy Butler to not play for them. Signing someone like Ryon Healy or Khris Davis to an extension to buy out his arbitration years and a couple of years of free agency would be a nice gesture both to both players, and the fans.

Seattle Mariners

Make. The. Playoffs. In Ichiro Suzuki‘s rookie season in 2001 the Seattle Mariners won 116 games and made the playoffs. Since then they have been watching every playoff game from home. Maybe that’s why it rains so much in the Pacific Northwest? I want to see Felix Hernandez in October. I want to see the Mariners finally live up to their billing. I want it to stop raining in Seattle!

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