MLB 2017 Power Ranking: Pre-Spring Training
By Matt Veasey
The 2017 MLB season is still two months away, and Spring Training camps don’t open for two weeks, but it’s time for the first Power Ranking of the year.
The 2017 MLB season is slated to kick off with a trio of games on Sunday, April 2. After those six clubs get things started, the other 24 teams are scheduled to begin their regular season the following day.
In preparation for the season, Spring Training camps will be opening in both Arizona and Florida approximately two weeks from now.
This initial 2017 Major League Baseball Power Ranking of teams will serve as my baseline. A jumping-off point from which the season will unfold. I will provide the next ranking around Opening Day, and then continue on a weekly basis throughout the season.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
My version of the MLB Power Ranking will include a brief write-up on the Top 10 teams, including any recent highlights. The other 20 clubs will then be ranked numerically.
Since no games have been played, this initial Power Ranking is simply how I see the teams of Major Leaugue Baseball on a 1-30 basis as we enter Spring Training.
As the World Baseball Classic and play in both the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues unfolds, injuries will crop up and players will emerge that are sure to change these rankings before the regular season begins.
The defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs are at the top of these pre-season rankings. That is not solely because you gotta beat the champ to be the champ. It’s because the Cubbies won 103 regular season games a year ago, eight more than anyone else in the game.
MLB PRE-SPRING TRAINING POWER RANKING
Unless some major injury issues crop up during Spring Training, expect the Cubs to still be at the top of this list when that Opening Day ranking is released.
Chicago Cubs
Washington Nationals
Boston Red Sox
Texas Rangers
Houston Astros
Los Angeles Dodgers
Cleveland Indians
San Franciso Giants
New York Mets
St. Louis Cardinals
Baltimore Orioles
Toronto Blue Jays
Colorado Rockies
Detroit Tigers
Seattle Mariners
New York Yankees
Pittsburgh Pirates
Atlanta Braves
Kansas City Royals
Tampa Bay Rays
Miami Marlins
Los Angeles Angels
Arizona Diamondbacks
Milwaukee Brewers
Cincinnati Reds
Chicago White Sox
Oakland Athletics
Philadelphia Phillies
San Diego Padres
Minnesota Twins