2020 MLB Season: The 5 most improved teams

The Minnesota Twins were the most improved team in 2019, but who will it be during the upcoming 2020 MLB season? Let’s take a closer look.

In 2019, the Minnesota Twins were the most improved team in the majors. They won 23 more games than they did the year before.

Their success is due in part to the improvement of returning players and they added some new talent as well.

Mitch Garver went from hitting 7 home runs in 2018 to smashing 31 in 2019. He was awarded the AL Silver Slugger for catchers.

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Shortstop Jorge Polanco recorded career highs in runs scored, doubles, home runs, RBIs, average, OBP, slugging percentage and OPS. He made his first All-Star game.

Max Kepler, Miguel Sano, and Eddie Rosario all had career highs in home runs and RBIs.

In addition to these internal improvements, the Twins also owe a lot to their success because of the signings of Nelson Cruz, Jonathan Schoop, and C.J. Cron.

Cruz, in his age 38 season, hit 41 home runs and drove in 108 runs in just 120 games. He hit .311 and had a 1.031 OPS. He was a Silver Slugger, for the third time in his career, and finished ninth on the AL MVP ballot

Cron and Schoop were both one-year rentals, but both hit over 20 home runs and also helped contribute to the offense.

During the 2019 season, a ton of teams improved immensely. The New York Yankees are the honorable mention for being the most improved team. This year, they will have a healthy Miguel Andujar and Luis Severino, in addition to signing Gerrit Cole.

Enough of the past, though. Let’s take a look at the 5 most improved teams for the 2020 MLB season.

2020 MLB Season: 5 Most Improved Teams

Los Angeles Angels

Even though they have had the best player in baseball in Mike Trout for the last eight seasons, the Angels desperately needed to improve their roster.

They finally added another elite bat to their lineup. After Anthony Rendon agreed to a seven-year, $245 million contract, their offense reached a whole new caliber.

The 2019 All-Star hit 34 home runs, drove in 126 runs, scored 117, and had a 1.010 OPS. for Washing in 2019.

The Angels also signed catcher Jason Castro, who will be a major upgrade, both offensively and defensively, from Jonathan Lucroy and Max Stassi.

Castro, 32, has six seasons of at least 10 home runs, bringing more power to the Angel’s catching position. Now, he is not going to make as large of an impact as Rendon, but he will definitely improve their lineup.

As well as those two signings, Justin Upton is going to be fully healthy after only playing in 63 games last season. The four-time All-Star is a three-time Silver Slugger and will bring more power to their lineup.

This is a possible lineup for the Angels during the 2020 MLB season.

1. 2B – Tommy La Stella
2. CF – Mike Trout
3. 3B – Anthony Rendon
4. DH – Shohei Ohtani
5. LF – Justin Upton
6. 1B – Albert Pujols
7. RF – Brian Goodwin
8. C – Jason Castro
9. SS – Andrelton Simmons

Trout, who has led the NL in on-base percentage for the last four seasons, is going to score a lot more runs with the RBI machine of Rendon batting behind him. This is going to spark Los Angeles’ offense.

In addition to improving their offense, the Angels signed 29-year-old Julio Teheran to a one-year, $9 million contract to improve their rotation. This has potential to be a very strong signing. Teheran is a two-time All-Star and has a career 77-73 record with a 3.67 ERA.

He has the ability to reach the 200-inning milestone. In addition to his durability, Teheran brings postseason experience to a staff that lacks that.

Finally, the Angels will have Shohei Ohtani for a full season in their lineup and he will be returning to the mound. His stuff is nasty, and he is a threat when pitching.

The team won 72 games in 2019 and MLB.com predicts them to win 91 in 2020.

2020 MLB Season: 5 Most Improved Teams

Cincinnati Reds

The Cincinnati Reds improved immensely during free agency. They signed Nicholas Castellanos to a four-year, $64 million contract. The young outfielder will only be 28 this year and is coming off of a monster 2019 campaign. He will play right field for the Reds and most likely bat fifth.

Mike Moustakas was signed to the same deal to play second base and bat cleanup.

The team also took a huge risk by signing Japanese centerfielder Shogo Akiyama. He is a huge wild card for Cincinnati, but he could be an effective leadoff hitter.

Their lineup had a huge makeover this offseason. However, their biggest improvement may be with left-fielder Aristides Aquino, who hit 19 home runs in just 56 games. If he plays a full season, the Reds are going to have another 30-home run caliber player.

Pedro Strop was signed to maintain their bullpen. Having an experienced pitcher like him will help them hold leads later in games, something they struggled with last season.

The Reds add more depth to their rotation by signing Wade Miley to a two-year, $15 million deal. He will bet heir fourth starter, behind Trebor Bauer, Luis Castillo, and Sonny Gray. This rotation is going to be very sneaky and could help steer them towards the postseason.

After winning 75 games in 2019, they are only predicted to win 80 during the 2020 MLB season, but that is mainly due to how competitive the National League Central is.

2020 MLB Season: 5 Most Improved Teams

Chicago White Sox

Similar to the Reds, the White Sox were super busy this offseason. They spent over $200 million this offseason, filling many needs that were obvious.

Keeping Jose Abreu was huge. He has been a force in their lineup since 2014. He will continue to bring cosmic power to their lineup.

Signing Yasmani Grandal was huge. He is arguably one of the best catchers in baseball and is coming off a huge year. Grandal., who will only be 31 this year, was an All-Star in 2019and has a career-high in games played, runs scored, hits, home runs, walks, stolen bases, RBIs, and OPS.  With Grandal taking over the backstop, 2019 All-Star James McCann will be a fantastic backup catcher for the White Sox.

Their lineup kept gaining power, especially when they signed Edwin Encarnacion, 37. He was one of the most consistent sluggers of the last decade.  He has hit 414 home runs in his career and proved last year that he is still consistent.

After spending a lot of money, they made a smart trade with the Texas Rangers for right fielder Nomar Mazara.

Mazara is a very talented, and still very young, outfielder. Since 2016, Maraza has played 537 games and had about two thousand plate appearances, hitting 35 home runs and having a .261 average. He drove in 101 runs in 2017.

Dallas Keuchel and Gio Gonzalez will both be joining the White Sox’ rotation. Keuchel is going to be the second starter behind Lucas Giolito and Gonzalez will be their fourth starter. Their rotation gained a lot of depth and will definitely help their team win more games in 2020.

After only winning 72 games in 2019, they are projected to win 86 in 2020.

2020 MLB Season: 5 Most Improved Teams

Los Angeles Dodgers

The main reason why the Los Angeles Dodgers are on this list because they acquired superstar Mookie Betts. According to MLB.com, Betts is the fourth-best player in baseball and is now playing alongside Cody Bellinger, who is ranked the third-best player in the league.

Adding Betts to a lineup that already has Bellinger, Max Muncy Joc Pederson, and Corey Seager is almost unfair. Betts is going to be a run-scoring machine in LA.

In addition to these players, the Dodgers also have young studs who have just emerged into the majors last season. Second baseman Gavin Lux and catcher Will Smith both had promising rookie years. They are both still developing and are expected to keep improving.

In addition to their dangerous lineup, they signed Blake Treinen to be their setup man. He has been a dominant force in Oakland over the last few seasons. Having him pitch the eighth inning before Kenley Jansen is going to help them a lot during the 2020 MLB season because they will have better control late in games.

When they traded for Betts, they acquired David Price. He will be either their fourth or fifth starter. He still has a lot of potential to pitch at a high caliber. Even though he is highly paid, Price is still a veteran pitcher who knows how to control a game and get batters out.