Tampa Bay Rays: Wander Franco enters the MVP conversation
When Wander Franco entered the league, the comparisons ran rampant. The line between him and Juan Soto seemed obvious. A wunderkind who walked more than he struck out. A switch-hitting shortstop with an electric bat. The rest of the league was immediately on notice when he hit a game-tying home run in his first big league game. Unfortunately, after signing an 11-year, $182 million extension, Franco only played 83 games in 2022. After struggling through pesky injuries, Franco is due for a bounce back season.
After finally coming back from injury for the final 25 games Franco showed flashes. He finished with 10 extra base hits and an .853 OPS. In Triple-A, Franco’s OPS hovered between .950 and 1.000. Considering Franco’s incredible plate discipline, if healthy, he should be able to translate those numbers to the big leagues. Pressure makes diamonds. Coming off a disappointing year, his first as a pro, Franco has much to prove. However, all the reports coming out of camp point to Franco being healthy. With a rejuvenated body and mind, Franco is primed to take off.
Toronto Blue Jays: Despite high expectations, the Blue Jays miss the playoffs
All eyes are on the Blue Jays. For the past few seasons big expectations have been levied on the “Baby Jays.” Vlad Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette have blossomed into bonafide stars, and the fan base feels certain that a World Series is in their future. Will 2022 be the year? No.
The Blue Jays had a head-scratching offseason, marred by questionable signings. The Jays signed Brandon Belt and Kevin Kiermaier, two players who have gone down in production because of injuries. They traded for Daulton Varsho, which may pan out, but Varsho has only played one full season of big league ball. Their best signing was Chris Bassitt, but even Bassitt comes with a downside. Entering his age-34 season, Bassitt could fall off a cliff.
The Blue Jays doubled down this offseason, going full hog trying to win a World Series. While many have lauded Toronto for a stellar free agency, I think their signings amount to nothing. While they are certainly notable names, it seems like two years too late. A team built on young superstars invested in aging All Stars, who may not be durable enough to play every day.