MLB Power Rankings 2021: Cubs listed in Top 15
Baez and Co. hope to get off to a fast start in 2021 (Jim Young - USA Today Sports)

MLB Power Rankings 2021: Cubs listed in Top 15


by - Staff Writer -

Spring Training has kicked off around the MLB.

2020 was an odd year that featured rule changes, protocols, limits, and a Dodgers World Series title for the first time since the 1980s. The newest MLB season will look slightly different, but hopefully, more fans will be in the stands. The fact of the matter is, the season is rapidly approaching.

We at CubsHQ would like to give our MLB power rankings ahead of the 2021 season.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers — no surprise here, the World Champions — who have added NL Cy Young Award Winner Trevor Bauer to the mix — reign supreme.

2. San Diego Padres — it’s not often you can add two aces to your squad (Yu Darvish and Blake Snell), but the Padres need to in order to compete with the Dodgers.

3. New York Yankees — the Bronx Bombers, if healthy, have one of the league’s best offenses. The Yanks might be one pitcher away from their first World Series of the decade.

4. Chicago White Sox — the Sox were a year early to their success, and with additions like Liam Hendricks and Lance Lynn, they have their eyes on a World Series in 2021.

5. Atlanta Braves — the Braves were runners up in the NL and have only been added to their roster since. The Braves might be a sleeper in the National League.

6. New York Mets — Spending has been the MO of the Mets this offseason, including acquiring superstar shortstop Francisco Lindor.

7. Minnesota Twins — this lineup is still stacked with power. A year of development should bode well for Minnesota.

8. Oakland Athletics — Somehow, this team — with a low payroll — always manages to make the playoffs, and I expect to see the A’s contending again in 2021.

9. Tampa Bay Rays — they made the World Series for a reason, and although some of those players won’t be around, the Rays always find ways to get it done.

10. Toronto Blue Jays — the Blue Jays have been major players in free agency this Winter. Adding to their plethora of young talent could lead to the playoffs for Toronto.

11. St. Louis Cardinals — any team with both Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado is bound to be good.

12. Washington Nationals — if you could make the argument that your team has the best rotation in the sport, you should be able to contend.

13. Houston Astros — Houston is a reasonable candidate to regress in 2021, but this team somehow ended up games away from the 2020 World Series, so I won’t sleep on them.

14. Chicago Cubs — Although the Cubs have done more subtraction than addition this offseason, if their quartet of Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, and Willson Contreras stay on the team the entire season, I’d be surprised if they’re not at least in the mix for an NL Central title.

15. Philadelphia Phillies — The Phillies have disappointed in the first two years of Bryce Harper’s massive contract. Maybe this is the year things turn for the city of brotherly love.

16. Los Angeles Angels — They have Mike Trout. (LA might be just a pitcher away from being a dominant force in the American League)

17. Miami Marlins — This Marlins team defied odds and won a playoff series in 2020. There’s reason to believe this young team can grow in 2021.

18. Cleveland Indians — they may have traded away Francisco Lindor, but the Indians are still adding, so they may be contending in 2021, I suppose.

19. Milwaukee Brewers — despite being rumored on many players, the Brewers enter 2021 without much change.

20. Cincinnati Reds — No Trevor Bauer, but the Reds are still an intriguing squad in a poor NL Central.

21. San Francisco Giants — a near playoff team in 2020, will lean on Mike Yaztremski to anchor a young offense.

22. Boston Red Sox — the Red Sox are about a year away from being contenders again, it appears, but in this market, anything is possible.

23. Detroit Tigers — the Tigers began to turn the corner on their rebuild in 2020. Expect to see some improvement in 2021.

24. Texas Rangers — the Rangers have multiple key pieces that will be healthy in 2021, but they still seem a ways away from being great again.

25. Arizona Diamondbacks — the Diamondbacks have struggled to compete with the Dodgers and now have the Padres to worry about too. Keep an eye on the D-backs to be buyers OR sellers at the deadline, depending on their start.

26. Baltimore Orioles — the Orioles, like the Tigers, seem like they are turning the corner on their long rebuild.

27. Seattle Mariners — the Mariners have one of the least recognizable teams in the league, and I expect them to be near the bottom of the league in 2021.

28. Kansas City Royals — It’s still the farewell tour for some of the 2015 team, but the Royals seem far from gathering that next great Kansas City team.

29. Colorado Rockies — without Nolan Arenado, this team is Trevor Story’s only. Although he is one of the most underrated players in the league, he is trapped on a poor Rockies team for 2021.

30. Pittsburgh Pirates — the Pirates are still going through the teardown part of the rebuild, so do not expect a strong year out of the Bucs.

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