TEAM TO BEAT
LOS ANGELES DODGERS
The Dodgers have won nine of the last 10 division titles and are coming off a 111-win season, but the gap between them and the rest of the division is narrowing. The archrival Giants won the division in 2021, and the Padres upset the Dodgers in the NL Division Series last year. The Dodgers have significant talent to replace after Trea Turner, Cody Bellinger, Justin Turner and Tyler Anderson departed and Gavin Lux was lost for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Still, the Dodgers' organizational depth remains the best in MLB, and they have a long track record of seamlessly replacing injured or departed stars. The Dodgers boast the division's best rotation by a wide margin and their lineup remains potent with Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, Max Muncy and offseason signee J.D. Martinez. A rookie class led by Miguel Vargas, Bobby Miller, James Outman, Ryan Pepiot and Gavin Stone could be baseball's best.
TOP PLAYER
MANNY MACHADO, 3B, PADRES
Machado has blossomed into one of MLB's top players and the Padres' clubhouse leader over the last three seasons. He hit .298/.366/.531 with 32 home runs, 107 RBIs and 100 runs scored last year while playing standout defense at third base and finished second in NL MVP voting. He was rewarded with an 11-year, $350 million extension in February, the fourth-largest contract in MLB history. The division is loaded with stars, including fellow Padres Fernando Tatis Jr. and Juan Soto and Dodgers standouts Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, but Machado is playing at the highest level of them all right now.
TOP PITCHER
JULIO URIAS, LHP, DODGERS
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der April 2023-Ausgabe von Baseball America.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der April 2023-Ausgabe von Baseball America.
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NOBODY'S PERFECT
No. 1 prospect Jackson Holliday has one flaw in an otherwise airtight profile
ORGANIZATION REPORTS
At nearly every level of his professional career, outfielder Colton Cowser has taken time to acclimate. His major league debut last season was no different.
ORGANIZATION TALENT RANKINGS
For the second consecutive year, the Orioles enter the season with the best farm system in baseball.
WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN WITH NEW ROSTER LIMITS
No one can fully predict what will happen with the reduced 165-player minor league roster limits, but baseball officials weighed in with predictions for 2024, some of which we heard repeatedly.
NO MORE SLACK IN THE SYSTEM
The in domestic minor leagues creates consternation for farm directors
INTERNATIONAL TREASURES
Why MLB teams value foreign professionals more than ever
HIGH-FLYING BIRDS
Learning from past success and failure in Houston, Mike Elias and his united front office remade the Orioles into winners— and they got there ahead of schedule
ARIZONA COMPLEX LEAGUE TOP 10
Early promotions of star prospects led to a bit of a down season for the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League.
FLORIDA COMPLEX LEAGUE TOP 10
Even before the Rookie-level Florida Complex League season began, scouts who saw extended spring training gushed over the Yankees' talent, starting with shortstop Roderick Arias and 6-foot7 pitchers Henry Lalane and Carlos Lagrange. Outfielder John Cruz mashed 10 home runs as a 17-year-old.
SALAS COULD BE SPECIAL
When Ethan Salas arrived in the California League on May 30, he immediately displayed talent well beyond his years.
