By Andrew Bezio
1.) Trevor Bauer signs with the New York Mets.
The two sides will finally come to an agreement on a 4yr/$146M contract with an opt-out after the second year. That breaks down to an AAV of $36.5M, just topping the AAV the Yankees gave Gerrit Cole ($36M).
2.) The Texas Rangers will finish with the worst record in MLB.
There were many options for me to choose from here: Miami, Kansas City, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, or Colorado….but the Rangers take the preverbal cake for me. With the trade of SP Lance Lynn to the White Sox, this team became significantly worse. I believe they have the worst roster, top to bottom, in the entire league.
3.) The Cubs will finish last in NL Central for first time since 2006.
I believe the team on this side of Chicago will have the worst win/loss differential of any MLB team from 2020. I see a lot of internal stress going on with this club, and I don’t like it. Also, I’m predicting that the Cubs go through an injury-plagued season, especially the pitching staff.
4.) The LA Angels will win the AL West for first time since 2014.
Speaking of win/loss differential, the Angels will have the best of any team from 2020. Unlike the team above, I am predicting a rather healthy season for the Halos, leading to a division title.
5.) White Sox will have back-to-back AL MVP award winners.
But it will not be by the same player. 1B Jose Abreu had an incredible shortened season last year, leading to being named the American League’s MVP. This season, however, OF Eloy Jimenez will win the award, just barely topping Angels OF Mike Trout.
6.) Yankees ace Gerrit Cole will finally win his first Cy Young Award.
Another close award race in the AL, which will see Cole just barely beat out Cleveland ace, and last years winner, SP Shane Bieber.
7.) There has never been a season where one MLB club sweeps all of the major awards until…..
The San Diego Padres do that exact thing this season. SS Fernando Tatis will win MVP, newly acquired SP Yu Darvish will take home the Cy Young, SP Mackenzie Gore will win Rookie of the Year, and their manager Jayce Tingler will take home his respective award.
8.) Every divisional winner from 2020 will be different for the first time since 2007.
Tampa Bay, Minnesota, Oakland, Atlanta, Chicago (Cubs), and the LA Dodgers all won their divisions in the shortened season last year. None will repeat. I have New York (Yankees), Chicago (White Sox), LA Angels, New York (Mets), St. Louis, and San Diego winning their divisions this year, no matter how many games they play in 2021.
9.) 2021 Wild Card Winners will be….
*This is being predicted under the assumption that there will be only two wild card teams making the postseason.
A.L.- 1.) Toronto Blue Jays 2.) Cleveland Indians
N.L.- 1.) LA Dodgers 2.) Atlanta Braves
10.) 2021 World Series Champion will be…..
The Atlanta Braves. The Braves defeat the Chicago White Sox 4 games to 3, in an amazing back and forth series, dominated by pitching. I believe the Atlanta Braves possess the best roster in baseball. Barring injuries, the city of Atlanta should be celebrating their first World Series championship since 1995.
