Three Sub-.500 MLB Teams That Could Make Deep Postseason Runs In 2018

There are plenty of reasons to like the Mets, Mariners, and Giants in 2018.

3. New York Mets
2017 record: 70-92
Key off-season transaction: Jay Bruce

Coming off a massively disappointing season, the Mets had a productive offseason. They hired former Indians’ pitching coach Mickey Callaway as manager. And to address their injury-plagued 2017 season, the Mets brought in a new medical staff and adopted new injury protocols.

Courtesy: NY Post

While the team didn’t bring in some of the bigger names in free agency, the Mets were able to address many holes in the infield by resigning utility man Jose Reyes and signing veterans Todd Frazier and Adrian Gonzalez. They also snatched fan favorite Jay Bruce from the Indians with a three-year contract.

But, unfortunately for the Mets, this team won’t get a boost from the farm system, which is consistently ranked at the bottom of MLB. Hope comes with Amed Rosario and Dominic Smith–two top minor prospects–who are both entering their second year. Another glaring weakness for the Mets is the bullpen, which ranked second to last in ERA last season (4.82). The Mets did little to bolster the pen but did sign Anthony Swarzak, who is coming off the best season of his career (2.33 ERA).

Fortunately for the Mets, while the Braves and Phillies both have elite farm systems, it will likely take a few years to develop that young talent. And after their recent fire sale, the Marlins appear to be content with mediocrity. As long as the Mets’ young fireballers stay healthy and Michael Conforto and Yoenis Cespedes have productive seasons, the Mets are the biggest threat to overcome the Nats for the 2018 NL East title.

Projected record: 83-79

2. Seattle Mariners
2017 record: 78-84
Key off-season transaction: Dee Gordon

Courtesy: MLB.com

Its playoff drought is even longer than the football Browns: Seattle hasn’t made the playoffs since 2001 when they were lead by Bret Boone, Edgar Martinez, and Mike Cameron. Why have the Mariners disappointed fans for so long? It doesn’t make sense, really, not with a middle infield of Robinson Cano and Jean Segura, along with third basemen Kyle Seager and the power of Nelson Cruz. There’s good pitching, too, with a staff led by ‘King’ Felix Hernandez and James Paxton, whom I believe is baseball’s most underrated starting pitcher.

The answer may be Seattle’s subpar outfield, which has been below average ever since Ichiro left for the Yankees in 2012. To address the hole, the Mariners traded for Dee Gordon and will put him in centerfield. Gordon has speed (lead the NL in SB in three of the last four seasons) and adds a .300 hitter to the top of the lineup. Don’t sleep on Ben Gamel and Mitch Haniger, either. They are two young outfielders with .300 potential.

With a unique combination of power and speed, along with a respectable lineup, the Mariners look great on paper. Unfortunately for the Mariners, they play in a division with the Astros and Angels. Still, though, don’t be surprised if the Mariners snatch up a Wildcard spot.

Projected record: 84-78

1. San Francisco Giants
2017 record: 64-98
Key off-season transaction: Andrew McCutchen

Courtesy: ESPN

Big surprise? No! I know the Giants finished the 2017 season with the second-worst record (64-98). But, let’s face facts: the Giants’ 2018 lineup is downright scary. The Giants not only traded for 5-time all-star and former NL MVP Andrew McCutchen, they also traded for another all-star in the person of Evan Longoria. And to round out the outfield, the Giants added Austin Jackson to play center.

Those three provide a massive boost to a lineup that’s already filled with former all-stars, that includes Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford, and Hunter Pence. The elite mound tandem of Madbum and Johnny Cueto is more than enough to make NL hitters fear the front of the Giants’ rotation.

While the front of the rotation consists of proven veterans, the same can’t be said about the back end. After trading Matt Moore, the Giants are content to move forward with Ty Blach and either Tyler Beede or Chris Stratton. I’m not sure how much I would trust any of those three in a crucial playoff game.

The Giants are relying on a core of weathered veterans who aren’t getting younger. However, I believe they’ll have enough juice in the tank to challenge the Dodgers in the NL West.

Projected record: 86-76