One Realistic Goal For Every MLB Team in 2021
1) Arizona Diamondbacks
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Sneak Into Wild Card
In 2020, the Arizona Diamondbacks were one of the worst teams in baseball. The Dbacks still have a fairly good roster and could contend in 2021, and beyond. They will improve in 2021 and should return to the team that they were in 2019, where they did contend and finished above .500 that seasons, though they did miss the playoffs for the second straight seasons. It might be hard for the Dbacks to contend with teams like the Mets, Padres, Nationals, and others for the Wild Card but it is possible, and not to hard to imagine.
2) Atlanta Braves
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Win World Series
The Braves made it to the NLCS, after two straight seasons in 2018 and 2019, where the Braves won the NL East crown but then lost in the NLDS. The Braves were up 3-1, but then lost three straight games, to the Dodgers who went on to win the World Series against the Rays. The Braves are a very good team that has very little weak spots on their team as their lineup, rotation, and bullpen are all very strong and some of the best in baseball. The Braves goal in 2021, should be to make it to the World Series, and to win which I predict will happen in 2021.
3) Baltimore Orioles
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Rutschman Dominates
Adley Rutschman was drafted first overall by the Orioles in the 2019 Draft, and is the best catching prospect in baseball. Rutschman is set to come up in 2021, and should make an impact on the major league level. The Orioles have been one of the worst teams in baseball over the best few years and this will remain true in 2021, and likely in 2022 as well. The Orioles goal should be surrounding Rutschman, and his hype as one of the best prospects in all of baseball.
4) Boston Red Sox
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Sneak Into Wild Card
In 2020, the Red Sox were the third worst team in the American League and had a very poor season, after a mediocre season in 2019, where the Red Sox failed to make the playoffs against all expectations. The Red Sox won the World Series in 2018, and were the best team in baseball that year. The Red Sox likely will rebound in 2021 as they still have a very strong offensive core and although it might be unlikely, the Red Sox absolutely could sneak into the playoffs through the Wild Card in the weak American League.
5) Chicago Cubs
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Accelerate Rebuild
The Cubs over the last few seasons have been very good and have made the playoffs every year except for 2019. The Cubs have a very good offensive core, but all three of their top hitters (Baez, Rizzo, and Bryant) will all become free agents after this season. The Cubs will have a hard time keeping even two of the three. The Cubs seem to be starting a rebuild which they have shown through the trade of their ace and NL Cy Young Runner Up Yu Darvish to the Padres. The Cubs goal in 2021 should be to accelerate their rebuild and get valuable prospects who will eventually turn into major leaguers. They should make smart trades and draft well to acquire premium talent.
6) Chicago White Sox
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Win World Series
Similar, to the Braves, the White Sox are a very good team that are World Series contenders. However, the White Sox, were only good in 2020 which was a short 60 games season. This likely will worry some people and many might be skeptical, which makes sense. However, The White Sox still are a very good team that I believe will dominate in 2021. It is very easy to see the White Sox win their division, so that one is too easy. The White Sox' goal in 2021 should be to dominate the weak American League in the playoffs, and win the World Series.
7) Cincinnati Reds
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Win NL Central
The Reds are a tough team to discuss because we have no idea what they are trying to do and what they will do this offseason. The Reds are a good team and have a fairly good roster but are losing their ace, Trevor Bauer. The Reds still have two reliable starting pitchers in Luis Castillo and Sonny Gray, but they have discussed possibly trading one or both. The Reds have many needs this offseason, and if they intend to try to compete in 2021, then their goal should be to win their division, the weak NL Central.
8) Cleveland Indians
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Make Wild Card
The Indians have lots of talent on their roster including Francisco Lindor, Jose Ramirez, and Shane Bieber. The Indians finished one game out of their division in 2021, and made the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons.There have been many rumors of a possible trade involving Francisco Lindor, who will become a free agent after the 2021 season, and the Indians likely won't be able to pay him, adn therefore probably will trade him. Nevertheless, the Indians will continue to contend in 2021. However, it seems unlikely that the Indians will be able to win their division and the Wild Card seems like a more realistic goal.
9) Colorado Rockies
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Trade Salary and Begin Rebuild
The Rockies once again in 2020, finished below .500 for the second straight year and had another rough season. The Rockies realistically can't contend in their division, the tough NL West with the powerhouse Dodgers and Padres. The Rockies also would have a hard time contending in the Wild Card with other National League teams. the Rockies should rebuild and therefore should trade players like Trevor Story and/or Nolan Arenado for value prospects that could produce in the future.
10) Detroit Tigers
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Young Pitching Produces
Similar to the Orioles and other teams mentioned earlier, the Tigers are one of the worst teams in baseball that had a rough season in 2020. The Tigers have been bad for years and definitely won't be able to contend for years. The Tigers have a farm system that is starting to develop and the team has many Starting Pitching prospects including baseball's 6th ranked prospect Casey Mize and others. The Tigers goal should be that those pitchers will perform in 2021 and do well in the major leagues, which did not happen in 2020 when they came up.
11) Houston Astros
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Win AL West
The Houston Astros had a poor season in 2020, and finished below .500 for the first time since 2014. Despite this, the Astros still made the playoffs by finishing second in their division behind the Athletics, and made it to the ALCS by beating the Twins and Astros. The Astros still have many players from their core returning in 2021 and will contend this year. Their goal should be to retake the division from the Athletics, where they won the division in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
12) Kansas City Royals
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Continue Rebuild and Trade Talent
The Royals are a team that are in a deep rebuild which will last for many years. However, the Royals have acquired veteran players coming off of weak seasons including Carlos Santana and former Royal Mike Minor. The Royals are doing this not to contend but because they likely intend to trade one or both of these players to a contender at this or next year's deadline. The Royals goal should be to continue this and to acquire top prospects through trades. The Royals also should consider trading their best player, Whit Merrifield while he still has a lot of value to a contender.
13) Los Angeles Angels
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Win Wild Card
The Angels are a team that has had hype over the last few seasons mainly because of Mike Trout, the best player of baseball by far. The Angels will try to contend in 2021 and might make a big move this offseason by acquiring pitching. The Angels possibly could contend in their division, the AL West against the Astros and Athletics, both of whom are getting worse this offseason through the loss of some key players. However, the Angels haven't made the postseason since 2014, and should aim to make the Wild Card, which is a more realistic goal in 2021.
14) Los Angeles Dodgers
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Repeat in World Series
The Los Angeles Dodgers are the best team in baseball as they finished with the best record in baseball in 2020 and won the World Series for the first time since 1988. The Los Angeles Dodgers are losing a few players this offseason but it won't matter because of their team depth and their star talent all over the team. The Dodgers goal is easy. It should be to become the first team to repeat in the World Series, for the first time in 20 years since the Yankees won three World Series in a row from 1998 to 2000.
15) Miami Marlins
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Sneak Into Wild Card
In 2020, the Miami Marlins surprised everyone and made the playoffs for the first time since their World Series victory in 2003. The Marlins were one of the worst teams in baseball in 2018 and 2019, and finished above .500 in 2020. The Marlins will likely try to contend again in 2021 but this seems unlikely. However, it is possible and should be the Marlins' goal, especially if they acquire some more proven talent.
16) Milwaukee Brewers
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Win NL Central
In 2020, the Milwaukee Brewers had a poor seasons but still were able to sneak into the Wild Card, despite finishing below .500 for the first time since 2016. The Brewers have made the playoffs in three straight seasons from 2018 to 2020, and will likely try to continue their streak in 2021. The Brewers definitely will try to contend in 2021 in the weakest division in baseball, the NL Central.
17) Minnesota Twins
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Make It To World Series
The Minnesota Twins are a very good team and has won their division for two straight years. The team dominated the regular season in 2019, and once again did so in 2020. However, the Twins have not won a single playoff game since 2004 and a playoff series since 2002. The Twins goal will be to change this and make it past competition to make it to the World Series, for the first time in thirty years since 1991. The Twins also will contend with the White Sox and the Indians in the AL Central in 2021, and it likely will be very close between the Twins and White Sox.
18) New York Mets
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Win NL East
The New York Mets have a lot of hype surrounding their team because of their new owner, Steve Cohen who has a net worth of about 14 billion dollars, and is a huge Mets fan. The Mets have been bad in many past seasons including in 2020, where they finished last in their division. However, the Mets roster is still very strong and they are likely to add this offseason by signing a few star players. The Mets will contend in 2021 with the Braves in the NL East. Their goal should be to win their division and make the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
19) New York Yankees
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Win World Series
The New York Yankees have been one of the best teams for years but have not been able to make it past the ALCS and to the World Series. In 2019, the Yankees had many injuries to key players but were able to make it to the ALCS against the Astros, where they lost in 6 games. The Yankees added Gerrit Cole in free agency and stole him from the Astros. The Yankees in 2020, were a good team but had main injuries once again to key players. The Yankees goal in 2021, should be to make it to the World Series and win the fall classic.
20) Oakland Athletics
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Make It To World Series
The Oakland Athletics despite a ridiculously low payroll, have made the playoffs for three straight years and were once again a great team in 2021. Oakland won their division and took it from the Astros and likely will try to win it again in 2021, The A's lost in the Wild Card in 2018 and 2019, and in 2020, lost to the Astros in the ALDS. Their goal should be to make it to the World Series in 2021, which they have not been able to do since 1990, 31 years ago.
21) Philadelphia Phillies
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Make Wild Card
The Philadelphia Phillies have been disappointing for years and had a lot of hype in 2019 and 2020, but have nothing to show from it. The Phillies have not made the playoffs since 2011. The Phillies have low expectations going into 2021 as they have underperformed for years and unlike the Mets, don't have hype around them due to less money and a worse roster. The Phillies still will contend in 2021 and there goal should be to make the playoffs for the first time since 2011.
22) Pittsburgh Pirates
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Smart Draft With #1 Pick
The Pittsburgh Pirates are argubly the worst team in all of baseball which they showed in 2020, where they finished with the worst record among all of the thirty major league teams. The Pirates will have the first pick in the 2021 draft, and will try to be smart in the draft and have an overall successful draft. This obviously should be their goal, as the Pirates are just beginning a rebuild and have very little talent on their roster
23) San Diego Padres
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Win World Series
The San Diego Padres are one of the best teams in baseball and they finished second in the National League in 2020. The Padres had a lot of hype with their team last year and they have gotten even better this offseason through the trades of Blake Snell and Yu Darvish, and the international signing of Korean star Ha Seong Kim. The Padres are a legitimate contender in their division to challenge the Dodgers and in the National League to reach the World Series. The Padres goal should be to win the World Series as they are a very good team with young talent that is ready to produce.
24) San Francisco Giants
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Finish Above .500
The San Francisco Giants are in a period of a short term rebuild and might be relevant in 2021. The Giants were better then expected in both 2019 and 2020. This could happen again in 2021 and the Giants could exceed expectations as they have multiple times in the past few years as they often do. However, the Giants roster isn't great and they will have a hard time contending in 2021. The Giants goal this year should be to exceed expectations and finish above .500 in 2021, putting them in good position in 2022 and beyond.
25) Seattle Mariners
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Finish Above .500
The Seattle Mariners have been bad in past years in 2019 and 2020. In 2020, the Mariners finished below .500 but had some bright spots with AL Rookie of the Year winning Kyle Lewis and upcoming prospects including the 9th overall prospect in basbeall outfielder Jarred Kalenic and 15th overall Julio Rodriguez. The Mariners have a lot of hope going forward but similar to the Giants, are not ready to contend. The Mariners goal in 2021 should be to finish above .500 and to see their top prospects perform on the major league level.
26) St. Louis Cardinals
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Win NL Central
In 2020, the Cardinals had a lot of trouble due to their COVID outbreak which took them out for almost two weeks. The Cardinals were still able to finish just above .500, a second place finish in the NL Central behind the Cubs. However, the NL Central has gotten much worse already this offseason as the Cubs have traded Darvish and seem to be entering a rebuilding, and the Reds have discussed trading one or two of their star pitchers, after losing Bauer. This very much could pave the way for the Cardinals took take back the division crown after winning it in 2019 and losing it in 2020. Their goal should be to win their division, the NL Central.
27) Tampa Bay Rays
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Win World Series
In 2020, the Tampa Bay Rays were the best team in the American League, and made it to the World Series against the Dodgers were they lost in 6 games. The Rays this offseason traded their ace, Blake Snell to the Padres for a plethra of prospects. This move likely will make the Rays worse in 2021 but they always succeed and make smart moves. The Rays are still a great team and although they might look worse right now, they are still a World Series contender. That should be there goal and they definitely have a good chance to win the World Series in 2021.
28) Texas Rangers
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Excelerate Rebuild
The Texas Rangers are one of the worst teams in baseball and have very little talent on their roster, aside from Joey Gallo. The Rangers will not be able to contend for years and are just entering a rebuild right now. The Rangers are in a division that isn't that tough but it doesn't matter because the Rangers are that bad. The Rangers goal going forward in 2021 should be to excelerate their rebuild and acquire prospects that will produce on the major league level in a few seasons when they eventually are ready to contend.
29) Toronto Blue Jays
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Win AL East
The Toronto Blue Jays are a team that had a lot of hype in 2019 and 2020 before the season. The Blue Jays exceeded expectations in 2020 and made the playoffs for the first time since 2016. The Blue Jays have a very good roster and have been very active so far this offseason. The Blue Jays have been in talks with many key players and are likely to sign a few notable players. The Blue Jays goal in 2021 should be to win their division, the AL East which has gotten competitive as both the Yankees and Rays have gotten worse this offseason, and the Blue Jays have gotten better.
30) Washington Nationals
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Make Wild Card
In 2019, the Washington Nationals had a very poor start to the season but came back to take the first wild card spot and then went on to win World Series. In 2020, the Nationals were very bad due to injuries and other issues. The Nationals will try to rebuild in 2021, which they definitely can do. The Nationals still have many very good players but need to improve in many areas including in their bullpen and many areas in their lineup. The Nationals' goal in 2021 should be to make the Wild Card, and then try to repeat their postseason success that they had in 2019.