WHO IS ELITE?
Barry Laminack: Breaking down the MLB teams -- who are the real contenders?
Mar 15, 2018, 6:38 am
The Yankees will be among baseball's elite. Abbie Parr/Getty Images
It's Thursday, March 15 which means March Madness is officially underway and if you read my article from last week you know that I don't give a bleep, so let's talk some baseball!
I’ll do a division-by-division breakdown as we get close to opening day, and with a few key free agents still out on the open market, things could change a little between now and then.
For today's exercise, here are the categories we’ll be using to group teams:
Elite (90+ wins) - The best of the best. Any of these teams could end up in the World Series.
Good (80-89 wins) - These are the teams that should be in the wild card hunt all year.
Undecided (75-85 wins) - Teams that could end up being in the hunt for a wild card, but could also not reach 80 wins. These teams either have health or rotation questions (or both).
Close (65-75 wins) - Teams that are in the midst of a rebuild but could be good in the next couple of years.
Bad (<65 wins) - Teams that are starting a rebuild (or should be starting a rebuild) and are going to suck for the next 4-plus years.
Elite
Chicago Cubs
Cleveland Indians
Houston Astros
Los Angeles Dodgers
New York Yankees
Washington Nationals
Good
Arizona Diamondbacks
Boston Red Sox
Colorado Rockies
Los Angeles Angels
Milwaukee Brewers
Minnesota Twins
St. Louis Cardinals
Undecided
New York Mets
Seattle Mariners
San Francisco Giants
Texas Rangers
Toronto Blue Jays
Close
Atlanta Braves
Chicago White Sox
Philadelphia Phillies
Bad
Baltimore Orioles
Cincinnati Reds
Detroit Tigers
Kansas City Royals
Miami Marlins
Oakland Athletics
Pittsburgh Pirates
Tampa Bay Rays
San Diego Padres
Last year I made a pretty bold prediction in saying that the Rockies would make the playoffs (I had one guy tell me I didn’t know sh-- about baseball and should be kicked off the radio because of this prediction), so what’s my bold prediction for this year?
You’ll have to wait a week or two.
Most Popular
SportsMap Emails
Are Awesome
Listen Live
Peyton Manning drops truth bombs on CJ Stroud and Texans doubters
Jun 26, 2025, 3:23 pm
In today’s episode, we dive into the bombshell report that Jeremy Peña has turned down a five-year, $105 million contract extension from the Houston Astros — a move that could have major implications for his future in Houston.
We take you through the reported timeline of the contract talks and explore how Peña’s recent decision to sign with super-agent Scott Boras might shape the next phase of negotiations. What does this all mean for Astros fans hoping to see Peña stay in Houston long-term? Is there still a path forward, or did the front office miss its window?
We also examine what this moment reveals about the Astros’ broader strategy, and whether their approach to homegrown stars is due for a serious rethink.
_____________________________________________
*Looking to get the word out about your business, products, or services? Consider advertising on SportsMap! It's a great way to get in front of Houston sports fans. Click the link below for more information!