The curtains have come down for the 2024 MLB season. The LA Dodgers won their 8th World Series title, beating the New York Yankees 7-6 in the final. Winning the World Series is a dream for every MLB player, and the thrill remains the same every calendar year.
The trade window is about to open, and every team will be looking for new additions to bolster their team. The free agents market has some special talents, like Juan Soto, Luis Severino, and Sean Manaea, among others. Here, we’ll look at the winners, losers, and the surprise pack.
2024 Winners
The LA Dodgers etched their name in history after beating the Yankees in the 2024 World Series. After a four-year drought, the Dodgers won their eighth World Series title, which was a relief for their fans. However, the win was written in the stars thanks to their deep and talented roster.
Clayton Kershaw, Freddie Freeman, and outfielder Mookie Betts were all instrumental in the Dodger’s success. Fans will remember Freddie Freeman’s performances, including a record 12 runs batted in during the World Series.
Special Mentions
Despite losing, the Yankees still put up a spirited fight and hope to replicate this season’s performances when the next begins. While the team performed well in the regular season, they couldn’t keep up with a resurged Dodgers team.
Pundits and fans alike feel like the Yankee’s inconsistency is what cost them the World Series title. Pundits from The Sports Prophets claim that poor pitching hurt the Yankee’s chances during the finals. However, there is hope that their young team led by the talented duo of Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole can lead them to a title in the future.
Tampa Bay Rays also had a not-so-good season. The team didn’t make it to the playoffs for the first time since 2018. Fans will feel like they fell short this season despite developing a decent roster using the free agency market and developing young talent.
Who Underperformed?
§ Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers fans will feel that this has been a season to forget after last year’s heroics. The 2023 World Series Champions struggled to maintain the form that saw them crowned champions last year.
So, what went wrong? Their squad was disrupted by injuries to their top players, like Josh Jung and Corey Seager, who missed a massive part of the season. A dip in form also hurt the team’s offense.
However, all is not lost. The fans hope that the players can stay healthy during the offseason in readiness for the 2025 season.
§ Chicago White Sox
The 2024 season was a low of lows for the White Sox. They lost 22 times in their first 25 games, one of their worst starts in history. They weren’t lucky when it came to injuries, either. Losing players like Luis Robert Jr., Yoán Moncada, and Eloy Jiménez made to injuries made things even worse.
Inconsistencies plagued with struggles in the offensive were too many. The occasional flashes of brilliance weren’t long-lasting in most games. Fans hope that the team will make new signings and work on developing young players.
