Box-Toppers offseason team rankings
The Atlanta Braves are the top-ranked offseason team for 2024 as of mid-January 2024. Players currently on the roster accumulated 117.9 Box-Toppers points during the 2023 season, most of any team. Shown below are each team ranked by the cumulative 2023 Box-Toppers points of players on current rosters. Here’s a look at columns in the chart:• The first two columns show each team’s cumulative Box-Toppers point totals as of mid-January (2024), with their ranking among all teams (R ’24).
• The second two columns show each team’s cumulative Box-Toppers point totals at the end of the 2023 regular season, with their ranking among all teams (R ’23).
• The next column (+/-) shows the Box-Toppers point gain or loss each team has had since the end of 2023.
• The next three columns reflect how injuries (and other factors) are impacting each team’s Box-Toppers point totals. The first of the three columns shows each team’s injury adjustment (Inj Adj), including players who will not be available in 2024 based on their 2023 Box-Toppers point total. The next two columns show each team’s cumulative Box-Toppers point totals as of mid-January with the injury adjustment applied (2024 IA), with their ranking among all teams with their injury adjusted points (Rank w/IA).
| Team | R ’24 |
2024 | R ’23 |
2023 | +/- | Inj Adj |
Rank w/IA |
2024 IA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 1 | 117.9 | 2 | 125.4 | -7.5 | -2.0 | 1 | 115.9 |
| Astros | 2 | 113.9 | 6 | 118.9 | -5.0 | -1.5 | 3 | 112.4 |
| Mariners | 3 | 113.9 | 13 | 103.7 | +10.2 | 0.0 | 2 | 113.9 |
| Dodgers | 4 | 112.1 | 3 | 123.8 | -11.7 | -15.9 | 7 | 96.2 |
| Rays | 5 | 111.9 | 4 | 123.6 | -11.7 | -16.8 | 8 | 95.1 |
| Diamondbacks | 6 | 111.4 | 14 | 102.1 | +9.3 | -2.7 | 4 | 108.7 |
| Orioles | 7 | 105.3 | 5 | 119.5 | -14.2 | -11.0 | 9 | 94.3 |
| Rangers | 8 | 104.2 | 1 | 128.1 | -23.9 | -14.2 | 12 | 90.0 |
| Phillies | 9 | 101.5 | 9 | 112.2 | -10.7 | 0.0 | 5 | 101.5 |
| Blue Jays | 10 | 99.7 | 8 | 114.2 | -14.5 | 0.0 | 6 | 99.7 |
| Marlins | 11 | 93.2 | 11 | 107.9 | -14.7 | -7.7 | 13 | 85.5 |
| Reds | 12 | 92.5 | 19 | 88.6 | +3.9 | 0.0 | 10 | 92.5 |
| Mets | 13 | 90.3 | 26 | 64.4 | +25.9 | 0.0 | 11 | 90.3 |
| Cardinals | 14 | 85.2 | 25 | 66.4 | +18.8 | 0.0 | 14 | 85.2 |
| Brewers | 15 | 84.7 | 7 | 115.8 | -31.1 | 0.0 | 15 | 84.7 |
| Tigers | 16 | 82.4 | 22 | 84.5 | -2.1 | 0.0 | 16 | 82.4 |
| Cubs | 17 | 80.1 | 15 | 100.3 | -20.2 | 0.0 | 17 | 80.1 |
| Guardians | 18 | 79.0 | 23 | 84.5 | -5.5 | 0.0 | 18 | 79.0 |
| Yankees | 19 | 78.1 | 16 | 92.1 | -14.0 | 0.0 | 19 | 78.1 |
| Royals | 20 | 77.5 | 29 | 55.6 | +21.9 | 0.0 | 20 | 77.5 |
| Pirates | 21 | 76.8 | 21 | 84.7 | -7.9 | -9.7 | 25 | 67.1 |
| Twins | 22 | 75.5 | 12 | 106.7 | -31.2 | -1.0 | 21 | 74.5 |
| Nationals | 23 | 72.9 | 24 | 75.4 | -2.5 | 0.0 | 22 | 72.9 |
| Giants | 24 | 72.6 | 17 | 91.7 | -19.1 | -1.7 | 23 | 70.9 |
| Red Sox | 25 | 67.7 | 18 | 88.6 | -20.9 | 0.0 | 24 | 67.7 |
| Angels | 26 | 62.2 | 20 | 87.8 | -25.6 | -0.5 | 26 | 61.7 |
| Padres | 27 | 60.1 | 10 | 108.1 | -48.0 | 0.0 | 27 | 60.1 |
| Rockies | 28 | 55.2 | 28 | 56.4 | -1.2 | 0.0 | 28 | 55.2 |
| White Sox | 29 | 45.7 | 27 | 63.6 | -17.9 | 0.0 | 29 | 45.7 |
| Athletics | 30 | 45.4 | 30 | 51.4 | -6.0 | 0.0 | 30 | 45.4 |
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A Box-Toppers look at how teams are faring in offseason leading into 2024
The Atlanta Braves are Box-Toppers’ top-ranked team going into 2024, with a roster mostly intact from 2023 when they had baseball’s best record.
Figuring Atlanta Braves team Box-Toppers point total
The Atlanta Braves lead all teams in Box-Toppers mid-January offseason team rankings. Braves players on the current roster accumulated 117.9 Box-Toppers points (BTP) in 2023. Here is a look at those players on the current roster whose points are included in that calculation. Some notable players: Spencer Strider led all players in 2023 with 21.1 points, Ronald Acuña Jr. ranked second among National League batters with 10.7 and Chris Sale with 8.7 points is the fifth-ranked Braves player on the list. He earned his 2023 points with the Red Sox before his offseason trade to Atlanta. (Players on the Braves roster not listed here earned no points in 2023.)| Player | Pos | BTP |
|---|---|---|
| Strider, Spencer 4626 | pi sp | 21.1 |
| Acuna, Ronald Jr. 3947 | rf | 10.7 |
| Morton, Charlie 2503 | pi sp | 10.0 |
| Fried, Max 4011 | pi sp | 9.0 |
| Sale, Chris 2806 | pi sp | 8.7 |
| Elder, Bryce 4709 | pi sp | 8.0 |
| Ozuna, Marcell 3190 | dh | 7.5 |
| Harris, Michael 4682 | cf | 5.5 |
| Olson, Matt 3836 | 1b | 4.2 |
| Murphy, Sean 4246 | ca | 4.0 |
| Arcia, Orlando 3717 | ss | 4.0 |
| d’Arnaud, Travis 3384 | ca dh | 3.5 |
| Riley, Austin 4144 | 3b | 3.0 |
| Iglesias, Raisel 3467 | pi cp | 3.0 |
| Minter, A.J. 3946 | pi cp | 3.0 |
| Albies, Ozzie 3953 | 2b | 2.0 |
| Perdomo, Angel 4831 | pi mr | 2.0 |
| Winans, Allan 4900 | pi sp | 2.0 |
| Bummer, Aaron 3880 | pi mr | 1.7 |
| Lopez, Reynaldo 3712 | pi cp mr | 1.0 |
| Kelenic, Jarred 4408 | lf | 1.0 |
| Logue, Zach 4602 | pi mr sp | 1.0 |
| Smith-Shawver, AJ 4951 | pi sp | 1.0 |
| Vines, Darius 4919 | pi sp | 1.0 |
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Meanwhile, the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners are Box-Toppers’ top two American League teams, with the Mariners having one of the best offseason improvements of any team so far.
And also, while the Los Angeles Dodgers have made big offseason splashes adding Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow and Teoscar Hernandez, their offseason ranking has actually fallen from third place last season to fourth place now.
Last year’s World Series champion Texas Rangers, who ranked first in Box-Toppers team rankings at the end of the 2023 regular season, fall to eighth in offseason rankings. National League champion Arizona Diamondbacks, meanwhile make a big jump, from 14th at the end of 2023 to sixth place now.
The New York Mets have made the biggest offseason jump in team rankings, rising 13 spots from 26th overall at the end of 2023 to 13th as of mid-January, while the San Diego Padres have had the biggest offseason decline, falling 17 spots from 10th to 27th place.
Box-Toppers refigures team totals based on offseason player movement and signings. The Box-Toppers points players earned in 2023 are subtracted from their previous team and added to their 2024 team. Free agents’ Box-Toppers point totals are also excluded and not added to a team until they sign. (Also note that while free agents are listed among a team’s “key losses” for 2024, there is always the chance they will re-sign with their old team and become a “key holdover.”)
Separately, Box-Toppers calculates how much a player’s prospective absence due to injury or other factors may affect a team. For example, Baltimore Orioles closer Felix Bautista is expected to miss all of 2024 as he recovers from elbow surgery. Bautista earned 11.0 Box-Toppers points in 2023, so the Orioles’ team total is also figured with an injury adjustment, with those 11.0 points subtracted. That brings the Orioles from seventh place overall with 105.3 combined points to ninth with 94.3 points with the injury adjustment.
A guide to charts in this post
Offseason team rankings—Here are the 30 teams ranked by the cumulative 2023 Box-Toppers points of players on their current 2024 offseason rosters.
Atlanta Braves—Here is a look at the 2023 Box-Toppers points accumulated by players on the current 2024 offseason Atlanta Braves roster. The Braves lead all teams with players on its current roster earning a cumulative 117.9 Box-Toppers points in 2023.
Players changing teams—Here is a look at the top 15 players changing teams for 2024 as ranked by their 2023 Box-Toppers point totals.
Remaining free agents—Here is a look at the top 15 remaining unsigned free agents (as of Jan. 18) ranked by their 2023 Box-Toppers point totals.
•
Here is a closer look at how key teams fare in Box-Toppers’ team standings as of mid-January:
Atlanta Braves
Rank: First with 117.9 Box-Toppers points.
Change in ranking since end of 2023: Rise one spot from second.
Net change in points: -7.5.
Key additions: Pitcher Chris Sale (8.7 points) from the Red Sox.
Key losses: Outfielder Eddie Rosario (6.2) to free agency, reliever Michael Tonkin (6.0) to the Mets.
Key holdovers: Pitcher Spencer Strider (21.1 points, first overall), outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. (10.7, second among NL batters), pitcher Charlie Morton (10.0), pitcher Max Fried (9.0), pitcher Bryce Elder (8.0) and designated hitter Marcell Ozuna (7.5).
Injury adjustment: -2.0 points. Reliever Angel Perdomo, who earned 2.0 with the Pirates, expected to miss 2024 season recovering from elbow surgery. That gives the Braves an injury adjusted total of 115.9, still first among all teams.
Houston Astros
Rank: Second with 113.9 Box-Toppers points. (Note: the Astros and Mariners both have 113.9 Box-Toppers points, but the Astros are ranked higher because they had more points at the end of 2023—118.9 vs. 103.7.)
Change in ranking since end of 2023: Rise of four spots from sixth.
Net change in points: -5.0.
Key additions: Catcher Victor Caratini (2.0 points) from the Brewers.
Key losses: Outfielder Michael Brantley (2.0 points) to retirement.
Key holdovers: Outfielder Kyle Tucker (12.5 points, second among AL batters), pitcher Justin Verlander (12.4), pitcher Hunter Brown (10.1), pitcher Framber Valdez (10.0), second baseman Jose Altuve (7.5, seventh among AL batters), outfielder Chas McCormick (7.5, ninth among AL batters).
Injury adjustment: -1.5 points. Pitcher Luis Garcia, who earned 3.0 points in 2023, is expected to miss the first half of the season recovering from elbow surgery. That gives the Astros an injury-adjusted total of 112.4 Box-Toppers points, falling from second to third among all teams.
Seattle Mariners
Box-Toppers rankings of players changing teams for 2024
Shohei Ohtani has the most 2023 Box-Toppers points among players changing teams for 2024. Ohtani earned 19.4 Box-Toppers points in 2023 with the Angels and signed with the Dodgers for 2024. Here is a look at the players with the most 2023 Box-Toppers point changing teams for 2024. Shown is their 2023 team, their 2024 team, their position, their 2023 Box-Toppers points (BTP) and their ranking among all players in 2023 points.| Player | 2023 team |
2024 team |
Pos | 2023 BTP |
Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shohei Ohtani | Angels | Dodgers | pi sp dh | 19.4 | 3 |
| 2 | Eduardo Rodriguez | Tigers | D‑backs | pi sp | 13.0 | 20 |
| 3 | Tyler Glasnow | Rays | Dodgers | pi sp | 12.4 | 26 |
| 4 | Kenta Maeda | Twins | Tigers | pi sp | 11.1 | 35 |
| 5 | Michael Wacha | Padres | Royals | pi sp | 11.0 | 37 |
| 6 | Sonny Gray | Twins | Cardinals | pi sp | 10.4 | 42 |
| 7 | Michael King | Yankees | Padres | pi cp mr sp | 9.0 | 60 |
| 8 | Juan Soto | Padres | Yankees | lf | 9.0 | 61 |
| 9 | Kyle Gibson | Orioles | Cardinals | pi sp | 8.7 | 63 |
| 10 | Chris Sale | Red Sox | Braves | pi sp | 8.7 | 68 |
| 11 | Marcus Stroman | Cubs | Yankees | pi sp | 7.7 | 81 |
| 12 | Nick Martinez | Padres | Reds | pi sp | 7.4 | 94 |
| 13 | Mitch Garver | Rangers | Mariners | ca dh | 6.5 | 121 |
| 14 | Seth Lugo | Padres | Royals | pi sp | 6.4 | 125 |
| 15 | Michael Tonkin | Braves | Mets | pi mr | 6.0 | 141 |
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Rank: Third with 113.9 Box-Toppers points.
Change in ranking since end of 2023: Rise 10 spots from 13th.
Net change in points: +10.2.
Key additions: Catcher Mitch Garver (6.5 points) from the Rangers and pitcher Anthony Desclafani (3.7) from the Giants.
Key losses: Third baseman Eugenio Suarez (2.5 points) to the Diamondbacks.
Key holdovers: Pitcher Luis Castillo (16.1 points, fifth among AL pitchers), pitcher George Kirby (13.7, eighth among AL pitchers), pitcher Logan Gilbert (13.4, ninth among AL pitchers), pitcher Bryce Miller (13.1), pitcher Bryan Woo (8.7) and shortstop J.P. Crawford (6.5).
Injury adjustment: 0.0 points. No notable injuries. Their 113.9 point total remains unchanged, boosting them from third to second place, passing the Astros.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Rank: Fourth with 112.1 Box-Toppers points.
Change in ranking since end of 2023: Decline of one spot from third.
Net change in points: -11.7.
Key additions: Pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (19.4 points, third overall, first among AL batters, second among AL pitchers) from the Angels, pitcher Tyler Glasnow (12.4) from the Rays, outfielder Manuel Margot (3.0) from the Rays and outfielder Teoscar Hernandez (1.5) from the Mariners. The Dodgers also notably signed pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, a star in the Japanese professional league. But since he hasn’t appeared in the Major Leagues, he has no Box-Toppers points.
Key losses: Pitcher Clayton Kershaw (11.1 points) to free agency, pitcher Julio Urias (11.0) to free agency and designated hitter J.D. Martinez (6.7) to free agency.
Key holdovers: First baseman Freddie Freeman (10.0 points, third among NL batters), outfielder James Outman (8.7, seventh among NL batters), pitcher Bobby Miller (8.7), second baseman Mookie Betts (8.5, eighth among NL batters) and outfielder Jason Heyward (7.5).
Injury adjustment: -15.9 points, the second-largest injury adjustment among all teams. This involves three players—pitchers Ohtani, Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May. Ohtani is recovering from elbow surgery and is not expected to pitch in 2024, however, he is expected to be able to bat. He earned 19.4 Box-Toppers points in 2023 with the Angels, 9.7 as a batter and 9.7 as a pitcher. Box-Toppers subtracts his 9.7 pitching points for the injury adjustment. Gonsolin (4.7 in 2023) is expected to miss 2024 and May (3.0 in 2023) is expected to miss half the season. We reduce all Gonsolin’s points (4.7) and half of May’s points (1.5). Those three players’ injury adjustment reduces the Dodgers total by 15.9 points to 96.2, moving them from fourth to seventh in injury-adjusted standings.
Note: It seems likely or probable the Dodgers will re-sign free agent pitcher Kershaw (11.1 points). If they do, it would raise the Dodgers point total to 123.2, which would pass the Braves (117.9) for first overall. But since Kershaw is not likely to pitch for the first half of the season as he recovers from shoulder surgery, the Dodgers injury adjusted total would be 101.8, fourth among all teams, behind the Braves (115.9), Mariners (113.9), Astros (112.4) and Diamondbacks (108.7).
Tampa Bay Rays
Rank: Fifth with 111.9 Box-Toppers points.
Change in ranking since end of 2023: Decline of one spot from fourth.
Net change in points: -11.7.
Key additions: Pitcher Ryan Pepiot (5.0 points) from the Dodgers.
Key losses: Pitcher Tyler Glasnow (12.4 points) to the Dodgers and outfielder Manuel Margot (3.0) to the Dodgers.
Key holdovers: Pitcher Zach Eflin (12.0 points), infielder Isaac Paredes (7.2) and first baseman Yandy Diaz (7.0).
Injury adjustment: -16.8 points, the largest injury adjustment among all teams. This involves three pitchers recovering from elbow surgery: Shane McClanahan (9.7 points) and Jeffrey Springs (3.7 points) are expected to miss all of 2024 and Drew Rasmussen (6.7 points) is expected to miss half the season. That reduces the Rays team injury-adjusted Box-Toppers point total to 95.1, eighth among all teams.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Box-Toppers rankings of remaining free agents
Blake Snell has the most 2023 Box-Toppers points (14.7) among currently unsigned free agent players as of Jan. 17, 2024. Here is a look at the players with the most 2023 Box-Toppers points among remaining free agents. Shown is their 2023 team, their position, their 2023 Box-Toppers points (BTP) and their ranking among all players in 2023 points.| Player | Team | Pos | BTP | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blake Snell | Padres | pi sp | 14.7 | 12 |
| 2 | Clayton Kershaw | Dodgers | pi sp | 11.1 | 33 |
| 3 | Julio Urias | Dodgers | pi sp | 11.0 | 36 |
| 4 | Jordan Montgomery | Rangers | pi sp | 10.4 | 43 |
| 5 | Mike Clevinger | White Sox | pi sp | 10.4 | 45 |
| 6 | Michael Lorenzen | Phillies | pi sp | 8.7 | 64 |
| 7 | Brandon Woodruff | Brewers | pi sp | 7.0 | 99 |
| 8 | J.D. Martinez | Dodgers | dh | 6.7 | 116 |
| 9 | Eddie Rosario | Braves | lf | 6.2 | 129 |
| 10 | Domingo German | Yankees | pi sp | 6.0 | 137 |
| 11 | Jakob Junis | Giants | pi mr sp | 5.7 | 148 |
| 12 | Jorge Soler | Marlins | rf dh | 5.7 | 153 |
| 13 | Cody Bellinger | Cubs | cf 1b | 5.5 | 158 |
| 14 | James Paxton | Red Sox | pi sp | 5.0 | 183 |
| 15 | Adam Duvall | Red Sox | cf rf | 4.7 | 194 |
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Rank: Sixth with 111.4 Box-Toppers points.
Change in ranking since end of 2023: Rise of eighth spots from 14th.
Net change in points: +9.3.
Key additions: Pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez (13.0 points) from the Tigers.
Key losses: Third baseman Evan Longoria (2.7 points) to free agency.
Key holdovers: Pitcher Zac Gallen (16.7 points, eighth overall, fourth among NL pitchers), pitcher Merrill Kelly (13.0, seventh among NL pitchers), pitcher Ryne Nelson (6.7) and first baseman Christian Walker (6.0).
Injury adjustment: -2.7 points. Pitcher Drey Jameson (2.7 points) is out for the season, recovering from elbow surgery. That gives the Diamondbacks a 108.7 injury-adjusted point total, fourth among all teams.
Baltimore Orioles
Rank: Seventh with 105.3 Box-Toppers points.
Change in ranking since end of 2023: Decline of two spots from fifth.
Net change in points: -14.2.
Key additions: Closing pitcher Craig Kimbrel (4.0 points) from the Phillies.
Key losses: Pitcher Kyle Gibson (8.7 points) to the Cardinals.
Key holdovers: Pitcher Kyle Bradish (14.0 points), pitcher Dean Kremer (9.7), pitcher Grayson Rodriguez (8.0) and third baseman Gunnar Henderson (7.5, eighth among AL batters).
Injury adjustment: -11.0 points. Closing pitcher Felix Bautista (11.0 points, first among AL closers) is out for the season, recovering from elbow surgery. That gives the Orioles a 94.3 injury-adjusted point total, a two-spot drop to ninth among all teams.
Texas Rangers
Rank: Eighth with 103.9 Box-Toppers points.
Change in ranking since end of 2023: Decline of seven spots from first.
Net change in points: -24.2.
Key additions: No significant additions.
Key losses: Pitcher Jordan Montgomery (10.4 points) to free agency and catcher Mitch Garver (6.5) to the Mariners.
Key holdovers: Pitcher Max Scherzer (15.4 points, 10th overall, sixth among AL pitchers), pitcher Andrew Heaney (11.4), pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (9.7), second baseman Marcus Semien (6.7), shortstop Corey Seager (6.2) and outfielder Adolis Garcia (6.0).
Injury adjustment: -14.2 points. Three pitchers are expected to miss half or more of the 2024 season, including Scherzer, Jacob deGrom (7.7 points) and Tyler Mahle (2.7 points). That gives the Rangers an 89.7 injury-adjusted point total, a four-spot drop to 12th among all teams.
Philadelphia Phillies
Rank: Ninth with 101.5 Box-Toppers points.
Change in ranking since end of 2023: Steady in ninth place.
Net change in points: -10.7.
Key additions: No significant additions.
Key losses: Pitcher Michael Lorenzen (8.7 points) to free agency and closer Craig Kimbrel (4.0) to the Orioles.
Key holdovers: Pitcher Zack Wheeler (14.7 points, fifth among NL pitchers), pitcher Aaron Nola (12.0), pitcher Taijuan Walker (7.7), outfielder Nick Castellanos (7.0), third baseman Alec Bohm (6.4) and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (5.5).
Injury adjustment: 0.0 points. No significant injuries. That gives the Phillies a 101.5 injury-adjusted point total, fifth among all teams.
Toronto Blue Jays
Rank: 10th with 99.7 Box-Toppers points.
Change in ranking since end of 2023: Decline of two spots from eighth.
Net change in points: -14.5.
Key additions: No significant additions.
Key losses: Outfielder Whit Merrifield (4.5 points) to free agency and third baseman Matt Chapman (3.5) to free agency.
Key holdovers: Pitcher Chris Bassitt (20.1 points, second overall, first among AL pitchers), pitcher Kevin Gausman (18.7, fourth overall, third among AL pitchers), pitcher Jose Berrios (10.4) and pitcher Yusei Kikuchi (10.0).
Injury adjustment: 0.0 points. No significant injuries. That gives the Blue Jays a 99.7 injury-adjusted point total, sixth among all teams.
Teams with biggest gains
Here are the teams with the biggest gains in Box-Toppers points from the end of 2023 to the current 2024 offseason standings. These are the only six teams currently with gains in their Box-Toppers point total since the end of 2023:
New York Mets
Gain: First with 25.9-point gain, also biggest jump in rankings—a 13-spot rise from 26th at the end of 2023 (64.4 points) to 13th place in offseason 2024 rankings (90.3 points).
Key additions: Pitcher Michael Tonkin (6.0 points) from the Braves and outfielder Tyrone Taylor (5.0) from the Brewers.
Key losses: Designated hitter Daniel Vogelbach (3.0 points) to free agency.
Key holdovers: Pitcher Kodai Senga (12.7 points, 10th among NL pitchers) and first baseman Pete Alonso (12.0, first among NL batters).
Injury adjustment: No adjustment. Their 90.3-point injury-adjusted total is 11th among all teams.
Note: The Mets were Box-Toppers’ top-ranked team going into 2023 and were Box-Toppers’ preseason choice for 2023 World Series champion. The team disappointed mightily and traded away star players at midseason, falling to near the bottom of Box-Toppers rankings by the end of the season. While they make the biggest offseason rise of any team, it still lifts them only to the middle of the pack, a spot that would have been disappointing and surprising in preseason 2023, given their seeming promise of long-term success.
Kansas City Royals
Gain: Second with 21.9-point gain, a nine-spot gain from 29th at the end of 2023 (55.6 points) to 20th place in offseason 2024 rankings (77.5 points).
Key additions: Pitcher Michael Wacha (11.0 points) from the Padres and pitcher Seth Lugo (6.4) from the Padres.
Key losses: Pitcher Zack Greinke (2.0 points) to free agency.
Key holdovers: Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.(7.7 points, fourth among AL batters) and pitcher Brady Singer (5.0).
Injury adjustment: No adjustment. Their 77.5-point injury-adjusted total is 20th among all teams.
St. Louis Cardinals
Gain: Third with 18.8-point gain, an 11-spot gain from 25th at the end of 2023 (66.4 points) to 14th place in offseason 2024 rankings (85.2 points).
Key additions: Pitcher Sonny Gray (10.4 points) from the Twins and pitcher Kyle Gibson (8.7) from the Orioles.
Key losses: Pitcher Adam Wainwright (1.0 point) to retirement.
Key holdovers: Second baseman Nolan Gorman (10.0 points, fourth among NL batters), first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (8.2, ninth among NL batters) and pitcher Miles Mikolas (6.7).
Injury adjustment: No adjustment. Their 85.2-point injury-adjusted total is 14th among all teams.
Seattle Mariners
Gain: Fourth with 10.2-point gain, a 10-spot gain from 13th at the end of 2023 (103.7 points) to third place in offseason 2024 rankings (113.9 points).
Mariners’ key additions, losses, holdovers and injury adjustment information is included in the review of the overall top 10 ranked teams.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Gain: Fifth with 9.3-point gain, an eight-spot gain from 14th at the end of 2023 (102.1 points) to sixth place in offseason 2024 rankings (111.4 points).
Diamondbacks’ key additions, losses, holdovers and injury adjustment information is included in the review of the overall top 10 ranked teams.
Cincinnati Reds
Gain: Sixth with 3.9-point gain, a seven-spot gain from 19th at the end of 2023 (88.6 points) to 12th place in offseason 2024 rankings (92.5 points).
Key additions: Pitcher Nick Martinez (7.4 points) from the Padres and third baseman Jeimer Candelario (4.0) from the Cubs.
Key losses: Outfielder Harrison Bader (3.0 points) to the Mets.
Key holdovers: Pitcher Andrew Abbott (11.0 points) and closing pitcher Alexis Diaz (7.0).
Injury adjustment: No adjustment. Their 92.5-point injury adjusted total is 10th among all teams.
Teams with biggest losses
Here are the teams with the biggest losses in Box-Toppers points from the end of 2023 to the current 2024 offseason standings. Twenty-four of the 30 teams currently have fewer points than they did at the close of 2023:
San Diego Padres
Loss: First with 48.0-point loss, also the biggest decline among all teams, falling 17 spots from 10th overall at the end of 2023 (108.1 points) to 27th in 2024 offseason rankings (60.1 points).
Key additions: Pitcher Michael King (9.0 points) from the Yankees, pitcher Jhony Brito (5.0) from the Yankees.
Key losses: Pitcher Blake Snell (14.7 points, sixth among NL pitchers) to free agency, pitcher Michael Wacha (11.0) to the Royals, outfielder Juan Soto (9.0, sixth among NL batters) to the Yankees, pitcher Nick Martinez (7.4) to the Reds and pitcher Seth Lugo (6.4) to the Royals.
Key holdovers: Pitcher Joe Musgrove (7.0 points), pitcher Yu Darvish (7.0) and outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (6.0).
Injury adjustment: No adjustment. Their 60.1-point injury-adjusted total is 27th among all teams.
Minnesota Twins
Loss: Second with 31.2-point loss, a 10-spot decline from 12th at the end of 2023 (106.7 points) to 22nd in 2024 offseason rankings (75.5 points).
Key additions: No significant additions.
Key losses: Pitcher Kenta Maeda (11.1 points) to the Tigers and pitcher Sonny Gray (10.4) to the Cardinals
Key holdovers: Pitcher Pablo Lopez (13.4 points, 10th among AL pitchers), pitcher Joe Ryan (8.7), pitcher Bailey Ober (8.7) and catcher Ryan Jeffers (4.2).
Injury adjustment: -1.0 point. Closing pitcher Jovani Moran (1.0) is out for the season, recovering from elbow surgery. That gives the Twins a 74.5 injury-adjusted point total, 21st among all teams.
Milwaukee Brewers
Loss: Third with 31.1-point loss, an eight-spot decline from seventh overall at the end of 2023 (115.8 points) to 15th in 2024 offseason rankings (84.7 points).
Key additions: Batter Jake Bauers (2.5 points).
Key losses: Pitcher Brandon Woodruff (7.0 points) to free agency and outfielder Tyrone Taylor (5.0) to the Mets.
Key holdovers: Pitcher Freddy Peralta (17.7 points, sixth overall, third among NL pitchers), pitcher Corbin Burnes (11.7), outfielder Christian Yelich (9.2, fifth among NL batters) and closing pitcher Devin Williams (8.0, first among NL closers).
Injury adjustment: No adjustment. Their 84.7-point injury-adjusted total is 15th among all teams.
Los Angeles Angels
Loss: Fourth with 25.6-point loss, a six-spot decline from 20th overall at the end of 2023 (87.8 points) to 26th in 2024 offseason rankings (62.2 points).
Key additions: First baseman Alfonso Rivas (2.5 points) from the Pirates.
Key losses: Pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (19.4 points, third overall, first among AL batters, second among AL pitchers) to the Dodgers, outfielder Randal Grichuk (4.5) to free agency and first baseman C.J. Cron (4.2) to free agency.
Key holdovers: Infielder Brandon Drury (7.5 points, fifth among AL batters), second baseman Luis Rengifo (7.0) and pitcher Reid Detmers (6.7).
Injury adjustment: -0.5 points. Reliever Jose Quijada (1.0) is expected to miss half the season, recovering from elbow surgery. That gives the Angels a 61.7 injury-adjusted point total, 26th among all teams.
Texas Rangers
Loss: Fifth with 23.9-point loss, a seven-spot decline from first overall at the end of 2023 (128.1 points) to eighth in 2024 offseason rankings (104.2 points).
Rangers’ key additions, losses, holdovers and injury adjustment information is included in the review of the overall top 10 ranked teams.
What team do you want to hear about?
This post only got around to providing details on about half the teams. The remaining teams can be seen in this chart. But if you’d like more details about how a specific team is faring in Box-Toppers offseason team rankings, let me know and I may feature them in an upcoming post.
Some notable facts to close with:
The Oakland Athletics are the lowest-ranked team with players on its current 2024 offseason roster having earned 45.4 Box-Toppers points in 2023. That’s a decline of 6.0 points from their total at the end of 2023.
There are 235 players who have earned Box-Toppers points at some point in their careers who are listed as free agents as of Jan. 18. There are 107 of those 235 players who earned Box-Toppers points in 2023, a total of 299.8 points, which is 10.4 percent of the entire season’s total accumulated by all players (2,881.9).
About Box-Toppers
Box-Toppers tracks who most helps their team win the most games. Using standard box score statistics, Box-Toppers uses a simple formula to determine a Player of the Game for each Major League Baseball game played. That player is the person who contributed most to his team’s win. In regular season games, players earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being named Player of the Game and can earn bonus points for being Player of the Day or top player or batter in their league for the day.
Box-Toppers strives for accuracy. See a mistake in a post? A wrong name, wrong team, grammar error, spelling goof, etc.? Thanks for pointing it out! Contact Box-Toppers here. Let's fix it and make it right.
For additional updates, follow Box-Toppers on Twitter.
Related
A pitchers vs. batters breakdown of each team’s Box-Toppers point total for 2023
Can Shohei Ohtani continue his lofty, Angelic Box-Toppers rankings with Dodgers?
This post uses information from Jon Roegele’s Tommy John Surgery List.