A shortened season with expanded playoffs meant it was easier for teams to make the postseason than in any other year. Even so, 14 teams are bowing out before October.
With the beginning of the offseason nearly upon us, let's take a look at what's next for the teams that failed to make the playoffs.
Arizona is very much on the fence when it comes to competing in 2021. The D-backs have a handful of talented players with Ketel Marte heading the group despite a disappointing 2020 season. They signed Madison Bumgarner last offseason and his salary goes up, though the team shed potential future commitments to Starling Marte and Archie Bradley Jr. at the trade deadline. The team has a solid farm system and theoretically has a ton of payroll room. The team will have to decide whether it wants to tread water next season or make another splash in free agency and try to get back to the playoffs.
The Orioles were a little better than people thought they would be, but they are still in the valley of their rebuild. They've got a cheap club option on Jose Iglesias that they probably will exercise. The most important thing for the Orioles this winter is to try to keep their minor leaguers active so 2020 isn't a completely lost season for them. They can look for more Iglesias-like options on the free-agent market, but there isn't much they can do in 2021 except hope some of their younger prospects get better and that their young major leaguers like Ryan Mountcastle build on the success of this season.
This offseason will look a little different than the last one for the Red Sox, but there are still a lot of questions that need answering. As constructed, they don't look like a contender. The payroll looks to be in the $150 million range so they could easily spend some money on starting pitching and make themselves more competitive, but after last year's cuts, I'm not sure anybody is holding their breath waiting for the Sox to make big moves to improve.
Whether they like it or not, the Rockies' offseason is going to be all about Nolan Arenado. He has an opt-out clause after 2021, with Trevor Story and Jon Gray also free agents after next year. There's not a lot of help from the farm system, but Colorado has the makings of a good rotation with German Marquez, Antonio Senzatela, Kyle Freeland and Gray. The Rockies could blow things up and take a step back or go for it again next season. Doing nothing probably would lead to another disappointing season and a fairly bleak future.
Detroit was mildly competitive for a time this season and there are reasons to see a bright future for the Tigers. They have a ton of good, young starting pitching, in the majors and the minors. Jeimer Candelario seems to have broken out, Jacoby Jones had a promising season before injury, though Isak Paredes didn't have a great debut. Top pick Spencer Torkelson will be ready soon as well. Other than Miguel Cabrera, the team has no committed payroll to speak of. The Tigers just have to decide if they are giving the rebuild one more year (like the White Sox did after 2018) before really making their move or if they see an opportunity to make some smart value plays, much like Toronto last year, and see if they can make it to the playoffs.
The 2020 Royals saw debuts from pitchers Brady Singer and Kris Bubic, and Bobby Witt Jr. and recent draftee Asa Lacy are among the top 50 prospects in baseball. The best players on the big league club were the over-30 Salvador Perez and Whit Merrifield, though Brad Keller turned in a solid season. With the emergence of the White Sox, and the Twins and Indians not going anywhere, the Royals probably will spend at least another year rebuilding and need to take more chances on potential diamonds in the rough who could help them compete in another year or two.
There's only one real question for the Angels: How do they build a winner around Mike Trout? The team made solid additions last year with Anthony Rendon and Dylan Bundy. Andrew Heaney and David Fletcher took steps forward, but a lack of depth hurt the Angels and they ended up outside the postseason again. Andrelton Simmons is the major loss in free agency, but L.A. should have some payroll room if it chooses to wade deeply in free agency and get the help they need. Trevor Bauer might be an ideal candidate for the rotation.
What will new ownership bring for the Mets? The only long-term deals on the books are for Jacob deGrom (good) and Robinson Cano (not so good). Even without new ownership, the Mets were going to have a ton of flexibility in both the short and long term to make significant financial commitments. The team is relatively heavy with youngish veterans and isn't too far off from being a playoff contender. The Mets could fill some holes (center field and catcher) via free agency with George Springer and J.T. Realmuto. If Steve Cohen wants to make a splash, he has the resources and opportunity.
Philadelphia has spent big the past two offseasons with little to show for it. J.T. Realmuto is the big potential free-agent loss, but Didi Gregorius had a solid year as well and also is a free agent. The team will need to decide what it wants to do with Realmuto, but unless the Phillies are drastically cutting payroll, money shouldn't really be an issue. With Alec Bohm and Spenser Howard, the Phillies have good, young players to add to their core. Keeping the team together and making another run at things in 2021 wouldn't be the worst plan.
This is the second offseason for Ben Cherington, though the first full offseason after taking over as general manager last November. Pittsburgh has a very good farm system and fans got a preview of Ke'Bryan Hayes this year, but there's not enough there to get Pittsburgh back in contention. The Pirates probably will decline Chris Archer's option and let Keone Kela become a free agent. Pittsburgh will need to continue to build its farm system and target short-term help at the major league level to help it get closer to a competitive level.
San Francisco surprised this year thanks to Mike Yastrzemski's big breakout along with good years from Brandon Belt, Donovan Solano, Austin Slater and Alex Dickerson, but not all of those players should be expected to contribute at the same level next season. The Giants will be clear of almost all long-term contracts after next season, so the question is whether they try for one more run with Belt, Brandon Crawford and Buster Posey or wait until they are gone before trying to build the next winner. There might be some calls to sell high on Yaz, but they aren't likely to get a great return, and his value is probably higher with the Giants than any return they might receive.
Seattle is going to have to decide whether it's willing to have one more really bad year before trying to supplement its prospects. Marco Gonzales has some trade value and the Mariners could probably move Kyle Seager and Yusei Kikuchi if they attached some cash and cleared the rest of their deals off the books. With Jarred Kelenic and Julio Rodriguez, Seattle has two of the very best prospects in baseball. The team could bring them up in an environment of at least semi-competitiveness with some additions, or just have another tough year by doing nothing or moving some veterans.
Is this the offseason the Rangers finally go for it? The team has made, savvy low-key signings over the past few years with Lance Lynn and Mike Minor both finding success. The team avoided spending big and pared down payroll significantly. Unfortunately, the wins went down as well. The team doesn't have a ton of help on the farm and with Lynn and Joey Gallo set to hit free agency after next season, it might finally be time for Texas to add some big names as it hopefully welcomes fans into its new ballpark next season.
The Nationals ended up with about the same record after 60 games as they did in 2019, but without the extra 100 to make up for a slow start, a championship repeat was not happening. The team is still loaded with talent, but injuries kept the club from putting it together this year. They'll have to decide on option years for Adam Eaton and Anibal Sanchez. Max Scherzer will be a free agent after next season, so reinforcing the roster a bit and making another run with a combo of veterans and young stars seems like a reasonable plan.