MLB Power Rankings - Opening Day Edition: Nationals boast top spot

1. Washington Nationals

Bryce Harper's hubris was totally justified after his club agreed to a mammoth deal with Max Scherzer in January. "Where's my ring?" quipped the 22-year-old with a career 121 OPS+ who could emerge as the focal point of a dangerously deep offense in 2015. Blessed with an obnoxiously talented rotation and a lineup devoid of obvious weakness, there's no reason to believe Washington won't finish as the best team in the National League for a second successive season even with Anthony Rendon's health status up in the air.

2. Los Angeles Dodgers

Another premature postseason exit prompted an aggressive offseason from the club's revamped front office, as Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi spent a lot of dough this winter to bolster a team that excelled at run production last season while also fielding baseball's second-strongest rotation. With Howie Kendrick, Hector Olivera, Jimmy Rollins and Brandon McCarthy on the payroll, a division title seems inevitable for the Dodgers, who finished second in the NL in run differential in 2014.

3. Los Angeles Angels

Did everyone forget that the Angels led all of baseball with 98 wins last summer while averaging more runs per game than any other club? Between Mike Trout, Albert Pujols and Kole Calhoun, the Angels appear poised to once again field a prolific offense  despite the loss of Howie Kendrick and the uncertain status of Josh Hamilton. (Matt Joyce, incidentally, may be a stronger option than Hamilton considering how his skills have eroded of late). Garrett Richards, meanwhile, will return shortly from knee surgery to anchor a rotation that managed the fourth-best fielding independent pitching in the American League last season.

4. Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates' emphasis on drafting and player development has paid dividends in recent years, as an impressive stable of homegrown talent led Pittsburgh to the playoffs in each of the last two seasons. Armed with an absurdly talented outfield - the triumvirate of Andrew McCutchen, Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco accrued 11.4 wins above replacement last season - and a lineup that loves to put the ball in play, the Pirates should be able to overcome the loss of Russell Martin with positive regression from Pedro Alvarez and, perhaps, some late-season contributions from top prospects Nick Kingham and Jameson Taillon.

5. St. Louis Cardinals

It's tough to find fault with a team that earned a second successive division title last year and has averaged roughly 91 wins per season since 2011, but the Cardinals are getting a little old, aren't they? Not only did Yadier Molina's offensive decline continue in 2014, but the six-time All-Star also endured the first serious injury of his career. Though he enjoyed another fine season, Matt Holliday's numbers also started slipping a bit. Adam Wainwright, meanwhile, struggled with elbow pain in the second half and posted his lowest strikeout rate since 2008. At worst, the Cardinals will be not bad this season, but increased production from youngsters like Kolten Wong and Carlos Martinez may be needed for St. Louis to retain their division crown.

6. Seattle Mariners

Buoyed by an elite pitching staff, the Mariners nearly snapped their 12-year playoff drought last season, but ultimately fell one win shy of a wild-card berth. Poised once again to field a formidable rotation, however, the Mariners used this offseason to address the deficiencies in their lineup, adding Nelson Cruz, Seth Smith and Justin Ruggiano to a lineup that eked out the fourth-worst wRC+ in the American League last season and received a ghastly -2.1 WAR from their carousel of designated hitters. Only a modest improvement in run production should get the Mariners into the playoffs, though, if the club's staff can even approximate its 86 ERA- from 2014.

7. Toronto Blue Jays

A series of somewhat unexpected moves brought both Josh Donaldson and Russell Martin to Canada this winter, affording the Blue Jays an immensely potent lineup that's eerily reminiscent of the offenses Toronto boasted during the halcyon days of the early 1990s. Though Alex Anthopoulos didn't address his team's most glaring weaknesses - namely in the bullpen and at second base - with expensive free agents, the Blue Jays will let a gaggle of largely unproven (but considerably talented) youngsters fill in the remaining holes behind an impressive cohort of veterans. The Blue Jays' roster features lots of uncertainty, to be sure, but the club's mixture of elite veterans and high-upside prospects could pay off handsomely in a division without a juggernaut.

8. Boston Red Sox

Ben Cherington resolved this winter to improve his offense after watching the Red Sox produce the second-worst wRC+ in the AL last season. The tenacious executive brought Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval to Boston this winter, adding a pair of accomplished veterans to an eclectic offensive core anchored by legends like David Ortiz but buoyed by the promise of youngsters like Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts (and possibly Blake Swihart). In a decidedly unspectacular AL East, the Red Sox may be able to eke out a division title by relying on a prolific offense that can compensate for the struggles of a roundly unimpressive pitching staff.

9. San Diego Padres

A.J. Preller turned the volume up to 11 this winter, earning countless plaudits for his radical roster overhaul just months after taking over as general manager. Preller added considerable thump to his lineup - the Padres finished last in the majors with a .634 OPS in 2014 - by acquiring Justin Upton, Matt Kemp and Wil Myers, the kind of premium offensive talent that's been missing for some time in San Diego. The intrepid executive also added James Shields (on a hometown discount, mind you) to an already impressive rotation and brokered another blockbuster for Craig Kimbrel on Sunday, adding a historically dominant closer to one of baseball's strongest bullpens. The Padres, consequently, seem ready to be taken seriously again after almost a half-decade of mediocrity.

10. Detroit Tigers

Though the Tigers secured a fourth straight division title six months ago, Dave Dombrowski's gang will take the field Opening Day with their recent stretch of dominance over the AL Central in legitimate peril. After an abrupt exit from the division series amplified the regression of Justin Verlander, the Tigers lost Max Scherzer to free agency and shipped Rick Porcello to Boston this winter, putting considerable pressure on their talented but increasingly seasoned offense. Only one team averaged more runs per game than Detroit in 2014, but with considerable turnover in the rotation (and the dismal state of their bullpen), the Tigers may once again need to field an elite offense to remain competitive.

11. Cleveland Indians

Much of the optimism surrounding the Indians as a new season dawns revolves around their talented but mercurial pitching rotation, which led the AL with a 3.33 FIP last season. Expectations should probably be tempered, however, as Danny Salazar was recently optioned to Triple-A and elbow surgery will likely sideline Gavin Floyd for the entire season. There's still plenty of talent in Cleveland, but if the club's postseason chances are contingent on players like Michael Brantley, Carlos Carrasco and Lonnie Chisenhall repeating their performances from last summer, there's reason for skepticism.

12. Chicago Cubs

Notwithstanding a listless performance against the Cardinals on Sunday, the Cubs remain primed to return to relevance in 2015 after Theo Epstein augmented his army of youngsters with solid veterans like Jon Lester, Dexter Fowler, Miguel Montero and Jason Hammel this winter. Newly hired manager Joe Maddon might go gray(er) keeping his band of inexperienced 20-somethings focused for the next six months, but few clubs boast a roster as replete with young talent as the Cubs, who could soon field a lineup that includes Anthony Rizzo, Jorge Soler, Starlin Castro, Javier Baez and Kris Bryant.

13. Chicago White Sox

No executive was as opportunistic this winter as Rick Hahn, who expedited his club's half-hearted rebuilding process with a number of major offseason additions that should thrust the White Sox into the playoff conversation in a decidedly mediocre AL Central. The acquisition of Jeff Samardzija (and the impending arrival of Carlos Rodon) could give the White Sox one of baseball's top rotations, while the offense should improve dramatically following the additions of Melky Cabrera and Adam LaRoche. Hahn's busy winter may not be enough to dethrone the Tigers, but his club could easily vie for a wild-card berth amid remarkable parity in the AL.

14. New York Mets

Despite the loss of Zack Wheeler to Tommy John surgery, the Mets are still poised to field one of baseball's best rotations, a group buoyed considerably by the return of right-hander Matt Harvey. There are, however, reasons for increased optimism within the lineup, too, as the addition of Michael Cuddyer and restored health from David Wright should help bolster an offense that posted a .673 OPS last season, the fifth-worst mark in the majors.

15. Miami Marlins

GM Dan Jennings spent a lot of time on the phone this winter, trying to make good on the promise he made when he signed Giancarlo Stanton to a 13-year extension in November. His efforts to provide the 25-year-old with a strong supporting cast proved fruitful, as the Marlins added Dee Gordon, Michael Morse, Martin Prado and Mat Latos to the payroll this winter. The rotation remains thin at the moment, but the offense should improve this season upon its pedestrian 93 wRC+ from 2014, and the eventual return of Jose Fernandez is a notion that warms the cockles of even the blackest hearts.

16. Oakland Athletics

Billy Beane was at it again this winter, ruthlessly overhauling his roster following a heartbreaking defeat in the AL wild-card game. Though he fulfilled his mandate to re-stock a depleted farm system, Beane also acquired a number of major-leaguers (e.g. Billy Butler, Brett Lawrie, Tyler Clippard) who will either serve as trade chips in July or provide on-field value in the near future when the Athletics are more prepared to contend. The upcoming season won't be too spectacular in Oakland, but it's tough to criticize Beane's latest efforts towards sustainable success.

17. Milwaukee Brewers

Beyond trading for first baseman Adam Lind in October, the Brewers did little to improve their roster this winter after stumbling through a disastrous second half of the 2014 campaign. As such, run production shouldn't be too much of a problem for Milwaukee this summer, though the club's pitching staff inspires little more than tepid enthusiasm. Only three National League clubs managed a worse FIP- than the Brewers last season, while only one of Milwaukee's projected starters posted an above-average strikeout rate in 2014.

18. San Francisco Giants

Barely six months have passed since that magical night at Kauffman Stadium, but the Giants look like a decidedly different club than the one that hoisted the Commissioner's Trophy in Kansas City. Both Pablo Sandoval and Michael Morse are gone, delivering a serious blow to a pedestrian lineup that will already be without Hunter Pence for at least a month. Though the bullpen remains in tact, the rotation remains dubious beyond Madison Bumgarner, as Tim Hudson, Tim Lincecum and Jake Peavy each posted a FIP considerably worse than league average in 2014.

19. Cincinnati Reds

Despite breakout performances from both Todd Frazier and Devin Mesoraco, the Reds still fielded one of the league's most pitiful offenses in 2014 amid regression from Jay Bruce and a devastating injury to Joey Votto. The club's struggles with the bat were so profound, in fact, that most people have already forgotten that the Reds averaged nearly 94 wins in each of the two seasons prior. The pitching rotation isn't quite as formidable as it once was - Walt Jocketty traded away both Mat Latos and Alfredo Simon this winter - but the addition of Marlon Byrd and restored health from some of their key contributors could afford the Reds a surprisingly competent offense in 2015.

20. New York Yankees

Maybe the club's offseason spending spree last winter paid off, because the Yankees were the only team in baseball to finish higher than third in their division while also managing a negative run differential. Thanks to a stalwart bullpen and strong record in one-run games, the Yankees wildly outperformed their expected record, and regression looms large for Joe Girardi's bunch in 2015. Though the additions of Andrew Miller and David Carpenter will offset the loss of David Robertson, the Yankees still project to be a below-average offensive team with plenty of uncertainty in their rotation. Only one of New York's projected starters has yet to celebrate his 30th birthday, meanwhile, and Derek Jeter isn't around anymore to divert everyone's attention away from how ordinary the Yankees really are. 

21. Baltimore Orioles

No team exhibited more power in 2014 than Baltimore, who banged enough home runs to compensate for a mediocre pitching staff and claim the franchise's first division title since 1997. Unfortunately, though, that strategy only works when you're actually, you know, hitting home runs. The Orioles did pretty much nothing to offset the departures of Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis this winter, while neither Steve Pearce nor Delmon Young can realistically be counted on to repeat their performances from last season. As such, the Orioles remain an offense-first team with a dubious lineup and an uninspired rotation that won't be able to pick up the slack should the bats go limp.

22. Kansas City Royals

With all due respect to the Royals, who cobbled together a truly magical postseason run last autumn, there wasn't much about Kansas City's performance in 2014 that suggests sustainability: unlikely success with runners in scoring position and general good fortune on the mound conspired to afford the Royals five more wins than expected given their run differential. The loss of James Shields, meanwhile, cuts deep for a rotation that managed a 4.05 xFIP last season, and the continued absence of offensive firepower looms large for a team that posted the worst isolated power in baseball last summer.

23. Tampa Bay Rays

Matt Silverman engineered a pretty thorough overhaul after taking over for Andrew Friedman in October, swapping Ben Zobrist, Wil Myers, Matt Joyce, and Yunel Escobar for prospect capital to bolster an organization that hasn't had much success in the draft of late. Incidentally, the Rays still boast the best rotation in their division - the club's starting corps managed a 2.99 ERA after the All-Star break last season - but their lineup remains uninspired, at best, even if unproven guys like Steven Souza and Kevin Kiermaier do enjoy some modicum of success.

24. Houston Astros

The Astros finished with more than 56 wins last season for the first time since 2010 as the club's painstaking rebuild began to pay dividends in the majors. The club further accelerated its march towards relevance this winter by signing a number of free agents - among them, Jed Lowrie, Colby Rasmus and Luke Gregerson - to augment the crew of talented youngsters who arrived in Houston last season. After several trying years, however, the Astros' lineup looks somewhat respectable heading into 2015, though the rotation remains uninspired. Still, the Astros won't be a pushover this summer, and that constitutes progress for the organization.

25. Texas Rangers

The 2014 campaign was a total write-off for the Rangers, who cycled through more than 60 players amid a ridiculous spate of injuries before manager Ron Washington tendered his resignation in September for personal reasons. Some positive regression is expected this summer, but the Rangers' prospects for 2015 have already been felled by injury. Jurickson Profar, for example, will miss the whole season amid further complications in his troublesome shoulder while Yu Darvish will also be forced to watch from the dugout this summer after undergoing Tommy John surgery last month. As such, the rotation remains suspect and the lineup is comprised mainly of either declining veterans or low-upside youngsters that offer little reason for excitement.

26. Minnesota Twins

In preparation for the youth movement headed to Minnesota, GM Terry Ryan spent some money this winter to provide veteran insulation for the kids expected to join the big-league squad shortly. With guys like Torii Hunter and Ervin Santana on the payroll, the Twins should more gracefully pass the time waiting for Miguel Sano, Byron Buxton and Alex Meyer. Though the upcoming season really is a transitional one for the Twins, further development from the club's young players (namely Oswaldo Arcia, Kennys Vargas and Danny Santana) could afford Minnesota a decent stable of talent for when the top prospects arrive.

27. Colorado Rockies

Stop if you've heard this one before: The Rockies scraped together a decent offense in 2014 despite prolonged absences from both Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez, but still finished umpteen games back of a postseason berth. As always, a dearth of effective pitching plagued the Rockies last season, wherein the club's motley staff finished dead last in the majors in WAR, FIP, and adjusted ERA. Eager to buck the trend, the Rockies will allow their younger, more promising arms - guys like Jonathan Gray, Eddie Butler and Tyler Matzek - to ply their trade at the MLB level this season. It's a decision that suggests an increased emphasis on pursuing upside rather than accepting mediocrity.

28. Atlanta Braves

John Hart promptly blew up his roster after taking over as president of baseball operations in October, trading away Justin Upton, Jason Heyward, Craig Kimbrel and Melvin Upton Jr. to infuse his organization with some much-needed youth. Though it'll be a trying summer in Georgia, the Braves did what needed to be done this winter, bolstering their asset base with medium/high-upside prospects - Max Fried, Matt Wisler, Mike Foltynewicz, Tyrell Jenkins and Rio Ruiz, among them -  that grew increasingly scarce within the organization of late.

29. Arizona Diamondbacks

Reasonable people could argue that Arizona has at least a decent chance of fielding a league-average offense in 2015 held together by Paul Goldschmidt, Mark Trumbo and, perhaps, Yasmany Tomas. Unfortunately, though, pitching is a thing that exists and the Diamondbacks have virtually none of it. Only five teams received less value from their starters than the Diamondbacks last year, and GM Dave Stewart traded his team's second-best pitcher from one season ago - Wade Miley - to Boston this winter. The current permutation of Arizona's rotation is comprised entirely of mediocre, low-upside placeholders - the kind of pitchers who hold onto roster spots for teams in the midst of a transition phase.

30. Philadelphia Phillies

After clinging to delusions of grandeur for two straight summers, GM Ruben Amaro Jr. finally started to disassemble his aging, expensive roster. The maligned executive parted ways with one franchise icon in Jimmy Rollins this winter (he also shipped Marlon Byrd to Cincinnati) and will spend the next six months trying to unload his other costly veterans, namely Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Cole Hamels. With a newfound emphasis on the future, however, the club's gutted roster seems destined for a last-place finish in the NL East in 2015 as the Phillies prepare for a new chapter in franchise history.