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25 MLB players who will dominate the news cycle this year
AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

25 MLB players who will dominate the news cycle this year

Here is a list of MLB players who will dominate the news cycle for the season.  Some of the athletes will dominate the cycle for good reasons, others for bad.  Either way, be ready to hear these names all season long.

 
Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

Clayton Kershaw is one of the best pitchers on one of the best teams in baseball. All the hype and expectations that have been placed on the Dodgers are certainly impacted by how well Kershaw produces.

 
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Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco

Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco
AP Photo/Darron Cummings

Madison Bumgarner has taken the San Francisco Giants to the promised land before and has delivered at the highest level on the biggest stages possible. No #EvenYear hype can help the Giants in 2017, but Bumgarner can shut that jinx down pretty easily.

 
Javier Baez, Chicago Cubs
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Cubs have quite a few players on this list (sorry, not sorry). Baez is one of the most exciting players in the majors and it’s not really close. He plays the game with an exuberance that many players (here’s looking at you, Ian Kinsler) don’t like and can’t match. That’s okay, Javy. You do you.

 

 
Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins
Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Miami Marlins have one of the biggest hitters in the game. Stanton routinely puts on a show, and we’re not talking about just in batting practice. Stanton has some of the longest home runs hit every year and the sheer strength he hits those balls with is enough to make grown men’s jaws drop. 

 

 
Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox
Mike McGinnis/Getty Images

One of the most exciting players in baseball, Betts will be tested this season without David Ortiz batting in the Red Sox lineup.  Boston went out and got Chris Sale to add to an already decent starting rotation, so Betts needs to produce in order to give the team a chance to win.

 
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Tim Tebow

Tim Tebow
Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Any time anyone mentions Tim Tebow, the sports world groans or smiles. Either way, one will have some physical reaction to more Tebow news. Well, that's not going to change this season. Tebow will likely start out in A ball and anything that happens will be covered at length by every sports organization (this one included).

 
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Yoenis Cespedes, New York Mets

Yoenis Cespedes, New York Mets
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Whether it's Yoenis winning back-to-back Home Run Derbys or him throwing people out from the outfield, Cespedes makes headlines on a regular basis. Playing for the Mets doesn't hurt his ability to keep his name in the spotlight. What will he do this year to make us squeal with delight? I'm not sure, but we all know something incredible is going to happen - it's just a matter of when, where, and what.

 

 
Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals
Joe Robbins/Getty Images

The guy who is dying to make baseball great again will have his chance to continue his ascent to the upper echelon of the baseball elite this season. Harper has been pretty much as advertised since he came into the majors, but there is reason to think he will continue his climb. He may not be the most consistent force in baseball, but he sure is fun to watch.  

 
Khris Davis, Oakland Athletics
Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports

Khrush had a breakout season in 2016 and will look to add to his growing fan base by hitting bombs and adding some much needed pop to a lackluster lineup in Oakland... until David Forst trades him away for more prospects because that's just what Oakland does. That said, Davis proved that a good hitter can hit 40+ home runs while playing for the A's, so, no more free agent excuses, right Adrian Beltre?

 
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Jake Arrieta, Chicago Cubs

Jake Arrieta, Chicago Cubs
Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Jake Arrieta is known for being a dominant pitcher and shutting down batters like it's... well, like it's his job, because it is. Arrieta is a part of the best rotation in the majors and looks to help the Cubs get back to the World Series after winning it last year for the first time since 1908. Lucky for Cubs fans, the Cubbies wont be sellers at this year's deadline and they look to be the favorites to win it all again. What a time to be alive.

 
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Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals

Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals
Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

In 24 starts in 2016, Strasburg had 15 wins and 183 strikeouts. That's not a bad rate, and he is only looking to get better if he can throw a full slate of games. Therein lies the problem - Strasburg has only thrown 30 or more games twice in his seven-year career. Time will tell, but you'll be hearing the name Strasburg quite a bit this baseball season.

 
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Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs

Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs
Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Rizzo has the tarp catch, the ledge catch, and a World Series ring. What is he going to do this year to make our jaws drop? I can't predict the future, but I am sure he will do something that makes you laugh, shake your head, and wonder why you're not as good at anything as Anthony Rizzo is at playing baseball.

 
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David Price, Boston Red Sox

David Price, Boston Red Sox
Billie Weiss/Getty Images

Price is looking to shake the perception that he can't win games in the postseason and he will have a chance to do just that while pitching in Boston. The eight-year veteran will have a chance to lead the Red Sox back to the postseason and will be sharing the load with Rick Porcello and Chris Sale.

 
Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers
Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Miguel Cabrera is one of the most consistent, amazing, and powerful hitters that this generation has seen. He is feared by pitchers and seems to produce at an MVP level year in and year out. It's hard to compare him to anybody else because he does what he does and he does it so well, but it's safe to say you'll be seeing his name a lot this year.

 
Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies
Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images

Nolan Arenado is an absolute stud and Colorado is lucky to have him. Driving in 130+ runs the past two seasons is no small feat when we're talking about playing in the majors. Those are video game numbers and when you put it into perspective, it just goes to show how great he has been the past two years. Anthony Rizzo drove in the second most runs last year and his total was 109. Arenado is an animal at the plate and should be talked about with the best of the best this year.

 
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Jon Lester, Chicago Cubs

Jon Lester, Chicago Cubs
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Lester is getting up there in years, but he is a part of that vaunted Cubs rotation spoken of earlier. He's been in the biggest situations and shined over and over again and I am confident he would love nothing more than to add more stats to his already stellar resume to make his case for Cooperstown.

 
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Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals

Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Scherzer is far and away one of the most talented pitchers in the majors. His .968 WHIP last year is absolutely ridiculous and his career 3.29 ERA is pretty solid too. Scherzer is trying to help Strasburg lead the Nationals to the playoffs where they'll aim to do something they haven't done in God knows how long - make people respect them.

 
Aroldis Chapman, New York Yankees
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Chapman is being given second life in the majors because he throws 100+ mph routinely. He plays for the Yankees, so there will be no shortage of coverage, but he will likely be mentioned for his domestic violence issues as frequently as he is for his ability to throw a baseball.

 
Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays
Elsa/Getty Images

Bautista has made headlines for being an incredible power bat, even at his growing age. He also made headlines for getting popped in the mouth by Rougned Odor in a benches-clearing brawl where there were actually punches thrown rather than a bunch of men pushing each other around and getting extra cardio in by sprinting to the middle of the field.  Bautista will likely ruffle some feathers with some massive home runs and by running his mouth, but one thing he won't be is boring.

 
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Matt Harvey, New York Mets

Matt Harvey, New York Mets
Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Matt Harvey is coming back and trying to be better than ever. He wasn't very good in 2016, and he was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome which is cause for concern heading into the 2017 season. If he can pitch like he used to, the Mets will have a rotation that rivals the Cubs. If he can't, you'll be hearing all about it all season long.

 
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Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs

Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs
Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Kris Bryant had a coming out year last season for the Chicago Cubs. With 39 home runs and the World Series-clinching play with a smile on his face - all eyes are gonna be glued on the hot corner at Wrigley this year, and with good reason. 

 
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Jose Reyes, New York Mets

Jose Reyes, New York Mets
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Jose Reyes was once one of the best base stealers in the MLB, but those days are long gone. Like Chapman, Reyes was suspended for domestic violence and missed 51 games with the Rockies last year. He is teammates with Jeurys Familia who was just suspended for 15 games, so there will likely be mention of both teammates and their inabilities to keep their hands to themselves.

 
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Jeurys Familia, New York Mets

Jeurys Familia, New York Mets
Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

As mentioned on the previous slide, Familia was suspended for 15 games due to allegations that he had abused his then-fiancèe, now wife. He is a talented athlete, but his off-field issues will certainly cloud his time on the field this year from a fan perspective. Familia saved 51 games for the Mets last year and had an ERA of 2.55 for the season, and was also the pitcher who gave up a season ending home run to the Giants' Conor Gillaspie in the Wild Card game.

 
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Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers

Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers
Rob Tringali/Getty Images

Corey Seager took the majors by storm last year and has a chance to be a force in this league for quite some time. Playing in the shadows of the Hollywood sign doesn't hurt his chances at being noticed, and if he can keep the stat line looking pretty, he will make waves for years to come. Los Angeles loves its Dodgers and they're dying for a championship. Seager could help bring that and some exciting headlines back to the LA area. 

 
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Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels

Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels
Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Save the best for last, right? Mike Trout has drawn comparisons to the best names in the game and has finished first or second in the MVP race every season he's played over 40 games. He has five Silver Slugger awards and is one of the best things the MLB has going. He's a five tool athlete and excels in every aspect of the game. If you don't hear his name this year then you're not paying attention.

Jamie Neal is a writer who grew up in the Bay Area. You can find her on Twitter @TheJamieNeal and you can find her personal work at www.awalktotheprettyside.com.

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