Ranking baseball's lineups for 2019

No team is capable of more instant offense than the Yankees, who hit a record 267 home runs in 2018. They could hit 300 this season. Giancarlo Stanton "only" hit 38 homers a year ago, and Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez played in only 112 and 89 games, respectively, because of injuries. 

The Astros have All-Stars in the top five in their lineup: George Springer, Alex Bregman, Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and Michael Brantley. They have combined for 13 appearances in the Midsummer Classic. This core group produced an .820 OPS in 2018. Yuli Gurriel, who drove in 85 runs in 2018, is a potent hitter, too. 

There is no better duo in the game than J.D. Martinez and defending AL MVP Mookie Betts. They combined for a 1.054 OPS in 2018, with Betts leading the majors with a .346 average and Martinez leading the AL in total bases (358) and RBI (130). Xander Bogaerts, Andrew Benintendi, Rafael Devers, Jackie Bradley Jr, Mitch Moreland and Steve Pearce help provide the deepest pool of everyday talent in the American League.

The Dodgers lost late-season rental Manny Machado in free agency but get back Corey Seager, who missed most of last year due to Tommy John surgery. The NL’s deepest everyday roster also adds A.J. Pollock to an outfield that has retooled. Along with Seager, Cody Bellinger, Max Muncy, Joc Pederson and rookie Alex Verdugo make this the most dangerous left-handed lineup in the game.

There’s nothing not to like about a lineup that has MVP finalist Freddie Freeman, 2018’s NL Rookie of the Year Ronald Acuna and All-Stars Ozzie Albies and Nick Markakis. They even added a former MVP in Josh Donaldson on a one-year pact to go with returning fan favorite Brian McCann. 

Christian Yelich took the final step to superstar status during a torrid September that ended with the Brewers atop the NL Central. Yelich won the NL batting title and was named MVP. The Brewers have a multi-dimensional attack, with Travis Shaw, Eric Thames and Ryan Braun providing pop; Lorenzo Cain remains one of the top all-around contributors in the game. Mike Moustakas and Yasmani Grandal, both of whom signed one-year deals, are the cherry on top of a lethal lineup.

Nobody did more to improve their everyday lineup in the offseason than the Phillies. Bryce Harper's signing set the tone, but trades for J.T. Realmuto and Jean Segura and the signing of Andrew McCutchen ensure the Phillies will not have a second-half falloff. That doomed the team last season.

The A’s offense landed them in the AL wild-card game a year ago. Khris Davis has become a perennial 40-home run contributor, and Matt Chapman  emerged as an MVP contender. The loss of Matt Olson to a broken wrist bone hurts, but Stephen Piscotty, Marcus Semien and the versatile Jurickson Profar provide a solid safety net.

It is hard to imagine a team that could have been in better shape to lose its centerpiece performer (now divisional rival Bryce Harper) than the Nationals. Anthony Rendon has led Nats everyday performers in WAR in each of the past two years. He's arguably baseball’s most underrated player. Meanwhile, Juan Soto, Trea Turner and Victor Robles are among the best trios of dynamic, 25-and-younger talent in the game.

Nolan Arenado has averaged 40 home runs and a .931 OPS while playing in no fewer than 156 games a season since 2015. With his elite production locked in, the Rockies will be a threat on offense at hitter-friendly Coors Field or away. Charlie Blackmon and Trevor Story have taken their games to new levels over the past two years. The addition of Daniel Murphy at first base could be one of the most underrated moves of the offseason.

The Cubs could be one of the National League’s most dangerous offenses. It will take a resurgence from Kris Bryant, who battled a bad shoulder throughout 2018, as well as Javy Baez staying at the MVP-caliber level he reached a year ago. Anthony Rizzo is as dependable as they come, and Ben Zobrist continues to defy time. The biggest X-factor could be Willson Contreras, who took a step backward at the plate in his third MLB season.

It cannot be underestimated how perfect a fit Paul Goldschmidt is for a team that has lacked an offensive centerpiece recently and hasn't played in the postseason since 2015. If Marcell Ozuna puts an injury-filled first season in St. Louis behind him, Matt Carpenter sets the table and Paul DeJong comes of age in his third season, Mike Shildt’s lineup could be potent.

With an infield of  All-Star bats Joey Votto, Eugenio Suarez and Scooter Gennett, the Reds’ ability to stroke the ball isn't in question. The offseason additions of Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp affirmed this will be one of the NL’s most dangerous attacks. The loss of Gennett to a serious groin injury late in spring training hurts, but it creates a path for top prospect Nick Senzel.

The Ioss of Michael Brantley and Yan Gomes will hurt, but with Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez still on board, the Indians unique blend of power and speed production will still thrive. Terry Francona’s team must see Tyler Naquin improve, and it needs turn-back-the-clock performances from Carlos Santana and Hanley Ramirez for the Indians to keep pace with AL elites.

The Mets, who hope to put injury-plagued, underwhelming seasons in the rear-view mirror, were among the most aggressive teams in the offseason. Robinson Cano, Wilson Ramos and Jed Lowrie were added; Brandon Nimmo and Michael Conforto have enticing upsides. The Mets are hopeful young sluggers Peter Alonso and Dominic Smith produce.

The Angels spared no expense to lock up Mike Trout, the heart of the franchise (12-year, $426.5 million contract). The big question: How much support will he get from the rest of the lineup? Justin Upton will provide some thump; So will Shohei Ohtani once he rejoins the club in May. Will Andrelton Simmons, Justin Bour, Albert Pujols and Kole Calhoun deliver? 

The Rays' core of Kevin Kiermaier, Tommy Pham, Joey Wendle and exciting, young shortstop Willy Adames can put the pressure on. If Avisail Garcia and Mike Zunino can make good on the leaps of faith the the organization took on them, the Rays will be fun to watch.

With the Adrian Beltre era over, a rebuilding effort of sorts is taking place in Texas. Beltre’s heir apparent, Elvis Andrus, occupies the heart of the lineup. He's surrounded by potentially potent — yet flawed — power hitters. Joey Gallo owns extraordinary raw pop (81 homers since 2017) but struggles to make contact (.206 average, 207 strikeouts in 2018). Same story for Rougned Odor (.295 career OBP) and Nomar Mazara (20 home runs in each of the last three years, .317 OBP in 2018).

The Twins made a lot of safe, smart signings this offseason, bringing in Nelson Cruz, Marwin Gonzalez and Jonathan Schoop. It is a veteran baseline that should protect them from a flameout if their developing young talent struggles again. Eddie Rosario has star potential, and if Max Kepler, Byron Buxton and Jorge Polanco show top form, the Twins could be a dark horse in the AL Central.

The offseason loss of Paul Goldschmidt and A.J. Pollock hurts. There is nothing particularly exciting about the Diamondbacks' offense. Expect solid seasons from David Peralta, Jake Lamb and Eduardo Escobar; veterans Wilmer Flores and Adam Jones are good additions.

Aside from Mitch Haniger and Dee Gordon, the lineup is largely unrecognizable from last season. Kyle Seager will be out until May with a hand injury, and Jay Bruce, Mallex Smith, Edwin Encarnacion, Domingo Santana, Omar Narvaez and Tim Beckham will debut with Seattle. It is a motley crew, to say the least.

The Padres surprisingly won the Manny Machado sweepstakes in the offseason. It is the second consecutive offseason the Pads made a major free-agent signing (Eric Hosmer in 2018). How much impact will this expensive duo make? San Diego hopes young talent Fernando Tatis Jr., Luis Urias and Francisco Mejia step up.

The main — and perhaps only — attraction is Vladimir Guerrero Jr., whose contractually influenced delayed arrival continues to take laughably long to materialize. There's hope for breakout seasons from Randal Grichuk, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Kevin Pillar.

Starling Marte, Corey Dickerson and Francisco Cervelli are adept at getting on base, but the Pirates lack power. Perhaps Jung-Ho Kang and Gregory Polanco can help rectify that. Colin Moran, Josh Bell and Adam Frazier must deliver.

In an effort to jump-start a rebuild, the White Sox swung and missed on landing Bryce Harper or Manny Machado in the offseason. Now they hope for the best from a lineup that led the majors with 1,594 Ks last year -- 110 more than any other American League team. And much of that same roster is returning this year. Ugh.

The good news is that Buster Posey will be available for the opener. His availability was in doubt following hip surgery that ended his 2018 early. Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt are back, but there is little to be excited about in a lineup largely stuck in rebuild purgatory. It is a less-than-ideal offering for Bruce Bochy in his last season as Giants manager.

There's little to get K.C. fans excited. Whit Merrifield, who signed a contract extension, emerged as one of the most exciting players in the league. Adalberto Mondesi has tantalizing potential, too. But other than that, there is not much to see here. Salvador Perez is out for the year with a torn UCL. The big offseason pickups were Billy Hamilton, Lucas Duda and Martin Maldonado.

The Tigers get Miguel Cabrera back (again), although it is far from certain what he can bring. Outside of Miggy, the only name-brand quantity is Nick Castellanos, who could be highly sought in a trade this season. Castellanos, who already has demanded a trade from this dismal team, may be especially motivated to play well.  

New uniforms (again) in Miami, but the Marlins cannot hide an awful everyday lineup. Aside from Lewis Brinson, Brian Anderson and Jorge Alfaro, youngsters who are works in progress, the lineup is comprised mostly of low-upside veterans. The good news is that with J.T. Realmuto finally moved on. At least the rebuild can begin in full.

The Orioles were horrid in 2018, scoring the fewest runs in the American League. None of their anticipated starters hit better than Jonathan Villar’s .258 average. Chris Davis — who produced a -2.8 WAR in 2018 — is back. The O's lost 115 games last season, and now the rebuild fully begins. Yikes.