MLB Power Rankings: Did New York Yankees Finish Top-10?
Oct 2, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Mariners center fielder Brad Miller (5) yells out after hitting a solo home run against the Oakland Athletics in the fifth inning at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports
21. Chicago White Sox (76-86)
MVP: Jose Abreu
Cy Young: Chris Sale
Biggest Disappointment: Jeff Samardzija
The White Sox offense never really got going, and it hurt the team in the long run. Additions of Melky Cabrera and Adam LaRoche didn’t pay off as well as they had hoped for, as LaRoche struggled adapting to the DH role. But, they weren’t as poor as Samardzija, who finished the season with a 4.96 ERA. He flashed his abilities at times, but it was never on a consistent basis and he never lived up to the hype as the No.2 behind Sale. Jose Quintana was strong but got no run support again, as Carlos Rodon also looked good as well. David Robertson was also shaky at times as the closer, as the White Sox free agent acquisitions were far from a home run.
20. Boston Red Sox (78-84)
MVP: Xander Bogaerts
Cy Young: Eduardo Rodriguez
Biggest Disappointment: Offseason Acquisitions
Bogaerts is one of many young position players the Red Sox have to build around, as Mookie Betts also spent the season getting better at the major league level. Add in Rusney Castillo, Jackie Bradley Jr., Travis Shaw and Blake Swihart and the Red Sox have something brewing for the future at the plate. The mound is a different story, where they don’t have much going on. Rodriguez was the best of the bunch this season despite having the normal ups and downs of a young player. The biggest problem this season for the Red Sox was their offseason acquisitions struggling, as Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval struggled mightily in the lineup and Wade Miley and Justin Masterson left a ton to be desired.
19. Seattle Mariners (76-86)
MVP: Nelson Cruz
Cy Young: Felix Hernandez
Most Disappointing: Pitching Staff
Robinson Cano was a close second in the most disappointing category, but his torrid second half kept him from that designation. Outside of Hernandez, the Mariners staff came up pretty short, as injuries derailed Hisashi Iwakuma and James Paxson, while Taijuan Walker was inconsistent. Fernando Rodney was also a dumpster fire at the end of games, as the strength of the team quickly became a problem. Cruz though gave the Mariners everything they wanted and more as a right-handed power bat in the middle of their lineup.
Next: Did Diamondbacks Reach .500?