The Major League Baseball season would normally be getting into gear now with spring training supposed to be under way. However a lockout is in place, with the owners and players unable to agree upon a new collective bargaining agreement.
The Lockout
The lockout means that players cannot train or play with their teams and teams cannot sign any new players. It has been in place since December 2 and the opening day of the season has been put back with both sides unable to come to an agreement over how to split the league’s revenues.
Owners and players have yet to agree upon a new settlement, with the owners claiming the lack of in-person attendance over the last two years means that they should sign a similar deal to the most recent one.
However the players are arguing that their salaries have dropped, particularly for the players not considered stars and want an increased package.
The two sides are still some way apart but hopefully there will be baseball sooner rather than later.
Angels Look Overpriced in American League
The Houston Astros are 17/4 favourites to win the American League if and when it does begin. The losing side in the World Series brought back Justin Verlander before the lockout but could lose one of their big stars, Carlos Correa, as a free agent.
The young swashbuckling Toronto Blue Jays, led by Vladimir Guerrero Jr, are 19/4 after signing starter Kevin Gausman. Toronto do face a difficult division however with the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays both strong.
At a big price. the Los Angeles Angels could be worth considering, with Oakland planning a rebuild the Angels could be the Astros’ closest challengers in the AL West and they have arguably the two best players in the world in the shape of Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout. The 16/1 shots look overpriced.
Star-Studded Dodgers the Team to Beat in NL
The Los Angeles Dodgers are 16/5 to win the National League and the star-studded team are certain to make a good run at it once more.
However the Atlanta Braves cannot be discounted at odds of 11/2. The reigning World Series champions will have outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr returning from injury and could repeat their heroics of last season. They may have to overcome the loss of first baseman Freddie Freeman, who may not return as a free agent when teams are allowed to do deals again.
The New York Mets have spent big in what offseason there was and are in at 5/1 after signing Max Scherzer, Starling Marte and Eduardo Escobar.
However any backers would surely be concerned by their collapse last season in which they led the NL East at the All-Star break before falling away to post a losing season by the end of the campaign.
*All odds correct at time of writing