St. Louis Cardinals. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
This week’s MLB Power Rankings takes a look at the 10 teams that are in the most desperate need to win the 2023 World Series.
There is no desperation for the Houston Astros to win the 2023 World Series. After winning it all in 2022, they can breathe. While this shouldn’t have them punting the season, it does mean they fail to make it onto this week’s MLB Power Rankings of the 10 teams in most desperate need to win it all in 2023.
This desperation meter measures a couple of things including the most recent championship, expectations for next year, and what lies ahead after 2023. Other recent champions, like the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers, will be competitive but don’t fall into that desperate category.
It’s these 10 who, for the sake of the fan base, need to win the 2023 World Series most.
10. MLB Power Rankings: Los Angeles Angels
How badly do the Los Angeles Angels need to win the 2023 World Series? They only finish at number ten because already nobody really expects them to. Despite employing Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout for the last several seasons, they’ve been an average team in their best seasons.
The desperation for this ball club to win it all in 2023 comes down to how much they’ve invested into the roster and how little they’ve gotten out of it. The Angels were only 73-89 last year and much of the summer focused on what they could possibly get back for two-way star Ohtani in a trade.
Things won’t change much this offseason. A rebuild seems to be on its way. However, it doesn’t change the desperation of the 2002 World Series winners.
9. MLB Power Rankings: Chicago White Sox
It’s actually a bit amazing how the Chicago White Sox were able to finish 81-81 last year. They did manage to catch and pass the Minnesota Twins in the division. Unfortunately, the Cleveland Guardians blew past them both and even won a round in the postseason.
The White Sox have some desperation from how unsuccessful they’ve been with a young roster full of talented superstars. We saw a couple of guys take unintentional “years off” from performing well in 2022. Now removed from the Tony La Russa era, things will hopefully improve for this ball club.
The White Sox last won a championship in 2005 which is a lifetime ago for many young fans. After all of those trades they made several years ago that include players like Chris Sale, Adam Eaton, and others, what do they have to show for it? Nothing yet.