Rebuilding a team is never easy, and it often requires seasons of bottom-dwelling to regain relevance. However, not all rebuilds can be treated equally, as it sometimes works quite well but fails other times. So, how successful has each recent MLB rebuild been?
Chicago Cubs:
After losing ten games in a row midway through the 2021 season, the Cubs' front desk decided it was time to rebuild. Nearly every notable player on the team was sold for prospects during a fire sale at the trade deadline. Their rebuild has worked rather well. The team has progressed since then but isn't quite at a contending level yet. However, the Cubs have a young core, consisting of Nico Hoerner, Seiya Suzuki, Justin Steele, and Mark Letier Jr. The Cubs' rebuild has been one of the more successful recent rebuilds, and the team will likely be contending in seasons to come.
Washington Nationals:
The Nationals' rebuild began during the same time as the Cubs' allowing for a completely equal comparison. The Nats' rebuild has not been as successful as the Cubs'. The Nats are still in the bottom-dwelling phase but have plenty of young talent. Josiah Gray, Mackenzie Gore, Lane Thomas, and C.J Abrams have given the team a talented core to build around. The next step for the rebuild is to make the team more complete by adding players through free agency. If they nail the 2024 free-agent market, the Nationals could regain contention sooner rather than later.
Baltimore Orioles:
The Orioles' rebuild lasted an extensive amount of time, more than it should have, but the rewards have been worthwhile. The O's have been one of the most surprising and successful teams during this season. They currently sit atop the AL East and the entire American League due to their young talent such as Adley Rutchman, Ryan Mountcastle, Austin Hays, and Michael Baunman. The team might not find much playoff success due to their lack of experience, but their proven young talent will allow the Orioles to contend for comming years. The O's rebuild is finally over, but it could have been done quicker.
Oakland A's:
When a Billionaire owner sheds payroll and receives no prospects in return, a rebuild will likely fail. The A's being a disaster and in complete shambles is not new information. Since they only have two top-100 prospects, the challenge of acquiring young talent is a much tougher hill to climb than needed. For that to happen, the team must draft well over the next few years, which is unlikely. And moving to Las Vegas isn't going to help. The A's rebuild has managed terribly, thus the mess they are currently in.
Pittsburg Pirates:
It feels as though the Pirates have been rebuilding for quite a long time, and they have. Similarly to the Orioles, this rebuild has taken much longer than it should have. Though the Pirates rebuild is still in progress and has been since 2017. The Pirates' early season surge was surprising, but it didn't last. In May, the team was sitting with a 20-9 record and at first in the National League. But now they sit at dead last in the NL Central. The young talents of Ke'Bryan Hays and O'Niel Cruz provide hope for a struggling team, but the Pirates don't have enough franchise cornerstones to contend, despite a lengthy rebuild.
Arizona Diamondbacks:
The Diamondbacks' rebuild could not have gone better. After just two years of hitting rock bottom in 2021, the D-Backs are now alive in the playoff race. The Rookie of the Year (ROTY) frontrunner Corbin Carrol has become the face of the franchise in just four months. Carrol's combination of contact, power, and speed makes him one of the most talented players and one of the most fun to watch. Other offensive producers such as Geraldo Perdomo and Ketel Marte keep the offense from becoming the Corbin Carrol show. The pitching staff is loaded with veteran talents in Zac Gallen, Merril Kelly, and Andrew Chafin. The D-Backs rebuild went perfectly, giving the team a bright future ahead of them.
Kansas City Royals:
It's hard to believe that the Royals were World Series Champs and an American League juggernaut less than ten years ago. But those days of dominance are long gone. The Royals have been rebuilding since 2018 and have found little success to show for five years of rebuilding. The team has hit rock bottom this season, losing less than 30 percent of their games. They have not traded aging veterans like Salvador Perez and Zack Greinke and have no players in the top 100 prospect rankings. The Royals don't have much of anything to hope for in years to come, but you can never be sure.
Seattle Mariners:
To end on a good note, the Mariners' recent rebuild has been successful. The rebuild began in 2019, and the team was contending just two years later. Young superstar slugger Julio Rodriguez has been the face of the franchise, and other young talents such as Logan Gilbert and Andres Munoz have also contributed to the team's resurgence. But the Mariners have also brought it a strong veteran supporting cast, including Ty France and Luis Castillo. The Mariners were edged out of the postseason in 2021 but made their first playoff appearance in over 20 years during the 2022 season. They haven't quite been able to reach that level in 2023, but the much-needed rebuild brought the Mariners back into contention.
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