5 Intriguing Storylines to Watch as MLB’s Second Half Begins
Now that the All-Star festivities have wrapped up, the second half of the season can begin, and it’s expected to be just as entertaining – if not more – than the opening frame.
Of course, the upcoming August 2nd trade deadline will receive most of the attention over these next few weeks, as it should. With superstars Juan Soto and Shohei Ohtani potentially available, plenty of fireworks could occur very shortly.
Fans better have their popcorn ready.
Once the dust settles from the trade deadline, everyone’s focus will shift to the AL and NL playoff races, which are slated to feature an extra layer of drama with the expanded postseason format. Unlike in previous years, three wild-card seeds are up for grabs in both leagues this season.
There’s still plenty of baseball left to play in 2022, and as things currently stand, there shouldn’t be any shortage of excitement over these final three months of the regular season.
With that in mind, here are five noteworthy storylines to watch down the stretch:
Will Juan Soto Finish The Season in Washington?
The Washington Nationals won’t be able to re-sign outfielder Juan Soto, who recently rejected a 15-year, $440-million contract offer. So their only option is to trade the two-time All-Star, but that won’t be easy.
Soto is a generational talent and is just 23-years-old. He won’t turn 24 until October, and is under team control through 2024. That means any team that acquires him this season will have him for three potential playoff runs before he becomes eligible for free agency.
It won’t be cheap to acquire the two-time Silver Slugger. Though, that hasn’t discouraged organizations from pursuing him. A handful of franchises have already displayed interest thus far, including three from the NL West Division.
To acquire Soto, however, you’ll need to offer up most – if not all – of your top prospects. Not everyone will likely be willing to do that, even for one of the sport’s best players.
The Soto watch is officially on, but unless someone matches Washington’s high price, it might be more likely that he’s dealt this off-season.
Is Shohei Ohtani’s Tenure With Los Angeles Nearing an End?
Shohei Ohtani is another franchise icon that could potentially be moved by this season’s trade deadline. That is, of course, if the Los Angeles Angels decided to part with him.
The Angels are currently positioned fourth in the AL West with a disappointing 39-53 record, placing them 10.5 games out of a playoff spot. Their postseason odds sit at just 1.6 percent, according to FanGraphs. That’s not encouraging.
Barring a miracle, Los Angeles’ playoff drought will extend to eight campaigns, with its last postseason berth occurring in 2014. Another year of Ohtani’s and Mike Trout’s prime will have been wasted, largely due to the club’s never-ending pitching woes.
While Trout, who’s signed through 2030 at $35.5 million per season, probably isn’t going anywhere, Ohtani could be. The 28-year-old can enter free agency after next season and is likely to sign elsewhere if given the opportunity.
Obviously, the Angels can’t afford to lose the 2021 AL MVP for nothing, which could open the door to a possible trade down the line. Perhaps as soon as this season.
Similar to Soto, if Ohtani becomes available, he’ll undoubtedly fetch a massive return of future assets via trade. It’ll be interesting to see if anyone’s willing to pay that price.
Narrow Race Between Mets, Braves For NL East Division Title
The NL East Division doesn’t receive as much national coverage as other divisions like the NL West and AL East, however, that should change in the second half.
At the moment, the New York Mets hold a slim 2.5-game lead over the second-place Atlanta Braves, who are looking to capture consecutive World Series titles. They’d be the first franchise to do so since the New York Yankees won three straight from 1998-2000.
But this divisional race wasn’t always this tight. It looked dramatically different a month ago when New York controlled first place by 10.5 games on June 1. That margin quickly shrunk, though, as Atlanta went 21-6 that month, including a 14-game winning streak.
As July began, the Braves trailed first place by just 3.5 games, putting them back in the hunt for the division crown. Better yet, these two franchises face each other 12 more times in 2022, with nine matchups scheduled for August.
The trade deadline will likely be crucial for both clubs as they attempt to bolster their respective rosters. But if the first half was any indication of what’s to follow, there should be plenty of quality showdowns between these franchises moving forward.
Have Yankees Peaked Too Early? Will They Regret Their First-Half Dominance?
Struggling to find your mojo when the playoffs begin is a manager’s worst nightmare, although that’s an obstacle Aaron Boone could face this fall.
The Yankees have dominated this season, going 64-30 through their first 94 games. That’s translated to a commanding 12.0-game lead for first place in the AL East. They’ll likely clinch the division long before the end of September.
At their current pace, the team is projected to win 102 contests, tying the Los Angeles Dodgers for the best record in the majors. Clinching early could potentially prove to be their downfall in October, though.
It’s not always easy to flip the competitive switch after playing meaningless games in late September, and that could be even more challenging if the Yankees receive a first-round bye.
Rest is vital, especially in baseball, where you play almost every day. But it can also become a highwire act of sorts. Avoiding rust is just as important as staying fresh for the playoffs, but choosing the most ideal path isn’t normally an obvious decision.
That’s something the Yankees will have to monitor the rest of the way.
After Overcoming Slow Start, Can Mariners Remain a Playoff Contender?
Every season, baseball fans wonder if this will be the year when the Seattle Mariners snap the longest active playoff drought in North American professional sports, which stands at 20 seasons.
The Mariners, who’re 51-42, would be in the playoffs if they opened today, as they currently possess the second wild-card seed. But there are still plenty of games remaining.
Seattle was one of the hottest clubs in the majors leading into the All-Star break, finishing on a 14-game winning streak. Led by young phenom Julio Rodríguez, they overcame their miserable start to the season that caused most experts to believe they’d miss the postseason.
Now, the Mariners are well-positioned to play on October’s biggest stage. Their remaining schedule is the fifth-easiest (.492) in the AL, which includes nine contests versus the Texas Rangers. They’ll also finish the regular season with a seven-game stretch against Oakland and Detroit.
The odds are certainly in their favour to finally return to the playoffs for the first time since 2001.
-Thomas Hall
Twitter: @ThomasHall85