Playing in MLB is definitely not easy, as unexpected circumstances can expose a flawed team.
Injuries and slumps can expose a poorly constructed roster, and time usually separates pretenders from the real contenders.
These three MLB teams fall under the ‘pretenders’ category.
3. Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins have been perhaps MLB’s biggest disappointment in 2021.
At least other pretenders, such as the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels, to name just two, have a .500 record.
The Twins are 35-48, 13.5 games behind the Chicago White Sox for the division lead.
After Byron Buxton got injured, the Twins’ lack of star power was exposed.
Nelson Cruz and Josh Donaldson are getting up there in age, and other expected contributors have been injured or underperforming.
The good thing is that Minnesota can try to get some assets, in the form of prospects, as they can trade some veterans before the deadline.
And the other positive is that they can get a long look at some of the top prospects in the organization, such as Trevor Larnach and Alex Kirilloff.
They can retool and try to get ready to compete next year, but the 2021 MLB season is just a pipe dream for Minnesota.
2. Los Angeles Angels
Once again, the Angels entered the season with high hopes of finally making the postseason and not waste another year of Mike Trout’s prime.
And yet, they once again have disappointed.
They currently sit fourth in their division with a 42-42 record.
Even the Seattle Mariners have a better record than the Angels.
While it’s true that Trout has been injured for most of the season, the Angels’ pitching has been exposed once again.
The Angels’ staff is among the worst in the league, with only Shohei Ohtani and Patrick Sandoval below the 4.00 ERA threshold among starters, at 3.60 and 3.86, respectively.
Dylan Bundy has been a bitter disappointment (6.68 ERA), and the same goes to Griffin Canning (5.60), Jose Quintana (6.92), and Andrew Heaney (5.40).
Man the Angels would be serious World Series contenders if they had a competent rotation & bullpen
— Andrew Goodwin (@AndrewNGoodwin) July 3, 2021
The bullpen has been shaky, too.
Even though they have enjoyed Ohtani’s incredible season and Jared Walsh’s breakout, the Angels appear likely to miss the playoffs yet another time.
1. New York Yankees
The Yankees are likely in a weird, uncomfortable border between contending and pretending status.
Let’s just say they are pretending to contend.
The Yankees are just such pretenders. It’s pretty sad
— Sal Maiorana (@salmaiorana) June 11, 2021
They are currently 42-41 and their presence in a hypothetical 2021 postseason is very much in doubt, even considering the fact that there is virtually half a season to play.
Although they are far from a playoff spot (they are 10.5 games behind the division-leading Boston Red Sox and are equally far from the second Wild Card spot), they have a little under three months to right the ship.
They say they are looking for avenues to improve the team and one of those is the trade market.
They currently need at least a couple of good starters, a center fielder, and perhaps a reliever.
They are paying the price for trusting a spot in the top of the rotation to an injury-prone Corey Kluber and a pitcher who hadn’t player in the majors in over a year in Jameson Taillon.
Whether they buy or sell, the Yankees have been exposed and are in a tough spot.
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