2016 World Series Champion | Futures & Odds

By: Joe Berra

The end of the football season means something a little different for everyone, for me it means Major League Baseball is just around the corner. There have been a lot of moves this off-season, some major pieces and some farm depth, but it’s soon time to get those MLB World Series Futures in at America’s Bookie. I’ll have a look at some teams I like to win the 2016 Commissioner’s Trophy.

Five teams have their pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training in 9 days (Feb. 18th), with the rest set to hit the field February 22nd. With 162 games per team, so much can happen; from injuries to fame or lame seasons by particular players. With all this in mind, I am going to do my best to handicap this year’s World Series winner. After I make my picks, I’ll provide the current odds for every MLB team to win it all.

Chicago Cubs +550

I hate to start my list off with the favorite to win it all, but they are the favorite for a reason. Not only would a World Series win be the first in over a hundred years, but it may finally help a city forget about Bartman. The Cubs have one of the youngest, and best infields in the game; starting with Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant at the corners. Then you have one of the top prospects in baseball, Addison Russell at short with the veteran coming off a World Series win with the Royals in Ben Zobrist.

Zobrist is a great all-around player that you can plug in anywhere on field and get better than average defense from. His reunion with, in my opinion, the best manager in baseball Joe Maddon, is sure to bring the best out in Zobrist and his mates. The projected starting outfield has Jorge Soler, Kyle Schwarber and newly acquired Jason Heyward. The bench has a host of players that could be starting for many MLB teams.

Then you get to the rotation and we see 2015 NL CY Young winner Jake Arrieta, Jon Lester, John Lackey (who they snagged form NL Central rivals St. Louis Cardinals), with Kyle Hendricks, Jason Hammel, Trevor Cahill and Adam Warren fighting for the last two spots in the rotation. All seven of these pitchers finished with a WHIP sub-1.40 with very respectable strike-out to walk ratios. I could go on, but even their bullpen looks to be in great shape. Was Back to the Future one year off?

Kansas City Royals +1750

Some are giving the Royals an “F” for their off-season, but a closer look shows not a lot has changed since the Royals basically dominated the Mets in the World Series. AT +1750, why wouldn’t you throw a few bucks on them to win it all?

Their opening lineup is virtually unchanged except the 31 year old above mentioned Zobrist and a 34 year old Alex Rios, who is still a free agent. They have an aging Omar Infante and a young Christian Colon waiting to fill the vacated spot at second but look for the Royals to try prospect Raul Mondesi there or maybe make a move as the season gets closer. They will start with a couple vets set to open the year in right field.

Surely they will miss Johnny Cueto as a rock in their rotation, but they still have Edinson Volquez, Yordano Ventura and newly acquired Ian Kennedy at the top of the rotation. They boast one of the best bullpens in the game, finishing first in opponents batting average (.214) and second in ERA (2.72) and should be as solid this year with the re-acquiring of Joakim Soria.

Here’s a couple teams I’m considering putting some coin on to win:

Boston Red Sox +700

The acquisition of David Price helps a Red Sox rotation that was 24th in ERA last year (4.39) finishing one game below .500 (59-60). They gave up the sixth runs and were 18th in batting average against. Craig Kimbrel and Carson Smith will help the bullpen immensely and if last year’s acquisitions of Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez prove their worth this year and get production from young Xander Bogaerts and vet Dustin Pedroia, the sky is the limit. The Red Sox may just have the best young outfield in the game on top of everything else.

San Francisco Giants +850

This is the Giants year to win isn’t it? They have won every second year since 2010, winning in 2010, 2012 and 2014…so it makes sense they will win again this year right? Well, maybe it isn’t that easy, but they have made some moves in the right direction. Adding Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija to start behind Madison Bumgarner gives them one of the best 1-2-3 punch in baseball (if Samardzija can get it together). I think their infield lacks a little punch, but if they can hold off the new look Diamondbacks and last year NL West champion Dodgers, they’ll have a shot to win any playoff series with that pitching staff.

This could change 50 times before it’s time for me to get my bets in, but for now, these are my top picks. Below are all the current odds at America’s Bookie to win the World Series, but keep an eye on it yourself at the best offshore sportsbook.

Chicago Cubs +550
Boston Red Sox +700
Houston Astros +850
San Francisco Giants +850
Los Angeles Dodgers +850
Toronto Blue Jays +950
Washington Nationals +950
New York Yankees +1000
New York Mets +1250
Pittsburgh Pirates +1250
St. Louis Cardinals +1250
Texas Rangers +1250
Detroit Tigers +1550
Arizona Diamondbacks +1550
Los Angeles Angels +1750
Kansas City Royals +1750
Cleveland Indians +2000
Seattle Mariners +2500
Baltimore Orioles +4500
Chicago White Sox +4500
Minnesota Twins +4500
Tampa Bay Rays +5500
Oakland Athletics +8500
San Diego Padres +8500
Miami Marlins +9500
Milwaukee Brewers +9500
Cincinnati Reds +12500
Colorado Rockies +20000
Atlanta Braves +25000
Philadelphia Phillies +30000