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Detroit Tigers Rank Highly in MCB’s First Power Rankings of 2017

By Ben Rosener

Mar 16, 2017; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers center fielder JaCoby Jones (40) reacts after hitting a home run with starting pitcher Daniel Norris (right) against the Atlanta Braves in the second inning at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 16, 2017; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers center fielder JaCoby Jones (40) reacts after hitting a home run with starting pitcher Daniel Norris (right) against the Atlanta Braves in the second inning at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 11, 2017; Mesa, AZ, USA; Members of the Chicago Cubs look on during the national anthem during a spring training game against the Colorado Rockies at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 11, 2017; Mesa, AZ, USA; Members of the Chicago Cubs look on during the national anthem during a spring training game against the Colorado Rockies at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /

#1 Chicago Cubs
2016 Run Differential: +252
Best Offseason Move: Trading for Wade Davis
Worst Offseason Move: Letting Dexter Fowler Depart

The Chicago Cubs just won the World Series and may have gotten better as a team.

They will obviously have to make up for Dexter Fowler, but Chicago has plenty of talented players coming back elsewhere on the roster.

Notably, Kyle Schwarber returns, and will see time in the outfield.

What’s more, the Cubs can still shift the likes of Ben Zobrist, Javier Baez and Kris Bryant around the field if need be.

Elsewhere, Chicago should improve greatly behind the plate. David Ross has retired, but that means more playing time for Wilson Contreras.

The rookie thrived with the Cubs last season, turning in a 2.2 WAR, a 126 wRC+, a .282 batting average, a .357 on-base percentage, a .488 slugging percentage and a .206 ISO.

Contreras did all that in just 283 at-bats spanning 76 games. Imagine what he can do with a full season’s worth of at-bats.

Next: Predicting Tigers Opening Day Bench

Despite losing Aroldis Chapman in free agency, Chicago shored up the team’s bullpen with Wade Davis and Koji Uehara. Not only are both quality, late-inning arms, but both have considerable postseason experience.

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