The 2022 MLB season is winding to a close, with a little more than a month to go before the postseason begins and this year's 12 playoff teams set their sights on a World Series title.
That said, teams out of contention still have plenty to play for, from answering questions about 2023 roster construction to giving some of their young up-and-coming players valuable MLB experience.
As we gear up for the final month of the year, we have attempted to describe every MLB team with a single word.
There are some positives, some negatives, and everything in between.
Off we go!
American League East
Baltimore Orioles: Revitalized
The Orioles entered 2022 coming off a 110-loss campaign and with an ugly .326 winning percentage over the past four seasons. Regardless of whether or not they sneak into a wild-card spot this year, hope has been restored for a franchise that has long been an afterthought. Rookie catcher Adley Rutschman looks like a superstar in the making, and the front office has already made it clear it intends to spend more freely this offseason.
Boston Red Sox: Closed
The window of contention has closed for the Red Sox current core. J.D. Martinez and Nathan Eovaldi are free agents, Xander Bogaerts is poised to opt out of his contract and join them, and Chris Sale has pitched 48.1 innings the past two seasons. The time has come to either retool or rebuild, and this will be a pivotal offseason for the Chaim Bloom-led front office.
New York Yankees: Back?
After an ugly 4-14 start to the month of August that had more than a few Yankees fans pressing the panic button, the team has won three in a row. They beat Toronto Blue Jays ace Alek Manoah to avoid getting swept on Sunday, then scored a pair of 4-2 victories over the New York Mets to begin the week. Will that be enough of a momentum swing to put them back on the winning track?
Tampa Bay Rays: Stealth
Once again, the Rays are receiving very little attention at a national level, and once again, they're zeroed in on a wild-card spot and set to make things difficult for their postseason opponent. No organization does a better job piecing together a pitching staff every year, and this season it's been guys like Drew Rasmussen, Jeffrey Springs and Jason Adam stepping into prominent roles. It shouldn't need to be said at this point, but don't sleep on the Rays.
Toronto Blue Jays: Talented
On paper, the Blue Jays stack up to any team in baseball in terms of talent if everyone is healthy and playing up to their potential. That's why they were No. 2 in our preseason power rankings. However, it doesn't feel like we've truly seen them at their best at any point during the 2022 season, due in part to injuries. With a 6-1 record in their last seven games, they might finally be hitting their stride at the perfect time.