From the Dodgers to the Miami Marlins, 16 playoff teams in 2020 that could return next season

They finished 2020 with a 43-17 record, led the majors in runs, gave up the second-least, and won their first World Series since 1988.

The team should be getting back Luis Severino a couple of months into the 2021 season, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see them offer a boatload of money to J.T. Realmuto due to the struggles of catcher Gary Sanchez.

Marcell Ozuna is a key free agent after an outstanding 2020, and the Braves could be a major threat to the Dodgers if they add more starting pitching depth after the young triumvirate of Max Fried, Mike Soroka, and Ian Anderson.

They have no major free agents, but if the Yankees can sustain better health especially from their big boppers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton (a big question mark), Tampa Bay wouldn’t be the favorite in the AL East.

They had the second-best run differential (+84) in 2020, but they aren’t higher because they reside in the same division with what looks like the clear-cut best team.

Another year of experience should help young stars Lucas Giolito, Eloy Jimenez, Yoan Moncada, Luis Robert, and Nick Madrigal as the White Sox have the nucleus to contend for the foreseeable future.

The Twins have become somewhat of a running joke (18 straight losses in the playoffs), but the main question is do they bet on Nelson Cruz (turns 41 on July 1) to continue raking at the plate by re-signing him?

Superstar closer Liam Hendriks may prove to be too pricey to keep for the low-budget Athletics who also have a choice to make on free agent to be Marcus Semien, who struggled in 2020 after finishing third in AL MVP voting in 2019.

The outfield could look much different as Michael Brantley and George Springer are about to hit the open market, and Justin Verlander will miss all of 2021 after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

They are still the early favorites to win the NL Central in 2021, and one would have to think Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, Anthony Rizzo, and Kyle Schwarber would perform better in a 162-game season right?

Yes, they will have one of the better starting rotations in baseball, but their outfield has been atrocious for years, and one of the offseason’s biggest questions will be if the Indians decide to pull the trigger on dealing Francisco Lindor.

Other than Paul Goldschmidt, the offense just isn’t very good, and Dakota Hudson will miss all of 2021 due to Tommy John surgery which takes a huge hit on a solid starting rotation.

Milwaukee finished under .500 at 29-31 in 2020, but one would have to believe Christian Yelich will rebound from his .205 batting average after he won back-to-back NL batting titles in 2018 and 2019.

It’s highly unlikely that Trevor Bauer will be back after a year which will presumptively earn him a NL Cy Young, but can their offense improve after a 2020 that saw their BABIP end at a miserable .245 (lowest since the 1968 Yankees according to the Cincinnati Enquirer).

Toronto’s problem is they clearly are third in the AL East pecking order, but they can remain in contention if their offensive progression continues from last season (career years from Rowdy Tellez, Teoscar Hernandez, etc.).

The Marlins have picked up Starling Marte’s $12.5 million option according to the team website, but expect that to be their major splash of the offseason as they hope to see the continued improvement of young starting pitchers Sandy Alcantara, Pablo Lopez, and Sixto Sanchez.