The baseball season is around the corner, in some way. Granted, the entire country is surrounded by snow and it’s still February. However, there is this uncanny excitement when it comes to spring training. While it still is winter, the season is not far away, leaving many baseball fans eager and excited for the upcoming season. The season, like last year’s, will be different from a typical year but one thing about baseball is that it is hard to predict. The odds for a World Series or Pennant winner always seem to be great in large part because the predictability and likelihood of it hitting is so rare.

Before we look at some intriguing odds, there are some things that any bettor should consider when making a futures bet. Look for depth (good overall teams make the playoffs, not players), look for strong farm systems* (teams that have assets can either move them for stars or let the prospects impact the roster), and look for teams that have built-in credibility (hitters or rotations that are known for winning). The first team on our list should come as no surprise.

Yankees Win The World Series (+500)

There are a handful of teams that are the heavy favorites or safe bets if you will. The Dodgers (+300 odds), Padres (+800), and Yankees are part of a shortlist of teams entering this season with little to issues on their rosters. The Yankees don’t give us great odds but they are the team to bet on entering this season that you as a bettor can feel confident will be close in the World Series. The Yankees already enter this season with a great roster, which didn’t get stronger in the offseason but rather refueled. However, what truly makes the Yankees a good bet is their ability to make a move at the deadline. The team has more than enough bench players and assets, we can see them make a big deal at the deadline. The Yankees should be one of the favorites to win the World Series.

Nationals Win The World Series (+3000)

Let’s start by acknowledging that everything went wrong for the Nationals. World Series hangover, injured and struggling stars, and the inability to replace Anthony Rendon all resulted in one of the worst years for the Nationals in quite some time. In addition, many would avoid this bet with the likelihood that the Nationals once again don’t make the playoffs. After all, the Braves were on the doorstep of winning the National League and the Mets look better right? Well, the Nationals had one of the better seasons, yet nobody is talking about it.

The Mets took a lot of the spotlight and understandably so, they have a billionaire owner and were in the news for good and other reasons. However, the Nationals had an offseason where they seemed to bring invaluable players in many key positions. Did you know they signed Brad Hand? What about Jon Lester? Josh Bell, Kyle Schwarber also were brought in and should add unique power to the lineup. The Nationals have the players in place to make a playoffs run and with great odds, this can become a great bet for a World Series Champion.

Cleveland win the AL Pennant (+1600)

It might sound crazy to think that the team that lost Francisco Lindor, the game’s best shortstop, can suddenly win the American League. Cleveland doesn’t have the best roster in the American League or even in their own division. However, Cleveland gives us a good bet considering the team they possess. The catch with them is if they can make it to the playoffs, they can make a run. Simply put, they got a haul of prospects from Mike Clevinger and Lindor trades and have to hope the prospects pan out this year. Moreover, they have the rotation to win, if we have learned anything, pitching wins in October. Winning the pennant is a real possibility and the odds are good enough to bet on.

Cardinals win the NL Pennant (+1200)

The Cardinals are in a Central Division that frankly is going to be a two, maybe three-team race. The Cubs look to decline, the Reds went all-in on last season, and the less said about the Pirates the better. The Cardinals and Brewers look to be the two best teams in the division and whoever doesn’t win the division will be a viable contender for a wild card spot.

Last season the Cardinals looked good and have been one of the better teams in the National League since Mike Shildt took the manager position. The Cardinals are arguably the sleeping giant in the National League with all the pieces in place to be a great team. What truly puts the Cardinals over the top is the trade they made for Nolan Arenado. The Cardinals needed that top player in their lineup and they now have it. The Cardinals have great odds to win the National League and could be the team to make a run once the postseason comes around.

Teams to Avoid

There are a few teams that one should avoid betting on for various reasons. The White Sox are everyone’s pick to win the division and potentially the World Series (+900). The White Sox have question marks within their roster and a big question mark has to be their fielding (there are some really bad fielders on this team). The Braves (+950) and Twins have great rosters that can, in theory, win but both franchises carry a curse or bad luck that make them hard to bet on. The Mets (+950) are going to be a fan-favorite to win the World Series but this team doesn’t look much improved from last year’s (aside from adding Lindor).

* Entering last season, the top three farm systems according to MLB Pipeline were the Rays, Padres, and Dodgers.

The odds are courtesy of Busr.ag and are subject to change.

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