MLB way too early Power Rankings: Did Yankees win the offseason?

The New York Yankees spent a boatload of money or two (depending on boat size) this offseason, but mostly used it to retain Aaron Judge and maintain the status quo.

Judge's contract -- a bargain at $360 million -- was eventually supplemented by a $162 million deal for Carlos Rodón that left Yankee fans feeling split on the offseason as a whole. Wasn't offense the problem at the tail end of last year? Did the Bombers do enough to secure a left fielder (no) or solve their infield logjam (no, they did nothing)? But is it truly fair to criticize a 99-win team for "running it back" when they added a co-ace and "99 wins" is also really good?

Most of MLB still remains relentlessly dedicated to being fringe-good enough to have an outside shot at 91 wins and a Wild Card berth, considering the postseason has proven time and again that anything is possible.

That means the Yankees, whether they "won the offseason" or not, are still in baseball's vaunted upper tier. That much isn't really up for debate.

2023 MLB Power Rankings: Where Do Yankees Rank?

Bottom Tier:

30. Cincinnati Reds
29. Washington Nationals
28. Oakland A's
27. Kansas City Royals
26. Colorado Rockies
25. Miami Marlins

The Washington Nationals and Cincinnati Reds are both quite pungent, but the Reds get the bottom spot here because of their ownership's relentless dedication to being despicable. Cincinnati's leadership has made no secret of their decision not to sign big-league free agents, and have spent most of their "fan response budget" on scoffing and grunting. This offseason, they have signed Chad Pinder and Wil Myers. The A's get the opposite bump; they may be worse on the field than the Reds, but they've signed a number of low-tier MLB free agents who will probably find new homes on contending teams before the end of 2023 (Jesús Aguilar, Trevor May).

The Marlins have a lot of pitching.

Close-to-the-Bottom Tier:

24. Detroit Tigers
23. Pittsburgh Pirates
22. Chicago White Sox
21. Texas Rangers
20. Milwaukee Brewers

This feels like the year the bottom falls out on the Brew Crew; the pitching remains special, but they're one rotation injury away from really flat-lining. Outside of acquiring William Contreras, their offseason has been spent mostly girding themselves for some future painful extensions (or failed extensions) to come. They are closer to dealing Willy Adames than they are to protecting him in the lineup. Risky to place them so low, but they've earned it with their uninspiring offseason.

Every team in this tier believes they are good. That is the differentiator from the bottom. Sadly, we don't believe them.