The <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/mlb/top-4-possible-2023-24-mlb-season-free-agents-20230115-SPD-3328.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2023 regular season</a> of Major League Baseball will begin soon. There’s nothing quite like a baseball game in the spring, but the novelty wears off soon and everyone is ready for some real Major League Baseball. This season, several familiar names are playing for different teams than usual.



Every MLB team in 2023 will have its own unique set of challenges. You can’t put a number on pressure, but you can recognize it when you see it, and you certainly recognize it when you feel it. As a result, some teams play under intense pressure to succeed. 



Many others are under intense pressure to accelerate the recovery process. And some squads face an altogether different type of strain. Considering that the 2023 campaign is just around the corner, CBS Sports have ranked the top three teams in terms of how much pressure they are under to win the World Series this year.



<h2>3. New York Yankees</h2>



Having just signed <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/mlb/carlos-correa-aaron-judge-and-top-10-largest-mlb-contracts-of-all-time-20221214-SPD-3255.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Aaron Judge</a> to a massive nine-year deal, along with Gerrit Cole and valued free agency signing Carlos Rodón, it’s safe to say that the Yankees are back. The pressure to win the World Series is always quite high.



At this point in their lives, Cole, Judge, and Rodon are all in their 30s, as is Giancarlo Stanton. There are only a certain number of peak years left for this core. The Yankees didn’t offer Judge a multi-year deal without serious plans to compete for a championship.



<h2>2. San Diego Padres</h2>



The Padres’ success demonstrates that the “small market” is more than just a geographic location. The roster is stacked with players, and San Diego has the third-highest competitive balance tax payroll in the league at $275 million. With this new deal, Xander Bogaerts is locked in for the next 11 years. 



The 11-year contract that Manny Machado just signed is a huge deal. After enduring an injury and a ban for using performance-enhancing drugs, Fernando Tatis Jr. is making a comeback. Also, they have Juan Soto, who is perhaps the finest player on the team.



<h2>1. New York Mets</h2>



It is reasonable to assume that the Mets, with the greatest payroll in baseball history (roughly $475 million in payroll and competitive balance tax in 2023), will eventually win a World Series. 



A good season would include more than 105 wins, the NL East crown, and a loss in seven games of the NL Championship Series. Owner Steve Cohen has allocated resources in pursuit of a title. Players, coaches, and executives now have the responsibility of delivering.

MLB: Top 3 teams under most pressure to win 2023 World Series

MLB: Top 3 teams under most pressure to win 2023 World Series - thesportsdrops NEWS

miniaturas

Nothing has gone according to plan for <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/mlb/mlb-news-fernando-tatis-jr-breaks-the-silence-on-his-suspension-2583-20220824-SPD-2583.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Fernando Tatis Jr</a>. this year. Having missed the first half of the 2022 <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/mlb/mlb-news-aaron-ashby-signs-new-long-term-contract-with-brewers-2339-20220724-SPD-2339.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MLB</a> season due to a fractured wrist, his return date was just around the corner when he received another blow.



Tatis Jr was given an 80-game suspension from MLB after testing positive for Clostebol, violating the league’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment program. That means he’s not playing at all this year, and he will also miss games in 2023.



Before this chaotic year, the <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/mlb/mlb-rumors-joe-musgrove-turns-down-padres-contract-extension-offer-339-20220504-SPD-339.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Padres</a> had given Tatis Jr. a 14 year, fully guaranteed $340 million contract. In an interview with USA TODAY Sports, team chairman Peter Seidler said he had no regrets in striking that deal.



<h2>Padres owner doesn’t regret giving Fernando Tatis Jr. $340m deal</h2>



“It was a significant body blow for him, for the organization, and for the fans,’’ Seidler said. “But yelling, screaming, breaking glasses, that wasn’t going to help anything. In my experience, this can make you stronger and better. The wrong way to look at it is to be angry at a 23-year-old young man. We’ve had him since he was 17. He has grown up in front of our eyes. I know he’s a good guy with a good heart and he cares.



“No regrets. No. No. No. Fernando knows I have his back. There’s no way you go into a 14-year relationship and think it’s going to be a smooth ride for pure joy and happiness. Your eyes are wide open. There’s going to be a mistake or hiccup. I knew that going in. It’s a similar feeling in any long-term relationship. You’re going to have your speed bumps. My expectation is that we got rid of a lot of the speed bumps here.’’

MLB News: Padres owner opens up on Fernando Tatis Jr $340m contract extension

MLB News: Padres owner opens up on Fernando Tatis Jr $340m contract extension - thesportsdrops NEWS

This year didn’t begin well for Fernando Tatis Jr., who was unable to play in the 2022 <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/mlb/mlb-news-blue-jays-and-charlie-montoyo-part-ways-john-schneider-appointed-temporary-coach-2192-20220713-SPD-2192.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MLB</a> regular season due to a fractured wrist he picked up in the offseason. When he was finally getting close to come back, the Padres star received another blow.



A few weeks ago, <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/mlb/mlb-news-dodgers-david-price-opens-up-about-retirement-rumors-2025-20220705-SPD-2025.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MLB</a> suspended Tatis Jr. for 80 games after testing positive for Clostebol, a performance-enhancing substance in violation of the league’s drug policy. That means he is not seeing the ballpark this year, and will also miss games of <a href="https://news.thesportsdrop.com/mlb/mlb-news-aaron-ashby-signs-new-long-term-contract-with-brewers-2339-20220724-SPD-2339.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2023</a>.



On Tuesday, the 23-year-old shortstop addressed the media for the first time since his suspension. Far from making any excuses, Tatis Jr. took responsibility and apologized for what happened.



<h2>Fernando Tatis Jr. breaks silence on MLB suspension</h2>



“I’m truly sorry, I am,” Tatis said, via ClutchPoints. “I have let so many people down… I failed the front office, San Diego Padres. I failed every fan in this city, I failed my country, I failed my family, my parents. I’m really sorry for my mistakes. I’ve seen how my dreams have turned into my worst nightmares… There is no one else to blame but myself.”



Tatis’ return would have come in a great moment for San Diego. Having landed Juan Soto and Josh Bell before the trade deadline, the Padres head into the final stretch of the regular season with high aspirations.



Unfortunately, Tatis Jr. won’t be joining their powerful lineup this year. However, it’s good to see that at least he took accountability. After all, that’s the first step to make things different next time.

MLB News: Fernando Tatis Jr. breaks the silence on his suspension - thesportsdrops NEWS

MLB News: Fernando Tatis Jr. breaks the silence on his suspension

The months-long lockout is well behind us, it’s nearly been a month since the much anticipated<a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/mlb/mlb-playoffs-format-how-do-the-postseason-work-213-20220503-SPD-213.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> 2022 MLB</a> regular season got underway and many players are already taking the spotlight.



Joe Musgrove is one of them, as he got off to a hot start to the new <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/mlb/mlb-attendance-history-what-is-the-highest-attended-game-of-all-time-146-20220502-SPD-146.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">baseball year</a> recording a 1.97 ERA in five games played. His contract, however, expires at the end of the year.



That’s why the <a href="https:\/\/news.thesportsdrop.com/mlb/which-is-the-most-valuable-mlb-team-180-20220503-SPD-180.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">San Diego Padres</a> are working to tie him down to an extension, which Musgrove has reportedly turned down as he may seek more money than what he’s been offered thus far.



<h2>Here’s the Padres’ extension Musgrove turned down</h2>



According to Ken Rosenthal and Dennis Lin of The Athletic, the San Diego Padres have made many attempts to extend the pitcher’s deal, including an eight-year offer worth nearly $90 million.



The Padres’ latest offer reportedly consisted of an annual salary of $11 million, which Musgrove has apparently deemed insufficient. As Rosenthal and Lin note, the Toronto Blue Jays signed Jose Berrios to a 7-year, $131m extension last year, and Musgrove may seek a similar deal. The Padres, however, still have time to reach an agreement before he hits the free agency.

San Diego Padres

MLB: Top 3 teams under most pressure to win 2023 World Series

MLB News: Padres owner opens up on Fernando Tatis Jr $340m contract extension

MLB News: Fernando Tatis Jr. breaks the silence on his suspension

MLB Rumors: Joe Musgrove turns down Padres' contract extension offer

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