With the start of MLB’s regular season less than six weeks away, it’s now a two-team tie atop the 2017 World Series futures market at Bodog Sportsbook, with the defending-champion Chicago Cubs and the Boston Red Sox at +450 MLB odds.
After ending their long championship drought with their World Series win over the Cleveland Indians, the Chicago Cubs have had a quiet offseason. The team parted ways with their leadoff hitter, center fielder Dexter Fowler, who joined the rival St. Louis Cardinals as a free agent. The Cubs also saw how closer Aroldis Chapman signed a free agent contract with the New York Yankees, but they still have more than enough talent to justify their favoritism, and the newly-signed John Jay and Wade Davis, along with a full season of Kyle Schwarber makes them the team to beat once again. Right now the Cubs are highly favored by most online sportsbooks to win the World Series. In fact, you can use partnercode mybet to make a bet on the Cubs right now. How fun would it be to wager on the Cubs and have them win their first World Series in over 100 years?
Contrary to the Cubs, the Red Sox have been extremely active in the winter, improving their World Series odds significantly after bolstering their starting rotation with the acquisition of former White Sox ace Chris Sale. Adding Sale to a rotation that already has Rick Porcello and David Price could be considered a game-changer in the American League, since the Boston starters ranked third in the league with a 4.00 ERA and 87 quality starts last season.
The American League champion Cleveland Indians closely trail the Cubs and Red Sox with +800 odds, followed by the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Washington Nationals at +1000. The Indians have to find a way to regroup after blowing a 3-1 series lead in the World Series against the Cubs and they seem to head in the right direction after signing star slugger Edwin Encarnacion. Cleveland finished 18th in home runs last season and adding the former Blue Jays first baseman/designated hitter for the next three years will help them. Encarnacion hit 42 home runs last season, leading the Blue Jays to the playoffs and the Indians hope he can do the same for them while helping strengthen the team’s main weakness.
The Los Angeles Dodgers also had a busy offseason. After winning the NL West for the fourth straight year and reaching the NLCS for the first time since 2013, the Dodgers worked hard to maintain the core of their team, resigning free agents Rich Hill, Kenley Jansen and Justin Turner, impact players that will help them compete for years to come. Los Angeles didn’t stop there and they also added second baseman Logan Forsythe and former Giants reliever Sergio Romo.
The Washington Nationals won the NL East last season before getting eliminated by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS. The Nationals haven’t moved past the NLDS in their last three playoff appearances and they didn’t make the right moves to improve their roster. Washington signed catchers Derek Norris and Matt Wieters to replace the production of Wilson Ramos, who joined the Rays, and they traded top prospects Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez to the White Sox for center fielder Adam Eaton but they didn’t address their biggest need, a closer, failing to re-sign Mark Melancon or add Kenley Jansen or Greg Holland.
After barely reaching the playoffs last year, the San Francisco Giants have strong +1200 MLB odds and with their solid rotation and the addition of closer Mark Melancon, they’re a dangerous team in the NL West.
The Houston Astros (+1400) won just 84 games last season but signing Josh Reddick, Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran positions them as serious challengers to the Texas Rangers (+2800) in the AL West.
Here are the full odds to win the 2017 World Series:
Chicago Cubs: +450
Boston Red Sox: +450
Cleveland Indians: +800
Los Angeles Dodgers: +1000
Washington Nationals: +1000
San Francisco Giants: +1200
Houston Astros: +1400
New York Mets: +1400
Toronto Blue Jays: +2000
St. Louis Cardinals: +2200
Texas Rangers: +2800
Baltimore Orioles: +3300
Detroit Tigers: +3300
New York Yankees: +2500
Kansas City Royals: +3300
Seattle Mariners: +3300
Colorado Rockies: +4000
Pittsburgh Pirates: +4000
Chicago White Sox: +7500
Los Angeles Angels: +7500
Miami Marlins: +7500
Tampa Bay Rays: +7500
Arizona Diamondbacks: +10000
Atlanta Braves: +10000
Cincinnati Reds: +15000
Milwaukee Brewers: +15000
Minnesota Twins: +15000
Oakland Athletics: +15000
Philadelphia Phillies: +15000
San Diego Padres: +15000
