MLB aggrieved fan index: The ten most pissed off fan bases of 2024

It isn’t simple being a baseball fan. The dedication is intense: 162 video games from the thaw of early April by means of the sweat of summer season to the cool evenings of October — and that does not embrace spring coaching or the endless offseason.

The game has a payroll construction that even its defenders would agree is not precisely equitable throughout all 30 groups. The New York Mets, living proof, pays Juan Soto practically $122 million in 2025 — a $75 million signing bonus plus a $46.875 million wage. That outlay will high the 2024 Opening Day payrolls of 13 groups.

As free agent signings and trades proceed to roll in — with many top free agents still unsigned — all of it results in the annual winter ceremony of followers complaining about:

1. The payroll disparity within the sport.

2. Their low cost proprietor who refuses to spend cash.

3. Their entrance workplace not making the strikes essential to enhance the crew.

We’ve a reputation for this: the Aggrieved Fan Index. Let’s rank the highest 10 fan bases who presently have the best proper to be pissed off, factoring in groups’ expectations coming into this previous season, their 2024 efficiency and what they’ve achieved thus far this offseason.

(Disclaimer: The Athletics, whose followers in Oakland arguably have the suitable to be probably the most pissed off of all, didn’t make this checklist since they will not be taking part in of their new house till 2028. I imply, who’re their followers proper now anyway? Nonetheless these in Oakland? Or West Sacramento? Individuals in Las Vegas who assume Brent Rooker is perhaps the magician taking part in on the Bellagio?)

10. Miami Marlins

All through their historical past, the Marlins have been affected by poor possession. Unique proprietor Wayne Huizenga received a World Sequence in 1997 and instantly tore the crew aside. John Henry flipped the Marlins after a few years and purchased the Boston Red Sox. Artwork supplier Jeffrey Loria shrewdly bungled his option to making an estimated billion {dollars} or so over his authentic buy. When Bruce Sherman purchased the crew in 2017, there was hope issues can be completely different — he introduced in Derek Jeter as proof of that idea, proper?

Alas, Jeter is lengthy gone, and the Marlins proceed to yearly run one of many lowest payrolls within the league. Regardless that followers in Miami are used to it by now, 2024 was notably harsh. The Marlins surprisingly made the playoffs in 2023 on the power of their pitching and a 33-14 document in one-run video games. Whereas it was fairly clearly a fluke, there have been nonetheless causes to have hope going into 2024, however then their high pitchers acquired harm, opening the floodgates. They traded batting champ Luis Arraez in Could, adopted by Jazz Chisholm Jr. and A.J. Puk forward of the commerce deadline, after which six extra gamers on July 30. They’ve traded Jake Burger and Jesus Luzardo this offseason, leaving Sandy Alcantara as the one participant making greater than $3.5 million. If he exhibits he is wholesome as soon as the season begins, you need to surprise if he’ll be subsequent.

Marlins followers, bless them, have been right here many instances earlier than. Sometime maybe they will get an proprietor all in favour of constructing a constant winner.

9. St. Louis Cardinals

For a lot of the 2010s, the Cardinals thrived whereas the Nationwide League’s big-market franchises have been serving canned cranberry sauce and frozen inexperienced beans for Thanksgiving dinner. The Los Angeles Dodgers have been nonetheless digging themselves out of the Frank McCourt catastrophe when St. Louis went to the World Sequence in 2011 and 2013. The clueless Wilpons owned the Mets. The Philadelphia Phillies have been in a rebuild that went a decade between playoff appearances. The Atlanta Braves missed the postseason 4 years in a row. The Cubs have been rebuilding the primary half of the last decade. As these organizations improved, nevertheless, it was now not sufficient for the Cardinals to be merely competent. They needed to study to spice issues up a bit.

That did not occur. As an alternative, in 2023, the franchise had its first dropping season since 2007. In 2024, it was one other non-playoff season, with the Cardinals overachieving simply to win 83 video games. Their followers, used to profitable, are already rising impatient, particularly since 2025 seems like a rebuilding 12 months. The Cardinals are attempting to commerce Nolan Arenado. They might commerce Erick Fedde, acquired on the 2024 commerce deadline. They will give Nolan Gorman and Jordan Walker one other likelihood to show themselves, but when these two do not hit, the place will the offense come from? They have not developed a beginning pitcher — no less than one they did not commerce away (see Zac Gallen and Sandy Alcantara) — in seemingly eternally. The final homegrown starter to make 30 begins in a season was Jack Flaherty in 2019.

The one $100 million free agent the Cardinals have signed stays Matt Holliday, manner again in 2010. Taking place the route they did final offseason — buying pitching depth with the likes of Sonny Gray/Lance Lynn/Kyle Gibson however not making any main additions — isn’t a route to success. The followers have spoken as nicely: In 2024, attendance dropped under 3 million for the primary time in a non-COVID-19 season since 2003. The Cardinals are a good distance from being the Marlins or the Rockies, however this does really feel like a precarious time in Cardinals historical past — and the franchise may go in both route.

8. Colorado Rockies

This rating is tempered solely by the truth that Rockies followers have lengthy grown accustomed to their crew not doing something and did not anticipate them to be any good in 2024 anyway. Nonetheless, back-to-back 100-loss seasons and no proof that issues are going to show round anytime quickly should make even probably the most devoted Rockies fan query their religion. Or possibly not: Attendance stays strong, because the Rockies drew 2.5 million followers in 2024, fifteenth within the majors. They outdrew the Mets, Milwaukee Brewers, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Guardians, Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals — all playoff groups. Possibly we should always simply blame the followers: Preserve displaying up and there is no incentive for possession to make things better. (Though, the Coors Subject sunsets are pretty).

Enjoyable truth: Since 2011, solely the Marlins have misplaced extra video games than the Rockies (1,224 losses to 1,209). Regardless of that, the Rockies follow a plan: They are going to rely nearly solely on creating homegrown expertise, even when they have not been excellent at it, with the occasional dangerous free agent signing combined in (assume Kris Bryant and Ian Desmond). Look, it is nearly unattainable to lure pitchers to Colorado, however, amazingly, the Rockies have signed only one large free agent hitter in franchise historical past: Larry Walker, again in 1995 (no, Bryant did not rely on the time regardless of the $182 million contract, and he definitely does not rely now).

Signal Pete Alonso. Signal Anthony Santander or Teoscar Hernandez and see what number of house runs they will hit within the skinny air. Discover some kind of offense and no less than make this crew attention-grabbing.

7. Chicago Cubs

The Cubs are the lone big-market crew in a division with three professional small-market golf equipment and one midsized franchise — and but, they have not made the playoffs in a full season since 2018. That is one playoff look previously six seasons when you do the maths. The Cubs even swiped supervisor Craig Counsell from the rival Brewers — solely to see the Brewers win one other division title whereas Chicago completed 83-79 for the second straight season.

It was disappointing sufficient that chairman Tom Ricketts wrote a season-ending apology to the followers: “There is no such thing as a option to sugarcoat it — this isn’t the place we deliberate to complete the season. Backside line, we didn’t play an entire season of aggressive baseball. Because of this, we now have once more missed probably the most thrilling and exhilarating month of the season — October.”

The Cubs would have ranked greater on this checklist if not for the latest commerce to amass Kyle Tucker from the Houston Astros — lastly, an enormous swing from the Jed Hoyer-led entrance workplace so as to add a much-needed potent bat for the lineup. A few of that goodwill was burned, nevertheless, with the following commerce of Cody Bellinger to the New York Yankees, a deal that may solely be construed as a wage dump. Possibly Bellinger will not be wanted, but it surely definitely hurts the Cubs’ depth. It is even attainable that Isaac Paredes (despatched to Houston within the Tucker commerce) and Bellinger shall be value greater than Tucker in 2025.

That will get us to the center of this piece: A reminder that crucial individual in any group is the proprietor. From 2016 to 2020, the Cubs ran a top-five payroll 4 instances in 5 seasons underneath the Ricketts household. After trimming payroll in 2021 underneath the auspices of a rebuild, they acquired again to ninth in 2024 however appear intent on remaining under the posh tax. Beneath Hoyer, the Cubs have improved their farm system, and the crew seems able to win. However is possession dedication actually there? Ricketts’ letter concluded with, “It’s time for us to get to work to convey championship caliber baseball again to Wrigley Subject.” They should do greater than commerce for Tucker to try this.

6. Pittsburgh Pirates

Nicely, you knew the Pirates have been going to point out up in some unspecified time in the future; it was only a matter of when. I am guessing Pirates followers will inform you their crew ought to be No. 1: six consecutive dropping seasons, eight out of 9 going again to the final playoff look in 2015, pissed off sentiment relating to proprietor Bob Nutting that goes, “Spend Nutting, get Nutting.”

Certainly, Nutting is perhaps No. 1 on the most-despised homeowners checklist. That goes again to the playoff groups of 2013 to 2015, when the Pirates refused to make large additions on the commerce deadline. Since 2019, Pirates’ payrolls, based on Cot’s Contracts, have ranked thirtieth, thirtieth, thirtieth, twenty ninth, twenty eighth and — large spending! — all the way in which as much as twenty fifth this previous season. Common supervisor Ben Cherington has tried to construct issues with the scraps given to him, and the crew has been a extra aggressive 76-86 the previous two years. He is even managed to signal Ke’Bryan Hayes, Bryan Reynolds and Mitch Keller to long-term extensions. And, in fact, the Pirates have a celebrity in Paul Skenes, who initiatives as the most effective pitcher in baseball in 2025 based mostly on his dominant rookie season.

It at all times feels just like the Pirates are plugging leaks, although. They’re shifting Oneil Cruz to middle area after his protection was shaky at shortstop, however whereas that fixes a gap in middle, it opens one at shortstop. They wanted a primary baseman and bought Spencer Horwitz from the Blue Jays (by the use of Cleveland) however gave up an attention-grabbing younger starter in Luis Ortiz to take action. Hayes is underneath contract by means of 2029 at a team-friendly price however had a depressing 2024. Even in a extra equitable system, it isn’t real looking for the Pirates to signal a high free agent, however it is a crew that might profit immensely from even a few second-tier free brokers, just a bit bump in payroll to plug these leaks.

The window to signal Skenes to a long-term extension in all probability solely exists till Opening Day. The comparability right here can be the six-year, $75 million extension the Braves gave Spencer Strider after his rookie season, which signifies that a Skenes deal begins at $100 million-plus. Value noting: Forbes estimated the Pirates’ web working revenue in 2023 at $68 million. Spend Nutting, get Nutting.

5. Toronto Blue Jays

It is now been greater than 30 years for the reason that Blue Jays received back-to-back World Sequence titles in 1992 and 1993, so a complete era of Jays followers have grown up with out reminiscences of these glory days. They went 21 years with out making the playoffs earlier than making consecutive ALCS appearances in 2015 and 2016. Whereas that crew was rapidly torn down, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette quickly arrived able to usher in a brand new golden period.

However that hasn’t fairly occurred. Sure, the Jays made the playoffs in 2020, 2022 and 2023, so it hasn’t been distress, however the Jays fell aside final season, going 74-88. They have been handed within the AL East pecking order by the Orioles and the Pink Sox as nicely. And Guerrero and Bichette? Free brokers after 2025. Needing a bat, they pursued Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto the previous two offseasons, however after dropping out on Soto earlier this month, they adjusted by buying and selling for … Andres Gimenez, a second baseman with a .298 OBP and 9 house runs. He is a lockdown defender, however the offense nonetheless wants assist.

The Blue Jays have elevated payroll the previous two seasons, even paying a luxurious tax for the primary time in 2023, however that was solely following years of underspending of their market dimension. The entrance workplace hasn’t found out tips on how to get the crew over the hump and now, coming off a dropping season and failing to land Soto with Guerrero and Bichette maybe departing subsequent offseason, Toronto is perhaps staring into the abyss.

4. Minnesota Twins

Certainly one of themes of this offseason is that the groups with safe native TV contracts are spending cash and going after free brokers whereas these golf equipment caught within the Diamond Sports Group fiasco are promoting their previous baseball playing cards simply to pay the payments. Guess which class the Twins fall into? They’re now one of many groups whose video games MLB will produce and distribute, which is the right excuse for the Pohlad household to not spend one cent greater than essential, a household custom going again to Carl Pohlad’s buy of the crew in 1984.

, I thought of placing the Guardians right here as a result of they spend even much less on payroll than the Twins — and I personally discover them extraordinarily irritating for by no means going above and past what you anticipate (that is on possession, not the entrance workplace). However no less than the Guardians often handle to, nonetheless, put a great crew on the sphere, together with this previous season once they reached the ALCS. Cleveland at all times appears to overachieve, whereas Minnesota typically underachieves regardless of a gifted roster taking part in in what has traditionally been a tender division.

In 2023, the Twins lastly ended their lengthy playoff winless streak — after which subsequently reduce payroll for 2024, blaming the TV scenario. It seems like they will sit out this offseason as nicely, as they have not achieved something besides signal some guys to minor league contracts. Meaning their finest wager for 2025 shall be hoping, as soon as once more, that Carlos Correa, Royce Lewis and Byron Buxton will keep wholesome. Rinse, repeat and cry tears of frustration, Twins followers.

3. Chicago White Sox

White Sox followers did not anticipate the crew to exit and signal Soto, Max Fried and Blake Snell after losing a modern-record 121 games — though, in idea, they might have tried one thing like that — however that solely conveys the hopelessness of the present scenario on the South Facet. Since profitable the World Sequence in 2005, the White Sox have simply three playoff appearances. This can be a new degree of all-time low, nevertheless, and remarkably, they is perhaps simply as dangerous in 2025.

Certainly, whereas GM Chris Getz appeared to do nicely within the Garrett Crochet commerce, that now means the 2 finest gamers from the 2024 crew are gone — Crochet and Erick Fedde (traded on the deadline), who mixed for 8.8 WAR. The remainder of the crew mixed for minus-2.2 WAR. Luis Robert Jr., the crew’s third-best participant, is perhaps subsequent to go, though Chicago can be buying and selling low on him coming off a foul season. On high of all that, the brand new anti-tanking draft guidelines imply the White Sox shall be drafting tenth as a substitute of No. 1 general in July. Gentle on the finish of the tunnel? The White Sox aren’t even within the tunnel but.

what, although? These miserable conditions can flip round faster than folks notice. Heck, simply final 12 months, the Royals went from 56 wins in 2023 to the playoffs the next season, though the White Sox admittedly do not have a Bobby Witt Jr. on their roster. The Orioles went from 110 losses in 2021 to 101 wins in 2023. The Tigers misplaced 119 video games in 2003 and have been within the World Sequence three years later. It may well occur.

2. Seattle Mariners

Ha! You have been maybe anticipating to see the Cincinnati Reds right here, however Mariners followers have suffered a sure kind of aggrievement: the ache of falling just a bit bit quick with an possession unwilling to do just a bit bit extra. The Mariners have 4 straight profitable seasons and did break that two-decades-long playoff drought in 2022, however then they missed the playoffs by one win in 2023 after which one win in 2024.

With chairman John Stanton as soon as once more holding a line on payroll — the Mariners are working decrease payrolls than they did in 2016 by means of 2018 — president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto’s palms are tied. That hasn’t stopped him earlier than, however thus far the Mariners have not made one main league transaction (apart from letting Jorge Polanco and Josh Rojas go). In the meantime, the AL West is probably the most winnable it has been in years. The Astros received the division with simply 88 wins in 2024, traded Tucker and may lose Alex Bregman, too. Now’s the time for the Mariners to pounce and add some offense. As an alternative: silence. There is a motive why pissed off Mariners followers can purchase “.540” T-shirts — an homage to Dipoto notorious “win 54%” of your games comment.

1. Los Angeles Angels

The Angels have been as soon as a mannequin franchise. From 2002 to 2009, they made six playoff appearances in eight years and adopted that up with a bunch of profitable seasons, together with a 98-win marketing campaign in 2014. Since then: nothing however dangerous choices, dangerous strikes, dangerous participant improvement and a complete bunch of losses. The Angels at the moment are driving a streak of 9 consecutive dropping seasons together with a franchise-record 99 losses in 2024. They wasted the Mike Trout-Shohei Ohtani years. There may be hardly ever any type of coherent plan from proprietor Arte Moreno or the entrance workplace, with Moreno’s interference a key motive for the last decade of failure.

The Angels have made strikes this offseason. They signed Kyle Hendricks (35 years previous) and Travis d’Arnaud (36 years previous) and traded for Jorge Soler (33 years previous). Their large transfer has been signing lefty Yusei Kikuchi (34 years previous), who did end 2024 with 10 terrific begins for the Astros however has by no means had a 2-WAR season. Buying and selling for Soler as a full-time DH means Trout has to play the outfield on an on a regular basis foundation, though it is clear he must spend extra time at DH in an try to only preserve him within the lineup.

In different phrases, it is the standard seize bag of gamers, repeating the sample of latest historical past that hasn’t labored. After all, all that is in stark distinction to the success of the Dodgers, a reminder that the Angels may be doing the identical factor, with all the advantages of taking part in within the Los Angeles space with a big fan base (the Angels drew over 3 million followers yearly from 2003 to 2019). Certainly, simply over a decade in the past, it was the Dodgers who have been an entire mess, earlier than the Guggenheim group bought the franchise in 2012. That is when the organizations splintered in reverse instructions. The Angels now have the longest playoff drought within the majors. In the meantime, the Dodgers have made 12 consecutive journeys to the postseason and Angels followers have to look at Ohtani taking part in throughout city. Most pissed off fan base certainly.