Top 5 MLB Offseason Moves 2020 - Signings and World Series Odds

Easily the biggest splash of the offseason goes to the New York Yankees and their signing of former Houston Astros ace, Gerrit Cole. The 2019 AL Cy Young runner-up to former teammate Justin Verlander, was a revelation last season, posting a 20-5 record with a 2.50 ERA and a whopping 326 strikeouts.

Cole will lead a Yankees staff that was patched together for most of last year with the injury to Luis Severino and the late-season suspension of Domingo German. With the signing of Cole, the Yankees have become the top team in the American League, with sportsbooks offering a solid odds at +400 to make the World Series.

2. OF Mookie Betts Traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers

In a trade that made Yankees fans ecstatic and Boston die-hards furious, the Red Sox inexplicably dealt 2018 AL MVP Mookie Betts to the Dodgers for little more than a couple of prospects and a huge load of salary relief.

The trade of Betts to Los Angeles, along with former Boston pitcher David Price, have firmly made the Dodgers the front runners to win the National League at +175 and the World Series at +350. The NL bet certainly provides slight value before opening day, but once the season gets rolling expect it to fall to even quickly.

Betts should continue to bat leadoff and play right field in Los Angeles with Price fitting in as the number three starter in the Dodgers rotation behind Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw.

3. SP Stephen Strasburg Re-signs with Washington Nationals

Strasburg, the 2019 World Series MVP, decided to re-sign with the Washington Nationals and keep together a formidable frontline rotation that pieced together one of the more magical postseasons in recent memory, capped with their seven-game title win over the now-reviled Houston Astros.

Even with last year’s world title, bookmakers have starry eyes for the moves the Dodgers made this off-season and have installed the Nationals at +700 to repeat their NL crown, behind Los Angeles and Atlanta (+550).

4. 3B Anthony Rendon Signs with Los Angeles Angels

Rendon, one of the best third basemen in the game, left the World Series-winning Nationals to take the big bucks with the Los Angeles Angels. Immediately slotted in the lineup next to Mike Trout, Rendon should post huge numbers and boost a lineup that sagged at times last season.

For the Angels, the signing of Rendon certainly helps the lineup but doesn’t address their dire need for starting pitching. To make matters worse, the club will have to deal with a vengeful Astros team and the Oakland Athletics in the AL West.

The Angels are slated at +1500 to win the American League, which might be hard to do as many in Vegas don’t believe the team is even going to make the playoffs.

5.Philadelphia Phillies Sign SP Zack Wheeler

After making the signing of the 2019 offseason with Bryce Harper, the Philadelphia Phillies flagged down the stretch and failed to make the playoffs. To combat a struggling rotation, the Phillies signed former Mets pitcher Zack Wheeler to a long term deal.

Philadelphia makes an interesting proposition bet in the National League as they have taken steps to shore up a weak lineup and pitching staff. They are +1000 to win the National League and while the futures bet to win the NL East may be more tempting, the Phillies’ star power can’t be discounted to make the World Series.

How Do I Find the World Series and League Winner Bets Online?

For New Jersey bettors interested in finding the futures bets for the World Series, American League or National League head to 888Sport NJ, bet365 NJ and first click on the MLB tab.

If you are struggling to find MLB, then go to the All Sports section first, and open the drop-down box to see MLB or Baseball.

After you are in the MLB section, look for the Futures tab and click it for access to the bets for all three championship possibilities.

For bettors in West Virginia and Indiana, follow the same process on DraftKings Sportsbook.

If you are unsure how to make a World Series winner bet, then here’s a quick guide.

For example, under the World Series tab on DraftKings Sportsbook, the Los Angeles Dodgers are currently slotted with +400 odds.

If you click the +400 box, you’ll be taken to a virtual betting slip that allows you to wager on the Dodgers winning the World Series at the current odds. A $100 bet at +400 odds will pay $400 dollars if Los Angeles wins the MLB title in October.

World Series 2020 Winner Odds