World Series odds update: Biggest risers, fallers since free agency

If you're just waking up from an NFL-induced slumber and haven't been following baseball since the Braves won the World Series, you haven't missed much. MLB is still mired in a lockout that's resulted in over two months of inactivity from teams and players alike. The lockout threatens the start of spring training and could last into the regular season.

Still, a frenzied free-agency period on the eve of the Dec. 2 lockout date means that quite a bit has changed since the 2021 season ended in early November. Here are the current World Series odds at theScore Bet, along with each team's opening odds and a look at which have seen the biggest adjustment since free agency:

Biggest risers

Los Angeles Angels (+4000 to +1800)

For years, the Angels have had a title-worthy lineup and a terrible rotation, which has predictably resulted in sexy preseason prices and no postseason appearances to show for it. So, after a busy offseason and yet another short opening price, will this year be different?

Los Angeles certainly addressed its most glaring need, signing Noah Syndergaard and Michael Lorenzen to one-year deals and retaining closer Raisel Iglesias on a four-year deal. The highlight is clearly Syndergaard, who has Cy Young stuff but made just two starts in the last two years, while Lorenzen could be an intriguing two-way player in the Shohei Ohtani mold.

Ohtani headlines one of the most star-studded lineups in baseball, but can he, Mike Trout, and Anthony Rendon stay healthy? Can Syndergaard? That'll ultimately define whether this is a preseason bargain or yet another flop.

Texas Rangers (+15000 to +8000)

Make no mistake: The Rangers are still long shots to make any noise in the postseason. However, they went from a team with the third-longest odds to an interesting dark horse in the wide-open AL West.

That's what half a billion dollars will do these days, which is what Texas spent on All-Star infielders Corey Seager and Marcus Semien, seven-year veteran starter Jon Gray, and former Gold Glove winner Kole Calhoun. Those are the only four players with guaranteed money on the Rangers' projected Opening Day roster, and Texas could add more talent once the lockout is over.

To be clear, this group has plenty to prove before being taken seriously as a World Series contender. But after spending more than any MLB team ever has in one offseason, the Rangers are worth your attention.

New York Mets (+1800 to +1000)

The Mets may not have spent half a billion bucks on their free-agent acquisitions, but they did make history by inking three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer to a three-year, $130-million deal - the highest average annual salary ($43.3 million) for any player in MLB history.

Scherzer nearly won his fourth Cy Young in 2021, which was only possible after preseason favorite Jacob deGrom suffered a midseason injury that derailed his historic campaign (1.08 ERA). When healthy, those two will anchor the most terrifying rotation in baseball - even after losing Marcus Stroman and Syndergaard in free agency - which is enough to price the Mets as World Series contenders.

There are still plenty of questions about whether New York's high-priced lineup can justify its investment after ranking 27th in runs scored (3.9 per game) a year ago. But there's enough top-end talent on this roster to justify such an aggressive move in the market.

Biggest fallers

Cincinnati Reds (+4000 to +10000)

The Reds won 83 games a year ago and had an outside shot at the playoffs until the final week, but the front office seems to have zero interest in competing for anything in 2022. Cincinnati jettisoned Wade Miley and Tucker Barnhart - two of its most important players in 2021 - for virtually nothing, then let Lorenzen and Mychal Givens walk in free agency.

Cincinnati made a qualifying offer to star hitter Nick Castellanos that he promptly declined, and it hasn't signed a major-league deal since. The Reds are also rumored to be shopping their trio of starting pitchers - Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray, and Tyler Mahle - and seeing what they got in prior deals, so don't expect much MLB-ready talent in return.

It all adds up to a team looking to cut costs at the expense of wins, which explains the massive adjustment for this group. Barring a major philosophy shift before the season, there's little chance of a title run in 2022.

Oakland Athletics (+4500 to +7000)

The teardown has begun in Oakland, where the Athletics' run of four consecutive winning seasons is more than likely coming to an end. Starling Marte, Mark Canha, and Yan Gomes have all signed elsewhere, and the likes of Mitch Moreland, Jed Lowrie, and Josh Harrison are sure to join them.

Manager Bob Melvin - who has been named MLB's top manager three times in his 18-year career - also left for the same role with the Padres, which could be the most significant blow for this team's chances of sustained success. It precedes likely moves by this team to recoup value for star Matt Olson, young arm Frankie Montas, and every asset of value on the roster.

There's still a chance the A's can't get the value they want for those pieces and make one final push in 2022, but the market has reacted accordingly to the team's indifference during the initial stage of free agency. Don't expect a major turnaround when business opens up again.

San Francisco Giants (+1500 to +2500)

The Giants have been relatively quiet in free agency after winning a team-record 107 games, which led all of baseball in 2021. They retained starters Anthony DeSclafani and Alex Wood and added former Angels righty Alex Cobb on a two-year deal.

The bigger story, though, is who they lost. Cy Young contender Kevin Gausman signed a five-year deal with the Blue Jays, while longtime catcher Buster Posey retired after one of the best seasons of his 13-year career. Those two were key cogs in the Giants' stunning resurgence in 2021.

Remember that this team was priced as a distant long shot before last season, so losing two major contributors that reversed the Giants' fortunes is a tough sell for prospective bettors. There may be value here, but it's not surprising to see the market cool on last year's hottest new contender.

C Jackson Cowart is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter (@CJacksonCowart) or email him at [email protected].