MLB Opening Day Storylines That Won’t Last

There's a lot to anticipate for the 2020 MLB season. New acquisitions have made for a real shakeup in the league's power rankings. There are teams you'd expect to be at the top, like the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers, but there are also teams that have come out of nowhere with aggressive offseasons -- like the Cincinnati Reds -- and can totally make a push this year.

There are endless Opening Day storylines that we'll be undoubtedly focusing on for the next six weeks or so, but here are a bunch that definitely won't last as the year progresses.

Reds Being Top Dog in NL Central

The Cincinnati Reds' past year and a half in terms of acquiring players has been nothing short of stellar. They finished 75-87 in 2019, but could have the most radical improvement of any team in the MLB. Their outfield consists of Nicholas Castellanos, Aristides Aquino, Nick Senzel and Japanese star Shogo Akiyama. while their infield boasts Joey Votto, Mike Moustakas, Freddy Galvis and Eugenio Suarez. Luis Castillo is a pitching prodigy, and Sonny Gray and Trevor Bauer continue to fill out a balanced rotation. But before you get too high on this team, let's not forget they're the Reds. The franchise has won THREE division titles since 1995. Let's pump the brakes, especially in the NL Central where the Cubs, Cardinals and Brewers still loom large.

Just because you made sexy moves in the offseason doesn't mean that will translate to success.

Indians Not Trading Francisco Lindor

The Cleveland Indians refuse to give Francisco Lindor the long-term deal he deserves. Despite being a top shortstop in the game today, Lindor will be making $17.5 million in 2020 after he avoided arbitration on a one-year deal with the team. What's even crazier? The Indians control him through the 2021 season. So what's the wait? The team has said countless time they will not be trading him, but then where's the long-term deal?

What if the Indians manage to keep winning? There's no way they could trade him if that were to happen. But guess what? This team lost a bunch of players, including their top two starters in Corey Kluber and Trevor Bauer over the past six months. If the Indians fall behind in the division, there's no doubt they'll explore moving Lindor, who will have no business rotting away in Cleveland without the team getting value in return for the generational star.

Cubs Not Breaking Up Their Core

Go back in time to 2015. Ask any Chicago Cubs fan how long their dynasty would last with the core of Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Javier Baez, Addison Russell and Kyle Schwarber, and they'll probably say they're in good shape for a decade. Well, fast forward five years later and it's a mess. The team isn't negotiating new contracts with pretty much anyone, and Bryant and Schwarber have been the subject of trade rumors. Addison Russell isn't even on the team anymore.

There's little reason to believe this team won't trade Kris Bryant when the time is finally right. Between the lack of contract talks and the service-time grievance being settled in the Cubs' favor, the relationship isn't exactly prospering. Don't be surprised if Bryant and/or Schwarber are gone before the trade deadline.

White Sox Making a Playoff Run

Going across town to the south side of Chicago, the White Sox -- just like the Reds -- look like one of the most improved teams in the league for 2020. This offseason, the team acquired Edwin Encarnacion, Yasmani Grandal and Dallas Keuchel. Those additions are going to help the likes of Yoan Moncada, Jose Abreu, Tim Anderson, Eloy Jimenez, Lucas Giolito and Michael Kopech (assuming he comes back healthy from injury). However, is it realistic to view them as a playoff team in the super competitive American League?

The White Sox are certainly up and coming, but the Twins have arguably the most powerful lineup in the MLB and the Indians are no slouches either. Throw in the fact the Yankees, Astros, Rays and Athletics -- all of whom made the playoffs last year -- are still at full strength, the possibility of making the playoffs seems even more daunting. The White Sox are still very young and might need another year to get over the hump.

An exciting 2020 MLB season is bound to ensue after the chaotic offseason that preceded it. There are a lot of storylines to keep an eye on, but be wary of these four that probably won't pan out over the course of the full 162-game slate.