The moves that rocked the MLB offseason – and what they mean for the 2025 season
The opening week of the 2025 MLB season is upon us — on the heels of a chaos-packed offseason.
Not long after the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrated their 2024 World Series title, they made the first big strike of the offseason, landing a two-time Cy Young winner — and that was just the start for Los Angeles. But the Dodgers weren’t the only ones keeping the hot stove warm in a winter that had a little bit of everything — from a $765 million contract to lure a superstar across New York City boroughs to a pair of aces signing record nine-figure deals. And the offseason drama continued well into spring training, with two top sluggers finally signing after camps opened.
Whether you are just realizing that Alex Bregman left Houston for the Boston Red Sox or the Dodgers signed … well, it felt like just about everyone — or you know all the moves that went down and still aren’t quite sure what to make of them, we’ve got you covered for Opening Day on Thursday.
ESPN baseball experts Jorge Castillo, Bradford Doolittle, Alden Gonzalez and David Schoenfield break down the moves that rocked the offseason, what they mean for the teams that made them — and how they’ll shape the season ahead.
Dodgers gets the offseason rolling — with a sign of what’s ahead
Date of the deal: Nov. 26 — Dodgers sign Snell to $182 million deal
What it means for the Dodgers: The Dodgers began the offseason with one clear target in mind — not Juan Soto, but Blake Snell. They had just won the World Series, but they did so despite an injury-ravaged starting rotation that required them to stage bullpen games on multiple occasions throughout October. They needed some certainty at the top of their pitching staff, and Snell, the two-time Cy Young Award winner they almost signed when his market collapsed last offseason, was seen as an ideal fit.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman engaged with Snell’s agent, Scott Boras, at the start of November, and it ultimately took some creativity to come together on a deal that satisfied both parties. They settled on a five-year, $182 million contract that included $66 million in deferred salary but also a $52 million signing bonus.
How it will shape the 2025 season: Snell spent the past two years pitching for the Dodgers’ biggest division rivals, dominating for the San Diego Padres in 2023 and, after an abbreviated spring training, putting together a masterful second half for the San Francisco Giants in 2024. Snell’s presence on the Dodgers, when coupled with another massive move later in the winter, would give them a rotation that is just about as dominant as their lineup — and it would set the tone for another blockbuster offseason.
Dominoes: Boras was coming off a rocky offseason in which four of his biggest clients — Snell, Matt Chapman, Cody Bellinger and Jordan Montgomery — didn’t sign until well into spring training. Boras chalked it up to a bad market replete with unwilling spenders, and Snell’s signing showed that this offseason — another one in which Boras would represent some of the best players available — might be different. It also helped trigger a run of exorbitant starting-pitching contracts over the next three weeks. — Gonzalez
Giants finally get their big-money free agent
Date of the deal: Dec.7 — Adames joins Giants on 7-year deal
What it means for the Giants: The Giants began the offseason with a glaring need at shortstop, and Willy Adames was the best player available at that position. It was really that simple — and the Giants acted as such, chasing Adames aggressively and signing him before the start of baseball’s winter meetings.
The Adames signing represented the first major free agent addition under Buster Posey, the iconic Giants catcher who shockingly stepped in as the new president of baseball operations shortly after the 2024 regular season. Adames landed a seven-year, $182 million contract that set a new franchise record — breaking the $167 million extension Posey himself signed nearly a dozen years earlier.
How it will shape the 2025 season: The Giants had been having a tough time attracting star players to San Francisco. And though Adames isn’t as big a name as Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge or Bryce Harper — stars that recently spurned them to sign elsewhere — his arrival represents a shift in tone for a front office group that, under Posey, wants the Giants to get back to being the type of organization a community will rally around.
Dominoes: The New York Mets, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays had all been linked, to varying degrees, to Adames. He represented a natural pivot if they could not land Juan Soto for those teams. But they needed to wait on Soto first. The Giants knew this. It triggered their aggression. And it eventually prompted the Yankees, Red Sox and Blue Jays to get even more creative than they hoped. — Gonzalez
Soto joins the Mets for $765 million — yes, you heard that right: $765 million
Date of the deal: Dec. 8 — Soto joins Mets on 15-year deal
What it means for the Mets: The Mets’ interest in Juan Soto was a poorly kept secret — pursuing the superstar outfielder was central to their long-term plans since Steve Cohen hired David Stearns to run baseball operations in 2023. Landing him, however, was monumental for the franchise.
First, on the field, Soto is possibly the best hitter in the world. His consistency is unmatched. His floor sits stories above most of his peers’ ceilings. He will mash hitting behind Francisco Lindor in a lineup that should rank among baseball’s best.
But the move was about more than just Soto’s on-field impact. It signaled that the Mets really will be different with Cohen in control. Not only did the Mets sign the most sought-after free agent in over two decades to the richest contract in professional sports history (15 years, $765 million with the potential for the compensation to reach $805 million), they signed him away from the Yankees and beat them for his signature. The Yankees are still the top team in New York. But the Mets are ready to compete for championships and the city’s top spot.
How it will shape the 2025 season: The outlook in Queens changed as soon as Soto signed on the dotted line. A year ago, the Mets were projected as a fringe playoff team before exceeding expectations with a magical summer. Signing Soto meant just reaching the postseason is no longer enough — and that the Mets had more work to do.
Dominoes: Soto’s decision opened the offseason’s floodgates — for the four other finalists to land him and several other clubs. The Yankees were forced to turn to Plan B and beyond, prompting a series of moves in December. The Red Sox also spent money elsewhere and the Blue Jays tried to. The Dodgers, the fifth finalist for Soto … well, the Dodgers just kept spending money.
Beyond this winter, though, Soto’s record-setting contract set the market for future high-profile free agents in his age range. The first test case will be Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who is expected to reach free agency next winter at 26 after turning down a $500 million extension offer (with deferrals) from the Blue Jays last month. — Castillo
Yankees respond to losing Soto with a $218 million ace signing
Date of the deal: Dec. 10 — Fried, Yankees reach 8-year, $218 million deal
What it means for the Yankees: The Yankees had money to spend and choices to make once Juan Soto spurned them for the Mets. The most obvious need was replacing Soto’s offensive production, but they opted to bolster their biggest strength for their first move of the post-Soto era by investing heavily in another frontline starter.
After missing out on Blake Snell and not fitting Corbin Burnes’ preference to join a club with spring training in Arizona, the Yankees set their sights on Max Fried. He became the third starter in the past six offseasons that the Yankees have signed to a long-term deal after Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon.
The signing for eight years and $218 million gave New York arguably the best starting rotation in baseball — a fivesome rounded out by Luis Gil and Clarke Schmidt. The starting rotation lifted the Yankees to the American League East title in 2024. They determined it would make for the best strategy moving forward for 2025 and beyond.
How it will shape the 2025 season: The starting rotation became more formidable with a two-time All-Star with a 3.07 career ERA across eight seasons. And the move proved even more crucial for 2025 than initially believed when Cole’s elbow started barking again. Losing Cole for the entire season means Fried will begin 2025 as the club’s No. 1 starter. Fried has dealt with forearm injuries the past two seasons. Staying healthy will be imperative for a rotation also without Gil for at least three months to start the season.
Dominoes: The Yankees beat out their rival Red Sox for Fried’s services, prompting Boston to turn to another ace in the trade market the very next day and leaving Burnes as the only ace-level starter left on the free agent market. But Fried doesn’t hit, and the Yankees needed to improve the lineup. They addressed that before the end of the month. — Castillo
Red Sox get an ace of their own in blockbuster trade with White Sox
Date of the deal: Dec. 11 — Boston lands Garrett Crochet for prospects
What it means for the Red Sox: The Red Sox haven’t really had an ace since Chris Sale blew out his elbow back in 2019, but after losing out on Snell and Fried, they used their prospect depth to acquire Garrett Crochet, coming off a big season for the White Sox.
The Boston rotation was pretty solid in 2024, ranking seventh in the majors in ERA, although it was just middle of the pack in innings (16th) and strikeout rate (15th). In his first season starting, Crochet made 32 starts and pitched 146 innings (the White Sox limited his innings the final two months) — and, most impressively, topped all pitchers with at least 100 innings with a 35.1% strikeout rate.
Crochet was the most in-demand non-free agent of the offseason — he’s under control for two more seasons and will make just $3.8 million in 2025 — and it cost them a heavy price in Kyle Teel and Braden Montgomery, their first-round picks in 2023 and 2024, plus two other prospects.
How it will shape the 2025 season: With Rafael Devers, 2024 breakout star Jarren Duran, last year’s impressive rookies Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela, and an exciting group of prospects ready to help in outfielder Roman Anthony (ESPN’s No. 2 overall prospect), shortstop Marcelo Mayer (No. 4) and second baseman Kristian Campbell (No. 26), it was time for the Red Sox to make a push to return to the postseason for the first time since 2021. Maybe it’s a year early for all this talent to coalesce into a World Series contender, but Crochet improves those odds.
Dominoes: One key factor is that Crochet’s low salary allowed the Red Sox to make a couple of other moves. First, they would sign Walker Buehler for even more rotation depth. But an even bigger move would come right as spring training kicked off. — Schoenfield
Yankees continue their pitching push with trade for star closer
Date of the deal: Dec. 13 — Yankees acquire star closer Williams from Brewers
What it means for the Yankees: Clay Holmes was demoted from the closer role in September, so it wasn’t a surprise that the Yankees decided to let him walk in free agency. The thinking was the Yankees could hand the role to Luke Weaver, who sparkled closing games in September and October. But the Yankees aimed higher, acquiring Devin Williams, perhaps the best closer in baseball, from the Milwaukee Brewers for Nestor Cortes and Caleb Durbin.
The 2020 National League Rookie of the Year, Williams is a two-time NL Reliever of the Year and a two-time All-Star. He owns a 1.83 career ERA and 68 career saves behind a screwball-changeup fusion known as The Airbender. He’s a clear upgrade. But he’s also under team control for just one more season, marking the second consecutive winter that the Yankees traded for a star one year from free agency.
How it will shape the 2025 season: Williams’ inclusion moved Weaver back to a multi-inning setup role after his breakout 2024 season — his first as a reliever. Fernando Cruz, acquired in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds for Jose Trevino later in the month, has the fourth-highest strikeout rate among relievers with at least 130 innings thrown since he debuted in 2022. With them in the back end, the Yankees’ bullpen should improve upon its 12th-ranked strikeout rate from last season.
Dominoes: Williams knew a trade was coming. He was just surprised that it was to the Yankees and not the Dodgers, who were in pursuit of the right-hander. Instead, the Yankees outbid Los Angeles, leaving the Dodgers to continue their search for bullpen help. They ultimately settled on signing the best reliever on the free agent market and a 2024 All-Star, continuing their offseason shopping spree. — Castillo
Cubs get their star hitter in blockbuster between contenders
Date of the deal: Dec. 13 — Cubs get Tucker from Astros
What it means for the Cubs: The Cubs needed to improve their power profile while servicing an apparent need to avoid long-term entanglements. In acquiring Kyle Tucker in advance of his walk year, they accomplish both. Chicago leveraged a moment of abundance at third base in its system to land Tucker, one of the game’s most potent left-handed sluggers and well-rounded outfielders. Tucker is an upgrade over soon-to-be-dealt Cody Bellinger, but when the latter was traded to the Yankees, it rendered the addition of Tucker more marginal than it had to be. That will be especially true if (when?) the Cubs don’t pony up to retain Tucker for the long term.
How it will shape the 2025 season: Chicago traded a serviceable starting third baseman (Isaac Paredes) and a rapidly rising third base prospect (Cam Smith) to snag Tucker. The outgoing package was made possible by the presence of another hot corner prospect — Matt Shaw — who opened the season as the regular at the position. Thus, the move needs two things to happen to achieve its short-term aim: Tucker to stay healthy, and Shaw to justify the Cubs’ faith.
Dominoes: The Tucker trade will be pushing over dominoes for some time. Bellinger’s departure was the start, which also led to low-level rumbling in Chicago over the Cubs’ often-thrifty ways. Those rumbles grew louder when the Cubs were suitors for Alex Bregman, only to fall short. However, that failed pursuit kept the path clear for Shaw, who earned the third-base job during spring training. Those rumbles may turn into a full-blown uproar if the Cubs disappoint and Tucker signs elsewhere after the season — or is dealt at the trade deadline. — Doolittle
Cubs follow Tucker deal by sending a former MVP to the Yankees
Date of the deal: Dec. 17 — Cubs trade Bellinger to Yankees
What it means for the Yankees: With Juan Soto now with the Mets and Anthony Rizzo a free agent, the Yankees had holes to fill in the outfield and first base. Why not solve one of those with Cody Bellinger, the 2019 NL MVP who can play both positions?
With Kyle Tucker in right, Pete Crow-Armstrong ready to take over in center and the less expensive Michael Busch at first base, the Cubs wanted to dump Bellinger’s $27.5 million salary. The Yankees were the perfect fit. They later signed Paul Goldschmidt to play first, so Bellinger will end up as the regular center fielder with Aaron Judge moving back to right field.
How it will shape the 2025 season: The Yankees knew they couldn’t replace Soto with one player, so they’re hoping they can replace his production with multiple players. Bellinger has never come close to his 2019 numbers since injuring his shoulder in the 2020 World Series, but he’s coming off back-to-back solid seasons with the Cubs (139 OPS+ in 2023, 111 in 2024 when he hit .266/.325/.426 with 18 home runs). He has morphed into a more contact-oriented hitter these days, but his pull-heavy approach could work well at Yankee Stadium. Goldschmidt, meanwhile, will try to rebound at age 37 from his worst offensive season (.245/.302/.414, 22 home runs).
Dominoes: With Bellinger and Goldschmidt, the Yankees were no longer a viable landing spot for Pete Alonso, eliminating a key bidder for the slugger’s services. Scott Boras had lost his leverage. And the Cubs? In subtracting Bellinger’s salary, perhaps they had room for another free agent with Alex Bregman looking like a potential fit. — Schoenfield
A $200 million ace joins … the Diamondbacks!?
Date of the deal: Dec. 28 — Arizona, Burnes finalize six-year deal
What it means for the Diamondbacks: As much as anything, Arizona’s second straight offseason investment in its starting rotation declares that even as the Diamondbacks share a division with baseball’s newest Evil Empire, the Snakes aren’t conceding anything to the high-dollar Dodgers.
After splurging for Jordan Montgomery and Eduardo Rodriguez last year, it would have been easy for Arizona to stand pat with its rotation depth chart, hoping for Montgomery to bounce back and E-Rod to be healthy. Instead, the addition of Corbin Burnes gives Arizona a rotation big three in Burnes, Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly that can match anyone. It also makes the Diamondbacks a pickle to match up against in any October series — even one against the Dodgers.
How it will shape the 2025 season: Gallen and Kelly are healthy this spring after missing time in 2024, and if they can stay that way, this stat might be highly relevant: Those two and Burnes, between them, have averaged 176 innings over the past three years, and that number jumps to 189 if you remove Kelly’s 13-start 2024 campaign.
The addition of Burnes pushed everyone else down a slot, giving the Diamondbacks superior rotation depth, which in turn should help cover them against a lack of numbers in the middle and front of the bullpen. (The back is in good shape.) The defense behind the starters should incent the hurlers to be pitch efficient, as will an athletic, potent lineup.
Dominoes: For Arizona, the Burnes signing places the need to find a taker for Montgomery at the top of the to-do list, as he simply makes too much money to be just a rotation depth guy. The larger dominoes were felt elsewhere in the pitching market, as teams aching for Burnes’ ace production were left wanting. That begins with Burnes’ old team, Baltimore, who would likely rate as a solid favorite in the AL East had Burnes returned. But the Blue Jays, Giants and others were also left to look elsewhere for an impact addition. — Doolittle
Much-anticipated Sasaki sweepstakes has a Hollywood ending
Date of the deal: Jan. 17 — Japanese ace Sasaki says he’s joining Dodgers
What it means for the Dodgers: In some ways, the Dodgers had been building up to this moment — all the way back to the mid-1990s, when Hideo Nomo blazed a path for Japanese pitchers to the United States and turned a generation of children in his home country into Dodger fans. In the ensuing years, as Ichiro Suzuki, Hideki Matsui, Yu Darvish and others starred elsewhere, the Dodgers’ influence in Japan began to fade. Then Shohei Ohtani signed with them on Dec. 11, 2023. Then Yoshinobu Yamamoto joined him weeks later. Then, powered in part by those two, the Dodgers won the World Series.
By the time Sasaki was posted in December of 2024, the Dodgers had once again established themselves as the predominant major league team of Japan. So much so that Sasaki chose them, too, even though their starting rotation was already quite full. He chose them mostly because he believed they gave him the best chance to develop, but the presence of Yamamoto and Ohtani, and the fact that the Dodgers carried such massive influence in his country, certainly helped.
How it will shape the 2025 season: In a span of 13 months, the Dodgers added Tyler Glasnow, Yamamoto, Snell and Sasaki to their rotation. To that group you can add Ohtani, who is expected to return as a two-way player this season. And Clayton Kershaw, who is on track to join the rotation around June. And a host of promising arms, including Dustin May. Add in their star-studded lineup, and what they would later add to their bullpen, and the Dodgers have put together one of the most talented rosters in baseball history.
Dominoes: The San Diego Padres and the Toronto Blue Jays emerged as the other two finalists for Sasaki, and his decision was a massive blow to both. To the Blue Jays, it meant coming up just short on another premier player after failed pursuits of Ohtani, Soto and Burnes, among others. The Padres had a hole in their rotation and were continuing to operate on a tight budget. In some ways, they had built their entire offseason around the prospect of landing Sasaki. Him choosing their biggest rival prompted them to instead sign Nick Pivetta. — Gonzalez
The Dodgers add top free agent reliever — and become baseball’s new Evil Empire?
Date of the deal: Jan. 19 — Dodgers land Scott for $72 million
What it means for the Dodgers: Landing Snell and Sasaki apparently wasn’t enough for one offseason: The Dodgers then decided to upgrade an already strong bullpen, signing Tanner Scott, arguably the top lefty reliever in the game over the past two seasons, to a four-year, $72 million contract.
Call it a baseball version of adding Kevin Durant to the Warriors: It seemed like piling on at this point (and especially so when the Dodgers then signed Kirby Yates, who held batters to a .113 average last season, the lowest ever for a pitcher with at least 50 innings).
It also seemed like the final exclamation point on the past two seasons: The Dodgers are officially baseball’s Evil Empire. Heck, after this signing, even Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner said it is “difficult” for other teams to keep up with the Dodgers. Yes, that’s a bit like Darth Vader complaining about Voldemort. Welcome to baseball in 2025.
How it will shape the 2025 season: The Dodgers have always had good bullpens — fourth in ERA in 2024, third in 2023, second in 2022 and 2021 — but with Scott and Yates added to Blake Treinen, Evan Phillips, Alex Vesia, Michael Kopech, Anthony Banda and others, the pen appears deeper and better than ever. It makes it even easier for Dave Roberts to limit innings for his stellar rotation with the hope of keeping those starters healthy for October.
Dominoes: This was more about who didn’t land Scott. The Cubs were reportedly runners-up in the bidding with a four-year, $66 million offer, and a few days after the Scott signing they traded for former Astros closer Ryan Pressly. The Blue Jays pivoted and signed Max Scherzer instead. The Orioles signed Andrew Kittredge when they realized they weren’t going to land Scott. — Schoenfield
After monthslong standoff, a Mets icon returns to Queens
Date of the deal: Feb. 5 — Alonso, Mets agree to 2-year deal
What it means for the Mets: The Mets might have won the offseason by signing Juan Soto, but Pete Alonso’s free agency hung over Queens for the rest of the winter. Alonso, on paper, made sense for the 2025 Mets. He was a right-handed power bat to protect Soto. He was an adored homegrown player. But the 30-year-old first baseman wanted more than the Mets were willing to offer and the negotiations turned unusually public — and ugly — when owner Steve Cohen expressed his frustration during a fan event in January. A breakup seemed possible. The Mets signaled they were ready to move on. Alonso talked with other teams in search of a long-term contract. But, after a face-to-face meeting with Cohen and David Stearns in Tampa, the two sides agreed on a two-year, $54 million contract with an opt-out after this season the week before pitchers and catchers reported for spring training.
The reunion elevated the Mets to one of the best lineups in baseball, featuring a 1 through 5 of Francisco Lindor, Soto, Alonso, Brandon Nimmo and Mark Vientos that should wreak havoc on pitchers when healthy.
How it will shape the 2025 season: Signing Soto was significant, but more was needed to compete in a loaded National League East.
The Phillies, the defending division champs, have one of the best rotations in baseball to complement a veteran, battle-tested, star-studded lineup. The Braves, the division champs the previous six seasons, should rebound from a nightmare, injury-riddled season in which they still managed to reach the postseason as a wild card.
Alonso, who is 27 home runs shy of becoming the franchise’s all-time leader, gives the Mets a lineup to compete with those contenders. The starting rotation, however, might be another matter.
Dominoes: If Alonso’s season goes as both sides hope, the first baseman will opt out of his contract and become a free agent again in search of a long-term deal next winter. But this past winter suggests finding one could be difficult.
Alonso, who will be the highest-paid first baseman in the majors this season with a $30 million salary, is one of baseball’s top sluggers. His 226 home runs are the second-most in the sport since his debut in 2019. But the long-term contract he expected — one similar to, or even better than, the seven-year, $158 million extension he declined in 2023 — never materialized. Teams have seemingly decided slugging first baseman on the wrong side of 30 without much value on defense and on the basepaths aren’t worth that much. Alonso hopes that will change after a strong 2025 season.
The Mets, meanwhile, are expected to pursue Vladimir Guerrero Jr. next winter to replace Alonso if he reaches free agency and Alonso indeed opts out. — Castillo
Blue Jays get their big-name free agent in Soto, Ohtani, Roki … Anthony Santander
Date of the deal: Jan. 20 — Toronto, Santander reach $92 million deal
What it means for the Blue Jays: Over the past couple of years, the Blue Jays have been frequent headliners in the rumor mills around the top acquisition targets in the marketplace. Time after time, Toronto fell short in these pursuits. Then they inked Santander to a five-year, $92.5 million deal that also cost Toronto a compensatory draft pick because Santander had been saddled with a qualifying offer by his old team, Baltimore.
For the Blue Jays, it at least proves that they can still get someone to take their money, and if Toronto hadn’t been featured so prominently in the other quests, the addition of Santander wouldn’t feel so much like settling. Santander isn’t a perfect player, but he’s a legit, middle-of-the-order power hitter threat who has averaged 35 homers over the last three years. The Blue Jays didn’t get everything they wanted this winter but in Santander, they did land a bona fide threat to slot behind Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the batting order.
How it will shape the 2025 season: With Guerrero’s future in Toronto in doubt, there’s a lot riding on the Blue Jays’ short-term fortunes. After leaning a little too far over to the defensive side when picking their ancillary position players the past few seasons, Santander will help turn the scoreboard and perhaps unlock Guerrero’s game even more. If so, it can only help the case Toronto will continue to make in attempting to keep Vlady for the long haul.
Dominoes: The relatively late date of Santander’s signing bolstered the Blue Jays’ offseason work considerably and still left them time to add more, which resulted in, among other things, the signing of Max Scherzer to the rotation. It also left other teams looking for a big outfield bat out in the cold, with the Royals, Angels, Red Sox and Tigers reportedly among them. –– Doolittle
Braves finally get in on the offseason fun
Date of the deal: Jan. 23 — Atlanta, Profar agree to 3-year deal
What it means for the Braves: The offseason had been distinctly silent for the Braves until Profar agreed to a three-year, $42 million deal in the latter part of January. If Profar, coming off an age-31 season that was easily the best of his career, can retain most of last season’s gains, he fills the one concerning spot in the potent Atlanta lineup. He would do so at salary level (a $14 million-per-season luxury tax number) that, for now, apparently keeps the Braves under the tax line, and even with a bit of room to make in-season adds.
How it will shape the 2025 season: When Ronald Acuna Jr. returns (soon) to regular duty, the Braves will have a fully stocked, powerhouse regular lineup and a quality bench. Profar not only completes the puzzle but will help bridge whatever gap remains between now and Acuna’s first game.
That said, Profar’s yearly OPS+ figures, beginning in 2018, are: 107, 91, 114, 83, 109, 81, 134. After signing Profar for three seasons, the Braves need him to break that pattern. If he can, the Braves’ lineup should have no holes.
Dominoes: Profar turned out to be the one multiyear free agent the Braves signed this winter. Every signing since has been a recognizable veteran on a minor league deal and spring training invite. For Atlanta, Profar was the lone domino.
The timing of his signing with Atlanta might prove to be painful for Profar’s old team in San Diego. The Padres never really filled the void opened by Profar’s departure. At the time he joined Atlanta, the Padres had not added a free agent on a big league deal, but they later added five. If the purse strings had been loosened just a little sooner, might Profar have been retained? — Doolittle
The offseason’s final star free agent lands in Boston
Date of the deal: Feb. 12 — Bregman signs with Red Sox
What it means for the Red Sox: The Red Sox have had three straight non-winning seasons — the first time that’s happened since 1992-94. In signing Alex Bregman to a three-year, $120 million deal (with player opt-outs after 2025 and 2026), the Red Sox get a winning player to help reverse that trend, a former MVP runner-up who has averaged 4.5 WAR the past three seasons. They also get a hitter who has dominated at Fenway Park in his career, hitting .375/.490/.750 with seven home runs in 21 games.
They also created some internal strife, with Rafael Devers initially saying he would not be open to moving from third base to DH. Bregman, who won a Gold Glove in 2024, said he’d be willing to move to second base. A month later, Devers changed his stance and told reporters, “I’m good to do whatever they want me to do.”
Maybe Devers settles in at DH. Maybe Bregman ends up sliding back and forth. Maybe second-base prospect Kristian Campbell goes down to Triple-A and plays more outfield. No matter what, manager Alex Cora will have his work cut out keeping Devers happy and figuring out how and when to integrate all the young players into the lineup.
How it will shape the 2025 season: Bregman is coming off a .315 OBP, his worst since his rookie season, and 51 points below his career average. It remains to be seen whether he’s a major addition to the lineup or merely a solid contributor.
The Red Sox were third in the AL in runs in 2024, but if Bregman’s bat plays as hoped at Fenway and some of the young hitters improve, this team could lead the league in runs — and that could mean their first AL East title since the World Series championship season in 2018.
Dominoes: The Tigers and Cubs were other potential landing spots for Bregman, and both have intriguing rookie third basemen — Jace Jung in Detroit and Matt Shaw in Chicago. Shaw is the better prospect of the two (No. 23 overall, according to ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel), although has just 35 games above Double-A. Jung got some big league time in 2024, hitting .241/.362/.304 in 94 plate appearances after hitting .257/.377/.454 in Triple-A, but got sent down last week, so it looks like Detroit will open with a Zach McKinstry/Andy Ibanez platoon.
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MLB season mega-preview: Power Rankings, playoff odds and everything you need for all 30 teams
Welcome to MLB Opening Week, baseball fans!
After a chaotic offseason, one thing is clear heading into the new season: Everyone else is chasing the reigning World Series champions at the top of our initial 2025 rankings.
Whether your team is a legit threat to knock off the Los Angeles Dodgers or you are just hoping your team can contend, we’ve got everything you need for the season ahead as 28 of the 30 MLB teams take the field for Opening Day on Thursday.
We asked our MLB experts to rank every team from 1 to 30 in our first Power Rankings of the new season, and ESPN baseball writers Jorge Castillo, Bradford Doolittle, Alden Gonzalez and David Schoenfield teamed up to provide a breakdown of what to expect this season, along with Doolittle’s win-loss projections and playoff odds for all 30 teams.
Jump to team:
American League
ATH | BAL | BOS | CHW | CLE
DET | HOU | KC | LAA | MIN
NYY | SEA | TB | TEX | TOR
National League
ARI | ATL | CHC | CIN | COL
LAD | MIA | MIL | NYM | PHI
PIT | SD | SF | STL | WSH
Tier 1: The almighty Dodgers
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
Projected record: 102-60 (97.7% playoff odds | 28.4% World Series odds)
The thing we’ll be talking about most this season: The single-season wins record.
Miguel Rojas put it out into the universe last month when he said he believes his team can win 120 games with good injury luck. The record is 116, reached by the 1906 Cubs and 2001 Mariners. L.A. surpassing that is not an outrageous thought. The Dodgers, after another offseason spending spree, have assembled one of the most talented rosters of the modern era to defend their World Series title. And only three years ago, they finished the 2022 season with 111 victories. On paper, the 2025 Dodgers are even better. But the goal is to win the World Series, not 117 regular-season games. — Castillo
Most likely 2025 award winner: Let’s take an awards inventory of the 2025 Dodgers. Among those on either the 40-man roster or 60-day injured list, there are six MVP awards (Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Clayton Kershaw), five Cy Youngs (Kershaw, Blake Snell), one Rookie of the Year (Ohtani) and a Manager of the Year (Dave Roberts). Betts is more than capable of challenging for another MVP award. Roki Sasaki is likely the preseason front-runner for NL Rookie of the Year. In the Cy Young race, take your pick between Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
But let’s face it: Ohtani is the unchallenged best player in the game right now, and with his return to the mound this season, he doesn’t have to match last year’s unprecedented offensive production to win MVP No. 4. It’s his award to lose. — Doolittle
One (realistic) bold prediction: What do we predict for the Dodgers? 117 wins? Sixty home runs from Ohtani? A third Cy Young Award for Blake Snell? It’s all on the table. But let’s go with this: the lowest team ERA+ of the live ball era (since 1920). By the way, the three lowest marks in this category belong to the 2020 Dodgers (146), the 2022 Dodgers (145) and the 2021 Dodgers (140). The 1906 Cubs hold the post-1900 record at 151. — Schoenfield
How they can rule the sport (again): Major League Baseball is a quarter century removed from its last repeat champion, but the Dodgers might be more prepared to pull it off than anyone. Their rotation was their only weakness in October, and they have since doubled down by adding Snell and Sasaki (not to mention getting Tyler Glasnow and Yamamoto back healthy). They also strengthened the best lineup in the sport and fortified a bullpen that already looked dominant. Outside of the randomness of the postseason, the only thing standing in the Dodgers’ way of a repeat might be injuries to key players. And given the health of their farm system, perhaps not even that. — Gonzalez
Tier 2: Biggest threats to L.A.’s throne
Projected record: 96-66 (91.1% playoff odds | 14.4% World Series odds)
The thing we’ll be talking about most this season: The returns of Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider.
Nightmare seasons usually don’t conclude with 89 wins and a playoff appearance, but Atlanta’s 2024 campaign was an exception. The Braves had the worst injury luck in baseball, and it started with their two franchise pillars. First, Strider underwent Tommy John surgery in April, two starts into his third season. A month later, Acuña suffered a season-ending ACL tear in his left knee — three years after tearing his right ACL.
Both players are expected back early in the season. Strider could return by the end of April and Acuña by the end of May. The Braves proved they can reach the playoffs without the two stars. A deep October run, however, is unlikely if their best players are not contributing in a loaded National League. — Castillo
Most likely 2025 award winner: With Acuña’s MVP case likely to be undermined by a late start to the 2025 season and (maybe) a lower stolen-base total, Chris Sale remains the Braves’ most likely winner of a major award.
The problem for Sale isn’t so much what he does but the competition in the National League. Sale, Zack Wheeler and Paul Skenes lead the way but Corbin Burnes is back in the Senior Circuit. Blake Snell is still around, Yoshinobu Yamamoto is poised to make the leap and both Sandy Alcantara and Strider are back from injury and looking as filthy as ever during the spring. If Sale wins it again, he would become the first back-to-back Cy Young winner since Jacob deGrom a half-decade ago. — Doolittle
One (realistic) bold prediction: Spencer Schwellenbach has an impressive first full season, especially for a pitcher without a lot of pitching experience given he was a two-way player at Nebraska. His fastball averages 96, he has a six-pitch repertoire, and he throws strikes. He finishes in the top five of National League Cy Young voting. — Schoenfield
How they can join L.A in the top tier: Acuña noticeably wasn’t himself when he returned from his first ACL tear in 2022. His explosiveness wasn’t quite there, his surgically repaired right knee continually ached. It wasn’t until the following season, an MVP-winning campaign in 2023, that Acuña was fully back. This time, the Braves are hoping to avoid that bridge year by giving Acuña two additional months to recover. Atlanta’s pitching staff was tied with the Seattle Mariners for the major league lead in ERA last season, but the offense — 12th in OPS, 15th in runs — lagged behind. If Acuña is a catalyst at the top of the lineup, that will change dramatically. — Gonzalez
Projected record: 89-73 (68.9% playoff odds | 8.7% World Series odds)
The thing we’ll be talking about most this season: Can this core finally break through and win a championship?
The Phillies have reached the playoffs the past three seasons. Their playoff exits have come earlier and earlier each year: in the World Series in 2022, in the NLCS in 2023 and in the NLDS last season. Philadelphia, with 13 players in their 30s on its projected Opening Day roster, has one of the oldest rosters in baseball. Zack Wheeler and J.T. Realmuto are 34. Nick Castellanos is 33. Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber are 32. Trea Turner and Aaron Nola are 31. Realmuto and Schwarber are slated to reach free agency this winter. This season could be, with Cristopher Sanchez‘s expected improvement and the addition of Jesus Luzardo in the rotation, Philly’s best shot to win it all. — Castillo
Most likely 2025 award winner: Zack Wheeler has been a bastion of dominance and consistency alike during his half-decade with the Phillies. He’s been knocking on the Cy Young door after each outstanding season, finishing second twice and sixth once during the past four years.
The early tide is with wunderkind Paul Skenes over on the other side of Pennsylvania. So for Wheeler, it’s a question of whether he has yet another gear in his game. Which isn’t easy, given Wheeler is coming off a season of 16 wins, 2.57 ERA, 224 strikeouts and miniscule 0.955 WHIP. In other words, it’s hard to be better than Wheeler has been for the Phillies, and if he keeps doing it, one of these years he’ll bring home the trophy. — Doolittle
One (realistic) bold prediction: Not only do all five starting pitchers throw at least 162 innings — the last teams to do that were the Cubs and Blue Jays in 2016 — but all five end up with an ERA under 3.50. The last team to meet both criteria: the 2006 White Sox. Oh, and since we’re predicting good health, that means rookie Andrew Painter will be the closer in the postseason. — Schoenfield
How they can join L.A in the top tier: The Phillies sent two non-closing relievers to the All-Star Game last summer. One of them, Jeff Hoffman, has since joined the Toronto Blue Jays. The other, Matt Strahm, is dealing with shoulder inflammation. Then there’s Carlos Estevez, who helped take down the ninth inning after being acquired at midseason and has since left via free agency, joining the Kansas City Royals.
The Phillies’ offense is menacing and their rotation looks deep, but they need to shore up the back end of their bullpen if they hope to compete in the Dodgers’ territory. They need Orion Kerkering to take another step forward, Jose Alvarado to resemble his 2023 self and Jordan Romano, non-tendered this offseason, to find himself. — Gonzalez
Projected record: 90-72 (73.5% playoff odds | 6.0% World Series odds)
The thing we’ll be talking about most this season: Juan Soto‘s transition from the Bronx to Queens.
Soto became an instant fan favorite in his only season with the Yankees. The Bleacher Creatures loved him, and he loved them back. He partnered with Aaron Judge for one of the greatest one-two punches in history. He sent the Yankees to the World Series with a clutch home run in Game 5 of the ALCS. All along, his free agency loomed. That, after playing for three teams in three seasons, is finally behind him. He now has a long-term home. The Mets won the offseason by signing Soto away from their crosstown rivals after perhaps his best season. Will that translate to enough wins to reach the postseason in a crowded NL? — Castillo
Most likely 2025 award winner: Soto did his MVP candidacy no favors by selecting the league that Shohei Ohtani plays in, but if anyone is likely to post numbers so overwhelming that it makes the two-way legend an also-ran, it’s Soto. Soto has been close, finishing in the top 10 four times in the NL and third in his lone AL campaign.
Soto is entering his age-26 season — yes, he’s still in the early part of his prime — and has a 160 OPS+ and an average of 34 homers, 132 walks and 106 runs over the past three seasons. It still doesn’t feel like Soto has hit his power ceiling yet, and if does while hitting between Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso, the results may be truly awe-inspiring. — Doolittle
One (realistic) bold prediction: Mike Piazza is the only Mets player with a 1.000 OPS (1.012 in 2000). Soto had a .989 OPS with the Yankees, but this year he goes a little higher and beat Piazza’s mark. And with Soto on base so much in front of him, Pete Alonso also breaks his own club record of 131 RBIs set in 2022. — Schoenfield
How they can join L.A in the top tier: One thing that stood out about David Stearns’ first season atop baseball operations was the success stories within his starting rotation. Sean Manaea dropped his release point, threw across his body and finished 11th in National League Cy Young Award voting; Luis Severino, Jose Quintana and David Peterson combined for a 3.59 ERA in 83 regular-season starts.
Extracting value from veteran starting pitchers can be a dicey proposition, but Stearns must do it again — most notably with Manaea, Frankie Montas and converted reliever Clay Holmes, a trio that signed for a combined $147 million this offseason. — Gonzalez
Projected record: 87-75 (58.4% playoff odds | 3.0% World Series odds)
The thing we’ll be talking about most this season: Corbin Carroll reestablishing himself as one of the sport’s brightest young stars.
For four months, Carroll’s sophomore season was a stunning disappointment. The outfielder, a unanimous NL Rookie of the Year Award winner in 2023, batted .215 with eight home runs and a .664 OPS in 109 games. The struggles were so troubling that he was dropped to eighth in the batting order for the last two days of July. Then he flipped the switch. From Aug. 1 on, Carroll hit .263 with 14 home runs, six doubles, six triples, 15 steals and a .918 OPS over his final 53 games. More of that and Carroll will find himself in the MVP race. — Castillo
Most likely 2025 award winner: Corbin. The Diamondbacks have two really good ones, and while Corbin Carroll might break out as an MVP candidate in any given season from now into the foreseeable future, we have to go with Corbin Burnes here.
The NL Cy Young derby is shaping up to be a crowded one, but Burnes is on a streak of five straight top-10 finishes (four in the NL) and one win. Carroll and Ketel Marte could both have MVP-level seasons and still get swamped by Shohei Ohtani in the balloting. Jordan Lawlar has Rookie of the Year ability but will start the season in the minors and has no clear path to a near-term every-day role in the majors, though he could force his way into one. Still, Burnes’ track record is too solid to ignore. — Doolittle
One (realistic) bold prediction: Ketel Marte finished third in the MVP voting in 2024. Corbin Carroll finished fifth as a rookie in 2023 and had a strong second half last year, plus a strong spring. Both finish in the top 10 in the MVP voting — and the Diamondbacks lead the majors in runs scored for the second year in a row. — Schoenfield
How they can join L.A in the top tier: Carroll suddenly became one of the worst hitters in the sport for four months last season. The D-backs’ offense lagged right along with him. A return to form from the D-backs’ best player will go a long way toward making up for the loss of Joc Pederson, whose production wasn’t necessarily replaced. So would a healthy Merrill Kelly and Eduardo Rodriguez, who combined to make only 23 starts last season. But just as important will be the back end of the D-backs’ bullpen, where veteran lefty A.J. Puk needs to continue the dominant form he displayed down the stretch and young, explosive righty Justin Martinez needs to take another leap. — Gonzalez
Projected record: 88-74 (64.7% playoff odds | 5.9% World Series odds)
The thing we’ll be talking about most this season: If the Orioles’ starting pitching is good enough to adequately complement their talented core of position players.
Last year, they addressed the need for an ace by acquiring Corbin Burnes right before spring training. Burnes, as expected, signed elsewhere this winter, leaving Baltimore with a void atop the rotation again. Its response was to sign 41-year-old Charlie Morton, who has defied Father Time, and 35-year-old Tomoyuki Sugano, who is transitioning to the majors after 12 seasons in NPB.
Neither is projected to be a No. 1 starter, but the Orioles view Grayson Rodriguez as the answer. Problem is Rodriguez, who missed time last season with shoulder and lat injuries, was shut down with elbow inflammation this spring and will begin the season on the injured list. For now, Zach Eflin is the team’s top starter. — Castillo
Most likely 2025 award winner: Gunnar Henderson graduated from the Rookie of the Year award in 2023 to a top-five MVP finish in 2024. He has been limited this spring by injury, but the trajectory seems clear.
Still just 23, Henderson is so good already across the board that it’s hard to see where his gains might come. A BABIP spike could push him into the range of a .300/.400/.600 slash line. Given his position and overall skills, that might be enough.
He would still have Aaron Judge and Bobby Witt Jr. to contend with, and Witt has the revenge factor going for him since Henderson was chosen over him for the cover of this year’s edition of MLB The Show. It’s on. — Doolittle
One (realistic) bold prediction: The Orioles have a crowded position-player roster, but top prospect Samuel Basallo eventually will hit his way out of Triple-A and into the lineup as the regular DH in the second half — and belt 15 home runs, including two 475-foot blasts that establish him as one of the future power kings in the sport. — Schoenfield
How they can join L.A in the top tier: The Orioles will be an offensive force, and with Felix Bautista back to take down the ninth inning, they’ll be much better equipped to hold leads late. The question is how effective they’ll be at turning games over to their high-leverage relievers. Three things need to happen: Grayson Rodriguez needs to be healthy, Kyle Bradish needs to come back strong in the second half, and Orioles general manager Mike Elias needs to leverage his young position players to add another impact starter before the trade deadline. — Gonzalez
Projected record: 89-73 (68.3% playoff odds | 6.5% World Series odds)
The thing we’ll be talking about most this season: Hal Steinbrenner’s willingness to invest more money on the roster.
Last month, Steinbrenner said the club’s payroll stood between $307 million and $308 million — just below last season’s total of $310 million. Cot’s estimates a slightly different number: $304.7 million, which ranks fourth in the majors according to its data. Regardless, the Yankees are above the highest luxury tax threshold of $301 million, and any dollar spent over $301 million comes with a 60% surcharge. Steinbrenner also said last month that he has not ordered the front office to drop the payroll below $301 million, but he questioned whether a payroll that high is smart business.
At the time, the Yankees were trying to trade Marcus Stroman to clear his $18.5 million salary and spend the money elsewhere. Back then, their most glaring need was a third baseman. That list has since grown after Gerrit Cole was lost for the season and Luis Gil went down for at least three months, putting a dent in the starting pitching depth and putting Stroman into the rotation. Contending for a title — and avoiding wasting another of Judge’s prime years — will likely now require adding payroll by the trade deadline. — Castillo
Most likely 2025 award winner: Even if Cole had not been injured, and even if Juan Soto had returned, the easy answer would still be Judge. Now that answer is a no-brainer. Judge has won two of the AL’s past three MVP trophies, and the departure of Soto to the NL at least clears away one prime competitor.
If Judge puts up 2022 or 2024 numbers (it’s a good debate about which season was better across the board), he would do so on a Yankees squad more reliant on him than ever. And if the Yankees succeed despite their ominous early injury woes, that would make Judge awfully hard to beat no matter what the likes of Witt and Henderson might do. — Doolittle
One (realistic) bold prediction: Without Cole for the season and minus Gil for several months, it could be 2023 all over again: That Yankees team finished just 82-80 and was outscored. Let’s go two wins worse and the Yankees finish 80-82 for their first losing season since 1992. — Schoenfield
How they can join L.A in the top tier: The Yankees need a lot to go right, which sounds weird given where they were last fall but makes sense when you consider what has happened since. Cody Bellinger needs to fall in love with the short right-field porch; Giancarlo Stanton needs to recover from his two tennis elbows in time to make an impact on 2025; Paul Goldschmidt needs to turn back time just a little bit; Max Fried needs to pitch like a true ace; Carlos Rodon and Clarke Schmidt need to step up behind him; and, inevitably, GM Brian Cashman needs to find another impact starter. — Gonzalez
Tier 3: They could be contenders
Projected record: 87-75 (61.0% playoff odds | 5.2% World Series odds)
The thing we’ll be talking about most this season: Jacob deGrom, once the best pitcher in the world, might retake the title — if he can stay healthy.
Between 2018 and 2019, DeGrom’s two Cy Young seasons, the right-hander compiled a 2.05 ERA and 524 strikeouts over 64 starts. Injuries limited him to 27 outings over the next two years, but the Rangers gave him a five-year, $185 million contract after the 2022 season anyway. With 41 innings in two seasons, the return so far hasn’t been worth it. But that could change. DeGrom, 36, is healthy and determined to lay off the gas to increase his chances of remaining healthy. If he does, the Rangers just might be the favorites to win the American League. — Castillo
Most likely 2025 award winner: Since DeGrom won his Cy Youngs in 2018 and 2019, he has pitched a total of 265⅓ innings during the six seasons played since, including the shortened 2020 season. It’s been only 22 years since one pitcher (Roy Halladay in 2003) threw that many innings in one season. But during those innings, deGrom has gone 18-8 with a 2.10 ERA and 1.80 FIP while striking out — you’d better take a seat before reading this number — 411 batters. He looked terrific after coming back late last season, and he’s looked really good this spring.
DeGrom hasn’t cracked triple digits in innings since that 2019 Cy Young season, but if he gets to 150-160, is there any chance he isn’t among the front-runners? Just as crucial: The Rangers’ already short-handed rotation needs deGrom badly for as many innings as he can provide. — Doolittle
One (realistic) bold prediction: Wyatt Langford was rushed to the majors in 2024 after just 200 plate appearances in the minors in his draft year of 2023. He held his own, but look for even bigger things in 2025: 30 home runs, 30 stolen bases, 100 RBIs and a top-10 MVP finish. — Schoenfield
How they can be an October threat: The Rangers went from third to 23rd in OPS from 2023 to 2024, even though they returned virtually the same lineup. Adding Joc Pederson as their designated hitter against righties should help, but the 2025 Rangers need more production from Adolis Garcia (94 OPS-plus in 2024), Marcus Semien (100 OPS-plus) and Josh Jung (103). Their pitching staff is not good enough to hold up a mediocre offense. The strength of this Rangers team needs to come in the run-scoring department. — Gonzalez
Projected record: 84-78 (45.6% playoff odds | 2.5% World Series odds)
The thing we’ll be talking about most this season: Rafael Devers‘ unhappiness was the answer here until he acquiesced and accepted his move off third base. So we’ll go with Boston’s big three.
Roman Anthony (No. 2), Marcelo Mayer (No. 4) and Kristian Campbell (No. 26) all landed near the top of Kiley McDaniel’s top 100 prospect rankings. Campbell, who could be the team’s Opening Day second baseman, should be the first to make his debut. His readiness is part of the reason the Red Sox prefer to have Bregman at third base instead of moving him to second. Anthony, a 20-year-old outfielder, is widely considered the top prospect in baseball outside of Roki Sasaki. Mayer, 22, is the club’s future shortstop. It’s a trio the Red Sox may build around for years to come. — Castillo
Most likely 2025 award winner: Garrett Crochet dazzled in 2024 for baseball’s worst-ever team but pitched much of the season with his workload artificially tamped down so he wouldn’t damage himself before the White Sox could deal him. Well, now Crochet has changed Sox and the governor is off.
According to ESPN BET, the preseason favorites in the AL Cy Young race are all lefties: Crochet, Cole Ragans and last year’s winner, Tarik Skubal. In terms of K-BB%, Crochet was the most dominant of the three. This time, he’s poised to do it for more innings with a much, much, much better team around him. — Doolittle
One (realistic) bold prediction: No team has ever won all three outfield Gold Gloves, but the trio of Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu can do just that. Abreu won in right field as a rookie. Duran was second among all outfielders in defensive runs saved in 2024 although would have to beat out three-time winner Steven Kwan in left. And Rafaela has Gold Glove range in center if he hits enough to hold off Anthony (or isn’t needed again at shortstop). — Schoenfield
How they can be an October threat: Red Sox relievers combined for a 4.36 ERA last season, sixth highest in the majors. Craig Breslow is attempting to address that with Aroldis Chapman, who will pitch at age 37, and Liam Hendriks, a 36-year-old right-hander who has made just five appearances since 2022 and spent the 2024 season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. Chapman and Hendriks will probably form Boston’s new late-inning combo, and they’ll have to be effective. — Gonzalez
Projected record: 84-78 (44.4% playoff odds | 1.8% World Series odds)
The thing we’ll be talking about most this season: The push to dethrone the Dodgers.
San Diego gave the Dodgers their stiffest test in October, falling in five games in the NLDS after squandering a 2-1 series lead. Another opportunity isn’t out of the question. The Padres lost key pieces over the winter — Tanner Scott, Jurickson Profar and Kyle Higashioka all signed elsewhere — and they’ll likely be without Joe Musgrove for all of 2025, but there is enough talent on the roster to contend.
Fernando Tatis Jr. is a superstar. Manny Machado is a future Hall of Famer. Jackson Merrill is on a path to stardom. Luis Arraez, Xander Bogaerts and Jake Cronenworth are proven veterans. Michael King, Dylan Cease, Nick Pivetta and Yu Darvish (when he returns from injury) make up a top-tier rotation. The Padres, health permitting, could be dangerous in October. They just have to get there first. — Castillo
Most likely 2025 award winner: The Padres had a pair of near-misses in the awards derby last season, with manager Mike Shildt finishing second in the NL Manager of the Year balloting and Merrill serving as Paul Skenes’ runner-up in the Rookie of the Year chase.
Both could figure in awards races again, but look for this to be the year that Tatis fully returns to the luster he enjoyed after back-to-back top-five MVP finishes at ages 21 and 22. Call it a hunch. Tatis’ Statcast-based expected numbers in 2024 marked him as a top-five hitter in the NL. That quality of contact wasn’t fully reflected in his traditional numbers, but the bottom line is that Tatis was hitting the ball as hard as he was when he homered 42 times in 2021. He’s ready to explode. — Doolittle
One (realistic) bold prediction: Twenty-game winners are rare these days, and the Padres have had just three in franchise history — Randy Jones in 1975 and 1976, and Gaylord Perry in 1978 — but King, who had a 2.03 ERA over his final 14 starts, makes it a fourth. That puts him in the thick of the Cy Young race. — Schoenfield
How they can be an October threat: With the Padres, it’s quite simple — their stars need to be stars. That means Tatis and Machado need to put up MVP-caliber numbers, Bogaerts needs to resemble something closer to the hitter he was in Boston, Arraez needs to keep setting the tone at the top of the lineup, and Darvish and Cease need to stay healthy.
The Padres scaled back their payroll in the wake of owner Peter Seidler’s death in 2023, and recent trades from A.J. Preller have dried the upper levels of their farm system, so there isn’t much margin for error beyond their highest earners. Given the ages of some of those aforementioned players, their window might be closing fast. — Gonzalez
Projected record: 89-73 (68.7% playoff odds | 5.4% World Series odds)
The thing we’ll be talking about most this season: Whether the Astros’ dynastic run is indeed over.
Houston didn’t reach the ALCS last season for the first time since 2016. It then let Alex Bregman, a franchise icon, sign with the Red Sox, leaving Jose Altuve as the only player left from Houston’s first championship team in 2017, and traded All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Cubs a year before he reached free agency.
The Astros still should compete for their eighth AL West title in nine years. They still have Altuve, though he’s a left fielder now, and Yordan Alvarez, one of the sport’s most dangerous hitters, as their offensive engines. They have Hunter Brown, one of baseball’s top young pitchers, and Framber Valdez, a premier left-hander who’s pitching for a contract next winter, at the top of their rotation. The bullpen features closer Josh Hader and Bryan Abreu setting him up. There’s still plenty of talent. But the gap in the AL West has closed. — Castillo
Most likely 2025 award winner: The ongoing iteration of the fading Astros dynasty leaves Yordan Alvarez as the club’s top performer with the gap between him and everyone else larger than it has ever been. But this is about “most likely award winner” and with Alvarez DHing most of the time, it’s hard to see how he could overcome the likes of Aaron Judge and Bobby Witt Jr. in the MVP race. It could happen, of course, if Alvarez stays on the field for 145-150 games.
Still, let’s go out on a limb and tout Cam Smith as a Rookie of the Year possibility. Smith has a clear path to regular playing time in right field, even if he doesn’t break camp with the big league team, and he has mashed at every turn as a professional, including this spring. If Smith were to go on an awards-worthy tear, the howls over Bregman’s departure might fade pretty quickly. — Doolittle
One (realistic) bold prediction: The best 1-2-3 starting pitching trio in the American League won’t be in Seattle or Texas or anywhere else but in Houston with Valdez, Brown and Spencer Arrighetti. That trio won 33 games in 2024 but will win 45 in 2025 and combine for 13 WAR. — Schoenfield
How they can be an October threat: It all comes down to five names: Isaac Paredes, Yainer Diaz, Jeremy Pena, Brown and Arrighetti. What prolonged the Astros’ run was continually developing productive major leaguers, and they desperately need their younger players to take big steps forward around their veterans this season. There are still elements of a championship team in place here, even without Bregman and Tucker. But it rests on the 20-somethings who will be a crucial part of this. — Gonzalez
12. Seattle Mariners
Projected record: 84-78 (46.8% playoff odds | 2.5% World Series odds)
The thing we’ll be talking about most this season: The Mariners’ offense.
Seattle’s starting rotation led the majors in ERA, WHIP, opponent batting average and opponent OPS (among other categories) last season, and the club still managed to fall short of a postseason berth. How? The offense was that putrid for five months.
Seattle ranked 27th in runs scored and 28th in OPS while compiling the most strikeouts in the majors through Aug. 21. Manager Scott Servais was fired the next day. Dan Wilson replaced him and appointed Hall of Famer Edgar Martinez as his hitting coach. From there, Seattle ranked sixth in runs scored and fourth in OPS across baseball through the end of the season. If the Mariners can continue where they left off with star center fielder Julio Rodríguez, they should make their second postseason appearance since 2001. — Castillo
Most likely 2025 award winner: All five members of the Seattle rotation rank among the top 21 AL Cy Young candidates at ESPN BET, led by Logan Gilbert (tied for fourth). Since we don’t want to cop out with a “Seattle starter” pick, we’ll go with Gilbert, in part because George Kirby has a bum shoulder and will start the season on the IL.
Gilbert is a workhorse, by current standards, whose pitch efficiency allows him to work deep into games. A little luck in the home-run-to-fly-ball category and he could easily push his ERA under three while putting up 200 innings once again. If the Mariners actually scored any runs, he might stand out in the wins category as well, as opposed to last year’s 9-12 mark that said nothing about the way he threw. — Doolittle
One (realistic) bold prediction: The best starter on the Mariners won’t be Gilbert or Kirby or Luis Castillo or Bryce Miller, but Bryan Woo. In 22 starts as a sophomore in 2024, he went 9-3 with a 2.89 ERA, walking just 13 batters and holding opponents to a .237 OBP — the second-lowest OBP allowed among pitchers with 100 innings behind only Gilbert (.236). His improvement against lefties makes him the real deal — he just needs to stay healthy for 30 starts. — Schoenfield
How they can be an October threat: In 2022, Julio Rodriguez posted a .544 OPS in April. In 2023, he went into the All-Star break with a .249/.310/.411 slash line. In 2024, he accumulated just seven home runs through the month of June. The Mariners’ offensive struggles begin and end with Rodriguez, who’s incredibly talented but has yet to put together a fully dominant season. If they hope to win their first AL West title in 24 years, he needs to do it now. — Gonzalez
Projected record: 84-78 (51.2% playoff odds | 1.5% World Series odds)
The thing we’ll be talking about most this season: If Chicago will still be playing in October.
The Cubs last reached the postseason in 2020. They last won a postseason game in 2017. There is real pressure on the North Side to produce October success. Nobody is feeling it more than Jed Hoyer. The team’s president of baseball operations hasn’t built a playoff team since replacing Theo Epstein as the front office frontman in November 2020 and is in the final year of his contract. The Cubs haven’t invested as much in their payroll in recent years as some of their big-market peers, but they spend more than their NL competition every year. Add the aggressive move to acquire Kyle Tucker knowing he could leave in free agency after this season, and 2025 is a crucial season for the Cubs. — Castillo
Most likely 2025 award winner: Invariably, a rookie position player who opens a season as a starter and keeps the job is going to enter the Rookie of the Year conversation. The award so often is based as much on opportunity (i.e., volume) as it is on performance, provided the latter is of enough quality that you can compile the former.
That’s where Matt Shaw comes in. The Cubs’ Opening Day third baseman has a chance to become the long-term answer at a position that has so often bedeviled Chicago during the decades since Ron Santo was traded to the White Sox in 1973 for, among others, Steve Stone. If the Cubs meet their expectation — which is to win the NL Central — and Shaw holds down his position all season, he’ll have a shot at postseason honors. — Doolittle
One (realistic) bold prediction: The Cubs have had just one 30/30 player in franchise history — Sammy Sosa, who did it twice. Kyle Tucker not only gets there, but goes 40/30 (40 home runs and 30 stolen bases) and captures the non-Shohei Ohtani MVP Award, finishing second in MVP voting to the Dodgers’ two-way star. — Schoenfield
How they can be an October threat: The Cubs scored the sixth-fewest runs in 2024, ahead of only the Chicago White Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, Mariners, Pittsburgh Pirates and Athletics. That is not good company. Bregman won’t be there to help fix it, and Tucker can’t do it alone. The Cubs need more production from their middle-infield combo of Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner, and they need younger hitters such as Pete Crow-Armstrong, Miguel Amaya, Shaw and Michael Busch to take steps forward. In that division, their pitching staff should be good enough to do its part. — Gonzalez
14. Kansas City Royals
Projected record: 85-77 (48.8% playoff odds | 2.3% World Series odds)
The thing we’ll be talking about most this season: Bobby Witt Jr. cementing himself as the best player in the American League.
If not for Aaron Judge registering arguably the greatest offensive season ever by a right-handed hitter, Witt would already have an AL MVP Award to his name. But in 2024, Judge was the sport’s best hitter since peak Barry Bonds, so Witt settled for second.
With Soto in the National League and regression on the table for Judge entering his age-33 season, Witt is ready to snatch the mantle. The shortstop has every tool in his kit. He led the majors in hits (211) and batting average (.332) last season. He finished fourth in OPS (.977) and second in fWAR (10.4). He hit 32 home runs and stole 31 bases. He plays elite defense. And he might just be the best player in baseball not named Ohtani by the end of his age-25 season. — Castillo
Most likely 2025 award winner: Witt. Next question. … OK, we’ll go a little deeper. Witt is coming off what might just have been the best season in the history of a franchise that employed George Brett for 21 seasons — and he’s still getting better. The betting markets basically see Witt as the preseason co-favorite in the AL MVP race with Judge. It’s not hard to understand why.
But even if something went awry, the Royals might still be a factor in all the other major awards races. The Rookie of the Year category would be a long shot on paper, but if you saw the exit velocities that Jac Caglianone was generating during spring training, you would be rooting for his rapid ascension to the majors. Still, this is Witt’s team, and soon it may be Witt’s league. — Doolittle
One (realistic) bold prediction: Any Witt prediction would have to be especially bold — even a 40/40 prediction feels relatively tame — so let’s turn instead to Vinnie Pasquantino, who is ripe for a career year at age 27. He hits .300 with 25 home runs and makes the All-Star team. — Schoenfield
How they can be an October threat: The Royals went from 106 losses in 2023 to 86 wins in 2024, and a big reason for that was Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha being incredibly solid in their first seasons in Kansas City, combining to win 29 games, post a 3.16 ERA and compile 373⅓ innings.
Cole Ragans is a budding ace who should once again challenge for the American League Cy Young Award, but Lugo and Wacha will have to once again step up behind him — especially with Brady Singer now in Cincinnati. — Gonzalez
Projected record: 80-82 (28.9% playoff odds | 0.5% World Series odds)
The thing we’ll be talking about most this season: Jackson Chourio solidifying himself as the Brewers’ franchise cornerstone.
Chourio made his major league debut on Opening Day last year 18 days after his 20th birthday. He arrived with six Triple-A games on his résumé and an eight-year, $82 million contract. Expectations were high. He didn’t meet them in the first half, slashing .243/.294/.384 in 85 games before the All-Star break.
The second half was a different story. The outfielder batted .310 with a .914 OPS and 12 home runs over his final 63 games, powering an offense that lost Christian Yelich for the season in late July. The Brewers wound up winning the NL Central for the third time in four years. With Willy Adames in San Francisco and Devin Williams in New York, the Brewers need Chourio to continue where he left off. — Castillo
Most likely 2025 award winner: Pat Murphy is the reigning NL Manager of the Year. It’s not an award that lends itself to repeat winners. Bobby Cox (2004 and 2005) is the only skipper to win two straight seasons. Lately, winning the honor in the National League is a bad omen. The five winners prior to Murphy are no longer managing the team with which they were honored. So that leaves the Brewers a little light on likely award contenders.
There is one obvious player with MVP potential: Chourio, who just turned 21 years old. There’s been one age-21 MVP — Vida Blue, in 1971. Beginning June 8 last season, Chourio’s per-162-game numbers the rest of the way were .306/.362/.525, 26 homers, 103 RBIs, 102 runs, 26 steals. Take that and a second-year leap and … who knows? — Doolittle
One (realistic) bold prediction: What can Chourio do for an encore? His most similar players list on Baseball-Reference includes Willie Mays, Bryce Harper, Ken Griffey Jr., Andruw Jones and Frank Robinson. That tells us about his potential. He also hit .310/.363/.552 in 63 second-half games. A .900 OPS for the entire season? Sure, let’s go there. — Schoenfield
How they can be an October threat: The Brewers need more of what Christian Yelich displayed before season-ending back surgery — a .909 OPS, his highest mark in five years, and 11 homers in 73 games — but they also need to adequately replace the stars who departed. That means Joey Ortiz, Adames’ replacement at shortstop, needs to take a step forward in his age-26 season. And Trevor Megill will have to step up in a closer’s role once held by Williams. — Gonzalez
Tier 4: If everything breaks their way
Projected record: 80-82 (27.1% playoff odds | 0.8% World Series odds)
The thing we’ll be talking about most this season: The franchise’s uncertain future.
The Rays will play home games this season at Steinbrenner Field, the Yankees’ spring training base, while Tropicana Field undergoes repairs after Hurricane Milton left it badly damaged. Playing at Steinbrenner Field — an intimate open-air, 11,026-seat stadium — in the Florida summer heat will be a constant storyline of its own. Beyond this year, however, remains a mystery.
Earlier this month, Rays owner Stu Sternberg announced the organization will not proceed with the construction of a $1.3 billion stadium in St. Petersburg, for now leaving the Rays without a home after the 2027 season. The team has reportedly pitched a plan to contribute $200 million for more substantial renovations of Tropicana Park if the city and county also contribute $200 million and extend the lease there through 2038. For now, the plan is for the Rays to return to The Trop next season for two years. What they’ll call home after that is to be determined — and to be discussed all season. — Castillo
Most likely 2025 award winner: The original version of this section highlighted the exciting return of Shane McClanahan. After the news over the weekend that McClanahan will start the season on the IL, we’ll swap that out. Given how things have gone for the Rays in terms of pitcher health the last couple of years, maybe it’s best to steer clear of that unit in general. However, there’s no clear direction to pivot toward, so let’s continue to support McClanahan in the hope that the health news will be positive. Then let’s throw out the rest of the rotation, any of whom could emerge: Ryan Pepiot, Taj Bradley, Drew Rasmussen, Shane Baz and Zack Littell. For all of them, the task will be to pair a pro-rata breakout with the volume that comes with good health. — Doolittle
One (realistic) bold prediction: Curtis Mead proves his hot spring was no fluke, wins a starting job and goes on to produce the first 4-WAR season by a player born in Australia. The current “record” belongs to reliever Liam Hendriks at 3.7 WAR, while Dave Nilsson holds the position player mark at 3.0 WAR. — Schoenfield
How they can contend: The Rays’ rotation is easy to dream on, but it’s also quite volatile. If healthy, a fivesome of Shane McClanahan (coming off a second Tommy John surgery), Drew Rasmussen (coming off a ligament procedure), Shane Baz (limited to 20 starts over the last three years), Taj Bradley and Ryan Pepiot can challenge the Mariners for the best rotation in the American League and potentially even carry the cash-strapped Rays to the top of the AL East. But “if healthy” is a major qualifier here. — Gonzalez
Projected record: 85-77 (52.4% playoff odds | 2.7% World Series odds)
The thing we’ll be talking about most this season: The health of their three stars.
The Twins, on paper, might have the most talent in the AL Central. But their best every-day players have long injury histories. Carlos Correa (86 games played), Royce Lewis (82) and Byron Buxton (102) all missed significant time in 2024. Minnesota, as a result, faded down the stretch and missed the postseason. Lewis is already dealing with a strained left hamstring that will sideline him for the start of the season. Buxton, 31, has played more than 92 games only twice in his career. Correa was an All-Star last summer before plantar fasciitis hampered him for the second straight season (right heel in 2024 and left heel in 2023). The Twins’ fortunes hinge on the three staying on the field. — Castillo
Most likely 2025 award winner: Three of the top 15 favorites for AL Cy Young are members of the Twins’ rotation, per ESPN BET: Leading the way is Pablo Lopez, with Bailey Ober and Joe Ryan lurking behind. Their numbers are similar, with Ryan rating as the most dominant and Ober with the best command. But Lopez has a decided edge in volume and consistency, making him the best combination of everything.
Over the past three seasons, Lopez has averaged 186 innings while posting an ERA+ of 110. A little luck in the BABIP and HR/FB columns — and a little run support — would push Lopez into the Cy Young conversation and could allow him to threaten the 20-win mark. We need more 20-game winners. — Doolittle
One (realistic) bold prediction: It’s hard to out-bullpen Cleveland, but the Twins will have the best bullpen in the majors, leading in win probability added, with Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax both posting sub-2.00 ERAs. — Schoenfield
How they can contend: It starts with the trio of Lewis, Correa and Buxton playing as many games as possible. But when the Twins won the American League Central in 2023, it was their rotation that carried them — and it was their rotation that fell off when they came up short in 2024. Lopez is still there to lead the staff, but Sonny Gray, who joined him to form a devastating combo two years ago, is long gone. Ryan, Ober and Simeon Woods Richardson, acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays in the Jose Berrios trade of July 2021, need to take steps forward. — Gonzalez
Projected record: 83-79 (41.2% playoff odds | 1.8% World Series odds)
The thing we’ll be talking about most this season: Tarik Skubal vying for more hardware.
A pitcher hasn’t won the American League Cy Young Award in consecutive seasons since Pedro Martinez in 1999 and 2000, but Skubal has a real chance; the left-hander is the betting favorite. Last season, he became the 21st pitcher to win the pitching Triple Crown, going 18-4 with a 2.39 ERA and 228 strikeouts over 192 innings. He dominated hitters this spring with a fastball that touched 100 mph, tallying 15 strikeouts to one walk in 13 ⅓ innings.
The Tigers’ rotation should be more formidable behind him with the return of Jack Flaherty and expected inclusion of top prospect Jackson Jobe at some point this season, along with Reese Olson and Casey Mize. But it all starts with Skubal. — Castillo
Most likely 2025 award winner: Jackson Jobe still has some rough edges. Nevertheless, his combination of stuff, bravado and opportunity — he earned a spot in Detroit’s season-opening rotation — puts him solidly in the group of preseason Rookie of the Year favorites. Jobe looks fearless on the mound, but sometimes, fearlessness in a pitcher translates to a spate of home run balls. That’s the category to watch with him. The betting markets rate defending Cy Young winner Skubal as the favorite to repeat in that category, but that’s awfully tough to do. Skubal will be great but if Jobe starts hot, he’s got the profile of the kind of rookie who can quickly become a sensation. — Doolittle
One (realistic) bold prediction: Only nine Tigers outfielders have hit 30 home runs in a season — Justin Upton was the last to do it, in 2016, and Rocky Colavito is the only one to do it more than once. Riley Greene becomes the 10th and makes the All-Star team for the second consecutive season, the first Tigers outfielder to do that since Magglio Ordonez in 2006-07. — Schoenfield
How they can contend: With Greene, Parker Meadows, Colt Keith, Trey Sweeney and Kerry Carpenter, the Tigers have assembled what they believe to be a solid young core of position players. Last year, Greene, Meadows and Carpenter combined for an .832 OPS. If Keith and Sweeney — combined OPS of .681 — can elevate to their level, and Spencer Torkelson can recapture some of the hitting prowess that made him a No. 1 overall pick, the Tigers might win their first division title since 2014. — Gonzalez
Projected record: 78-84 (19% playoff odds | 0.5% World Series odds)
The thing we’ll be talking about most this season: Jose Ramirez‘s supporting cast — and whether it’s good enough to compete again.
For the past few summers, the baseball world collectively scanned the leaderboards and realized that, yes, Ramirez somehow was still underrated. The third baseman ranks fourth in fWAR across the majors since becoming a regular in 2016. He has made six All-Star teams and finished in the top five in AL MVP voting five times. Last season might have been his best: a career-high-tying 39 home runs and a career-high 41 steals, just missing becoming the sixth member of the 40/40 club, to go with an .872 OPS in 158 games.
He is on a Hall of Fame course entering his age-32 season, but the Guardians’ offense lacks pop around him. The organization traded first baseman Josh Naylor, who was second on the team with 31 home runs last season, to the Diamondbacks and replaced him with 39-year-old Carlos Santana. No other Guardian hit more than 14 home runs. Kyle Manzardo, a former top prospect who had five homers in 53 games as a rookie last season, will be counted on to pick up some of the slack. — Castillo
Most likely 2025 award winner: Ramirez is tied for fourth in the AL MVP hierarchy at ESPN Bet, fitting for a player that’s finished between second and 10th in seven of the past eight seasons. Over his past nine seasons, Ramirez has a 136 OPS+ while averaging 27 homers, 91 runs, 91 RBIs and 25 stolen bases. Ramirez is a dream combination of greatness and durability, and he keeps edging upward even as he’s entered his 30s. If he gets that one last home run to hit 40/40 this year, while once again topping 100 runs and RBIs, would that finally be enough to get him over the top? This might be Ramirez’s last best chance at the top prize. — Doolittle
One (realistic) bold prediction: After a promising rookie season in 2023, Gavin Williams had some elbow issues to start 2024 and then went 3-10 with a 4.86 ERA in 16 starts. Williams has looked sharp this spring, though, and that will carry into a strong season: He’ll lead the rotation in WAR and ERA. — Schoenfield
How they can contend: The Guardians accumulated 436 home runs from 2022 to 2024, third fewest in the sport. Ninety-two of them were hit by Ramirez, and the man who ranks a pretty distant second on that list, Naylor, is no longer there.
It’s hard to win in this era, against pitchers this explosive, if one has to constantly manufacture runs. And that brings us to Manzardo, the young first baseman who came on strong at the tail end of his rookie season last year. He’ll have to play a big part in providing power beyond Ramirez. — Gonzalez
20. Toronto Blue Jays
Projected record: 83-79 (39.2% playoff odds | 1.6% World Series odds)
The thing we’ll be talking about most this season: Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s impending free agency.
The Blue Jays and their star first baseman couldn’t reach an agreement on an extension before Guerrero’s pre-spring training deadline, casting a cloud over the 2025 season and beyond for Canada’s team. Toronto has tried, and failed, to add superstars around Guerrero in recent years, but the Blue Jays have also refused to pull the plug and start a rebuild. They added veterans Andres Gimenez, Anthony Santander, Jeff Hoffman, Yimi Garcia and Max Scherzer over the winter to compete for a playoff spot after finishing in the AL East basement last season for the first time since 2013.
Losing a player like Guerrero — a Canadian citizen who has insisted he wants to play in Toronto — would be a devastating blow to a franchise that hasn’t won a playoff game in nearly a decade. But they could look to move him before the trade deadline if they’re out of the race this summer to avoid losing him for just a draft pick this winter. — Castillo
Most likely 2025 award winner: Twenty years from now, we might realize that Guerrero’s incredible age-22 season was his apex and he was simply a rare player who had his best campaign at a young age. But what if that’s not his career season? What if that’s still to come? This is a platform season for Guerrero, and it’s his age-26 campaign. Well, he had 1.002 OPS with 48 homers and 123 runs in that 2021 breakout. If he beats those numbers in service of a rousing Blue Jays run, it will be tough for Aaron Judge, Bobby Witt Jr., Gunnar Henderson or anyone else to top him in the balloting. — Doolittle
One (realistic) bold prediction: The Blue Jays will face an excruciatingly tough decision at the trade deadline if they’re, say, four or five games out of the wild-card race and they’re scuffling along around .500. While free agents sometimes return to the same team — see: Aaron Judge — they usually don’t. The bold prediction here? The Jays are far enough back that Guerrero is traded … to Seattle or Milwaukee. — Schoenfield
How they can contend: Guerrero posted an adjusted OPS of 166 last season. Outside of that, the only regulars — or semi-regulars — who posted an adjusted OPS of even 110 were Spencer Horwitz and Isiah Kiner-Falefa, both of whom were traded over the offseason. Extending Guerrero is the most important thing the Blue Jays can do this year, but surrounding him with productive hitters in the lineup ranks second. Santander will help, but Bo Bichette desperately needs to bounce back. — Gonzalez
Projected record: 76-86 (14.6% playoff odds | 0.2% World Series odds)
The thing we’ll be talking about most this season: Elly De La Cruz taking the next step in his superstar ascent.
The 23-year-old shortstop put together his first All-Star season in 2024, making significant progress from his rookie year to finish with 25 home runs, 67 steals and 6.4 fWAR in 160 games. He’s one of the sport’s most exciting players and an explosive five-tool talent who can stir crowds in every phase of the game. And there’s room for more improvement, because, while he’s a thrilling performer, he led the majors with 218 strikeouts last season. If he can improve his contract rate (and stay healthy), a top-five MVP finish should follow. — Castillo
Most likely 2025 award winner: A five-week absence due to a sore elbow torpedoed what was morphing into a solid Cy Young case for Hunter Greene, but the Reds’ Opening Day starter is now a full go. Greene is a blast to watch, firing triple-digit four-seamers with his 6-foot-5 frame and an arm action that seems to sweep halfway across the infield. That’s fearsome enough but Greene also hit a league-high 19 batters in 2024, so you can’t dig in against this guy. Maybe that’s a big part of why he yielded only 0.7 homers per nine innings despite playing half his games at Great American Ball Park. At this point, all Greene needs to become a leading Cy Young contender is a healthy season of 30 or more starts. — Doolittle
One (realistic) bold prediction: In 2023, Ronald Acuna Jr. initiated the 40/70 club (41 steals, 73 stolen bases). In 2024, Ohtani created the 50/50 club. In 2025, De La Cruz will establish the 30/80 club with 30 home runs and 80 stolen bases. Or better yet, the 40/10/30/80/120/100/200 club — 40 doubles, 10 triples, 30 home runs, 80 stolen bases, 120 runs, 100 RBIs, 200 strikeouts. Would that give him a shot at the MVP Award? He’ll finish in the top five of the voting. — Schoenfield
How they can contend: With Matt McLain back, the Reds’ offense looks deep and has a chance to be special. But to win the National League Central, they’ll need a bounce-back year from their closer, Alexis Diaz, and they’ll need Greene, Nick Lodolo and Andrew Abbott — their three young, homegrown starters — to take another leap forward. Greene began to display his dominance in 2024, making his first All-Star team and finishing eighth in National League Cy Young Award voting, but Lodolo and Abbott combined for a 4.16 ERA. They can be better. — Gonzalez
Projected record: 80-82 (24.6% playoff odds | 0.6% World Series odds)
The thing we’ll be talking about most this season: Buster Posey’s effect on the organization.
Dismissing a president of baseball operations is one thing — it’s a near annual occurrence in baseball. But Giants ownership’s decision to move from Farhan Zaidi to Buster Posey represents a deeper shift. Zaidi, who never played baseball at a high level, relied on analytics for his team-building. Posey, one of the greatest players in franchise history, is taking a more old-school approach.
The Giants haven’t reached the postseason since their out-of-left-field 107-win season in 2021. Posey was that team’s catcher; he retired weeks later. Chances are San Francisco won’t make the playoffs again in 2025 — FanGraphs computes a 29.2% chance — but this season will be vital as Posey implements the foundation for his vision. — Castillo
Most likely 2025 award winner: Over his past three seasons, Logan Webb‘s average campaign has featured 204 innings, a 124 ERA+, 176 strikeouts and 4.6 bWAR. His Cy Young finishes have been 11th, second and sixth. The innings count — for the 2020s — is a lot, but Webb has never been a hurler who’s relied on high-octane gas to put up his metronomic production, so there’s little reason to suspect anything will be different in 2025. If sharing a rotation with past Cy Young winners gives him any extra push, Webb is in good shape: Three-time honoree Justin Verlander joined the Giants this winter and 2021 AL Cy Young Robbie Ray was already on board. — Doolittle
One (realistic) bold prediction: Bryce Eldridge, who will spend the entire season at just 20 years old and has only 40 plate appearances above Single-A, will begin the season in the minors. But the towering 6-foot-7 lefty slugger will be up soon enough — and lead the team in home runs. — Schoenfield
How they can contend: The Giants’ offense should improve with Jung Hoo Lee coming back from a labrum tear and Willy Adames taking over at shortstop. But their starting rotation accumulated the fewest innings in the National League last season — even though they employed the league leader, Logan Webb — and only a 42-year-old Verlander was added to the mix. Their young starters — a group that consists of Kyle Harrison, Carson Whisenhunt, Hayden Birdsong and Joe Whitman — need to take steps forward. — Gonzalez
Tier 5: We’re saying there’s a chance
23. Athletics
Projected record: 74-88 (8.4% playoff odds | 0.1% World Series odds)
The thing we’ll be talking about most this season: The (West Sacramento) Athletics’ situation off the field is unfortunate, but their future on the field is bright.
No matter what they say publicly, playing out of a minor league stadium with the clubhouse behind the left-field wall for the next three seasons is an inconvenience. The good news is the team should continue improving and could exceed expectations this season.
The Athletics, in very un-Athletics fashion, spent significant money over the winter, giving Luis Severino the richest contract in franchise history, signing closer Jose Leclerc and infielder Luis Urias, and agreeing to contract extensions with Brent Rooker and Lawrence Butler. They also acquired left-hander Jeffrey Springs and third baseman Gio Urshela to bolster a team that had the fourth-best record in the AL after July 1 last season. More of that and the A’s could find themselves in the playoff race. — Castillo
Most likely 2025 award winner: Jacob Wilson, the son of former Pirates defensive whiz Jack, got a good taste of big-league action in 2024 but retains rookie eligibility entering the new season. He’s got a unique profile, one that doesn’t feature much power but with plus contact and on-base skills. To enter the awards chase, he’d have to turn some heads with his defensive metrics (as his father used to do), steal some bases and maybe run into a few balls under the hot Sacramento sun. Still, as an every-day, big league rookie shortstop, unless Wilson’s offensive numbers flatline, he’ll hover around the AL Rookie of the Year conversation. — Doolittle
One (realistic) bold prediction: How much will Rooker enjoy hitting in Sacramento? Very much, thank you. He belts 53 home runs, edging out Aaron Judge for the AL title. — Schoenfield
How they can take a leap forward this season: The A’s have assembled a young position-player core they hope to take to Las Vegas with them, assuming ballpark construction goes as planned. It consists of Butler, Shea Langeliers, Tyler Soderstrom, Zack Gelof, Wilson and Nick Kurtz, who’s still a year or two away. Their continued development is crucial. — Gonzalez
Projected record: 74-88 (10.4% playoff odds | 0.3% World Series odds)
The thing we’ll be talking about most this season: Every single Paul Skenes start.
Skenes’ outings became appointment television last season after the Pirates finally called him up in May. He came as advertised, slicing through lineups every fifth day for an otherwise mediocre club. Skenes went 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA and 170 strikeouts in 23 starts, won NL Rookie of the Year, and finished third in the NL Cy Young race. It’s hard to imagine Skenes being even better in 2025 — but he spent his winter adding a cutter and a sinker to his repertoire. He expects better — and it still might not be enough for the Pirates to snap their nine-year playoff drought. — Castillo
Most likely 2025 award winner: The betting markets have designated Skenes as a fairly heavy favorite to win NL Cy Young honors and even have him tied for 10th in the MVP hierarchy. The latter is unlikely for any pitcher these days, but if anyone is capable of piling up the overwhelming numbers that would be needed to overtake Shohei Ohtani and the rest, it’s Skenes. If there is any concern about Skenes beyond the fact that he’s chosen for himself the perilous occupation of throwing a baseball, it’s that expectations for his sophomore season are stratospheric. This kind of hype has never been a problem for Skenes before, though. The expectations were there a year ago and … Skenes’ rookie season numbers, prorated to 162 games, were 16-4 with 251 strikeouts, 0.947 WHIP, 8.7 bWAR. And what if he’s actually gotten better? — Doolittle
One (realistic) bold prediction: The Pirates have had only two Cy Young winners — Vern Law in 1960 and Doug Drabek in 1990, neither of which were particularly historic seasons (both clock in at 4.2 WAR, low for a Cy Young winner). Predicting Skenes to win the Cy Young isn’t exactly bold, so let’s go with this: Skenes has the best season ever for a Pirates starter, at least in the lively ball era. The best marks since 1920 are John Candelaria’s 7.4 WAR (1977), Bob Veale’s 2.05 ERA (1968) and Veale’s 276 strikeouts (1965). Skenes could top all three of those marks. — Schoenfield
How they can take a leap forward this season: It’s already clear that Skenes and Jared Jones will make up a special duo on the pitching staff, but what about Oneil Cruz and Ke’Bryan Hayes on offense? This is a big year for both of them. Cruz — heading into his age-26 season, and his first as a full-time center fielder — had a nice bounce-back year coming off a fractured fibula, slashing .259/.324/.449 with 21 homers and 22 steals in 146 games in 2024. But there’s another step for him to take. Hayes, 28, is a fantastic defender at third base, but he has slashed only .258/.313/.385 through parts of five seasons and homered only four times while dealing with back issues last year. His power needs to emerge. — Gonzalez
Projected record: 81-81 (33.9% playoff odds | 0.7% World Series odds)
The thing we’ll be talking about most this season: Nolan Arenado trade rumors.
It’s a surprise that 33-year-old Arenado is still a Cardinals employee considering president of baseball operations John Mozeliak was so public — on multiple occasions — about his desire to trade him over the winter. But the future Hall of Famer remains the team’s third baseman after using his no-trade clause to veto a trade to the Astros in December. At this point, a move seems to be a matter of time. — Castillo
Most likely 2025 award winner: The Cardinals are in a weird place for a lot of reasons. The roster has good players but there aren’t many obvious top awards candidates. The Redbirds project to be within range of possible contention in their tepid division, though you could argue that each of their four NL Central brethren has more near-term upside.
In the end, you could look at all of this as a personal opportunity for oft-beleaguered skipper Oliver Marmol. With his club still apparently angling to move some of their top veterans, Marmol might be able to create a Lou Brown dynamic. If Marmol is able to break through the ongoing limbo and get the Cardinals into the playoffs, that’s Manager of the Year stuff. — Doolittle
One (realistic) bold prediction: The Cardinals stay in the NL Central race until the final week of the season, even though they end the year with four rookies in the rotation — Quinn Mathews, Michael McGreevy, Tink Hence and Cooper Hjerpe. — Schoenfield
How they can take a leap forward this season: The Cardinals are clearly a team in transition, and yet their general inactivity hasn’t necessarily indicated as much. Success for them this year means getting production from the array of veterans still dotting their roster — Arenado, Willson Contreras, Sonny Gray, Erick Fedde, Miles Mikolas, Steven Matz — and then getting young players back for them via trade, either at midseason or over the ensuing winter. There are some no-trade clauses sprinkled in there, not just with Arenado but with Contreras and Gray, too, so it could be tricky. — Gonzalez
Tier 6: Already playing for next year
Projected record: 68-94 (1.9% playoff odds | 0.02% World Series odds)
The thing we’ll be talking about most this season: The young core’s progress.
With James Wood and Dylan Crews on the roster in Washington, the Nationals’ rebuild has reached its next phase: After consecutive 91-loss seasons, it’s now about winning more games.
While they didn’t spend in free agency as perhaps expected, they did add veterans Josh Bell, Nathaniel Lowe, Paul DeJong, Amed Rosario and Michael Soroka, which should better supplement the youthful talent. The Nationals hope this team resembles the 2011 club that jumped from 69 to 80 wins. A year later, Bryce Harper made his debut, and the Nationals won 98 games and the NL East for the first time. — Castillo
Most likely 2025 award winner: The door is wide open for Crews to make an NL Rookie of the Year push. Lots of eyes are on Roki Sasaki, but Crews will be playing every day for the Nats. If he fills up the stat sheet — and if the raw ability that made him the second pick of the 2023 draft shines through — it’s a classic ROY profile. Crews struggled during his stint in the majors last season, which wasn’t long enough to remove his rookie eligibility. If he shows progress at the plate, Crews’ full range of skills will have him in the running. — Doolittle
One (realistic) bold prediction: After combining for 38 home runs in 2024, Luis Garcia Jr. and CJ Abrams both reach the 25-homer mark — becoming only the seventh pair of middle-infield teammates to reach that number in the same season since 2010. — Schoenfield
How their season can be a success: Abrams, Wood, Garcia and MacKenzie Gore — the faces of this next phase in Nationals history — are coming off the types of years they can really build on. Crews is a popular pick to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award. But the Nationals need Keibert Ruiz, who they still hope is their long-term catcher, to show some real progress. His defense was better in 2024 — though still not great — but his OPS fell by nearly 100 points, from a mediocre .717 to an abysmal .619. — Gonzalez
Projected record: 74-88 (8.9% playoff odds | 0.1% World Series odds)
The thing we’ll be talking about most this season: Mike Trout‘s future and whether it’ll be in Anaheim.
The Angels are stuck. They haven’t won a playoff game since 2009 — two years before Trout’s debut. They haven’t advanced to the postseason since 2014, somehow not capitalizing on employing Trout and Shohei Ohtani at the same time. They’ve lost at least 85 games in every full season since 2019. And yet they refuse to blow it up and start a thorough rebuild. Part of the reason is that Trout’s contract, which runs through the 2030 season, has a no-trade clause and he has not pushed for a trade. Could that change? Trout staying on the field and producing to boost his value — he’s played in 266 games since the start of the 2021 season — would help. Maybe another losing season will prompt a divorce. — Castillo
Most likely 2025 award winner: The answer to this prompt has been the same for the Angels for so long — why change it now? Maybe this is as much a testament to Trout’s greatness as anything: Despite annual issues with injury, which limited him to 29 games in 2024, and declining percentages on top of that, ESPN BET still gives Trout the ninth-highest odds for AL MVP. Maybe Trout’s move out of center field really will help keep him on the field. His per-162 numbers over these past three years of injury and numbers erosion are still eye-popping: 7.1 bWAR, 48 homers, 155 OPS+. At 33 years of age, the most important number for Trout is simply games played. — Doolittle
One (realistic) bold prediction: The Angels had four 20-homer hitters last season — one of 10 teams with at least that many (Arizona was the only team with five). Trout and Jorge Soler also get there in 2025 to make it six 20-homer hitters. Alas, the Angels still lose 95 games. — Schoenfield
How their season can be a success: The Angels have defended the languid state of their organization by talking up their young nucleus. Their continued development is what this season is all about. That includes Zach Neto, Logan O’Hoppe, Nolan Schanuel and Mickey Moniak on the position-player side, the flame-throwing Ben Joyce in the bullpen, and the likes of Reid Detmers, Caden Dana and Sam Aldegheri in the rotation. The most interesting name to watch there, though, is Jose Soriano, who has electric stuff but a checkered injury history and will be transitioning to the rotation full time. — Gonzalez
Projected record: 57-105 (0.1% playoff odds | 0% World Series odds)
The thing we’ll be talking about most this season: The long road ahead.
In almost every other division, the Rockies would be able to see a light, however distant, at the end of the tunnel. But they share a division with the Dodgers, which means light year is the best unit of measurement to describe the distance between the two franchises. On top of that, the Diamondbacks reloaded this offseason, the Padres were a win away from bouncing the Dodgers in October and the Giants appear poised to snap out of their recent malaise. The Rockies might find themselves trapped in the basement for a while. — Castillo
Most likely 2025 award winner: Almost certainly, a legit Rockies awards candidacy would fall into the Rookie of the Year category. Who that candidate turns out to be is at present unclear, but not because Colorado lacks exciting kids on the rise. Zac Veen (who was sent down to Triple-A over the weekend) is a recent top prospect whose rankings have plummeted, but he’s had an excellent spring. The best candidate is probably righty Chase Dollander, the Rockies’ top prospect. But Dollander had an up-and-down spring and was reassigned to the minors over the weekend. For now, let’s go with Veen, who seems to have the best combination of MLB playing time opportunity and genuine upside. — Doolittle
One (realistic) bold prediction: You can’t go much bolder than this considering the low expectations in Colorado: The Rockies end up with two All-Stars for the first time since 2019 — outfielder Brenton Doyle and reliever Victor Vodnik. — Schoenfield
How their season can be a success: Production from Kris Bryant. That contract is an albatross. He has been paid $71 million to play in 159 games and slashed only .250/.332/.381 over the past three years — while spending basically half the time in Colorado, mind you. Four years and $104 million remain, but Bryant is just 33, young enough to maintain some impact potential. And though what’s most important for a team like this is the development of young players, the Rockies desperately need Bryant to be a productive player. They need him to not be Anthony Rendon. — Gonzalez
Projected record: 63-99 (0.4% playoff odds | 0% World Series odds)
The thing we’ll be talking about most this season: Miami’s next big trade.
The Marlins are probably going to trade Sandy Alcántara by the July deadline (as long as he stays healthy). And if Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix follows last year’s blueprint, it’ll happen early in the season — last year, Bendix traded Luis Arraez to the Padres for prospects on May 4. Several contenders could use Alcántara, the 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner, but with two guaranteed years and a club option for 2027 remaining on his contract, it’s going to take a haul if he’s continuing to unleash nasty stuff every five days. The 29-year-old right-hander’s sinker touched 100 mph in his return from Tommy John surgery this spring. His changeup remains wicked. His slider sits at 90 mph. He could end up altering a pennant race. — Castillo
Most likely 2025 award winner: Does it count if your best awards candidate is someone who isn’t likely to be around by the time the ballots are collected? Let’s say it does! Sandy Alcántara is back and this spring he looks like, well, Sandy Alcántara. That guy has already won one Cy Young award and is good enough to do it again, even after missing all of 2024. If we want to focus on players the Marlins aren’t going to trade, keep an eye on catcher Agustin Ramirez in the Rookie of the Year race. He’ll start the season in the minors, but if all goes well, it shouldn’t take long for him to mash his way to Miami. — Doolittle
One (realistic) bold prediction: The Marlins quickly fall out of the race in April and trade Alcántara to … surprise! — the Athletics, for a package of prospects, including pitcher Mason Barnett and infielder Max Muncy. — Schoenfield
How their season can be a success: The biggest problem facing the Marlins is the general apathy that surrounds them in their market — much of which is self-inflicted. The ruthlessness at the start of the Peter Bendix era, which saw the trades of Arraez, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Jake Burger, Jesus Luzardo and Tanner Scott, among others, only made it worse. It was all motivated by a desire to build the type of sustained winner this market hasn’t had — the hope of building the Tampa Bay Rays of South Florida, essentially. But the returns of those trades need to show themselves. The Marlins once again need players their fans can get excited about. — Gonzalez
Projected record: 54-108 (0.03% playoff odds | 0% World Series odds)
The thing we’ll be talking about most this season: Luis Robert Jr.’s trade value.
The White Sox are going to be bad this season. Probably not 121-loss bad, but bad enough to make clear that their rebuild is still in the strip-the-roster-to-the-studs phase. The next step will ideally include converting Robert into assets for the next good White Sox team down the road. Maximizing the return at the trade deadline will require Robert, a five-tool talent, rediscovering his 2023 form. Robert posted a 4.9-fWAR season that year, hitting 38 home runs with an .857 OPS in 145 games. He doesn’t turn 28 until August, and he’s under team control through 2027. Quality center fielders are scarce. Robert could help a contender down the stretch — if not sooner. — Castillo
Most likely 2025 award winner: If the White Sox climb over .500 and/or make the playoffs, rookie skipper Will Venable would be a shoo-in for Manager of the Century, much less the season. More likely is a Rookie of the Year push from shortstop Colson Montgomery. That’s true even though Montgomery was optioned to AAA during spring training and Chicago might have four rookies in its rotation to begin the season. Montgomery is the best prospect of the bunch and shouldn’t be at Charlotte long, if he performs. After all, there is no one standing in his way at the big league level. — Doolittle
One (realistic) bold prediction: The White Sox don’t wait long to trade Robert, dealing him in mid-May to the Astros for a prospect package centered around infielder Brice Matthews. The club finishes with 110 losses — matching the 1962-63 Mets as the only teams to lose at least 110 games in consecutive seasons. — Schoenfield
How their season can be a success: By not suffering triple-digit losses. By giving the players in their clubhouse and the fans in their stands something to get excited about moving forward. By Noah Schultz looking more like the next Chris Sale. By Robert staying healthy and Miguel Vargas finding himself. And by the likes of Montgomery, Kyle Teel and Hagen Smith developing into guys they can build around. — Gonzalez
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Alden Gonzalez
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Los Angeles Dodgers announced they accepted an invitation to the White House to celebrate their World Series title.
The team will make the trip on April 7, a Monday, before the first of a three-game series against the Washington Nationals. Members of the Dodgers will also visit Capitol Hill on April 8, the team announced.
“It wasn’t a formal conversation that we had as a ballclub,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before Tuesday’s exhibition game against the Los Angeles Angels. “It’s certainly a huge honor to get the invitation to the White House. It allows us to celebrate our 2024 championship. To my understanding, every World Series champion gets that honor, so it’s a great honor for all of us.”
The Dodgers’ White House visit is especially notable in the wake of a controversy surrounding a story highlighting Jackie Robinson’s military service. The story was temporarily deleted from the Department of Defense’s website last week as part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to purge references to diversity, equity and inclusion through a “digital content refresh.”
Robinson served as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army during World War II, then broke Major League Baseball’s color barrier when he made his debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. A statue in his honor graces Dodger Stadium’s center-field plaza. Though it does not make any references to DEI, the story on Robinson’s service was among a swath scrubbed from government websites in recent days.
Roberts, who has frequently spoken about the importance of major league teams deploying more diverse coaching and front office staffs, said he was unaware of what took place with the Robinson story. After being informed by a reporter, he said: “I think I’m happy that the page went back up. I have my strong opinions on DEI and all that stuff, but that’s another scrum.”
In 2019, near the end of Trump’s first presidency, Roberts indicated as part of a Los Angeles Times profile that he would not visit the White House if the Dodgers hoisted the World Series trophy later that year. Reminded of that Tuesday, Roberts smirked and said, “Did I?”
“I’m going,” he added. “I respect the position. It’s the highest office in our country, certainly in the world, so, looking forward to it.”
The Dodgers visited the White House under Joe Biden’s presidency on the heels of securing a championship at the end of the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season. Four years later, on Oct. 30, 2024, they clinched their first full-season title since 1988 by defeating the New York Yankees in Game 5 of the World Series.
Trump was elected president about a week after. About two months later, he feuded with local politicians and California Gov. Gavin Newsom in the wake of wildfires that ravaged parts of L.A., at one point threatening to withhold federal aid over disagreements about the region’s water management. The Trump administration eventually passed an executive order aimed at addressing water shortages and regulatory hurdles hindering disaster response efforts in Southern California.
Dodgers chairman Mark Walter and part-owner Earvin “Magic” Johnson were selected by Newsom to lead an initiative aimed at supporting wildfire recovery and rebuilding efforts in L.A., committing up to $100 million to fund the philanthropic effort. Johnson has openly spoken out against Trump in recent years, but the Dodgers, through their X account, said Tuesday that they “look forward to visiting the White House and celebrating our title.”
Right-hander Ryan Johnson made the Los Angeles Angels‘ Opening Day roster and will debut in the major leagues without having played a single minor league game.
Johnson, who is 22 and was drafted in the second round last year, signed for $1.75 million but did not pitch after throwing 106 innings in his junior season at Dallas Baptist. Once he debuts — Johnson is expected to work out of the bullpen — he would be the first player to skip the minor leagues entirely since Garrett Crochet, who joined the Chicago White Sox in 2020, when the minor league season was canceled because of COVID-19.
Johnson will be only the third player since 2001 to play in the big leagues without a minor league appearance, joining Crochet and right-hander Mike Leake (2010). Since the implementation of the draft in 1965, only 23 players before Johnson have been moved straight to the big leagues.
The Angels’ bullpen currently includes veteran closer Kenley Jansen, hard-throwing Ben Joyce and right-hander Ryan Zeferjahn, who in a dozen games last year as a rookie posted a 2.12 ERA. With a fastball that has touched 100 mph and a hard slider upon which he relies, Johnson won the job with a stellar spring in which he struck out 10 and walked just one over 11⅓ innings, with a 3.97 ERA.
The aggressiveness in promoting Johnson aligns with the Angels’ organizational philosophy that has seen players rocket through the system. First baseman Nolan Schanuel made his major league debut just 40 days after the Angels took him with the 11th pick in the 2023 draft. Shortstop Zach Neto played only 44 games for the Angels before his April 15, 2023, promotion. Second baseman Christian Moore, Los Angeles’ first-round pick last year, spent 23 games at Double-A to end the 2024 season.
At 6-foot-6 and with a funky, high-energy delivery and elite deception, Johnson struck out 151 batters and walked 14 for Dallas Baptist and won Conference USA Player of the Year. Johnson is the 10th-best prospect in the Angels’ organization, according to ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel’s farm system rankings.
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