Chris Elwell
Staff Writer
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Opening Day is finally here, and the 2025 season is officially underway! Last week, the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers started the season in Tokyo for the annual Tokyo series, but today marks the official start to the season with 14 games on the schedule.
With every new season of Major League Baseball, fans of all 30 teams have different expectations and excitement about watching their favorite team play. Whether it is the team’s free agent signing or a new addition to their stadium, fans can be happy that their favorite team is back in action, regardless of their current standing within the league.
Having a full baseball season to look forward to is exciting enough, but fans of every team have plenty of reasons to be excited about seeing their team take the field once again.
Arizona Diamondbacks - The dynamic duo of Burnes and Gallen
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Right before the start of the new year, Arizona signed the top remaining pitcher in free agency Corbin Burnes to a six-year, $210 million contract, which included $64 million in deferrals. With the addition of Burnes, the Diamondbacks now boast one of the deepest rotations in baseball and have a chance to make it back to the playoffs after finishing as the odd team out in a three-way tie for the final wild card spot in 2024. The top of the rotation looks to be the team's biggest strength now with Burnes and another Cy Young candidate in Zac Gallen.
Atlanta Braves - A healthy season from Acuna, Riley, and Strider
Atlanta has made the playoffs in the last seven seasons, with 2024 being the first season in which they did not win the National League East division title. The extended absence of some of their biggest stars in 2023 NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr., Austin Riley, and Spencer Strider left the team with massive impacts, and the Braves were not able to replace the production of their superstars, leading to getting swept in the wild card round by the San Diego Padres. A full season from these three could be enough of a push to get Atlanta back to the top of the division.
Baltimore Orioles - A lineup filled with young stars
Baltimore’s overhaul of young talent has finally reached the major leagues, and 2025 could be the season where they make the jump to contend for the American League pennant. Their core group of players of Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday, Colton Cowser, Jordan Westburg, and Heston Kjerstad is a scary thought to every pitching staff in the AL as a team to pitch with caution against.
Boston Red Sox - New and improved starting rotation
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The blockbuster trade that sent ace Garrett Crochet to Boston for four prospects and the signings of Walker Buehler and Patrick Sandoval indicate ownership’s goal to address perhaps their biggest need in the starting rotation. Boston now rolls out a rotation filled with quality depth and potential to be one of the best in the American League. The AL East has two of the best-hitting teams in baseball, and the Red Sox have done a great job of building a balanced roster to get themselves back to contender status.
Chicago Cubs - Trading for Kyle Tucker
The addition of Kyle Tucker gives Chicago a huge boost for 2025, and while he will enter free agency after the season, the Cubs now have one of the top players in all of baseball in the middle of their lineup. Coming off an 83-79 season and a tie for second place finish in the NL Central, Tucker allows the Cubs to contend for the division and the potential of an extension would set the team up for long-term success.
Chicago White Sox - Developing young players
Chicago now holds the record for the worst season in MLB history, and with a majority of their roster returning for 2025, the outlook for the upcoming season is not too bright. The return package centered around catching prospect Kyle Teel and outfield prospect Braden Montgomery was great for replenishing their farm system, and while they may not have much of an impact on the White Sox in 2025, the future looks brighter as a result after this move.
Cincinnati Reds - Elly De La Cruz
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Elly De La Cruz’s first full season in the big leagues transcended him into one of the league’s most exciting players. The 23-year-old finished eighth in NL MVP voting after leading the league with 67 stolen bases and added 25 home runs to become a true threat on the bases and in the batter’s box. If he can fix his defensive woes after committing a league-leading 29 errors, the Reds have a true five-tool player for years to come.
Cleveland Guardians - The return of Shane Bieber
Bieber made just two starts in 2024 in what looked to be the start of another Cy Young-caliber season before missing the remainder of the year due to Tommy John surgery. Cleveland signed him to a two-year, $26 million deal in free agency, and while not scheduled to be ready for Opening Day, his return will provide a massive boost to a rotation that lacked a true frontline starter for virtually all of 2024.
Colorado Rockies - The arrival of Drew Romo and Zac Veen
Colorado is in the midst of a rebuild, and the possibility of catcher Drew Romo and outfielder Zac Veen gives fans the feeling that they could be at the start of a window where the team can compete with some of the top teams in the division. Both former first-round picks, the future looks bright as they will have the opportunity to learn from veterans like Ryan McMahon and Kris Bryant.
Detroit Tigers - Full year of Jackson Jobe
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Drafted third overall in the 2021 draft, Jackson Jobe has been Detroit’s top prospect since 2023 and has the potential to turn into one of the league’s top young pitchers. With a fastball that regularly sits in the high 90s and a wipeout slider, Jobe possesses an electric arsenal that makes him one of the frontrunners for AL Rookie of the Year. MLB’s top pitching prospect could cement his status as the number two starter behind reigning Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal.
Houston Astros - New-look infield
Newly acquired third baseman Isaac Paredes and prized free agent signing Christian Walker round out Houston’s infield and give them a chance to be a top World Series contender once again. After an incredible seven-year run from 2017 to 2023 in which they made the ALCS or better in each season, Houston finds themselves in a great position to make another deep playoff run.
Kansas City Royals - Building off an incredible 2024
Kansas City had an incredible season in 2024, winning 86 games and clinching the team’s first playoff berth since 2015, just a year removed from a 56-106 record. The addition of Jonathan India via trade provides an instant boost to a team that needed another quality bat to complement MVP candidate Bobby Witt Jr. at the top of their lineup.
Los Angeles Angels - A full season of Mike Trout
Franchise icon Mike Trout has been plagued with injuries since the COVID-shortened 2020 season with 389 games spent out of the lineup in the last five seasons. When healthy, Trout is still one of the league’s top players, and while his days as a perennial MVP candidate are seemingly done, a fully healthy season could be a reminder of the caliber of player he is when in the lineup every day.
Los Angeles Dodgers - The possibility of setting the single-season wins record
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The defending World Series champions will enter 2025 with virtually no flaws on their roster, filled with star players and enough depth to overcome injuries to any player. The lineup is filled with stars at every position, and the rotation is perhaps the best in all of baseball after the signings of Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki, two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell and the return of Shohei Ohtani from Tommy John surgery. Los Angeles saw injuries to their top pitchers all last season, and if they all return to their form pre-injury, the all-time single-season win record of 116 could be surpassed in 2025.
Miami Marlins - The return of Sandy Alcantara
Alcantara missed all of the 2024 season due to Tommy John surgery was a major loss for Miami amid their last-place finish in the NL East with a 62-100 record. After his Cy Young season in 2022, Alcantara regressed in 2023 and missed the final month of the season with his injury. His return is a welcomed sight for a team that has lacked an ace and a catalyst for Miami when they were a playoff team.
Milwaukee Brewers - Year two of Jackson Chourio
At just 20 years old, outfielder Jackson Chourio had a strong rookie season and showed flashes of what could come in 2025. Signed as an international free agent in 2021, Chourio has been the crown jewel of Milwaukee’s farm system and is now at the top of the lineup as a table-setter for Christian Yelich and William Contreras.
Minnesota Twins - Making another playoff run
The AL Central quietly became one of the more competitive divisions in baseball in 2024, with four teams finishing above .500. Minnesota is coming off an 82-80 season, largely due to the injuries of Royce Lewis, Carlos Correa, and Byron Buxton, but assuming they are healthy coming into the new season, the Twins have a realistic chance of going into the pennant race with playoff hopes on their mind.
New York Mets - Juan Soto
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New York signed Juan Soto to the richest free-agent contract in North American sports history on a 15-year deal that will keep him in Queens through the 2039 season. The addition of Soto catapults the Mets to being one of the league’s top teams after an improbable run to the NLCS which sent them home after a five-game series with the Dodgers. The duo of Soto and shortstop Francisco Lindor will be one of the most exciting to watch not only for 2025 but for the rest of their long-term contracts with the club.
New York Yankees - New-look lineup
The idea of Soto and the defending AL MVP Aaron Judge hitting back-to-back for the next eight to ten years would have made for one of the greatest duos in MLB history. However, Soto moving to the crosstown rival allowed the Yankees to balance out their roster and fill all of the positions needed to build a roster that addressed the positions of need from a year ago. The progression of young players like Jasson Dominguez and Anthony Volpe will be crucial for the Yankees in 2025 to make another run to the World Series.
Philadelphia Phillies - Trading for Jesus Luzardo
The trade that sent Jesus Luzardo to Philadelphia cemented their status as a top-tier rotation loaded with potential Cy Young candidates. Philadelphia is in a perfect situation to match up with any team in the National League and have a chance to mix and match depending on matchups with the level of quality depth in their rotation.
Pittsburgh Pirates - Year two of Paul Skenes
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2023’s number one overall draft pick Paul Skenes made his MLB debut in 2024 and lived up to every ounce of hype around his name. Viewed as one of the greatest pitching prospects ever, Skenes has a realistic chance to contend for the Cy Young and be seen as the consensus best pitcher in the league if he pitches to the level he did in 2024.
Sacramento Athletics - Building off a surprising 2024
The Athletics were expected to be one of the worst teams in baseball in 2024, and while they only won 69 games, their lineup gave them plenty of reason to be excited for the coming years. Brent Rooker emerged as one of the AL’s top hitters and Lawrence Butler, who had a monster second half of the season provided a great duo at the top of the lineup. The additions of Luis Severino and Jeffrey Springs should help stabilize the rotation with quality pitchers during their in-between period of relocating to Las Vegas.
San Diego Padres - Jackson Merrill taking the next step
Jackson Merrill had a phenomenal rookie campaign with a second-place finish in the NL Rookie of the Year in his first professional season as a center fielder. Still just 21 years old, Merrill has a chance to build off his first season and become the best center fielder in baseball and one of the top players in baseball on a team already filled with superstars across the diamond.
Seattle Mariners - Loaded pitching staff
The biggest strength of the Mariners has been their starting rotation; for good reason. A rotation loaded with power right-handed pitching has been one of the best in baseball and presents a threat to the American League as a team built around dominant pitching and strong defense across the field.
San Francisco Giants - Becoming an attractive free-agent destination
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Since the Giants dynasty in the early 2010s, San Francisco has not been a popular place for free agents to end up, which led to an extended stretch of not being able to commit to a direction for the team. The signings of Willy Adames and Justin Verlander are a sign that the trend may be ending, with former catcher Buster Posey leading the way as the team’s president of baseball operations.
St. Louis Cardinals - A chance to contend for the division
St. Louis has been quiet this offseason, but luckily, the NL Central is available for any team to take the division title. Their group of young core players gives them plenty of reason to be excited about the future, and with the chance of them all developing into the players they’re projected to be, the Cardinals have a chance to quietly become a threat to the division.
Tampa Bay Rays - Junior Caminero’s first full season
Caminero came over from Cleveland in a trade following the 2021 season and has been the organization’s prized prospect ever since. His potential to be a perennial 30-home-run bat and stick defensively at third base is a perfect addition to a bottom-five home-run-hitting team in 2024.
Texas Rangers - Jacob deGrom returning from Tommy John surgery
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Texas won their first World Series championship in 2023 despite not having free-agent acquisition Jacob deGrom in the mix. deGrom made just three starts in 2024 and has not pitched a full season since 2020, but when he is on the mound, there is virtually no better pitcher to have on the mound. Pairing the two-time Cy Young winner with Nathan Eovaldi at the top of the rotation makes for a team that will contend for the AL West division title.
Toronto Blue Jays - New and improved bullpen
Toronto’s fatal flaw in 2024 was their inability to prevent runs in the late innings and close games. 2024 marked the first last-place finish by the Blue Jays since the 2013 season, and the front office made it a priority to address their need by signing Jeff Hoffman, Yimi Garcia, and Nick Sandlin in free agency to provide depth and the ability to mix and match pitchers in high-leverage situations.
Washington Nationals - Full seasons of Dylan Crews and James Wood
Washington’s years of drafting in the top picks of the draft are seemingly over, but not after bringing in a potential franchise cornerstone in outfielder Dylan Crews. Their rebuild from being one of the bottom teams in the league to a developing team that is just a few pieces away from having a young and complete roster has been highly successful and will make for an exciting team to watch in 2025.
