Chris Elwell
Staff Writer
Photo Courtesy of Instagram/@clutchpointsmlb
Spring training is officially underway, and every MLB team has made moves to complete their roster before the start of the season on March 20. The 2024-25 offseason has been a whirlwind, with franchise players moving to new teams and changing the outlook of an organization both in the short and long-term.
Each grade takes into consideration the additions, subtractions, and salary implications of every move. Without a salary cap in MLB, certain teams have taken advantage more than others, while some teams have been complacent and will go forward with the same roster they had during the 2024 season.
Arizona Diamondbacks: B
Photo Courtesy of tennessean.com
Notable acquisitions: RHP Corbin Burnes, OF Randal Grichuk, 1B Josh Naylor
The departure of first baseman Christian Walker to Houston in free agency was a big loss for Arizona, and bringing in Josh Naylor as a replacement is a quality addition, but not to the level of retaining Walker. However, signing the top free-agent pitcher Corbin Burnes to a six-year contract cements the team’s status of having a top rotation in a division filled with offensive heavyweights. Arizona’s combination of bringing in players in positions of need to replace key players gives the team a unique outlook for 2025.
Atlanta Braves: C+
Notable transactions: LHP Aaron Bummer, OF Adam Duvall, OF Jurickson Profar
Left field was a weak position for Atlanta in a down year by their standards in 2024, and the addition of Jurickson Profar coming off a career year looks to be a quality solution on a relatively affordable three-year contract. Their rotation suffered a big loss, however, with Max Fried signing a lucrative eight-year deal with the New York Yankees, and they did not bring in another arm to fill his spot. The return of Spencer Strider could be a move in itself, but with him not scheduled to be ready for Opening Day, the Braves reluctance to bring in another starting pitcher could prove to hurt them.
Baltimore Orioles: D
Notable transactions: RHP Charlie Morton, OF Tyler O’Neill, RHP Tomoyuki Sugano
Baltimore’s rotation suffered a big loss with ace Corbin Burnes walking out the door, and the team did nothing to address their glaring need on the mound. With a young core filled with budding superstars, the Orioles have not won a single game in their two wild card series in as many years, mostly due to their inexperienced pitching staff. The American League East appears to be one of the top divisions in the league, and their offseason does not match their needs to cement themselves as a serious contender.
Boston Red Sox: A
Notable transactions: 3B Alex Bregman, RHP Walker Buehler, LHP Garrett Crochet
Boston’s fatal flaw in 2024 was their pitching staff, and president of baseball operations Craig Breslow made it the team’s top priority to bring in pitchers to compete in the AL East. Signing Walker Buehler in free agency and the blockbuster trade for Garrett Crochet gives the Red Sox a legitimate rotation filled with experience, and with the signing of Alex Bregman to a three-year, $120 million contract, Boston finally gets the middle-of-the-order right-handed bat they've been missing.
Chicago Cubs: B+
Photo Courtesy of sportskeeda.com
Notable transactions: RHP Ryan Brasier, RHP Ryan Pressly, OF Kyle Tucker
Chicago has had an active offseason with the additions of superstar outfielder Kyle Tucker and viable closer option Ryan Pressly from Houston. Chicago’s bullpen was shaky in 2024, and Pressly’s presence provides some stability to a position of need for the team. The losses of Cody Bellinger and Isaac Paredes took away some of the team’s lineup depth, but having a franchise player in Tucker walk in the door was a move that needed to be made to give the Cubs a serious threat in the middle of their lineup.
Chicago White Sox: B-
Notable transactions: LHP Martin Perez, IF Josh Rojas, OF Mike Tauchman
Coming off the worst season recorded in MLB history, Chicago has done well with the resources they have to improve their future outlook. Trading Garrett Crochet was a necessary move for the team to pivot and improve their farm system, bringing in two premier prospects in catcher Kyle Teel and outfielder Braden Montgomery. Chicago brought in several veterans on one-year deals, and with strong showings, they could prove to be valuable trade pieces.
Cincinnati Reds: B-
Notable transactions: 2B Gavin Lux, LHP Taylor Rogers, RHP Brady Singer
The NL Central is there for any team’s taking, and Cincinnati has been aggressive to make a push for the division crown for the first time since 2012. The return of Matt McLain after missing all of the 2024 season will be pivotal for the Reds, especially with the departure of Jonathan India in return for a quality starting pitcher in Brady Singer. Acquiring Taylor Rogers in a trade with San Francisco will help to provide stability in their bullpen that was shaky last season.
Cleveland Guardians: D+
Notable transactions: RHP Slade Cecconi, 1B Carlos Santana, RHP Paul Sewald
After making a run to the ALCS in 2024, Cleveland has not done much to improve their roster going into 2025. The trade that sent second baseman Andres Gimenez to Toronto was an interesting one for Cleveland and seemingly was an unnecessary salary dump. Josh Naylor being dealt to Arizona also had the implications of a salary dump in his final year of team control, the team decided to bring back Carlos Santana for only $2 million less and is a clear downgrade from last season.
Colorado Rockies: D
Notable transactions: INF Thairo Estrada, INF Kyle Farmer, C Jacob Stallings
Colorado has done next to nothing in free agency, perhaps due to their counterparts in the NL West going after every big free agent. At the bottom of the division, Colorado is not an appealing place to play right now, and by the looks of it, they will stay at the bottom of the division until they can start to win and attract some of the better talent in the league to their organization.
Detroit Tigers: B-
Photo Courtesy of nytimes.com
Notable transactions: RHP Jack Flaherty, RHP Tommy Kahnle, 2B Gleyber Torres
Detroit has not had any players walk out the door via free agency or trade, and after their surprise run to the ALDS in 2024, the Tigers are in good position to build off their success last season. Bringing back Jack Flaherty on a two-year deal and the signings of Alex Cobb, Tommy Kahnle, and Gleyber Torres on one-year deals could prove to be great moves if they are able to complement Detroit’s core of young and promising players.
Houston Astros: B-
Notable transactions: 3B Isaac Paredes, 1B Christian Walker, RHP Hayden Wesneski
The signing of Walker was an amazing move for Houston, getting perhaps the best defensive first baseman in baseball to fill out their infield. Walker missed 32 games in 2024, but his powerful bat could prove to be a steal on a three-year, $60 million contract with a small left field in Daikin Park. The trade that sent Kyle Tucker to Chicago was a blockbuster, but with Isaac Paredes, Hayden Wesneski, and top prospect Cam Smith being the return package, Houston has set themselves up well to continue their dominance in the AL West.
Kansas City Royals: B-
Notable transactions: RHP Carlos Estevez, 2B Jonathan India, RHP Michael Lorenzen
Kansas City was one of the biggest surprise teams in 2024, improving by 30 wins from 2023. The team addressed their need for a sparkplug at the top of the lineup alongside MVP runner-up Bobby Witt Jr. by trading for Jonathan India from Cincinnati. The lineup is still in need of a power bat, but they have addressed their other needs on the mound to build one of the better pitching staffs in the American League.
Los Angeles Angels: C
Notable transactions: C Travis d’Arnaud, RHP Kenley Jansen, LHP Yusei Kikuchi
Los Angeles has once again found themselves at a crossroads of the trajectory of the team. The additions of veterans Yusei Kikuchi and Kyle Hendricks provide stability to a rotation that has been one of the bottom in all of baseball in recent memory, but there is still not enough firepower in the organization to make any kind of noise in the American League.
Los Angeles Dodgers: A+
Photo Courtesy of si.com
Notable transactions: RHP Roki Sasaki, LHP Tanner Scott, LHP Blake Snell
It’s almost impossible to find a flaw with the Dodgers offseason moves, cementing their status as one of the best teams in recent history. Their pitching staff is loaded with frontline starting pitchers and flamethrowing relief options, and the lineup is complete from top to bottom with power, speed, contact, and defense. With a massive payroll of $385 million, the Dodgers are going all out for the first back-to-back World Series winner since the Yankees in 1998-2000.
Miami Marlins: D-
Notable transactions: 1B Matt Mervis, RHP Cal Quantrill, INF Eric Wagaman
Coming off a last place finish in the NL East, Miami has not been aggressive in free agency and traded their core players in Jake Burger and Jesus Luzardo. Miami’s approach to this offseason has been simple; do almost nothing to improve the team. The team’s constant cycle of finding young players to build around and trade them has led to sporadic postseason berths with nothing to show for them.
Milwaukee Brewers: D-
Notable transactions: RHP Grant Anderson, LHP Nestor Cortes
Milwaukee’s reluctance to extend their stars has been frustrating for fans, most notably this offseason with the departures of Willy Adames and Devin Williams. After their shocking loss to the Mets in the Wild Card series, the Brewers have not done much to improve their team, but they luckily benefit from playing in the NL Central where they have been the team to beat for the division title.
Minnesota Twins: C-
Notable transactions: OF Harrison Bader, RHP Anthony DeSclafani, OF Manuel Margot
Minnesota has had a quiet offseason, mostly because of injuries suffered to their stars Byron Buxton, Carlos Correa, and Royce Lewis. With all three of them being healthy going into the season, the Twins have a chance to take the AL Central division crown without having to shell out big contracts in free agency.
New York Mets: A-
Photo Courtesy of newsweek.com
Notable transactions: 1B Pete Alonso, LHP AJ Minter, OF Juan Soto
The record-breaking deal that brought Juan Soto to Queens on a 15-year, $765 million deal was a shock to the baseball world. The saga that has been contract talks with Pete Alonso has finally come to an end for New York, with Alonso agreeing to a two-year deal worth $52 million. The Mets will be one of the favorites to come out of the National League come playoff time.
New York Yankees: B
Notable transactions: OF Cody Bellinger, LHP Max Fried, RHP Devin Williams
After losing out on Juan Soto in free agency, the Yankees pivoted to what they called “Plan B” to address the other needs on their roster. Signing Max Fried to an eight-year deal was an aggressive move to go along with trading for perhaps the top closer in baseball in Devin Williams addressed the team’s needs on the mound. Bringing in Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt to fill the void left by Soto in the lineup is a good start, but there is still a need in the infield for another quality option.
Philadelphia Phillies: C+
Notable transactions: OF Max Kepler, LHP Jesus Luzardo, RHP Jordan Romano
Philadelphia had a solid bullpen during their playoff run with Carlos Estevez and Jeff Hoffman leading the charge in the late innings, but both have walked out the door in free agency to Kansas City and Toronto, respectively. The Phillies are now once again searching for a closer, and the signing of Jordan Romano could prove to be that option if he retains his status as a once top pitcher out of the bullpen.
Pittsburgh Pirates: D-
Notable transactions: 1B Spencer Horwitz, DH Andrew McCutchen, OF Tommy Pham
Pittsburgh’s fatal flaw has been their offensive output, and they have done very little to address their need for run production. Acquiring Spencer Horwitz from Toronto in a three-team trade was a strong addition, but not enough to push the needle and match the team’s firepower on the mound. Pittsburgh will certainly be one of the best teams on the mound, but the lineup is still lacking offensive firepower to establish themselves as a dangerous team in a loaded National League.
San Diego Padres: D
Notable transactions: C Elias Diaz, OF Jason Heyward, RHP Nick Pivetta
San Diego has had a nightmare of an offseason as they lost out on the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes and trade deadline acquisition Tanner Scott, both to the rival Dodgers. Alongside their troubles in the front office, San Diego has not been able to retain virtually any of their free agents, with Jurickson Profar signing with Atlanta, Ha-Seong Kim signing with Tampa Bay, and Kyle Higashioka to the Texas Rangers. Their first big move of the offseason was signing Nick Pivetta to a four-year, $55 million contract was a great move to fill out the rotation behind Dylan Cease, Michael King, and Yu Darvish.
Seattle Mariners: D-
Notable transactions: INF/OF Miles Mastrobuoni, 2B Jorge Polanco, INF Donovan Solano
Seattle has a desperate need for more offensive production, and their acquisitions do not signify any kind of resolution to that issue. With a pitcher-friendly stadium, Seattle’s pitching staff stands to benefit, as opposing teams have not had much success hitting in T-Mobile Park. None of the team’s projected starters for 2025 had an OPS above .750, and there has been minimal action by the front office to fix their lackluster lineup.
Sacramento Athletics: B-
Photo Courtesy of msn.com
Notable transactions: LHP Jeffrey Springs, RHP Luis Severino, 3B Gio Urshela
The Athletics said goodbye to their ballpark in Oakland that was their home since the team’s relocation to the Bay Area in 1966. Owner John Fisher basically made it known that the team would not spend money to improve the team until the stadium situation was resolved, which now has the team based out of a minor league stadium in Sacramento until their stadium in Las Vegas is complete before the 2028 season. The team has finally decided to start spending money on free agents with the signing of Luis Severino to a franchise record $67 million deal and Jeffrey Springs to headline their rotation.
San Francisco Giants: B-
Notable transactions: SS Willy Adames, RHP Braxton Roxby, RHP Justin Verlander
Three-time World Series champion Buster Posey’s first offseason as the president of baseball operations for the team has proved to be pivotal with the signings of Willy Adames and future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander. The departures of Michael Conforto and Blake Snell to the rival Dodgers dampened the team’s outlook, but bringing in a power bat in Adames should make for one of the better left sides of the infield to play alongside third baseman Matt Chapman.
St. Louis Cardinals: F
Notable transactions: None
St. Louis has stood still this offseason with zero acquisitions in free agency coming off a tie for second place finish in the NL Central with an 83-79 record. Former MVP Paul Goldschmidt walked out the door and signed with the Yankees, and the team has not done anything to fill out their roster and build a competitive team that struggled at the plate in 2024.
Tampa Bay Rays: C
Photo Courtesy of nytimes.com
Notable transactions: C Danny Jansen, DH Eloy Jimenez, INF Ha-Seong Kim
Tampa Bay lost their home field of Tropicana Field to the damages caused by Hurricane Milton and now will play their home games at the Yankees spring training stadium, Steinbrenner Field. After a year riddled with injuries to their key starting pitchers, Shane McClanahan, Shane Baz, and Taj Bradley, who are all expected back for the start of the season, the Rays could be a spoiler to the top teams in the AL East with their combination of elite pitching and defense.
Texas Rangers: B+
Notable transactions: 1B/3B Jake Burger, C Kyle Higashioka, DH Joc Pederson
Texas was coming off their first World Series win in 2023 and had a disappointing 2024 campaign due to the regression of key players. Re-signing ace Nathan Eovaldi to a three-year, $75 million deal could prove to be a steal and the additions of Jake Burger, Kyle Higashioka, and Joc Pederson will be instrumental in Texas’ hopeful return to the playoffs.
Toronto Blue Jays: B-
Notable transactions: 2B Andres Gimenez, RHP Jeff Hoffman, OF Anthony Santander
Toronto’s reputation of missing out on some of the brightest stars in the league struck again this offseason as they came second in the decision of Roki Sasaki coming stateside, but they pivoted well to fill the holes on their roster. Signing Jeff Hoffman in free agency was a great move to address their closer spot, and bringing in protection in the lineup for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with the signing of Anthony Santander from Baltimore. Taking on the contract of Andres Gimenez was a questionable decision, but he will provide platinum glove level defense in the middle of their infield, regardless of position.
Washington Nationals: C+
Photo Courtesy of nbcsports.com
Notable transactions: 1B Josh Bell, 1B Nathaniel Lowe, LHP Shinnosuke Ogasawara
Washington’s overhaul of premier young talent has finally reached the big leagues, and they could be poised to take a jump to being a Wild Card contender in 2025. The additions of veteran first basemen Josh Bell and Nathaniel Lowe to serve as mentors for their young hitters could prove to be critical for their development. Washington’s pitching staff is still young and inexperienced and could end up being a problem going forward unless a move is made.
All grades given are based on the team's financial implications, additions, and subtractions.