Opening Day 2025 is less than nine weeks away. While there is still offseason business to be done, it is not too early to turn our attention to the upcoming season.
With that in mind, here are five early predictions for the 2025 MLB season.
1. Athletics will reach the playoffs.
Yes, you are reading that correctly. In the first year the A’s will play away from Oakland since 1967 they will reach the playoffs. When you look at what they did in the second half last season, it’s not hard to see why this is achievable. The A’s went 39-37 after July 1, and after a few miserable seasons with a lack of talent, they have assembled a young core that is not only talented but also starting to put in some serious production. Additionally, the A’s have gotten through this winter, strengthening their roster for 2025 and beyond.
One of the things the A’s do best – something that is usually a hallmark of a playoff team – is run the ball out of the stadium. They finished last season with 196 home runs, which ranked eighth in baseball. Star designated hitter Brent Rooker, who the team extended earlier this month, led the charge with 39 homers. Zack Gelof, JJ Bleday, Lawrence Butler and Shea Langeliers each reached over 17, making this a lineup full of guys who can do damage. And with the starting rotation additions of Luis Severino via free agency and Jeffrey Springs via trade, the A’s have a rotation that can support this offense.
With just a little regression from some other American League teams, Sacramento could have a team on the rise, with its arrow pointing toward October.
2. The Blue Jays will trade Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and/or Bo Bichette.
At one point, the Blue Jays were a young, hungry team that appears to be next in line to dominate the American League. But after missing the playoffs last season after being swept into the wild card in 2022 and 2023, and with other teams in the Al East improving, Toronto looks like a team with no real direction.
After a poor half in 2000, it would have made sense for the organization to consider moving Guerrero if the right offer had been on the table, especially with the All-Star first baseman playing the best baseball of his career. Alas, no such move has been made by the Blue Jays, leaving the industry wondering: What exactly is the plan north of the border?
And now the Blue Jays face a major conundrum entering 2025. Not only does this appear to be the final year of their roster as currently constructed, but also Guerrero and Bichette will be free agents at the end of the season. Toronto simply ran out of time, and their window seems all but closed despite the big free agent signing of Anthony Santander. After failed attempts to improve in their activities from Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto and even Roki Sasaki, moving one or even both of their stars might be the only move left on the chess board.
3. The Orioles will regret not acquiring more starting pitching.
The Baltimore Orioles have developed one of the best young cores of position players in baseball, led by shortstop Gunnar Henderson and catcher Adley Rutschman. But one thing the O’s haven’t been able to get right since becoming an AL contender has been starting pitching. Granted, several of their starters have suffered injuries over the past three seasons, but you’d think that would only motivate them to be more aggressive in the starting pitching market.
But after watching Corbin Burnes leave for the D-backs while Max Fried, Blake Snell and Garrett Crochet also found new homes elsewhere, we’re left again to wonder how the Orioles plan to fill out their rotation. Even this winter’s second and third tiers of free agent starters, such as Sean Manaea, Luis Severino, Walker Buehler and Nathan Eovaldi, have eluded Baltimore.
Right now, the O’s rotation consists of Zach Eflin and Grayson Rodriguez, both of whom are fine starters, but like the rest of Baltimore’s crew, they have dealt with injuries. Next, Dean Kramer, Albert Suárez and the newly acquired Tomoyuki Sugano form the back end of Baltimore’s rotation. It’s not particularly inspiring.
Sure, the Orioles are still very talented, but with their rotation the way it is, it’s hard to project them as anything other than a wild card team.
4. The Yankees will have a better record than the Mets.
The biggest prize this offseason was the one and only Juan Soto, and after a year in the Bronx with the Yankees, Soto decided to take his talents to Queens and play for the Mets, signing a $765 contract. million dollars over 15 years. For a team that reached the NLCS in 2024, that’s a monster addition, signaling a window of contention.
Despite losing Soto to their media city rivals, the Yankees haven’t been sitting on their hands this winter. In fact, they have been the most aggressive team this offseason. First, they added to their starting pitching, signing Max Fried to the largest contract ever given to a left-handed pitcher. Then they moved to closer, center field and first base, acquiring Devin Williams, Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt.
Across town, the Mets have a solid lineup, and the duo of Francisco Lindor and Soto is one of the best in baseball. But one area where the Mets still have questions is their rotation. And while the re-signing of Sean Manaea was a solid and necessary move, the additions of Frankie Montas and Clay Holmes signal that a lot of faith is being placed in the organization’s pitching infrastructure. Only time will tell if this faith is justified.
Another plus for the Yankees is that the American League has weakened this offseason, and with the Guardians and Astros both making their rosters, the Bronx Bombers are clearly the best team in the AL on paper. Meanwhile, the Mets have the Phillies and Braves to deal with in a tough NL East.
The Mets won the Battle of Soto, but when it comes to success in 2025, the Yankees are set up to win the war.
5. The NL Central will have three 85-win teams.
The Milwaukee Brewers didn’t expect to be very good last season, but in the first year under manager Pat Murphy, Milwaukee ran away with the division behind a strong bullpen, consistent starting pitching and a big spark of rookie sensation Jackson Chourio. But after some subtractions this offseason, including star closer Devin Williams, there could be competition for the top spot in the NL Central.
The Chicago Cubs entered the previous two seasons as the team expecting to win the division, but the playoffs continued to elude them. This winter, they finally made a big splash, landing All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker. Tucker adds an MVP-level player and impact bat into the lineup to a team that needed it badly.
The third powerhouse team that cannot be ignored is the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds took a step back in 2024, with inconsistency in their starting pitching and infielder Matt McClain, who was vital to their success in ’23, missing the season after undergoing shoulder surgery. After the season. Cincinnati made a splash, hiring longtime manager Terry Francona, who is expected to provide an organizational boost. And, of course, they have a superstar in the making in Elly de La Cruz, who took a step forward last season and made her first all-star team.
There will be no runaway winner in the NL Central this season; Each of these teams will likely have moments where it appears to be taking off, and each will hit speed bumps. But don’t be shocked if we reach September and the Reds, Cubs and Brewers are still rejoicing about winning the division.