Opening day 2025 is less than nine weeks away. Although there are still a number of things outside of season, it is not too early to focus our attention on the coming season.
With that in mind there are five early predictions for the 2025 MLB season.
1. The athletics will reach the late season.
Yes, you read that correctly. In the first year the As will play outside of Oakland since 1967, they will reach the late season. If you look at what they did in the second half last season, it is not difficult to understand why that is feasible. The As went 39-37 after July 1, and after a few miserable seasons with a lack of talent, they have compiled a young core that is not only talented, but also start using serious production. What is more, the As have spent this winter, which strengthens their selection for 2025 and then.
One of the things that the A’s do best – something that is usually a characteristic of a Playoff team – the ball is hit out of the margin. They ended last season with 196 Homers, who are eighth in baseball. Star designated batter Brent Rooker, who extended the team earlier this month, led the leadership with 39 homers, but Zack Lof, JJ Beday, Lawrence Butler and Shea Langeliers each struck more than 17, making it a line -up full of boys. And with the additions to the start rotation of Luis Severino via Free Agency and Jeffry Springs via Trade, the As have a rotation that can support that violation.
With only a little regression of a few other teams in the American League, Sacramento can have a team on the rise, with their arrow to October.
2. The Blue Jays exchange Vladimir Guerrero Jr. And/or Bo Bichette.
At one point the Blue Jays were a young, hungry team that they were the next to dominate the American League. But after they had missed the late season last season after involving the Wildcard in 2022 and 2023, and with other teams in the Al East better, Toronto looks like a team without a real direction.
After a bad first half up to ’24, it would have been logical for the organization to consider moving Guerrero if the right offer was on the table, especially with the All-Star First Baseeman who played the best baseball of his career. But unfortunately, such a movement was not made by the Blue Jays, which means that the industry wonders: what exactly is the plan north of the border?
And now the Blue Jays are confronted with a large mystery that arrives 2025. Not only does this seem to be the last year of their schedule as built at the moment, but both Guerrero and Bichette will also be free agents at the end of the season. Toronto just doesn’t have time anymore and their window almost looks closed. After failed attempts to improve in their chases of Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto and even Roki Sasaki, moving one or even their stars is perhaps the only movement that remains on the chessboard.
3. The Orioles will regret that they no longer acquire 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 that the O’s have not been able to get well since he became an Al -Competer has been the starting pitching. Admittedly, several of their starters have suffered injuries in the last three seasons, but you would think that it would only motivate to be more aggressive in the StartPitchen market.
But after looking at Corbin Burnes departure for the D-Backs, while Max Fried, Blake Snell and Garrett Crochet also found new houses elsewhere, we left again to wonder how the Orioles are planning to fill in their rotation. Even the second and thirds of this winter of starters in free agent, such as Sean Manaaea, Luis Severino, Walker Buehler and Nathan Eovaldi, have escaped his Baltimore.
At the moment the rotation of the O Zach Eflin and Grayson Rodriguez, who are both great starters, consists of both, but just like the rest of the Baltimore crew, they have treated injured. Then Dean Kramer, Albert Suarez and the newly acquired Tomoyuki Sugano form the back of the rotation of Baltimore. That is not particularly inspiring.
Of course the Orioles are still very talented, but with their rotation as it looks now, it is difficult to project them as a little more than a wildcard team.
4. The Yankees will have a better record than the Mets.
The biggest prize outside of season was the only Juan Soto, and after a year in the Bronx with the Yankees, Soto decided to bring his talents to Queens and play for the Mets, with a 15-year-old $ 765 million deal . For a team that came all the way to the NLCs in 2024, that is a monster addition, which indicates a window window.
But despite losing Soto to their rival mets in the city, the Yankees were not on their hands this winter. In fact, they are this most aggressive team out of season this season. First they added to their starting pitching and signed Max baked with the largest contract ever given to a left -handed pitcher. Then they spoke closer, midfield and the first base and acquire Devin Williams, Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt.
About the city the Mets have a strong line -up and the duo of Francisco Lindor and Soto is one of the best baseball. But an area where the Mets still have questions is their rotation. And while signing Sean Manaaea again was a solid and necessary move, the additions of Frankie Montas and Clay Holmes indicate that there is a lot of confidence in the pitching infrastructure of the organization. Only time will learn whether that faith is justified.
Another advantage for the Yankees is that the American League became weaker this season, and with the Guardians and Astros both what their schedules do again, the Bronx bombers are clearly the best team in the paper. In the meantime, the Mets de Phillies and Braves have to deal with a cool NL East.
The Mets won the Soto struggle, but when it comes to success in 2025, the Yankees have been set up to win the war.
5. The NL Central has three 85-win teams.
Van de Milwaukee Brewers was not expected 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 large spark of Rookie Jackson Chourio. But after a few subtractions this season outside the season, including All-Star Closer Devin Williams, there could be a competition for the first place in the NL Central.
The Chicago Cubs entered the previous two seasons, because the team expected to win the division, but they continue to avoid the play -offs. This winter they finally made a big splash, in which they land all-star outfielder Kyle Tucker. Tucker adds a player at MVP level and an impact vessel in the line-up to a team that desperately needed.
The third central 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 for their success in ’23, the season missed after a shoulder operation. After the season. Cincinnati made a big splash and held in the old Terry Francona manager to lead them, which an organizational boost should offer. And of course they have a superstar in the making in Elly de la Cruz, who took a step forward last season and made his first All-Star team.
There will be no running winner in the NL Central this season; Each of these teams will probably have times when they look like they are starting, and each will touch some speedbumps. But don’t be shocked when we reach September and the Reds, Cubs and Brewers all still jockey to win the division.