2025 MLB Team Landscape

The 2025 baseball season is underway, and while predictions are always risky, we can still get a sense of how things are shaping up. Some teams are chasing titles. Others are trying to hold on to something that’s slipping. And a few are just figuring out what comes next. Here’s where things stand.

The Team Everyone’s Looking At
The Dodgers are once again at the center of attention. They won it all last year and then made big moves this winter. They brought in Roki Sasaki, Blake Snell, Tanner Scott, Teoscar Hernández, Kirby Yates, Michael Conforto, and Hyeseong Kim. Their roster is deep, flexible, and built to win now.

That doesn’t mean it’s a sure thing. Their 2024 record was solid, but not historic. The Mets had the bigger payroll. And even great rosters can fall short. The Dodgers look like the strongest team—but the season still has to play out.

Teams with One Goal: A Ring
Some clubs come into the year with one objective: win the World Series. That includes the Braves, Mets, Phillies, Yankees, and Orioles. All five have the kind of talent that should put them in the postseason. But just making it there isn’t enough.

The Braves are healthy again, and getting Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuña Jr. back is a major boost. The Phillies still have the pieces that took them to October recently. The Mets, with Juan Soto added to the mix, are dangerous if they can survive early pitching setbacks.

In the American League, the Yankees want to defend their league title—but they’ve had a rough spring. Injuries to key players have tested their depth, and Soto is gone. The Orioles, meanwhile, have young talent ready to take the next step, but questions remain about their pitching, especially with injuries piling up.

Teams Ready to Take a Step Forward
A few clubs missed the playoffs last year but look well-positioned to jump back into the mix. That includes the Cubs, Rangers, Red Sox, and D-backs.

Arizona and Texas both made the World Series in 2023. They slipped in 2024, but the core is still there. The D-backs now have Corbin Burnes. The Rangers have Jacob deGrom healthy. That’s a good starting point.

The Cubs and Red Sox both made moves this winter. Kyle Tucker, Justin Turner, and Alex Bregman are among the new names added between the two teams. The AL East is crowded, but Boston has young players on the rise and a shot to surprise people. The NL Central, as usual, is open, giving the Cubs a real chance.

A Large Group of Strong Teams
There’s a long list of teams that might not dominate, but could absolutely make noise: Giants, Mariners, Rays, Padres, Royals, Tigers, Reds, and Twins. This is the league’s middle—teams with real talent, some momentum, and a chance to break through if things click.

In the AL Central, Kansas City and Detroit both improved last year, while Minnesota took a step back. But they all finished close in the standings. Any of the three could take the division in 2025.

The Rays and Mariners still have elite pitching, but need more from their lineups. Seattle plays in a pitcher’s park. Tampa Bay, dealing with stadium issues after the hurricane, will play home games at George Steinbrenner Field.

The Giants and Padres are both in the Dodgers’ shadow, but each has enough on the roster to stay in the mix. San Diego is probably a bit ahead right now, but both are close. The Reds are trying to take the next step under Terry Francona. We’ll see if the team around Elly De La Cruz is ready.

Big Names, Uncertain Futures
The Astros and Blue Jays have plenty of talent, but the windows they’ve been working with might be closing.

Houston has been one of the league’s most consistent teams, but several important players are now elsewhere. Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman, Ryan Pressly, and Justin Verlander have all moved on. Yordan Alvarez can still carry a lineup, but it might not be enough.

In Toronto, the concern is more about what comes next. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette could be playing their last seasons with the club. Several other key names are nearing free agency. If they don’t make a run this year, major changes are coming.

Two Underrated Clubs (Again)
Every year, people doubt the Brewers and Guardians. Every year, at least one of them ends up in the race.

Milwaukee just won 93 games and has a budding star in Jackson Chourio. They keep losing good players, but they keep finding ways to compete.

Cleveland’s offense still lacks power, and their rotation isn’t what it used to be. But their bullpen was one of the best last year, and they’ve made it work with less before. It’s not the flashiest approach, but it works.

Young Talent, Not Quite Ready
The Athletics, Pirates, and Nationals probably won’t make the playoffs—but they’ll be worth watching.

The Athletics played better in the second half last year and have built a decent pitching group. Brent Rooker and Lawrence Butler are exciting hitters, and Mason Miller is fun to watch out of the bullpen.

Washington is leaning into youth. Dylan Crews and James Wood will be regulars, and if they can hit, the team will take a big step. Pitching remains thin, though.

Pittsburgh might already have the best pitcher in the league in Paul Skenes. Jared Jones is another arm to watch. Offense is still the issue here.

Hard to Read
The Cardinals and Angels both feel stuck.

St. Louis still has familiar faces—Arenado, Gray, Contreras—but the team feels like it’s between two plans. The front office will change after this season, and 2025 could go in either direction.

The Angels say they want to compete, and they still have Mike Trout. But it’s been a long time since they’ve put together a winning year, and it’s not clear what their long-term strategy is.

Still Rebuilding
The Marlins, Rockies, and White Sox lost over 100 games last year. That’s not easy to bounce back from.

Miami has a new front office and made a lot of trades. They’ll hope for progress, but offense will be hard to find. Sandy Alcantara’s return should help.

Colorado hasn’t changed much. The same pitchers are still around, and they have some young hitters, but there’s no clear shift in direction.

The White Sox had a brutal season, with injuries early and poor results all around. There’s some good talent in the system, but they’re still a long way from competing.