Opening Day 2025 is less than nine weeks away. While there’s still some offseason business to be done, it’s not too early to turn our attention to the season ahead.
With that in mind, here are five early predictions for the 2025 MLB season.
1. The Athletics will reach the postseason.
Yes, you read that correctly. In the first year the A’s will play outside of Oakland since 1967, they are going to reach the postseason. When you look at what they did in the second half last season, it’s not hard to understand why that’s attainable. The A’s went 39-37 after July 1, and after a few miserable seasons with a lack of talent, they’ve put together a young core that is not only talented but also starting to tap into serious production. What’s more, the A’s have spent this winter, strengthening their roster for 2025 and beyond.
One of the things the A’s do best — something that is usually a characteristic of a playoff team — is hit the ball out of the ballpark. They finished last season with 196 homers, which ranked eighth in baseball. Star designated hitter Brent Rooker, whom the team extended earlier this month, led the charge with 39 homers, but Zack Gelof, JJ Bleday, Lawrence Butler and Shea Langeliers each hit more than 17, making it a lineup full of guys who can do damage. And with the additions to the starting rotation of Luis Severino via free agency and Jeffry Springs via trade, the A’s have a rotation that can support that offense.
With just a bit of regression from some other teams in the American League, Sacramento might have a team on the rise, with their 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 looking like they were next up to dominate the American League. But after they missed the postseason last season following getting swept in the wild card in 2022 and 2023, and with other teams in the AL East getting better, Toronto looks like a team with no real direction.
After a poor first half to ‘24, it would’ve 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. But alas, no such move was made by the Blue Jays, leaving the industry to wonder: 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 both Guerrero and Bichette will be free agents at the end of the season. Toronto has simply run out of time, and their window looks nearly closed. After failed attempts to improve in their pursuits of 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 the starting pitching. Granted, several of their starters have sustained 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 depart for the D-backs while Max Fried, Blake Snell and Garrett Crochet also found new homes elsewhere, we’re once again left 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, who are both fine starters, but like the rest of Baltimore’s crew, they’ve dealt with injuries. Then Dean Kramer, Albert Suarez and the newly acquired Tomoyuki Sugano form the back end of Baltimore’s rotation. That’s not particularly inspiring.
Of course the Orioles are still very talented, but with their rotation as it stands, it’s difficult to project them as anything more 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 15-year, $765 million deal. For a team that made it all the way to the NLCS in 2024, that’s a monster addition, signaling a window of contention.
But despite losing Soto to their in-city rival Mets, the Yankees didn’t sit on their hands this winter. In fact, they’ve 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 addressed closer, center field and first base, acquiring Devin Williams, Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt.
Across town, the Mets have a strong 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 re-signing Sean Manaea was a solid and necessary move, the additions of Frankie Montas and Clay Holmes signal that a whole lot of faith is being put in the organization’s pitching infrastructure. Only time will tell if that faith is warranted.
Another advantage for the Yankees is that the American League got weaker this offseason, and with the Guardians and Astros both doing some retooling of 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 Soto battle, but when it comes to success in 2025, the Yankees have set themselves up to win the war.
5. The NL Central will have three 85-win teams.
The Milwaukee Brewers weren’t expected to be very good last season, yet 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 from rookie sensation Jackson Chourio. But after some subtractions this offseason, including All-Star closer Devin Williams, there could be some competition for the top spot in the NL Central.
The Chicago Cubs went into the previous two seasons as the team expected to win the division, but the playoffs have 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 an impact bat in the lineup to a team that sorely needed one.
The third Central team that can’t 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 big splash, hiring longtime manager Terry Francona to lead them, which should 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 his first All-Star team.
There won’t be a runaway winner in the NL Central this season; each of these teams will likely have moments when they look like they’re going to take off, and each will hit some speedbumps. But don’t be shocked if we reach September and the Reds, Cubs and Brewers are all still jockeying to win the division.