The 2025 MLB season has officially begun, with teams and players arriving at Spring Training complexes in Arizona and Florida this week. Pitchers and catchers are the first to report, with full-team workouts following shortly after. The first Spring Training game will be on February 20, with the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers taking on the Chicago Cubs at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix, Arizona.
Here’s a team-by-team breakdown of where every club team heading into the 2025 season.
NL West
Los Angeles Dodgers: The Dodgers are the defending World Series champions and have become an even stronger team since winning the title last year. They signed Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki, former Cy Young winner Blake Snell, and former All-Star reliever Tanner Scott. These additions add to an already championship contending roster that includes two former MVPs, Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts, along with multiple All-Star-level players. Shohei Ohtani is also expected to return to pitching in May after recovering from Tommy John surgery. With the core of their championship-winning team intact and several All-Star-caliber additions, the Dodgers will be the team to beat this season.
Arizona Diamondbacks: The Diamondbacks made a major move in the offseason by signing one of the best starting pitchers in baseball, Corbin Burnes, to a six-year deal. Their starting rotation—featuring Burnes, Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Brandon Pfaadt—has the potential to be one of the best in the league if they can stay healthy throughout the season.
Colorado Rockies: The Rockies haven’t had a winning season since 2018 and made no significant moves during the offseason, continuing a trend from previous years. Coming off back-to-back 100-loss seasons, they appear to be heading toward another difficult season.
San Diego Padres: The Padres had a quiet offseason and lost several key players, including All-Star left fielder Jurickson Profar, top reliever Tanner Scott, and key infielder Ha-Seong Kim. The franchise has also been dealing with a messy ownership situation and still has holes to fill in its roster. Despite these challenges, they should still be a playoff contender, led by 26-year-old Fernando Tatis Jr., one of the best players in the MLB.
San Francisco Giants: The Giants signed Willy Adames, one of the better shortstops in the league, to a seven-year deal. They also signed future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander to a one-year contract. At 42, Verlander has shown signs of decline, but the team isn’t expecting dominance from the three-time Cy Young Award winner.
NL East
Atlanta Braves: The Braves are expected to see the return of their star starting pitcher, Spencer Strider, who should be ready by the end of April, as well as former MVP outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr., who is recovering from a torn ACL and is projected to return in late May. They signed outfielder Jurickson Profar to a three-year deal but haven’t made any other major moves this offseason.
Miami Marlins: The Marlins are in rebuilding mode and are making moves aimed at developing a competitive team within the next five years.
New York Mets: The Mets made a blockbuster move by signing Juan Soto to a 15-year deal, and first baseman Pete Alonso returns to anchor their lineup. However, the team needs more consistency from its starting pitching. Kodai Senga will be a key name to watch as he returns after injuries limited him to just one regular-season start last year.
Philadelphia Phillies: The Phillies’ major offseason move was trading for starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo from the Marlins to strengthen a rotation that already features Cy Young contenders Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola. Their core group of veterans includes two-time MVP Bryce Harper and former All-Stars J.T. Realmuto, Trea Turner, Alec Bohm, and Kyle Schwarber. The team’s success will largely depend on their best hitters stepping up during the playoffs.
Washington Nationals: The Nationals have a promising young core but have made minimal moves this offseason. If they make the right additions before the season starts, they could have a chance at contending for a Wild Card spot.
NL Central
Chicago Cubs: The Cubs traded for star outfielder Kyle Tucker to add a consistent offensive threat to their lineup, along with veteran relief pitcher Ryan Pressly. Their bullpen was a weak point last season, and despite these new additions, it still looks thin heading into the season.
Cincinnati Reds: The Reds have a balanced roster featuring both young talent and established veterans, making them a legitimate contender in the NL Central. Shortstop Elly De La Cruz provides a combination of speed and power, while young pitchers Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo are promising pieces in the rotation.
Milwaukee Brewers: The Brewers lose star shortstop Willy Adames and elite closer Devin Williams during the offseason and haven’t made any significant moves to replace them. The team has been a consistent contender in the division for the past few years, but with a quiet offseason, repeating as division champions will be a challenge.
Pittsburgh Pirates: The Pirates have one of the best pitchers in baseball in Paul Skenes, and their starting rotation looks promising overall. However, despite their strong pitching, the franchise has been reluctant to invest in upgrades for their undermanned lineup.
St. Louis Cardinals: The Cardinals have spent the offseason exploring trade options for third baseman Nolan Arenado. However, his expensive contract and full no-trade clause, combined with declining stats, have limited interest from other teams. The Cardinals are in a transitional phase and are looking to create opportunities for younger talent.
AL West
Athletics: The Athletics have officially left Oakland and will play in Sacramento before moving to Las Vegas in 2028. They have an underrated offense and added pitching depth during the offseason. Their roster features a young core of players who will need to have breakout seasons and produce consistently for the team to contend for a Wild Card spot.
Houston Astros: The Astros lost several key players from their 2022 World Series championship team, including outfielder Kyle Tucker, starting pitcher Justin Verlander, and reliever Ryan Pressly. Third baseman Alex Bregman is also likely to leave. These losses weaken their depth, and they could miss the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons.
Los Angeles Angels: The Angels signed pitchers Kyle Hendricks and Yusei Kikuchi and acquired right fielder Jorge Soler in a trade with the Braves. Despite ongoing struggles, the organization refuses to rebuild and believes the team can compete this season. Their success will largely depend on whether future Hall of Famer Mike Trout and former All-Star third baseman Anthony Rendon can stay healthy.
Seattle Mariners: The Mariners have had a quiet offseason despite needing improvements at the plate. The team has a strong pitching staff but has been unwilling to leverage it in trades. The franchise has avoided signing big-name free agents, instead opting for low-risk, one-year deals to build their roster.
Texas Rangers: The Rangers added established veterans, signing designated hitter Joc Pederson and third baseman Jake Burger. They also bolstered their bullpen by adding five relievers to rebuild what was one of the worst-performing units in 2024.
AL East
Baltimore Orioles: The Orioles lost their ace, Corbin Burnes, and slugging outfielder Anthony Santander in free agency. They made minimal moves during the offseason and do not have clear replacements for their two best players from last season.
Boston Red Sox: The Red Sox struggled with pitching in the second half of last season, so they added starting pitchers Garrett Crochet and Walker Buehler to the front of the rotation. However, they still need to improve their offense, and free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman could be a realistic signing.
New York Yankees: The Yankees lost Juan Soto to the Mets but made several key additions, including All-Star left-handed pitcher Max Fried, outfielder/first baseman Cody Bellinger, first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, and closer Devin Williams. While their offense takes a hit without Soto, the team feels more complete after their offseason moves.
Tampa Bay Rays: The Rays had their worst offensive season in franchise history last year and addressed that by acquiring catcher Danny Jansen and shortstop Ha-Seong Kim. Off the field, the team faces uncertainty regarding its future stadium plans after Hurricane Milton severely damaged the roof of Tropicana Field, causing millions in damages.
Toronto Blue Jays: The Blue Jays had a strong offseason, successfully addressing several key needs. To add power to their lineup, they signed one of the game’s best hitters, Anthony Santander. For infield defense and lineup depth, they traded for Andrés Giménez, an elite defensive second baseman. They also bolstered their bullpen by acquiring Jeff Hoffman, one of the top relievers on the market. Additionally, they signed future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer to a one-year deal. The team is also working on an extension with All-Star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
AL Central
Chicago White Sox: The White Sox are coming off one of the worst seasons in baseball history and are in the early stages of a rebuild. This season, their focus will be on improving from last year and avoiding another historically terrible campaign.
Cleveland Guardians: The Guardians made minimal roster changes, none of which significantly improve the team compared to last season. They play in the weakest division in baseball and may feel comfortable standing pat despite their ongoing struggles with offensive production.
Detroit Tigers: The Tigers had a surprising playoff run last season and have a young core looking to take another step forward. To complement their emerging talent, the team signed several veterans to short-term contracts, allowing them to reestablish their value while providing leadership.
Kansas City Royals: The Royals had a breakout season last year, securing a playoff berth and upsetting Baltimore in the Wild Card round after a 106-loss 2023 season. They traded for Jonathan India, who brings much-needed on-base ability, but they still need to strengthen their bullpen and add depth to their starting rotation to improve their chances of making the playoffs again.
Minnesota Twins: The Twins have not made any significant moves this offseason and will enter 2025 with essentially the same roster as last year. If they can stay healthy, they might still be competitive within their division.
