Because the calendar flips to the brand new 12 months, it is a time for everybody to set new objectives and make predictions for the months forward — and MLB groups are not any completely different.
With that in thoughts, every of our beat reporters was requested to make one prediction for his or her respective workforce subsequent season.
This is a take a look at what they consider is to come back in 2025:
Blue Jays: Bichette bounces again to stardom
Bo Bichette bounces again to being the participant he was previous to 2024. One ugly season has utterly modified the narrative round Bichette — and understandably so — however that is nonetheless a participant totally in his prime who has led the AL in hits twice (2021 and ‘22). Add within the motivation of Bichette’s pending free company, the place he might land a serious payday, and there may be authentic motive to consider in a resurgence from Bichette. Final season snowballed on the younger shortstop, each bodily and mentally, so a recent begin in February ought to do wonders for him.
Orioles: Postseason winless drought ends
The O’s ought to plug the remainder of their roster holes this offseason, placing themselves in a spot to once more be among the many AL’s high groups in 2025. It’s going to assist that their younger position-player core — catcher Adley Rutschman, shortstop Gunnar Henderson, infielder Jordan Westburg, outfielder Colton Cowser and others — could have had one other 12 months of MLB expertise. There’s an excessive amount of expertise on Baltimore’s roster for this workforce to proceed to get bounced from the postseason with out successful a sport. The O’s will take the following step and be a authentic World Collection contender subsequent season, particularly in the event that they hold enhancing their pitching employees alongside the best way.
Rays: A franchise-record three gamers will hit 30 dwelling runs
This won’t sound like a lot, however think about this: There have been solely 18 particular person 30-homer seasons in franchise historical past, and Tampa Bay has by no means had three in the identical 12 months. (The Rays have had a pair of 30-homer hitters 5 occasions, most just lately Brandon Lowe and Mike Zunino in 2021.) Final season, Lowe led the workforce with 21 homers regardless of taking part in solely 107 video games. Nevertheless it’s not laborious to think about Lowe and fellow lefty hitter Josh Lowe capitalizing on the transfer to Steinbrenner Subject, with each the out of doors surroundings and the shorter right-field porch serving to to supply a giant jolt of left-handed energy. And there’s little doubt Junior Caminero has the power to hitch them as a serious power in the course of the lineup.
Pink Sox: Giolito will likely be a Comeback Participant of the Yr candidate
Lucas Giolito didn’t throw a pitch in his first season with the Pink Sox after present process an inner bracing process on his proper elbow in March. The righty has labored diligently throughout his rehab and he was the uncommon participant who constructed chemistry together with his teammates whereas on a season-long absence from pitching. Giolito’s veteran presence will likely be a giant assist to Boston’s younger beginning rotation, to not point out his capability to eat innings.
Yankees: Extra regular-season wins regardless of dropping Soto
Are the Yankees higher off with Max Fried, Devin Williams and Cody Bellinger than they’d be with Juan Soto? The reply is … a delicate possibly, relying on how the remainder of the winter goes. Clearly their choice was to maintain Soto, however at the least a kind of three additions wouldn’t be a Yankee at this time if Soto had stayed. So right here’s the prediction — when it comes to wins and losses, sure, the 2025 Yankees will likely be higher than the ’24 version, which received the AL East with a 94-win displaying. Think about that Clay Holmes led the Majors with 13 blown saves; if we put half of these again within the win column, as Williams may need performed, the Yankees might have been a 100-victory workforce.
Guardians: Ramírez will take pleasure in his first 40-40 season
José Ramírez has at all times wished to hit this milestone, however developing one dwelling run quick in 2024 has to go away him determined for his subsequent likelihood to do it. The All-Star third baseman labored towards Father Time this previous 12 months, almost doubling his stolen base complete from the previous few seasons. The extra he ages, the smarter he will get on the bottom paths, and if Cleveland can decide up one other energy bat so as to add some extra safety behind him within the lineup, Ramírez might get one other crack at becoming a member of the unique membership.
Royals: Kansas Metropolis will win the American League Central
The Guardians (92-69) are the reigning AL Central champions, ending the season with a 6 1/2-game lead over the Royals and Tigers (86-76). None of these three groups has made enormous strikes this winter, and whereas the Twins at all times loom as a menace due to the expertise on their roster, it appears the division is as soon as once more there for the taking. The Royals went 33-19 throughout the AL Central final 12 months, aided by going 12-1 towards the White Sox. They received the season sequence towards the Guardians and Tigers, and went 6-7 towards the Twins. Profitable the division will as soon as once more be the Royals’ purpose. A number of veterans are returning, and the younger gamers now know what success appears to be like like — and what it takes.
Tigers: Jobe will win AL Rookie of the Yr
Starters Luis Gil and Paul Skenes received their respective league’s Rookie of the Yr Award final season, ending a drought for starters that went again to former Tiger Michael Fulmer’s victory in 2016. Jackson Jobe — Detroit’s high prospect and the No. 5 prospect total — has the expertise to observe in these footsteps, and the Tigers are inclined to provide him the chance to crack the rotation both out of Spring Coaching or early within the season. If he sticks within the Majors for the total season and wins the award, the Tigers would get an additional 2026 Draft decide as a reward.
Twins: Ryan will get AL Cy Younger Award votes
Joe Ryan’s regular trajectory of enchancment together with his pitch arsenal took him to new heights in 2024, when he allowed his lowest profession charges of walks, hits and homers and completed with a 0.99 WHIP that, if certified, would have put him fourth amongst AL beginning pitchers. A teres main pressure sidelined him after solely 135 innings and 23 begins, but when he can maintain his continued enchancment throughout a full season, it will put him among the many more practical starters within the sport — and he has already demonstrated high-end potential in particular person performances.
White Sox: Montgomery will win AL Rookie of the Yr
Some pundits may view this as a little bit of a stretch, with Colson Montgomery hitting .214 with a .710 OPS throughout his first full season with Triple-A Charlotte final 12 months. However the No. 4 prospect within the group — and No. 37 total, per MLB Pipeline — discovered one thing over his remaining 99 at-bats and carried that success into a brief Arizona Fall League stint through which the shortstop performed nearly solely at third base. The adjustments have been as a lot psychological as they have been bodily in coping with the primary extended wrestle in an in any other case stellar athletic displaying, and Montgomery brings a wave of confidence into an already assured demeanor for ‘25. There was a lot discuss Montgomery making his debut in ‘24, however he could have an opportunity to interrupt camp with the workforce at shortstop in ’25.
Angels: Trout bounces again and returns to MVP kind
The prediction right here is that Mike Trout lastly stays wholesome and places collectively his first full season since 2019 — and is squarely within the combine for the AL MVP Award. The thought is Trout, 33, will play extra nook outfield to remain wholesome and can reply with a 40-homer season whereas additionally being extra aggressive on the bases. Most of his latest accidents have been attributable to unhealthy luck, akin to his left knee damage in ’24 and his hamate fracture on a swing in ’23, however this 12 months will deliver higher fortune for Trout, who stays signed by means of 2030. He is itching to show he nonetheless has loads left within the tank and that is the 12 months he proves he’s nonetheless an MVP-caliber participant.
Astros: Brown will win the AL Cy Younger Award
Okay, that’s a daring prediction, particularly with Detroit’s Tarik Skubal coming off a unanimous Cy Younger season and searching like a man who may win a couple of extra. Hunter Brown’s breakout season was one thing to behold, although, and was one of many membership’s largest storylines of 2024. After going 0-4 with a 9.78 in his first six begins, he added a sinker to his repertoire on Might 5 and it opened up his total arsenal. He went 11-5 with a 2.51 ERA in 147 innings in his remaining 24 video games (23 begins) and pitched with the stuff and confidence of an ace.
Athletics: Rooker and Butler end high 10 in AL MVP voting
Few offensive duos carried out higher than Brent Rooker and Lawrence Butler over the second half of 2024. From July 2 onward, the 2 mixed to hit .313 with 44 dwelling runs, 29 doubles and 114 RBIs over the A’s remaining 76 video games of the season. Your complete lineup goes to learn from the shift to a extra hitter-friendly stadium in Sutter Well being Park after taking part in within the pitchers’ paradise that was the Oakland Coliseum, which units up Rooker and Butler for even larger offensive numbers in 2025.
Mariners: The AL Cy Younger Award winner will come from Seattle’s rotation
Logan Gilbert was the one Mariners arm to obtain votes for the game’s most prestigious pitching honor in 2024, however that would change this season, particularly given Seattle’s blossoming repute throughout the business for possessing arguably the sport’s greatest beginning employees. The Mariners’ rotation led MLB in ERA (3.38), innings (942 2/3), high quality begins (92), strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.84) and opponents’ OPS (.650). Gilbert continues to get higher, George Kirby has been within the Cy Younger race late in every of the previous two years, Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo have emerged among the many sport’s most gifted younger arms and Luis Castillo — if he’s not traded — has been one of many true workhorses. All of it factors to the potential for a Mariners vs. the sphere kind of 12 months for the AL Cy Younger.
Rangers: deGrom will win the AL Cy Younger Award
It’s not that daring of a prediction. In any case, when wholesome, everyone is aware of who Jacob deGrom is and could be. However whereas the Rangers’ ace is maybe one of the best pitcher of his technology, he’s been hindered by accidents all through the 2020s. He hasn’t eclipsed 100 innings since his NL Cy Younger Award-winning 2019 season with the Mets. However recent off of Tommy John surgical procedure, deGrom seemed like himself in 10 2/3 September innings in 2024. If he’s wherever near the deGrom everyone knows, he very effectively might return to the forefront of the Cy Younger race.
Braves: Olson will hit 50-plus homers once more
Matt Olson hit a franchise-record 54 dwelling runs in 2023, however belted simply 29 whereas tallying an analogous variety of at-bats in ’24. A fast take a look at his Baseball Savant web page reveals he didn’t deal with fastballs in addition to he had both of the earlier two seasons. His barrel fee was additionally noticeably decrease and his chase fee was up. However Olson slashed .293/.390/.576 whereas hitting 14 homers and establishing a .966 OPS over his remaining 56 video games. His 14.6 at-bats per dwelling run ratio throughout that span didn’t match the 11.3 mark he produced the earlier season, however the robust end created motive to optimistically predict one other huge energy assault in 2025.
Marlins: 2025 will present indicators of the group’s future
Regardless of a 100-loss season in 2024, there have been early indications of president of baseball operations Peter Bendix’s imaginative and prescient working. Jonah Bride, Calvin Faucher, Jesus Tinoco and Otto Lopez turned out to be under-the-radar finds that Bendix made so frequent in his time with the Rays. This upcoming season will likely be extra about how the key gamers in Miami’s Commerce Deadline haul — Connor Norby, Kyle Stowers, Agustin Ramirez, Deyvison De Los Santos, Robby Snelling and Jared Serna — fare within the huge leagues. As a way to flip across the membership’s trajectory, they are going to be counted upon to be cornerstones that assist the Marlins be aggressive transferring ahead.
Mets: New York will win the NL East
The stage is about for the Mets to win their first division title in a decade. The Braves are rising older and coming off an injury-laden season. With out Max Fried, Atlanta’s pitching employees doesn’t look as fearsome because it as soon as did. Whereas the Phillies stay a power, the Mets proved they might disrupt their Jersey Turnpike rivals even earlier than signing Juan Soto. Carlos Mendoza’s membership might not enter subsequent season because the on-paper NL East favorites, however they’ve nearly as good an opportunity as any membership to lock down the division. It’s a practical purpose for them heading into spring.
Nationals: Ferrer earns the nearer function
The Nationals non-tendered All-Star right-hander Kyle Finnegan in November, leaving the nearer function up for grabs. The Nats have been impressed by what they noticed from the 24-year-old Jose A. Ferrer only one season after debuting in July 2023. Despite lacking the primary 97 video games of ‘24 due to a left lat pressure, the southpaw returned to pitch to a 3.38 ERA and allowed just one dwelling run in 32 innings. He additionally earned his first profession save. Ferrer averaged 98.3 mph together with his four-seamer, rating within the 97th percentile amongst pitchers.
Phillies: Stott bounces again
Dave Dombrowski revealed to reporters on the Winter Conferences that second baseman Bryson Stott battled a sore elbow most of final season that they are saying affected his efficiency on the plate. If true, it factors to a giant potential bounceback for Stott. He batted higher than .300 by means of a lot of the 2023 season earlier than ending with a .280 batting common and a .747 OPS, however he hit solely .249 with a .671 OPS final season. If Stott returns to kind, he might even transfer up within the Phillies’ lineup as supervisor Rob Thomson has contemplated a brand new look.
Brewers: Yelich wins NL Comeback Participant of the Yr
In the course of the Winter Conferences, Brewers normal supervisor Matt Arnold informed a slightly gory story of Christian Yelich handing over his telephone to indicate pictures from his August again surgical procedure. Arnold was shocked by the quantity of infected tissue that surgeons eliminated within the process, which ended a renaissance season for Yelich, the NL’s chief in common and on-base share on the time. The upside is that after years of navigating occasional flare-ups, he lastly received a repair that would unlock some extra good years as Yelich goes into his age-33 season. With a again damage, there are not any ensures, however Yelich is price betting on.
Cardinals: The rebuilding Playing cards will push for a Wild Card spot
No, the Playing cards received’t have Paul Goldschmidt. Nolan Arenado will possible be gone as effectively. However the membership is assured that giving extra taking part in time and fewer stress to children Jordan Walker, Nolan Gorman, Lars Nootbaar, Thomas Saggese, Victor Scott II, Andre Pallante, Matthew Liberatore, Ryan Fernandez, Michael McGreevy and Gordon Graceffo will permit their expertise to shine by means of. If the younger Playing cards can hit within the clutch — they have been statistically the worst workforce in baseball with runners in scoring place in 2024 — they’ll shortly make main strides. Their probabilities of placing collectively a stirring run may very well be depending on retaining relievers Ryan Helsley and Andrew Kittredge.
Cubs: Chicago will win first playoff sport since 2017
This actually shouldn’t be that daring of a prediction, however the Cubs have been additionally hoping to be taking part in on the October stage in each 2023 and ‘24. They narrowly missed the postseason two years in the past and fell wanting expectations once more final season. In Spring Coaching final 12 months, Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts stated, “I don’t see any motive why we wouldn’t be favored for our division.” Chicago completed 10 video games behind the division-winning Brewers and 6 video games wanting the ultimate Wild Card spot. With star outfielder Kyle Tucker within the fold now, plus some upgrades all through the roster, the Cubs look extra like a workforce that may snap its playoff win drought.
Pirates: Cruz has a 30-30 season
Oneil Cruz had aspirations of a 30-homer, 30-steal marketing campaign earlier than the 2023 season, if not a 40-40 season. A fractured ankle in April reduce that dream quick. He bounced again properly in 2024, ending with 21 dwelling runs and 22 steals, however it tells solely a part of the story. Cruz constantly improved as he healed and received his timing again and turned a nook towards left-handed pitching. If he continues to develop — and even simply do what he did within the second half of final season over a full marketing campaign — he might be a part of Barry Bonds as the one Pirates to have a 30-30 season.
Reds: De La Cruz would be the NL MVP
Set to show 23 on Jan. 11 and getting into his third huge league season, it appears like Elly De La Cruz continues to be scratching the floor of his potential. Regardless of main the Majors final season with 218 strikeouts, 29 errors and operating right into a league-leading 15 outs on the basepaths, the switch-hitting shortstop hit 25 dwelling runs with an .808 OPS, 67 stolen bases and 76 RBIs whereas taking part in 160 video games. It was adequate to complete eighth in NL MVP voting. If he can reduce down on the errors and enhance from the appropriate aspect whereas nonetheless trending upwards on his energy and velocity, De La Cruz could have an opportunity to be Cincinnati’s first MVP since Joey Votto in 2010.
D-backs: The pitching will likely be higher
The D-backs led the Majors in runs scored final 12 months, however completed a sport shy of constructing the postseason as a result of their pitching took a giant step backward from 2023. It appears nearly sure that the employees will publish higher numbers in 2025 — and it isn’t simply because they’ve added Corbin Burnes or employed a brand new group of pitching coaches. It is also as a result of they need to have higher well being and the peripherals ought to even out. Final 12 months each member of the beginning rotation apart from Brandon Pfaadt frolicked on the injured checklist. Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Eduardo Rodriguez and Jordan Montgomery all have confirmed monitor data. Higher (and longer) outings by the starters must also assist hold the bullpen from being taxed prefer it was final season.
Dodgers: Los Angeles will problem the all-time wins report
The Dodgers received the World Collection in 2024. They’re anticipating to be even higher in ‘25. After rehabbing final 12 months, Shohei Ohtani will likely be able to pitch sooner or later subsequent season, giving the Dodgers one other frontline starter to pair with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glansow and large free-agent addition Blake Snell. That rotation initiatives to be among the finest within the Majors. If you pair that with the truth that the Dodgers nonetheless have three future Corridor of Famers atop among the finest lineups in baseball, L.A. has a practical likelihood to make a run on the MLB report of 116 wins. Lots has to go proper, after all, however the expertise will likely be there.
Giants: Doval regains his All-Star kind
The 2024 marketing campaign was one to overlook for Camilo Doval, who misplaced the closing function en path to recording a career-high 4.88 ERA over 62 aid appearances. Nonetheless, the Giants are assured Doval will be capable of bounce again from the down 12 months and return to the dominance he confirmed in 2023, when he earned his first profession All-Star nod whereas main the Nationwide League with 39 saves. Doval struggled to beat command points final 12 months, however he nonetheless possesses some of the electrical arms within the league and has greater than sufficient expertise to reestablish himself as a power on the again finish of San Francisco’s bullpen in 2025.
Padres: San Diego will likely be within the postseason once more
It is one thing this franchise has struggled with — the Padres haven’t been in a position to construct on robust seasons. After reaching the playoffs in 2020 and ’22, they adopted with wildly disappointing campaigns in ’21 and ’23, respectively. After a robust ‘24 marketing campaign, this 12 months ought to be completely different. For one, issues appear a bit extra steady within the clubhouse. The core of the workforce ought to be again with a variety of stars nonetheless of their primes and Jackson Merrill solely simply getting into his. Plus, there ought to be no scarcity of starvation after the workforce got here oh-so-close to knocking off the eventual-champion Dodgers within the NLDS. The Padres have not reached consecutive postseasons since 2005-06. No motive they’ll’t change that ugly truth in ’25.
Rockies: Youth takes over
After being younger in 2024, the Rockies will likely be even youthful in ’25. By the point the Commerce Deadline is over, the membership might commonly discipline a lineup with solely two 30-year-olds (third baseman Ryan McMahon and proper fielder/designated hitter Kris Bryant) — or three on days when 35-year-old Jacob Stallings catches. The bullpen turned younger final 12 months, and this may very well be the 12 months for youth to take over the rotation. Prospects akin to 2023 high decide Chase Dollander (Rockies’ No. 2 prospect/No. 20 total), Scott Sullivan (Rockies’ No. 10) and Carson Palmquist (Rockies’ No. 14) will get a glance in Spring Coaching. Moreover, 2022 high decide Gabriel Hughes (Rockies’ No. 22) might shortly pitch his approach onto the radar after lacking 2024 attributable to Tommy John surgical procedure.
