5 MLB teams that will be better in 2025
The following clubs are poised to take a step forward or bounce back from disappointing seasons thanks to doing some heavy lifting to improve their rosters over the winter.
Athletics
Wins in 2024: 69
The Athletics head into their first season at West Sacramento's Sutter Health Park with optimism that a three-year rebuild is coming to an end. The club went 32-32 after the All-Star break and had a solid offseason, inspiring more hope that its momentum can carry into 2025.
Opening Day starter Luis Severino signed a franchise-record three-year, $67-million contract, while the team acquired left-hander Jeffrey Springs via trade. The duo slots in atop a rotation that accrued the fifth-lowest fWAR in baseball last season. The bullpen also looks better with the addition of José Leclerc to pair with All-Star closer Mason Miller.
A lineup that hit the eighth-most homers will likely improve with more growth from its young players - especially a full season from Lawrence Butler, who recorded 22 long balls with 18 stolen bases and an .807 OPS over 125 games in 2024. JJ Bleday, Shea Langeliers, Zack Gelof, Tyler Soderstrom, and Jacob Wilson are all worth watching, too. Wilson leads the team with four homers and 12 RBIs over 17 spring games.
Boston Red Sox
Wins in 2024: 81
The Red Sox could put it all together this season as one of the favorites to win the AL East after a three-year run of mediocrity. Boston's got a deep lineup and an improved pitching staff. The team also has a treasure trove of elite prospects - headlined by Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell, and Marcelo Mayer - that Boston can either call up to fill holes or trade for established talent.
An offense that's already good should reach another level with newcomer Alex Bregman. The two-time All-Star has raked at Fenway Park, hitting seven round-trippers with a 1.240 OPS across 21 games. His right-handed bat also helps balance the top of a lineup that will feature lefties in Jarren Duran, Rafael Devers, and Triston Casas.
The additions of Garrett Crochet and Walker Buehler provide the rotation with the high-end talent and depth it's been missing for a while - and Crochet could make a run at the AL Cy Young without any innings restrictions this year. Meanwhile, the bullpen will be led by former All-Stars Aroldis Chapman and Liam Hendriks.
Cincinnati Reds
Wins in 2024: 77
The Reds looked like a squad on the rise following an 82-win campaign in 2023. However, Cincinnati took a step back, costing manager David Bell his job. Expectations are high again as skipper Terry Francona leads a core oozing with potential that was supplemented by an under-the-radar offseason.
The biggest reason to believe is Francona's return to managing. The future Hall of Famer's resume is highlighted by two World Series championships with the Red Sox (2004 and 2007) and another Fall Classic appearance with the Guardians (2016), and he should be able to push the right buttons.
The Reds' front office brought in some intriguing pieces despite not making any major splashes. Brady Singer is a solid middle-of-the rotation starter and Taylor Rogers improves the bullpen, while Austin Hays and Jose Trevino are veterans with recent All-Star berths. Gavin Lux could be another hidden gem if the former top prospect thrives outside the big-market spotlight. The returns of Matt McLain and Christian Encarnacion-Strand should also be significant after they were limited to a combined 29 games last year.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Wins in 2024: 98
The Dodgers are well on their way to going 162-0 after sweeping the Cubs in Japan! All jokes aside, the new Evil Empire is primed to make a serious run at toppling MLB's single-season record of 116 wins after a stellar offseason on the heels of its World Series title. Keep in mind that Los Angeles won 98 games and a championship despite dealing with lots of injury woes.
Navigating the lineup must be a nightmare for opposing pitchers. Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman have won a combined five MVP awards, while Teoscar Hernández, Will Smith, and Max Muncy could make up the top of the order for half the clubs in MLB. The offense is much deeper than last season with the arrival of Michael Conforto and a full season from NLCS MVP Tommy Edman.
The pitching staff is just as dazzling, and that was before adding Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki, Tanner Scott, and Kirby Yates to offset the departures of Buehler and Jack Flaherty. Ohtani is also expected to return to the mound in the first half of the 2025 campaign. The rotation and bullpen are much better equipped to handle availability issues, as Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, Clayton Kershaw, Brusdar Graterol, Michael Kopech, and Evan Phillips will contribute at different times of the year.
Texas Rangers
Wins in 2024: 78
The Rangers experienced a World Series hangover. Texas went from 90 victories and a plus-165 run differential two years ago to 12 fewer wins and a minus-55 run differential. Injuries and underperformance were the main culprits for the dramatic swing, but many key pieces are still around from the team's championship run.
Texas arguably features the deepest lineup outside of the Dodgers, and it wouldn't be shocking to see this collection of bats lead the majors in long balls. Everybody knows what a healthy Corey Seager can do, and Marcus Semien is a three-time AL MVP finalist. A bounce-back campaign from 2023 All-Star Josh Jung would be huge after a fractured wrist limited him to 46 games last year. Expectations are also high for Year 2 of Wyatt Langford and Evan Carter. Finally, new additions Joc Pederson and Jake Burger hit a combined 52 homers last year.
The Rangers' biggest X-factor is the health of two-time Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom. The 36-year-old returned last September following Tommy John surgery, but he's logged only 41 innings since heading to the Lone Star State in December 2022. It'll also be interesting to see what sort of impact former Vanderbilt stars Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker can make with extended time in the big-league rotation.