The 2025 MLB Power Rankings
Great news everyone, the world sucks but at least baseball is back today. Sure, we had the Dodgers/Cubs appetizer in Tokyo last week, but now the other 28 teams are back in the saddle. So, it’s time for my annual preseason countdown.
Even though there are some pretty obvious tiers, there is still a lot of intrigue. In the AL East an argument can be made for each of the 5 teams. Which of the talented yet flawed teams in the AL West break away from the rest? The AL Central produced 2 wild card teams last year, largely because they were able to rack up victories against the White Sox. Expect to see a reversion to the mean - the Sox can’t possibly be that bad again this year, can they?
In the NL Central, someone has to win that division. It’s in the rule book and everything, but who? Everyone naturally assumes that the NL wild cards will be the Diamondbacks and whichever NL East teams finish second & third, but are we underestimating the Padres and/or Giants? Did I make a few bold decisions that are certain to make me look foolish? Oh yes I did. Let’s take a look.
30. Colorado Rockies - Yes. I believe there will be a team worse than the White Sox in 2025. The Rocks are more of a conceptual art piece than they are a baseball team. Mike Petriello shared an amazing fact recently. In 2017 3 of their top 4 starters were Germán Márquez, Kyle Freeland, and Antonio Senzatela. All 3 are still in their rotation! I have to admire the gumption of any pitcher who can stick around in Denver that long, but it’s not as if we’re talking about Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz here. The team isn’t completely devoid of talent - Ryan McMahon & Brenton Doyle - but this squad is so drab that the only way to get people to pay attention would be to turn their games farcical. Get rid of the humidor and let the balls fly. 12-11 scores are absurd, but at least they’re not dull.
29. Chicago White Sox - Last year’s ChiSox set a modern day record by losing 121 games. If anything, the roster is even weaker this season. I’m not suggesting that they will be on track to lose more games this year; I’m assuming that whatever hex they unleashed by opening up a cursed sarcophagus has petered out and they will simply be a generically bad cellar dweller. It still figures to be a looooong year in the South Side, can you look at the depth chart and come up with any player who may have a high ceiling? Perhaps a healthy Luis Robert Jr.? The only word that accurately describes this team is “oof!”
28. Miami Marlins - No truth to the rumor that the US government places individuals that are in the Witness Protection Program on the Marlins roster. What a clusterf*** of an organization. Yes, they have won 2 World Series, flags fly forever, etc. etc. I wouldn’t put it past them to trade one of those forever flying flags for a Double-A outfielder. The lack of talent and the low payroll are both shameful; what are the chances that Sandy’s Alcantara will still be on this team after the trade deadline?
27. Washington Nationals - The Nats do at least seem to be making a concerted effort to improve the team, it’s just that the top 3 teams in their division are so strong that they have got a steep hill to climb. James Wood showed some promise in his debut last year, the hope is that CJ Abrams will rebound from the huge step backwards that he took last season, and there are some solid veterans in the lineup such as Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Bell who can serve as decent placeholders that will provide solid production. The pitching staff is still a huge work in progress, however.
26. Los Angeles Angels - They have finally taken the step of moving Mike Trout to right field in the hope that playing a less physically taxing position will keep him healthy. Hope it works, the game is missing something with his prolonged absences. Otherwise, the Angels are gonna Angel. Zach Neto shows a lot of promise, but otherwise it seems like the team is filled with guys hoping to recapture past magic. Yoan Moncada? Kyle Hendricks? Kenley Jansen is still decent, but a team as likely to lose as many games as this one isn’t exactly in need of a closer. His presence screams “trade bait!” At least there’s no ambiguity concerning Anthony Rendon’s availability. He’ll miss the entire season.
25. Cincinnati Reds - I could see the Reds doing a lot better than this and making me look stupid, but a lot of things need to go right for the team to take the next step forward. Hunter Greene was very impressive last season, but no one else in the rotation has much of a ceiling. Same thing with the lineup after Elly De La Cruz. I see a lot of guys that figure to have WARs in the 1-1.5 range. It’s a very uninspiring bunch.
24. Sacramento A’s - The league insists on calling them the Athletics without a city designation, but they’re not the boss of me. They’re playing home games in a minor league park for the foreseeable future, but at least they having been making improvements to the roster. Brent Rooker is a productive hitter, Lawrence Butler could be on the cusp of stardom, Mason Miller is a big time closer, Shea Langeliers is a stealthy solid player. There are too many holes, but I could see them making a surprise run at a .500 record if things break right.
23. St. Louis Cardinals - This is a team in terminal inertia. Despite their best efforts they were unable to trade Nolan Arenado, they have been too hesitant to deal Ryan Helsley while his value is high, and their minor league system appears to have fallen behind. There are too many 30-something starters in the rotation who are on the downside of their career. I was very impressed by what I saw last season from Masyn Winn. I think the projection systems are underrating him. I’m expecting a big leap from him in 2025.
22. San Francisco Giants - Logan Webb is one of the top starters in the game, but it says a lot that Robbie Ray and Justin Verlander are 2 & 3 in the rotation. How much can they be counted on in this stage of their careers? Resigning Matt Chapman was a nice move, as was signing Willy Adames. There’s not a lot of there there otherwise, perhaps with a healthy season Jung Hoo Lee will show what he can do. The Giants lag well behind the top teams in their division.
21. Pittsburgh Pirates - They really are going to waste Paul Skenes’s best years, huh? I still hold out some hope for Ke’Bryan Hayes and Oneil Cruz - I am intrigued by the latter’s switch to center field - and Bryan Reynolds is an underappreciated star. I am also happy that they continue to find a home for franchise icon Andrew McCutchen. But this is such a frustrating franchise; the ballpark is beautiful but ownership does not seem to care a lick about spending the necessary money to put together a winning club. Skenes deserves better.
20. Cleveland Guardians - They always seem to find a way to make do as a low budget team benefitting from playing in a weak division, but it looks like the Guards are taking a major step backwards this year. Andres Gimenez and Josh Naylor are tough losses, and I’m starting to get the feeling that Steven Kwan has reached his ceiling. I do like the late spring trade for Nolan Jones, and José Ramirez is one of the game’s top stars. I also have a feeling that Tanner Bibee will have a big year. The Guards could surprise yet again, but I remain skeptical.
19. Kansas City Royals - The AL Central teams are in for a rude awakening this year. All those wins they racked up against the White Sox made their records look better than they actually were. Figure to see lots of reversions to the mean in that division. As great as Bobby Witt Jr. is, he can’t get much better than he already is. Who else on this team can improve? Salvador Perez is a year older, Vinnie Pasquantino is a perfectly generic power hitting first baseman, can they expect much from Jonathan India? The rotation is above average; if the team exceeds my expectations it will be due to the pitching. But, is it reasonable to expect Seth Lugo to duplicate what he did last year? Beyond that I am confident in Cole Ragans and Michael Wacha is as reliable as they come in the #3 slot.
18. San Diego Padres - The current iteration of the Pads are star laden but top heavy, and budgetary issues are hanging over the team’s head like the Sword of Damocles. A slow start would make Dylan Cease and Luis Arraez near certainties to be traded. Manny Machado is showing slight slippage, Xander Bogaerts in showing serious slippage, and Fernando Tatis Jr. had a relatively disappointing 2024. It’s crucial that Jackson Merrill and Michael King built on their outstanding seasons.
17. Milwaukee Brewers - Similar to the Guardians they have been able to consistently put together competitive teams on small budgets, but I believe this is a step backwards year for the club. Losing Willy Adames and Devin Williams will hurt, and Christian Yelich ain’t getting any younger. On the flip side, William Contreras is a genuine star, and the futures appear unlimited for Brice Turang and Jackson Chourio. They could use at least one more reliable starting pitcher behind Freddy Peralta. The Brewers have a promising future, but they’re in reloading mode this year.
16. Tampa Bay Rays - It’s hard to judge this team, being that they have been temporarily displaced to a park that they were not constructed for. How will this team play in Steinbrenner Field? This year’s Rays are the weakest team they have put together in some time. There are health questions all over the starting rotation, and there are too many questions in the lineup. Yandy Diaz looks like he is in his decline phase. It would be very helpful if Junior Caminero emerges this year. The Rays have a tendency to surprise, so naturally they are going to make me look bad and win 97 games.
15. Chicago Cubs - The Cubs puzzle me. You may have noticed that Chicago is a large market; the Cubs should theoretically have the financial resources to bury the rest of their division but they are only doing the bare minimum. There is some top notch talent here, starting with Kyle Tucker. It speaks volumes about their business plan that they have not shown much urgency to lock him up long term. The two Cubs I’m most interested in are Michael Busch and Nico Hoerner. If either or both take the next step then the Cubs are suddenly much more formidable.
14. Detroit Tigers - If only they had pulled the trigger on signing Alex Bregman. I am all in on this club’s future, but they are still at least one piece short. The top of the rotation is strong; bringing back Jack Flaherty to team with Tarik Skubal was a great move, and Jackson Jobe is one of the top pitching prospects in the game. Riley Greene is a genuine star, and I have a suspicion that Gleyber Torres has a comeback season in him.
13. Houston Astros - This team is gradually becoming less recognizable. Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker - gone. Jose Altuve in left field? There is still a lot of all-star level talent here. Christian Walker and Isaac Paredes were great pickups. Pundits are all-in on Hunter Brown this year, and if they’re correct he and Framber Valdez would make up one of the better 1-2 punches in a rotation. I believe Yainer Diaz is among the most underrated catchers in the game. And don’t forget that Yordan Alvarez is one the 5 best hitters in the league. I can’t help but feel that we’re witnessing the end of an era; knowing how many Astros haters there are out there (not to be confused with Stros closer Josh Hader) there are plenty of baseball fans who are eagerly anticipating the decline of this team. This could be the year.
12. Seattle Mariners - The Mariners are one of those frustrating teams in that they are noticeably strong on one side and less so on the other. Why, oh why, don’t they trade from their surplus of starting pitching to acquire a much needed bat? Even with George Kirby currently injured this is a deep rotation led by Logan Gilbert and Bryce Miller. I think people have been a little too quick to abandon Julio Rodriguez; his numbers last year were down from his usual standards but he is only 24. He’ll be fine. As will Cal Raleigh, who was just rewarded with a contract extension. A return to form from Randy Arozarena would do wonders, but this team could really use some more punch in that lineup.
11. Toronto Blue Jays - The Jays are in the midst of a run in which they seemingly finish in second place in the race for every big name free agent. Imagine if they had been able to hit on any of their targets? This is a crucial season as it could very well be their last run with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. & Bo Bichette. They are another team with a starting rotation that would have looked top level 4 seasons ago, not so much in 2025. I do have concern that Anthony Santander’s lack of secondary skills could come back to bite him this year. I’m all in on the Vladdie bandwagon; I’m expecting a monster year. One note on how real life can intrude on our fun & games: I have genuine worry about Cuban and Venezuelan natives being targeted when they travel in and out of Canada. I can’t believe I’m actually thinking that.
10. Arizona Diamondbacks - Great tidbit from Sarah Langs: There have been 3 major league players in history with the first name Corbin. 2 of them play for the ‘25 Diamondbacks. The D’backs are a trendy pick, and this ranking is more of a reflection of how strong the top teams are and not a diss on Arizona. I like this team; Ketel Marte is a legitimate MVP candidate, Eugenio Suarez is one of the best power bats in the game, and Zac Gallen is a great example of a pitcher who may not be a bona fide ace but is just a notch below. As for the Corbins? Corbin Burnes is making the transition into dropping velocity while still remaining a top level starter and he has done a splendid job of that so far. And in the second half of last season Corbin Carroll showed every sign of breaking out of his prolonged sophomore slump. (BTW, the third major league named Corbin? That would be Corbin Martin, who pitched for Arizona as recently as 2022. Anyone check in on him recently?)
9. New York Mets - Little known fact: the Mets signed a new right fielder in the offseason. Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor gives the Mets two players who can easily finish in the top 5 of the MVP vote, and if the step forward Mark Vientos took last year is sustainable then this is a lineup that is going to score a lot of runs. The pitching staff is a contending one, but not quite a championship caliber one which is what drops them down a couple of notches. If Clay Holmes and Griffin Canning surprise in the same way that Sean Manaea and Luis Severino did last year then I will be convinced that the organization is filled with pitching wizards and I will never doubt them again.
8. Boston Red Sox - After spending a few too many seasons collectively twiddling their thumbs, the Red Sox have gotten back in the game. I’m not sure how confident I am in the 2025 version of Alex Bregman - there are signs that he’s getting uncomfortably close to his decline phase - but getting Rafael Devers off of third base can only be a good thing. Garrett Crochet was a great addition to the top of the rotation, Jarren Duran had a huge season last year, and there is a promising pipeline of minor league talent that will began making an impact as soon as this year. And if they can somehow get vintage Walker Buehler, even better.
7. Minnesota Twins - I am admittedly going off on a HUGE limb here. A lot of the potential for success in the Twin Cities is tied to the health of Byron Buxton, Carlos Correa, and Royce Lewis, and Lewis is already injured, so… This is a very strong, if somewhat anonymous, pitching staff. Pablo López, Bailey Ober, and Joe Ryan are an impressive top 3 and I really like Jhoan Duran in the closer role. What else do they need to do to make my prediction look good? They could use a big season from one of the (healthy) hitters in the lineup. Perhaps Jose Miranda.
6. Texas Rangers - Is there a bigger X-factor in the entire league than Jacob deGrom? He hasn’t pitched a full season since 2019, but as Chris Sale showed last year, if a pitcher is great enough he can come back from a long layoff. deGrom doesn’t even need to be the ace as long as Nathan Eovaldi is on top of his game. It’s a strong lineup. Marcus Semien is as steady as they come, Corey Seager has a great track record, Wyatt Langford came on strong late last year, and you know Joc Pederson is gonna blast some long balls. Adolis Garcia’s regression last season was ominous; if he can get back on track this lineup can match any other one out there.
5. Philadelphia Phillies - The Phillies core is starting to run out of time; virtually every key player is on the wrong side of 30, even Bryce Harper. Harper and Zack Wheeler are still as good as they ever were, but J.T. Realmuto is showing signs of slippage. There are already rumblings that it might soon be time to shift Trea Turner to a different position. This is one of the better pitching staffs in the league; Jesús Luzardo should have a strong season. If Ranger Suárez is your fifth starter, that means you’ve got quite the staff. Plus, nothing fits the Phillies credo better than Kyle Schwarber’s “see ball, hit ball far” mentality.
4. Baltimore Orioles - The Orioles are the flip side of the Mariners; a great lineup with a surplus of talent that is lacking in pitching. Why is the front office refusing to trade one of their excess pieces? A rotation led by Zach Eflin, Charlie Morton, and 35 year old Japanese import Tomoyuki Sugano doesn’t scream championship caliber. But man, that is some lineup. Gunnar Henderson is great, Colton Cowser promises to soon be a great one, and I’m confident that with a year under his belt Jackson Holliday will show why he is one of the elite prospects. I’m also chalking up Adley Rutschman’s shockingly poor second half last year as one of those strange glitches in the matrix. You don’t go from that good, that young to the sub-mediocrity that was his 2024 second half. He’ll be back.
3. New York Yankees - This is a prediction that could age very badly, much like the Yankees themselves if things start to go wrong. They did a great pivot job once Juan Soto left. Max Fried is an ace, and Devin Williams is as good of a closer as there is. Cody Bellinger figures to be very productive; I am not as confident in Paul Goldschmidt. He is showing some serious tread on those tires. Among the holdovers I am expecting big things from Jazz Chisholm Jr. & this is going to be the year that Anthony Volpe Makes The Leap. I’m stumped about the hole at third base; to paraphrase Casey Stengel you need a third baseman otherwise there will be a lot of ground singles to left field. There’s no getting around the gut punch that came with the injuries to Gerrit Cole and Luis Gil. There is some serious trapdoor vibes around this team but as long as Aaron Judge is in the house it’s tough to count them out. Still, out of all of my rankings a Yankee collapse would be the least surprising to me.
2. Los Angeles Dodgers - Yeah, I went there. Yes, this is one of the most talent laden teams in memory. Shake a tree, and multiple future Hall Of Famers will fall out. But I can see them taking a slight step back in the regular season. Mookie Betts has lost a lot of weight due to a bug he’s caught. What if it takes him a long time to regain his strength? Freddie Freeman still looks slightly hobbled. What if all of those physical issues linger with him all year? Once you get past the top five spots in the lineup - which is formidable - the bottom half isn’t very imposing. Can they get away with churning through so many starting pitchers once again? It’s not difficult to imagine them winning “only” 95 as opposed to the 100+ that most people are predicting. In all honesty, their regular season record won’t matter if they enter October with a rested rotation and Mookie & Freddie back at full strength. And can you believe I have gone through this entire paragraph without mentioning the name Shohei Ohtani? Or Yoshinobu Yamamoto? Or Blake Snell? Or Teoscar Hernandez? Or Roki Sasaki? OK, maybe I’m being a contrarian by placing them second. But I’ve seen stranger things happen.
1. Atlanta Braves - Before spring training began my thought was that the Braves were the clear third place team in the NL East, mostly because it was clear that neither Spencer Strider nor Ronald Acuńa would be ready for the start of the season. But then I remembered that they both missed almost all of last season and the Braves still turned out OK. It could be asking a lot of Chris Sale to expect another Cy Young season, but once Strider returns to join Reynaldo López and Spencer Schwellenbach? That’s a tough gauntlet for opposing teams to face. Michael Harris II had a fairly “meh” season, but is still only 24. Matt Olson is still in his peak, Raisel Iglesias is a shutdown closer, and I would expect returns to form from both Ozzie Albies and Austin Riley.
That’s where things stand as the season is set to begin. I’ll stop short of offering playoff or World Series predictions. Not only does the small sample size randomize the postseason, but the inevitable activity at the trade deadline means that rosters will look vastly different in August. Knowing that my predictions are usually way off, did I intentionally jinx things by ranking the Braves and Yankees so high whilst placing my Mets at #9? I’ll never tell. Play ball!
