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The upcoming season will certainly be one to remember. Some teams and players will exceed expectations, and some will not live up to them.
In 2024, the Los Angeles Dodgers won it all after a tough season with a lot of injuries and some headlines off the field. But in the end, they beat the New York Yankees 4-1 in a best-of-7 series. It was their second title since 1988, after winning it all once in the shortened 2020 season due to the pandemic. The question heading into spring training is now: Can the Los Angeles Dodgers win the World Series again, or can other teams like the Yankees, Padres, Phillies, or Mets stop them?
1. New York Yankees
Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Derek Jeter, Lou Gehrig and many more are legends of the past. The Yankees are one of the most successful franchises in the world. If you know nothing about baseball, you know the New York Yankees logo. It has evolved into the sign you associate with New York—the iconic "NY."
The Yankees are strong contenders for the 2025 MLB World Series title. After a tough loss in the 2024 finals, they made some significant off-season moves and now have a robust roster. The acquisition of ace pitcher Max Fried on a substantial contract bolsters their starting rotation, providing a formidable one-two punch alongside Gerrit Cole. Additionally, the trade for elite closer Devin Williams strengthens their bullpen and addresses previous late-inning weaknesses. Despite the departure of star outfielder Juan Soto to the Mets, the Yankees secured Cody Bellinger to fill the offensive void. They have one of the best bats in the game in superstar and American League MVP Aaron Judge. He made it to the World Series last season but couldn't find a way to help his team when it mattered most.
Let's see if the Yankees can show the rest of the league why they are one of the best teams in baseball right now and win it all in 2025.
IMAGO / Imagn Images / Lon Horwedel | New York Yankees third baseman Oswald Peraza (91) celebrates with Oswaldo Cabrera (95) in the dugout after hitting a solo home run.
2. Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies have been one of the most consistent teams over the last 4 years. They made it to the postseason 3 times and were able to post a winning record each season. The basis for this was probably the acquisition of Bryce Harper and Trea Turner, which helped the franchise develop a good team with a great foundation. During that time, they made it to the World Series once but lost to the Houston Astros.
This offseason, they acquired good depth for the team, which could be really promising for the fans. With the addition of German Max Kepler, they hope to improve their offensive depth. With relievers Jordan Romano and Joe Ross, the Phillies were able to strengthen their bullpen. All these factors will play a big role in the upcoming season, and it will be interesting to see if they can be a serious contender in the league.
IMAGO / Imagn Images / Bill Streicher | Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Weston Wilson (37) is doused in celebration of hitting for the cycle.
3. San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres, with superstar player Fernando Tatis Jr., are favorites to win the World Series. Manager Mike Shildt's team is feared in the National League because of its never-give-up mentality. The Padres were the best team in the second half of the 2024 campaign but just fell short to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Divisional Series in the postseason.
As of now, the offseason of the Padres was really disappointing. They did not sign one player. On the other hand, they lost key players from 2024, such as top-reliever Tanner Scott and outfielder Jurickson Profar. The story of the offseason was that they were outbid by the Dodgers for Japanese Prospect and MLB 2025 #1 Prospect Roki Sasaki. Despite having his mentor in Yu Darvish, playing for the Padres, the inconsistency in the Front Office over the last years was too much of a risk for the young Japanese star.
San Diego has to be really consistent in the 2025 Regular season to fight for a spot in the Postseason, but the roster has the player potential to be really helpful if everyone stays healthy.
IMAGO / Imagn Images / Denis Poroy | San Diego Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (23) reacts after hitting a home run in the second inning.
4. New York Mets
The New York Mets had a phenomenal second half of 2024. After the All-Star break, they turned the momentum around and made it to the postseason. They made it to the National League Championship Series, where they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, they were not able to end an unforgettable run with a World Series appearance. The Dodgers were simply too strong a team.
This offseason, they signed former New York Yankee Juan Soto to a record-setting 15-year, $765 million contract, the largest of its kind. Soto will be the face of the Mets for the rest of his career and hopes to bring success and some titles to Queens, New York. With the acquisitions of Clay Holmes and Frankie Montas, the Mets strengthened their pitching staff around star Edwin Diaz, which was one of the deciding factors in the loss to the Dodgers.
With Soto, the New York Mets are a strong contender to win the National League and, eventually, a World Series title. The most important thing for this franchise is to stay healthy.
IMAGO / Imagn Images / Brad Penner | New York Mets shortstop Luis Angel Acuna (2) celebrates his solo home run against Washington
Nationals with left fielder Jesse Winker (3) and starting pitcher Luis Severino (40).
5. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers did something not every team can do in 2024. They won the World Series after being favored all season. After a phenomenal offseason with the signing of Shohei Ohtani in 2023, the Dodgers had a lot of different struggles throughout the season. A lot of injuries, especially to the pitching staff, kept the Dodgers from being more dominant in the regular season. Towards the postseason, the Dodgers started to step up and it was no surprise when they showed up in October and dominated every series. In the end, they crowned themselves champions against the New York Yankees.
This offseason, they are putting their money where their mouth is. They just cannot stop spending. They signed two-time CY-Young Award winner Blake Snell and Roki Sakai for their starting rotation and added top reliever Tanner Scott to their bullpen. On the other hand, they managed to keep Teoscar Hernandez, who was a key offensive force last season.
It is obvious that the superstar team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, has only one goal: to repeat the success of 2024. With players like Betts, Freeman, Glasnow and Yamamoto, they are the favorites to win the title. As of now, there is no real weakness in their roster, so it will be really hard to beat them this year and in the near future.
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IMAGO / UPI Photo / John Angelillo | Los Angeles Dodgers Mookie Betts holds the Commissioner's Trophy after the Dodgers beat the New
York Yankees to win the MLB.
The 2025 MLB season promises to be an exhilarating ride, with top teams and players ready to challenge the reigning champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers. While the Dodgers remain the favorites to defend their World Series title, the New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets have all made strategic moves to strengthen their rosters and are primed for a strong postseason push. With star players like Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Juan Soto leading the charge, the competition will be fierce. Whether the Dodgers can continue their dominance or another team will rise to the occasion, one thing is certain: the 2025 season will be filled with unforgettable moments and thrilling baseball action.
