Tank's 2025 MLB Preview
Tim Clayton - Corbis. Getty Images.American League East
- Baltimore Orioles 93-69
- Boston Red Sox 90-72 (WC 1)
- Toronto Blue Jays 84-78
- New York Yankees 82-80
- Tampa Bay Rays 68-94
The American League East is up for grabs as the Yankees limp into the 2025 season. Already losing Juan Soto, they will be without Gerrit Cole and Giancarlo Stanton, and the core of the additions is on the wrong side of 30. The Orioles have proven they could win in the regular season, but the playoffs have been a problem. Getting to October will not be a problem as they will beat the Red Sox for the division, but can they get over the hump. It is time for Addley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson to step up in big games. The Red Sox are back in the playoff picture after landing a big arm and a big bat. Both Garret Crochet and Alex Bregman will excel in Fenway as the Red Sox are a legitimate threat to make a World Series run.
The Blue Jays are at a crossroads. They have Vladimir Guerrero Jr. coming up on free agency; getting off to a good start is essential because they could quickly become sellers if they are not in firm playoff standing come July. If all breaks right, they can sneak into a Wild Card spot, but they will need help to succeed beyond that. The Yankees may have to contend with a World Series hangover, as their injury and age are legitimate concerns. If Paul Goldschmidt struggles, it could be a long year in the Bronx. The Rays will see that Tampa should be their home, as they are renting out the Yankees' spring home while Tropicana Field undergoes repairs. The team is also undergoing repairs, as they will be the whipping boy all season in the East.
American League Central
- Kansas City Royals 87-75
- Detroit Tigers 85-77 (WC 3)
- Cleveland Guardians 81-81
- Minnesota Twins 76-86
- Chicago White Sox 49-113
The American League Central will again be a tight race. The White Sox will lose and lose again, with the remaining teams trying to get that extra win or two that could propel them to the top. The Royals showed great promise last season, reaching the Division Series. Bobby Witt Jr. finished second in the MVP voting. Look for Witt to continue his rise to stardom as the Royals take the divisional crown. The Tigers reached the Division series behind great pitching last year as Tarik Skubal won the Cy Young; expect the Tigers to have a bit of a letdown as their offense remains a weak spot, with the albatross of Javier Baez weighing them down.
The Guardians are up and down from year to year. Last year, they reached the ALCS despite losing Shane Bieber to Tommy John surgery. Beiber will be back in the middle of the season, but Cleveland will have trouble hanging on as other teams around them improved, while they did virtually nothing in the offseason. The Twins have been spinning their wheels for a few years, and Byron Buxton's injury issues have broken the core. The Twins need to consider the future because they are going nowhere fast. The good news is that the White Sox cannot lose more than last year.
American League West
- Seattle Mariners 90-72
- Texas Rangers 89-73 (WC 2)
- Houston Astros 79-83
- The Athletics 76-86
- Los Angeles Angels 60-102
The American League West is a division in transition. The Rangers look to bounce back from the World Series hangover they suffered in 2024, the Astros are seeing their window close, while the Mariners are the true dark horse. The Mariners may have the best pitching staff in the majors, but their offense was too often lacking for runs. They could be a factor in the playoffs if Julio Rodriguez can get back to what he was in his rookie season. Randy Arozorena could also be a significant factor. Look for them to add juice as the Mariners sail to the top of the West. The Rangers will bounce back and make the playoffs, where they could make another long playoff run. Over the long season, I see them battling for first place but settling for the Wild Card, where they won the World Series in 2023. Astros payroll struggles have seen the window close on their championship run as they lost Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker. They are trying to rebuild on the fly, hoping the prospects they got for Tucker can mature quickly and get them back into elite status within a few seasons.
The Athletics have left Oakland and are camping out in Sacramento. They will be slightly more competitive as sellout crowds help energize the team, playing in a minor league ballpark. Don't be shocked if the A's spend the first half of the season in a playoff position before fading in the dog days of August. The Angels are a big mess. Mike Trout's future is in doubt, and the rest of the team is old castoffs that will likely be available at the trade deadline as the Angels reach 100 losses for the first time in franchise history.
National League East
- Philadelphia Phillies 97-65
- New York Mets 93-69 (WC 1)
- Atlanta Braves 89-73 (WC 3)
- Washington Nationals 78-84
- Miami Marlins 51-111
The National League East is the best division in baseball, as three teams can make a legitimate World Series run and win 90 games. The Phillies are the best team suited for the marathon of the regular season, with a strong pitching rotation and a solid lineup. The Mets made a miracle run to the NLCS last year and have added Juan Soto. They likely will need to find another reliable starter if they are to take the next step, but they should make the playoffs again, where anything can happen.
If all goes right, the Braves have pitching and offense and can be the best team of the three. The Nationals are improving as some of their prospects will begin to become the building blocks of the future, especially James Wood and Dylan Crews. The Marlins are hopeless; if anybody performs well, they will be traded.
National League Central
- Cincinnati Reds 86-76
- Chicago Cubs 85-77
- Pittsburgh Pirates 80-82
- Milwaukee Brewers 78-84
- St. Louis Cardinals 67-95
The National League Central will also be among the tightest divisions in MLB, but it's because of the parity of the teams competing. There are no viable World Series contenders, as four of the five teams will be within five games of .500 on either side of the break-even line. The Reds are a dark horse as Terry Francona takes over as manager. He knows how to get the best out of teams, which will help elevate Elly De La Cruz into superstardom.
The Cubs have high expectations but are banking on several players in walk years having big seasons. The Pirates have the arms, with Paul Skenes leading the way, if they get another starter to get some wins and have their bats contribute, they could make some noise. The Brewers had a rough offseason as the losses and challenges of a small market reared its head. Look for the Brewers to struggle all season. The Cardinals, stewards of the Central for much of the last decade, will be the odd team out as they rebuild. It could be the worst season in a century in St. Louis as the Cardinals will top 90 losses.
National League West
- Los Angeles Dodgers 117-45
- Arizona Diamondbacks 91-71 (WC 2)
- San Diego Padres 83-79
- San Francisco Giants 71-91
- Colorado Rockies 64-98
The Dodgers are the team to beat. Defending World Champs, they seem only to get better. They could seriously make a run at 116 wins, the most in MLB history. The Diamondbacks missed the playoffs last season after reaching the World Series in 2023. The addition of Corbin Burness will help as they return to the playoffs and finish a distant second in the West.
The Padres could be the biggest sellers at the deadline, as uncertainty in ownership, combined with a bloated payroll and doubts over their status as contenders, could see them being a team set to have a firesale soon. The Giants are another team in transition as a new front office, and a flawed roster will see them quickly get lost in the scramble. The Rockies will hover around 100 losses again, as their inability to land star players or build through the farm system has created a dire situation in Colorado.
AL
- Red Sox over Rangers in 3
- Royals over Tigers in 3
NL
- Mets over Diamondbacks in 2
- Braves over Reds in 2
ALDS
- Red Sox over Orioles in 5
- Mariners over Royals in 4
NLDS
- Phillies over Braves in 5
- Dodgers over Mets in 5
ALCS
- Mariners over Red Sox in 6
NLCS
- Dodgers over Phillies in 5
World Series
- Dodgers over Mariners in 4
Manager of the Year
- AL Dan Wilson-Mariners
- NL Terry Francona-Reds
Rookie of the Year
- AL Jackson Jobe-Tigers
- NL Dylan Crews-Nationals
Comeback Player of the Year
- AL Felix Bautista-Orioles
- NL Sandy Alcantara-Marlins
Reliever of the Year
- AL Emmanuel Classe-Guardians
- NL Edwin Diaz-Mets
Cy Young
- AL Logan Gilbert-Mariners
- NL Zach Wheeler-Phillies
MVP
- AL Bobby Witt Jr.-Royals
- NL Shohei Ohtani-Dodgers
League Leaguers
American League
- BA Bobby Witt Jr.-Royals
- HR Anthony Santander-Blue Jays
- RBI Bobby Witt Jr.-Royals
- SB Jazz Chisholm Jr.-Yankees
- W-Garrett Crochet-White Sox
- ERA-Logan Gilbert-Mariners
- K-Logan Gilbert-Mariners
- SV-Emmanuel Classe-Guardians
National League
- BA Shohei Ohtani-Dodgers
- HR Shohei Ohtani-Dodgers
- RBI Shohei Ohtani-Dodgers
- SB Elly De La Cruz-Reds
- W Zach Wheeler-Phillies
- ERA Paul Skenes-Pirates
- K Zach Wheeler-Phillies
- SV-Edwin Diaz-Mets