Anyone who makes predictions wants to be right. But being wrong can be cool, too.
How many people thought the Tigers and Royals would rise up to grab a Wild Card spot last season? How many thought the Brewers would maintain their hold on the NL Central after trading away Corbin Burnes? Those teams made a lot of 2024 preseason prognosticators look foolish. But it's that element of the unexpected that gives baseball so much of its charm.
We recently asked 59 MLB.com voters to predict each division winner, Wild Card club, pennant winner and the World Series champion for 2025. Will all of these predictions pan out? Highly unlikely. But that's part of what makes it fun.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
AL EAST: RED SOX
Boston hasn't enjoyed a winning season since 2021 and has finished in the AL East cellar in two of the past three years. But our voters believe this club is primed to turn things around after making two of the highest-profile moves of the winter. First, the Red Sox traded for left-handed starter Garrett Crochet, the clear-cut rotation ace they desperately needed. Then they signed two-time All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman in free agency. His right-handed swing should fit perfectly in Fenway Park, where he can pepper the Green Monster. Those are just a couple of reasons why this year could be a special one in Beantown.
Others receiving votes: Orioles, Yankees and Rays
AL CENTRAL: TIGERS
In the span of two months, the Tigers went from sellers at last season's Trade Deadline to a contender no team wanted to see in a short postseason series. They clinched their first playoff berth since 2015, upset the Astros in the AL Wild Card Series and pushed the AL Central-winning Guardians to a winner-take-all Game 5 in the AL Division Series. Now Detroit is expected to take another step forward, and that means taking over the division.
It helps when you have Tarik Skubal, arguably the No. 1 pitcher in the game. The Tigers brought back right-handed starter Jack Flaherty, one of the players they dealt at the Deadline, and added two-time All-Star second baseman Gleyber Torres to improve an offense that tied for 23rd last season in OPS (.685). Torres will bat near the top of the lineup, often surrounded by homegrown products such as Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter and Colt Keith. And more talent is on the way in Detroit.
Others receiving votes: Royals, Twins and Guardians
AL WEST: RANGERS
The Rangers have the talent to win their division, something they haven't accomplished since 2016. The key is just staying healthy. Texas' defense of its 2023 World Series title didn't go as planned as the club was dogged by injuries up and down its roster. But its lineup remains star-laden, highlighted by team leaders Corey Seager and Marcus Semien. Young bats Wyatt Langford and Josh Jung haven't realized their full potential yet, and offseason additions Joc Pederson and Jake Burger should make this offense even scarier for opposing pitchers when it's at full strength.
But the X-factor for the Rangers may be getting a healthy season out of two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom, who hasn't thrown 100 innings in a season since 2019.
Others receiving votes: Mariners, Astros and Athletics
AL WILD CARDS: ORIOLES, YANKEES, ASTROS
ORIOLES
When we did this exercise last season, the O's ended up as our pick to win the World Series. Baltimore did play October baseball for the second straight year but is still searching for its first postseason victory since 2012. The Orioles' championship window remains open, especially with the youth in their lineup. Every team would love to have an infield that features Adley Rutschman, Jordan Westburg, Jackson Holliday and Gunnar Henderson, all of whom are 27 or younger. Henderson will start the season on the injured list, but the hope is he won't be out long.
The big question for Baltimore resides in its rotation. It has brought in veteran hurlers such as Charlie Morton, longtime Japanese pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano and, most recently, Kyle Gibson. But is that enough to fill the void left by Corbin Burnes? Grayson Rodriguez's elbow injury doesn't help matters.
YANKEES
The Yankees received plenty of plaudits for how they pivoted after watching Juan Soto leave for the crosstown Mets during the offseason. They addressed all areas of their roster, acquiring frontline starting pitcher Max Fried, All-Star closer Devin Williams, and a couple of former MVP hitters in Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger.
But the spring has not been kind to the Yanks. They will begin the season without three-fifths of their projected starting rotation as Clarke Schmidt, AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil and ace Gerrit Cole are all injured. We won't see Cole until 2026 after he underwent Tommy John surgery earlier this month. On the offensive side, Giancarlo Stanton's status remains up in the air due to injuries in both elbows. This puts more pressure on the likes of Fried and reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge, but it's difficult to count out a franchise that has missed the playoffs just five times in the past 30 seasons.
ASTROS
These are not your older brother's Astros. Many of the household names who were instrumental to the team's two World Series titles and its run of seven consecutive ALCS appearances from 2017-23 have moved on. Fearsome slugger Yordan Alvarez remains, as does nine-time All-Star second baseman Jose Altuve -- but he has moved to left field. Houston's infield also has a new look at the corners, and it will depend on first baseman Christian Walker and third baseman Isaac Paredes to keep the train rolling. Plus, look for Cam Smith, MLB's No. 58 prospect, to make an immediate impact following a very successful Spring Training.
The Astros' pitching staff has some question marks, but Framber Valdez and Hunter Brown make for a solid 1-2 combo atop the rotation, and the ninth inning should be secure often with Josh Hader still at the back of the 'pen.
Others receiving votes: Red Sox, Royals, Guardians, Mariners, Rangers, Tigers, Athletics, Rays, Blue Jays and Twins
AL CHAMPION: RED SOX
Beyond those aforementioned names and established stars such as Rafael Devers and Jarren Duran, Boston's 2025 outlook is brightened by a stellar crop of prospects. Kristian Campbell, MLB Pipeline's No. 7 prospect, will be on their Opening Day roster. Outfielder Roman Anthony (No. 2 prospect in MLB) and shortstop Marcelo Mayer (No. 12) may help out at some point this year, too. Injuries befall every team. But the Red Sox are well-suited to fix any holes that may appear, especially on the position-player side.
Others receiving votes: Orioles, Rangers, Tigers, Royals, Mariners, Yankees, Astros, Athletics, Guardians and Twins
NATIONAL LEAGUE
NL EAST: BRAVES
Much like the Rangers, the Braves were severely hampered by injuries to foundational players last year. Ronald Acu?a Jr., Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies, Michael Harris II -- they each missed at least 50 games in 2024. Spencer Strider made all of two starts before undergoing season-ending right elbow surgery in April. Most of that crew will be ready to go on Opening Day. Strider, who has looked sharp in Spring Training, should be on the mound in April. Acu?a, the unanimous 2023 NL MVP, should return in May from his knee injury. Mix those elite players with 2024 NL Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale and All-Star outfielder Jurickson Profar, and you have a team that appears primed to reclaim the throne in the NL East.
Others receiving votes: Phillies and Mets
NL CENTRAL: CUBS
The Cubs topped the Brewers in the closest vote count in any of the six divisions. For Chicago to claim its first full-season NL Central crown since 2017, it will need a big season from outfielder Kyle Tucker. The Cubs traded for Tucker in their splashiest move of the offseason after he hit 23 homers and logged a .993 OPS in just 78 games last with the Astros. The 28-year-old is part of a trio -- along with Ian Happ and potential breakout star Pete Crow-Armstrong -- that could make up one of baseball's most productive outfields.
The Cubs have also overhauled their relief corps. The trade for Ryan Pressly was the headliner, but Eli Morgan, Caleb Thielbar and Ryan Brasier were some of the other arms brought in to stabilize the bullpen.
Others receiving votes: Brewers, Reds and Cardinals
NL WEST: DODGERS
Just think of all the current Dodgers pitchers who didn't pitch for the team during its run to a World Series title last fall. Here's a sampling: Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates, Dustin May and Roki Sasaki. All of those pitchers begin this season healthy and ready to fire in Dodger blue. (Sasaki made his much-anticipated MLB debut during last week's Tokyo Series against the Cubs.)
Then there are the pitchers who are coming back from injury and will rejoin the Dodgers at some point this season. That group includes Clayton Kershaw, Tony Gonsolin, Michael Kopech, Evan Phillips and, of course, Shohei Ohtani, who should return to being a two-way player. And that's all without mentioning Opening Day starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto. They say you can never have enough pitching. The Dodgers have more than enough to win the NL West for the 12th time in the past 13 years.
Others receiving votes: D-backs
NL WILD CARDS: PHILLIES, D-BACKS, METS
PHILLIES
The Phils have made it to the postseason for three consecutive years, increased their win total in each of those seasons and are coming off their first division title since 2011. They are running it back with much of the same cast responsible for that success, with the hope that this is the year they can break through and win it all. Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner are all entering their age-32 seasons, and they remain the engine of an offense that ranked fifth in MLB in runs scored (784) and tied for fourth in OPS (.750) last season.
That lineup is complemented by a rotation headed by Zack Wheeler, last season's NL Cy Young runner-up. The Phillies struck a trade for left-hander Jes¨˛s Luzardo in December. If he can rediscover his 2023 form -- when he struck out 208 batters in 178 2/3 innings for the Marlins -- he'll strengthen what is already a formidable staff.
D-BACKS
Corbin Burnes landing with the D-backs may have been the most surprising free-agent signing of the offseason. The 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner ranks second in FanGraphs WAR since the start of 2021 (19.2), trailing only Wheeler (22.7). Teaming Burnes with Zac Gallen, a healthy Merrill Kelly, Eduardo Rodriguez and Brandon Pfaadt gives Arizona a fighting chance against any offense in the Majors.
Second baseman Ketel Marte is a bona fide star atop Arizona's lineup, but that group lost a lot of pop when Christian Walker and Joc Pederson signed elsewhere as free agents. First baseman Josh Naylor, acquired in a trade with Cleveland, will be looked upon to pick up the slack at first base. But it would really help the D-backs if the Corbin Carroll we saw during the second half of last season (17 home runs, .919 OPS) is on display for the entire year.
METS
Juan Soto should obviously work wonders for the Mets' lineup. Watching him hit between Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso all summer long in Queens is going to be must-see TV. But the most crucial facet of this team will likely be its starting rotation. With Sean Manaea (right oblique strain) and Frankie Montas (right lat strain) opening the year on the injured list, that group will head into the season noticeably shorthanded.
Closer-turned-starter Clay Holmes has been tabbed as New York's Opening Day hurler. Tylor Megill, Griffin Canning and David Peterson will slot in behind him. Kodai Senga has shown that he can be a top-of-the-rotation pitcher, but he will be handled carefully early this season after missing nearly all of 2024 due to shoulder, triceps and calf injuries.
Still, taking all of that into account, the Mets have Soto, and the rest of the National League does not. That should be enough to grab a Wild Card.
Others receiving votes: Braves, Padres, Cubs, Reds, Dodgers, Brewers and Giants
NL CHAMPION: DODGERS
According to FanGraphs, five of the six teams that are projected to win more than 85 games this season reside in the National League. The fight for the NL pennant should make for a lot of memorable baseball. But the Dodgers' overwhelming collection of talent is seen as too much for any other Senior Circuit club.
Others receiving votes: Mets, Braves, Phillies, D-backs and Padres
WORLD SERIES CHAMPION: DODGERS
A repeat champion? We haven't seen that in a quarter century. It would be much safer to take the field over the defending champ when predicting the World Series winner. But the final vote tally here wasn't close. With their MVP triumvirate of Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman at the top of the lineup, an unmatched stockpile of star pitchers at their disposal, and a highly regarded farm system, the Dodgers could sit atop MLB for a while.
Others receiving votes: Mets, Phillies, D-backs, Red Sox, Braves, Padres, Orioles, Rangers