MLB Offseason 2025: Teams That Dominated and Those That Fell Short

The 2025 MLB offseason has been a whirlwind of activity, with teams making strategic moves to bolster their rosters for the upcoming season. Here’s a breakdown of the biggest winners and losers based on their offseason maneuvers.

Winners

1. Los Angeles Dodgers The Dodgers kicked off their offseason with a roster fresh off a World Series title and made significant additions to both their bullpen and rotation. Key acquisitions include Kirby Yates and Tanner Scott in the bullpen, along with Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki in the rotation. Offensively, they added Michael Conforto and Hyeseong Kim to the lineup. The Dodgers also managed to retain key players like Clayton Kershaw and Teoscar Hernandez, ensuring their core remains strong.

2. New York Mets The Mets made headlines by securing Juan Soto with the biggest contract in baseball history, significantly boosting their offensive capabilities. They also brought back Sean Manaea, Ryne Stanek, and Jesse Winker, and made strategic additions to their rotation with Frankie Montas and Clay Holmes. These moves have positioned the Mets as serious contenders for the 2025 season.

3. Detroit Tigers The Tigers have been on an upward trajectory, with their farm system producing promising talent. This offseason, they re-signed Jack Flaherty and added Gleyber Torres, Alex Cobb, and Tommy Kahnle. These moves, coupled with the development of young players like Tarik Skubal and Riley Greene, suggest that Detroit’s rebuild is progressing well.

Losers

1. San Diego Padres The Padres had a quiet offseason, making minimal additions and losing several key players to free agency. Re-signing Elias Diaz and adding Jason Heyward and Connor Joe on one-year deals were the extent of their moves. This lack of activity could hinder their performance in the upcoming season.

2. St. Louis Cardinals The Cardinals are another team that had a subdued offseason, not signing any free agents and reducing their payroll by $35 million. While they have a group of intriguing young players, the lack of significant additions may impact their competitiveness.

3. Atlanta Braves The Braves faced challenges with injuries and lost key players like A.J. Minter, Travis d'Arnaud, Max Fried, and Charlie Morton. Their only notable addition was Jurickson Profar, which may not be enough to compensate for their losses.

Conclusion

The 2025 MLB offseason has seen a mix of bold moves and cautious strategies. Teams like the Dodgers, Mets, and Tigers have made significant strides, while the Padres, Cardinals, and Braves may face challenges. As spring training begins, these offseason moves will start to play out on the field, setting the stage for an exciting 2025 MLB season.