2025 Vendetta MLB Preseason Power Rankings

2025 Vendetta MLB Preseason Power Rankings

The 2025 MLB Season has officially arrived! We are less than 24 hours from first pitch to begin the new 162-game campaign! Let’s dive into our preseason power rankings, shall we?!?

30. Chicago White Sox

The White Sox had a historically bad season last year, winning just 41 games. They traded Garrett Crochet in the offseason for a package headlined by Kyle Teel and Braden Montgomery, which isn’t bad on paper. I’m still slightly confused by Colson Montgomery getting demoted, even though he dealt with a back injury during spring. At this point, that’s neither here nor there. I don’t expect the White Sox to improve all that much from last place–if at all–either.

29. Colorado Rockies

The Rockies did, well, Rockies things over the weekend, acquiring Tyler Freeman for Nolan Jones. What’s the point? Sure, Jones did not have a great 2024 season. But he offers way more upside than the 25-year-old outfielder, respectfully. OK, enough about the Rockies’ asset (mis)management. This team is still bad and will be last in the NL West … again.

28. Miami Marlins

At least the Marlins are getting back a healthy Sandy Alcantara. The 2022 NL Cy Young missed all of last season due to Tommy John Surgery. He looked excellent in spring and doesn’t appear to be on an innings limit this season–assuming he’s dealt at the trade deadline.

27. Oakland Athletics

The Athletics are one of two teams playing in a new ballpark this season. Sacramento’s park is far more hitter-friendly than the Coliseum, which should bode well for Lawrence Butler, Brent Rooker and Shai Langeliers, among others. They actually spent money (hello, Luis Severino!) this offseason, but I still wish they would’ve stayed in Oakland.

26. Los Angeles Angels

Mike Trout’s last fully healthy season was in 2019. He’s due, right?!? He’s shown he can still be one of the most productive players in the game when he’s on the field, but that hasn’t happened as much as anyone would’ve liked over the last five seasons. The Angels made a lot of moves this offseason, adding Yoan Moncada, Travis d’Arnaud, Tim Anderson, Yusei Kikuchi and Ian Anderson, among others. Will that amount to much? Probably not, but we’ll see!

25. Washington Nationals

I love the Nationals’ crop of young players in CJ Abrams, Dylan Crews and James Wood. I also love their move to acquire first baseman Nathaniel Lowe from Texas, which kind of flew under-the-radar. This team can easily skyrocket into the top-20–or perhaps higher–but I have them at No. 25 for now. Is that fair? 

24. St. Louis Cardinals

Most of the Cardinals’ offseason was spent trying to find a new home for aging infielder Nolan Arenado, which they were not able to accomplish. Flying under the radar is that Willson Contreras will be the team’s new full-time first baseman, which could help him out a lot, with Ivan Herrera taking over as the full-time catcher. I’m not sure what to make of Sonny Gray’s (very) poor spring training yet, but I’m holding out some hope that their pitching isn’t a complete disaster. That won’t change how I feel about this team in the short-term, however. 

23. Pittsburgh Pirates

You can argue that Paul Skenes is the best pitcher in baseball. He had a historically great rookie season, being the only pitcher in the live-ball ERA to have a sub-2.00 ERA in at least 20 starts as a rookie. Him adding to his repertoire is even more terrifying. Though it’s very unfortunate that Jared Jones will miss the first couple months with an elbow injury with newly-acquired Spencer Horwitz also down with a wrist injury. I still think they need more pop in their lineup outside of Oneil Cruz, Bryan Reynolds and Joey Bart, which they failed to address this offseason.

Paul Skenes Is Adding More Pitches To His Repertoire

22. Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays are in a difficult position and will have Vladimir Guerrero’s looming free agency hanging over their head all season. Anthony Santander isn’t a bad plug-and-play in the middle of their order and I think Alejandro Kirk is set for a bounce-back season, but I’m not very high on their lineup outside of Guerrero plus a (healthy) Bo Bichette. Adding Jeff Hoffman was wise, but there are still plenty of questions I have about this pitching staff overall. 

21. Cleveland Guardians

While the Guardians rightfully came just a few games away from winning the pennant, a lot will have to go their way outside of Jose Ramirez in order to replicate what they did last year. I love how they got Nolan Jones back (silly Rockies) and I’m quite high on their rotation’s potential if Gavin Williams parlays his awesome spring into a breakout season. But you still have to ask a lot from Steven Kwan, Carlos Santana (who’s 39), Jhonkensy Noel and others after letting Josh Naylor walk and trading away Andres Gimenez. I’m weary regression will arrive, but never say never!

Former MLB GM predicts Vladimir Guerrero Jr. lands with Yankees

20. San Francisco Giants

I was high on the Giants heading into last season and it kind of bit me. That’s not why they’re No. 20, but I need to see it before I believe it. They’ve been mediocre in each of the last three seasons. While they did add Willy Adames, Justin Verlander (who’s 42) and Lou Trivino, give me a good first couple of months before I completely buy in. They have a decent ceiling, but currently have a meh floor.

19. Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays are another team playing in a new ballpark this season, which could both help and hurt them. As long as Brandon Lowe and Josh Lowe stay healthy, they can feast. But they do have multiple fly-ball pitchers in Ryan Pepiot, Taj Bradley and Shane Baz, which could hurt them. They will always find a way to be feisty, but I had a hard time placing them above some of these other clubs–especially without Shane McClanahan to start the season.

18. Chicago Cubs

The Cubs were one of MLB’s busiest teams this offseason, acquiring Kyle Tucker along with Ryan Pressly, Justin Turner and Matthew Boyd, among others. Obviously, Tucker, one of the best outfielders in the game when healthy, is the big fish. He’s essentially their Cody Bellinger replacement with Pete Crow-Armstrong expected to get everyday run in CF and Seiya Suzuki to be their full-time DH. I still have reservations about their bullpen and the rest of their offense, but I think them being around the middle-of-the-pack is justifiable, given the circumstances.

17. Minnesota Twins

As an outside observer, all I ask for is fully-healthy seasons from Royce Lewis, Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa. I like this rotation–I think Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober are a sneaky strong 1-2-3 punch–and I think this is one of the best bullpens in the AL; Griffin Jax is a stud and I think there’s something there with Cole Sands. I don’t have Minnesota winning the division in part because I don’t know what I’m getting from their three big bats. But if they can stay healthy, this could be a team that flirts with 90 wins.

16. Cincinnati Reds

I am higher on the Reds than most are (I think?) heading into the 2025 season–the Terry Francona effect! The one thing holding me back is their closer situation. Alexis Diaz was awful last year and had an even worse spring; it looks like they’re going to go by committee with a handful of options. I am excited to see what a full season of Matt McLain looks like and I think Hunter Greene has ace potential if he keeps developing his repertoire–even if some of the underlying peripherals expect some regression.

15. Milwaukee Brewers

Despite trading away Corbin Burnes ahead of last season, the Brewers ran away with the NL Central. I don’t think that will be as clear-cut this year, but they will be getting both Brandon Woodruff and Christian Yelich back from major injuries early in the season. If Jackson Chourio, who got off to a slow start last year, and William Contreras build on their 2024 seasons, this should be a team that competes for another division title. Though I have them at No. 15 because the sum of the rest of their parts don’t excite me all that much yet.

14. Seattle Mariners

Maybe I’m being too brash, but the Mariners are perfectly “mid” to me. So them clocking in at No. 14 is reasonable to me. They do have a lethal rotation in arguably the most pitcher-friendly ballpark in baseball. I still have so many questions about this team’s offense, but some of those will be alleviated if Julio Rodriguez hits like he did over the final 2.5 months of 2024.

Justin Turner calls out Mariners brass for not adding bats

13. Kansas City Royals

The Royals were one of MLB’s biggest breakout stories last year–led by Bobby Witt Jr., who would’ve been a surefire MVP in practically every other recent season. He’s one of the best players in MLB, and I think he can help lead this team to a division title in a wide-open AL Central. The offense will need to be better around him and the pitching staff–led by Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha–will need to be as good as it was last year, which is a big ask.

12. Arizona Diamondbacks

The Diamondbacks had sneakily one of the best offenses in the game despite Corbin Carroll having a down first half of the season. While he’s nowhere near the defender that Christian Walker was, Josh Naylor is a fine replacement. Losing Joc Pederson may sting more than expected, but if NL MVP finalist Ketel Marte, Eugenio Suarez and Pavin Smith can come anywhere close to the seasons they had last year, this offense should still be in a decent spot with a solid rotation. 

11. Baltimore Orioles

I had trouble pinning the Orioles. On one hand, I am high on breakouts for Jordan Westburg and, potentially, Jackson Holliday. There’s more room for star catcher Adley Rutchman to grow, even though he’s already one of the best in the game at his position. On the other hand, I have so many questions about this pitching staff, specifically the rotation. Without Grayson Rodriguez (injury) and Corbin Burnes (Arizona), trusting Zach Eflin, Charlie Morton (41-years-old) and Dean Kremer to be the top-3 for the time being is a lot to ask. Felix Bautista is back, which rules, but they need to find a way to get there with a lead without Gunnar Henderson (for now). 

The Orioles Are Running Out Of Time To Extend Gunnar Henderson

10. Detroit Tigers

The Tigers are my pick to win the wide-open AL Central. I’m buying in on Jackson Jobe, a bounce-back season from Spencer Torkelson plus continued success from Kerry Carpenter, Riley Greene, Jack Flaherty (he’s back!) and unanimous AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal. I also like taking a flier on Gleyber Torres. This could be a solid team if they put the pieces together, similar to the end of 2024.

9. New York Yankees

The Yankees have already suffered a slew of injuries and the season hasn’t started yet. They’ll be without ace Gerrit Cole for the season due to TJ while also being without reigning AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil, who will miss most of the season with a lat strain. Giancarlo Stanton injured both of his elbows, which is never a good sign. A lot of this season will depend on the potential breakouts of Jasson Dominguez and Will Warren, among others; those two, plus Cody Bellinger, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Anthony Volpe and Carlos Rodon, are suddenly very important to this team.

8. Houston Astros

While they traded away Kyle Tucker, I have a sneaky suspicion that the Astros won’t be going away just yet. There’s arguably no ballpark in baseball that’s tailored more to Isaac Paredes’ swing than Daikin Park. When healthy, Yordan Alvarez and Christian Walker add a ton of pop to the middle of that lineup, while a rotation of Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown, Ronel Blanco and Spencer Arrigheti is quite strong. I’m fascinated to see how Cam Smith adjusts, but if his spring indicates anything, he could be a Rookie of the Year candidate.

Astros top prospect Cam Smith will make 2025 MLB Opening Day roster

7. Texas Rangers

The Rangers have a wide range of outcomes this season. Their lineup is very strong with a ton of power and their rotation has a high ceiling pending breakouts from both Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker. A healthy Jacob deGrom for a minimum of 20 starts could go a long way, too. The offense is too good for me to leave them out of the top-10, even though I do see a world where they struggle if the pitching doesn’t figure itself out. 

6. San Diego Padres

The Dodgers may have stolen all the headlines this offseason–and rightfully so–but the Padres are still a wagon. The bottom-third of their lineup still does have questions. However, their top-six is as good as any in baseball while their rotation and bullpen is loaded–even without Tanner Scott and some of the injuries they’ve endured. I like their chances to compete in the NL.

5. Boston Red Sox

It surprised Jiarmani when I said this on our AL East preview but I think Boston’s the clear favorite to make it out of the division. No team in baseball has a better crop of young talent than they do; I have high hopes for Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell (despite a poor spring) and Marcelo Mayer long-term. Alex Bregman was a huge addition and Garrett Crochet is a top-5 arm in the sport, even though I’m curious to see how he adjusts to a full season when his innings aren’t intentionally being limited post-July. This team is very good.

Will Alex Bregman Continue To Mash At Fenway Park?

4. Atlanta Braves

No matter how many injuries they may or may not have, I can’t quit the Braves. I’m very high on the potential breakout for Spencer Schwellenbach, who dominated spring after posting a very good 2024 season, albeit making only 21 starts (123.2 IP). I do have questions, however, about the pending regression for aging arm Reynaldo Lopez plus if Chris Sale can produce anything close to his Cy Young production from last season. 

3. New York Mets

The Mets added Juan Soto, a generational talent, to Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso and Mark Vientos. That’s all you need to hear from me. They also came two games away from winning the National League. They’re one of the best teams in the National League at this current time, though the bottom of their lineup plus the rotation does raise some question marks. 

2. Philadelphia Phillies

I still think the Phillies are the clear favorite to challenge the Dodgers for the NL crown. Essentially swapping out Hoffman for Jordan Romano is questionable, but I think this is the most well-rounded team in MLB outside of Los Angeles. You’d be hard-pressed to find a very glaring flaw.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers are the reigning World Series champs and added Blake Snell, Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates and Roki Sasaki, among several others. It’s silly how loaded this roster is, but let’s see if they can repeat their success. World Series aren’t won in the winter. 

Rockies owner Dick Monfort believes MLB should implement salary cap

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