With the 2024 MLB season behind us and the offseason in full swing, it’s time to look forward to the upcoming season. 

With many of the league’s top free agents either re-signing or changing teams, the main pieces of every roster are close to being set. 

1. Los Angeles Dodgers 

    It’s no surprise that the defending World Series champs are at the top of the power rankings. What is surprising is that they became a better team and look scarier than ever. With the signings of Japanese sensation Roki Sasaki, former Cy Young award winner Blake Snell, former all-star reliever Tanner Scott, Korean infielder Hyeseong Kim and re-signing Teoscar Hernandez, the Dodgers boast an impressive roster.

With the return of Shohei Ohtani from Tommy John surgery to headline the rotation, the starters on the Dodgers are unreal, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow to round out the rotation. All these offseason moves, along with that rotation, on top of a roster that already consists of two other former MVPs, Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts, plus multiple other all-stars, make the Dodgers the favorites to win the 2025 World Series. With no significant losses of players and several additions of all-star caliber players, there is no reason why the Dodgers should not be the team to beat this upcoming season.

2. New York Yankees 

The World Series runner-ups are behind the team to take them out of the playoffs last year. Even with the departures of Juan Soto and Gleyber Torres, the ‘Bronx Bombers’ still had a very productive offseason, considering the losses of the Dominican slugger and the Venezuelan infielder.

The Yankees made moves for two former MVPs by trading for Cody Bellinger, signing Paul Goldschmidt and former all-star pitcher Max Fried and trading for Devin Williams. These players join a supporting cast of former MVPs Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, plus multiple other all-stars and one of the better baseball bullpens. With one of the most complete rosters in the MLB, the Yankees are poised to become a real threat to bring championship number 28 to New York. 

3. New York Mets 

     The Yankees’ subway rival lands in the third spot after having a monster offseason and stealing from their in-state rival. With the Pete Alonso situation still unresolved, the headliner for the Mets this offseason was giving Juan Soto the largest contract in professional sports history, a $765 million contract for 15 years. They also stole two-time all-star closing pitcher Clay Holmes from the Yankees.

With the resigning of key pieces from last year’s postseason, including Sean Manaea and Jesse Winker. Mark Vientos and Fransico Alvarez are some young guys that could make a jump this year, we already saw that potential with Vientos this past postseason where he batted .378 with three home runs in nine games played. Along with the MVP caliber and Gold Glove shortstop Francisco Lindor, the Mets have a deep and complete roster that can compete with the best of them. 

4. Philadelphia Phillies 

    The offseason for the Phillies was relatively quiet for their standards, but even with that, they still have a great roster with multiple stars. Their move of this offseason with trading for the Marlins’ starting pitcher Jesus Luzardo to bolster a rotation that already includes two perennial threats for the Cy Young in Zach Wheeler and Aaron Nola. With a lineup featuring the former two-time MVP Bryce Harper along with former all-stars such as J.T. Realmuto, Trea Turner, Alec Bolm and Kyle Schwarber, the Phillies have the most star-studded team in the MLB (behind the Dodgers).

Even with this roster, the Phillies seem to fall short of winning the World Series in recent years for one reason or another. This year, with possibly 5 or 6 attendees to the all-star game, this roster is complete with one of the better pitching staffs in all of baseball. The Phillies’ fans can expect a deep run in October. 

5. Atlanta Braves

  The Braves find themselves sneaking into the top 5 with the return of their stars from injury. Their star starting pitcher, Spencer Strider, is set to return and be ready by the time spring training comes next month. As for their former MVP, Ronald Acuna Jr, he is still recovering from a torn ACL on May 26 of last year and will most likely miss the first month of the regular season.

Even with only one significant move this offseason, the signing of all-star outfielder Jurickson Profar, the Braves still have a roster loaded with talent and all-stars such as Matt Olsen, Marcell Ozuna and Austin Riley. In the rotation, the Braves feature reigning Cy Young and triple crown pitcher Chris Sale. Although Acuna Jr’s knee issues persist, he and the Braves are poised to bounce back from an injury-plagued, overall disappointing season. If the Braves can stay healthy, they should be ready for another deep playoff run in 2025.