Arizona Diamondbacks: A
The D-backs already profiled as wild-card contenders coming into the offseason, and then they went out and strengthened their hand quite significantly. Getting ace Corbin Burnes to join them in the desert even though he reportedly had higher offers on the table was a coup. The trade for Josh Naylor was a strong move to replace Christian Walker’s lost production, and bringing back lefty masher Randal Grichuk was also a sound decision.
Athletics: B-
The A’s, contrary to the recent despicable history under controlling saboteur John Fisher, have made no substantive efforts at improving on the field. That changed this offseason, even if the spending is nothing more than an effort to stave off a union grievance over Fisher’s pocketing of revenue-sharing monies. Chiefly, Luis Severino (signed as a free agent) and Jeffrey Springs (acquired via trade with the Rays) become the A’s top two starters for 2025. Bonus points for inking All-Star slugger Brent Rooker to a long-term extension. They don’t look like contenders, even in a declining AL West, but they should be better in part because of their winter.
Atlanta Braves: C
Atlanta in 2025 will contend for the NL East title and thus a deep playoff run, but that’s mostly because of the strength of the returning roster (plus the eventual returns from injury of Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider). That’s to say, it wasn’t a particularly active winter. The signing of Jurickson Profar addresses a weak spot in the lineup, and internally the Braves are bullish on his being able to maintain the gains he made last season. However, there’s real risk there given Profar’s much more ordinary career body of work. Even with Strider coming back, rotation depth is a concern. Stated another way, there’s much riding on Chris Sale’s ability to continue staying healthy in what will be his age-36 campaign.
Baltimore Orioles: C
The O’s continue to risk squandering their enviable young core of position players by not behaving like serious contenders. This winter, they most notably let ace Corbin Burnes walk. Meantime, rotation additions Charlie Morton and Tomoyuki Sugano are question marks. Morton is 41 and showed signs of decline last season. Sugano struggled to miss bats in Japan, and that raises concerns about how he’ll fare against the more powerful MLB lineups. Outfielder Tyler O’Neill is coming off a strong season, but he’s an established injury risk and a bit of an awkward fit in Baltimore. This will be a contending team, but that’s a reflection of that aforementioned young core.
Boston Red Sox: A-
The Sox are looking like real contenders in the AL East. That’s in part because of their returning talents and what may be the best farm system in all of baseball. But it’s also because of their winter improvements. Boston notably has added Alex Bregman, Walker Bueler, Aroldis Chapman, and Patrick Sandoval via free agency, and also swung a trade for frontline starter Garrett Crochet. Those targeted strikes plus the influx of premium youngsters like Roman Anthony and Kristian Campbell make the Red Sox a threat in 2025.
Chicago White Sox: B-
It is what it is? It is what it is. The Sox at last traded away Garrett Crochet, and they managed what looks like a nice return from the Red Sox. All that’s left when it comes to the deep teardown that led to last year’s record 121 losses is outfielder Luis Robert Jr.. Hanging on to Robert at least until the deadline to see if he can put together a bounce-back first half is certainly a defensible approach. That “B” mark of course doesn’t mean the organization is in “B” shape right now. It just means they had a reasonable offseason in light of their aims.
Chicago Cubs: B+
If you add a player of Kyle Tucker’s caliber, even at substantial cost in trade, then you’re going to get high marks. The Cubs, however, get dinged a bit for making the Cody Bellinger trade a straight salary dump and then failing to reinvest those savings back into what’s a contending roster. The Cubs continue to have a huge market and revenue advantage in the NL Central, but the Ricketts keep choosing not to press it nearly as much as they should be.
Cincinnati Reds: B
While adding a future Hall of Famer like Terry Francona to the dugout is laudable, the Reds haven’t done enough to advance the cause. The Jonathan India-for-Brady Singer “challenge” trade is interesting enough and may help the rotation provided Singer’s occasional home run issues don’t explode on him at GABP. Gavin Lux is also a compelling addition, but moving him off second base eats away at his overall value. Cincy will be a notable presence in the NL Central, but it should’ve done more this winter.
Cleveland Guardians: C
While bringing back Shane Bieber on such a modest contract is a win for the organization, the remainder of the Guardians’ winter might not be. They’ll miss Andrés Giménez and Josh Naylor, and there’s much risk in leaning on Carlos Santana in his age-39 season.
The Guards will need internal solutions to step up this season, but there’s no guarantee they will.
Colorado Rockies: F
The Rockies may be the worst team in MLB in 2025, heading towards a third straight 100-loss season without any real rebuilding efforts. Their offseason moves, like signing Thairo Estrada and Keston Hiura, are underwhelming.
Detroit Tigers: B
Despite missing out on Alex Bregman, the Tigers had a solid offseason with additions like Gleyber Torres, Jack Flaherty, and Alex Cobb. They made sensible moves to improve their team.
Houston Astros: D
The Astros are trying to stay competitive but losing key players like Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman hurts their chances. The Christian Walker signing may not pan out, and their declining payroll could impact their title hopes.
Kansas City Royals: B-
The Royals made a targeted trade for Jonathan India and added Carlos Estévez to bolster their bullpen. They are sticking with their roster, which is understandable given their past performance.
Los Angeles Angels: B-
The Angels made efforts to improve their team with signings like Yusei Kikuchi, Kyle Hendricks, Jorge Soler, and Yoán Moncada. While they may not be contenders, they are making strides to be more competitive.
Los Angeles Dodgers: A
The defending champions are not resting on their laurels and made significant moves to strengthen their roster with additions like Teoscar Hernández, Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki, Tanner Scott, and Kirby Yates.
Miami Marlins: F
The Marlins’ lack of serious efforts to improve their team is evident, with Cal Quantrill being their main offseason addition. The organization’s lack of investment in the roster is concerning.
Milwaukee Brewers: C
The Brewers face challenges in 2025 after losing key players like Willy Adames. Their rotation depth is a concern, and they may struggle to maintain their success in the NL Central.
Minnesota Twins: D
The Twins made modest improvements to their roster but are not investing heavily in contention. They have a tough road ahead in the AL Central.
New York Yankees: A-
Despite losing Juan Soto, the Yankees made quality additions like Max Fried, Cody Bellinger, Devin Williams, Paul Goldschmidt, and Fernado Cruz. Their offseason moves have strengthened their team for the upcoming season.
New York Mets: A
The Mets made significant improvements to their roster, but there are concerns about their rotation lacking a frontline presence. The Mets made a big splash in the free-agent market by signing Juan Soto, a top-tier player who is expected to deliver MVP-caliber seasons for years to come. Their proactive approach sets them up for a successful winter.
The Philadelphia Phillies, on the other hand, have had a quieter offseason due to their strong roster. However, adding Jesús Luzardo to their rotation and acquiring Max Kepler and Jordan Romano provide valuable depth to their team.
Unfortunately, the Pittsburgh Pirates have failed to make any significant moves, highlighting the ineffectiveness of team owner Bob Nutting. They have missed out on opportunities to improve their roster and support their promising young talent.
The San Diego Padres made a solid move by signing Nick Pivetta, but concerns remain about potential trades involving key players like Dylan Cease or Michael King. Their lack of significant additions may hinder their chances in a competitive NL wild-card race.
The San Francisco Giants have been active this offseason, strengthening their team with additions like Willy Adames and Justin Verlander. While they may not be contenders in the tough NL West, their efforts are commendable.
The Seattle Mariners have failed to capitalize on their contending position, with their roster lacking key additions. Their reluctance to invest in proven talent may hurt their chances of success in the upcoming season.
The St. Louis Cardinals’ decision to trade Nolan Arenado and not sign any major free agents reflects a lack of ambition. While they may benefit from Arenado’s return, their inactivity is disappointing.
The Tampa Bay Rays made modest but impactful moves by signing Ha-Seong Kim and Danny Jansen. These additions, along with the potential return of injured players, could boost their overall performance in the upcoming season.
The Texas Rangers have made some questionable decisions, but overall, they have improved their roster with key signings and bullpen upgrades. Their offseason moves complement their existing core players well.
The Toronto Blue Jays have been active in upgrading their roster with signings like Anthony Santander and Andrés Giménez. Their improved bullpen and rotation, including the addition of Max Scherzer, position them well for a potential playoff run.
The Washington Nationals have made underwhelming moves considering the competitiveness of the NL East. Their lack of impactful signings may hinder their chances of success in a tough division.
Overall, each team’s offseason moves will shape their performance in the upcoming season. While some have made significant improvements, others have missed opportunities to strengthen their rosters and compete at a higher level. text to improve clarity:
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