By Jorge Guajardo & Steve Kaplowitz 

Teams and their players have just reported to their spring training assignments. With games slated for February 20, the 2025 MLB season is practically here. 600 ESPN El Paso will break down the season predictions team by team, division by division. Starting with the vaunted AL East, which looks to be, once again, a division that remains a gauntlet for would-be contenders.  

Check out the overview of each team, including key departures and additions. Each team will feature a special analysis by Steve Kaplowitz.  

AL East 

New York Yankees 

• Outlook: After suffering a gentleman’s sweep at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers in last year’s World Series, the Yankees shifted all focus to retaining generational talent Juan Soto. Soto instead opted to sign a record-breaking deal with the cross-town rival Mets, forcing the Yankees into their contingency plans. So the Yanks added Max Fried, Devin Williams, and Cody Bellinger, strengthening their pitching staff and bolstering their offense. The Yankees also brought in Paul Goldschmidt to fill the first base gap left by Anthony Rizzo, providing reliable defense on a short-term basis. Austin Wells is poised to take on an everyday role behind the plate after a promising rookie season. While the departure of Soto stings deeply, the Bronx Bombers’ focus on improving the rotation and bullpen, particularly with Fried and Williams, has set them up as a more well-rounded contender than the previous year. With Aaron Judge leading a potent lineup, the Yankees look to defend their AL title and make another World Series push, though their success hinges on health and consistent performances across the board. 

• Key Additions: SP Max Fried, RP Devin Williams, OF Cody Bellinger, 1B Paul Goldschmidt 

• Key Departures: RF Juan Soto, LF Alex Verdugo 2B Gleyber Torres, 1B Anthony Rizzo, RP Tommy Kahnle, RP Clay Holmes 

• Challenges: The 2025 Yankees would be better served to find a more permanent solution at third base where they lack a starting MLB-caliber player. As it stands, The Bombers are looking at platooning between Oswaldo Cabrera and Oswald Peraza to go along with what’s left of DJ LeMahieu, which is hardly inspiring.  

• Guajardo’s Final win/loss prediction: 97-65 (1st place AL East) 

• Kappy’s Instant Analysis: Although Yankee fans would have loved a long-term contract with Soto, adding Fried, Williams, Bellinger, and Goldschmidt will fill more needs for them. Heatlh is key and so is the continued development of youngsters like Anthony Volpe, Jasson Dominguez, and Austin Wells.  

Baltimore Orioles 

• Outlook: The 2025 Baltimore Orioles enter the season with a slightly different look following a more cautious offseason. They made some key additions, such as outfielders Tyler O'Neill, Dylan Carlson, and Ramon Laureano, along with catcher Gary Sánchez. However, they didn’t land the high-impact players many fans had hoped for. These additions should help strengthen an already potent lineup that features Gunnar Henderson. The O’s, however, were unable to secure an ace to replace the departure of Corbin Burnes, who left for Arizona this offseason. They also saw Anthony Santander leave, taking with him the team’s second-best OPS. Despite these changes, the biggest storyline remains the development of young pitcher Grayson Rodriguez. If he can step into an ace role, it would solve many of the Orioles’ pitching issues and could even address the vacancy left by Burns. The question remains whether the Orioles can get all that farm-system talent into wins and success in the postseason. 

• Key Additions: OF Tyler O’Neill, OF Dylan Carlson, OF Ramon Laureano, C Gary Sanchez 

• Key Departures: SP Corbin Burns, RF Anthony Santander, RP Danny Coulombe, DH Eloy Jimenez, OF Austin Slater, SP John Means, C James McCann 

• Challenges: The Orioles, in the second half of last season, struggled in every phase of the game. They saw their AL East lead vanish, and once the Yankees caught them, they never recovered. Having the staying power to finish the season, at the very least better than last year, would go a long way, but that will be difficult without a bona fide ace like Burns.  

• Guajardo’s Final win/loss prediction: 87-75 (2nd place AL East) 

• Kappy’s Instant Analysis: losing Burnes will hurt, especially since the O’s did not add an impact starting pitcher. They will try to squeeze every ounce out of veteran righty Charlie Morton and longtime Japanese starter Tomoyuki Sugano. Even if they do, it will be tough to catch the Yankees. 

Toronto Blue Jays 

• Outlook: The Toronto Blue Jays should be primed to contend in 2025 with an offensive lineup that remains one of the most potent in baseball, headlined by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette. The additions of Anthony Santander, fresh off a 44-homer season, and elite defenders Andrés Giménez and Myles Straw strengthen the team both offensively and defensively. Max Scherzer joins the rotation as a low-risk, high-upside signing, while the bullpen sees key upgrades with Jeff Hoffman, Yimi Garcia, and Nick Sandlin. Despite the departures of bullpen contributors like Jordan Romano and Dillon Tate, Toronto has fortified its pitching staff, giving them a solid foundation to make a push for the postseason.  

• Key Additions: OF Anthony Santander, 2B Andres Gimenez, OF Myles Straw, SP Max Scherzer, RP Jeff Hoffman, RP Yimi Garcia, RP Nick Sandlin 

• Key Departures: RP Jordan Romano, RP Dillon Tate, 1B Spencer Horowitz, SP Ryan Yarbrough, RP Genesis Cabrera 

• Challenges: As is the case nearly every year with Toronto, the key challenge remains sustaining consistent pitching, particularly from the rotation, while maintaining the offenses’ explosive power throughout the year and not falling into deep lulls. 

• Guajardo’s Final win/loss prediction: 85-77 (3rd place AL East)  

• Kappy’s Instant Analysis: Santander should bolster the outfield, but don’t expect the 40-year-old Scherzer to have much left in his tank. Bichette is a good bet for a bounceback season and starting pitcher Bowden Francis could continue his breakout from the second half of 2024. The Jays are interesting and they could easily be a Wild Card team. 

Boston Red Sox 

• Outlook: The 2025 Boston Red Sox are entering the season with a revamped pitching staff, but questions remain about their offense. The Sox made several moves to elevate their rotation, acquiring Garrett Crochet, who could develop into an ace, and Walker Buehler, hoping his October success carries over. The club also brought in Lucas Giolito, who will make his debut after missing 2024 due to injury, and Patrick Sandoval, who could join the rotation midseason after recovering from elbow surgery. The bullpen is now anchored by Aroldis Chapman and features lefties Justin Wilson and Jovani Morán. The Sox also brought in former Yankee Carlos Narváez and Blake Sabol; they will battle for the backup catcher spot. However, the Red Sox saw some notable departures, including James Paxton and Nick Pivetta from the rotation and Chris Martin, Luis Garcia, Lucas Sims, and Cam Booser from the bullpen. O’Neill's departure is likely the worst of them all, and not only is a hit to the outfield but also at the plate. Danny Jansen moving to Tampa Bay also leaves a gap behind on offense.  Offensively, the Red Sox finally addressed their lineup with the late off-season addition of Alex Bregman. Third baseman Rafael Devers remains one of the best hitters in the league and Cora and the Red Sox have made a habit of over-achieving over the years. At the very least, this will be a pesky team. 

• Key Additions: 3B Alex Bregman, SP Garrett Crochet, SP Walker Buehler, RP Aroldis Chapman, RP Justin Wilson, RP Jovani Moran, C Carlos Narvaez, C Blake Sabol 

• Key Departures: SP James Paxton, SP Nick Pivetta, RP Chris Martin, RP Luis Garcia, RP Lucas Sims, RP Cam Booser, OF Tyler O’Neill, C Danny Jansen.  

• Challenges: There are some “what-ifs” right now to see this team going where it wants to go this year. On paper, the rotation and pen seem to have been upgraded, but much depends on health and bounce-back years from pitchers coming back from injuries. Along with that, the bullpen now features 36-year-old Chapman, who posted a 3.79 ERA in 68 games with Pittsburgh last season.  

• Guajardo’s Final win/loss prediction: 83-79 (4th place AL East) 

• Kappy’s Instant Analysis: The Bo Sox bolstered their pitching staff in a big way with Crochet and if Buehler can recapture his late season form, the Red Sox will be dangerous. Bregman at second base will be interesting, since he only played the hot corner in Houston. If everything breaks right, Boston should win closer to 90 games. 

Tampa Bay Rays 

• Outlook: The Rays were one of the worst teams offensively last season, ranking just ahead of the White Sox in runs scored. The addition of Ha-Seong Kim at shortstop—who is expected to return to full health by May—offers a much-needed boost in the infield. His defensive prowess and ability to contribute with the bat could help stabilize a position that saw a revolving door of replacements last year after Wander Franco’s absence. Meanwhile, the acquisition of catcher Jansen should help both defensively and offensively, providing a stronger presence behind the plate with some pop in the bat. Ultimately, the Rays will once again depend on their pitching and the return of ace Shane McClanahan’s return from Tommy John surgery. If both sides click, they could contend for a wild card spot or even challenge for the AL East. Opting for Jonny DeLuca over Jose Siri, who was traded to the Mets, might be a step in the right direction, as DeLuca brings more offensive upside to the outfield, improving the Rays' run production potential.  

• Key Additions: INF Ha-Seong Kim, C Danny Jansen, RP Alex Faedo, SP Joe Boyle, RP Brandon Eisert 

• Key Departures: CF Jose Siri, SP Jeffrey Springs, RP Colin Poche, RP Tyler Alexander, RP Richard Lovelady 

• Challenges: Much like Boston, Tampa Bay is counting on bounce-back years from several players this season, particularly their pitching staff. Can McClanahan come back and hit his stride as an ace? Or, will the recovery from Tomm John surgery take longer than expected? If McClanahan doesn’t bounce back, it’s hard to see the Rays as contenders in a deep and competitive division.  

• Guajardo’s Final win/loss prediction: 71-91 (5th place AL East) 

• Kappy’s Instant Analysis: This is a very young baseball team. On paper, the Rays look like a club that will need a few years to develop, but how many times have we said that in the past and Tampa exceeds expectations?