The New York Yankees have won more world championships (27) and more pennants (40) than any other team. But they have not a World Series since 2009 and their vocal fan base is growing restless – especially after the off-season poaching of superstar Juan Soto by the crosstown Mets.
After finishing second in a five-team bidding war for the free agent outfielder, the Yankees used unspent Soto money to sign star southpaw Max Fried and former MVP Paul Goldschmidt while landing another former MVP, Cody Bellinger, and another star pitcher, closer Devin Williams, in trades. Those deals almost certainly make the Yankees Beasts of the East – if not the whole American League – this season.
Here’s how the teams should finish (* indicates wild-card winners):
AL East
1. New York – The 1-2 punch of Soto and Aaron Judge helped the Yankees lead the American League in runs scored. If Bellinger finds the short right-field porch inviting and Gioncarlo Stanton stays injury-free, the Yanks might not miss a beat. In fact, the additions of Fried and Williams make the pitching staff stronger. The former got an eight-year, $218 million deal that was the largest and longest ever given a lefty. He might even pay instant dividends with a Cy Young Award, though teammate Gerrit Cole could be his chief competition. Carlos Rodon, another lefty, led last year’s Yankees in wins, while Luis Gil won 15 games and the Rookie of the Year award. Judge and Stanton have 40-homer power, but Goldschmidt could be fading at 37. A full season from Jazz Chisholm, Jr. at second or third will help.
*2. Toronto – After a last-place finish that left them 20 games behind in 2024, the once-powerful Blue Jays made a flock of moves to bolster their nest. Switch-hitting slugger Anthony Santander, who blasted 44 home runs for Baltimore, should thrive in Rogers Centre, especially when paired with MVP contender Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. and a supporting cast led by George Springer and Bo Bichette. The infield defense is better with the arrival of Andres Gimenez from Cleveland but better deals brought Jeff Hoffman, a free agent who will succeed Jordan Romano, and three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer, determined to prove life begins at 40. He’ll join a solid staff led by Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios, Chris Bassitt, and Bowden Francis.
*3. Baltimore – After losing their best hitter (Santander) and best pitcher (Corbin Burnes) to free agency, the Orioles are not the powerhouse that won the AL East in 2023 and finished three games back last year. They still have a strong and youthful infield, a blue-chip catcher, and a talented closer absent last year after elbow surgery. But shaky starting pitching could sabotage the whole deal. Spring training started with Charlie Morton, 41, signed for $15 million after rough year in Atlanta. He joins Zack Eflin, Grayson Rodriguez, Dean Kremer, and rookie Tomoyuki Sugano in Brandon Hyde’s rotation, with Felix Bautista closing behind them. At least the they’ll get provide plenty of support, especially with Oriole Park’s dimensions shortened again. Look for big years from Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Colton Cowser, Cedric Mullins, and free-agent signees Tyler O’Neill and Dylan Carlson. Some could be traded for pitching help.
4. Boston – If Boston improves on its .500 (81-81) season of 2024, pitching will probably deserve the credit. The Sox signed World Series hero Walker Buehler (one year, $21.5 million) and traded for star White Sox southpaw Garrett Crochet, coveted by numerous suitors. Brayan Bello won 24 last year and Tanner Houck had the best ERA (3.12), giving Alex Cora a fine rotation. But the Bosox need a comeback from erstwhile star closer Liam Hendricks and strong support from southpaw Aroldis Chapman, signed to replace Kenley Jansen. With hitter-friendly Fenway Park their home for half the year, the Sox are counting on consistent run production from holdovers Rafael Devers, Triston Casas, and rookie Roman Anthony plus a Trevor Story comeback.
5. Tampa Bay – The punchless Rays plunged under the .500 mark last summer, when nobody hit more than 21 homers or collected more than 65 RBI. The cost-conscious club needs comebacks from former batting champ Yandy Diaz, Brandon Lowe, and Danny Jansen plus continued manufactured runs from speed merchants Jose Caballero and Josh Lowe. At least the pitching should be potent with the return of former All-Star Shane McClanahan, back from Tommy John surgery, and further development of sidearming reliever Edwin Uceta. The Rays need more from Taj Bradley, Shane Baz, and Zach Littell; none reached double figures in wins last year. With a $90 million payroll that Roster Resource ranks 26th, the Rays have to depend upon young, less expensive and less experienced players. Their main free-agent additions were Ha-Seong Kim, Eloy Jimenez, and Jansen.
AL Central
1. Kansas City – The Royals haven’t done much since winning a surprise world championship in 2015 but this could be their year. Arguably the best team in a weak division, Kaycee enjoyed a 30-game improvement a year ago and bolstered the ballclub by acquiring Jonathan India, re-signing Michael Wacha, signing Carlos Estevez, and keeping Michael Lorenzen. Slick-fielding hortstop Bobby Witt, Jr. is an MVP contender coming off consecutive 30/30 seasons while catcher Sal Perez is also an All-Star. India will score often ahead of Witt, Perez, and Vinnie Pasquantino, while Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, and Wacha provide three solid starters, with unheralded lefty Lucas Ercey anchoring the bullpen.
2. Detroit – If the Royals don’t dethrone the Guardians as AL Central champs, the Tigers might. A wild-card playoff team in 2024, Detroit has come a long way from the ragtag outfit that posted a .397 winning percentage in 2020. Tarik Skubal won both the Triple Crown of pitching and the Cy Young Award and veteran Jack Flaherty, traded at the deadline last year, is back to provide experience. They’ll get support from Reese Olson, Casey Mize, and Alex Cobb, hopefully healthy again. Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter, Colt Keith, and comeback candidates Javy Baez and Gleyber Torres top the offense but reuniting Alex Bregman with A.J. Hinch, his former manager in Houston, might be the missing link for a club that has not won a pennant since 2012.
3. Cleveland – The Guardians had an interesting winter, breaking up the Naylor brothers and bringing back injured ace Shane Bieber, but seemed most intent on cutting payroll. A playoff team eight times in 13 years, this team might have trouble landing one of the six AL berths in post-season play. Perennial MVP candidate Jose Ramirez led last year’s team in almost everything except batting average (leadoff man Steven Kwan hit .292) and just missed a 30/30 season. He’ll get lineup help from Bo Naylor, Jhonkensy Noel, and newly-acquired Lane Thomas and Carlos Santana, in his third tour with the team. It’s a good thing Emmanuel Clase is the league’s best closer (47 saves) since there’s slim pickins after Ben Lively and Tanner Bibee until Bieber returns in midsummer.
4. Minnesota – The Central Division champs of 2023 slumped last summer, barely topping .500 (82-80) and finishing ten-and-a-half games behind – thanks to a late-season skid. Like the Guardians, the Twins keep one eye glued to their payroll, which ranks 18th at $146 million, according to Roster Resource. Minnesota may miss Max Kepler and Carlos Santana but could have multiple 20-homer men in Carlos Correa, Byron Buxton, Royce Lewis, and Ryan Jeffers. The problem is keeping them all on the field at the same time. Harrison Bader was signed as a just-in-case backup. Pablo Lopez, whose 15 wins led the team last year, leads a pitching staff that also includes Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, Chris Paddack, and hard-throwing closer Jhoan Duran, who figures to be busy again.
5. Chicago – The White Sox started 3-22 last year, then struggled mightily all season before finishing with a 15-10 September. New manager Will Venable inherits a team that lost a record 121 games but has no positions set in stone. A projected $80 million payroll (Roster Resource) could even diminish further if Venable deploys a flock of rookies earning the minimum $780,000. Andrew Benintendi’s 20 home runs led the ‘24 team, with Andrew Vaughn first in RBI (70) and hits (140). But no pitcher reached double digits in wins or saves. If he’s not traded, Luis Robert, Jr. will try to repeat his 20/20 season, while rookies Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero, and Braden Montgomery hope to crack the varsity, along with towering southpaw Noah Schultz.
AL West
1. Texas – After riding the wild card to their only world championship two years ago, the Rangers fell back to earth last summer, finishing under .500 (78-84) and 10½ games behind. But they added sluggers Jake Burger and Joc Pederson, who will fit nicely into a lineup led by sluggers Corey Seager and Marcus Semien. A comeback by Evan Carter (back surgery) will help too. Should Jacob deGrom finally deliver return on investment, the Rangers will have a powerful 1-2 rotation punch with Nathan Eovaldi, who flirted with free agency before re-upping. Texas also has two Jacobs (Webb and Latz) in the bullpen, where the departure of Kirby Yates left a huge void. Texas ranks sixth with a $222 million payroll, Roster Resource reports, and seems positioned for a big payoff in a season that may be the last for 70-year-old manager Bruce Bochy.
*2. Seattle – The only team that has never won a pennant, Seattle mostly sat on its hands during the off-season, hoping its middle-of-the-pack payroll (16th at $166 million) will at least pay off in a wild-card route to the post-season. Rookie pilot Dan Wilson inherits a potent pitching staff topped by Luis Castillo, Logan Gilbert, and George Kirby but the hitting – or lack of it – will spell the difference between October play or an early trip home. Much rests on the shoulders of Julio Rodriguez, who led the team in batting (.273) and hits (155) but wasn’t the same as he was the year before. Slugging catcher Cal Raleigh, a switch-hitter who’s also a Gold Glove defender, joins J-Rod, Mitch Garver, and Randy Arozarena in generating power.
3. Houston – A playoff team eight years in a row, the Astros are suddenly aware that they can’t afford their $218 million payroll, ranked seventh by Roster Resource. After an early exit from the 2024 post-season, the Astros traded slugger Kyle Tucker, closer Ryan Pressly, and lefty starter Yusei Kikuchi and lost Alex Bregman, Justin Verlander, and Jason Heyward to free agency. Lingering injuries to pitchers Cristian Javier, Luis Garcia, and Lance McCullers, Jr. double the pressure on Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown, and Ronel Blanco, who pitched a 2024 no-hitter. With Bregman gone, third base will be a scramble involving Issac Pardes and rookie Cam Smith.
4. Athletics – In limbo between Oakland and Las Vegas, the A’s haven’t finished on the sunny side of .500 since 2021. But they went out-of-character this winter by signing veteran free agents Luis Severino (three years at a club-record $67 million), Gio Urshela, and Jose Leclerc, then acquiring Jeffrey Springs from Tampa Bay, and extending Brent Rooker’s contract by five years and $60 million. Rooker led the team in everything but steals last year and should thrive in Sacramento’s minor-league ballpark, where the team will spend the next three seasons. Shea Langeliers, Lawrence Butler, and young Tyler Soderstrom – healed from a wrist injury – also provide punch. But there’s not enough pitching after Severino, southpaws Springs and JP Sears, and flame-throwing closer Mason Miller, a 2024 All-Star.
5. Los Angeles – Old School manager Ron Washington, at 74 the oldest man in the dugout, is great with young players and infielders. But he doesn’t have the horses to escape the AL West cellar – despite the additions of Jorge Soler, Travis d’Arnaud, Kevin Newman, and pitchers Yusei Kikuchi and Kyle Hendricks. Three-time MVP Mike Trout, bedeviled by injuries in recent seasons, must prove sound after knee surgery. Comebacks by Anthony Rendon and Luis Rengifo are also critical. Lefties Tyler Anderson, Reid Detmers, and Kikuchi lead a rotation that lacked a big winner last year. Even though closer Ben Joyce throws the league’s hardest fastball (102 mph), the Angels seem headed for their 10th straight losing season.
How they’ll finish:
Byes: Yankees, Rangers
Wild Card Series: Blue Jays over Royals; Mariners over Orioles
Division Series: Yankees over Mariners; Rangers over Blue Jays
Championship Series: Yankees over Rangers
World Series: Dodgers over Yankees
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