Step Up to the Plate: 2025 Ball Game Jamboree!
Four Previous Non-Qualifiers from the 2024 MLB Season to Keep an Eye on during the 2025 Campaign
Get ready for the upcoming Major League Baseball season! Only a week away, except for the Dodgers/Cubs series in Japan, which kicked things off early. Time to dive into some teams that are worth keeping tabs on, regardless of whether they made the playoffs last year or not.
You never know, they might be gearing up for a major leap or stumbling towards a messy season.
Our annual teams to watch list isn't a prediction, it's just a rundown of intriguing squads that could make for some exciting viewing. Two of last year's selections, the New York Yankees and the San Diego Padres, made it to the playoffs, while the Seattle Mariners and Chicago Cubs just missed the cut with winning records. So who's on this year's list? Take a look!
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Oakland A's (+22,000 to win the World Series, +650 to make the playoffs)
The A's have been disappointing on the field over the past three years, and the situation off the field wasn't much better. For years, the team's owner has been keen to move away from Oakland and has been reluctant to invest in the team or the stadium. And so, 2024 marked the final year for the A's in Oakland as they bid adieu to their hometown and prepare for the bright lights of Las Vegas, the rising star of sports cities.
But until they move, they'll call Sacramento home, where their stadium is being built on the Las Vegas Strip. Playing in a tiny minor league stadium while enduring the blistering California heat? That's part of the intrigue!
On the field, the A's have a promising young hitting core consisting of JJ Bleday, Lawrence Butler, Nick Kurtz, Shea Langeliers, and Jacob Wilson, with seasoned All-Star Brent Rooker leading the charge at age 30. If Zack Gelof can bounce back from his struggles at the plate last year, this lineup could really heat up.
As for the pitching, the rotation looks solid, and they have All-Star pitcher Mason Miller closing things out.
Boston Red Sox (+1,800, -144)
The Red Sox have enjoyed a successful run through most of this century, claiming four World Series titles since 2004. However, they've hit a rough patch lately, making the playoffs just once in the last six years and posting losing records over the past three.
But in 2024, they finished .500, which means there's still hope, and they made some major moves in the offseason. They snagged a top-tier pitcher for their rotation in Garrett Crochet, added Walker Buehler, and even signed Aroldis Chapman for the bullpen.
The Red Sox' batting order can put up big numbers and added Alex Bregman, providing some much-needed right-handed power. With a deep farm system and a strong lineup, they'll be ready to shake off any injury-related struggles.
Arizona Diamondbacks (+3,300, -115)
The Diamondbacks made a surprising run to the World Series in 2023 but narrowly missed out on the playoffs in 2024, tying the same record as playoff participants New York Mets and Atlanta Braves. Despite the disappointment, this was one of the best-hitting teams in the league last year, thanks in large part to Corbin Carroll, who suffered a significant drop in performance after his breakout 2023 season.
They've made a couple of adjustments to the lineup, which might dilute it somewhat, but a healthy Corbin Carroll could ignite the scoreboard once again. The pitching staff also looks strong, with the addition of former Cy Young award winner Corbin Burnes boosting their credibility.
ESPN's Jeff Passan has dubbed the Diamondbacks "Dodgers Lite." The NL West is one of the toughest divisions in baseball, so keep an eye on the fights between the Diamondbacks, the Dodgers, the San Diego Padres, and even the San Francisco Giants.
Tampa Bay Rays (+4,500, +180)
The Rays are known for their budget-friendly approach to building a successful team, but their fortunes took a dip last year, as they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2018 and posted their first losing record since 2017.
The team is also dealing with a series of challenges beyond the field. Hurricane Milton damaged Tropicana Field, forcing the Rays to play at Steinbrenner Field, the Yankees' spring training facility. The stadium's roof is expected to be repaired by next season.
Also, the damage and delays caused the team to abandon plans for a new stadium, casting uncertainty over their future in Tampa-St. Pete.
On the positive side, a move to an outdoor stadium should help the bats, which were among the weakest in the league last year. However, their improved offense will come at the cost of an underperforming pitching staff, which was hammered by injuries last season. Veterans like Drew Rasmussen and Shane McClanahan will be crucial if the Rays hope to keep pace with the red-hot AL East division.
- The Oakland A's, with odds of +22,000 to win the World Series and +650 to make the playoffs, are trending as an intriguing squad to watch, despite their disappointing performance over the last three years.
- In the thick of things in the AL East, the Tampa Bay Rays, with odds of +4,500 to win the World Series and +180 to make the playoffs, are ready to bounce back from their first losing season since 2017.
- The Arizona Diamondbacks, who made a surprising run to the World Series in 2023 and narrowly missed the playoffs in 2024, are being dubbed "Dodgers Lite" by ESPN's Jeff Passan, and they have odds of +3,300 to win the World Series and -115 to make the playoffs.
- The Boston Red Sox, champions four times since 2004, have struggled in recent years but are gearing up for a major leap, with possibilities of winning the World Series with odds of +1,800 and having a winning record with odds of -144.
