BY: AIDAN SHINNERS; STAFF WRITER
Photo Courtesy @MLB on X
With the first weekend of the 2025 Major League Baseball season in the books, baseball fans are starting to see the fallout of this past offseason filled with many franchise-altering moves. Some of these moves have improved rosters, while others may not look as good in hindsight.
The biggest move over the offseason was Juan Soto leaving the New York Yankees to join their crosstown rival, the Mets. The Mets signed Soto to a 15-year, $765 million deal. On paper, this greatly improved the Mets roster, acquiring an MVP candidate at the plate to hit alongside Pete Alonso.
Despite losing a 40 home run hitter in Soto, the Yankees started their 2025 campaign on fire, with solid performances from their new talent. Devin Williams recorded his first save in pinstripes, and Cody Bellinger along with Paul Goldschmidt each tallied a home run. The Yankees offense tied an MLB record for the most home runs hit in the first three games of a season with 15, four of which came off the bat of reigning MVP Aaron Judge, completing an opening weekend sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers.
The loss of Juan Soto bolstered the Mets’ already strong lineup, also allowing for the Yankees to build a more balanced team. The Yankees used his payroll to add multiple pitchers and bats to its roster, making the deal seem like a win-win for both teams.
Another notable move last offseason was the Boston Red Sox bringing in Cy Young favorite Garrett Crochet as well as all-star third baseman Alex Bregman. These moves added even more talent around Rafael Devers and should have put the Red Sox in the driver’s seat of the AL East. Early struggles from Devers and others have prevented the Red Sox from reaching their true potential early on.
Despite making a few improvements to its roster, the Chicago Cubs struggled in the Tokyo Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Cubs brought in two Astros standouts in outfielder Kyle Tucker and closing pitcher Ryan Pressley. The Cubs dropped both games against the Dodgers in the Tokyo Dome but bounced back, splitting a four-game opening weekend series against the Diamondbacks. Ryan Pressley escaped trouble to record his first save as a Cub, and Kyle Tucker notched multiple home runs. Chicago is still considered the favorite to win a weak NL Central.
Offseason moves seem to have shaped this season’s playoff picture. A few notable World Series favorites that didn’t make major offseason moves were the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers, who still found ways to upgrade. LA was able to retain most of its starting lineup and added a few pieces to the bullpen. Philadelphia got better defensively, adding outfielder Max Kepler and replacing a few losses to its bullpen.
With a young 162-game season just beginning, many factors can still influence the road to the World Series. The last off-season was one of the most impactful when it comes to building so many contenders, making this year’s playoff race one of the most open it has ever been.
