There is no such thing as a scarcity of MLB storylines in New York.
Juan Soto is a Met, bringing with him sky-high expectations. The Yankees search to return to the World Collection with out him, having constructed a balanced roster that’s already been ambushed by accidents.
However there may be loads of intrigue past Queens and the Bronx, too.
The deep-pocketed Dodgers are baseball’s latest supervillains. The Nationwide League is loaded. The American League is huge open.
All of it ramps up Thursday, when most groups will rejoice Opening Day.
Listed here are the largest MLB storylines for 2025:
Dodgers Dominance
Renewed discourse about whether or not MLB wants a wage cap erupted this offseason after the Dodgers’ newest spending spree, which boosted the defending World Collection champions’ competitive-balance-tax payroll to a file $401.3 million, in line with Cot’s Contracts.
However now the main target shifts to what all of that cash seems like on the sector.
Additions together with Blake Snell, Tanner Scott and Roki Sasaki bolstered a star-powered roster already headlined by Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Clayton Kershaw re-signed, too, retaining the Dodgers’ foursome of former MVPs — Ohtani, Betts and Freeman are the others — intact.
Some suppose that is essentially the most proficient roster in MLB historical past, fueling questions on whether or not Los Angeles will problem for the single-season file of 116 wins set by the Mariners in 2001.
The Dodgers are already 2-0, having swept the Cubs within the season-opening Tokyo Collection.
Shohei Sequel
Ohtani’s debut season with the Dodgers went about in addition to attainable. He grew to become the primary MLB participant to file 50 house runs and 50 stolen bases in the identical yr; received NL MVP; and earned his first World Collection ring.
However the Dodgers nonetheless haven’t seen all the pieces Ohtani can do.
That’s as a result of the two-way sensation didn’t pitch final yr as he recovered from 2023 elbow surgical procedure.
Ohtani’s long-awaited return to an MLB mound is on observe to occur in Could.
The flame-throwing right-hander boasts a 3.01 ERA and 608 strikeouts in 481.2 innings.
Ks for Kershaw
One of the best probability at attaining a serious profession milestone this season belongs to Kershaw, who is simply 32 strikeouts away from 3,000.
Kershaw would grow to be the twentieth pitcher to hitch the three,000 strikeout membership, and solely the fourth left-hander.
Now in his 18th season, Kershaw is about to start the yr on the 60-day injured checklist after present process foot and knee surgical procedures in November.
He’s aiming for a June return, which would supply ample time to file the requisite strikeouts.
One other participant approaching a big milestone is Mike Trout, who’s 22 house runs away from 400. Accidents have prevented the Angels star from reaching 22 house runs in three of the final 4 seasons.
Paul Skenes, pictured at Yankee Stadium in September, is gearing up for an enormous sophomore season.Sophomore Skenes
Exterior of Ohtani, maybe no participant is extra electrifying than the fire-balling Paul Skenes.
After making his MLB debut in Could, the Pirates phenom pitched to a 1.96 ERA and 170 strikeouts in 133 innings. He received NL Rookie of the 12 months and completed third in NL Cy Younger Award voting.
His fastball averaged 98.8 mph.
Simply think about the numbers Skenes can put up in a full season.
Barring damage, we’ll discover out this yr, beginning on Thursday when the 22-year-old Skenes is about to grow to be baseball’s youngest Opening Day starter in over a decade.
Vlad Imaginative and prescient
In his stroll yr in 2022, Aaron Decide set an AL single-season file with 62 house runs, resulting in a nine-year, $360 million contract with the Yankees.
Final season, Soto parlayed his 41-homer, .989 OPS manufacturing into an unprecedented 15-year, $765 million take care of the Mets.
All eyes now flip to Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who’s baseball’s hottest impending free agent after he failed to achieve a contract extension with the Blue Jays.
Guerrero, a Canadian citizen, instructed ESPN he requested Toronto this offseason for lower than $600 million over 15 years.
If the 26-year-old replicates final season, when he recorded 30 house runs and 199 hits, he should not have any hassle cashing in on the open market subsequent winter.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is primed for an enormous payday. (Picture by Mark Taylor/Getty Pictures)Braves Bounceback
The Braves received six consecutive NL East titles from 2018-23 — and greater than 100 video games within the closing two of these years — earlier than accidents decimated them final season.
They nonetheless snuck into the playoffs as an 89-win wild card staff, however they enter this season desperate to re-stake their declare because the NL’s dominant membership.
Proper-handed ace Spencer Strider hopes to be again from elbow surgical procedure by late April, whereas 2023 NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. goals to return from knee surgical procedure by Could.
The well being of these superstars would go a great distance in turning the NL East right into a three-team race with the Mets and Phillies.
Open AL
Whereas the aforementioned Braves, Mets and Phillies populate a really deep NL that additionally contains the Dodgers, Padres and new-look Cubs, the AL seems to be extra there for the taking.
The Orioles misplaced Corbin Burnes and Anthony Santander within the offseason, whereas the Astros successfully changed Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman with Isaac Paredes and Christian Walker.
The retooled Crimson Sox are a staff to observe, as are the Rangers, who received the World Collection in 2023 earlier than lacking the playoffs final yr.
The Yankees stay the favorites, however Gerrit Cole’s season-ending elbow surgical procedure and Giancarlo Stanton’s unsure timeline to return from tennis elbow in each arms have sophisticated their case.
Sox Saga
The Crimson Sox lastly flexed their monetary muscle tissues this offseason once they gave Bregman a three-year, $120 million contract with closely deferred cash.
The signing was lauded as a win-now transfer, but it surely shortly led to controversy when incumbent third baseman Rafael Devers publicly refused to depart the new nook.
Supervisor Alex Cora says he plans to make use of Bregman, the AL’s reigning Gold Glove winner, at third base. With prized prospect Kristian Campbell poised to make the Opening Day roster as the first second baseman, Devers seems destined for normal DH obligation.
Will probably be price monitoring how this example unfolds as soon as the video games start.
So long as it isn’t a distraction, the Crimson Sox — who additionally traded for burgeoning ace Garrett Crochet — may problem the Yankees for AL East supremacy.
deGrom Redemption
The Rangers haven’t gotten a lot out of deGrom since they signed him away from the Mets earlier than the 2023 season for $185 million over 5 years.
The 2-time Cy Younger Award winner, 36, made solely six begins in 2023 earlier than present process Tommy John surgical procedure. He returned on the finish of final season and made three begins.
The precise-hander has been efficient when he has pitched for Texas, posting a 2.41 ERA, however that’s over solely 41 innings.
The Rangers hope deGrom can keep wholesome — and return to his elite type — within the third yr of his mega-deal.
