MLB Spring Training 2025: 1 Thing to Watch for Every Team

The 2025 MLB season is right around the corner, which means it’s time for Spring Training — the first real look at teams before the season starts. After a wild offseason full of big moves and players on the move, teams are gearing up to see how their new additions fit.

We’ll highlight one key storyline for every team; the stories and players that MLB fans and fantasy baseball players should be watching throughout Spring Training.

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What to Watch for in Spring Training: American League

Here is one thing to watch for every team in the American League during Spring Training 2025 leading up to the start of the NBA season.

New York Yankees: OF Cody Bellinger & OF Jasson Dominguez

The Yankees made headlines after they were unable to re-sign OF Juan Soto, as he changed New York teams and went to the Mets. In what was a very questionable decision, the long term might be better for the Yankees, as they were able to reinvest into their pitching staff by signing P Max Fried and trading for P Devin Williams. 

In letting Soto walk, the Bronx Bombers turned to seasoned veterans OF Cody Bellinger and 1B Paul Goldschmidt. If Bellinger is able to produce even a portion of what Soto did last season, the long-term success on the back of young outfield prospects like OF Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones look promising.

Boston Red Sox: Alex Bregman Position

The Red Sox biggest unknown is where Alex Bregman potentially plays this year. Bregman was brought in on a three-year, $120 million deal to play third base. However, this deal has caused some turmoil within the organization as Rafael Devers has stated it is his position. Bregman, meanwhile, has said he will play anywhere.

It remains unknown whether Boston is willing to place Bregman at second base to smooth things over and keep them both in the lineup. If placed at third, Devers will likely request a trade and there will be some problems internally, at least up until a trade might need to be made.

Toronto Blue Jays: Production from Outfield Signings

The Blue Jays remain one of the most interesting teams headed into this season as the first part of the year will determine what they do long term. With a question mark on the long term decisions for young stars Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as well as Bo Bichette, the Blue Jays will look to show they can compete. 

A strong showing from Anthony Santander (5-year deal) and Myles Straw (traded for in the offseason) would go a long way in proving they strive for short term success. If Santander is able to perform, the Blue Jays should be able to lock up Guerrero Jr. and company long term.

Baltimore Orioles: Who Will be the Pitching Staff Ace?

Baltimore felt a strong blow when they lost Corbin Burnes to the Arizona Diamondbacks. In response, they invested $28 million into Charlie Morton and Tomoyuki Sugano. The pitching staff has no declared No.1 starter. 

If one of these guys is able to take charge — or if an internal pitcher like Zach Eflin is able to —  the Orioles could find success with a young group of position players.

Tampa Bay Rays: Improvement at Catcher

Tampa Bay made little moves this offseason with questions looming about the future of the franchise. However, the addition of C Danny Jansen filled a very large void in the Rays’ lineup. It remains unknown as to whether or not this will be exactly what the Rays need to contend for what looks to be a Wild Card spot at most. If able to be a leader in the locker room while managing their increased depth of pitching, Jansen’s impact on this team could go far.

Minnesota Twins: P Eiberson Castellano

With a history of trading their way through the season, spots could very well open up a spot for Eiberson Castellano, the top pitching prospect from Venezuela. On the other hand, this could also lead to some pitching depth making their way to another team. It’s undecided whether Castellano will have a full time role on the Twins, but he has a chance to prove his value on the field or in a trade during spring training.

Cleveland Guardians: Pitching Staff Stability

The Guardians could be in trouble at pitcher as without Shane Bieber until midseason (timetable between to 12-to-18 months, injured in April), they will rely on others to carry them. Whether it is the newly added Luis Ortiz or someone who has been in the organization like Triston McKenzie, the pitching staff is everything for this team. 

This is also assuming Bieber comes back from his surgery pitching like his normal self. If he doesn’t, the Guardians will be in trouble after having a promising season.

Kansas City Royals: 2B Jonathan India

Kansas City’s main priority this offseason was getting someone who could get on base for AL MVP candidate Bobby Witt Jr. Trading for Jonathan India was the short term solution to this problem, as they wanted someone with a good on base percentage in hopes Witt will increase his RBI opportunities. 

Kansas City ranked 13th in runs scored per game with 4.46, but adding a consistent .250 hitter at the top of the lineup with a .352 OBP could boost them into the top 10 this upcoming season.

Detroit Tigers: P Jackson Jobe and Pitching Additions 

Detroit made it an emphasis to bring in more pitching, adding four pitchers this offseason including Jack Flaherty, Alex Cobb, and Tommy Kahnle. However, with a hip injury, Cobb could be on his way out of the starting rotation after only throwing 16 innings last season in 3 games. 

Jackson Jobe, the 22-year-old prospect, ranked fifth-overall by MLB.com, could find his way into being a solidified starter for this team early into the season. If Jobe has a strong showing this spring, he will work his way into the 4th or 5th spot in the rotation. He was drafted third-overall in 2021, and he should finally make his debut this season — especially with a promising spring.

Chicago White Sox: Prospects

The worst team in baseball to no surprise seems to be in full rebuild mode after selling Garrett Crochet and losing out on Yoan Moncada. The good thing about restarting is they were able to acquire a top 40 prospect in Kyle Teel and two of Boston’s top 15 prospects. 

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he White Sox do not have much to look forward to this season, as it will most likely lead to them being at the bottom of the division yet again. This spring however could give us a glimpse into the long-term future as to just how promising these young prospects could be. Anything at this point is better than last season (41-121) so these young guys should get opportunities all season.

Texas Rangers: Pitching Overhaul

The pitching staff in Texas has been flipped on its head this season, bringing in seven new pitchers on deals. They lost out on Max Scherzer and Kirby Yates this season, but if the Rangers are able to get 36-year-old Jacob deGrom back to his old self, it could ease the problems of the bullpen. 

A prospect who could be in play to make a start or help fill out the bullpen this season is Kumar Rocker, the former No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 draft. Reports say he is “clearly in” the team’s rotation. Nathan Eovaldi remains the consistent part of this pitching rotation but without help from young stars or replacements, Texas might have some issues making a deep run.

Seattle Mariners: Offensive Production and On-Base Percentage

There is no denying that the Mariners have struggled on offense, especially down the stretch in 2024. Posting a .224 batting average in 2024 — only .003 in front of the league's worst Chicago White Sox — there are glaring issues. This spring, Seattle will hope to improve their batting average and on-base percentage as they have built out a new hitting staff. 

The Mariners promoted their interim hitting coach to be the director of hitting strategy and added the Braves’ hitting coach to help them. If able to find success, the Mariners could make a strong push for first in their division — which many thought they were on their way to accomplish last season.

The Athletics: Prospects

Ahh yes, the (no longer in Oakland) Athletics — set to play in Sacramento until the 2028 MLB season. What more is there to say than their fans have been ripped away from an opportunity to root for their favorite team. The Athletics didn't make any moves that stand out significantly other than pitcher Luis Severino being added, but that move doesn’t move the needle much.

Once again this team will focus on what prospects it has in the minors such as 1B Nick Kurtz, the fourth overall prospect in the 2024 MLB Draft. 

Until John Fisher sells the team to someone who wants to invest into winning, the Athletics have a very dim future as MLB fans have become accustomed to.

Houston Astros: CF Jacob Melton

Jacob Melton could find his way on the starting lineup early on this season as the Astros traded OF Kyle Tucker. There is a lot of uncertainty in the outfield for the division leaders who have made the postseason every season since 2016.

With Yordan Alvarez making the transition to solely DH, Chas McCormick and Jake Meyers are expected to be starters. With both having offensive down years last season, Melton could easily slide his way in with a good spring. 

He posted a .253 batting average last season in Double and Triple A so only time will tell if he can bring his offensive production to the majors.

Los Angeles Angels: Backups and Offensive Production

Are the Angels finally able to compete for a division title this season? They have made big strides to try this season, finding temporary replacements for their injury riddled stars in Yoan Moncada, Jorge Soler, and Tim Anderson. 

The biggest light will and should be on the replacements, as they will likely see a lot of time this season. After posting the third worst batting average this past season, the Angels will need some stability no matter who is playing, so consistency within the order should help bolster their offensive production.

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What to Watch for in Spring Training: National League

Here is one thing to watch for every team in the National League during Spring Training 2025 leading up to the start of the MLB season.

Atlanta Braves: Lack of Pitching

The Braves lost tons of pitching this offseason with key subtractions of starters Max Fried and Charlie Morton, as well as key reliever AJ Minter. It remains to be seen how they will replace these focal points on their pitching staff. 

Unless they can get some explosive production from a lineup already likely without OF Ronald Acuña for the start of the season, the Braves will likely need to make a move early on for a starting pitcher. Spring Training should allow us to see just how much production other guys within the rotation will provide and if they can will their way through most of the season.

New York Mets: Pitching Additions to Rotation

The Mets were one of the biggest teams in the offseason, winning the sweepstakes of star outfielder Juan Soto from their cross town rivals. The Mets also made a lot of moves for the rotation, but one of the star pieces they have brought in, Frankie Montas, will now be sidelined for the foreseeable future with a lat injury. 

They also lost Luis Severino and Jose Quintana in the offseason. That leaves Paul Blackburn, Tylor Megill, and Griffin Canning as the three pitchers competing to be part of the starting rotation. For depth, the team also has eight of the top 30 pitching prospects in MLB that could allow them to swing a deal for another big name pitcher this season, should they become available.

Although they have made significant strides to bring in enough pieces and should have the offensive production needed from adding Soto, the pitching still remains fairly questionable. This spring will answer a lot of concerns about how these pitching additions will perform.

Philadelphia Phillies: Offseason Additions

The Phillies are in what seems to be a two-team race for the NL East title at the current moment. The 2024 NL East winners brought in pitchers Jesús Luzardo, Jordan Romano, and Joe Ross to improve their staff. With the team that knocked them out of the playoffs adding Juan Soto, this improvement needs to be better than expected. 

OF Max Kepler joining the Lineup will add some stability to their outfield this season, but the main focus for Spring Training will be following these pitching additions and if they have enough to keep the star-studded lineups within their division in check.

Washington Nationals: Home Run Power

The main focus of the Nationals this season needs to be an increase in slugging percentage and home run production. Amongst NL teams, they ranked last in home runs last season, leading them to the sixth-worst run average per game in the league. 

Washington will look towards young star OF James Wood who is projected to lead the Nats in his first full season. They also have brought in 1B Nathaniel Lowe and re-signed DH Josh Bell in an attempt to ease some pressure off the outfielder. An increase in slugging from the team or overall production on offense will go a long way for this team.

Miami Marlins: Backup Rotation

The Marlins biggest concern right now is the health and availability of their current rotation pieces. Following the Jesús Luzardo trade to the Phillies, they are left with Sandy Alcántara (should be back by Opening Day), Eury Pérez (not back until All Star Break), and Braxton Garrett (out for 2025 season).

With these three facing injuries, the back end of the rotation and other pitching pieces will have to offset production until they can handle their normal load. If unable to find consistency they will find themselves in the bottom five in ERA like they were last season, when they ranked second

Cincinnati Reds: 2B Gavin Lux and LF Austin Hays

The Reds have made some promising additions in terms of pitching and within the lineup. The biggest question will be can their offensive production improve from last season, when they ranked 26th in batting average. With the additions of Lux and Hays, it very likely will. 

Both over .250 hitters last season, this spring will allow them to show they can be main parts of the lineup after the team posted a .230 average last year. 

Any improvements are essential to compete in what seems to be a very lackluster division with all teams being separated by seven games, except for the Brewers.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Trade Acquisitions

The Pirates are known for one thing: pitcher Paul Skenes. There is also no doubt the same will be said for this season but with them coming in last place in an unproductive division, changes need to be made. The team ranked seventh worst in runs scored per game last year, and the Pirates brought in a variety of pieces to try and increase offensive production. 

While pieces like OF Tommy Pham and 2B Adam Frazier might not be long-term solutions, they should bolster the lineup enough. Spencer Horwitz was brought in to be the new first baseman and Enmanuel Valdez will be a utility player, likely with an emphasis in the outfield, as there is some uncertainty there. If able to bring some reliable run support to this pitching staff, the Pirates could possibly sneak their way into a Wild Card spot.

Milwaukee Brewers: Young Pitching 

The Brewers were able to get rid of pitcher Devin WIlliams this season in a deal with the Yankees that allowed them to acquire pitcher Nestor Cortes and an infield prospect to replace Willy Adames. While this deal was a main priority for them, it will be key for their five new pitchers to be efficient and replace the production they got from the six that departed from the team this offseason.

Pitching prospect Jacob Misiorowski could be someone the Brewers look to bring in for the bullpen as he draws comparisons to the Brewers’ former star closer, Josh Hader. Key reps this spring will allow Misiorowski to prove he can maintain a fundamental role in this rotation or bullpen.

Chicago Cubs: Third Base Competition

The Cubs could have a competition brewing between Jon Berti and No. 22 prospect Matt Shaw at third base. After trading for star outfielder Kyle Tucker, the Cubs shipped Isaac Paredes to Houston, leading to an open spot in the lineup. 

While Berti might be the short-term solution, Shaw is a promising prospect who has made strides to improve his defense at the position. The 13th pick in the 2023 MLB Draft should get an opportunity this spring to showcase his abilities, and even possibly win a chance at the position if Berti struggles. Shaw hit a healthy .284 across Double A and Triple A last year, including 21 home runs and 31 stolen bases.

St. Louis Cardinals: Finding a New Foundation

The Cardinals had an interesting offseason to say the least. The team made no new acquisitions over the offseason, but allowed Goldschmidt, Carpenter, and a variety of pitchers to walk in free agency. There's a lot of uncertainty within the organization at the current moment and Spring Training will give them the opportunity to find a new identity. 

With players like 3B Nolan Arenado on the trade block — although he has a no trade clause he would have to waive — the team could easily sell players this spring and into the season. Look for the Yankees to possibly reunite Goldschmidt with Arenado again, as they have questions at the hot corner and the newly acquired first baseman has been vocal over the offseason about Arenado.

San Diego Padres: Outfield Production and Possible Battle

The Padres lost OFs David Peralta and Jurickson Profar this offseason in the outfield leading to some depth issues and possible opening spots. However, the team signed Connor Joe and Jason Heyward to possibly fill that depth. 

Although these two were signed, the young prospect Tirso Ornelas could find his way onto the roster, possibly fighting for that spot if he continues to show out in Spring Training and Triple A. The outfield hit nearly .300 with 23 homers in 128 games in the minors; with Heyward struggling to hit around .215 last year and now at 35 years old, I believe the young guy will get a chance soon.

Colorado Rockies: 3B Kris Bryant

Kris Bryant is the main concern this team should have going into the new season. After signing his 7-year deal in 2022, the star has yet to reach 100 games over the last three seasons due to injury. Look for Bryant to have a light spring as they will attempt to work him back into peak form once again and any overload might cause him to miss time again.

Early production in the spring will go a long way for the hopes of Rockies fans going into the future, as this team has not eclipsed 62 wins over the last two years. 

The veteran could also be moved to find pitching after posting a 5.47 ERA, if he's willing to waive his no trade clause. Colorado’s future looks very dim if Bryant continues to battle the injuries.

Los Angeles Dodgers: How Dominant Will They Be?

What more is there to say about the Dodgers? The Dodgers go to the World Series, win in dominant fashion against the New York Yankees, and somehow go into the offseason and get better. Adding P Blake Snell in the late hours of the offseason, signing P Roki Sasaki amongst other bidders, and practically resigning everyone else just proves the lengths the Dodgers are willing to go to win. 

The Dodgers’ pay roll plus the luxury tax will exceed over $500 million. We are witnessing what could be the new dynasty of sports and the only way this team could miss the mark is if they are somehow riddled by injuries. They will have their eyes set on another World Series and anything less might be heartbreak. 

Arizona Diamondbacks: Pitching Rotation & Who’s Out

The Diamondbacks made a massive splash by signing P Corbin Burnes this offseason to a 6-year deal to become the team’s new ace. This move however leads to some questions as Arizona is now left with seven starting pitchers currently on their roster. Spring Training will allow the Diamondbacks to evaluate which starting pitchers will be left out of the rotation come Opening Day. 

I look for the Diamondbacks to trade one or two of these guys to bolster their bullpen or add even more star power to their lineup that scored the most runs in the league at 5.47 runs per game. The bullpen addition seems likely as they had the fourth worst ERA amongst pitching staffs last season.

San Francisco Giants: Justin Verlander & Reliability of Pitching

Falling around the 20th mark in both ERA and batting average last season, the Giants hope to gain some stability on the pitching staff. They are very reliant on their current pieces it seems as they only signed 42-year-old Justin Verlander after Blake Snell signed with the Dodgers. In what very well was his worst season since his rookie year, Verlander posted an ERA of 5.48. 

If he happens to bounce back this season and give them good innings, look for him to be traded around the trade deadline as he's only on a one-year-deal. Outside of Verlander, the pitching production will have to come from pieces that are already there unless they make a trade this spring. 

Placing as a bottom third team in the league in practically all categories leaves very little promise, and the addition of just SS Willy Adames won’t be enough to put them in the conversation to win the division.

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