MLB Opening Day 2025: Here's everything you missed during the offseason - Yahoo Sports

Published 1 month ago• 3 minute read

originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Play ball!

With Opening Day upon us, it’s finally time to get back out on the diamond.

But before players take the field for the first games of the 2025 MLB season, it’s important to look back at everything that’s happened over the past few months. Since the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees in the World Series last fall, there have been plenty of changes — making it tough to predict what could happen this time around.

Here’s a deep dive into everything that happened over the offseason, plus some predictions for the upcoming campaign:

Over a billion dollars were handed out on the open market this offseason.

Here are the 15 biggest contracts signed by free agents since last November, in terms of total value:

Arguably the top free agent on the board aside from Soto didn’t land in the above top 15. That’s because right-handed pitcher Roki Sasaki was signed to a minor league contract due to his age (23). The Dodgers swooped in to grab the Japanese phenom, who will pitch for Los Angeles alongside fellow countrymen Yoshinobu Yamamoto and (eventually) Shohei Ohtani.

It was a busy offseason on the trade market, too.

Several All-Stars and World Series winners were dealt away, some in exchange for top prospects.

Here are the 15 biggest trades from the 2025 offseason:

Three teams will have new managers this season — the Cincinnati Reds, Miami Marlins and Chicago White Sox.

The Reds are bringing back a familiar face in Terry Francona, who retired for one year before returning to baseball. The two-time World Series champion and three-time AL Manager of the Year, who turns 66 in April, is known for his runs with the Red Sox and Guardians. David Bell was fired by Cincinnati in September after six seasons with the club.

The Marlins will be led by World Series winner Clayton McCullough in 2025. The former Dodgers first base coach, 45, has never managed in the big leagues. He replaces Skip Schumaker, who went 146-176 in two seasons with Miami.

Chicago has another first-time manager in Will Venable. The former MLB outfielder has coached for the Cubs, Red Sox and Rangers before getting his first opportunity as manager for the White Sox this season. Chicago fired Pedro Grifol in August and Grady Sizemore finished the season as interim manager.

The Dodgers are the overwhelming favorites to repeat as World Series champions this season — and for good reason.

Los Angeles loaded up even more in the offseason, adding Snell, Sasaki and Scott to an already-stacked team.

But considering the randomness that can happen in the MLB postseason, it’s difficult to expect the same results in 2025. Remember, the Dodgers were on the brink of elimination against the Padres in the Division Series before catching fire. Anything can happen in October.

With that in mind, here are our divisional, playoff and award predictions for 2025:

Boston Red Sox

Kansas City Royals

Texas Rangers

Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees

Atlanta Braves

Chicago Cubs

Los Angeles Dodgers

Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, San Diego Padres

Atlanta Braves over Texas Rangers

Bobby Witt Jr. (AL) and Shohei Ohtani (NL)

Garrett Crochet (AL) and Paul Skenes (NL)