The 2025 season is fast approaching with pitchers and catchers set to start workouts this week. Three teams that missed the playoffs last season reloaded this offseason and could be tough teams to beat in 2025.
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Chicago Cubs
The Cubs have been active since the calendar flipped to 2025. They’ve made two separate trades with the Houston Astros. They first acquired outfielder Kyle Tucker and then just recently acquired closer Ryan Pressly. They also have signed utility player Jon Berti and catcher Reese McGuire. They will start the season with the 27th-ranked prospect by ITD. Matt Shaw is their starting third-baseman right now. The projected starting lineup for 2025 according to FanGraphs is
LF – Ian Happ
RF – Kyle Tucker
DH – Seiya Suzuki
1B – Michael Busch
SS – Dansby Swanson
2B – Nico Hoerner
CF – Pete Crow-Armstrong
3B – Matt Shaw
C – Miguel Amaya
The starting rotation is expected to be
LHP – Shota Imanaga
LHP – Justin Steele
RHP – Jameson Taillon
LHP – Matthew Boyd
RHP – Javier Assad
RHP – Colin Rea
They finished last season 83-79 and in second place in the National League Central. With the moves they have made, they could compete to win the division in 2025. They aim to return to the postseason for the first time since 2020.
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks this offseason added Josh Naylor in a trade with the Cleveland Guardians as well as signed Corbin Burnes. Adding Burnes gives Arizona one of the best starting rotations in not just the National League but all of baseball. They entered last season after winning the National League Pennant. However, the season didn’t go as planned. They finished third in the National League West and missed the postseason. The Diamondbacks are hoping for a strong season from Corbin Carroll. He made a big statement in their postseason run in 2023. The expected lineup for 2025 according to FanGraphs is
RF – Corbin Carroll
2B – Ketel Marte
1B – Josh Naylor
LF – Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
CF – Jake McCarthy
3B – Eugenio Suarez
DH – Pavin Smith
C – Gabriel Moreno
SS – Geraldo Perdomo
The starting rotation is expected to be
RHP – Corbin Burnes
RHP – Zac Gallen
RHP – Merrill Kelly
LHP – Eduardo Rodriguez
RHP – Brandon Pfaadt
LHP – Jordan Montgomery
Montgomery is likely going to be a bullpen arm if they are unable to move him before the season starts. They likely won’t win the National League West with the moves the Los Angeles Dodgers made. However, they certainly should make the playoffs and could also make a deep run. With the pitching staff they’ve assembled, they could be scary in a three, five, and seven-game series.
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Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox still need a right-handed bat. However, the moves they’ve made so far to their pitching staff should excite Boston fans. There is a chance we might see the second-ranked prospect, Roman Anthony, in the lineup. We might also see the seventh-ranked prospect, Kristian Campbell, in the lineup. Campbell has a good shot to make the Opening Day roster. He provides a right-handed bat to a lineup that needs it. The one exciting thing for this Red Sox team is the starting pitching depth they have now. This offseason they brought in Garrett Crochet in a trade with the Chicago White Sox. They also signed Walker Buehler. Furthermore, they signed Patrick Sandoval. Sandoval is out until likely August. Those three, barring any injuries, give the Red Sox a minimum of seven starters. They could have as deep as ten starters by August. The expected starting lineup from FanGraphs is
LF – Jarren Duran
3B – Rafael Devers
1B – Triston Casas
SS – Trevor Story
DH – Masataka Yoshida
RF – Wilyer Abreu
C – Connor Wong
2B – David Hamilton
CF – Ceddanne Rafaela
The starting rotation for Opening Day is projected to be
LHP – Garrett Crochet
RHP – Tanner Houck
RHP – Brayan Bello
RHP – Kutter Crawford
RHP – Walker Buehler
RHP – Lucas Giolito
The Red Sox are currently a team with the potential to compete for a playoff spot. They aim to return to the postseason for the first time since 2021. The exciting part is you see the pieces put together. More are coming, such as Anthony, Campbell, Marcelo Mayer, Miguel Bleis, and more.
