Image credit: Shohei Ohtani (Photo by Jeremy Chen/Getty Images)

In the current MLB postseason format, just as many wild cards qualify for the tournament as division winners. That fact compels us to take a holistic view of team quality, rather than guess at which teams will win their divisions or qualify for wild cards.

The end result is the MLB Power Rankings you see here, complete with a summary of offseason moves, core players and key rookies. Each team is assigned an overall BA Grade on the 20-80 scouting scale. Consider teams at the same tier to be roughly equivalent in quality.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

BA Grade: 80
Projected NL West winner

The Dodgers return Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman atop the lineup for 2025, and they reinforced that all-time core by importing Michael Conforto and re-signing Teoscar Hernandez. Los Angeles’ primary offseason moves were directed at strengthening the pitching staff, including the additions of Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki in the rotation and Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates in the bullpen.

Next First-Time All-Star: Righthander Yoshinobu Yamamoto signed for $325 million, the most ever for a pitcher, and flashed all-star upside as a rookie in 2024. 

Key Rookies: Japanese sensation Roki Sasaki comes to MLB ready to win. The 23-year-old righthander is the favorite to win NL Rookie of the Year. Top position prospect Dalton Rushing could hit his way into the picture. 

2. Atlanta Braves

BA Grade: 70
Projected NL East winner

Virtually every Braves regular missed time to injury last season, helping explain how the team lost nearly 250 runs off its 2023 total. Matt Olson, Austin Riley and Michael Harris II power an offense with strong supporting players, including newcomer Jurickson Profar, as it awaits the return of Ronald Acuña Jr. from his second ACL reconstruction. The Braves need young arms, such as Spencer Schwellenbach, Grant Holmes or Ian Anderson, to step up after losing free agents Max Fried and Charlie Morton from the rotation.

Next First-Time All-Star: Both Harris and Schwellenbach have all-star upside.

Key Rookies: The rotation departures create an opportunity for AJ Smith-Shawver to claim a spot, while the departure of second catcher Travis d’Arnaud should lead to a large role for top prospect Drake Baldwin.

3. Philadelphia Phillies

BA Grade: 60
Projected NL wild card 

The Phillies added Jesus Luzardo to the rotation and Max Kepler to the outfield in an otherwise quiet offseason. The top half of the roster remains strong, with Bryce Harper, Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber leading the offense and Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola and Cristopher Sanchez centering the rotation. Free agent Jordan Romano will attempt to lock down the closer role.

Next First-Time All-Star: Center fielder Brandon Marsh or second baseman Bryson Stott could ride a big first half to the All-Star Game.

Key Rookie: The Phillies’ X-factor is Andrew Painter, the ultra-talented 22-year-old righthander who missed the last two seasons but has front-of-rotation upside.

4. New York Mets

BA Grade: 60
Projected NL wild card

Juan Soto’s $765 million deal headlined the Mets’ offseason, but New York stayed busy all winter by re-signing Pete Alonso and Sean Manaea and adding starters Clay Holmes and Frankie Montas plus reliever A.J. Minter. Steps forward from Francisco Alvarez and repeats from Francisco Lindor and Mark Vientos will make the Mets one of the better run-scoring units. 

Next First-Time All-Star: A big first half from Vientos could do the trick. Brandon Nimmo has a career 126 OPS+ and zero all-star appearances.

Key Rookies: Luisangel Acuña and Ronny Mauricio are versatile infielders who could factor, while righthanders Brandon Sproat and Nolan McLean could force the issue.

5. New York Yankees

BA Grade: 60
Projected AL East winner

Losing Juan Soto to their New York rivals hurts, but the Yankees still have two-time MVP Aaron Judge and added Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt to a core that already included Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Giancarlo Stanton. Max Fried joins Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon atop the rotation, while Devin Williams becomes the latest elite Yankees closer.

Next First-Time All-Star: Shortstop Anthony Volpe and catcher Austin Wells are up-the-middle homegrown standouts, while righthander Luis Gil is the reigning AL Rookie of the Year.

Key Rookies: Top prospect Jasson Dominguez has a chance to lock down playing time in left field if he hits. Righthander Will Warren made his MLB debut last year and his big strikeout upside.

6. Baltimore Orioles

BA Grade: 60
Projected AL wild card

The postseason didn’t go how Baltimore wanted the past two years, but it returns a lean, mean lineup anchored by Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman. Jordan Westburg and Colton Cowser stepped forward in 2024,while free agent signing Tyler O’Neill provides righthanded presence. The rotation lost Corbin Burnes but gained graybeard Charlie Morton and Japanese import Tomoyuki Sugano. All-star closer Felix Bautista returns!

Next First-Time All-Star: Cowser or starters Zach Eflin or Grayson Rodriguez are all good candidates.

Key Rookies: Sugano is a classic command-and-control righthander who can still be effective at age 35. Third baseman Coby Mayo has big righthanded power but needs an opening and must answer defensive questions. 

7. Arizona Diamondbacks

BA Grade: 55
Projected NL wild card

The D-backs outscored every team in MLB last season but fell short of a wild card via tiebreaker. They swapped Christian Walker for Josh Naylor at first base to team with Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte atop the lineup. Free agent splurge Corbin Burnes anchors a deep rotation, while power-armed Justin Martinez has a chance to lock down closer.     

Next First-Time All-Star: Catcher Gabriel Moreno could make noise with a healthy season. Martinez is young but talented.

Key Rookies: Arizona has a fairly set configuration, but opportunities for young players always arise. The most talented ones with MLB experience are shortstop Jordan Lawlar, who mostly just needs to stay healthy, and righthander Yilber Diaz, who broke out at the upper levels last season. 

8. Boston Red Sox

BA Grade: 55
Projected AL wild card 

The Red Sox attacked their weaknesses in the offseason. First they dipped into their prospect depth to trade for lefthander Garrett Crochet and later signed free agent Alex Bregman for his strong righthanded bat and overall presence. Imports Walker Buehler and Aroldis Chapman further enhance pitching depth. Jarren Duran, Rafael Devers and Triston Casas form a strong lineup core, while the rotation is stocked with interesting arms such as Tanner Houck, Lucas Giolito and Brayan Bello.

Next First-Time All-Star: Most likely Casas, but don’t count out the two potential rookie standouts below.

Key Rookies: A strong Boston lineup stands to be enhanced by top prospects Kristian Campbell and Roman Anthony when they’re ready this season.

9. Texas Rangers

BA Grade: 55
Projected AL West winner

Corey Seager excelled when healthy, Marcus Semien showed up to play every day and Wyatt Langford had an encouraging rookie year. Nothing else seemed to go right for the 2024 Rangers as they defended their World Series title. Few teams are likely to improve as much just from natural regression than the Rangers. Players such as Adolis Garcia, Josh Jung, Evan Carter and Jonah Heim had down years, while Jacob deGrom seeks his first full, healthy season post-Tommy John surgery.  

Next First-Time All-Star: If Langford picks up where he left off in 2024, he is a natural fit.

Key Rookies: A year after graduating Langford and Carter, the Rangers’ next rookie wave will hit on the mound, in the form of power righthanders Kumar Rocker, Jack Leiter and possibly Emiliano Teodo. 

10. Chicago Cubs

BA Grade: 55
Projected NL Central winner

The Cubs pounced on the opportunity to acquire all-star Kyle Tucker—even if for one season—and he anchors a lineup that lacked starpower. Now he helps enhance the impact of Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Michael Busch and Dansby Swanson, while helping young center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong ease into a full season. Chicago has done well to build pitching depth even if it lacks an ace.

Next First-Time All-Star: Second baseman Nico Hoerner or Suzuki are the best bets.

Key Rookies: The Cubs intend to turn over third base to 2023 first-rounder Matt Shaw, who could provide average overall production. Outfielder Kevin Alcantara made his MLB debut last season, while righthander Cade Horton and outfielder Owen Caissie have Triple-A experience. 

11. Houston Astros

BA Grade: 55
Projected AL wild card

The Astros have won the AL West in each of the last seven 162-game seasons, so news of their demise has always been exaggerated. Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker are gone from the 2024 team, but the frontline talent remains strong in Houston, led by Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez and Yainer Diaz in the lineup and Framber Valdez heading the rotation. Another step forward from starters Hunter Brown, Ronel Blanco and Spencer Arrighetti would help cover for a shallower lineup. 

Next First-Time All-Star: Diaz and Brown are compelling young players.

Key Rookies: For the past decade, Astros player development has been a Rookie of the Year vote-getting machine. They don’t have anybody obvious at that level this season, though outfielders Jacob Melton and Zach Dezenzo and third baseman Shay Whitcomb could see time.

12. Seattle Mariners

BA Grade: 50

The song remains the same in Seattle. The Mariners’ all-world rotation combines with an offense they hope is just good enough to reach October. Julio Rodriguez, Cal Raleigh and Randy Arozarena will perform the heavy lifting, but they will need help. Logan Gilbert is the staff ace with Cy Young aspirations. He has more than enough help in the form of Luis Castillo, George Kirby, Bryce Miller and Bryan Woo. Mariners starters led MLB last year with a 3.38 ERA and 18.7 K-BB%.

Next First-Time All-Star: Raleigh or Miller would be deserving of the honor.

Key Rookies: Most of Seattle’s excellent hitting prospects are at least a year away. Cole Young could be an exception if he hits his way into the second base picture. Tyler Locklear will also be on hand to help at first base as needed.

13. San Diego Padres

BA Grade: 50

The Padres lost Tanner Scott and Jurickson Profar from their 2024 team and, most notably, brought in Nick Pivetta for the 2025 rotation. If they keep the team intact, San Diego has the type of top-heavy roster that could reach the postseason. Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill can be elite, while top-of-the-rotation arms Dylan Cease, Michael King and Yu Darvish miss a ton of bats. The Padres’ bullpen also is deep with power options.

Next First-Time All-Star: Neither Cease nor King has made an all-star team, which seems like an oversight.

Key Rookies: Tirso Ornelas had a nice winter in the Mexican Pacific League and has performed in the upper minors. He could see play on the outfield corners.  

14. Milwaukee Brewers

BA Grade: 50

The Brewers always seem to outpace their projections. Now, after losing free agent Willy Adames and trading Devin Williams, they face their latest challenge. William Contreras is arguably the best young catcher in baseball, Freddy Peralta is a strong No. 1 starter and Jackson Chourio is poised for stardom. The rest of the roster lacks marquee names but is well-rounded, with strong defenders at skill positions. 

Next First-Time All-Star: Chourio is the inevitable choice.

Key Rookies: From the organization that unleashed Josh Hader and Devin Williams, Jacob Misiorowski could be the Brewers’ next elite closer. Reliever Craig Yoho and position players Tyler Black and Caleb Durbin could contribute.

15. Detroit Tigers

BA Grade: 50
Projected AL Central winner

The Tigers sold off Jack Flaherty at the 2024 trade deadline but then went on a hot streak that resulted in one of the most unlikely wild card teams ever. Now, Flaherty is back in the rotation supporting Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal and younger pitchers Reese Olson, Casey Mize and Jackson Jobe. Free agent second baseman Gleyber Torres helps deepen a lineup full of talented but fairly inexperienced hitters, including Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter, Parker Meadows and Colt Keith. 

Next First-Time All-Star: This could be the year Flaherty gets his due for what has been a successful career.

Key Rookies: Jobe is positioned to be the top non-Roki Sasaki rookie pitcher with his deep repertoire. Shortstop Trey Sweeney and third baseman Jace Jung were called up together and accrued exactly 45 service days, keeping them rookie eligible with no room to spare. 

16. Minnesota Twins 

BA Grade: 50

The Twins’ dismal finish to 2024—they fell out of a wild card with a 12-27 finish—obscures the high talent level in the Twin Cities. Also: the bar is set lower in the AL Central than any division. Carlos Correa, Byron Buxton and Royce Lewis form a strong core, when healthy, while Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober might be the most unsung front three of a rotation. If some young MLB vets step forward—Matt Wallner, Trevor Larnach, David Festa, Brooks Lee, Zebby Matthews—then the Twins will be in business. 

Next First-Time All-Star: Ryan, Ober or closer Jhoan Duran have the type of upside, as does 2017 No. 1 overall pick Lewis.

Key Rookies: Two of the Twins’ top prospects are upper-level hitters Emmanuel Rodriguez and Luke Keaschall, who could muscle their way into the picture. 

17. Cleveland Guardians

BA Grade: 50

The plucky Guardians advanced to the AL Championship Series last season, then spent the offseason shedding salary and diversifying the pitching staff. Gone are Josh Naylor and Andres Gimenez. Coming aboard are young starters Luis Ortiz and Slade Cecconi as well as buy-lows John Means and Paul Sewald. Tanner Bibee leads the rotation and Emmanuel Clase is the all-star closer. Superstar Jose Ramirez anchors a lineup with support from Steven Kwan, Kyle Manzardo and import Carlos Santana.

Next First-Time All-Star: Bibee

Key Rookies: A plethora of young players should surface in Cleveland this year, including second baseman Juan Brito, lefthander Joey Cantillo and reliever Andrew Walters. Guardians first-rounders Chase DeLauter and Travis Bazzana could also be in play.

18. Tampa Bay Rays

BA Grade: 50

The Rays lost access to Tropicana Field after Hurricane Milton blew the roof off, but they didn’t suffer many personnel losses. Yandy Diaz, Brandon Lowe and Josh Lowe lead an offense that welcomes Junior Caminero for a full season as well as free agent catcher Danny Jansen. No. 1 starter Shane McClanahan is back from Tommy John surgery, supported by textbook breakout candidates Taj Bradley, Ryan Pepiot and Shane Baz. 

Next First-Time All-Star: Josh Lowe or possibly Caminero—or one of the pitchers if a breakout materializes.

Key Rookies: Double-A Montgomery finished last season with shortstop Carson Williams, outfielder Chandler Simpson and first baseman Tre’ Morgan, and while they aren’t great bets to hold MLB jobs this season, they aren’t that far off either. 

19. Toronto Blue Jays 

BA Grade: 50

Pending free agents Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette team up for potentially the final time to try to return Toronto to the postseason. Signing Anthony Santander and trading for Andres Gimenez helps lighten the load on Vlad and Bo. A veteran pitching staff adds starter Max Scherzer and closer Jeff Hoffman. The Blue Jays appear to be fairly average overall, meaning things could break either very right or very wrong for them. 

Next First-Time All-Star: All of Toronto’s key players have made all-star appearances, but if he continues at his second-half pace—1.80 ERA, .194 opponent average—then Bowden Francis will receive attention.

Key Rookies: The Blue Jays will incorporate young blood in the form of power-hitting second baseman Orelvis Martinez and OBP-oriented outfielder Alan Roden. Shortstop Josh Kasevich could also come up if Bichette is traded.

20. Cincinnati Reds

BA Grade: 50

Things are looking up in Cincinnati, where first-year manager Terry Francona looks to lead a talented, young Reds team to the postseason. Elly De La Cruz has MVP upside and heads a lineup also featuring Matt McLain, Tyler Stephenson and Spencer Steer. Homegrown No. 1 starter Hunter Greene leads an enviable collection of young arms that also includes Nick Lodolo and, down the line, Rhett Lowder and possibly Chase Burns.

Next First-Time All-Star: Stephenson, McLain or Lodolo are all possibilities.

Key Rookies: Lowder debuted last August with a strong six-start run. His command helps him hang against MLB hitters. Righthander Chase Petty could pitch his way into a role if he retains the efficiency he showed last season. 

21. Kansas City Royals

BA Grade: 45

Led by all-world shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and Cy Young Award contenders Seth Lugo and Cole Ragans, the Royals won 86 games and an AL wild card last season. It’s going to be a tough act to follow in Kansas City, but the offseason acquisition of Jonathan India and the second-half power surge of Vinnie Pasquantino point to the potential for a more functional offense. The Royals have made upgrading the bullpen a priority, signing Carlos Estevez last offseason and trading for Lucas Erceg and Hunter Harvey last summer.

Next First-Time All-Star: Pasquantino could put things together.

Key Rookie: Lefthander Noah Cameron is on the short list for rotation reinforcement after reaching Triple-A for nine starts last season. 

22. San Francisco Giants

BA Grade: 45

The Giants lost Blake Snell and Michael Conforto to the rival Dodgers but plugged a major hole on the roster by signing shortstop Willy Adames. He and Matt Chapman lead an offense that will find out if Jung-Hoo Lee, Heliot Ramos and Tyler Fitzgerald are for real. New president of baseball operations Buster Posey also brought in Justin Verlander to deepen a rotation led by Logan Webb and power arms Robbie Ray and Jordan Hicks. 

Next First-Time All-Star: Hicks or Lee might be the best bets of an unlikely pool.   

Key Rookies: The Giants rushed 19-year-old first baseman Bryce Eldridge to Triple-A, and while a prominent role in 2025 is unlikely, he is a tantalizing possibility. Changeup artist Carson Whisenhunt also is in play after a year at Triple-A.  

23. Athletics

BA Grade: 45

The Athletics quietly built an interesting young core in their final season in Oakland. The team that takes the field in West Sacramento is solid up the middle with power-hitting catcher Shea Langeliers, late-blooming center fielder JJ Bleday, second baseman Zack Gelof and rookie shortstop Jacob Wilson. Right fielder Lawrence Butler and DH Brent Rooker supply the fireworks. The 2024 team had zero rotation presence, which the A’s addressed by signing Luis Severino and trading for Jeffrey Springs. A power bullpen led by Mason Miller is a team strength.

Next First-Time All-Star: Langeliers or Butler could fit the bill, as could newcomer Springs if he comes back strong in his first full season since Tommy John surgery.

Key Rookies: Wilson has special bat-to-ball skills and the ability to lock down shortstop defensively. First baseman Nick Kurtz, drafted fourth overall last year, could rise quickly to MLB if he hits.

24. Pittsburgh Pirates

BA Grade: 45

Led by NL Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes, power pitching is the name of the game in Pittsburgh. Jared Jones and Mitch Keller offer rotation support, while Bubba Chandler is one of the brightest pitching prospects in the game. A late-season shift from shortstop to center field could keep Oneil Cruz focused on hitting. Bryan Reynolds is the Pirates’ best all-around hitter in a lineup that could struggle to supply enough runs, even if the young pitchers come through. 

Next First-Time All-Star: Cruz or Jones could break through.

Key Rookies: Chandler has the kind of potential to make the Opening Day roster, as Jones did last year. Second baseman Nick Yorke and outfielder Billy Cook have experienced Triple-A success and could hit their way into expanded roles. 

25. St. Louis Cardinals

BA Grade: 40

The Cardinals are committed to getting a long look at young players this season, including Masyn Winn, Jordan Walker, Nolan Gorman, Ivan Herrera and possibly Victor Scott II in the lineup and Michael McGreevy and likely Quinn Mathews on the mound. This will be a bridge season in St. Louis between the John Mozeliak era and the Chaim Bloom one that begins in 2026.

Next First-Time All-Star: Winn or possibly outfielder Lars Nootbaar.

Key Rookies: Mathews is the reigning Minor League Pitcher of the Year after he upped his velocity and reached Triple-A in his first pro season. Second baseman Thomas Saggese and righthander McGreevy were late callups in 2024 and could carve out larger roles this season. 

26. Washington Nationals

BA Grade: 40

Things are beginning to coalesce in Washington. Three products from the 2022 Juan Soto trade with the Padres are already key contributors: shortstop CJ Abrams, left fielder James Wood and No. 1 starter MacKenzie Gore. Top 2023 pick Dylan Crews takes over in right field, while offseason imports Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Bell fortify the middle of the lineup. If young Nationals pitchers, including Jake Irvin, Mitchell Parker and DJ Herz, can take another step forward, this team could hang in the wild card race.

Next First-Time All-Star: Wood or Gore.

Key Rookies: Crews made his MLB debut late last season and contributes enough across the board to weather rough stretches at the plate.   

27. Los Angeles Angels

BA Grade: 40

The Angels set a franchise record with 99 losses last season as the team completely cratered in the final two months. Los Angeles made an effort to add value around the margins by trading for Jorge Soler and signing Yusei Kikuchi and Travis d’Arnaud as well as reclamation projects Kyle Hendricks and Yoan Moncada. Future Hall of Famer Mike Trout is back, while young players such as Jose Soriano, Zach Neto, Logan O’Hoppe, Reid Detmers and Nolan Schanuel could step forward.

Next First-Time All-Star: Soriano, Neto and O’Hoppe are all good candidates.

Key Rookies: Young pitchers Caden Dana and Sam Aldegheri made their MLB debuts last season and could kick in even more innings this year. Drafted eighth overall in 2024, second baseman Christian Moore should be yet another college hitter fast-tracked by the Angels to MLB.

28. Miami Marlins

BA Grade: 30

The Marlins always seem to have more pitching than other last-place teams, and this year will be no exception. Ace Sandy Alcantara returns from Tommy John surgery, as does 2023 rookie phenom Eury Perez later in the year. Every team in baseball would love to get its hands on young starters Ryan Weathers, Edward Cabrera and Max Meyer. Every other aspect of the 2025 Marlins is unsettled. Xavier Edwards and Connor Norby appear fairly settled on the left side of the infield. Playing time at every other position is completely up in the air. 

Next First-Time All-Star: Perez is probably the answer, though not this season.

Key Rookies: Marlins catchers were a disaster last season—only White Sox backstops produced less at the plate. That creates a wide lane for Agustin Ramirez, the key prospect from the Jazz Chisholm trade with the Yankees last summer, and homegrown product Joe Mack, a minor league Gold Glove winner last season. 

29. Colorado Rockies

BA Grade: 20

The Rockies have a fairly set lineup configuration, anchored by veterans Ryan McMahon and Kris Bryant but with some room for younger players to mature into large roles. That list includes Brenton Doyle, Ezequiel Tovar, Michael Toglia, Nolan Jones and Jordan Beck. Pitching is always going to be a problem at altitude, and Colorado is largely trading water in its rotation while it awaits younger pitchers to emerge.  

Next First-Time All-Star: Either Doyle or Tovar could make the all-star team with a strong first half.

Key Rookies: The first wave of exciting young arms to reach Denver is scheduled to arrive this year. Righthander Chase Dollander is the best pitching prospect ever developed by the organization, while reliever Seth Halvorsen was fast-tracked from the 2023 draft to MLB last year. They could be the organization’s future No. 1 starter and closer.

30. Chicago White Sox

BA Grade: 20

While good news is in short supply on the South Side, the fact is that there is nowhere to go but up for last year’s 121-game losers. Projection systems are sour on Chicago, but that’s largely because their players are either on the downslope or lacking in track record. Big seasons from Luis Robert Jr. or Andrew Vaughn would make them trade chips. Otherwise it’s a season of evaluating young players, from Colson Montgomery to Miguel Vargas on Opening Day to catcher Kyle Teel and second baseman Chase Meidroth later in the season. Young starters Jonathan Cannon, Davis Martin and rookie Sean Burke may never have a better opportunity to get a foot in the door.

Next First-Time All-Star: Magic 8 Ball says: “Ask me again later.”

Key Rookies: Montgomery will get a long look at shortstop, as will Burke in the rotation. Only health can keep them off the field at this point. Middle infielder Chase Meidroth could be an OBP asset, while Kyle Teel is likely the catcher of the future. Both are products of the Garret Crochet trade with the Red Sox.