My MLB takes for 2025:AL Edition

These are my American League predictions for the 2025 MLB season.

So here we are and it is Spring Training for the MLB. It feels great to be a baseball fan when a new season is here for us. All the teams are getting ready for the long haul of 162 games and they all are focused on playing into the postseason. As you might know or not, I am a Los Angeles Dodgers fan and a Boston Red Sox fan but I do get excited about some other teams due to how they play and players I love on those teams. Examples are the Orioles, Royals, Tigers, Reds , Phillies and Brewers. Obviously as you can see, I love baseball. I might not write a ton for each team in these articles but it more about the excitement for some teams and players.

Let’s talk about the American League!

The way I feel about Orioles might be a bit off compared to what you will read in other places but give me a moment of “just maybe”. Yes the Orioles had an odd offseason and yes they did not also sign any of the young stars long term. My view is the Orioles will be in contention with a stacked Yankee roster and a Red Sox roster that is bursting with talent. The other part of the view is the Orioles probably have enough prospect depth to go grab the top notch starter during the season once one becomes available. General Manager Elias will be shrewd and not hesitate if a top notch starter becomes available – Dylan Cease ? Jordan Montgomery? Sandy Alcantara? Who knows but the Yanks are a year older and as I write this Giancarlo Stanton is back in New York and not able to swing a bat, and now Cole needs Tommy John surgery. The Yanks have a hole at 3rd and that outfield might become an issue. My Red Sox had a great offseason but they still a bit away. The Rays have lots of pitching talent and with Junior Caminero ready to attack Major League Baseball, things are looking up for them. The downside is most of that pitching was hurt last year and on the mend. The franchise is still reeling from the loss of Wander Franco to his alleged criminal activity. Most franchises who build around a talent like Franco’s and then it is over do implode. I feel the Rays as a whole have done well not to just wallow in pity for their loss of Franco. For the Bluejays , they seem like team turmoil to me. Two offseasons in a row they were willing to pay Othani and then Soto but never tried to get Vlad Jr signed first. They also never spoke with Bo Bichette about a possible extension. They should have taken advantage of his injury riddled season and tried to get some kind of deal with him done. My prediction is Vlad Jr is wearing a different uniform by the All Star break and possibly Bichette as well.

American League Central

First Place	Kansas City Royals
Second Place	Detroit Tigers
Third Place	Cleveland Guardians
Fourth Place	Minnesota Twins
Fifth Place	Chicago White Sox

The Al Central is wildly exciting to me with the top 3 teams loaded with young talent that are all ready to compete.

I am going with the Royals for 1st place. I love the Royals , always have since George Brett. Bobby Witt Jr is a true superstar and with him signed and sealed for the next decade, the Royals have a true franchise player again. Brett, Perez, and now Witt Jr are just three great pillars for the history of this organization. I believe the Royals will miss Brady Singer, I will also, but the lineup seems really solid and might be the best lineup in their division. Good and dependable starting pitching , a decent bullpen and lots of MLB ready talent in the minors. The Royals have arrived. Ok well that brings us to the Detroit Tigers who are another team with a good rotation that includes Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal. Mize is back and they even brought back Flaherty. Flaherty did get himself a great deal and great place to be pitching. This team might be light in the power department but Max Clark is not far away and my gut tells me Colt Keith is ready for the next step into becoming a household name. The Guardians are the defending Central winners but I can not see it. I understand they were concerned about not being able to sign Josh Naylor long term but why trade him when he made a good 1, 2 punch with the franchise aka Jose Ramirez? Jose Ramirez is a Hall of Fame talent but he can not do it alone. I wonder if his back hurts at times from carrying a whole franchise on his back. I have the Twins fourth cause I just do not understand what they do and how they function as a franchise. The Big 3 seem to miss lots of games. If healthy with a decent staff that is anchored by Ross and Lopez, this team can make noise. As the saying goes “I’ll believe when I see it”. I do feel it a shame that as a baseball fan we miss out on the dynamic Byron Buxton due to his body fails him. Hey at least he tries unlike a certain 3rd baseman that plays for the Angels. Last and least, I have no idea what the White Sox are doing and feel bad for their fans and the players that are trying their hardest.

American League West

First Place	Texas Rangers
Second Place	Houston Astros
Third Place	Seattle Mariners
Fourth Place	The Athletics
Fifth Place	Los Angeles Angels

I know the Rangers are healthier than last season and they feel re-energized. If deGrom can be a normal MLB starter, I have zero expectations of a return to deGrom the Great, the Rangers are real. Also how can anyone not love the idea of Jake Burger and Joc Pederson in that lineup and at Globe Life for 81 games? The Astros will contend as long as Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez and Framber Valdez are part of their core. Seattle might have a great staff but how do they not get someone like Pete Alonso to go there or were they aware Kyle Tucker was available via trade? I do not understand this organization at all. Only reason I have them ahead of the A’s is cause of the rotation cause the A’s can hit. A’s have an awesome lineup. Lots of power and Kurtz on the way with the young shortstop Wilson just about there. This offense is scary. The A’s will be in West Sacramento for the next few seasons and it will be exciting to see how that works with the inevitable move to Las Vegas. It is sad there is no more baseball in Oakland and have the opinion that it is a huge mistake to leave Oakland but that more for another day to complain about someday, a useless gripe now but it still is terrible. The Angels have some nice young players coming and Mike Trout. I do feel the pitching leaves a desire that will keep Angels fans restless for a long time.

Ok so there is just a few ideas and my thoughts on how the divisions will stack up in the American League. I will get my National League predictions published by the end of this week. Hope you liked reading this blog entry. Have a great day!

Frank