Major League Baseball is back and we can barely contain our excitement. Winter meetings, free agency, spring training-- all a thing of the past. In just a few short hours, the 2025 season will officially be underway for every team, minus the Dodgers and Cubbies. A day as American as apple pie.
What a better way to prepare for Opening Day then by throwing together our picks to win each division, as well as the major awards. Be sure to let us know your thoughts!
MVPs
AL MVP: Bobby Witt Jr. (+275)
NL MVP: Juan Soto (+550)
It took a historic campaign from Aaron Judge last year to eke out the MVP award from Bobby Witt Jr. That won't happen again this go round, with the Royal currently boasting the highest odds of winning the award. The kid's a bona fide five tool star whose just starting to really hit his stride; what a better time to add some hardware to the mantle?
 |
| Photo: Chitose Suzuki/ Dallas News |
Yordan Alvarez is an interesting dark horse, currently at +1200. The Astros are going to look different without Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker in the middle of the order, so if Alvarez can post some big numbers in their absence, expect him to catch the eyes of the committee.
After signing a landmark deal in free agency to move crosstown to Queens, there'll be no pressure on Juan Soto, right?! Not according to him anyway. Shohei is the favorite once again for the honor, especially since it seems like he'll be back on the mound, but Soto is a name to watch in the NL. This Mets lineup is solid and should give him plenty of opportunity to produce.
Corbin Carroll is a longshot we love though, currently at +3500. Like Witt, he does it all at the dish, in the field and on the base paths. If the first half of his 2024 season wasn't so terrible, these odds would likely be half as long. The former Rookie of the Year is a really worthwhile play at this value.
Cy Young Winners
AL Cy Young: Cole Ragans (+850)
NL Cy Young: Paul Skenes (+200)
Keeping it in KC, Cole Ragans got himself a modest, yet handsome payday last month-- now time to prove he's worth that and more. The Royals' ace has been superb these last two seasons and is poised for his best yet as the team develops into a competitor.
A solid sleeper play would be Max Fried, currently sitting at +2500. He'll constantly have the cameras on him in the Bronx as he steps into the void left by Gerritt Cole and Luis Gil. A big year in the league's biggest market will surely put him on the radar.
Excuse the chalky National League pick, but it sure feels like Paul Skenes is primed for greatness. The kid dominated in an abbreviated stint as a rookie and should have no issue replicating that performance wire to wire this season. But Yoshinobu Yamamoto is worth considering, for many of the same reasons Fried should be-- as the best pitcher on the NL's best team in it's largest market. Yamamoto's going to rack up wins at a minimum, and at +1800, he provides supreme value.
Rookies of the Year
AL ROY: Cam Smith (+450)
NL ROY: Bubba Chandler (+700)
Few rookies stormed onto the scene at Spring Training like Houston's Cam Smith, will he prove to be a lasting talent or more of a flavor of the week? Don't be afraid to sprinkle a little on Jasson Dominguez either at +600, with a huge hole to fill after the offseason departure of Juan Soto. Someone's got to step up in that lineup and help Aaron Judge out.
Going a little against the grain in the NL with Pittsburgh's Bubba Chandler. It'd be the second straight pitcher from Pigtown to win this award, entering into a rotation with a little less pressure thanks to Skenes' presence. Chandler will rarely have to deal with marquee pitching matchups, which should boost his win totals on the season if it all clicks. The kid was a former Minor League Spotlight of ours and has all the tools to be a monster in this league.
Don't sleep on Dylan Crews though, as the Nationals begin to see their young talent ascend.
Managers of the Year
AL MOY: Alex Cora-- BOS (+600)
NL MOY: Carlos Mendoza-- NYM (+1200)
Boston loaded up on talent this winter, bolstering a youthful roster that should only continue to improve. If they can take the AL East, which we think is highly possible, then it'd be surprising to not see Cora take home the award. In that same vein, John Schneider's a strong play in Toronto at +800, for many of the same reasons.
On the flip side of things, Terry Francona's inheriting a young Cincinnati roster that's been brimming with untapped potential for the last few seasons. The Reds' pitchers have shown they can compete, but they really need the bats to get on board. If Tito can unlock them, he's got an inside track for Manager of the Year at +500. If not though, look for Carlos Mendoza to lead the Mets to the NL East crown, notching himself some hardware up in Queens.
Divisional Winners
AL East: Boston Red Sox (+260)
AL Central: Kansas City Royals (+310)
AL West: Texas Rangers (+190)
NL East: New York Mets (+200)
NL Central: Cincinnati Reds (+450)
NL West: Los Angeles Dodgers (-800)
The American League's as wide open as it's been in years. The Yankees' pitching depth is in shambles, the Astros are in the midst of a roster overall and the Central's perpetually mid. Could be some good value across all three divisions.
We've got Boston taking the East, with a revamped lineup and a youthful infusion of prospects on the come up. The Royals have enough star power to steal the Central, led by Bobby Witt Jr. and Cole Ragans, while the Rangers are set to bounce back from a lackluster 2024 campaign. Too much talent in Arlington for them to stay down.
On the National League side, the Braves aren't as scary as they used to be, opening up an electric Mets team for a run at the NL East crown. Not understanding all the hype behind Chicago in the Central, as we roll with the Reds to finally realize some of their potential to win the pennant. Francona was such a class hire for a young team that needed some direction. And then the Dodgers out West, appropriately placed at -800 right now. Just an insanely disproportionate division, even with the Diamondbacks and Padres boasting highly competitive rosters.
World Series Prediction
Dodgers versus Rangers, with the reigning champs winning in six.
There's just not a roster out there that'll slow the Dodgers this year, assuming they can maintain any semblance of health. Their rotation are all Cy Young candidates, while the lineup is capable of exploding at any point. The upstart Rangers will give them some trouble, but in the end, the preseason favorites leave as World Champions once again.
------
@Choppinglines
*I own no rights to any images found in this blog
Comments
Post a Comment