The early aches, pains and twinges have arrived. So, too, have all the veteran signees who didn’t find a job until spring training was well underway.
So just how do the 30 major league teams stack up with one month until Opening Day?
USA TODAY Sports’ first power rankings of this baseball season begin as the last ended – with the Los Angeles Dodgers on top. Yet some big winter movers have wedged their way into the top 10, while a handful of teams who have already experienced some attrition got dinged, ever so slightly.
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We’ll be back before first pitch to give these a fine-tuning, but for now, we can offer a semi-scientific look at the landscape as Grapefruit and Cactus League play unfold.
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A look at our inaugural 2025 rankings:
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
- You know you’re deep when the best a guy with a $182 million contract can do is get the Domestic Opening Day start.
2. Philadelphia Phillies
- The deepest group in a three-team NL East chase.
3. New York Yankees
- Felt like just enough shakeup after coming so close – though a third baseman would be nice.
4. Arizona Diamondbacks
- Kinda scary they won 89 games with Corbin Carroll hitting .213 through the first 94 games.
5. Atlanta Braves
- Spencer Schwellenbach may be the glue of this rotation.
6. Baltimore Orioles
- How soon will Samuel Basallo bang down the door to Baltimore?
7. New York Mets
- Perhaps Juan Soto tucked a few hits in the cab of Brett Baty’s truck.
8. San Diego Padres
- Is Tirso Ornelas primed to grab a full-time spot in the lineup?
9. Texas Rangers
- Joc Pederson counted on for a lot in the middle of that lineup.
10. Detroit Tigers
- Matt Vierling’s rotator cuff strain puts a little more pressure on Jace Jung.
11. Boston Red Sox
- Brayan Bello likely won’t be ready for first turn around the rotation.
12. Cincinnati Reds
- Anticipating a lot of Matt McLain content in this space going forward.
13. Houston Astros
- ‘Left fielder Jose Altuve’ will take some getting used to.
14. Chicago Cubs
- Nico Hoerner to miss opening series in Tokyo.
15. Seattle Mariners
- Reliever Trevor Gott, slugger Rowdy Tellez among the late camp additions.
16. Kansas City Royals
- After a year in Japan, Thomas Hatch aiming for spot on pitching staff.
17. Toronto Blue Jays
- Daulton Varsho making steady progress in bid to return by Opening Day.
18. Milwaukee Brewers
- So far, so good for Brandon Woodruff in live BP sessions on road back from shoulder surgery.
19. Cleveland Guardians
- Larry Dolan’s passing puts son Paul – already the control person – firmly in the spotlight.
20. Tampa Bay Rays
- Shane McClanahan already named Opening Day starter.
21. San Francisco Giants
- Slugging prospect Bryce Eldridge getting first base tips from guest Gold Glove instructor J.T. Snow.
22. St. Louis Cardinals
- Thomas Saggese poised to snag bigger role should Nolan Arenado trade go down.
23. Minnesota Twins
- One spring-training scare could have been much, much worse.
24. Pittsburgh Pirates
- Versatile Jared Triolo getting some looks at first base.
25. Washington Nationals
- Kyle Finnegan remains a National, after all.
26. Los Angeles Angels
- Zach Neto’s repaired shoulder won’t be ready by Opening Day.
27. Athletics
- Union keeping close eye on condition of temporary digs in Sacramento.
28. Colorado Rockies
- Top pitching prospect Chase Dollander looking crisp in early exhibition action.
29. Miami Marlins
- Sandy Alcantara, your Opening Day starter, already topping 100 mph in Grapefruit League.
30. Chicago White Sox
- Broken hand puts Andrew Benintendi out into April.
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