The Winners and Losers of the MLB Offseason

The Major League Baseball offseason is beginning to dwindle, and Spring Training is on the horizon. So, it feels like an appropriate time to reflect on which teams won the winter and which teams lost it. Obviously, there are still a few big-name free agents on the market (namely Alex Bregman and Jack Flaherty), and there have been blockbuster trades late in the winter in the past, but the dust has seemed to settle for the majority of teams, and 2025 rosters are starting to become more clear. With all that in mind, let's take a look around the league at who capitalized the most this winter on improving their team and who is going to leave this winter feeling disappointed with how it turned out. Here are my biggest winners (besides the Dodgers because that is obvious and no fun) and losers of the offseason.

Winners (other and the Dodgers)

New York Yankees

It is not often that a team loses one of the best players in the sport and still feels like they won an offseason. But this can be said for the Yankees. The Bronx Bombers have used that $700 million salary that could have gone to Juan Soto to, instead, spread it all over the field to improve the team. The Yankees' biggest signing was, without a doubt, bringing in Max Fried to sure up the top end of their starting rotation. Their two biggest trades came with two National League Central rivals as they acquired closer Devin Williams from the Brewers and outfielder Cody Bellinger from the Cubs. They also replaced first baseman Anthony Rizzo by signing former Cardinals slugger Paul Goldschmidt. So, while the Yankees may have missed out on re-signing Soto, they were able to look at a variety of other places to bring talent in that makes them a more complete team heading into 2025. 

Oakland Athletics

This one might be a bit under the radar, but the Athletics were more active in the free agent market than a majority of the league this winter. Their headline signing was inking Luis Severino, who will plug in at the top of their rotation for the next few years. They also brought in flamethrower José Leclerc, who has been a late-game weapon out of the bullpen in recent years. While those are the biggest acquisitions they brought in, Oakland was able to retain a major piece of their offense by re-signing Brent Rooker to a long-term deal. The other reason for optimism in Oakland is the fact that their division is not all that daunting heading into 2025. The Astros, who have dominated this division for the past half-decade, have seemingly taken a step back this year, while the Rangers, Mariners, and Angels all had relatively quiet winters. This is not a prediction for the A’s to win the AL West, but there is potential for Oakland to be competitive within this division in 2025.

New York Mets

It is difficult not to label the team that won the Juan Soto sweepstakes as a winner of the offseason, so here are the New York Mets. Soto obviously makes this lineup, which went to the NLCS last year, even better as Soto and star shortstop Francisco Lindor will be one of the tougher hearts of any lineup for a pitcher to navigate. Aside from Soto, the Mets made sure to address pitching by re-signing Sean Manaea and acquiring Frankie Montas. They also have Clay Holmes and A.J. Minter in the bullpen to help hold late-game leads before closer Edwin Díaz comes in. The only thing lingering for the Mets is the Pete Alonso saga, but if they are somehow able to bring him back, the Mets will undoubtedly be the biggest challengers to the Dodgers in the National League and one of the favorites to win the World Series next season.

Losers

Baltimore Orioles

It feels as though the Orioles have missed the opportunity to take their team to the next level this winter. They are coming off a major disappointment in the playoffs, where they were swept in the Wild Card round by the Royals. Many thought this playoff performance would serve as a wake-up call for Baltimore, saying that they needed to go all in to capitalize on all the young talent this team has. However, they have watched two of their bigger names depart, as Corbin Burnes and Anthony Santander signed elsewhere in free agency. The top signings Baltimore has to show for are bringing in starting pitcher Charlie Morton and outfielder Tyler O’Neill. While both are fine pieces, neither of them really helps put this team over the top in a crowded American League. The Orioles still have one of the best young cores in the league to rely on in 2025, but it feels as though they whiffed on giving them adequate help. 

Toronto Blue Jays

The Blue Jays did not make this list because of a lack of effort. Toronto was seemingly in the running for every big-name free agent on the market, but they continued to walk away empty-handed. The biggest gut punch for Toronto was when Japanese superstar Roki Sasaki was essentially swept away from them by the Dodgers after Toronto went through the effort to acquire extra international signing pool money to offer Sasaki. The Blue Jays were also mentioned in the teams trying to make a run at Juan Soto, and obviously, that did not end up working out either. However, all hope was not lost, as they were able to sign Anthony Santander to a five-year contract worth $92.5 million. All in all, the Blue Jays and their fans probably feel that they deserve to have more to be excited about from this offseason, given the effort they put forth in free agency. 

San Diego Padres

San Diego is usually one of the teams that is seen throwing big money at the biggest free agents on the market, but that was not the case this winter at all. They, too, just like the Blue Jays, took a good run at getting Sasaki until the rival Dodgers scooped him up. To add insult to injury, Los Angeles also signed one of the Padres’ highest-valued relievers, Tanner Scott. Another key departure was beloved utilityman Jurickson Profar, who signed with the Braves. Over the past few years, the Padres have thought of themselves as a team that can contend with and beat the Dodgers as one of the top teams in the National League, but that reality seems quite far-fetched for this current San Diego roster heading into 2025.