10 biggest storylines of the 2025 MLB season

It's almost Opening Day - finally - and with that comes a fresh season full of hope, angst, and no shortage of action. Let's take a look at 10 of the biggest MLB storylines to follow over the next six-plus months.

Will Vladdy sign?

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. seems set to test free agency next winter after ending negotiations with the Blue Jays upon reporting to spring training. Guerrero, who's maintained he wants to stay in Toronto, said he wanted a 14-year deal for less than $600 million; the Jays reportedly offered him 14 years at around $500 million with deferrals. The question now is not only whether the sides can, or will, resume talks in-season despite Guerrero's deadline, but whether this entire situation will be a distraction for a Blue Jays team that's entering a must-win season. His (and Bo Bichette's) pending free agency could cast a shadow over the team all year.

Rays, A's in temporary digs

Two minor-league ballparks will host MLB games in 2025. The Tampa Bay Rays moved to Steinbrenner Field - home of the Single-A Tampa Tarpons, and the New York Yankees during spring training - after Hurricane Milton destroyed Tropicana Field's roof. The Athletics, meanwhile, willingly ditched Oakland to play at West Sacramento's Sutter Health Park. While these moves aren't unprecedented (the Blue Jays played in Buffalo during the pandemic), it will still be fascinating to watch teams adjust to the lower-level accommodations. All of this is happening as both teams' long-term stadium situations remain in limbo.

Wide-open AL

While the National League is loaded with talent, the American League has started to look more like the NBA's Eastern Conference. Even the most obvious AL playoff teams either have noticeable flaws or are already dealing with significant injuries that could quickly derail their hopes. Will anybody win 90 games? Could a sub-.500 team like the A's actually sneak into a wild-card spot at the expense of the Yankees or Orioles? These kinds of wild scenarios might seem unbelievable, but that's the reality of the 2025 Junior Circuit. Anything could happen.

Trout, Acuña, Strider returning

An array of big-name stars will return to the diamond at full strength this year. The biggest name of all is Mike Trout, who, when healthy, remains among the very best in the business. Trout's now a right fielder, and hopefully the position change can help him play 130-plus games for the first time since 2019. Meanwhile in Atlanta, the Braves' Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuña Jr. are both due to return early in the season. Strider looked great in his first spring start, but will Acuña be able to return to his 40-70 self after a second torn ACL? The Braves' season could hinge on the answer.

How high can Dodgers fly?

The Los Angeles Dodgers were already a juggernaut when they won the 2024 World Series. Then they added Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki, and others to a roster that already includes multiple superstars and future Hall of Famers. Sure, they have to play the games, but these Dodgers seem like as close to an unstoppable force as you'll find - one that could potentially set records across the board. And while they might now be the biggest villains in baseball, you'll still watch. It's hard to turn away from greatness.

Ohtani's mound return

One year after making history with an unprecedented 50-50 season, Shohei Ohtani's ready to take the mound again, likely at some point in May. Obviously, his first start as a Dodger will be a can't-miss event, but once the hype dies down, there will also be many questions. How will Ohtani the pitcher look after missing a full season following elbow surgery? Did he have enough time to properly rehab on the mound given his DH duties? Will he even be able to make it through the season as a two-way player under these circumstances?

A full season of Skenes

Paul Skenes is ready to embark on his first full big-league season, this time as a fully fledged superstar. Although his Pittsburgh Pirates probably aren't quite ready to contend, the 22-year-old pitcher has turned their games - well, at least his starts - into must-watch events. There's no reason to think that he won't continue his ascent in 2025, and that'll make this summer unforgettable in Pittsburgh, regardless of the Bucs' overall record.

Phillies' last gasp?

The Phillies' surprising 2022 pennant seemed like the start of a new golden era for the franchise, but it hasn't been able to replicate that success just yet. A shocking NLCS loss to Arizona in 2023 was followed by last October's early exit at the hands of the rival Mets. Now, the clock is ticking quite a bit louder. Philadelphia's excellent core is aging quickly, and Kyle Schwarber, Ranger Suárez, and J.T. Realmuto are entering their walk years. This group may be staring at its last chance to make good on its promise and win a title before big changes need to be made. These Phillies teams were built to win, and the pressure to do so has never been higher.

Soto's Mets debut

Meanwhile in Flushing, the Mets are trying to turn last year's Cinderella NLCS run into their own NL East dynasty. Steve Cohen made the splashiest acquisition of the offseason by luring Juan Soto across town on a record $765-million contract. Based just on what he did last season with the Yankees, Soto already feels like a player who's made for New York. Now, as he enters his prime, he's the face of the Mets, and he seems ready to try and take this franchise to new heights. This isn't a perfect team, though, as evidenced by the concerns surrounding the pitching staff. Soto can't do it all himself, and if he gets off to a slow start, he'll hear about it quickly from the Mets faithful.

Arenado saga continues

The St. Louis Cardinals entered the offseason with a clear objective: Trade Nolan Arenado. They didn't, and now Arenado enters Opening Day in a Cardinals uniform with his future murkier than ever. Arenado, of course, holds all the cards with his no-trade clause, and he rejected a deal that would have sent him to the Houston Astros. As long as he remains in town, Arenado's every move and expression will likely be dissected and analyzed in the small-market bubble that is St. Louis to try to determine if he's unhappy, or loafing, or anything in between. This has the potential to become a massive distraction for a franchise that's already teetering on the brink.