MLB: 2025 Team Core Rankings. Who dominates?

MLB Central Talent Analysis: Team Rankings for 2025

As we approach the end of the 2025 season, it’s time to present my annual ranking of the core talent of the 30 MLB teams. This analysis evaluates teams based on the players they have under contract for the next two full seasons. Many of the teams at the top of this list are competing in the playoff race in the final month. In this exercise, salaries are not a factor, and neither is age. However, a rise is projected for young players and a fall for older players, as teams are being projected and classified for a period of more than two years. Few players at the A-Ball levels are included, as they are likely to contribute only at the end of 2027, if at all, even if they are top prospects. To facilitate the comparison of each team’s talent, players are divided into three categories: elite (talent with a value of 5 WAR, or perennial All-Stars with MVP possibilities), plus (3-5 WAR types) and solid (1.5-3 WAR, or low-level starters and valuable role players). Players with easy acquisition options or club/player options that are likely to be exercised were included, but players with opt-out options that are likely to be exercised were excluded. There is some subjectivity in this area; star players who do not qualify are mentioned below. Players are listed in general order of preference within each category, so it can be argued that a player at the top or bottom of a category moves up or down, or that two players next to each other in the same category are swapped. The overall ranking does not come from an algorithm that judges teams or their players in each category; each list is compared one by one. It is often difficult to compare the value of a prospect’s next 2 and a half years in Double-A with that of a proven veteran having an off-season.

Jump to a team:

AL East:

BAL | BOS | NYY | TB | TOR

AL Central:

CHW | CLE | DET | KC | MIN

AL West:

ATH | HOU | LAA | SEA | TEX

NL East:

ATL | MIA | NYM | PHI | WSH

NL Central:

CHC | CIN | MIL | PIT | STL

NL West:

ARI | COL | LAD | SD | SF

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

2024 Ranking: 1

2023 Ranking: 2

2022 Ranking: 3

Elite: Shohei Ohtani/DH+RHPPlus: Will Smith/C, Yoshinobu Yamamoto/RHS, Freddie Freeman/1B, Mookie Betts/SS, Andy Pages/CF, Blake Snell/LHS, Tyler Glasnow/RHSSolid: Tommy Edman/2B, Emmet Sheehan/RHS, Teoscar Hernandez/RF, Hyeseong Kim/2B, Tanner Scott/LHR, Brock Stewart/RHR, Justin Wrobleski/LHR, Dalton Rushing/C, Alex Freeland/SS, Roki Sasaki/RHS, Edgardo Henriquez/RHR, Josue De Paula/LF, Jack Dreyer/LHR, Zyhir Hope/RF, Mike Sirota/CF, Jackson Ferris/LHS, River Ryan/RHS, James Tibbs/RF The Dodgers remain on top, but some cracks have been forming since last year’s classification. Betts and Freeman dropped in category, Max Muncy came off the list because he is under team control until next season, Bobby Miller and Roki Sasaki are among the young players who regressed, and several key players are in their 30s. However, the Dodgers still have the best combination of high-level hitting and pitching talent in the major leagues, with the biggest contributors under team control for at least a few more years, and they have the second-best farm system in baseball. They are very likely to be in this area of the list next year.

2. Seattle Mariners

2024 Ranking: 4

2023 Ranking: 3

2022 Ranking: 10

Elite: Cal Raleigh/C, Julio Rodriguez/CFPlus: Logan Gilbert/RHS, George Kirby/RHS, Bryan Woo/RHS, Andres Munoz/RHRSolid: Colt Emerson/SS, Kade Anderson/LHS, Luis Castillo/RHS, Gabe Speier/LHR, Cole Young/2B, Ryan Sloan/RHS, Matt Brash/RHR, Harry Ford/C, Michael Arroyo/2B, Lazaro Montes/RF, Luke Raley/RF, Victor Robles/CF, Bryce Miller/RHS, Dominic Canzone/RF, Jurrangelo Cijntje/SHP, Jonny Farmelo/CF, Ryan Bliss/2B Raleigh and Woo have taken big steps forward this season, while the rest of Seattle’s high-end talent has, at least, held strong, if not improved a bit. Like the Dodgers, the Mariners also have one of the best farm systems, ranking third. Seattle has eight prospects among the top 100, and most of them will be in Double-A or Triple-A to start next season. That next wave of talent looks impactful and could affect the major league level in 2026. That would be timely, as J.P. Crawford and Randy Arozarena are set to hit free agency after 2026, while Gilbert’s team control ends after 2027.

3. Philadelphia Phillies

2024 Ranking: 5

2023 Ranking: 15

2022 Ranking: 8

Elite: Trea Turner/SS, Zack Wheeler/RHS, Cristopher Sanchez/LHSPlus: Bryce Harper/1B, Jhoan Duran/RHRSolid: Aaron Nola/RHS, Bryson Stott/2B, Brandon Marsh/CF, Aidan Miller/SS, Andrew Painter/RHS, Justin Crawford/CF, Orion Kerkering/RHR, Tanner Banks/RHR, Johan Rojas/CF, Gage Wood/RHR Philadelphia has much less depth than Seattle because the Phillies have some good major league players whose contracts expire this year or next: J.T. Realmuto, Kyle Schwarber, Ranger Suarez, Alec Bohm, Jesus Luzardo, Matt Strahm, and Jose Alvarado.

The farm system isn’t that deep either, ranking 21st out of 30 teams, because the Phillies bet on these upcoming seasons. But the top of the Phillies’ list is really good, and it’s basically a coin flip with the Mariners for second place, depending on what kind of core you prefer. Wheeler’s injury and Nola’s offseason made the difference for me.

4. New York Mets

2024 Ranking: 9

2023 Ranking: 10

2022 Ranking: 7

Elite: Francisco Lindor/SS, Juan Soto/RFPlus: Brandon Nimmo/LF, Edwin Diaz/RHRSolid: Nolan McLean/RHS, Jonah Tong/RHS, Francisco Alvarez/C, Jeff McNeil/2B, Brett Baty/3B, Jett Williams/SS, Carson Benge/CF, Sean Manaea/LHS, Tylor Megill/RHS, Kodai Senga/RHS, Mark Vientos/3B, Ronny Mauricio/3B, Christian Scott/RHS, Brandon Sproat/RHS, A.J. Ewing/CF, Jacob Reimer/3B, Ryan Clifford/1B, Reed Garrett/RHR, Jonathan Santucci/LHS, Will Watson/RHS The Mets have one of the healthiest organizations in baseball, combining the best farm system in the game and a playoff-caliber major league club, with Pete Alonso as the only key player likely to test free agency. I put Diaz in the plus category and left out McLean and Tong due to their lack of longevity performing at that level, but in a month, those two prospect starters could move up a category. Similar to the Mariners, the Mets have a wave of young talent that will make their way into the upper minor leagues or the major leagues next season and could define the team’s next five years.

5. Atlanta Braves

2024 Ranking: 2

2023 Ranking: 1

2022 Ranking: 1Elite: Ronald Acuna Jr./RFPlus: Matt Olson/1B, Austin Riley/3B, Spencer Strider/RHS, Drake Baldwin/C, Spencer Schwellenbach/RHS, Sean Murphy/CSolid: Michael Harris II/CF, Jurickson Profar/LF, Ozzie Albies/2B, Reynaldo Lopez/RHS, Hurston Waldrep/RHS, Didier Fuentes/RHS, JR Ritchie/RHS, AJ Smith-Shawver/RHS, Nacho Alvarez Jr./3B, Owen Murphy/RHS It has been a down year for the Braves on numerous fronts. Chris Sale no longer qualifies for this exercise, Spencer Strider hasn’t been the same, and Michael Harris II and Ozzie Albies have declined. Injuries impacted Riley and Schwellenbach’s seasons, and Profar’s PED suspension limited his campaign. This core has been so good for years, as can be seen by the organization’s past rankings, that the Braves’ bad season in 2025 still can’t knock them out of the top five. Waldrep, Fuentes, and Ritchie could be answers to starting pitching needs in 2026, while Smith-Shawver, Murphy, and Cam Caminiti could be answers in 2027.

6. Arizona Diamondbacks

2024 Ranking: 14

2023 Ranking: 13

2022 Ranking: 20

Elite: Corbin Carroll/RF, Ketel Marte/2BPlus: Geraldo Perdomo/SS, Gabriel Moreno/C, Corbin Burnes/RHPSolid: Lourdes Gurriel Jr./LF, Brandon Pfaadt/RHS, Jordan Lawlar/SS, Ryne Nelson/RHS, Slade Caldwell/CF, Adrian Del Castillo/C, Tyler Locklear/1B, Ryan Waldschmidt/LF, Kohl Drake/LHS, Blaze Alexander/3B, Tommy Troy/2B, Eduardo Rodriguez/LHS, Justin Martinez/RHR, Alek Thomas/CF, Jake McCarthy/LF, Cristian Mena/RHS, Brandyn Garcia/LHR Carroll, Marte, and Perdomo have become an elite group of position players, and Moreno isn’t far behind. Burnes is an ace, but he might not pitch again until 2027, so the D-backs need to see this next group of young players continue to progress and complement that core. Locklear, Drake, and Garcia were acquired at the deadline, and Caldwell and Waldschmidt were their first two picks in the 2024 draft.

7. Boston Red Sox

2024 Ranking: 13

2023 Ranking: 24

2022 Ranking: 24

Elite: Garrett Crochet/LHSPlus: Roman Anthony/RF, Jarren Duran/LF, Ceddanne Rafaela/CF, Wilyer Abreu/RFSolid: Trevor Story/SS, Brayan Bello/RHS, Marcelo Mayer/