It's the most wonderful time of the year! December is a time filled with giving and receiving gifts to celebrate the holidays.
There are only a few days left until the Winter Meetings are over and the page is turned on Christmas and 2025. Each team has a question mark worth answering, and some have presents under the tree for you and me.
Without further ado, here are some of the most pressing topics surrounding each American League team.
Al East
Baltimore Orioles – Corbin Burnes Return or Exchange
The Baltimore Orioles won 91 games a year ago after winning 101 games in 2023, but were once again eliminated from the playoffs early. The fourth-leading scoring offense in baseball has stars all over the diamond, but the most questionable spot is on the mound. All is quiet on the free agent front for star right-hander Corbin Burnes. The 2021 National League Cy Young Award winner started 32 games and pitched 194.1 innings, posting a 15-9 record with a 2.92 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 181 strikeouts. ESPN's Jeff Passan reported Alex Bregman and Barnes are likely to be signed after Christmas on Thursday. The Orioles, San Francisco Giants, and Toronto Blue Jays are the main teams to keep an eye on for Barnes. The Orioles have no choice but to lose Barnes and replace him with a first-line starter. A reunion with Jack Flaherty would be the most high-profile event outside of Burns. Baltimore needs to do everything in its power to get its ace back.
Boston Red Sox – Top Rotation Arm
The Red Sox have been busy adding to their pitching staff this offseason, and they may be looking for more. Boston already acquired left-hander Garrett Crochet in a trade with the White Sox, and this week signed former Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler to a one-year contract. But they may still be looking for more. The Red Sox are one of the few teams rumored to be interested in Seattle right-hander Luis Castillo. Top free agent Corbin Burnes remains on the board, as does veteran Jack Flaherty.
New York Yankees – Bullpen Support and Health
The Yankees wasted no time working on their roster after losing outfielder Juan Soto to their crosstown rival New York Mets. The Yankees signed left-hander Max Fried to an eight-year, $216 million contract and responded by trading him for former National League MVP Cody Bellinger (Chicago Cubs) and closer Devin Williams (Milwaukee Brewers). Ta. The team also acquired veteran first baseman Paul Goldschmidt on a one-year contract.
It must be strange for Yankee fans to see the Mets poach Soto and Holmes, but Bellinger, Williams, and Goldschmidt are notable veterans who could add stability where the Yankees need it. Will Gleyber Torres return? In any case, the Yankees may turn their attention to the bullpen and solidify a already solid group. For the Yankees to return to the promised land, they need Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Gerrit Cole, and others healthy more than anything.
Tampa Bay Rays – Comfort in new facility
Hurricane Milton hit Tropicana Field, leaving the closed stadium too damaged to host baseball games in 2025. As a result, the Rays ended up playing at George M. Steinbrenner Field, the home of the New York Yankees' spring training affiliate. It won't be easy adjusting to a new environment and a stadium with 11,000 fans, just as the Blue Jays have had to do during the pandemic. Tampa added an answer at third base by sending Isaac Paredes to Chicago in exchange for Christopher Morell. Shortstop remains an area of need, and a nod to Danny Jansen behind the plate could help boost the offense. Jose Iglesias and Paul De Jong could be suitable candidates.
Toronto Blue Jays – Should they stay or go?
This popular song by The Clash is still popular after all these years, but it also applies to the current state of the Blue Jays organization. Toronto baseball will be shaped by two decisions in 2025. Will Vlad Guerrero and Bo Bichette remain with the Blue Jays long-term, become free agents, or be traded at the deadline? Any hint that the organization will listen to their two stars? Rumors were swirling, but neither was reportedly close to the I and T points. Guerrero and Bichette, who will earn an estimated $46 million combined in impending free agency, are the backbone of Jays baseball and two of the best offensive players in the game. Guerrero had 30 home runs, 103 RBIs, a .323 batting average (second in the AL), and a .940 OPS. Toronto finished last in the division with a record of 74 wins and 88 losses, and Bichette only played in 81 games due to injury. While investing significant amounts of capital in either company may be off the table, their exits would signal that a rebuild is underway for the AL East's powerhouse teams.
Al Central
Cleveland Guardians – Starting Pitcher
The Guardians have been busy this winter reshuffling their roster to cut costs in order to stay competitive in the Central. Cleveland traded Andres Jimenez to Toronto primarily to save money. They also released first baseman Josh Naylor to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Guardians have agreed to a one-year contract with Carlos Santana to replace Naylor. Shane Bieber will return from Tommy John in June to solidify the rotation, but they could still add a proven veteran. The Guardians are in a great spot, but they need more strength from their lineup as the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers knocked down the door to the playoffs last year and tightened the division. Whit Merrifield and Brendan Rodgers would look good in a Guardians uniform.
Chicago White Sox – Acquires top player Luis Robert
A year ago, the Chicago White Sox had perhaps the worst season in MLB history. The White Sox finished with 41 wins and 121 losses, joining the Cleveland Spiders for last place in baseball history. Luis Robert, who is under contract for potentially three seasons, is the most attractive trade piece for Chicago, acquiring talent to accelerate a slow rebuild. Robert finished his worst season with a batting average of .224, an OPS of .657, 14 home runs, and 35 RBIs through 393 at-bats. Robert had 141 strikeouts in 100 games, but hit 38 home runs and drove in 80 homers before making the All-Star game two years ago. Passan believes Roberts is possible, and speculation surrounding the Philadelphia Phillies and Yankees suggests that the Sox could sign Roberts, ideally two top-100 players, and give fans an idea of the future. Speculation is mounting that it will offer hope.
Detroit Tigers – More Offense
The Tigers shocked the baseball world by making it to the playoffs in the final stages and defeating the Houston Astros. Tarik Skubal won the AL Cy Young Award with 228 strikeouts and a 2.39 ERA in 192 innings. This rotation could use some help to complement Skubal, but it remains a strength, especially if former No. 1 pick Casey Mize figures it out. Detroit needs to add more offense to a unit that ranks 23rd in OPS and has a team average of .234. Alex Bregman remains eligible, and the Tigers have not been hesitant to add salary in the past. Bregman and the outfield can get the Tigers back to the playoffs.
Kansas City Royals – Hitters Help Witt
What a great time to be a Kansas City sports fan. The Chiefs have won back-to-back Super Bowls and are looking to secure the No. 1 seed. The Royals made the playoffs a year after losing 100 games and have one of baseball's brightest stars in shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. KC needs help at third base and outfield to take pressure off Witt. Could Alex Bregman be a dark horse candidate? The bullpen finished 20th in baseball with a 4.13 ERA and could undergo a facelift to reach that final spot.
Minnesota Twins – Outfield Help
Max Kepler signed a one-year deal with Philadelphia, Manuel Margo is a free agent, and the pedestrian Twins offense is looking for answers. Minnesota ranks in the bottom third of the most offensive categories and may want to add some bullpen players, including Byron Buxton, Pablo Lopez, Joan Duran, An influential player like Carlos Correa will carry that load. The Twins are in a tough division and are not far from returning to the playoffs, but they need to stand out on offense. Jason Heyward and Jurickson Profar both make sense, with Profar able to fly all over the field with reliable hitting tools.
al west
Houston Astros – Remake the outfield
The Astros also had a busy offseason, surprising everyone by shipping outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Isaac Paredes, Hayden Wesneski, and prospect Cam Smith. Houston almost traded for Nolan Arenado, but was prevented by triggering the no-trade clause in his contract. As a result, they changed direction by signing first baseman Christian Walker to a three-year contract. With the addition of No. 3 Paredes and Walker, the Alex Bergman era appears to be over.
While they lost Tucker, the Astros did a good job of rebuilding their system. There is still room for improvement in the outfield, with Taylor Trammell, Jake Myers and Chas McCormick expected to be starters.
A's – Find your identity
Auckland is no more. It will take some getting used to. The Athletics will play the next three seasons in Sacramento before moving to Las Vegas in 2028. Until then, it will be referred to simply as “Athletics,” without a location. What will the A's culture look like in 2025? The fans in the stands at the Oakland Coliseum shed tears, watching the end of an era. It was hard to watch, but the man on the mound to close out the game was full of hope and optimism. brought a feeling of Mason Miller needs to take control of the team's culture and leadership. Using him as a starter is a risk, but he could be rewarded with a Paul Skeens-like 100 mph fastball and blitz pitching. Signing Luis Severino to the largest contract in franchise history was a great start, but who do the Athletics want with franchise and roster questions?
Seattle Mariners – Getting over the hump
Seattle should ask Santa what they can do to keep the strikeouts as low as possible and get the ball in play. The Mariners need to rebuild their offense and add some pieces to complement their impressive rotation of Luis Castillo, George Kirby, and Logan Gilbert. The team was first in starting rotation ERA (3.49), first in strikeouts (1,625), and second to last in batting average (.224). The wide disparity in success resulted in Seattle winning only 85 games instead of 90 or more. If the Mariners can keep their offense under control, they will be the favorites to win the American League West Division.
Los Angeles Angels – Mike Trout's future
One of the greatest baseball players of all time has reached the breaking point of his career. Mike Trout enters his age-33 season in danger of becoming the best player ever to fail to win a playoff series and advance to the league championship series. Injuries have derailed Trout's career in three of the last four years: 2021 (36 games), 2023 (82 games) and 2024 (29 games). He hit 10 home runs, then was injured again and tore his meniscus. Trout hit 40 home runs two years ago, but a three-time MVP seems out of reach. He is under contract through 2030 and will earn $35 million per season. Although his value isn't the highest, the Angels could receive a king's ransom for Trout. It may not work out financially, and Trout may not want to leave the place where he spent his entire career, but a separation may be best for both parties.
Texas Rangers – Jacob deGrom healthy and pitching stronger
The Rangers' offense is a big power threat, but he will be exempt for part of the season. At 36 years old, Jacob deGrom's health is worth nothing more than a lump of coal. Since signing a five-year, $185 million contract, deGrom has pitched 41 innings. The Rangers need more pitching to complement him, but the two-time Cy Young Award winner needs to be on the mound for Texas to turn things around. Whit Merrifield could also be a good fit for Texas, who need a high-hitting player at the top of the lineup. deGrom and the bat under the tree relight the Rangers' torch.
