Let's face it: the moment the New York Mets signed Juan Soto to that $765 million contract, expectations for the 2025 season began to soar. With the re-signing of Pete Alonso, those expectations have now passed the stratosphere. Next stop, thermosphere.
With Francisco Lindor leading off, the Amazins' have arguably the best batting order in franchise history. I say arguably because the 2006-08 Mets had Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado and David Wright batting 3-5. Not too shabby, if I do say so myself. Regardless of which order you prefer, there's no denying that this team is better and deeper than the one that was two wins away from its first World Series appearance since 2015.
Don't take my word for it. Just check it out for yourselves:
1. Francisco Lindor - SS2. Juan Soto - RF
3. Pete Alonso - 1B
4. Mark Vientos - 3B
5. Brandon Nimmo - RF
6. Starling Marte - DH
7. Jeff McNeil - 2B
8. Franciso Alvares - C
9. Jose Siri - CF
Objectively speaking, only the Los Angeles Dodgers boast a better 1-9.
If there's one concern about this Mets team, it's the starting rotation. Both Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea will start the season on the disabled list and are not expected back until mid-May. That means that the bulk of the load will fall onto the shoulders of converted reliever Clay Holmes, Tylor Megill, David Peterson and Kodai Senga. Holmes had an outstanding spring training, boasting a 0.93 ERA, but Megill and Peterson are ostensibly .500 pitchers, while Senga is coming back from an injury that kept him out most of last season. In other words, Carlos Mendoza will have his work cut out for him managing this staff.
The bullpen should be just fine with closer Edwin Diaz leading the way. And Brett Baty, Luisangel Acuna, Jesse Winker, Tyrone Taylor and Luis Torrens provide plenty of depth in the lineup. No one can say that Steve Cohen and David Stearns haven't done a great job here.
But while this may be the most talented Mets team in almost twenty years, they are hardly a lock to win their division. That's because while the Dodgers may own the NL West, the NL East is the deepest division in Major League Baseball. The Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves are perfectly capable of emerging on top come October. That's why it's essential that this team get off to a good start. They can't afford a repeat of 2024 when they began the season 24-35.
That's why I have the Mets as the prohibitive favorites to win the NL East. Assuming that Soto and Lindor stay healthy and Diaz is lights out, I don't think there's a team east of the Rockies that can touch them.
And now for my predictions for each division, plus which teams will make the league championship and World Series.
National League East:
MetsPhillies (WC)
Braves (WC)
Marlins
Nationals
National League Central:
BrewersCardinals
Cubs
Pirates
Reds
National League West:
DodgersPadres (WC)
Diamondbacks
Giants
Rockies
American League East:
Red SoxYankees (WC)
Blue Jays (WC)
Rays
Orioles
American League Central:
GuardiansTigers
Royals
Twins
White Sox
American League West:
MarinersRangers (WC)
Astros
Angels
A's
NLCS:
Mets over Dodgers 4-3
ALCS:
Red Sox over Mariners 4-2
World Series:
Mets over Red Sox 4-2
As with all my predictions, you should take them with a rather large grain of salt.
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