Predicting Every MLB Team's 2025 Opening Day Lineup

The final month of the 2024 MLB season is here, and while the playoff push is heating up for this year's contenders, many teams have already turned their attention to the offseason.

Predicting what each team's lineup might look like on Opening Day next year is extremely difficult, but that didn't stop us from trying.

Ahead, we've assigned all of the top upcoming free agents to logical landing spots and projected a few trades on the way to predicting each MLB team's Opening Day lineup for the 2025 season.

Lineup data from Baseball Reference, roster data from FanGraphs and a healthy amount of speculation on where free agents will sign went into compiling each team's batting order.

This will be updated throughout the offseason, so this is just a starting point.

Note: Names in bold indicate a projected signing or trade pickup.

Projected Starting Lineup

RF Corbin Carroll
CF Jake McCarthy
2B Ketel Marte
1B Christian Walker
LF Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
C Gabriel Moreno
DH Adrian Del Castillo
SS Geraldo Perdomo
3B Jordan Lawlar
SP Zac Gallen

Notes

-The biggest question for the D-backs is whether first baseman Christian Walker will return. A new contract in the neighborhood of the two-year, $40 million deal that Anthony Rizzo signed prior to the 2023 season would represent a nice payday for the 33-year-old without breaking the bank.

-Declining a $15 million club option on third baseman Eugenio Suárez would clear a path for top prospect Jordan Lawlar to win a job on the infield. If he needs more development time after an injury-plagued 2024 season, young infielder Blaze Alexander can help bridge the gap.

Projected Starting Lineup

CF Michael Harris III
RF Jorge Soler
3B Austin Riley
DH Marcell Ozuna
1B Matt Olson
2B Ozzie Albies
C Sean Murphy
LF Jarred Kelenic
SS Orlando Arcia
SP Chris Sale

Notes

-Unless the Braves make the shocking decision to decline a $16 million club option on MVP candidate Marcell Ozuna, their go-to starting lineup appears to be set heading into the 2025 season.

-Ronald Acuña Jr. will not be ready for Opening Day as he continues his recovery from a torn ACL, which means Jorge Soler will be asked to play in the outfield on a regular basis. That will make finding a solid defensive fourth outfielder a priority, and veteran Kevin Kiermaier could be a good fit for that role.

Projected Starting Lineup

CF Cedric Mullins
C Adley Rutschman
SS Gunnar Henderson
1B Ryan Mountcastle
DH Ryan O'Hearn
3B Jordan Westburg
LF Colton Cowser
RF Heston Kjerstad
2B Jackson Holliday
SP Corbin Burnes

Notes

-With so many promising young bats in the organization, the Orioles will likely let slugger Anthony Santander walk in free agency, though that will mean someone like Heston Kjerstad or Coby Mayo will be counted on to step up in the middle of the lineup.

-The No. 1 priority this winter has to be coming to terms on a new deal with Corbin Burnes to anchor the starting rotation. Otherwise, they need to quickly pivot to pursue another available top-of-the-rotation starter such as Max Fried, Blake Snell or Jack Flaherty.

Projected Starting Lineup

LF Jarren Duran
SS Ha-Seong Kim
1B Triston Casas
3B Rafael Devers
2B Trevor Story
RF Wilyer Abreu
DH Masataka Yoshida
C Connor Wong
CF Ceddanne Rafaela
SP Tanner Houck

Notes

-Given all the issues the Red Sox have had finding stability at the two middle infield spots the last few seasons, Ha-Seong Kim could be the perfect offseason target thanks to his defensive versatility. Slotting him at shortstop and easing Trevor Story back into the mix at second base could also help keep the high-priced slugger healthy.

-It will be interesting to see if 2023 first-round pick Kyle Teel can make a serious push for the starting catcher job next spring. The 22-year-old hit .299/.390/.462 with 20 doubles, 11 home runs and 60 RBI in 84 games at Double-A this season, and he was promoted to Triple-A on Aug. 13.

Projected Starting Lineup

CF Pete Crow-Armstrong
2B Nico Hoerner
LF Ian Happ
3B Isaac Paredes
1B Michael Busch
DH Seiya Suzuki
RF Mark Canha
SS Dansby Swanson
C Miguel Amaya
SP Justin Steele

Notes

-If the Cubs are going to spend big this offseason, the first order of business should be shoring up the relief corps with multiple proven, late-inning arms. They could also use at least one more starting pitcher, so the starting lineup may be more or less set.

-A low-cost veteran such as Mark Canha could help bridge the gap to young outfielders Owen Caissie and Kevin Alcántara, while also providing a backup option for Michael Busch at first base and a designated hitter/pinch hitter option.

Projected Starting Lineup

SS Amed Rosario
LF Andrew Benintendi
CF Luis Robert Jr.
1B Andrew Vaughn
RF Gavin Sheets
DH Miguel Vargas
C Korey Lee
3B Bryan Ramos
2B Lenyn Sosa
SP Garrett Crochet

Notes

-Convincing anyone to sign with a team coming off one of the worst seasons in MLB history is going to be a challenge for the White Sox front office, but it can use playing time as a bargaining chip for veterans who might otherwise have to settle for a backup role on contending clubs.

-That description fits Amed Rosario well as he continues to try to rebuild his stock back to where it was when he was a 4.2-WAR player in 2022. The former top prospect is still only 28 years old, and he could be a nice buy-low flip for the South Siders if he gets off to a strong start.

Projected Starting Lineup

3B Jonathan India
SS Elly De La Cruz
DH Jeimer Candelario
LF Spencer Steer
C Tyler Stephenson
2B Matt McLain
1B Ty France
CF TJ Friedl
RF Will Benson
SP Hunter Greene

Notes

-Ty France is making $6.8 million this season, and his price tag will likely climb north of $8 million if the Reds decide to tender him a contract. The 30-year-old is hitting .303/.360/.465 for a 126 OPS+ in 111 plate appearances since he was acquired, but the Reds are notoriously frugal. A more likely path will be to non-tender him, then try to re-sign him for a more team-friendly price.

-Noelvi Marte (186 PA, 47 OPS+, .198/.231/.305) and Christian Encarnacion-Strand (123 PA, 40 OPS+, .190/.220/.293) have struggled this season to the point where they will need to play their way onto the roster with strong performances next spring.

Projected Starting Lineup

LF Steven Kwan
2B Andrés Giménez
3B José Ramírez
1B Josh Naylor
RF Jhonkensy Noel
DH David Fry
CF Lane Thomas
C Bo Naylor
SS Brayan Rocchio
SP Tanner Bibee

Notes

-The emergence of towering slugger Jhonkensy Noel and the addition of Lane Thomas at the deadline have answered the question of who slots into the outfield alongside Steven Kwan, and suddenly the Guardians appear to have one of the more set lineups in baseball.

-It's far too early to give up on Bo Naylor after a disappointing 2024 season, but the club could look to bring in a more productive backup than Austin Hedges this time around in case his struggles continue.

Projected Starting Lineup

DH Charlie Blackmon
SS Ezequiel Tovar
CF Brenton Doyle
3B Ryan McMahon
RF Kris Bryant
1B Michael Toglia
2B Brendan Rodgers
LF Nolan Jones
C Drew Romo
SP Kyle Freeland

Notes

-The Rockies jumped the market and brought back veteran Charlie Blackmon on a one-year, $13 million deal last September, likely overpaying by at least two or three times his market value. If he wants to return for another season, there's reason to think they won't do it again.

-Can Kris Bryant stay healthy? Can Nolan Jones return to his 2023 form? Is Brenton Doyle the real deal? Will Drew Romo do enough this September to win the starting catcher job? Does any of it actually matter for an organization going nowhere?

Projected Starting Lineup

CF Matt Vierling
LF Riley Greene
DH Kerry Carpenter
RF Teoscar Hernández
2B Colt Keith
1B Spencer Torkelson
3B Jace Jung
SS Javier Báez
C Jake Rogers
SP Tarik Skubal

Notes

-The Tigers have a good enough foundation in place to aim for making a splash in free agency, and a proven run producer like Teoscar Hernandez could completely transform an offense that ranks 22nd in the majors with 4.19 runs per game.

-How long before the Tigers seriously consider cutting their losses with Javier Báez? The 31-year-old underwent hip surgery on Tuesday that will sideline him for the remainder of the season and could put his status for Opening Day in question. He is still owed $73 million over the final three seasons of his six-year, $140 million deal.

Projected Starting Lineup

2B Jose Altuve
DH Yordan Alvarez
RF Kyle Tucker
3B Alex Bregman
1B Josh Bell
C Yainer Diaz
SS Jeremy Peña
LF Chas McCormick
CF Jake Meyers
SP Framber Valdez

Notes

-The Astros face one of the biggest free-agency decisions of the offseason on homegrown star Alex Bregman, and at this point, a reunion still seems like the most likely outcome. That said, they also need to consider the fact that Framber Valdez and Kyle Tucker are both headed for free agency after the 2025 season.

-Finding an upgrade at first base will be a top priority this winter, and Josh Bell has done a nice job rebuilding his stock after he was traded to the D-backs at the deadline. The 32-year-old is hitting .272/.352/.430 for a 117 OPS+ with four home runs and 17 RBI in 131 plate appearances since the trade.

Projected Starting Lineup

2B Maikel García
SS Bobby Witt Jr.
1B Vinnie Pasquantino
C Salvador Pérez
RF Tyler O'Neill
3B Paul DeJong
DH Hunter Renfroe
LF MJ Melendez
CF Kyle Isbel
SP Seth Lugo

Notes

-The Royals need to find some middle-of-the-order help for the trio of Bobby Witt Jr., Salvador Pérez and Vinnie Pasquantino, and outfielder Tyler O'Neill gives them a productive slugger still in the prime of his career as he just turned 29 years old in June.

-With a 128 OPS+ and six home runs in 91 plate appearances since he was acquired from the Chicago White Sox at the deadline, Paul DeJong has been one of the team's most productive hitters over the past month. It likely won't take more than a couple million dollars to bring him back on a one-year deal.

Projected Starting Lineup

1B Nolan Schanuel
SS Zach Neto
DH Mike Trout
C Logan O'Hoppe
3B Anthony Rendon
LF Taylor Ward
2B Luis Rengifo
RF Jo Adell
CF Michael A. Taylor
SP Tyler Anderson

Notes

-The Angels need to start taking proactive measures to increase the chances of Mike Trout staying upright for an entire season, and shifting him to designated hitter is a logical first step in that process. He could still start a few games a week in center field, but the bulk of his playing time should be in the DH role.

-Michael A. Taylor had a really good 2023 season serving as an insurance policy to the oft-injured Byron Buxton in Minnesota. And while the 33-year-old has had a down year in Pittsburgh, he could be a nice fit in that same role providing support to Trout in center field.

Projected Starting Lineup

DH Shohei Ohtani
RF Mookie Betts
1B Freddie Freeman
SS Willy Adames
3B Max Muncy
C Will Smith
LF Jesse Winker
2B Gavin Lux
CF Tommy Edman
SP Tyler Glasnow

Notes

-The Dodgers trading for Willy Adames was a popular hypothetical last offseason, and now they can simply push to sign him in free agency. That would allow Mookie Betts to stay in right field, and it would give the team another 30-homer threat in the middle of the lineup.

-Swapping out Teoscar Hernandez (129 OPS+, 28 HR, 87 RBI) for Jesse Winker (127 OPS+, 14 HR, 58 RBI) would save the team a significant chunk of money, and with a huge offensive upgrades at shortstop in Adames, the offense as a whole would still be upgraded.

Projected Starting Lineup

SS Xavier Edwards
3B Connor Norby
RF Jesús Sánchez
DH Jake Burger
1B Rowdy Tellez
C Carson Kelly
LF Alex Verdugo
2B Otto Lopez
CF Cristian Pache
SP Jesús Luzardo

Notes

-Anyone with a pulse who can swing a baseball bat stands to be an offensive upgrade over the Marlins' current lineup, so they will be a logical landing spot for fringe free agents who are struggling to find a guarantee of regular playing time elsewhere.

-Rowdy Tellez, Carson Kelly and Alex Verdugo all fit that above description, and bringing them all aboard on one-year deals would provide an offensive boost while also restocking the cupboard with trade chips. All three players offer upside relative to their likely cost in free agency.

Projected Starting Lineup

2B Brice Turang
LF Jackson Chourio
DH Christian Yelich
C William Contreras
1B Rhys Hoskins
RF Garrett Mitchell
3B Sal Frelick
SS Joey Ortiz
CF Blake Perkins
SP Freddy Peralta

Notes

-First baseman Rhys Hoskins has an $18 million player option for next year that he will likely exercise given his middling production this season. The 31-year-old is hitting .209/.294/.412 for a 93 OPS+ in 112 games, though he has tallied 23 home runs and 70 RBI in his return from a torn ACL that cost him the entire 2023 campaign.

-Given the abundance of outfield options and expectation that Joey Ortiz will shift to shortstop to replace free agent Willy Adames, it's worth wondering if the Sal Frelick experiment at third base will be revisited next spring.

Projected Starting Lineup

LF Willi Castro
SS Carlos Correa
3B Royce Lewis
CF Byron Buxton
RF Matt Wallner
C Ryan Jeffers
1B José Miranda
DH Trevor Larnach
2B Brooks Lee
SP Joe Ryan

Notes

-The Twins have so much quality position player depth that they can afford to let Carlos Santana and Max Kepler both walk in free agency, and they still don't have an obvious path to playing time for Edouard Julien, Austin Martin and Alex Kirilloff in the above lineup.

-That said, given the significant amount of time Byron Buxton and Royce Lewis have missed in their careers, they will likely need to take full advantage of that depth. Having a versatile utility man like Willi Castro is extremely helpful.

Projected Starting Lineup

SS Francisco Lindor
LF Brandon Nimmo
3B Mark Vientos
1B Pete Alonso
CF Cody Bellinger
C Francisco Alvarez
RF Starling Marte
2B Jeff McNeil
DH Brett Baty
SP Blake Snell

Notes

-The Mets are expected to make a run at Juan Soto in free agency, but if they miss out on signing him, Cody Bellinger could be a logical fallback plan. That is, of course, if he opts out of the final two years of his current contract with the Chicago Cubs for another run at free agency.

-The first order of business will be hammering out a new deal with slugger Pete Alonso, who is reportedly seeking a contract north of $200 million after turning down a seven-year, $158 million offer in June 2023. The six-year, $162 million deal Freddie Freeman—an undeniably superior player—signed with the Dodgers is going to make it hard for Alonso to get to that $200 million figure.

Projected Starting Lineup

2B Jazz Chisholm Jr.
RF Juan Soto
CF Aaron Judge
DH Giancarlo Stanton
1B Anthony Rizzo
C Austin Wells
LF Jasson Dominguez
SS Anthony Volpe
3B DJ LeMahieu
SP Gerrit Cole

Notes

-Are the Yankees prepared to offer up $500 million-plus to keep Juan Soto around? That is likely what it will cost to retain one of the best players in MLB history to reach the open market. And at just 25 years old, his next contract will span the entirety of his prime.

-My best guess for how the team will approach Anthony Rizzo is to re-sign him to a two-year deal that has a lower AAV but more guaranteed money than the $17 million club option he currently has for 2025. It's a good compromise for both sides.

Projected Starting Lineup

RF Lawrence Butler
DH Brent Rooker
CF JJ Bleday
C Shea Langeliers
LF Miguel Andujar
2B Zack Gelof
1B Tyler Soderstrom
SS Jacob Wilson
3B Max Schuemann
SP JP Sears

Notes

-The Athletics have the building blocks for a productive lineup with Lawrence Butler, Brent Rooker, JJ Bleday and Shea Langeliers forming a solid offensive foundation. The middle infield tandem of Zack Gelof and Jacob Wilson also has significant untapped potential.

-Former top prospect Tyler Soderstrom posted an .859 OPS in 1,264 plate appearances over four minor league seasons, and he was lauded for his elite hit tool while rising the ranks in the Oakland system. He has been slowed by injuries this year, but he is still only 22 and will offer some post-hype breakout potential in 2025.

Projected Starting Lineup

DH Kyle Schwarber
SS Trea Turner
1B Bryce Harper
3B Alec Bohm
RF Nick Castellanos
2B Bryson Stott
C J.T. Realmuto
CF Brandon Marsh
LF Austin Hays
SP Zack Wheeler

Notes

-The only real question in the Phillies lineup is whether the team will explore adding another outfielder to compete with Brandon Marsh and Austin Hays for playing time, particularly one who is a more natural fit in center field.

-J.T. Realmuto and Kyle Schwarber will both be free agents after the 2025 season, so there will be some roster turnover during the 2025-26 offseason, but the window is still wide open for this group to contend for a title for now.

Projected Starting Lineup

DH Andrew McCutchen
LF Bryan Reynolds
CF Oneil Cruz
1B Justin Turner
C Joey Bart
RF Bryan De La Cruz
SS Isiah Kiner-Falefa
2B Nick Gonzales
3B Ke'Bryan Hayes
SP Paul Skenes

Notes

-Re-signing Andrew McCutchen to another one-year deal and adding veteran run-producer Justin Turner to fill a void at first base will ensure there is a veteran presence in a young Pittsburgh locker room, and both of those guys have shown they still have plenty left in the tank.

-With Oneil Cruz shifting to center field, the biggest battle next spring could be for the starting second base job. Nick Gonzales is the in-house favorite, though former top prospect Liover Peguero will be out of options and Jared Triolo could also get a look.

Projected Starting Lineup

DH Luis Arraez
LF Jurickson Profar
RF Fernando Tatis Jr.
3B Manny Machado
1B Jake Cronenworth
2B Xander Bogaerts
SS Jackson Merrill
CF Harrison Bader
C Luis Campusano
SP Joe Musgrove

Notes

-With Ha-Seong Kim set to depart in free agency and Xander Bogaerts shifted to second base, it will be interesting to see if the Padres return rookie star Jackson Merrill to his natural position of shortstop next spring.

-At this point, Jurickson Profar has proved his best chance of success is to make sure he is wearing a San Diego Padres uniform. It's going to cost more than his current one-year, $1 million deal to bring him back with a potential top-10 finish in NL MVP voting on the horizon, but it's not out of the question to think he'll take a discount to stay.

Projected Starting Lineup

CF Jung Hoo Lee
SS Tyler Fitzgerald
LF Heliot Ramos
3B Matt Chapman
DH J.D. Martinez
RF Mike Yastrzemski
2B Gleyber Torres
1B LaMonte Wade Jr.
C Patrick Bailey
SP Logan Webb

Notes

-The Giants answered one of their looming offseason questions when they signed Matt Chapman to a new six-year, $151 million deal, removing the possibility of him exercising an opt-out clause in his current contract. They still face a similar situation with Blake Snell, who is expected to opt out.

-The Giants have struggled to reel in their top targets in free agency in recent years, but they look like a great fit for second baseman Gleyber Torres if the Yankees decide to move on from him this winter. A veteran run-producer like J.D. Martinez could also help solidify the middle of the lineup.

Projected Starting Lineup

SS J.P. Crawford
CF Julio Rodríguez
C Cal Raleigh
DH Anthony Santander
LF Randy Arozarena
2B Brandon Lowe
1B Luke Raley
3B Luis Urías
RF Victor Robles
SP Luis Castillo

Notes

-The Mariners have to do something to upgrade a perennially underperforming offense, and adding the power bat of Anthony Santander would be a great first step. With a 136 OPS+ and 39 home runs this season, he has likely positioned himself for something in the region of the five-year, $100 million deal Nick Castellanos signed with the Phillies, but that would be money well spent.

-The Mariners and Rays have lined up as trade partners frequently in the last few years, and Seattle makes a ton of sense as a landing spot for Brandon Lowe. The 30-year-old has a $10.5 million club option Tampa Bay will likely exercise while looking for a trade partner, and the Mariners could slot him in at second base after declining their own club option on Jorge Polanco.

Projected Starting Lineup

SS Masyn Winn
RF Alec Burleson
C Willson Contreras
3B Nolan Arenado
CF Lars Nootbaar
1B Paul Goldschmidt
DH Luken Baker
2B Nolan Gorman
LF Brendan Donovan
SP Sonny Gray

Notes

-There is reportedly mutual interest in a reunion with Paul Goldschmidt as he plays out the final season of his current five-year, $130 million deal. The 36-year-old has had the worst season of his storied career in 2024, but he is hitting .287/.333/.522 with 13 doubles, eight home runs and 21 RBI in 41 games since the All-Star break.

-Luken Baker has launched 86 home runs over the past three seasons at Triple-A, and with two home runs and nine RBI in 11 games since he was recalled from the minors on Aug. 21, he could get a look as the team's primary designated hitter next spring.

Projected Starting Lineup

1B Yandy Díaz
RF Josh Lowe
3B Junior Caminero
DH Christopher Morel
LF Dylan Carlson
C Kyle Higashioka
2B Jorge Polanco
CF Jose Siri
SS José Caballero
SP Jeffery Springs

Notes

-The catcher position has been a revolving door for the Tampa Bay organization since its inception in 1998, and it stands as a glaring need once again heading into the offseason. It could do a lot worse than opening next season with a platoon of Kyle Higashioka and Danny Jansen who are both available in free agency.

-A series of events in which the Mariners decline their club option on Jorge Polanco, the Rays exercise their option on Brandon Lowe, the Rays then trade Lowe to the Mariners for prospects and finally sign Polanco for less than the $10.5 million club option they have on Lowe is just convoluted enough to work.

Projected Starting Lineup

2B Marcus Semien
SS Corey Seager
1B Nathaniel Lowe
RF Adolis Garcia
3B Josh Jung
DH Josh Smith
LF Wyatt Langford
C Jonah Heim
CF Evan Carter
SP Jacob deGrom

Notes

-Evan Carter went from rising superstar last postseason to complete non-factor this year as a nagging lower back issue limited him to 45 games and has sidelined him since late May. The 22-year-old still has all the potential to be a key piece of the puzzle in Texas, but he will be building from the ground up next spring.

-While Max Scherzer, Nathan Eovaldi and Andrew Heaney can all depart in free agency, the Rangers should have a healthy Jacob deGrom to pencil in atop the starting rotation next year. The right-hander is currently on a minor league rehab assignment and working toward his long-awaited 2024 debut.

Projected Starting Lineup

RF George Springer
CF Daulton Varsho
1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
SS Bo Bichette
LF Michael Conforto
C Alejandro Kirk
DH Spencer Horwitz
2B Will Wagner
3B Addison Barger
SP Kevin Gausman

Notes

-The Blue Jays stopped short of a full-scale fire sale at the trade deadline, but expect a younger roster next season as they retool the lineup. Deadline pickup Will Wagner and fellow rookie Addison Barger could both be given a clear path to playing time after showing some flashes over the past month.

-Michael Conforto has not lived up to expectations during his time in San Francisco, but he quietly posted an .870 OPS with six doubles, five home runs and 15 RBI in August. He is still only 31 years old and now far removed from being a 30-homer threat.

Projected Starting Lineup

SS CJ Abrams
RF Dylan Crews
LF James Wood
3B Eugenio Suárez
C Keibert Ruiz
DH Joc Pederson
2B Luis García Jr.
1B Andrés Chaparro
CF Jacob Young
SP MacKenzie Gore

Notes

-The Nationals are a team on the rise, and while contention in 2025 might be a long shot, they are at a point where they can legitimately start looking to add pieces during the offseason. A veteran slugger like Eugenio Suárez and a great locker room guy such as Joc Pederson could help them continue to form an identity.

-Andrés Chaparro hit .328/.405/.572 with 27 doubles, 23 home runs and 85 RBI in 105 games at Triple-A before making his MLB debut Aug. 13. The 25-year-old was acquired in the deal that sent reliever Dylan Floro to Arizona at the deadline, and he has enough pop in his bat to be a legitimate candidate for a starting job in 2025.