Predicting Every MLB Team's 2025 Opening Day Lineup, Version 2.0

A lot has happened across Major League Baseball since we rolled out Version 1.0 of our Opening Day lineup predictions back on Nov. 21.

Juan Soto signed a record-setting deal with the New York Mets, Willy Adames became the latest shortstop to sign a nine-figure contract when he joined the San Francisco Giants, and other top bats like Teoscar Hernández, Christian Walker, Tyler O'Neill, Joc Pederson, Gleyber Torres and Paul Goldschmidt have also made their free-agency decisions.

On the trade market, Kyle Tucker joined the Chicago Cubs, Cody Bellinger went to the New York Yankees, and Josh Naylor, Nathaniel Lowe and Jake Burger all found new homes as part of a leaguewide carousel at first base.

That said, there is still a lot of talent available in free agency, and we've assigned all of the top remaining position players to logical landing spots 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 again at the start of spring training, and once more just before Opening Day, so stay tuned!

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

Projected Starting Lineup

RF Corbin Carroll
LF Jake McCarthy
2B Ketel Marte
3B Eugenio Suárez
1B Josh Naylor
DH Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
C Gabriel Moreno
SS Geraldo Perdomo
CF Alek Thomas
SP Corbin Burnes

Notes

-The D-backs could also use Jake McCarthy in center field and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in left field to get Pavin Smith's bat into the starting lineup at designated hitter. The 28-year-old former first-round pick posted a 145 OPS+ with 20 extra-base hits in 158 plate appearances last season.

-It's unlikely any other outside additions of significance are coming following the Corbin Burnes signing, though they could now look to trade from their surplus of starting pitching if they can find a taker for Jordan Montgomery or Eduardo Rodríguez.

Projected Starting Lineup

RF Lawrence Butler
DH Brent Rooker
CF JJ Bleday
C Shea Langeliers
LF Mark Canha
1B Tyler Soderstrom
2B Zack Gelof
3B Gio Urshela
SS Jacob Wilson
SP Luis Severino

Notes

-A reunion with Mark Canha would give the Athletics a respected veteran voice in the clubhouse and another option at first base and in left field, pushing Miguel Andújar and Seth Brown for playing time.

-Lawrence Butler, Brent Rooker, JJ Bleday and Shea Langeliers launched a combined 110 home runs last season, and give the Athletics the makings of a strong offensive core. Another step forward from Tyler Soderstrom, Zack Gelof and Jacob Wilson could make the offense a legitimate strength.

Projected Starting Lineup

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

Notes

-The Braves found their short-term replacement for Ronald Acuña Jr. in right field when they signed Bryan De La Cruz to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract. The 28-year-old slugged 21 home runs last season with the Marlins and Pirates before he was non-tendered at the start of the offseason.

-Top prospect Drake Baldwin should get a long look this spring following a breakout 2024 season and the club's decision to cut ties with veteran catcher Travis d'Aranud when his club option was declined at the start of the offseason.

Projected Starting Lineup

CF Cedric Mullins
C Adley Rutschman
SS Gunnar Henderson
LF Tyler O'Neill
DH Ryan O'Hearn
1B Ryan Mountcastle
RF Colton Cowser
3B Jordan Westburg
2B Jackson Holliday
SP Zach Eflin

Notes

-Assuming he stays on the field, Tyler O'Neill is a more well-rounded player than Anthony Santander, providing superior defense and better on-base ability to go along with his 30-homer power.

-It will be interesting to see how infielder Ramón Urias, outfielder Heston Kjerstad and prospect Coby Mayo fit into the team's 2025 plans. Colton Cowser pushed his way into an everyday role with a strong start last year, and any of those guys could do the same.

Projected Starting Lineup

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

Notes

-The longer Alex Bregman's free agency drags out, the more likely it seems that he will end up being the Red Sox's big addition to the offense. If they can find a taker for Masataka Yoshida, they could shift Rafael Devers to DH and use Bregman at the hot corner, but for now he is reportedly open to a move to second base.

-Top prospects Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer, along with 2024 rookie David Hamilton, represent the team's best in-house options to fill the void at second base if no outside move is made.

Projected Starting Lineup

LF Ian Happ
RF Kyle Tucker
DH Seiya Suzuki
1B Michael Busch
SS Dansby Swanson
2B Nico Hoerner
CF Pete Crow-Armstrong
3B Matt Shaw
C Miguel Amaya
SP Shōta Imanaga

Notes

-Matt Shaw hit .284/.379/.488 with 19 doubles, 21 home runs, 71 RBI and 31 steals in 121 games between Double-A and Triple-A in his first full professional season after going No. 13 overall in the 2023 draft. The 23-year-old has a clear path to the starting third base job if no outside additions are made.

-Miguel Amaya and free-agent signing Carson Kelly should see an even split for playing time behind the plate, though big picture both guys are keeping the position warm for top prospect Moises Ballesteros who could debut in 2025.

Projected Starting Lineup

RF Mike Tauchman
LF Andrew Benintendi
CF Luis Robert Jr.
1B Andrew Vaughn
3B Josh Rojas
SS Amed Rosario
DH Miguel Vargas
C Korey Lee
2B Lenyn Sosa
SP Jonathan Cannon

Notes

-The White Sox have already added Mike Tauchman, Josh Rojas and Austin Slater on bargain deals, and Amed Rosario is a logical target to fill the void at shortstop on a similar deal as he looks to rebuild some value. Otherwise, Brooks Baldwin is the leading in-house candidate at shortstop.

-Will any more outside additions be made to a projected starting rotation of Jonathan Cannon, Davis Martin, Sean Burke, Bryse Wilson and Drew Thorpe? Surely there will be a fringe veteran or two willing to jump at the chance to compete for a rotation spot.

Projected Starting Lineup

CF TJ Friedl
SS Elly De La Cruz
2B Matt McLain
1B Spencer Steer
C Tyler Stephenson
RF Jake Fraley
3B Jeimer Candelario
DH Christian Encarnacion-Strand
LF Will Benson
SP Hunter Greene

Notes

-The Reds sent Matt McLain (59 PA, .876 OPS, 6 XBH, 12 RBI) and Christian Encarnacion-Strand (32 PA, .930 OPS, 2 XBH, 7 RBI) to the Arizona Fall League to help make up for injury-plagued regular seasons. The former top prospects could provide a huge in-house boost with a healthy 2025.

-A starting rotation of Hunter Greene, Brady Singer, Andrew Abbott, Nick Martinez and Nick Lodolo with Rhett Lowder, Connor Phillips, Graham Ashcraft and Chase Petty waiting in the wings should make the rotation a bona fide strength for the Reds.

Projected Starting Lineup

LF Steven Kwan
DH Kyle Manzardo
3B José Ramírez
1B Carlos Santana
RF Jhonkensy Noel
CF Lane Thomas
C Bo Naylor
2B Gabriel Arias
SS Brayan Rocchio
SP Tanner Bibee

Notes

-Gabriel Arias batted .317/.354/.544 over 192 plate appearances following a midseason demotion to Triple-A, and he could compete with top prospect Juan Brito for the vacant second base job this spring. Brito, 23, hit .256/.364/.443 with 40 doubles, 21 home runs and 84 RBI in 144 games at Triple-A in 2024.

-After struggling to find his footing in the big leagues during the first half last season, Kyle Manzardo hit .270/.333/.540 with five home runs in 69 plate appearances as a September call-up. The 24-year-old looks like a potential breakout candidate heading into the 2025 season.

Projected Starting Lineup

CF Brenton Doyle
SS Ezequiel Tovar
3B Ryan McMahon
DH Kris Bryant
1B Michael Toglia
LF Nolan Jones
2B Thairo Estrada
RF Sam Hilliard
C Jacob Stallings
SP Germán Márquez

Notes

-The Rockies non-tendered Brendan Rodgers at the start of the offseason, then brought in Thairo Estrada and Kyle Farmer on one-year deals to compete for the starting second base job, though both will be part of the Opening Day roster.

-Will serving as the primary designated hitter help keep Kris Bryant on the field? He has played in just 159 total games over the first three seasons of his seven-year, $182 million deal.

Projected Starting Lineup

CF Parker Meadows
2B Gleyber Torres
LF Riley Greene
RF Kerry Carpenter
3B Matt Vierling
1B Colt Keith
DH Jace Jung
SS Trey Sweeney
C Jake Rogers
SP Tarik Skubal

Notes

-The Tigers have been linked to Alex Bregman all offseason, and if he is unable to secure the long-term deal he has been seeking, he could still land in Detroit on a short-term contract similar to the one Carlos Correa signed when he first joined the Minnesota Twins. For now, he is projected to sign elsewhere.

-With the announcement that Colt Keith is shifting to first base following the addition of second baseman Gleyber Torres, former No. 1 overall pick Spencer Torkelson will need to earn his playing time out of a reduced role.

Projected Starting Lineup

2B Jose Altuve
DH Yordan Alvarez
1B Christian Walker
C Yainer Diaz
3B Isaac Paredes
SS Jeremy Peña
RF Chas McCormick
LF Alex Verdugo
CF Jake Meyers
SP Framber Valdez

Notes

-The Astros are still searching for a left-handed hitting outfielder to join Chas McCormick and Jake Meyers in the starting lineup, and buying low on Alex Verdugo with a one-year contract could be the answer. A reunion with Jason Heyward to serve as the fourth outfielder also makes sense.

-It's still not out of the question that Framber Valdez could be traded this offseason ahead of his final year of arbitration control. To that point, Dylan Cease was not traded to the Padres until March 13 last year, so late-spring blockbuster deals do happen.

Projected Starting Lineup

DH Jonathan India
SS Bobby Witt Jr.
1B Vinnie Pasquantino
C Salvador Pérez
2B Michael Massey
RF Hunter Renfroe
LF MJ Melendez
3B Maikel García
CF Kyle Isbel
SP Seth Lugo

Notes

-The Royals bolstered the offense by swapping Brady Singer for Jonathan India in a one-for-one trade with the Reds, and while he is capable of playing second base and third base, India could see the bulk of his playing time at designated hitter.

-Hunter Renfroe and MJ Melendez both have 20-homer power, but both are coming off disappointing seasons, and adding a fourth outfielder capable of stepping into a large role should be a priority.

Projected Starting Lineup

1B Nolan Schanuel
SS Zach Neto
CF Mike Trout
DH Jorge Soler
C Logan O'Hoppe
LF Taylor Ward
3B Anthony Rendon
2B Luis Rengifo
RF Jo Adell
SP Yusei Kikuchi

Notes

-The continued development of Zach Neto, Logan O'Hoppe and Nolan Schanuel will be a major X-factor for the Angels, as all three up-and-comers have impact potential at the plate and could transform the offense.

-Versatile infielder Kevin Newman was signed to a one-year, $2.5 million deal, and he will serve as the primary backup to both Luis Rengifo and Anthony Rendon who played a combined 135 games in 2024.

Projected Starting Lineup

DH Shohei Ohtani
SS Mookie Betts
1B Freddie Freeman
RF Teoscar Hernández
C Will Smith
3B Max Muncy
LF Michael Conforto
CF Tommy Edman
2B Gavin Lux
SP Blake Snell

Notes

-Recently signed KBO star Hyeseong Kim will fill a super-utility role off the bench to start the year, but he could push Gavin Lux for playing time at second base. The 25-year-old hit .326/.383/.458 with 26 doubles, 11 home runs, 75 RBI and 30 steals in 127 games for the Kiwoom Heroes in 2024.

-With Austin Barnes, Miguel Rojas, Chris Taylor and Kim seemingly locked into four spots on the Dodgers bench, it will be interesting to see if Andy Pages, James Outman or top prospect Dalton Rushing can force their way onto the roster this spring.

Projected Starting Lineup

SS Xavier Edwards
3B Connor Norby
LF Jesús Sánchez
1B Jonah Bride
RF Ramón Laureano
DH Deyvison De Los Santos
2B Otto Lopez
CF Kyle Stowers
C Nick Fortes
SP Sandy Alcántara

Notes

-Rule 5 selection Liam Hicks is currently the only offseason addition projected for a spot on Miami's Opening Day roster, though they could go bargain hunting in the days leading up to the start of spring training in hopes of finding some value.

-Connor Norby, Kyle Stowers and Deyvison De Los Santos were all acquired at the 2024 trade deadline, and that trio breaking camp with a spot on the roster could be the start of a large-scale youth movement for the Marlins.

Projected Starting Lineup

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

Notes

-The Brewers still have a glaring hole at third base, with Oliver Dunn as the leading in-house candidate after he hit .221/.282/.316 in 104 plate appearances last season. They could experiment with Sal Frelick at the hot corner again this spring, but veteran Paul DeJong represents a low-cost upgrade who can provide some pop and steady defense.

-Caleb Durbin was named Breakout Player of the Year in the Arizona Fall League before he was traded from the Yankees to the Brewers in the Devin Williams deal. He has split his time between second base and third base, and could be a dark horse option to man the hot corner.

Projected Starting Lineup

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

Notes

-The Twins could still look to add a bat at first base to replace Carlos Santana, but the current roster construction leaves a clear path for José Miranda and Brooks Lee to break camp in starting roles.

-The versatility that 2024 All-Star Willi Castro provides will allow manager Rocco Baldelli to shuffle the lineup on a daily basis, and 2023 standout Edouard Julien offers a similar profile if he can rebound from a disappointing campaign.

Projected Starting Lineup

SS Francisco Lindor
RF Juan Soto
3B Mark Vientos
1B Pete Alonso
LF Brandon Nimmo
DH Starling Marte
2B Jeff McNeil
C Francisco Alvarez
CF Tyrone Taylor
SP Sean Manaea

Notes

-A reunion with the Mets still looks like the most likely outcome for slugger Pete Alonso, though the club could also consider making a run at Alex Bregman to fill that run-production spot in the middle of the lineup. Rising star Mark Vientos is a better fit defensively at first base anyway.

-Tyrone Taylor and Jose Siri will likely split time in center field to start the year, but the hot hand will have an opportunity to seize a bigger piece of the pie. Meanwhile, if Luisangel Acuña picks up where he left off in his MLB debut, they could opt to use him at second base, Jeff McNeil in left field and Brandon Nimmo in center field.

Projected Starting Lineup

3B Jazz Chisholm Jr.
RF Aaron Judge
CF Cody Bellinger
1B Paul Goldschmidt
DH Giancarlo Stanton
C Austin Wells
LF Jasson Dominguez
SS Anthony Volpe
2B Donovan Solano
SP Gerrit Cole

Notes

-The Yankees pivoted to signing Paul Goldschmidt and trading for Cody Bellinger after losing Juan Soto in free agency, and they will count on a full season of Jazz Chisholm Jr. and a potential breakthrough from Jasson Dominguez to further bridge the gap.

-Oswaldo Cabrera, Oswald Peraza and DJ LeMahieu are all options to step into the starting lineup following the departure of Gleyber Torres in free agency, but signing someone like Donovan Solano or Jose Iglesias to man second base would be a relatively inexpensive way to put the finishing touches on the starting lineup.

Projected Starting Lineup

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

Notes

-There were rumblings of a potential roster shakeup for the Phillies when the offseason began, but now it looks like non-tendering Austin Hays and replacing him with Max Kepler on a one-year, $10 million deal might be the extent of their maneuvering.

-With Jesús Luzardo acquired to serve as the No. 5 starter and Taijuan Walker now relegated to the bullpen, the Phillies have a strong case for the best starting rotation in the National League, with the potential to give the Mariners a run for their money leaguewide.

Projected Starting Lineup

SS Isiah Kiner-Falefa
LF Bryan Reynolds
CF Oneil Cruz
DH Andrew McCutchen
C Joey Bart
RF Austin Hays
1B Spencer Horwitz
2B Nick Gonzales
3B Ke'Bryan Hayes
SP Paul Skenes

Notes

-The Pirates have balked at making any major additions to the lineup, despite a starting rotation on the rise, but they did add Spencer Horwitz in a three-team swap with the Blue Jays and Guardians. The 27-year-old posted a 125 OPS+ with 19 doubles, 12 home runs and 40 RBI in 381 plate appearances last season in his first extended MLB action.

-Jack Suwinski and Joshua Palacios are the leading in-house options to start in right field, so adding a corner outfielder should still be on the to-do list. Austin Hays was an All-Star in 2023 and looks like a great buy-low target who could be available for less than the one-year, $10 million deal that Max Kepler signed with the Phillies.

Projected Starting Lineup

DH Luis Arraez
LF Jurickson Profar
RF Fernando Tatis Jr.
3B Manny Machado
CF Jackson Merrill
SS Xander Bogaerts
1B Anthony Rizzo
2B Jake Cronenworth
C Luis Campusano
SP Dylan Cease

Notes

-It feels like only a matter of time before Jurickson Profar and the Padres come to terms on a new deal, as the former top prospect put together a career year in 2024 while playing on a one-year, $1 million deal. Something in the neighborhood of a three-year, $45 million contract might get things done.

-A reunion with Anthony Rizzo makes sense for both sides as the Padres look to add another bat on the left side of the infield and the 35-year-old tries to catch on with a contender. The Padres acquired Rizzo from the Red Sox prior to the 2011 season in the Adrian Gonzalez blockbuster, and he spent a year with the club before he was traded again to the Cubs.

Projected Starting Lineup

CF Jung Hoo Lee
SS Willy Adames
3B Matt Chapman
LF Heliot Ramos
DH Justin Turner
RF Mike Yastrzemski
1B LaMonte Wade Jr.
2B Tyler Fitzgerald
C Patrick Bailey
SP Logan Webb

Notes

-The Giants could use at least one more bat, unless they feel comfortable with Wilmer Flores as the primary designated hitter. Veteran Justin Turner had a 114 OPS+ with 24 doubles, 11 home runs and 55 RBI in 139 games last season, and signing him would have the added value of making Dodgers fans everywhere cringe when they see him in a Giants uniform.

-Will Jung Hoo Lee deliver on his nine-figure contract after an injury-shortened debut? How far will Tyler Fitzgerald regress? Can Willy Adames still provide top-tier value while playing in a pitcher's park? There are a lot of questions surrounding the Giants lineup and a wide range of possible outcomes.

Projected Starting Lineup

3B Ha-Seong Kim
CF Julio Rodríguez
C Cal Raleigh
DH J.D. Martinez
LF Randy Arozarena
1B Luke Raley
2B Jose Iglesias
SS J.P. Crawford
RF Victor Robles
SP Logan Gilbert

Notes

-The Mariners have yet to make a major addition to their lackluster offensive attack, and while a full season of Randy Arozarena will help, they are still multiple bats away from being a serious contender.

-Versatile veterans Ha-Seong Kim and Jose Iglesias are both contact-oriented hitters who would bring some welcome balance to a team that led the majors with 1,625 strikeouts in 2024. J.D. Martinez would also bring a nice mix of power, run production and contact skills to the middle of the order.

Projected Starting Lineup

SS Masyn Winn
2B Brendan Donovan
1B Willson Contreras
3B Nolan Arenado
DH Alec Burleson
LF Lars Nootbaar
RF Jordan Walker
C Iván Herrera
CF Victor Scott II
SP Sonny Gray

Notes

-The Cardinals have had a difficult time finding a taker for Nolan Arenado on the trade market, and even with the Rockies chipping in $10 million he is still owed another $64 million over the next three years, including $27 million in 2025.

-Slugger Nolan Gorman will need to earn his spot in the starting lineup after hitting .203 with an 85 OPS+ and 37.6 percent strikeout rate over 402 plate appearances last season. The 24-year-old still has 30-homer upside, and if they do find a way to unload Arenado, he would likely be the starting third baseman on Opening Day.

Projected Starting Lineup

1B Yandy Díaz
RF Josh Lowe
3B Junior Caminero
2B Brandon Lowe
LF Christopher Morel
C Danny Jansen
DH Eloy Jiménez
CF Jonny DeLuca
SS José Caballero
SP Shane McClanahan

Notes

-A one-year, $8.5 million contract for catcher Danny Jansen and a buy-low flier on Eloy Jiménez on a minor league contract has been the extent of the Rays additions on offense this winter, though both players offer upside relative to their cost.

-Veterans Yandy Díaz and Brandon Lowe both looked like trade candidates when the offseason started, and there is still a chance they could be dealt as the small market club continues its annual salary shedding. That would open up playing time for former top prospects Curtis Mead and Jonathan Aranda.

Projected Starting Lineup

2B Marcus Semien
SS Corey Seager
LF Wyatt Langford
DH Joc Pederson
RF Adolis Garcia
3B Josh Jung
1B Jake Burger
C Jonah Heim
CF Evan Carter
SP Jacob deGrom

Notes

-The Rangers replaced Nathaniel Lowe and his $10.7 million projected salary with Jake Burger, who is still a year away from reaching arbitration and set to earn something close to the league minimum. It will be interesting to see who ends up having the better 2025 season.

-While he is not penciled into the Opening Day lineup, expect Josh Smith to see something close to everyday playing time between serving as the right-handed hitting side of a DH platoon with Joc Pederson and lining up all over the field in a super-utility role against right-handed pitching.

Projected Starting Lineup

RF George Springer
DH Jesse Winker
1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
LF Anthony Santander
SS Bo Bichette
C Alejandro Kirk
3B Ernie Clement
2B Andrés Giménez
CF Harrison Bader
SP Kevin Gausman

Notes

-Daulton Varsho is expected to start the season on the injured list as he continues to recover from rotator cuff surgery in September. That creates a void in center field, and signing Harrison Bader to hold down the fort and then serve as the fourth outfielder makes sense. Defensive-minded Michael A. Taylor could also be a fit.

-The Blue Jays have long been in search of some left-handed pop to add balance to their lineup, and both Anthony Santander and Jesse Winker fit the mold, though they also represent bat-first options and one of them would have to man left field.

Projected Starting Lineup

SS CJ Abrams
2B Luis García Jr.
LF James Wood
1B Nathaniel Lowe
DH Josh Bell
RF Dylan Crews
C Keibert Ruiz
3B Jorge Polanco
CF Jacob Young
SP MacKenzie Gore

Notes

-The Nationals added some proven run production in Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Bell, which should help take some pressure off up-and-comers James Wood and Dylan Crews as they continue to settle in as big leaguers.

-There was a report back in early December that the Astros were kicking the tires on Jorge Polanco as a potential option at third base, and he has experience playing there as recently as 2023. He fits the type of previously productive, buy-low bat the Nationals have targeted in recent years while finding good value in Jeimer Candelario and Jesse Winker.