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Roupp wins Giants' fifth rotation spot; Birdsong makes bullpen originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO — A year ago, Landen Roupp pitched his way onto the Opening Day roster. This spring, he pitched his way into the rotation. 

Manager Bob Melvin revealed Monday that Roupp was the surprise winner of a spirited competition for the fifth starter spot. He edged out Hayden Birdsong, who will make his first Opening Day roster but will begin the season as a reliever. 

“We saw it last year, especially at the end, he’s a pretty determined young man,” Melvin said of Roupp. “Both of them had great springs so really we could go either way with it. Both of them are kind of made to be starters, but I think [Roupp] pitched a little bit more towards the end [of the spring]. Yesterday, [Birdsong] had a cracked nail that kind of affected stretching him out. That’s how we’ll proceed.”

Left-hander Kyle Harrison entered camp as the favorite to fill out the rotation, but the Giants determined pretty early on that it would be a two-horse race. Harrison spent most of the offseason rehabbing an inflamed shoulder and lost significant weight just before camp because of a virus. Roupp and Birdsong were neck and neck all spring, and both threw well enough to lock up a rotation spot. 

Roupp pitched 22 innings across Cactus League games, minor league games and the exhibition in Sacramento on Sunday night. He posted a 2.45 ERA, and five of his six earned runs all spring came during one poor performance in early March. Roupp struck out 35 in those 22 innings, with just five walks. On Sunday, he allowed one hit to the River Cats and struck out eight in five innings. 

Birdsong followed Roupp on Sunday, but a cracked nail on his middle finger limited him to one-third of an inning. Overall, he had a 3.68 ERA in the spring with 21 strikeouts to three walks in 14 2/3 innings. Birdsong said he wasn’t concerned about the nail and that it happens to him often. He’ll be ready to go on Thursday in Cincinnati if needed. 

The Giants are close to setting their entire roster. Roupp joins Logan Webb, Justin Verlander, Robbie Ray and Jordan Hicks in the rotation. Birdsong joins Ryan Walker, Tyler Rogers, Camilo Doval and Erik Miller as bullpen locks, and the Giants seem poised to round that group out with Randy Rodriguez, Lou Trivino and Spencer Bivens. Joel Peguero is also in camp and is trying to crack that initial bullpen after a huge spring. 

On the position player side, Sam Huff will be the backup catcher and Luis Matos likely will be the fourth outfielder and get some DH at-bats. The Giants still are trying to finalize their bench, with Brett Wisely, Casey Schmitt, Grant McCray, David Villar and Christian Koss in the mix. Koss, in particular, has made a strong push lately to be a backup infielder. 

The most interesting competition in camp, though, was with the rotation. Roupp wasn’t supposed to make the initial roster last year, but he was too good in the spring to be left out. He had a 3.58 ERA as a rookie and looked comfortable in four starts at the end of the 2024 MLB season. 

Birdsong is the one who now will have to adjust, but the Giants are confident they can keep him stretched out. The hope is that they can find multi-inning outings for him early in the season, and given the rhythms of 162 games, it’s a lock that Birdsong will be in the rotation at some point. 

Melvin said that at the start of the season, the front office and staff wanted to reward both young pitchers and go “with what we feel is our best” roster. That means a rotation slot for Roupp, a serious worker who nearly kept his emotions in check when Melvin delivered the news. 

“He was pretty stoic. I think I saw a little hint of a smile,” Melvin said. “That’s kind of the way he is.”

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SNY contributor Joe DeMayo answers fan questions in this edition of the Mets Minor League Mailbag...

From Patrick H on X: Will Ryan Clifford be ready to be the first baseman on the big league club if Pete Alonso opts out after this season? I don’t see Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as a viable option given the other big contracts the Mets have

Quickly on the Vlad front: we will see what comes of that situation next winter, but as SNY’s Andy Martino reported at the beginning of March, there are too many variables at play to know whether that could be a pursuit the Mets make.

If Alonso has the type of season that causes him to opt out, I don’t think we should rule out the Mets and Alonso continuing this marriage beyond 2025. The Mets like Alonso and Alonso likes being a Met. It will be important for Alonso to have a bounce back season, both for the 2025 Mets success as well as his next contract.

While I do have a 2026 major league ETA on Clifford, my No. 4 ranked prospect in the system who showed out at the spring breakout game with a 449 foot home run off of a lefty, I am unsure if that necessarily means Opening Day 2026.

Clifford will head back to Double-A Binghamton to start the 2025 season. He had success there last year as a 20/21-year-old, posting an .815 OPS with 18 home runs in 99 games.

Clifford possesses plus power and overall plate discipline. He still needs some approach refinement -- he can stand to be more aggressive early in counts as he will at times let good pitches to hit go by to work the count. He also had a 29 percent strikeout rate at the Double-A level, and you’d like to see that number more in the low-20s.

If Clifford can take that next step in his development as a hitter, I can see him getting to Triple-A Syracuse some time in 2025, which ultimately puts him in the picture for 2026.

The Mets are going to need to infuse their big league roster with homegrown youth within the next year or two due to the way their roster is set up from a payroll perspective. Clifford could certainly be a part of that equation; I just think he would have to make it to Triple-A relatively early this season and have a run of success at that level for the Mets to consider him an Opening Day 2026 option.

What ultimately could be the most interesting thing to follow is how Clifford’s presence could impact their potential pursuit of a 10-plus year deal with Guerrero or a potential lengthier re-commitment with Alonso.

From James on X: Does Jett Williams end up at second base or in center field long-term?

One of the strong suits of Williams is that he has the versatility to play all three up-the-middle positions. Mets President of baseball operations David Stearns confirmed in an in-game interview with SNY during Sunday’s game against the Marlins that Williams will start the season with Double-A Binghamton and continue to play shortstop, second base, and center field.

Right now, Williams -- my No. 2 prospect in the system -- is behind quite a few players on the depth chart simply due to proximity to the big leagues, and the Mets need to figure out what they have in some other pieces first.

That can cause a trickle effect, as right now they have Brett Baty, Luisangel Acuña, and Ronny Mauricio as young factors behind the incumbent Jeff McNeil at second base. Center field will be primarily manned by Jose Siri and Tyrone Taylor to start the 2025 season, but a healthy Drew Gilbert could impact that situation as well this summer.

While I think Williams may be more natural in the dirt at either shortstop or second base, I liked what I saw out of him in center field when he got the opportunities (he has played just 33 career professional games in center field).

He is a plus athlete with the range to cover gap to gap, but he simply needs more reps. At times his reads are just a tick late and he’s been making up for it with his speed, but some plays have ended up more difficult than they needed to be. That is something that can be improved with more repetition of tracking the ball off the bat.

Williams has a chance to be a dynamic player who hits at or near the top of a batting order. He is the type of player that you eventually make a spot for, and I think his general versatility could be a weapon.

I am intrigued to see more of him in center field to determine how viable that will be at the next level, as that picture has a much cloudier future than second base does as of this writing. Though, as we say on The Mets Pod, these things always have a way of figuring themselves out.

The Yankees are making a late offseason addition, signing left-handed reliever Ryan Yarbrough to a big league deal, per multiple reports.

The deal is for one year and $2 million, with an additional $500,000 in possible incentives, per Jorge Castillo of ESPN.

Yarbrough had been in spring training with the Blue Jays, but exercised an opt out he had a right to use if he wasn't on the Opening Day 26-man roster, reports Joel Sherman of The New York Post, who adds that Yarbrough will be on the Yankees' Opening Day roster.

The 33-year-old Yarbrough was solid last season for the Dodgers and Blue Jays, posting a 3.19 ERA (4.64 FIP) and 1.03 WHIP in 98.2 innings over 44 appearances.

His strikeout rate was a career-low 5.9 per nine innings, but he offset that with a career-best 6.4 hits allowed per nine.

Yarbrough, who is often deployed in multi-inning stints, also has experience as a starter/opener, but was utilized only in relief last season.

He will join a New York bullpen that includes closer Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Ian Hamilton, Mark Leiter Jr., and Tim Hill.

The Yankees' offseason was a roller coaster, to say the least.

Juan Soto signed with the Mets, eliminating an MVP-caliber bat from New York's lineup, and injuries to ace Gerrit Cole among other notable bats and arms in the spring have put a damper on expectations for this season.

After going to the World Series last season for the first time since 2009, the Yanks are looking to get back and finish what they couldn't a year ago. That will be more difficult with the roster the way it is.

Although the Bombers retooled by signing Max Fried, Cody Bellinger,and Paul Goldschmidt with the money they were planning to use to re-sign Soto, there are more questions than answers surrounding this year's team.

It'll be up to manager Aaron Boone and GM Brian Cashman to answer them, but while we wait for the year to play out here are five big storylines to watch as the 2025 season begins...

Can Max Fried help Yanks survive without Cole?

A little de ja vu, to start things off.

A year ago, I wondered if the Yankees could survive without Cole. The AL Cy Young winner exited camp last spring with elbow soreness and didn't return until a few months in.

This time, the ace underwent Tommy John surgery and will miss the entire 2025 season, so the stakes are arguably more dire -- especially considering the team's other injuries to Luis Gil (lat) and Clarke Schmidt (shoulder) that will leave just Carlos Rodon and Marcus Stroman as the holdovers from a year ago in the rotation.

Last season, Nestor Cortes, Stroman, Rodon, and Gil stepped up to help the Yanks get out to the best record in baseball through April, and it gave the team enough leeway until Cole's eventual return.

The difference this year is the addition of Fried. He was signed to be the team's co-ace and now he'll be the team's No. 1 starter. The southpaw has been as advertised this spring and will be looked upon to anchor a rotation that will include veteran Carlos Carrasco and prospect Will Warren to start the season.

Can Fried stay healthy and help keep the team afloat until reinforcements arrive?

How will the lineup perform without Juan Soto?

Judge had another MVP season in 2024 and was the best hitter in baseball. However, it can't be overstated how much punch the Yankees are missing this year without Soto.

Although Soto benefited from batting in front of Judge, the Yankees captain had more ducks on the pond when he was at the plate and didn't have to be burdened with elevating the offense alone. With Soto gone, Judge will be looked upon to do more. Can he come close to his MVP season? It'll go a long way to helping a short-handed rotation.

Also, what production will we see from newcomers Bellinger and Goldschmidt? Their MVP days are likely behind them but the Yanks need production from their two sluggers -- especially Goldschmidt.

First base has been a black hole of production the last two seasons with Anthony Rizzo's diminishing numbers -- and inability to stay healthy -- so if the former NL MVP can give New York a consistent bat from that position, it'll benefit the rest of the lineup.

The Yankees also need youngsters Anthony Volpe and Austin Wells to take the next step in their development. Meanwhile, New York needs production from another young bat...

Can Jasson Dominguez deliver?

There may not be another player on the roster who can impact the Yankees more than Dominguez.

That may seem like hyperbole, but consider the expectations surrounding the young outfielder. Dominguez burst onto the scene in 2023, showing off his power and speed. But Tommy John surgery -- and the addition of Soto -- put a halt to the switch-hitter's ascent to the big leagues.

Now that he's healthy and there's a spot open in the outfield, 2025 is Dominguez's time to sink or swim. And for the Yankees' sake, they need him to swim.

Adding a switch-hitting power bat lengthens the lineup and, again, takes some of the pressure off of Judge and the others.

This season is also an indicator of the Yankees' future. At just 22 years old, New York sees Dominguez as their future outfielder for years to come and if he doesn't pan out, the questions will only get bigger and louder.

How will Brian Cashman improve the roster?

Signings and trades are a part of each team's season, but with the expectations surrounding the 2025 Yankees and the mounting injuries, Cashman will need to be creative to improve this roster.

It's understandable that the longtime Yankees GM will wait and see how the rotation will play without Cole before making a move, but he can't be too patient -- especially with the Orioles and the upstart Red Sox in their division.

And that's not even bringing up the Yanks not having an everyday third baseman.

Right now, New York is going to go with a committee at the hot corner, but Cashman refused to get a legit bat in that position and it could hurt them in the long run. As the season moves along, a trade opportunity could present itself (Nolan Arenado) but again, Cashman can't wait too long to make improvements -- especially if the American League East is more competitive than a season ago.

Solving the third base puzzle

We alluded to it above, but third base has been a question the Yankees have been trying to answer since the offseason began.

Camp started with four potential options, but now it's really down to two. Oswaldo Cabrera is likely the Opening Day third baseman as New York employs a revolving door of infielders.

DJ LeMahieu was going to be in that rotation, but the injury he suffered this spring will likely force him to the IL to start the season. That leaves Pablo Reyes or former top prospect Oswald Peraza as Cabrera's potential backup.

Peraza hasn't shown much in his brief stints in the majors, but without any minor league options remaining this is likely the infielder's last shot to show what he has.

But this is all a short-term solution. What's the answer for the long-term this season?

It's hard to imagine the Yankees sticking with LeMahieu/Cabrera/Peraza the whole year. Will Cashman make a deal? Will a midseason call-up, like youngster Jorbit Vivas, do the trick?

We'll have to take the Yankees' third base situation a week at a time, but it'll be among the most scrutinized aspects of this team if production at the plate/field is not there.

Red Sox prospect Kristian Campbell to make Opening Day roster: Reports originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Red Sox are putting one of their top prospects, Kristian Campbell, on the Opening Day roster, per multiple reports.

The most logical position/role for Campbell would be the starting second baseman. The Red Sox begin their 2025 season Thursday against the Texas Rangers on the road.

Campbell is the No. 7 ranked prospect in all of baseball, per MLB.com’s latest rankings. He won Baseball America’s Minor League Player of the Year award in 2024 after hitting .330 with 20 home runs, 77 RBI and a .439 on-base percentage across three levels of the minor leagues.

After a slow start to Spring Training, Campbell has played really well of late. He can hit for average and power.

His defense is pretty good, too.

One of Campbell’s best attributes is versatility. He can play multiple positions, including second base, shortstop and center field.

The Red Sox made some good upgrades in the trade market (Garrett Crochet) and free agency (Alex Bregman) during the offseason. But to build a long-term winner, they need these elite-level prospects, including Campbell, to become stars. His journey will begin soon.

With the Mets about to break camp and travel to Houston for Opening Day on March 27 to face the Astros, they're entering one of their most anticipated seasons ever.

There have been some recent campaigns where the legitimate hope was that it would end with a parade down the Canyon of Heroes, like 2023 (which wound up being cursed from the start) and 2016 (when the Mets bowed out in the Wild Card Game a year after reaching the World Series), but something seems different about this one.

For the first time since the mid-2000s, it feels like the Mets are building something sustainable -- which is of course the stated goal of owner Steve Cohenand still-newish head of baseball operationsDavid Stearns.

The idea is to churn out impact prospects year after year while supplementing the team via trade and free agency, playing at the top of the market when it's deemed necessary.

The Mets aren't the East Coast Dodgers just yet, but they're making strides.

And as the regular season begins, there's a belief the Mets have what it takes to go one or two steps beyond where they went in 2024, when their magical season ended in Game 6 of the NLCS in Los Angeles.

Here are five big storylines to watch as things get underway...

The starting rotation

Sean Manaea is expected to be out until the end of April, while Frankie Montas' return should come by some point in June. That means 40 percent of the expected rotation will be missing to start the season.

Gone along with Manaea and Montas for now is the plan to use a six-man rotation, which would've kept Kodai Senga on a more elongated schedule and allowed Clay Holmes' innings to be managed a bit as he transitions from a reliever to a starter.

As they deal with the injuries, the Mets have turned to depth options Tylor Megill and Griffin Canning, who will be in the five-man rotation along with Senga, Holmes, and David Peterson to start the year.

The rotation has serious upside (Senga pitched like an ace in 2023, Holmes' stuff is legit, Peterson had a 2.90 ERA last season), but there's also the possibility that Senga needs time to shake off the rust, Holmes hits some speed bumps, and Peterson is inconsistent.

So the rotation bears watching early, as does the performance of Brandon Sproat in Triple-A Syracuse. If Sproat masters the level quickly, his MLB debut could come sooner rather than later -- injecting a high-upside arm into the rotation.

The second base situation

With Jeff McNeil missing the start of the season due to a mild oblique injury, the expectation is that Brett Baty will get a chance to grab the regular second base job for the time being.

Baty, who got some burn at second base last year in the minors, looked the part there during spring games. He also had a terrific spring offensively.

Since this will be Baty's fourth year getting major league time, it's easy to forget that he's had only 602 plate appearances in the bigs and is entering just his age-25 season.

The talent is there for Baty, and there's still time for him to become a real part of the Mets' future -- whether that comes in an everyday role or on the bench.

While Baty could get the bulk of the starts at second base early on, the speedy Luisangel Acuña could factor in as well -- perhaps as the starter at second against tough left-handers.

Juan Soto

Soto spent spring training doing what he always does -- hitting homers, staring pitchers down, walking a bunch, and looking like the most confident hitter on the planet.

Now it starts for real.

Soto really is a Met, and that will be fully hammered home when he steps in the box against the Astros on Thursday and again when he digs in for his first at-bat as a Met at Citi Field on April 4.

The Mets' offense, even without McNeil and Francisco Alvarez for a bit, should be loaded. And it will orbit around Soto and Francisco Lindor, who could form one of the best 1-2 punches in baseball. If Lindor and Soto play as expected, it should create tons of opportunities for Pete Alonso, Mark Vientos, and Brandon Nimmo to do serious damage.

How dominant will Edwin Diaz be?

Even though he has a 2.60 ERA (2.10 FIP) and 1.01 WHIP while striking out 15.0 batters per nine in 204 games over his last four seasons, Diaz remains a polarizing figure.

He has been one of the best and most dominant closers in baseball each of the last four seasons he's pitched (he missed the entire 2023 campaign due to a knee injury), but that doesn't stop people from pushing the panic button at the first sign of a wobble.

In fairness, Diaz did have some hiccups last season -- including a sticky stuff suspension and a really bad stretch in May that skewed his final numbers a bit. He also went through a rough patch with his command in the postseason.

But Diaz-- as he's always been since 2020 -- was mostly dominant in 2024, which included how he pitched from June 13 to the end of the regular season on Sept. 30. In 35 games during that span, Diaz posted a 2.41 ERA (2.07 FIP) while holding batters to a .155/.252/.241 triple slash. In 33.2 innings over those 35 games, Diaz allowed just 18 hits while walking 13 and striking out 54.

Some expect perfection from Diaz, though, or at the very least a repeat of his 2022 season -- when he had one of the best relief seasons ever and garnered Cy Young votes. Diaz is unlikely to ever repeat 2022, but there's no reason to believe he won't be mostly dominant once again.

Will the bullpen reach its potential?

The aforementioned Diaz is obviously a huge part of the equation here, but the Mets' relief corps beyond him has a chance to be really good.

Behind Diaz, there are three other legitimate late-inning options -- A.J. Minter, Reed Garrett, and Ryne Stanek -- who all have the stuff to dominate. Minter had a 2.62 ERA and 1.01 WHIP last season for Atlanta, Garrett emerged with the Mets to be one of their key relievers, and Stanek (despite a tough stretch right after he was acquired last year) was one of New York's most reliable relievers in the playoffs.

Then there's Dedniel Núñez, who was one of the Mets' best relievers last season in what was his rookie campaign. Núñez needs a bit more time to stretch out after last season ended due to injury, but the expectation is that he'll arrive quickly.

But the true X-factors here could be Jose Butto and Max Kranick, who are both viewed as potentially high-impact, multi-inning options.

Butto was a serious weapon last season, allowing just 41 hits in 74.0 innings while pitching to a 2.55 ERA and 1.06 WHIP.

Then there's Kranick, whose stuff has played up in a big way as he completes his transition from starter to reliever.

Clemens makes the team, Phillies appear to have their Opening Day roster originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Kody Clemens has won the final spot on the Phillies’ Opening Day roster, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski told reporters in Clearwater on Monday morning.

The left-handed-hitting Clemens and right-handed-hitting Buddy Kennedy had made it down to the final day of spring training in their competition for the last spot on the bench. Both are out of minor-league options and would have to be passed through waivers before accepting a minor-league assignment, so the Phillies knew all along they could lose whichever one doesn’t make the team unless a trade is worked out before Thursday’s opener.

Clemens has demonstrated his value as an extra man with the Phils over the last two seasons, playing seven different positions and coming up with several big hits late in games. Clemens hit a game-tying homer in the ninth inning of a game against the Nationals last May that the Phillies won in extras. In early September, he doubled in the ninth inning in Toronto to set up Kyle Schwarber’s game-winning homer. The next week, Clemens hit a walk-off single to beat the Rays.

Clemens went 16-for-52 (.308) this spring with two homers and seven RBI. Kennedy hit for power and drew walks throughout Grapefruit League play as well, and there was some thought that he might make it because of his right-handed bat. The Phillies are lefty-heavy with Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Max Kepler, Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh in the starting lineup, and they use a right-handed pinch-hitter for Stott or Marsh far more often than they use a lefty pinch-hitter for Trea Turner, Alec Bohm, Nick Castellanos or J.T. Realmuto. But still, Clemens has shown enough to earn a place on the roster.

A part of the decision was likely the Phillies’ comfort in using Sosa occasionally in the outfield. He played 23 innings in left field this spring and five in center. Weston Wilson, a right-handed hitter, strained his oblique just before spring training games began and the injury was believed to carry a six-week timetable. The Phillies will ease him back but he could potentially be in play for a bench job by late-April if he finds his timing quickly in the minors. Wilson does have an option year remaining.

This is how the Phillies’ 26-man roster, which needs to be submitted to the league by Thursday afternoon, looks:

Catchers (2)

J.T. Realmuto, Rafael Marchan

Infielders (4)

Bryce Harper, Bryson Stott, Trea Turner, Alec Bohm

Outfielders (5)

Kyle Schwarber, Max Kepler, Brandon Marsh, Nick Castellanos, Johan Rojas

Utility (2)

Edmundo Sosa, Kody Clemens

Starting pitchers (5)

Zack Wheeler, Jesus Luzardo, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sanchez, Taijuan Walker

Relievers (8)

Matt Strahm, Jordan Romano, Jose Alvarado, Orion Kerkering, Tanner Banks, Jose Ruiz, Joe Ross, Carlos Hernandez

Injured list (2)

Ranger Suarez (back), Weston Wilson (oblique)

The Mets face the Yankees on Monday at 1:10 p.m. on SNY.

Here's what to know about the game and how to watch...

Mets Notes

• This is the Mets' final spring training game before they break camp
• After Monday's game, the Mets travel to Houston to prepare for Opening Day on Thursday against the Astros at 4:10 p.m. on SNY

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National League West superstars tend to be bunched on the Dodgers and San Diego Padres, which might have compelled two other teams to write a huge check to lock in a player of undeniable impact during the offseason.

Roll out the red carpet for Corbin Burnes of the Arizona Diamondbacks and Willy Adames of the San Francisco Giants.

Burnes, 30, is a top-rung starting pitcher, a Cy Young Award winner who regularly exceeds 30 starts and 200 strikeouts per season while keeping his earned-run average under 3.00. He signed for six years and $210 million.

Adames, 29, is a top-rung shortstop, a power hitter and clubhouse leader who compiled 32 home runs, 112 runs batted in and 21 stolen bases last season in Milwaukee. He signed for seven years and $182 million.

Whether Burnes or Adames are surrounded by enough talent to challenge the Dodgers' superstar trio of Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman or the Padres' dynamic duo of Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado remains to be seen.

1 | Los Angeles Dodgers

2024 | 98-64, 1st in West

Last year in playoffs | 2024

The expectations were World Series-or-bust a year ago. That hasn't changed despite the championship and subsequent parade. What else would anyone expect after the Dodgers added Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki to the starting rotation (not to mention Ohtani), Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates to the bullpen and Michael Conforto to the lineup while bringing back Teoscar Hernández?

The Dodgers also locked up manager Dave Roberts with a four-year extension at a record $8.1 million a year. His primary challenge this year will be to begin the playoffs with his pitching staff and aging lineup — nearly every regular players is in his 30s — at optimum health.

2 | Arizona Diamondbacks

2024 | 89-73 3rd in West

Last year in playoffs | 2023

The Diamondbacks led baseball last season in runs, batting average and on-base percentage yet missed the playoffs a year after making the World Series. They again should be formidable and probably will present the biggest challenge for the Dodgers, especially after fortifying their starting rotation with Burnes.

First baseman Christian Walker left as a free agent but was replaced by Josh Naylor, who hit 31 home runs and drove in 106 runs with the Cleveland Guardians last season. Designated hitter Joc Pederson also departed. Otherwise, it's pretty much the same lineup, with productive hitters throughout, beginning with Ketel Marte. The starting rotation behind Burnes is solid. The departure of closer Paul Sewald shouldn't cause much concern — he was average at best — but the role has not been filled. Bullpen veterans Kevin Ginkel and A.J. Puk are the candidates along with youngster Justin Martinez and his triple-digit fastball.

3 | San Diego Padres

2024 | 93-69, 2nd in West

Last year in playoffs | 2024

A protracted legal battle among members of the Seidler family after beloved owner Peter Seidler died in 2023
seemed to handcuff the Padres front office this offseason. Yes, they still have Tatis Jr., and Machado. Sure, center fielder Jackson Merrill finished second in rookie-of-the-year balloting. And starters Michael King, Dylan Cease and Yu Darvish are back from a team that won 93 regular-season games, a wild-card series and pushed the Dodgers to the limit in a five-game NL Division Series.

But while the Dodgers and to a lesser extent the Diamondbacks and Giants made splashy offseason moves, the Padres pretty much stood pat. John Seidler, older brother of Peter, was approved by MLB on March 12 as the Padres "control person," creating stability. Whether than means a resumption of general manager A.J. Preller's freewheeling ways or continued belt-tightening remains to be seen.

4 | San Francisco Giants

2024 | 80-82, 4th in West

Last year in playoffs | 2021

Under the new front office leadership of former All-Star catcher Buster Posey, the Giants began the offseason with a major splash when Adames chose them over several other suitors. Not much happened thereafter, however. They did sign Justin Verlander, a cinch Hall of Famer, but he's 42, coming off injuries and a 5.48 ERA in 17 starts last season. They also lost two-time Cy Young winner Snell to the Dodgers.

Spring training didn't prompt hope to spring eternal, either. Top prospect Bryce Eldridge, a power-hitting first baseman, rose through four minor league levels last season but batted .182 with a bushel of strikeouts this spring and will start the season in triple-A. Since posting 107 wins in 2021, the Giants have hovered just below .500 and offer no reason to think they won't again finish behind the Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Padres.

5 | Colorado Rockies

2024 | 61-101, 5th in West

Last year in playoffs | 2018

As bad as the 2024 season was, it marked a two-win improvement on 2023. Yet the Rockies have done little to engender hope, faith or anything else resembling a reason for substantial improvement in 2025. They scored the fewest runs per game and generated the second-lowest slugging percentage in franchise history last year. And their pitching remains woeful.

Ezequiel Tovar, 22, is one of the best young shortstops in baseball. Center fielder Brenton Doyle, 26, has 30-30 potential. Third baseman and Mater Dei High product Ryan McMahon seems stuck at about 20 homers, 70 RBIs and a .245 batting average every year. Kris Bryant is all but AWOL. Franchise icon Charlie Blackmon, 38, retired and joined the Rockies front office, a more difficult role than posting a .293 career batting average over the last 14 years — which he did.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.