Major League Baseball kicked off its 149th Opening Day on March 27, following an offseason headlined by blockbuster deals, including Juan Soto’s $756 million contract with the New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers’ $350 million spending spree.
The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the 2025 season with the most pressure coming into the 2025 season. The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the 2025 season with the most pressure.
The Dodgers came into the offseason after winning the World Series with one player in mind: San Francisco Blake Snell. The Dodgers came into the offseason after winning the World Series with one player in mind: San Francisco Giants Pitcher Blake Snell.
They signed him to the Dodgers on November 26th to a 5-year $182 million deal.
Then, on January 17th, the Dodgers signed one of the most anticipated Japanese pinching prospects of the modern era, Roki Sasaki, to a 6-year minor league contract with a $6.5 million bonus.
In addition, they signed the best reliever on the market, Tanner Scott, to a 3-year $72 million deal. Also, two players were brought to the Dodgers’ attention, Teoscar Hernández and Tommy Edman.
Hernández was signed to a 3-year $66 million deal and Edman to a 5-year $74 million deal. This offseason helped the Dodgers start the season 7-0, beating the Cubs twice in Tokyo, and sweeping the Tigers and Braves at home.
After losing the 2024 World Series, the New York Yankees had one player in mind entering the offseason: Juan Soto.
After an MVP runner-up season batting .288 with 41 HR, 109 RBIs, and 166 hits, Soto became the most prized player in the offseason. The Yankees ended up giving Soto an offer of a 16-year deal, with a total of $760 million.
He declined and signed with the Mets for a 15-year $765 million deal. After losing the Juan Soto sweepstakes, the Yankees had to pivot quickly. They signed Max Fried to an 8-year $218 million deal, making Fried the highest paid left-handed pitcher of all time.
Then, they traded Nestor Cortes Jr. and prospect Caleb Durbin for closer Devin Williams. Next, they traded Cody Poteet for National League MVP Cody Bellinger to fill the outfield hole after losing Soto.
Finally, they signed Paul Goldschmidt for a 1-year $12.5 million deal. These acquisitions helped the Yankees start the season by hitting a record setting 9 home runs in the second game of the season against the Brewers, with Cortes on the mound.
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Mar 24, 2025; Port St. Lucie, Florida, USA; New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto (22) returns to the dugout against the New York Yankees during the first inning at Clover Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
REUTERS/via SNO Sites/Sam Navarro
In an interview after losing the World Series, Soto was asked about where he was going to sign next year. He responded with, “It’s been a blast for me. I’ve been really happy. If I’m here or not, … This was a really special group, but at the end of the day, we will see what’s going to happen.”
This means that he doesn’t have any one team in mind going into the offseason.
In the beginning of the offseason, Soto got 13 offers. Four teams had the lead in the Soto sweepstakes, the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, and the Dodgers.
Then, on December 8, Juan Soto signed a 15-year $765 million deal with an $805 million potential. This deal ranks as the highest sports contract of all time.
Overall, the 2025 season is shaping up to be an eventful year for the MLB. With record-breaking contracts and stellar players, it will certainly be exciting to see the future of MLB, and of sports as a whole.
