2025 Major League Baseball season
| 2025 MLB season | |
|---|---|
| League | Major League Baseball |
| Sport | Baseball |
| Duration | March 18 – September 28, 2025 |
| Number of games | 162 |
| Number of teams | 30 |
| TV partner(s) | Fox/FS1 TBS ESPN/ABC MLB Network |
| Streaming partner(s) | Max Apple TV+ The Roku Channel ESPN+ |
| Draft | |
| Regular season | |
| Postseason | |
| World Series | |
The 2025 Major League Baseball season is scheduled to begin on March 18–19 with a two-game series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs held in Tokyo, Japan, before the regular season proper runs from March 27 to September 28. The 95th All-Star Game is planned for July 15 at Truist Park in Cumberland, Georgia, the home of the Atlanta Braves.[1] Going into the season, the defending World Series champions are the Los Angeles Dodgers from the 2024 season.
The Athletics plan to temporarily relocate from Oakland to West Sacramento, California, for at least three seasons before permanently moving to Las Vegas.[2] The team will be branded as the Athletics, with no city name attached.[3]
Schedule
[edit]Major League Baseball released its 2025 schedule on July 18, 2024. There are 162 games scheduled for all teams. The scheduling formula was modified this season to increase the number of games between "prime" Interleague rivals from four to six, playing two three-game series instead of two two-game series. May 16–18 has also been designated as "Rivalry Weekend", featuring 11 series of these "prime" Interleague rivals.[1][4]
The Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs are scheduled to open the season at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo on March 18–19. Opening Day on the U.S. mainland is then planned for March 27.[1]
The 95th All-Star Game will be played on July 15, hosted by the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park in Cumberland, Georgia. The Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds will play a game at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee on August 2. The MLB Little League Classic at Bowman Field in Williamsport, Pennsylvania will be played on August 17 with the Seattle Mariners taking on the New York Mets.
Managerial changes
[edit]General managers
[edit]Off-season
[edit]| Team | Former GM | Reason For Leaving | New GM | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota Twins | Thad Levine | Fired | TBD | On October 4, 2024, Levine was fired after eight-year tenure with the team.[5] |
| San Francisco Giants | Farhan Zaidi (POBO) | Buster Posey (POBO) Zack Minasian (GM) |
On September 30, 2024, Zaidi was fired after six years as the team's president of baseball operations. The same day, the Giants named former catcher Buster Posey as the new president of baseball operations.[6] On November 1, 2024, Posey hired Zack Minasian to serve as general manager.[7] |
Field managers
[edit]Off-season
[edit]| Team | Former Manager | Interim Manager | Reason For Leaving | New Manager | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago White Sox | Pedro Grifol | Grady Sizemore | Fired | Will Venable | On August 8, 2024, the White Sox fired Grifol. In two seasons as manager of the White Sox, he compiled a record of 89–190 (.319) with no playoff appearances.[8]
Sizemore was named as the interim manager on the same day Grifol and bench coach Charlie Montoyo were fired. This was his first managerial position.[9] Venable was hired on October 31, 2024. He had previously been an assistant coach for the Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, and Texas Rangers.[10] |
| Cincinnati Reds | David Bell | Freddie Benavides | Terry Francona | On September 22, 2024, the Reds fired David Bell. During his six seasons as the Reds skipper, Bell complied a record of 409–456 (.473) with one playoff appearance during the 2020 COVID-shortened season.
Benavides, the current bench coach, was named as the interim manager for the rest of the season. This was his first managerial position.[11] On October 4, Francona was hired as the new manager for the Reds.[12] | |
| Miami Marlins | Skip Schumaker | N/A | Clayton McCullough | On September 29, 2024, the Marlins announced that Skip Schumaker would not return as the team manager for the 2025 Season. In his two seasons as the Marlins skipper, Schumaker compiled a record of 146–178 (.451), with one playoff appearance.[13]
On November 11, 2024, McCullough was hired as the new manager for the Marlins.[14] | |
| Contract expired |
Venues
[edit]On November 16, 2023, MLB owners approved the Athletics' relocation from Oakland to Las Vegas. The Athletics then announced on April 4, 2024, that the team would temporarily play at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, California, from 2025 to 2027, with an option for 2028, while their new ballpark in Las Vegas is under construction.[2][15]
Owing to severe roof damage sustained at Tropicana Field caused by Hurricane Milton, the Tampa Bay Rays will play at George M. Steinbrenner Field, the New York Yankees' spring training stadium in Tampa.[16]
Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros, was renamed to Daikin Park during the offseason on January 1, 2025 after Japanese air conditioning manufacturer Daikin bought the naming rights.[17]
Uniforms
[edit]Wholesale changes
[edit]- The Guardians unveiled a new uniform set, The biggest change for the 2025 season will be seen in Cleveland’s blue alternative uniform set. The jersey will continue to have a navy base but will move away from "Cleveland" across the chest and instead feature the Guardians "Diamond C" logo. The Guardians red home alternative uniform will feature a new look across the chest, as the script Guardians from 2024 will change to the club’s Bridge Print font with "Guardians" across the chest. Piping on the red jersey will showcase a blue-white-blue look. Cleveland’s white home uniform will continue to carry on its primary historic look with the script "Guardians" across the chest. The logo will shift from being on a slant to horizontal. New piping will be on the jersey with a red-blue-red design on the neckline and arms. A new home hat will make its debut in 2025, solely with the white uniform set, as the main color of the hat will change to red with a blue bill. All hats will continue to feature the "Diamond C," and the club’s blue cap with red bill will be worn with all other jerseys (home red, road blue, road gray). The road uniform will stay the same.[18]
Anniversaries and special events
[edit]| Team | Special occasion |
|---|---|
| All Teams | Jackie Robinson Day (April 15) |
| Pink Ribbons for breast cancer awareness (May 11, Mother's Day) | |
| Patch for Armed Forces Day (May 19) and Camouflage caps for Armed Force's Day Weekend (May 18–20) | |
| Poppy for Memorial Day (May 26) | |
| #4 patch for Lou Gehrig Day (June 2) | |
| "Play Ball" patch in partnership with USA Baseball and USA Softball (June 14–16) | |
| Blue Ribbons for prostate cancer (June 15, Father's Day) | |
| National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum logo patches (July 19–21) | |
| Gold Ribbons for childhood cancer (September 1) | |
| #21 patch for Roberto Clemente Day (September 15) | |
| "MLB Debut" patch for players who play their first Major League game | |
| Atlanta Braves | 2025 MLB All-Star Game |
| 30th Anniversary of 1995 World Series Championship | |
| Baltimore Orioles | 30th Anniversary of Cal Ripken Jr.'s 2131st consecutive game |
| 55th Anniversary of 1970 World Series Championship | |
| Chicago White Sox | 20th Anniversary of 2005 World Series Championship |
| Cincinnati Reds | 50th Anniversary of 1975 World Series Championship |
| 35th Anniversary of 1990 World Series Championship | |
| Colorado Rockies | 30th Anniversary of Coors Field |
| Detroit Tigers | 25th Anniversary of Comerica Park |
| Kansas City Royals | 40th Anniversary of 1985 World Series Championship |
| 10th Anniversary of 2015 World Series Championship | |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 70th Anniversary of 1955 World Series Championship |
| 60th Anniversary of 1965 World Series Championship | |
| 5th Anniversary of 2020 World Series Championship | |
| #34 Patch in memory of Fernando Valenzuela[19] | |
| 2024 World Series championship | |
| New York Mets | #7 Patch in memory of Ed Kranepool[20] |
| New York Yankees | 25th Anniversary of 2000 World Series Championship |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 45th Anniversary of 1980 World Series Championship |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 65th Anniversary of 1960 World Series Championship |
| San Francisco Giants | 15th Anniversary of 2010 World Series Championship |
| 25th Anniversary of Oracle Park | |
| Washington Nationals | 20th Anniversary Season |
Media rights
[edit]Television
[edit]National
[edit]This will be the fourth year of the existing seven-year deals with ESPN, Fox, TBS, Apple TV+, and MLB Network.[21]
Linear television
[edit]- Fox will continue to air their Fox Saturday Baseball and Baseball Night in America slate of exclusive weekend games. The network will also air the 2025 MLB All-Star Game. FS1 will also broadcast non-exclusive games.[22]
- TBS will continue to broadcast Tuesday Night Baseball. Most games are blacked out in the home markets of the teams playing, however, TBS is allowed to co-exist once with a team's local broadcast.[23]
- ESPN will continue to broadcast Sunday Night Baseball, with the option to show alternate broadcasts, along with at-least five other exclusive regular season games. For the first time since 2021, ESPN will air a doubleheader on Opening Day.[24] The network also has the rights to the Home Run Derby.[25] Select games may air on ABC and ESPN2.
- MLB Network will continue to broadcast games daily. While most games will be simulcasts of the home teams' regional sports network broadcasts, select games will be produced by the network under its MLB Network Showcase banner. All games are blacked out in the home markets of the teams playing.[26]
Streaming
[edit]- ESPN+ continues to hold the rights to stream selected games. These games will be blacked out in local markets.[27]
- Max will continue to simulcast TBS' games on its Bleacher Report Sports Add-on tier.[28]
- Apple TV+ continues to hold the rights to Friday Night Baseball.[21]
- This will be the second season that MLB Sunday Leadoff will be streamed on The Roku Channel under a multi-year deal.[29]
- The league's MLB.tv will continue to stream out-of-market games, and all of Roku's games.[29]
Postseason
[edit]During the postseason, the ESPN networks (including ABC, with Spanish–language simulcasts on ESPN Deportes) will air all four Wild Card Series.[25] TNT Sports (TNT, TBS and TruTv, with Spanish-language simulcasts on Univision Deportes) will then broadcast the National League Division Series and the National League Championship Series,[23] and Fox Sports (Fox and FS1, with Spanish-language simulcasts on Fox Deportes) will broadcast the American League Division Series, the American League Championship Series and the World Series.[22]
Local
[edit]- The Chicago White Sox, the NBA's Chicago Bulls, the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks, and Standard Media launched the Chicago Sports Network in October 2024, replacing NBC Sports Chicago as their regional broadcaster.[30][31]
Diamond Sports bankruptcy
[edit]This will be the third season affected by the February 2023 bankruptcy of Diamond Sports Group, owners of the Bally Sports regional sports networks.
The Cleveland Guardians, Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, and Texas Rangers' contracts with Bally Sports Great Lakes, Bally Sports Wisconsin, Bally Sports North, and Bally Sports Southwest, respectively, expired at the end of their 2024 regular seasons.[32][33][34] The Rangers were reported to be developing a "direct-to-distributor" model, which would involve an ad-hoc network for game broadcasts distributed directly to television providers (similar to MLB Local Media, except produced in-house by the team), and a streaming platform that would carry the games and ancillary content.[35] On October 8, 2024, MLB Local Media announced that it would assume the rights to the Brewers, Guardians, and Twins beginning in the 2025 season.[36][37]
On October 2, 2024, Diamond Sports announced its intention to renegotiate its contracts with eight MLB teams. The teams include the Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Miami Marlins, St. Louis Cardinals, and Tampa Bay Rays. If teams are unable to agree to a new contract with Diamond, their contract will be rejected. The Atlanta Braves were the only team not being affected by this announcement.[38] Diamond Sports announced new agreements with Marlins, on October 18, and the Cardinals, on November 7.[39] For the first time, the Cardinals will be available direct-to-consumer locally through the FanDuel Sports Network app.[40] On November 8, the Reds and Diamond announced a settlement which will officially end their contract.[41]
In October 2024, Diamond announced a new sponsorship agreement with FanDuel, which re-branded Bally Sports as FanDuel Sports Network on October 21.[42][43] The naming rights will be paid for via an annual rights fee and advertising commitments. FanDuel will also have the option to acquire a 5% equity stake in Diamond once it exits Chapter 11 bankruptcy.[44][45]
On November 8, 2024, Major League Baseball and the Atlanta Braves officially objected to Diamond Sports' reorganization plan from bankruptcy, saying they had "grave concerns" about the companies' future viability.[46] However, on November 13, Major League Baseball and the Braves dropped their objection, after Diamond Sports reached amended agreements with the Braves, Los Angeles Angels, Tampa Bay Rays, and Detroit Tigers. Diamond Sports will acquire local direct-to-consumer streaming rights for all the teams it renegotiated with. Only the Kansas City Royals have not officially had their contract rejected or renegotiated by Diamond Sports Group.[47] That same day, MLB Local Media announced it would assume the television rights to the Cincinnati Reds.[48]
Teams changing television homes
[edit]Mostly due to the bankruptcy of Diamond Sports Group, a significant number of teams changed their local broadcast television outlet for the 2025 season:
| Team | Old outlet | New outlet |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago White Sox | NBC Sports Chicago | Chicago Sports Network |
| Cincinnati Reds | Bally Sports Ohio | MLB Local Media |
| Cleveland Guardians | Bally Sports Great Lakes | |
| Kansas City Royals | Bally Sports Kansas City | Unknown[a] |
| Milwaukee Brewers | Bally Sports Wisconsin | MLB Local Media |
| Minnesota Twins | Bally Sports North | |
| Texas Rangers | Bally Sports Southwest | Unknown |
Radio
[edit]Local
[edit]- On November 14, 2024, the New York Yankees announced the hiring of Dave Sims as the team's primary radio play-by-play announcer, succeeding John Sterling. Sims was previously the lead television play-by-play announcer of the Seattle Mariners, holding the job since 2007.[49]
- On November 15, 2024, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced the hiring of Luis Cruz (who played for the team in 2012 and 2013) as an analyst for its Spanish-language radio broadcasts, succeeding Fernando Valenzuela—who had died on October 22, 2024. [50]
Notes
[edit]- ^ Could return to the network, now rebranded as FanDuel Sports Network Kansas City
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "MLB announces 2025 regular season schedule". MLB.com. July 18, 2024.
- ^ a b Drellich, Evan; Rosenthal, Ken (April 4, 2024). "Oakland A's to play in Sacramento's Sutter Health Park beginning in 2025 ahead of move to Las Vegas". The Athletic. Archived from the original on April 4, 2024. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
- ^ Perry, Dayn (November 4, 2024). "A's officially drop Oakland from name, won't add Sacramento as future plans remain at a standstill". CBS Sports. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
- ^ "2025 MLB schedule release: Most exciting series, key dates". ESPN.com. July 18, 2024.
- ^ Park, Do-Hyoung (October 4, 2024). "Levine, Twins' senior VP/GM, departs team after 8 seasons". MLB.com. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
- ^ Guardado, Maria (September 30, 2024). "Giants dismiss Zaidi, name Buster Posey pres. of baseball ops". MLB.com. Retrieved September 30, 2024.
- ^ Baggarly, Andrew (November 1, 2024). "Buster Posey on new GM Zack Minasian: 'He gets what it means to be a San Francisco Giant". The Athletic. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
- ^ Merkin, Scott (August 8, 2024). "White Sox dismiss Grifol; search underway for new manager". MLB.com. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
- ^ Merkin, Scott (August 9, 2024). "'Grateful' Grady Sizemore named interim White Sox manager". MLB.com. Retrieved August 10, 2024.
- ^ Merkin, Scott (October 31, 2024). "Venable named White Sox manager: 'I'm excited about the challenges'". MLB.com. Retrieved October 31, 2024.
- ^ "Reds part ways with manager Bell after six seasons". MLB.com.
- ^ "Reds give Francona 3-year deal to be new manager". MLB.com. October 4, 2024. Retrieved October 4, 2024.
- ^ "Marlins part ways with 2023 NL Manager of the Year Skip Schumaker". CBS News. September 29, 2024. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
- ^ De Nicola, Christina (November 11, 2024). "Miami Marlins hire Clayton McCullough as manager". MLB.com. Retrieved November 12, 2024.
- ^ "Nevada governor signs A's stadium funding bill". KLAS. June 15, 2023. Archived from the original on September 21, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
- ^ "Rays to play 2025 season at Yankees' spring training field in Tampa". ESPN. November 14, 2024. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
- ^ https://www.khou.com/article/sports/mlb/astros/astros-minute-maid-park-juice-box-ice-daikin/285-3e77e988-2191-453e-a891-ea010207df65
- ^ "Cleveland Guardians announce 2025 uniform changes". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
- ^ Foster, Jason (October 24, 2024). "Dodgers to honor Valenzuela with uniform patch in WS, 2025 season". MLB.com. Retrieved October 24, 2024.
- ^ @AnthonyDiComo (September 9, 2024). "Because the Mets only have a small number of games left this season, they plan to wait until next year to honor Ed Kranepool with a uniform patch. They'll wear it for the entire 2025 season" (Tweet). Retrieved September 9, 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b Ozanian, Mike (March 9, 2022). "MLB Deals With Apple And NBC Sports Are Worth A Combined $115 Million Annually". Forbes. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
- ^ a b "MLB, Fox complete multiyear agreement". MLB Advanced Media. September 24, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- ^ a b Brown, Maury (September 24, 2020). "TBS And MLB Reach TV Rights Extension For 2022-28 Reportedly Worth $3.75 Billion". Forbes. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- ^ Feuz, Alex (November 13, 2024). "ESPN to Exclusively Present 2025 MLB Opening Day Doubleheader Featuring Both World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers and American League Champion New York Yankees". ESPN Press Room. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
- ^ a b Brown, Maury (May 14, 2020). "ESPN's 7 Year 392 Billion Renewal With MLB Starts In 2022". Forbes. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
- ^ Paulsen (September 18, 2022). "News: Gus Johnson, Pac-12, LIV Tour and more". Sports Media Watch. Retrieved September 18, 2022.
- ^ Feauz, Alex (March 28, 2024). "ESPN+ Unveils Major League Baseball Game Schedule for March and April". ESPN Press Room. Archived from the original on June 2, 2024. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
- ^ Roth, Emma (September 19, 2023). "Max will start offering a live sports tier in October". The Verge. Archived from the original on September 19, 2023. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
- ^ a b Spangler, Todd (May 13, 2024). "Roku Scores Exclusive MLB Sunday Games Package, Streaming for Free in U.S. and Elsewhere". Variety. Archived from the original on May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
- ^ Powers, Scott; Lazerus, Mark (May 4, 2024). "Blackhawks, Bulls, White Sox partnering with media group for new broadcast home". The Athletic.
- ^ Libit, Daniel (June 3, 2024). "Sox, Bulls and Blackhawks to Launch Chicago Sports Network". Sportico. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
- ^ Frankel, Daniel (February 2, 2024). "Diamond and MLB Mediate Deals to Keep the Rangers, Twins and Guardians on Bally Sports Through the 2024 Season". Next TV. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
- ^ Miller, Phill (February 9, 2024). "Twins officially will remain on Bally Sports North this season". Star Tribune. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
- ^ "Diamond Sports Group won't carry 11 MLB teams in 2025 without new deal". ESPN. October 2, 2024. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
- ^ "Texas Rangers developing direct-to-distributor model, ending relationship with Diamond". Sports Business Journal. September 26, 2024. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
- ^ "MLB to produce, distribute local games for Guardians, Brewers and Twins in 2025". MLB.com. October 8, 2024. Retrieved October 8, 2024.
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- ^ Drellich, Evan (October 18, 2024). "Miami Marlins to return to Diamond Sports as MLB rips network's FanDuel naming-rights process". The Athletic. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
- ^ Drellich, Evan (November 7, 2024). "Cardinals keep Diamond Sports as TV home, grant streaming rights". The Athletic. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
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- ^ Drellich, Evan. "Miami Marlins to return to Diamond Sports as MLB rips network's FanDuel naming-rights process". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
- ^ Axelrod, Ben (October 18, 2024). "Diamond Sports Group to retain Miami Marlins' TV rights". Awful Announcing. Retrieved October 19, 2024.
- ^ Paul, Tony. "Bally Sports Detroit set to become FanDuel Sports Network; what you need to know". The Detroit News. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
- ^ Randles, Jonathan (October 16, 2024). "Diamond Seeks Approval to Rebrand From Bally Sports to FanDuel". BNN Bloomberg. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
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- ^ "MLB to produce, distribute local Reds broadcasts in 2025". November 14, 2024. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
- ^ "Dave Sims will follow Sterling as Yanks radio voice". MLB.com. November 14, 2024. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
- ^ "Luis Cruz, newest member of Dodgers Spanish-language broadcast team, remains fan favorite". Los Angeles Times. November 15, 2024. Retrieved November 16, 2024.