Throughout a 162-game season plus October, fans grow accustomed to the players who take the field for their beloved teams, whether pitching or hitting. These players, regardless of their performance level or the team’s success, become the focal points of the season. However, the offseason dramatically alters all 30 MLB rosters, reshuffling players to new teams and roles, introducing fresh faces for fans to acquaint themselves with.
Therefore, it is valuable to assess which teams head into the 2025 season with familiar players and which teams unveil a higher proportion of new names. Following another offseason filled with free-agent signings and trades that have significantly transformed the league, as Opening Day approaches, it’s crucial to reflect on the winter moves and anticipate the upcoming season through a simple lens: Which rosters have undergone the most change since last season?
I undertook this analysis a year ago and have revisited it this year using a similar method. I examined every player who appeared in a game for a team in 2024 and determined whether they remain with that team. The primary objective is to present a broad overview of the teams that will maintain a similar look rather than those that have seen the most improvement. I focused solely on playing time for pitchers and hitters, disregarding performance metrics.
For instance, Astros’ pitchers Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown, Ronel Blanco, and Spencer Arrighetti collectively pitched 658 2/3 innings in 2024, and they all continue to be part of the Astros team. This accounts for approximately 46% of Houston’s innings returning from that quartet alone. However, in the batting lineup, Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker had a combined 973 plate appearances, roughly 16% of the team’s total, and they will not be returning in 2025. This means nearly 1,000 plate appearances will be taken by new faces for the Astros this season, marking a significant change after years of roster stability in Houston.
Please consider joining or forming a Yahoo Fantasy Baseball league for the upcoming 2025 MLB season.
It is important to mention that these calculations do not consider injuries, which can skew the data for some teams. For instance, Gerrit Cole and the 95 innings he pitched last season are counted in the Yankees’ percentage of innings ‘returning,’ but he will not be available this season due to Tommy John surgery.
This analysis does not aim to determine winners or losers of the offseason, and ranking all 30 teams based on this metric does not necessarily predict success or failure in the upcoming season. Last year’s rankings showcased a mix of outcomes for teams with familiar rosters and those with significant changes. The top 10 teams in terms of roster continuity last year included both playoff-bound teams like the Phillies, Astros, and Orioles, as well as underperforming teams like the Cubs,
The Los Angeles Dodgers find themselves in the middle of the pack entering the 2025 season, as highlighted in the MLB continuity rankings. The San Diego Padres have experienced significant changes in their roster under president of baseball operations A.J. Preller, with a focus on retaining key pitchers for the upcoming season. Despite facing challenges due to payroll constraints, the Padres have managed to keep their pitching staff largely intact, setting them up as a strong contender in the National League. On the other hand, the Texas Rangers are undergoing major changes in their pitching rotation and bullpen for the 2025 season, with a mix of experienced players and promising prospects stepping up to fill key roles.
The Texas Rangers have undergone a significant transformation in their pitching staff, with most of their top relievers from last year being replaced by new acquisitions. President of baseball operations Chris Young focused on revamping the bullpen during the offseason, bringing in players like Chris Martin, Jacob Webb, Hoby Milner, Shawn Armstrong, Luke Jackson, and Robert Garcia. With the team finishing 21st in rotation ERA and 26th in bullpen ERA last season, the performance of this new-look pitching staff will be crucial in determining the Rangers’ chances of making it to the playoffs again.
Similarly, several other teams made major changes to their rosters over the winter. The Philadelphia Phillies retained much of their core players, opting to add to their roster rather than make significant subtractions. Meanwhile, the New York Yankees, despite coming off a World Series appearance, will be relying heavily on new faces in the upcoming season due to departures and injuries to key players. The pressure will be on their offseason acquisitions and young talents to fill the gaps left by the departing players and injuries.
It will be interesting to see how these roster changes impact the performance of each team in the upcoming season and whether they can maintain their competitiveness in the league.
The upcoming matchup between the Miami Marlins and Chicago White Sox is set to provide an intriguing subplot for the league’s most scrutinized ballclub. Both teams have undergone significant changes recently, with Chicago coming off a dismal season and Miami making numerous trades involving veteran players. With new leadership in their baseball operations departments and fresh managers in Will Venable and Clayton McCullough, the focus for these clubs is on developing their young talent rather than immediate success on the field.
This approach has seen both teams part ways with veterans to bring in young talent and provide opportunities for emerging prospects. The Marlins are returning just two of their top six hitters from last season, Jesus Sanchez and Otto Lopez, while the White Sox have retained one of their top five pitchers in Jonathan Cannon. Although the rebuilding process will be challenging and likely extend over multiple years, there is hope that the 2025 season will showcase promising young talent that both clubs can build around.
