Playing Franchise Mode in MLB The Show 25? Here’s How to Rebuild the AL East
A break down off each MLB team to help you build it into a true dynasty, and I’m going to start in the AL East.
Kyler Wolff
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Published: May 16, 2025 11:44 am
If you want to rebuild teams in MLB The Show 25 Franchise mode, it’s best to be prepared and informed on the team you want to rebuild before you start. Each team has different goals and expectations entering the 2025 season, and every team, regardless of its quality, needs additional pieces to build out its roster.
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I’m going to break down each MLB team to help you build it into a true dynasty, and I’m going to start in the AL East.
Before we begin, I’d like to share my approach to breaking down rosters and determining the early direction of a franchise. I have five standard categories for typical MLB players under team control, four categories for veterans that are likely to end up on different teams in a few years, and three categories for prospects.
All Roles Explained
Long Term Pros
Franchise Players (1) – The best of the best, these are household names and are synonymous with the team that can lock them down on a huge 10+ year deal.
Stars (2) – Top 100 players in the league, these are the players you need to accrue around your franchise to become a true dynasty.
Long Term Core (3) – Everyday players and starters for at least the first three years of your franchise.
Pros With Potential (4) – Average MLB players who could develop into long-term players or end up as bench or bubble players.
Bench/Bubble MLB player (5) – Provides solid depth, but little starting potential; could wind up in the minors part of the year.
Short Term Veterans
Short Term Veterans/Trade Bait (1S) – Quality starters for the first year or two before you replace them. They offer value but don’t figure to be part of the long-term plans.
Low End Pros (2S) – A current MLB player that needs to be replaced in the lineup/rotation if you want to make a playoff run.
Liability Veterans (3S) – These players are putting up below-average numbers, but are locked into the starting unit for the time being because of their contract and/or reputation.
Minor League Veteran (4S) – A veteran who can strengthen your minor league teams and can be a “break glass in case of emergency” option in the pros if needed. This category is applied to all non-40-man players with MLB experience.
Prospects
Pro-ready Prospect (1P) – Provides solid depth or low-end starts, but has the potential to earn a bigger role soon.
High End Prospect (2P) – A minor league player with the ability to become a high-end starter or better.
Prospect (3P) – a minor league player with the ability to become a future low end to average starter.
Without a further ado, here are the breakdowns for each of the five AL East teams.
Orioles
Expectation/goal: Three playoff runs and at least one World Series appearance during first GM contract.
Starting Pitchers (SP)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(3)
Kyle Bradish
83
28
A
4
(1S)
Zach Eflin
83
30
B
1
(3)
Grayson Rodriguez
80
25
B
5
(4)
Dean Kremer
74
28
B
3
(1S)
Charlie Morton
74
41
B
1
(2S)
Albert Suarez
74
35
C
4
(5)
Tyler Wells
73
30
C
3
(3P)
Cade Povich
69
24
B
6
Relief Pitchers (RP)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(3)
Yennier Cano
75
31
B
4
(3)
Keegan Akin
74
29
C
4
(5)
Bryan Baker
71
30
C
2
(1S)
Gregory Soto
71
30
B
1
(1S)
Andrew Kittredge
70
34
B
1
(2S)
Seranthony Dominguez
67
30
B
1
(5)
Cionel Perez
66
28
C
2
(3P)
Roansy Contreras
62
25
B
4
(5)
Colin Selby
62
27
D
6
(4S)
Trevor Rogers
61
27
C
2
Closer (CP)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(2)
Felix Bautista
85
29
B
3
Catchers (C)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(2)
Adley Rutschman
88
27
A
3
(1S)
Gary Sanchez
79
32
C
1
(3P)
Samuel Basallo
63
20
B
6
First Basemen (1B)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(1S)
Ryan Mountcastle
78
28
B
2
(2S)
Ryan O’Hearn
72
31
B
1
Second Basemen (2B)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(2S)
Jorge Mateo
73
29
C
1
(1P)
Jackson Holliday
71
21
A
6
Third Basemen (3B)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(3)
Jordan Westburg
82
26
B
5
(1P)
Coby Mayo
71
23
B
6
(2S)
Ramon Urias
68
30
C
2
Shortstop (SS)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(1)
Gunnar Henderson
94
23
A
4
Left Fielders (LF)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(3)
Tyler O’Neill
82
29
B
3
(2S)
Dylan Carlson
63
26
B
2
Center Fielders (CF)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(1S)
Cedric Mullins
78
30
B
1
(3P)
Vance Honeycutt
61
21
B
6
Right Fielders (RF)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(3)
Colton Cowser
83
24
B
5
(1S)
Ramon Laureano
75
30
C
1
(1P)
Heston Kjersted
72
26
B
6
Team Needs:
A true ace pitcher
A young 1st baseman of the future
Outfield depth going foward
More farm system guys
Red Sox
Expectation/goal: Make the playoffs at least two of first three seasons and win one playoff series in your first three seasons.
Starting Pitchers (SP)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(2)
Garrett Crochet
85
25
A
2
(3)
Tanner Houck
80
28
B
3
(3)
Kutter Crawford
77
28
B
4
(4)
Garrett Whitlock
73
28
B
4
(4)
Brayan Bello
71
25
B
6
(2S)
Lucas Giolito
70
30
B
2
(5)
Walker Buehler
69
30
B
1
(3P)
Luis Perales
63
21
C
6
(3P)
Quinn Priester
63
24
B
6
Relief Pitchers (RP)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(1S)
Aroldis Chapman
78
37
B
1
(3)
Justin Slaten
77
27
C
5
(4)
Brennan Bernardino
70
33
C
5
(5)
Josh Winckowski
65
26
C
4
(5)
Greg Weissert
62
30
C
5
(2S)
Justin Wilson
62
37
C
1
(5)
Cooper Criswell
61
28
C
5
(5)
Chris Murphy
58
26
C
5
Closer (CP)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(2S)
Liam Hendriks
73
36
B
2
(4S)
Zack Kelly
66
30
C
4
Catchers (C)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(4)
Connor Wong
75
28
B
4
(5)
Blake Sabol
65
27
C
5
First Basemen (1B)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(3)
Triston Casas
80
25
B
4
Second Basemen (2B)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(3)
Alex Bregman
81
30
A
3
(5)
Romy Gonzalez
67
28
C
4
(2P)
Kristian Campbell
66
22
A
6
(4S)
Nick Sogard
59
27
C
6
Third Basemen (3B)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(1)
Rafael Devers
86
28
A
9
Shortstops (SS)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(5)
David Hamilton
74
27
C
5
(3S)
Trevor Story
72
32
C
4
(3P)
Marcelo Mayer
67
22
B
6
(5)
Vaughn Grissom
61
24
C
5
Left Fielders (LF)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(2)
Jarren Duran
86
28
B
4
(2S)
Rob Refsnyder
73
33
C
1
(4)
Masataka Yoshida
69
31
B
4
Center Fielders (CF)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(3)
Ceddanne Rafaela
78
24
B
8
(2P)
Roman Anthony
67
20
A
6
Right Fielders (RF)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(3)
Wilyer Abreu
78
25
B
5
Team Needs:
A true starting Shortstop
A true starting Catcher
A Closer of the future
Bullpen arms
Outfield depth
Infield depth
Yankees
Expectation/Goal: At least two World Series appearances and at least one WS win in the first three seasons.
Starting Pitchers (SP)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(2)
Gerrit Cole
88
34
A
4
(2)
Max Fried
85
31
A
8
(3)
Luis Gil
81
26
B
4
(3)
Clarke Schmidt
80
29
B
3
(3)
Carlos Rodon
76
32
B
4
(4S)
Clayton Beeter
67
26
C
6
(5)
JT Brubaker
67
31
C
1
Relief Pitchers (RP)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(3)
Fernando Cruz
75
34
C
4
(4)
Ian Hamilton
75
29
C
4
(4)
Luke Weaver
74
31
B
1
(4)
Mark Leiter Jr.
73
33
B
2
(5)
Jake Cousins
71
30
C
4
(5)
Scott Efross
71
31
C
4
(5)
Marcus Stroman
65 (73)
33
B
2
(2S)
Tim Hill
61
35
C
1
Closer (CP)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(2)
Devin Williams
84
30
B
1
(3)
Jonathan Loaisiga
73
30
C
1
Catchers (C)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(3)
Austin Wells
74
25
B
5
(4S)
Alex Jackson
61
29
D
4
First Basemen (1B)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(1S)
Paul Goldschmidt
77
37
B
1
(5)
Ben Rice
66
26
C
6
Second Basemen (2B)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(2)
Jazz Chisholm Jr.
86
27
A
2
(3P)
Jorbit Vivas
62
23
C
6
(4S)
Braden Shemake
61
27
C
6
Third Basemen (3B)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(3S)
D.J. Lemahieu
70
36
C
2
(1P)
Oswaldo Cabrera
69
26
C
4
Shortstops (SS)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(1P)
Anthony Volpe
78
23
B
4
(1P)
Oswald Peraza
66
24
B
5
Left Fielders (LF)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(3S)
Giancarlo Stanton
74
35
B
3
(1P)
Jasson Dominguez
71
22
B
6
Center Fielders (CF)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(2)
Cody Bellinger
86
29
B
2
(2S)
Trent Grisham
72
28
C
1
(3P)
Everson Pereira
65
23
C
6
(3P)
Spencer Jones
65
23
B
6
Right Fielders (RF)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(1)
Aaron Judge
99
32
A
7
Team Needs:
Another MLB ready catcher
Long term Corner infielders
Short term defensive left fielder
Young relievers
Rays
Expectation/Goal: an upwards trajectory towards a playoff run.
Starting Pitcher (SP)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(3)
Shane McClanahan
82
27
A
3
(3)
Ryan Pepiot
79
27
B
4
(1P)
Taj Bradley
78
23
B
5
(3)
Shane Baz
76
25
B
4
(1S)
Zack Littell
76
29
C
1
(5)
Joe Boyle
69
25
B
6
(3P)
Dylan Lesko
66
21
B
6
Relief Pitchers (RP)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(3)
Edwin Uceta
79
27
C
5
(3)
Kevin Kelly
78
27
C
4
(3)
Drew Rasmussen
78
29
B
2
(4)
Manuel Rodriguez
71
29
C
5
(4)
Garrett Cleavinger
70
30
C
3
(5)
Alex Faedo
67
29
C
5
(2S)
Cole Sulser
62
34
C
2
(4S)
Mike Vasil
59
24
C
6
Closer (CP)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(3)
Pete Fairbanks
77
31
B
2
Catchers (C)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(2S)
Danny Jansen
72
29
B
1
(5)
Ben Rortvedt
66
27
C
3
First Basemen (1B)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(1S)
Yandy Diaz
80
33
B
2
(3P)
Xavier Isaac
63
21
B
6
(3P)
Tre’ Morgan
58
22
B
6
Second Basemen (2B)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(2)
Brandon Lowe
83
30
B
2
(5)
Jonathan Aranda
63
26
C
5
Third Basemen (3B)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(1P)
Junior Caminero
71
21
B
6
(3P)
Brayden Taylor
65
22
B
6
(3P)
Curtis Mead
61
24
C
6
(3P)
Theo Gillen
60
19
B
6
Shortstops (SS)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(3)
Ha-Seong Kim
81
29
A
2
(4)
Jose Caballero
72
28
B
5
(2S)
Taylor Walls
66
28
C
3
(2P)
Carson Williams
60
21
A
6
Left Fielders (LF)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(4)
Richie Palacios
73
27
C
5
(1P)
Christopher Morel
70
25
B
4
Center Fielders (CF)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(5)
Jonny DeLuca
71
26
C
5
(4S)
Kameron Misner
64
27
C
6
Right Fielders (RF)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
# of Years Left of Team Control
(4)
Josh Lowe
71
27
B
4
Team Needs:
Stars
They need to turn 4s into 3s and 3s into 2s
Catcher, 3rd base, outfield, and pitcher depth stability
Blue Jays
Expectation/Goal: Total burn down and rebuild, with the goal of at least 70 wins in year three. (Must turn off GM contracts!)
Starting Pitchers (SP)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
Years of Team Control
(2)
Kevin Gausman
83
34
B
2
(3)
Bowden Francis
81
28
B
5
(3)
Jose Berrios
79
30
B
4
(1S)
Max Scherzer
79
40
A
1
(1S)
Chris Bassitt
76
36
B
1
(3P)
Ricky Tiedemann
67
22
B
6
(5)
Jake Bloss
66
23
C
6
(5)
Alek Manoah
65
27
C
3
(4S)
Adam Macko
64
24
C
6
(3P)
Adam Kloffenstein
60
24
B
6
Relief Pitchers (RP)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
Years of Team Control
(1S)
Yimi Garcia
82
34
C
2
(2S)
Chad Green
72
33
B
1
(5)
Ryan Burr
71
30
C
4
(5)
Nick Sandlin
68
28
C
3
(5)
Erik Swanson
68
31
C
1
(4S)
Tommy Nance
65
33
D
4
(1P)
Yariel Rodriguez
64
27
B
6
(4S)
Brendon Little
63
28
C
6
(4S)
Zach Pop
57
28
C
4
Closer (CP)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
Years of Team Control
(2)
Jeff Hoffman
86
32
A
3
Catchers (C)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
Years of Team Control
(3)
Alejandro Kirk
74
26
C
2
First Basemen (1B)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
Years of Team Control
(1S)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
90
25
A
1
Second Basemen (2B)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
Years of Team Control
(3)
Andres Gimenez
82
26
B
6
(5)
Will Wagner
66
26
C
6
Third Basemen (3B)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
Years of Team Control
(4)
Ernie Clement
76
28
C
4
(5)
Addison Barger
69
25
C
6
Shortstops (SS)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
Years of Team Control
(1S)
Bo Bichette
79
27
A
1
(5)
Leo Jimenez
65
23
C
6
Left Fielders (LF)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
Years of Team Control
(2)
Anthony Santander
86
30
B
5
(4)
Davis Schneider
69
26
C
5
(3P)
Joey Loperfido
62
25
B
6
Center Fielders (CF)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
Years of Team Control
(4)
Daulton Varsho
82
28
B
2
(4S)
Steward Berroa
66
25
D
6
(3P)
Jonatan Clase
66
22
C
6
Right Fielders (RF)
Role
Player Name
Overall
Age
Potential
Years of Team Control
(3S)
George Springer
74
35
C
2
(5)
Nathan Lukes
67
30
D
6
Team needs:
Any young players to build around Anthony Santander, Andres Jimenez, Bowden Francis, and Jeff Hoffman
Published: May 16, 2025 11:44 am