5 bold predictions that could define the Padres’ 2025 season ft. Fernando Tatis Jr. winning MVP

The San Diego Padres traded away Juan Soto and somehow got a lot better. They were one of the best teams in 2024, they just happened to run into the eventual world champions in the playoffs. In 2025, here are some bold predictions about what their season will entail.

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Bold predictions for the 2025 Padres

5) Jackson Merrill makes an All-MLB team

Jackson Merrill will make an ALL-MLB team (Imagn)

To make the All-MLB teams, someone basically has to be one of the two best at their position. For Jackson Merrill, that's a tall task. In terms of center fielders, he ranked third in fWAR.

Aaron Judge has left the position, but Mike Trout will be healthy again. Julio Rodriguez will probably bounce back. It's a deep position, but Merrill has the talent to make it.

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4) The Padres will win the division

The Padres will win the NL West (Imagn)

The Padres came close to winning the division despite the apparent disparity between them and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers have loaded up since then, but the Padres are still very strong.

It's hard to imagine them adding enough wins to last year's team to overcome the gap, but that's why it's a bold prediction. Provided they stay healthy, this is a very talented roster.

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3) Fernando Tatis Jr. will be MVP

Fernando Tatis Jr. will win an MVP (Imagn)

Fernando Tatis Jr. has been an MVP-level player at times before, but he hasn't yet put it all together for a full season. This year might be his best chance. He played well when healthy last year and he should remain on the field more in 2025.

The NL does have a ton of MVP-level talent. Ronald Acuna Jr., Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Bryce Harper, Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, Elly De La Cruz, and Corbin Carroll could all threaten, but Tatis has the talent to win it.

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2) Michael King and Dylan Cease will contend for the Cy Young

Dylan Cease will contend for the Cy Young (Imagn)

Michael King and Dylan Cease were quite the one-two punch last year. They combined for 8.7 fWAR and both had individually brilliant seasons. This year, they're both poised for big things.

The NL is stacked at pitching. Players like Zack Wheeler, Paul Skenes, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki, Zac Gallen, Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, and others will contend for the Cy Young. King and Cease won't both be finalists, but they'll both get votes.

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1) They will win the World Series

The Padres will win the World Series (Imagn)

The Los Angeles Dodgers have gotten better since ousting the Padres in Game 5 of the NLDS, but the Padres haven't gotten worse. There are still players who can tilt the scales out there, and the Padres as constructed are good enough to hang with any team.

They have the talent and the experience to go far in the playoffs, and they're probably as good or better than any AL team they'd meet in the World Series. This could be their year to win it all.