MLBtS ‘25 Franchise Team Thread

[jcar0725]

Re: MLBtS ‘25 Franchise Team Thread

I think I’ve made my decision.

Main franchise team will be the Seattle Mariners. Last year I took over the Rockies and there are some huge differences between the 2 organizations. Obviously the offense climates are drastically different. It was easy putting anyone with decent hitting stats to go out and perform well above their attributes in Colorado. Meanwhile my best pitchers never had an ERA under 3.20. Seattle offers the opposite. Offense is going to lag behind and pitching is going to be the focus.

But also, the Rockies current roster and farm system was rather light. Other than an emerging Tovar, a solidified Ryan McMahan and Nolan Jones (an emerging Doyle but he didn’t break out until 2024 so his attributes were not updated for my franchise). The Mariners have a similar situation with Julio being the big offsensive threat. And a power hitting defense specialist backstop in Cal Raleigh.

Plus, the playoff droughts and World Series droughts are fun storylines. I’m excited to see how good of a pitching staff I can build and who will be the difference makers in the lineup.

For my RTTS. I like to do a different position each year and a different play style.

Here’s what I’ve done already
CLE R/R 3B CON and PWR, no speed
CIN S/R CF 5-Tools
BAL L/R C PWR and CON
TEX S/R 2B SPD and CON
TOR L/L RF PWR and SPD with low vs L

My RTTS this year will be a R/R SS think Bobby Witt Jr but lower speed and higher fielding. I want to rake and average around .300/30/30SB in my prime each year.
Last year I averaged over .300/50 HR, which was fun but I’m ready to get excited over homers again, not expect 50+

The team? Milwaukee Brewers. I don’t think they have a solidified next in line SS after Adames and I like playing at their stadium. They’re contenders but not a power house and always slept on without much deep postseason runs (shoutout Pete Alonso).

Nice choice for franchise. Decent uniform choices and stadium also.

[MetsFan16]

Re: MLBtS ‘25 Franchise Team Thread

Nice choice for franchise. Decent uniform choices and stadium also.

Oh yeah definitely. I also need a break from the divisions I play in frequently.

My Franchise/RTTS over the last 2 years have been NL Central/AL West and NL West/AL East.

So I like to rotate through divisions as well and the stadium does play a big part. I was leaning Minnesota for either Franchise or RTTS but the batter’s eye is too tough and would annoy me every home game I play. Which is a shame because it’s a great stadium otherwise. Maybe ‘26

[jcar0725]

Re: MLBtS ‘25 Franchise Team Thread

Oh yeah definitely. I also need a break from the divisions I play in frequently.

My Franchise/RTTS over the last 2 years have been NL Central/AL West and NL West/AL East.

So I like to rotate through divisions as well and the stadium does play a big part. I was leaning Minnesota for either Franchise or RTTS but the batter’s eye is too tough and would annoy me every home game I play. Which is a shame because it’s a great stadium otherwise. Maybe ‘26

I get the storyline also as far as not having won a WS. I'm big on that for team choices.

[Jeffrey Smith]

Re: MLBtS ‘25 Franchise Team Thread

Nice choice for franchise. Decent uniform choices and stadium also.

Really like Seattle as a franchise choice.

Great storyline never been in a WS
Nice uniforms
Compelling roster with moves to make

But… I’m just not a fan of the AL West. My least favourite division in baseball.

[Ghost Of The Year]

Re: MLBtS ‘25 Franchise Team Thread

Really like Seattle as a franchise choice.

Great storyline never been in a WS
Nice uniforms
Compelling roster with moves to make

But… I’m just not a fan of the AL West. My least favourite division in baseball.

Same. Outside of the A's (only when they were Oakland. I'll never play a Vegas franchise.) and Seattle, the AL West doesn't appeal to me either.

This is the way I rank the divisions, my favorite to least favorite:
1 NL East.
2 NL West.
3 AL Central.
4/5 (Tie) AL East/NL Central.
6 AL West.

[DavisAC12]

Re: MLBtS ‘25 Franchise Team Thread

I’m torn (as usual), baseball has so many storylines that you can make the case for an incredible franchise with almost every team.

My heart as of now has it between the Angels and the Rockies.

Angels - Mike Trout, playoff drought, lots of low risk/ high reward players picked up in the offseason. Imo great uniforms and a really underrated stadium. Trade capital is low but there’s a decent base with this team.

Rockies - This team needs help in every area from the MLB roster to the farm system. Awesome stadium and a *few* fun pieces like Tovar and potentially Doyle. Not much trade capital outside of McMahon and the chance to try and get something out of Kris Bryant could be fun.

Outside chances for a fun story with Toronto, perhaps a more concerted effort to maximize talent in Pittsburgh & Washington and maybe an attempt to bring the SF Giants back to the promised land in a hard division.

Choices, choices!


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[kinsmen7]

Re: MLBtS ‘25 Franchise Team Thread

I’m torn (as usual), baseball has so many storylines that you can make the case for an incredible franchise with almost every team.

My heart as of now has it between the Angels and the Rockies.

Angels - Mike Trout, playoff drought, lots of low risk/ high reward players picked up in the offseason. Imo great uniforms and a really underrated stadium. Trade capital is low but there’s a decent base with this team.

Rockies - This team needs help in every area from the MLB roster to the farm system. Awesome stadium and a *few* fun pieces like Tovar and potentially Doyle. Not much trade capital outside of McMahon and the chance to try and get something out of Kris Bryant could be fun.

Outside chances for a fun story with Toronto, perhaps a more concerted effort to maximize talent in Pittsburgh & Washington and maybe an attempt to bring the SF Giants back to the promised land in a hard division.

Choices, choices!


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Rockies was by far the most fun I've had! In year one, I only beat the Dodgers twice all season, and they were the last two games of the year. After a super rough year, it felt like winning the World Series.

I think it's the only franchise I've had where I was constantly shuttling pitchers back and forth to AAA because of how often I had to use them.

[DavisAC12]

Re: MLBtS ‘25 Franchise Team Thread

Rockies was by far the most fun I've had! In year one, I only beat the Dodgers twice all season, and they were the last two games of the year. After a super rough year, it felt like winning the World Series.

I think it's the only franchise I've had where I was constantly shuttling pitchers back and forth to AAA because of how often I had to use them.

Yeah I’ve experienced that a few times (like my Pittsburgh one from 3 years ago). Certainly adds to the realism.

Plus I’m such a fan of finding guys off the heap pile and creating stories with them. Like trading for someone like Eloy Jimenez or what the Angels have done irl with Tim Anderson.

Choosing bad teams allows so much more freedom of choice.


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[jcar0725]

Re: MLBtS ‘25 Franchise Team Thread

Rockies was by far the most fun I've had! In year one, I only beat the Dodgers twice all season, and they were the last two games of the year. After a super rough year, it felt like winning the World Series.

I think it's the only franchise I've had where I was constantly shuttling pitchers back and forth to AAA because of how often I had to use them.

I've done a Rockies rebuild and it was a lot of fun. The challenge is real. lol

[Jeffrey Smith]

Re: MLBtS ‘25 Franchise Team Thread

I’ve whittled my choices down to 5 teams.

National League it’s between the Pirates and Rookies.

American League is down to Guardians, Tigers and White Sox.

Think I’m leaning predominantly towards Cleveland.

Still 2 weeks before I get my hands on so lots of time to flip flop.🤣

[Ghost Of The Year]

Re: MLBtS ‘25 Franchise Team Thread

I’ve whittled my choices down to 5 teams.

National League it’s between the Pirates and Rookies.

American League is down to Guardians, Tigers and White Sox.

Think I’m leaning predominantly towards Cleveland.

Still 2 weeks before I get my hands on so lots of time to flip flop.🤣

Rockies get my vote. I would have said White Sox if it was three or four years ago. I dont want no part of that dumpster fire now.

[jcar0725]

Re: MLBtS ‘25 Franchise Team Thread

Rockies get my vote. I would have said White Sox if it was three or four years ago. I dont want no part of that dumpster fire now.

But.....you could be the one who saves the CWS franchise....

[Ghost Of The Year]

Re: MLBtS ‘25 Franchise Team Thread

But.....you could be the one who saves the CWS franchise....

Or .... I could move them to Vegas and beat the A's to the punch.

Coincidentally the White Sox did almost move to Colorado before the Rockies got the expansion nod.

[Bm7414206]

Re: MLBtS ‘25 Franchise Team Thread

They only update if they had a proper face model rather than a CAP one. I really wish it could work for CAPs

I usually use the live rosters with no updates besides edits to attributes, but i swear they've never updated for me. Could be wrong but I don't remember any of the players getting updates in franchise. But I'll definitely keep an eye out even more now

[kinsmen7]

Re: MLBtS ‘25 Franchise Team Thread

I’ve whittled my choices down to 5 teams.

National League it’s between the Pirates and Rookies.

American League is down to Guardians, Tigers and White Sox.

Think I’m leaning predominantly towards Cleveland.

Still 2 weeks before I get my hands on so lots of time to flip flop.🤣

Definitely love the idea of both Cleveland and Pittsburgh, but my main worry would be that making 1 or 2 additions to the team would mean I'd overpower the mediocrity of either Central Division forever...Love the idea of playing with Ramirez or Skenes/Jones though, and PNC Park is easily my favorite in the game.

I tried to start one with the White Sox last night, and messed around a bit, but as soon as I started a game, I just had to stop. Absolutely couldn't see myself getting invested in a team having to play in that park 81 times a year.

Anyone rolling with Miami this year? I kind of like the stadium more now, and the idea of putting Garrett/Perez on the IL to start the season means the pitching should only be "ok", while the offence will continue to have zero pop. Plus, trying to go toe to toe with 3 gigantic payroll clubs (the Braves would be the closest, only $160ish million more than the Marlins), and getting to watch the Nats develop could keep it competitive.