MLB Insiders Vote Blue Jays, Cubs as Teams Under the Most Pressure in 2025 Season

The Toronto Blue Jays and Chicago Cubs are viewed as the two teams with the most on the line entering the 2025 season.

Jayson Stark of The Athletic conducted a poll of 32 baseball executives, former executives, coaches and scouts. The Blue Jays received the most votes for the team under the highest amount of pressure in 2025, while the Cubs earned the second-most votes.

“I don’t see anybody being under more pressure than the Blue Jays,” a longtime executive told Stark. “I think they’ve got a lot on the line this year.”

Concerns surrounding Toronto stem from the uncertain future of star Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who settled his arbitration case with the Blue Jays at $28.5 million for the 2025 season and is set to enter free agency afterward.

Guerrero has a self-imposed extension deadline on Tuesday, but general manager Ross Atkins is still willing to work on negotiating a long-term deal beyond it (via Chris Nelsen of the Associated Press).

After making the postseason in 2022 and 2023, the Blue Jays finished with a 74-88 record during their 2024 campaign.

Toronto showed interest in free agents such as Jurickson Profar and Pete Alonso but was unable to land either player.

The Cubs finished with identical 83-79 records over the past two years, but they're still searching for their first postseason appearance since 2020.

“The Cubs feel like they’re under heavy pressure," a rival executive said, per Stark.

Chicago made one of the most notable offseason moves in the majors, acquiring three-time All-Star Kyle Tucker in a trade with the Houston Astros on Dec. 13. While Tucker only appeared in 78 games in 2024, he recorded 23 home runs and 49 RBIs to go along with a .993 OPS.

If the addition of the star right fielder can't propel the Cubs to the postseason in 2025, changes could be coming in Chicago.