Though some may disagree, the Cincinnati Reds' 2025 season should be deemed a success. While a number of fans will point to the New York Mets' collapse as the only reason Cincinnati made its first trip to the postseason since 2020, the fact of the matter is that Terry Francona guided the Reds to a strong finish and their playoff appearance (though brief) gives the organization something to build on next season.
However, the Baltimore Orioles were in a similar spot about a year ago. The O's surprisingly fell to the Kansas City Royals during the 2024 AL Wild Card Series, and entered 2025 looking to return to the playoffs and build off their success from the year prior.