2026 MLB Win Totals & Team Previews

The Yankees enter 2026 with significant rotation concerns after losing Carlos Rodon, Gerrit Cole, and Clarke Schmidt to start the season. The addition of Cody Bellinger on a five-year, $162.5 million deal gives them a versatile bat who can play first base or outfield, while Trent Grisham returns after accepting his $22 million qualifying offer. The offense should remain potent with Aaron Judge leading the way, but pitching depth is a glaring question mark.

New York's payroll sits at a projected $310 million, roughly $26 million over the luxury tax threshold. With holes still to fill in the rotation and bullpen after losing Devin Williams and Luke Weaver to the Mets, the Yankees may not be done dealing. The pressure to compete in a loaded AL East will define their spring, and how quickly their injured starters return could determine whether this team reaches its ceiling.

Toronto's magical 2025 postseason run that ended in a World Series loss to the Dodgers has set expectations sky-high for 2026. The Blue Jays project to have one of baseball's best rotations with Kevin Gausman pitching for his next contract, Shane Bieber returning from Tommy John rehab, and the additions of Dylan Cease and Jose Berrios. Rookie sensation Trey Yesavage adds another dimension to an already deep staff.

The lineup took a hit with Bo Bichette's departure to the Mets, but Vladimir Guerrero Jr. remains one of baseball's most dangerous hitters. Toronto posted the lowest strikeout rate in the majors last season, a key factor in scoring 127 more runs than 2024. The question is whether they can maintain that contact-heavy approach without Bichette and if the rotation health holds. If everything clicks, this team has the upside to challenge for an AL pennant.

Roman Anthony's impressive rookie campaign (.292/.396/.463 in 71 games before an oblique injury) has Boston excited about the future. The Red Sox made significant pitching additions, signing Ranger Suarez to a five-year, $130 million deal and acquiring Sonny Gray from the Cardinals. These moves address what was a glaring weakness and give Boston a legitimate top-of-rotation presence they've lacked in recent years.

The infield situation remains fluid. Boston was linked to Alex Bregman throughout the offseason, and if they don't land him, top prospect Marcelo Mayer could get extended run at third base. Rafael Devers remains one of the best hitters in baseball, and the outfield is set with Anthony's emergence. This team feels like it's on the cusp of breaking through if the pitching holds up and the young talent continues to develop.

Baltimore made one of the winter's biggest splashes by signing Pete Alonso to a five-year, $155 million contract, adding a much-needed power bat to the middle of the lineup. They also acquired slugger Taylor Ward from the Angels in exchange for oft-injured starter Grayson Rodriguez, and signed closer Ryan Helsley to a two-year, $28 million deal. The bullpen got another boost with the acquisition of Shane Baz from Tampa Bay.

The Orioles now face a quality problem in the outfield with Ward, Colton Cowser, and Tyler O'Neill competing for playing time alongside top prospects Dylan Beavers and Heston Kjerstad. The young core of Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman remains the foundation, and if the pitching acquisitions pan out, Baltimore has the pieces to compete in a brutal AL East. The division is a gauntlet, but this roster has the depth to survive it.

The Rays continue their perpetual reload, building around an offense featuring Junior Caminero, Yandy Diaz, and Jonathan Aranda. The trade of Brandon Lowe to the Pirates leaves a hole at second base, but Tampa's prospect pipeline continues to churn out talent. Cedric Mullins was signed to provide outfield depth, and the organization remains confident in its ability to develop arms internally.

Everything in Tampa hinges on the return of Shane McClanahan, whose health will determine the rotation's ceiling. The Rays' system is described as being in "another reload year," with the organization weak on left-handed arms but overflowing with hitting prospects who could debut in the next two years. Don't count out this organization from scrapping their way to relevance in the AL East race.

Cleveland has been quiet this offseason, but the acquisition of Shawn Armstrong after his tremendous season in Texas should help maintain the bullpen's dominant status. Jose Ramirez remains one of baseball's best all-around players after restructuring his contract to seven years and $175 million with $70 million deferred. The Guardians' pitching development continues to be a strength.

The offense needs the most work, particularly finding a right-handed depth bat. The hope for 2026 rests on Chase DeLauter, a 2022 first-round pick who made his major league debut during the 2025 postseason. Cleveland probably isn't done adding to the bullpen, but their ability to compete in a weakened AL Central gives them a clear path to the playoffs if the young talent develops as expected.

Detroit's offseason has been defined by the unresolved Tarik Skubal situation. The ace is unsigned after next year and headed to arbitration over a wide salary gap for 2026. Getting him locked up long-term is priority number one. Gleyber Torres returns as the starting second baseman after accepting his $22 million qualifying offer, and Kyle Finnegan was re-signed to a two-year, $19 million deal to anchor the bullpen.

Top prospect Kevin McGonigle is a candidate to debut in 2026 after capturing Arizona Fall League MVP honors. The Tigers have legitimate upside if Skubal stays healthy and the young position players take another step forward. The AL Central's weakness provides an opening, and Detroit has enough pitching to make noise if the offense can support it.

Minnesota's teardown at the 2025 deadline was staggering. The Twins went 23-43 in the second half after emptying the bullpen and sending Carlos Correa to Houston among a bevy of moves. There's little indication they're actually trying to win right now. Key relievers Jhoan Duran, Louis Varland, Brock Stewart, and Griffin Jax were all moved in the deadline dump.

The Twins ranked 28th in bullpen win probability added and 27th in bullpen ERA last season. Post-fire sale, the system looks healthier with prospects Abel, Rojas, and Tait, and Minnesota could be sneaky in 2027 once the rebuild takes hold. For 2026, expect a developmental year with lots of young players getting extended looks and the organization focusing on the future rather than the present.

The Royals need to add pop to a lineup that ranked near the bottom of the league in runs scored (651, 26th) and home runs (159, 26th). Their outfielders ranked dead last in wRC+ in 2025, a glaring weakness that the front office addressed by trading for Isaac Collins and signing Lane Thomas. Those moves help but may not be enough to push them into contention.

If Cole Ragans and Kris Bubic are healthy, the Royals should be able to put up a fight in the AL Central, but they haven't won the division since 2015. Bobby Witt Jr. remains one of baseball's brightest young stars and can carry stretches of the season himself. Whether the supporting cast is good enough to get Kansas City back to October remains the central question heading into spring training.

The White Sox made a headline-grabbing move by signing Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami to a two-year, $34 million deal. Murakami hit 246 home runs in eight NPB seasons with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, breaking the league record for most home runs in a season with 56 in 2022. He immediately becomes the most dangerous bat in Chicago's lineup and gives fans a reason to watch.

There's potential foundation for offensive success with young players such as Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero, and Miguel Vargas. The White Sox aren't ruling out a big league debut for Braden Montgomery in 2026 after he spent 34 games at Double-A in his first pro season. After a historically bad 2025, the only direction is up, and the Murakami signing shows the organization is at least trying to make games interesting.

The Mariners have never won back-to-back division titles, but they'll be favored to repeat in 2026 with the rotation projecting for better performance. Cal Raleigh's historic home run total in his near-MVP season led the way as Seattle scored 90 more runs than 2024. The re-signing of Josh Naylor to a five-year, $92.5 million deal adds another proven bat to a lineup that finally found its footing.

The concern is pitching: Seattle allowed 87 more runs than in 2024 as the rotation battled injuries and subpar performance. What Mariners fans can dream on is combining the 2025 offense with the 2024 pitching. The organization is positioned for sustained runs through 2027 with legitimate blue-chip prospects who could flip standings fast. Jorge Polanco could return following his bounce-back season to provide infield depth.

The Astros' run differentials tell the story of a declining dynasty: plus-219 in 2022, plus-129 in 2023, plus-91 in 2024, plus-21 in 2025. After injuries ravaged three-fifths of the rotation last season, Houston has added reinforcements in Tatsuya Imai from Japan, Mike Burrows from the Pirates, and Ryan Weiss, who starred in Korea. But it looks almost certain that free agent Framber Valdez is leaving.

The payroll includes $160 million for just seven players in 2026, making it unlikely they can afford major additions. Nothing has been done to improve a mediocre offense that's too right-handed and too dependent on a healthy Yordan Alvarez. Analysts warn to be wary of betting long-term on the Astros, as their thin talent pipeline means rebuilding will take longer and be riskier than the typical contender-to-contender transition.

The Rangers will have a new-look lineup in 2026 after trading Marcus Semien to the Mets and non-tendering Adolis Garcia in November. Brandon Nimmo, acquired in the Semien deal, will replace Garcia in the outfield. With Jacob deGrom, Corey Seager, Nathan Eovaldi, and Nimmo on the books for a combined $117.75 million, Texas is in an interesting position where they're looking to shed payroll but unlikely to pivot away from trying to contend.

Wyatt Langford gives them a long-term building block after hitting 22 homers with 22 stolen bases in 134 games during his second big league season. The projection is a 30-30 season for the 23-year-old, who is already the Rangers' second-best position player behind Seager. Prospect Sebastian Walcott is viewed as a stud, but injuries to other top arms in the system have slowed their development progress.

Oakland's young core produced impressive results in 2025, with Nick Kurtz (5.4 WAR), Tyler Soderstrom (4.3 WAR), and Jacob Wilson (3.0 WAR) combining for 12.7 WAR. They became just the sixth team in the divisional era to have three 23-and-under position players post at least 3.0 WAR in the same season. That's a foundation you can build around.

Leo De Vries's arrival from the Mason Miller trade gives Oakland a core piece for their Las Vegas future, and the system's depth has improved. The A's could turn around quickly if a few arms pan out. While 2026 likely won't be a playoff year, the trajectory is pointing up for an organization that's been down for a while. The move to Las Vegas in 2028 looms, and this young roster could be ready to compete by then.

The Angels kicked off what could be a busy offseason by trading Taylor Ward to the Orioles in exchange for Grayson Rodriguez. They're also reportedly interested in Nolan Arenado, who is expected to be traded or released by the rebuilding Cardinals. Getting veteran leadership to surround their young talent would help accelerate development.

Center field needs to be sorted out after Jo Adell struggled mightily defensively (-14 DRS, -12 OAA) with Mike Trout shifting to full-time DH duties. The Angels offer little futures value until they restock their minor leagues, and the path back to relevance remains unclear. With Shohei Ohtani long gone and Trout's best years behind him, this organization is in search of an identity and a direction.

Philadelphia enters 2026 as NL East favorites after crossing off most of their offseason to-do list. The Phillies re-signed Kyle Schwarber to a five-year, $150 million deal, added Adolis Garcia to shore up the outfield, gave Brad Keller a multi-year deal on the pitching side, and brought back J.T. Realmuto on a three-year, $45 million contract. This team was built to win now and they've doubled down on that approach.

With Nick Castellanos expected to be released and Harrison Bader gone in free agency, a new-look lineup awaits. The 96th All-Star Game is scheduled for July 14 at Citizens Bank Park, giving the Phillies extra motivation to put their best foot forward in front of a national audience. The rotation remains one of baseball's best, and the bullpen additions have addressed last year's weak spots.

Matt Olson, Ronald Acuna Jr., and the Atlanta Braves have reason to believe they'll be better in 2026. The team is considered one of ESPN's top breakout candidates after an injury-plagued 2025 campaign. Atlanta re-signed Raisel Iglesias to a one-year, $16 million deal to anchor the bullpen and signed Mike Yastrzemski to a two-year, $23 million contract to provide outfield depth.

The acquisition of Mauricio Dubon from the Astros adds infield versatility. Ha-Seong Kim, claimed off waivers from the Rays late last season, could return to the 5-WAR player he was with the Padres in 2022-23 if healthy after his labrum tear. A healthy Braves team is a scary Braves team, and they have enough talent to compete for the NL East title if the injury luck turns around.

The Mets have rebuilt their middle infield, acquiring Marcus Semien from the Rangers and signing Bo Bichette to a three-year, $126 million deal. They've also addressed the bullpen by signing Devin Williams and bringing in Luke Weaver on a two-year, $22 million contract. Edwin Diaz's departure to the Dodgers means the closer role needed to be addressed, and the Mets responded aggressively.

The only sure thing about the outfield is Juan Soto as the everyday right fielder; the other two spots remain up in the air with Tyrone Taylor the leading candidate for center field. With rookies Nolan McLean, Jonah Tong, and Brandon Sproat all potentially in the rotation and facing limited innings, pitching depth could be tested. The Mets have the spending power to land another big piece if needed before Opening Day.

The Marlins were one of the stories of 2025, far outpacing projections by winning 79 games. The emergence of Kyle Stowers, Agustin Ramirez, and Jakob Marsee has given Miami something to build around offensively. Young talent is finally translating to results, and the organization is showing signs of competent player development after years of struggles.

Potential ace Thomas White gives the Marlins a frontline starter to dream on, but they need more depth to become a true threat. The organization is set to unveil a new teal alternate uniform, harkening back to the team's inaugural color scheme. While 2026 likely won't be a playoff year, the trajectory is encouraging and the division's competitiveness could allow them to play spoiler against the established powers.

Washington traded MacKenzie Gore to the Rangers in a deal that returned a haul of prospects including Gavin Fien (2025 first-round pick), Abimelec Ortiz, Devin Fitz-Gerald, Alejandro Rosario, and Yeremy Cabrera. They also made a swap with Seattle, receiving catcher Harry Ford and right-hander Isaac Lyon. The focus is clearly on building for the future rather than competing in 2026.

The Nationals' rebuild continues with an emphasis on stockpiling young talent. While wins won't come easy this season, the prospect pipeline is being restocked and there's a clear vision for the future. James Wood and other young players will get extended opportunities to develop at the major league level, with the hope that they can form the foundation of the next competitive Nationals team.

The headliner move was signing Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million deal to become a catalyst for the Cubs on and off the field. Bregman will be with his third team in three seasons after two straight offseasons in free agency, but he'll be bidding to take part in the postseason for a 10th straight time. Edward Cabrera, if healthy, could prove to be one of the winter's biggest additions to the rotation.

Chicago raised the floor of its bullpen with veterans Phil Maton, Hunter Harvey, Jacob Webb, and Hoby Milner. With Kyle Tucker likely walking in free agency, the door opens for top prospect Owen Caissie to take over as the starting right fielder. The spring battle between Moises Ballesteros and Caissie will determine how the outfield shakes out, with Seiya Suzuki's role depending on who wins the job.

The Brewers remade their prospect pipeline in a flash with acquisitions including Jesus Made and Jett Williams. The losses sting, but the system's depth improved drastically. Milwaukee has tweaked their primary road uniform, swapping the gray base for powder blue, becoming the first team to wear powder blue as a primary road color since the Royals and Expos in 1991.

The team could kick the tires on an offensive upgrade for the left side of the infield. The question of whether a healthy Garrett Mitchell can play his way back into the picture looms large; he was the Opening Day center fielder in 2025 before a left shoulder injury ended his season in late April. Milwaukee's ability to consistently compete despite modest payrolls remains one of baseball's most impressive feats.

The Reds finished tied for last in the majors in average exit velocity as a team, so the lack of teamwide power won't be an easy fix. They will probably have to go outside the organization to improve their power, potentially trading a pitcher to land a bat. Elly De La Cruz remains the engine that drives everything, but he needs more support in the lineup.

Cincinnati has intriguing young pitching but needs to find consistent run production to support it. The window to compete is now with the core under team control for several more years. Whether the front office is willing to make aggressive moves to accelerate the timeline will determine if 2026 is a breakthrough year or another season of almost-but-not-quite contention.

Konnor Griffin, the Pirates' No. 1 prospect, is baseball's top prospect and could match up against the No. 2 prospect in a Spring Breakout game for the first time. MLB Pipeline's 2025 Hitting Prospect of the Year has the best all-around tools in the minors. The Pirates can also counter with a trio of Top 100 arms: right-handers Bubba Chandler (No. 11) and Seth Hernandez.

Pittsburgh's farm system is stacked with talent that should arrive over the next two years. The major league product may struggle in 2026, but the future is genuinely exciting. Paul Skenes gives them a legitimate ace to build around, and if even half the prospects develop, the Pirates could be a surprise team by 2027 or 2028. Patience is required, but the payoff could be significant.

The Cardinals are expected to shop Nolan Arenado and Willson Contreras, but given the former's decline and the latter's remaining money, there's a good chance both will still be around on Opening Day. Arenado is more likely to be traded or outright released by the rebuilding Cardinals before the start of the season. The franchise is clearly pivoting toward a youth movement.

St. Louis's farm system is deep at catcher and has several strong infielders. Not making moves could haunt them if these prospects stall, but the organization seems committed to seeing what the young talent can do. Sonny Gray was shipped to Boston, signaling that competing in 2026 is not the priority. This will be a transition year as the Cardinals figure out what they have in their prospect pool.

The 2026 season will be the Dodgers' 137th and their 69th in Los Angeles. They enter as the two-time defending World Series champions, looking to become the first team to three-peat since the 2000 New York Yankees. Star outfielder Kyle Tucker signed a four-year, $240 million deal, and relief pitcher Edwin Diaz joined on a three-year, $69 million contract. World Series hero Miguel Rojas returns for his final season on a one-year, $5.5 million deal.

This will be the Dodgers' first season since 2007 without Clayton Kershaw, who retired after 18 years with the organization. The payroll sits at a projected $412 million, roughly $142 million over the luxury tax threshold. Despite the departures of Michael Kopech, Kirby Yates, and others, this roster remains baseball's deepest and most talented. The target is three straight championships, and they have the talent to make it happen.

It was the Padres' depth that made their bullpen so good in 2025, and they have an ace in the hole for 2026: Mason Miller. Acquired from the A's at the trade deadline, Miller will be in San Diego for a full season and take over as the closer. The massive deadline moves crippled their long-term depth, but the win-now approach remains firmly in place.

The MLB Mexico City Series returns with Arizona and San Diego playing a two-game series at Alfredo Harp Helu Stadium on April 25-26. With Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado leading the lineup, the Padres have enough star power to compete for a playoff spot. The question is whether the pitching depth behind Yu Darvish can hold up over a full season in the brutally competitive NL West.

The Giants made franchise history by signing Willy Adames to a seven-year, $182 million contract, the largest free agent deal in team history. Adames became the first Giants player since Barry Bonds (2004) to hit 30 home runs in a single season in 2025. He immediately upgrades the middle of the infield and provides much-needed power from the right side of the plate.

Opening Night (March 25, 2026) features Giants vs. Yankees in San Francisco, a marquee matchup to kick off the season. With Adames anchoring the lineup, San Francisco has a legitimate star to build around. The question is whether the pitching can support an improved offense. President of baseball operations Buster Posey pushed hard for this signing, signaling the organization's commitment to competing sooner rather than later.

The Diamondbacks face a brutal 2026 with ace Corbin Burnes recovering from Tommy John surgery (targeting a July return), plus the free agent departures of Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly. That's three-fifths of their rotation gone or injured. Arizona finished 27th in bullpen ERA and 29th in win probability added by relievers in 2025, and a staggering 17 different pitchers recorded a save - a major league record.

Did the Diamondbacks miss their window that began with the surprising World Series run in 2023? They led the majors in runs in 2024 but missed the playoffs, then dropped to 80-82 in 2025. Burnes signed a franchise-record six-year, $210 million deal before last season, but won't provide full value until at least late 2026. The Mexico City Series games against San Diego could be a highlight in what will be a challenging transition year.

The Rockies had 119 losses in 2025, tied for third most in a season since 1900. Since 2019, they lead the majors in losses with 31 more than the Pirates. New president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta and GM Josh Byrnes (formerly with the Dodgers for 11 seasons) have been brought in to try to turn around the franchise.

After cutting ties with Michael Toglia, the Rockies look like a logical landing spot for veteran first basemen. Expect the 2026 season to give prospects Kyle Karros, Adael Amador, Warming Bernabel, Ryan Ritter, and Yanquiel Fernandez extended looks. This is a full rebuild with no shortcuts, and Colorado fans will need to be patient as the new front office tries to construct a foundation for future competitiveness.