We’re a month out from when the first MLB teams report to spring training, and plenty of free agents remain unsigned. So while we wait, let’s look ahead to the start of the 2026 season.
Where does every team stand heading into spring training? Can anyone catch the reigning back-to-back World Series champion Dodgers for the No. 1 spot? How has a busy offseason boosted Toronto’s standing? And where do the New York teams fall?
Our expert panel has ranked every team based on a combination of what we’ve seen so far this offseason and what we already knew from 2025. We also asked ESPN MLB experts Buster Olney, David Schoenfield, Jeff Passan, Jesse Rogers, Alden Gonzalez and Jorge Castillo to weigh in with an observation for all 30 teams.
Toronto is still in the mix to sign outfielder Kyle Tucker, the consensus top player in this free agent class, or re-sign infielder Bo Bichette. Last season, the Blue Jays surpassed expectations to win the American League. They will enter this season as a favorite. — Castillo
The Mariners re-signed Josh Naylor, acquired an excellent platoon bat in Rob Refsnyder and traded for hard-throwing left-handed reliever Jose A. Ferrer. Let’s see if they trade for one more bat — the Brendan Donovan rumors won’t go away. One thing that appears certain: They won’t be trading any of their starting pitchers, and if that crew bounces back to its 2024 form, the Mariners could win back-to-back division titles for the first time in franchise history. — Schoenfield
It’s hard to imagine the Yankees not making more substantial additions before spring training. That could include re-signing Cody Bellinger and/or acquiring a starting pitcher to bolster a rotation that will be without Carlos Rodon, Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt to start the season. Adding to the bullpen is another possibility after Devin Williams and Luke Weaver left to sign with the Mets. — Castillo
Philadelphia has yet to resolve its catching position for the coming season, with J.T. Realmuto still unsigned. But the Phillies’ rotation should be formidable again — and, there is a belief in the organization that Zack Wheeler could be back on the mound for the start of the 2026 season. That timetable might be adjusted to give Wheeler more time to recover, given the nature of his injury, but so far, so good in the right-hander’s rehabilitation. — Olney
Though Milwaukee lost some players such as Rhys Hoskins and Jose Quintana to free agency, the core of a roster that produced the best regular-season record in 2025 is intact — save outfielder Isaac Collins, who was traded to Kansas City for left-hander Angel Zerpa. Retaining Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta instantly makes the Brewers contenders in the National League Central again — assuming both pitchers break camp with the team. — Rogers
Atlanta will continue to look for pitching, but the bulk of its winter work is complete, with the retention of Ha-Seong Kim at shortstop and the addition of closer Robert Suarez and outfielder Mike Yastrzemski. The big questions going into next season will revolve around the health of key players such as Chris Sale, Ronald Acuna Jr. and Austin Riley. But the Braves looked poised for a bounce-back season. — Olney
Chicago rebuilt its bullpen this winter, saying hello to no less than four new relievers, but those were only replacements, as Brad Keller, Drew Pomeranz and others moved on. The Cubs had yet to make that big winter splash until acquiring Edward Cabrera from Miami this week. It deepens their starting staff in a significant way. Now they need to replace a bat after trading away Owen Caissie for Cabrera. They’re a bit thin at the plate. — Rogers
Baltimore’s busy winter after a tremendously disappointing 2025 season began with hiring Craig Albernaz as manager. President of baseball operations Mike Elias then began working on a checklist to improve the roster: a frontline starter, a closer and a right-handed slugger, preferably in the outfield. He then signed closer Ryan Helsley, acquired outfielder Taylor Ward and right-hander Shane Baz in trades, and signed first baseman Pete Alonso to double down on right-handed hitting power.
Though Baz doesn’t have the track record of a top starter, he has the talent, and the Orioles could still sign Framber Valdez or Ranger Suarez to accompany Trevor Rogers, Kyle Bradish, Zach Eflin and Baz in the rotation. Regardless, the Orioles are much improved with one of the deepest lineups in baseball and a talented young core. — Castillo
Rival executives and agents keep waiting and waiting for owner Steve Cohen’s money to manifest in a manner more significant than the contracts the Mets gave to Devin Williams and Jorge Polanco. Will it be a shorter-term deal with Kyle Tucker? A long-term deal with Ranger Suarez? A bet on Cody Bellinger, to pluck another former Yankee? The bottom line: President of baseball operations David Stearns has a lot of work to do to improve the team. — Olney
Cincinnati’s playoff core remains intact, though the team hasn’t acquired a major name this offseason to push things forward. Re-signing reliever Emilio Pagan was important but pitching isn’t the problem — offense is. The Reds have more work to do in that area after their dalliance with Kyle Schwarber ended quickly. — Rogers
On paper, the Rays are the weakest team in the division. But there’s talent — Yandy Diaz, Jonathan Aranda and Junior Caminero are a potent trio in the middle of the lineup — and Tampa Bay has a history of upending low external expectations. — Castillo
The A’s signed Tyler Soderstrom, coming off an impressive 4.3-WAR season, to a seven-year extension, so kudos to the organization for that move. They also acquired Jeff McNeil from the Mets for some much-needed infield depth, but the only significant addition that addresses the pitching staff has been veteran reliever Mark Leiter Jr. This is an exciting young group of position players, but the pitching still looks far short for a playoff contender. — Schoenfield
It was reported that the Pirates wanted to add offense this winter, and they followed through when they signed first baseman Ryan O’Hearn and traded for second baseman Brandon Lowe and outfielder Jake Mangum. And if newcomer Jhostynxon Garcia can also produce, Pittsburgh will have changed at least some of its fortunes at the plate in a positive manner. Trading two starting pitchers was worth the risk. — Rogers
The most exciting team in the AL Central this winter has been the White Sox, which is not a sentence anyone expected to read entering the winter. But while their division brethren with actual shots at making the postseason have majored in one-year deals, Chicago went out and signed first baseman Munetaka Murakami to a two-year, $34 million contract, landing one of the biggest names in free agency for his age-26 and -27 seasons.
Compound that with the two-year deal given to left-hander Anthony Kay and the one-year agreement with left-handed reliever Sean Newcomb, and the White Sox — coming off consecutive seasons of 101, 121 and 102 losses, respectively — are doing their best to avoid another triple-digit mess and ride a young core to respectability. They might not be done, either, as interest in center fielder Luis Robert Jr. persists. — Passan
As Paul Toboni takes over the Nationals, he will be working with as close to a blank slate as any head of baseball operations has in the industry. The only player under contract beyond 2026 is catcher Keibert Ruiz, so if Washington wants to make an aggressive pitch to keep MacKenzie Gore on a long-term deal, it could do that. But with the Nationals in what is effectively a rebuilding situation, some rival execs still believe he will be traded before becoming eligible for free agency. — Olney
The Dodgers began the offseason with a clear need in the ninth inning and, as they tend to do, shored it up with the best player available. Edwin Diaz said goodbye to the Mets to join the Dodgers on a three-year, $69 million contract, and now Timmy Trumpet will supply the soundtrack to L.A. summers, making the two-time defending champions all the more dangerous. The Dodgers still have one big move left — securing another bat, most likely an outfielder. They’re still in on Cody Bellinger and Kyle Tucker, but if a short-term, high-AAV deal is not attainable, they can pivot to a trade. — Gonzalez
New York’s offseason has so far been defined by what it hasn’t done. The Yankees have made moves, but they’ve all been minor and nearly all have been retaining players. Trent Grisham accepted the qualifying offer. Ryan Yarbrough, Amed Rosario and Paul Blackburn re-signed on one-year deals each worth under $3 million. The Yankees made right-hander Cade Winquest, who has never pitched above Double-A, their first Rule 5 selection in 15 years. Veteran infielder Paul DeJong signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.
It has been an active offseason for the Red Sox, one that is expected to include another significant move or two. They acquired right-hander Sonny Gray and first baseman Willson Contreras in separate trades with the Cardinals, and right-hander Johan Oviedo from the Pirates. Moving forward, Boston is interested in re-signing third baseman Alex Bregman. Trading an outfielder to break the logjam and adding another starting pitcher — the Red Sox are one of the teams interested in acquiring right-hander Freddy Peralta from the Brewers — are also possibilities. — Castillo
After injuries ravaged three-fifths of the rotation in 2025, the Astros have added reinforcements: 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 and nothing has been done to improve a mediocre offense that’s too right-handed and too dependent on a healthy Yordan Alvarez. A Carlos Correa/Isaac Paredes logjam at third base also leads to some defensive issues as Alvarez, Paredes and Jose Altuve can’t all DH at the same time. — Schoenfield