MLB Power Rankings: Where teams stand heading into winter
Welcome to the first edition of the MLB Power Rankings for the offseason where we examine how each team stands heading into the winter.
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1. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers just went back-to-back, but they have some work to do this winter in order to three-peat. They're desperate for an upgrade in left field, and while Teoscar Hernández can shift corners, that only moves the hole across the field. Since this is the Dodgers we're talking about, you know they're thinking big. Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger could be prime free-agent targets ... or do they try and lure Bo Bichette west to man shortstop or second base while moving Mookie Betts back to right field? They also could use extra pitching, particularly in the bullpen, where the likes of Edwin Díaz, Devin Williams, or even old friend Kenley Jansen are available. Another major splash feels all but certain.
2. Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies face a crucial offseason after another early playoff exit following their second straight NL East title. Kyle Schwarber, who hit an NL-leading 56 homers en route to being named an MVP finalist, Ranger Suárez, and J.T. Realmuto are all free agents. Philadelphia will need to find a way to re-sign its core pieces or replace them, otherwise the club's championship window could begin to close.
3. Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays' dream 2025 season fell just short of a championship, but it put them firmly on the map as one of baseball's marquee destinations. Now, the work begins to finish the job in 2026. Shane Bieber's surprising decision to opt into the final year of his deal was a welcome development, but there's still more to be done. Re-signing Bo Bichette is the obvious priority. More arms and an upgrade at one of the corner outfield spots also wouldn't hurt. Don't be surprised to see the Blue Jays again linked to every big name that's available this winter - and don't be shocked if they finally land their big fish.
4. Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers are in a good spot with their roster. Rhys Hoskins, José Quintana, and Brandon Woodruff are their only notable free agents. Woodruff is good when healthy but he's only logged a combined 131 2/3 innings (23 starts) over the last three years due to multiple injuries. Milwaukee has also shown a pattern of trading stars before they hit the open market, so ace Freddy Peralta - who's one year away from free agency - could wind up on another team this winter despite the front office saying otherwise.
5. Seattle Mariners
This is a massive offseason for the Mariners, who must be prepared to spend in order to maintain control of the AL West. Seattle should waste no time or money trying to re-sign Josh Naylor, who fit perfectly into the Mariners' culture and had a great postseason. Designated hitter and third base are also holes that need to be filled, whether through free agency or trades. Top catching prospect Harry Ford is ready for the majors, but is a potential trade piece with Cal Raleigh entrenched behind the plate.
6. New York Yankees
The Yankees are going to be the Yankees and spend big on somebody somewhere. They'll be linked to all of the big names, as usual. While they're doing that, the organization should take a long, hard look in the mirror following this latest early playoff exit and change its overall philosophy. New York should be seeking out hitters who make contact and play good fundamental baseball, and stable pitchers who do more than just throw hard. If this means trading Jazz Chisholm Jr. or finally parting with top prospect Spencer Jones for a meaningful rotation upgrade, so be it. Aaron Judge isn't getting any younger, and as we saw in October, he can't do it himself.
7. Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox are a team on the rise, though chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has his work cut out for him if Boston is to take the next step from playoff team to World Series contender. The priority this offseason needs to be raising the ceiling, while making the necessary trades to make the roster better functioning. A co-ace or No. 2 starter is a must, but the Red Sox also need to add at least one more middle-of-the-order bat. Breslow possesses the prospects to pull off almost any trade, while their should also be plenty of funds available to make a splash in free agency.
8. Chicago Cubs
The Cubs are coming off their first playoff berth in five years. Now, will they use their resources to improve on this success? Whether they'll pay up for Kyle Tucker is the biggest question mark hanging over the franchise. The team's also desperately in need of starting pitching, and particularly those who can rack up strikeouts such as free agent Dylan Cease. But even if they sign a pitcher, there's also a chance they trim payroll by both moving on from Tucker and trying to trade pending free agents like Seiya Suzuki or Jameson Taillon. It's going to be a fascinating offseason on the north side of Chicago.
9. Houston Astros
The biggest question surrounding the Astros is how they replace Framber Valdez if he signs with another team. The emergence of Hunter Brown as a bona fide ace after finishing as a AL Cy Young finalist helps, but there are a lot uncertainties in the rotation behind him. Yet, Houston's often made it work in the past after losing stars to free agency. The biggest X-factor for the club will be the health of Yordan Alvarez, who played in just 48 games in 2025.
10. Detroit Tigers
Everything about Detroit's future hinges on Tarik Skubal. If the Tigers decide to trade their ace for a haul, it's likely that they head back to a rebuild after two consecutive playoff berths. But if they pony up to make Skubal a Tiger for life, they should be going all in to build a contending club that can control the very winnable AL Central for the next half-decade. If they choose the latter path, expect the Tigers to take another run at Alex Bregman, or maybe even Bo Bichette, to shore up their infield. However, the longer the Skubal question lingers, the less chances they'll have to lure anyone of note to Detroit.
11. San Diego Padres
The Padres surprised many by naming former reliever Craig Stammen as their manager ahead of an important offseason. San Diego has big holes in its rotation with Dylan Cease and Michael King testing free agency and Yu Darvish set to miss 2026 following elbow surgery. Luis Arraez and Ryan O'Hearn are also looking for new contracts. The Padres' lineup and bullpen still looks strong despite potentially losing closer Robert Suarez, as deadline acquisition Mason Miller can take over ninth-inning duties. The potential of the team being up for sale may also complicate matters.
12. New York Mets
The obvious moves here is to re-sign franchise pillars Pete Alonso and Edwin Díaz. It feels unlikely that Steve Cohen will let either player get away, though he's said he will defer to the front office. From there, the Mets have a ton of work to do in order to avoid another letdown of a season. While the core of their offense remains solid, adding reliable starting pitching is a must if the Mets are going to make good on their promise and get back to the World Series.
13. Atlanta Braves
The Braves saw their streak of seven straight postseason appearances snapped after an injury-riddled 2025 campaign. Atlanta's roster still looks great on paper, even with free-agent DH Marcell Ozuna likely headed elsewhere, so the team just has to find a way to stay healthy. The Braves' biggest needs this winter are at shortstop and closer. Re-signing closer Raisel Iglesias would go a long way towards shoring up the back end of the bullpen.
14. San Francisco Giants
In his first year running the Giants' baseball operations, Buster Posey has shown he's not afraid to make a splash. So don't be surprised when the Giants are linked to some of the major free agents following a .500 season. With a star bat in Rafael Devers and cornerstone pitcher in Logan Webb locked in as the faces of the franchise, plus top prospect Bryce Eldridge on the doorstep, the time is now for San Francisco to push itself back into the hyper-competitive NL West race with another big move.
15. Cleveland Guardians
While the Guardians don't have too many free agents to replace, they must find a way to fill the void left by Emmanuel Clase after his arrest on gambling charges. Even in a strong bullpen led by Cade Smith, Hunter Gaddis, and Eric Sabrowski, Clase - an all-world closer - is hard to replace, especially for a franchise like Cleveland that's unlikely to spend big in free agency. Bringing in at least one more bat to give José Ramírez and Steven Kwan some help would also help their chances of winning a third straight division title.
16. Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati snuck into the final NL wild-card spot on the last day of the season. That makes this winter a perfect moment for the Reds to build on this success and add some veteran pieces to their talented young core. The NL Central is a winnable division, and the Reds can present players with an intriguing opportunity to win in a baseball-mad city while playing for a future Hall of Fame manager in Terry Francona. One more big bat and another mid-rotation starter would go a long way towards building on the success of 2025.
17. Kansas City Royals
After returning to the playoffs in 2024, the Royals took a step back this past season, finishing six games behind Cleveland and just two games above .500. Needless to say, that result was a disappointment, and only heightens the importance of this offseason. It's time for the Royals to stop settling for mid-tier free agents and make a splash to give Bobby Witt Jr. a bigger name co-star. Second base, left field, and center field are spots where they could upgrade. If ownership is willing to spend big, Bo Bichette's contact-oriented approach would be a perfect fit in spacious Kauffman Stadium.
18. Texas Rangers
The Rangers could stand to upgrade at first base, where Jake Burger disappointed after joining the team via trade last winter. Starting depth behind the veteran duo of Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi, and youngsters Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker, would also be paramount. DeGrom and Eovaldi were great in 2025 but are both aging, and Texas can't count on them to repeat those performances in 2026.
19. Arizona Diamondbacks
The D-Backs have some glaring holes to address after being one of the biggest sellers at the trade deadline. Arizona will need to upgrade in left field, first base, and find a designated hitter. The rotation is also a question mark with Zac Gallen testing free agency just a few months after Merrill Kelly was traded. Ketel Marte's future with the club is also murky, though the team said it's not looking to move the star second baseman despite reported clubhouse issues. However, his name has already popped up in trade rumors.
20. Tampa Bay Rays
As always, the Rays remain a bit of a mystery. They could re-stock the farm system by trading Yandy Díaz, and Brandon Lowe, or the new ownership group could decide to try for a rare splash in free agency as the franchise returns to Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay will undoubtedly shop for pitching, and the team could also use middle infield upgrades, especially if Lowe moves on.
21. Athletics
For the second straight year, the nomadic Athletics showed signs of life in the second half. A 35-29 post-All-Star break record along with the emergence of young stars like Lawrence Butler, Shea Langeliers, All-Star Jacob Wilson, and AL Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz, have given fans in West Sacramento (or Las Vegas? Or Oakland? Or Philadelphia?) some hope for the future. This team can easily take the next step in 2026 with the right moves. Don't be surprised if the A's once again open their wallets to lure a surprising name to their organization as they did with Luis Severino last offseason.
22. Baltimore Orioles
If the Orioles are going to shake off the disappointment that was 2025 and make good on their promise, it's going to start with a big winter. Baltimore needs to try and bring in a veteran starter to slot in atop the rotation, and add at least one, if not two, big bats to compliment their young stars. The Orioles also have to figure out what to do behind the plate: they signed rookie Samuel Basallo to an eight-year extension, and Adley Rutschman is coming off a down year. Do they keep both, or try to trade Rutschman for a pitcher?
23. Miami Marlins
You'd be forgiven for not having noticed the plucky young Marlins' solid September that kept them on the fringes of the wild-card race. Now, the question becomes what, if anything, they might do to build off that success. The Marlins could take the road they've gone down so many times before and trade one of Sandy Alcantara or Edward Cabrera - or both - for a nice haul of prospects. Or, they could keep them as rotation pillars while adding some offense to give bright young hitters Kyle Stowers, Jakob Marsee, and Agustín Ramírez the help they deserve, and a chance at real contention.
24. St. Louis Cardinals
It seems as though the Cardinals are finally ready to start rebuilding under new president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom. But that's easier said than done when the team's biggest trade chips - veteran starter Sonny Gray, third baseman Nolan Arenado, and slugger Willson Contreras - all have full no-trade clauses. The Cardinals may have to eat some money in order to move Contreras and Arenado specifically, should they approve trades. Utility player Brendan Donovan could also be a trade candidate for the right return.
25. Pittsburgh Pirates
Pirates GM Ben Cherington has publicly hinted that the team may be ready to spend this winter. It's about time. The Bucs are in danger of wasting Paul Skenes, and there are a lot of holes to fill in order to get this team back to contention. There's plenty of talent in the farm system that's nearing the majors, but those kids are going to need help. If owner Bob Nutting really is ready to spend, this might be the right winter for him to overpay to lure someone like Kyle Tucker to Pittsburgh as a foundational free agent, not unlike what San Diego did with Eric Hosmer years ago. This would send a message that things are truly changing in Pittsburgh, and that the Pirates serious about building a sustainable winner in the very near future.
26. Los Angeles Angels
It's easy to say that the Angels should rebuild. But as past offseasons have shown, it doesn't seem like Arte Moreno ever wants to. The Halos seem to be trapped in perpetual purgatory as Mike Trout ages, with a bizarre mix of big contracts and young players being rushed to the majors surrounding him. They also desperately need at least one more left-handed bat in the lineup. Perhaps the Halos will trade one of Taylor Ward or Jo Adell for the right return.
27. Chicago White Sox
The emergence of youngsters Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero, Chase Meidroth, and Shane Smith, among others, helped bring some hope to the South Side in 2025. But there's plenty more work to be done. Expect the White Sox to once again bring in some tradable veterans on one-year deals with hopes of flipping them at the deadline. With only one year left on Luis Robert Jr.'s contract and two years to go on Andrew Benintendi's, the White Sox are probably still a year or two away from spending.
28. Washington Nationals
The Nationals are embracing youth following the hiring of 35-year-old Paul Toboni as president of baseball operations, and 33-year-old Blake Butera as manager - the youngest MLB skipper in over 50 years. If the Nats sign anyone in free agency, said players will almost certainly be rerouted in July. The bigger question is whether the new front office chooses to trade young players like CJ Abrams, MacKenzie Gore, or even James Wood to get a large prospect package in return and once again fully bottom out.
29. Minnesota Twins
The Twins traded away 10 players in a deadline teardown that signaled a youth movement. More of the same could be expected this winter, which means top starters Joe Ryan and Pablo López might find new homes. All-Star outfielder Byron Buxton will reportedly consider waiving his no-trade clause if the roster continues to be gutted. There's a good chance things get worse in Minnesota before they get better.
30. Colorado Rockies
Barely two months removed from one of the worst seasons in baseball history, the Rockies tabbed Paul DePodesta of "Moneyball" fame - who spent the last nine years working for the NFL's Cleveland Browns - as their new president of baseball operations. DePodesta will now be tasked with bringing the Rockies organization into the 21st century. He also has to hire a manager. DePodesta has his work cut out, because the Rockies have gaping holes at pretty much every position on the field save for catcher.