One storyline to observe for each MLB crew in 2026

The Diamondbacks are hoping to purchase time for Corbin Burnes, A.J. Puk, and Justin Martinez to return from damage, however getting by 9 innings could possibly be powerful for the pitching employees within the meantime. The rotation misplaced Zac Gallen, whereas Eduardo Rodriguez and Brandon Pfaadt have struggled recently. Arizona re-signed Merrill Kelly and hopes they discovered a diamond within the tough with Michael Soroka. The bullpen could possibly be an excellent greater challenge, already dropping Andrew Saalfrank for the season and hoping for a rebound from Kevin Ginkel and Paul Sewald.

With the assistance of a really hitter-friendly house ballpark in Sacramento, the Athletics noticed an inflow of offense and breakout performances from rookies Nick Kurtz and Jacob Wilson in 2025. They’ve added Jeff McNeil to a core that additionally contains Tyler Soderstrom, Shea Langeliers, Lawrence Butler, and Brent Rooker. The crew has its fair proportion of pitching worries, however the lineup has the potential to publish huge numbers once more as they get nearer to their transfer to Vegas.

After a yr of accidents and pitching struggles for his or her pitching employees, the Braves employed former Mets pitching coach Jeremy Hefner to steer the employees. Sadly, the crew has already suffered setbacks with Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep taking place, however there’s nonetheless ample expertise to work with, with Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, and Reynaldo Lopez hoping to regain their outdated kind in 2026.

Not many groups had been busier than the O’s this offseason. GM Mike Elias made daring strikes, signing Pete Alonso, Chris Bassitt, and Zach Eflin, whereas additionally buying and selling for Shane Baz and Taylor Ward. These strikes and the hope of rebound seasons from the crew’s nucleus that features Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Jackson Holliday, and Colton Cowser may put Baltimore again within the thick of the playoff race.

Boston got here on after buying and selling franchise star Rafael Devers final season, however the typical knowledge was that the crew would work to interchange his energy this offseason. As a substitute, the Crimson Sox reallocated the cash to enhance the pitching employees with Sonny Grey and Ranger Suarez. The one notable offensive additions heading into Spring Coaching had been Willson Contreras and Caleb Durbin, whereas the crew additionally misplaced Alex Bregman. The dearth of an elite energy hitter may stop Boston from reaching its lofty targets, although the hope is that younger outfielder Roman Anthony emerges.

Supervisor Craig Counsell made do with a rebuilt bullpen final yr, together with the emergence of recent nearer Daniel Palencia. The crew has a number of new names in 2026, together with Phil Maton, Hunter Harvey, and Hoby Milner, after dropping important contributors like Brad Keller, Andrew Kittredge, and Drew Pomeranz. It is a threat for a crew that in any other case seems prime for an additional playoff run.

One yr faraway from a record-breaking dangerous season, the White Sox have some purpose for optimism. The crew signed Munetaka Murakami and Austin Hays, including to an intriguing younger core that features Miguel Vargas, Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, and Chase Meidroth. The pitching employees additionally hopes to see prime prospects Noah Schultz, David Sandlin, and Hagen Smith contribute this season.

The Reds stunned with a Wild Card playoff berth final yr, and imaginations can run wild with the expertise of their beginning rotation. Former first-round decide Chase Burns joins the proficient Hunter Greene, Andrew Abbott, and Nick Lodolo, making for an elite, homegrown beginning rotation that would result in huge issues if they will all keep wholesome.

In opposition to all odds, there appears to be no stopping the Guardians after profitable the AL Central in three of the final 4 seasons. Star third baseman Jose Ramirez has been one of many few constants throughout that timeframe, and the Guardians are relying on their diminutive third baseman to proceed main the best way after some key pitcher losses from final yr’s squad.

The Rockies appeared caught up to now with their participant acquisitions and contracts over the past a number of years. They hope to catch up rapidly after hiring former Dodgers GM and Browns entrance workplace thoughts Paul DePodesta to run baseball operations. The inspiration behind Peter Model in Moneyball, DePodesta has been out of the sport for a decade, however brings an analytical thoughts that might be crucial to win within the distinctive house confines of Coors Discipline. The crew has already proven some aggressiveness in participant acquisitions.

Skubal enters the ultimate season of his contract after profitable back-to-back Cy Younger Awards. Detroit’s offseason began slowly, however they concluded it with a bang after signing Framber Valdez and Justin Verlander to the beginning rotation. The crew’s lineup stays virtually fully unchanged, however they hope to compete for the World Collection earlier than Skubal hits free company.

Houston has misplaced key gamers from its offensive core in latest seasons, together with George Springer, Kyle Tucker, and Alex Bregman, however it was Alvarez’s accidents final yr that had been lastly an excessive amount of for the offense to bear. With the extra lack of Framber Valdez and arm points for nearer Josh Hader, Houston desperately wants Alvarez to get again on observe in the event that they hope to compete.

KC has hovered above .500 over the past two seasons, largely because of their sturdy beginning pitching, however they’re able to extra. Prime lefties Cole Ragans and Kris Bubic fought accidents final season, whereas Seth Lugo regressed after an excellent 2024 season. Getting that trio again on observe, together with the emergence of Noah Cameron, may push the Royals again into October baseball.

The Angels missed the playoffs for the eleventh straight season. The 2026 season seems to be a make-or-break yr for GM Perry Minasian, who employed first-time supervisor Kurt Suzuki for just one yr, as he additionally enters the ultimate yr of his deal. The crew made high-upside additions within the offseason, like Josh Lowe, Grayson Rodriguez, and Alek Manoah, with the hope of getting again to the playoffs.

There seems to be no stopping the Dodgers on or off the sector. After profitable their second straight World Collection, the crew made headlines once more this offseason by signing Edwin Diaz and Kyle Tucker. The crew’s payroll and expertise are historic, and so they hope it displays within the win column after a comparatively disappointing 93 wins throughout the common season in 2025.

The Marlins rebuild has been extra environment friendly than anticipated, with a 17-win enchancment final season after breakout seasons from Kyle Stowers and Agustin Ramirez. There are extra thrilling younger gamers on the best way, and the beginning rotation seems higher on paper with the returns of Braxton Garrett and Max Meyer to go together with Sandy Alcantara and Eury Perez. Miami seems headed in the fitting path and wish to hold the momentum going.

Dropping franchise gamers has turn out to be part of life in Milwaukee, but the crew has made the playoffs in seven of the final eight years. The concern is that the lack of ace Freddy Peralta might be an excessive amount of, however the Brewers have loads of pitching depth they hope will offset it. Milwaukee additionally has questions on the left facet of the infield that they hope their younger expertise can reply positively.

The Twins have been cash-strapped in latest seasons, so the Pohlads’ determination to maintain the crew final yr wasn’t effectively acquired by followers. They’d one other quiet offseason, and president of baseball operations Derek Falvey left on the finish of January. A proficient core stays, led by Joe Ryan and Byron Buxton, however Minnesota could possibly be missing the depth to compete within the AL Central.

After floundering late final season, the Mets made important offseason modifications. Followers went by a variety of detrimental feelings after the crew moved on from Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, and Edwin Diaz, however this yr’s squad seems extremely succesful. The lineup is powerful after including Bo Bichette, Jorge Polanco, Marcus Semien, and Luis Robert Jr., whereas Freddy Peralta and Devin Williams add stability to a proficient pitching employees.

The expectations are sky excessive within the Bronx, as regular, however Yankees followers is perhaps pressured to apply persistence. The crew is ready to begin the season with out Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, and Anthony Volpe, and will have that trio again earlier than midseason. The crew’s expertise stacks up effectively within the AL, however they might want to tread water in April.

The Phillies have made the playoffs in 4 straight seasons, however could possibly be approaching the top of their window. Key lineup items Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and Kyle Schwarber are on the flawed facet of 30, and the crew is hoping Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola can rebound from injury-plagued seasons. At the same time as prime prospects Aidan Miller and Andrew Painter are practically prepared, Philadelphia could possibly be in do-or-die mode this season.

Younger Paul Skenes has taken baseball by storm by profitable the NL Rookie of the 12 months and Cy Younger in his first two seasons. Shortstop Konnor Griffin could possibly be the crew’s subsequent huge star. The crew is hoping he forces them to make a tricky determination after Spring Coaching, as they’ve playoff hopes after additionally including Ryan O’Hearn, Brandon Lowe, and Marcell Ozuna to the lineup.

The Padres had been in a position to re-sign Michael King within the offseason, however there stay enormous questions on their pitching employees. Yu Darvish has unofficially retired, and the Padres misplaced Dylan Stop in free company. San Diego desperately wants Joe Musgrove to rebound from elbow surgical procedure, however even in that case, the backend of the rotation seems bleak with German Marquez, Griffin Canning, Randy Vasquez, and JP Sears among the many candidates to fill spots.

The Giants made an outside-the-box rent in Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello, making a virtually unprecedented soar from school head coach to MLB supervisor. He has a tricky activity forward as San Francisco chases the Dodgers within the NL West, however the crew has a robust nucleus of younger expertise and veterans.

Seattle’s offensive enchancment final season was a shock to many, because the crew ranked tied for eighth in runs scored with a historic yr from Cal Raleigh in addition to nice performances from Julio Rodriguez, Randy Arozarena, and Jorge Polanco. Polanco is gone, however the Mariners are hopeful {that a} full yr of Josh Naylor and the addition of Brendan Donovan will assist the offense proceed shifting ahead.

A rebuild is uncharted territory for the Cardinals franchise over the past 30 years, and it is clear that is the place they’re headed after an offseason fireplace sale. The crew traded Sonny Grey, Willson Contreras, Nolan Arenado, and Brendan Donovan and did not make many notable additions to the MLB roster. Baseball operations head Chaim Bloom is guiding a painful course of that the crew’s followers hope pays off.

If the Rays have produced a dropping file in back-to-back seasons, they’ll want their top-end expertise to carry out in the event that they hope to rebound. The anticipated return of Shane McClanahan after two years away because of damage is vitally vital to the crew’s probabilities of returning to the playoffs, particularly after buying and selling Zack Littell and Shane Baz.

Bochy labored his magic when he arrived in Texas in 2023, serving to the crew win a World Collection. Nonetheless, the crew regressed over the past two seasons and failed to search out a solution for his or her anemic offense. New supervisor Skip Schumaker has expertise from his time in Miami, and he has loads of expertise to work with, together with the additions of Brandon Nimmo and MacKenzie Gore.

Toronto got here painfully near profitable the World Collection over the Dodgers final season. The entrance workplace deserves credit score for persevering with to push within the offseason, signing Dylan Stop, Cody Ponce, Tyler Rogers, and Kazuma Okamoto. The lack of Bo Bichette and one other damage to Anthony Santander will damage, however the Blue Jays have the items in place to make one other run.

Successful the World Collection in 2019 purchased extra time for GM Mike Rizzo and supervisor Dave Martinez, however the group lastly moved on this offseason. New president of baseball operations Paul Toboni seems to be in full rebuild mode, hiring 33-year-old supervisor Blake Butera and buying and selling MacKenzie Gore. Toboni’s analytical background could possibly be a stark distinction to what the group has grown accustomed to below Rizzo.