There's snow on the ground in much of the U.S., and we've got about a month and a half until pitchers and catchers report. But still: It's a new year. The book has closed on 2025, and all 30 MLB teams and their fans are starting 2026 with a blank slate. So what better time than to look forward to the season to come — with some good, old-fashioned power rankings?
There's plenty of offseason left to be sorted, with the trade market yet to heat up and plenty of top free agents remaining on the board. But certain teams have already gotten off to a heck of a head start, and the landscape of the league looks a lot different on Jan. 1 than it did in November. Who's starting 2026 on a strong note? And which teams are falling behind? Let's dive in.
30. Colorado Rockies
Biggest offseason move so far: N/A
The most notable thing about the Rockies' offseason to date was finding a new lead executive, a vacancy that they filled with ... a man most recently known for helping bring Deshaun Watson to the Cleveland Browns. This city deserves so much better.
29. Chicago White Sox
Biggest offseason move so far: Signing 1B/DH Munetaka Murakami
The White Sox are still a way's off from contention, but the young kids (Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel) are starting to pay dividends, and landing Murakami on a two-year deal was a shrewd gamble on a player with loads of upside — all reward and virtually no risk if he busts. Baby steps.
28. Washington Nationals
Biggest offseason move so far: Acquiring Mariners prospect Harry Ford
It's unclear just exactly what the Nationals' plan is right now, as they welcome a new front office into the fold. Are they looking to finally pull out of their years-long rebuild? Or are they going to start from scratch once again, starting with trades involving lefty MacKenzie Gore and/or infielder CJ Abrams? Landing Ford from the Mariners raises their farm system's ceiling a little bit, at least.
27. Los Angeles Angels
Biggest offseason move so far: Acquiring Orioles righty Grayson Rodriguez
Speaking of teams whose road maps are unclear: Will the Angels ever willingly bottom out? Flipping Ward for Rodriguez was a fine enough play, as long as you ignore the fact that Rodriguez was sitting in the low 90s the last time we saw him on a mound. This team, as ever, remains caught in between, with not enough MLB talent and a bottom-of-the-barrel farm system.
26. St. Louis Cardinals
Biggest offseason move so far: Trading RHP Sonny Gray and 1B/DH Willson Contreras to the Red Sox
It didn't take long for Chaim Bloom to jumpstart the rebuild in St. Louis, relying heavily on some of his old farmhands in Boston to do it. The return for both Gray and Contreras was more than reasonable given their ages and respective contracts, and the Cards should continue stockpiling young, cost-controlled talent by any means necessary (Brendan Donovan? Nolan Arenado?).
25. Minnesota Twins
Biggest offseason move so far: Signing 1B/DH Josh Bell
Minnesota's probably closer to Wild Card contention than you think — Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober is a fine start to a rotation, and Byron Buxton and Royce Lewis are still around. But Twins ownership signaled at the trade deadline that they're done investing in this roster for the foreseeable future, and if that's the case, a teardown is more likely than a buildup. Will Ryan, Lopez, Buxton or others be gone before spring training? That's the bet here.
24. Tampa Bay Rays
Biggest offseason move so far: Trading RHP Shane Baz to Baltimore (for a haul of prospects)
This appears to be a year of transition for the Rays, who let Pete Fairbanks walk and then turned infielder Brandon Lowe and righty Shane Baz into a boatload of prospects under team control for the foreseeable future. There's still plenty of potential in this rotation (if health ever permits), and Tampa always finds a way to punch above its weight, but it doesn't look like contention is in the cards for 2026.
23. Miami Marlins
Biggest offseason move so far: Signing OF Christopher Morel
It's a fascinating offseason in Miami. On the one hand, this team sniffed a Wild Card spot in 2025. On the other, they significantly overachieved their underlying metrics, and this is still one of the cheapest organizations in the sport. Will they move on from Sandy Alcantara and/or Edward Cabrera to keep ahead of payroll, or will they finally add some outside talent to make a true run?
22. Arizona Diamondbacks
Biggest offseason move so far: Signing RHP Merrill Kelly
Similarly: Which way does Arizona want to go? There's still substantial talent here, but probably not quite enough to make noise in the NL barring significantly more investment. Does ownership have the stomach for that? If not, will they try to reshuffle things (say, with a Ketel Marte trade) and try to come back strong in 2027? Even after re-signing Kelly, they still don't have nearly enough pitching.
21. Athletics
Biggest offseason move so far: Acquiring INF Jeff McNeil from the Mets
Picking up McNeil for little else but money was a smart way for the A's to fill a hole for 2026, and this offense is shaping up to be one of the better ones in MLB this year. The pitching staff, however ... well, that's another matter entirely, and it remains to be seen whether this organization will spend enough to change that. (Or whether all the money in the world can convince free agents to pitch in that ballpark.)
20. Texas Rangers
Biggest offseason move so far: Acquiring OF Brandon Nimmo from the Mets
The Nimmo trade filled one hole while opening up another at second base, and there's still woefully little pitching depth both in the rotation (lord help this team if either Jacob deGrom or Nathan Eovaldi get hurt again) and in the bullpen. It wouldn't surprise me if the offense took a step forward, but that might not be enough barring a major splash or two.
19. Pittsburgh Pirates
Biggest offseason move so far: Acquiring INF Brandon Lowe, OF Jake Mangum and LHP Mason Montgomery from the Rays in a three-team deal
I can't help but feel like we all might be getting a little ahead of ourselves with the idea of the Pirates as Wild Card contenders. They did great work in the Lowe deal, and signing Ryan O'Hearn was encouraging. But this offense is still below-average, and the rotation is high on potential but short on proven production behind Paul Skenes and Mitch Keller. I can absolutely see an 85-win team here, but I can also see something worse.
18. San Francisco Giants
Biggest offseason move so far: Signing RHP Adrian Houser
Is it time to have a conversation about Buster Posey as a lead executive? All he's done so far this winter is hand Houser way too much money, and while the foundation is here for a playoff run, it's hard to see them making serious noise without at least one more bat — and one more reliable starter behind Logan Webb, Robbie Ray and Landon Roupp. It's hard to see this team being bad, but I'm also struggling to see the ceiling.
17. Cincinnati Reds
Biggest offseason move so far: Re-signing RHP Emilio Pagan
There might not be a more frustrating team to root for right now than the Reds. Cincy has a loaded starting rotation, a budding star at short in Elly De La Cruz and a solid farm system, and yet they refuse to actually invest around what should be a promising core. The starting pitching should once again be dynamite, but unless Nick Krall adds some pop to this lineup, last season's 83-win Wild Card exit feels like the best-case scenario.
16. Kansas City Royals
Biggest offseason move so far: Acquiring OF Isaac Collins from the Brewers
Kansas City finally did something to rectify their league-worst outfield situation, acquiring Collins from Milwaukee for a reasonable price. But it'll take much more than that to get Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino and Maikel Garcia the help they need. Getting Cole Ragans back healthy will do wonders for a solid rotation, but the Royals need another bat or two to truly enter the contender conversation.
15. Cleveland Guardians
Biggest offseason move so far: N/A
Speaking of which: Can someone please get Jose Ramirez some help? Barring a surprise sell-off of someone like Steven Kwan, the Guardians should return most of last year's division winners, and they always seem to churn out pitching and find a way to punch above their weight. But it took a miracle to capture the AL Central, and while the farm system is exciting (and growth from guys like Kyle Manzardo, Brayan Rocchio and Chase DeLauter should help), there's still just not enough offense here.
14. San Diego Padres
Biggest offseason move so far: Re-signing RHP Michael King
Managing to retain King was a pleasant surprise, giving San Diego a solid top three to go with that lights-out bullpen. I still just don't see the vision here, though: This remains a terribly top-heavy offense, without much beyond Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill. Neither the lineup nor the rotation likely has the depth to make a serious run, and even AJ Preller might struggle to add more talent with the resources he's been given.
13. Houston Astros
Biggest offseason move so far: Acquiring RHP Mike Burrows from the Pirates in a three-team deal
Speaking of a lack of depth: How exactly is this Astros rotation cobbling together enough innings to survive as currently constituted? Unknowns and injury risks abound behind Hunter Brown, and it doesn't seem like there's a ton of money in the budget to change that in a meaningful way. Which wouldn't hurt so badly if this lineup hadn't started showing its age; unless Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and Christian Walker all turn back the clock in a major way — and Yordan Alvarez can finally stay on the field — a Wild Card spot might be the ceiling.
12. Detroit Tigers
Biggest offseason move so far: Signing RHP Kenley Jansen
This is assuming that Detroit decides to hold on to Tarik Skubal for at least the 2026 season, which I still think is the most likely outcome given how hard it is to construct a realistic trade. The Tigers have done some shrewd bullpen work so far this winter, but they still don't have enough behind Skubal in the rotation to win multiple playoff series, and they still haven't found a way to meaningfully upgrade a frustratingly inconsistent offense. There's some room for internal growth here, especially with guys like Parker Meadows (please stay healthy), Colt Keith, Jace Jung and Kevin McGonigle. But that's an awfully tough ask, and there's no reason why this team can't afford an Alex Bregman-type bat.
11. New York Mets
Biggest offseason move so far: Signing RHPs Devin Williams and Luke Weaver
It's no doubt been a frustrating start to the offseason for the Mets and their fans, but I do think the consensus has swung too low on this team both in 2026 and beyond. Williams and Weaver were strong pivots from Edwin Diaz in the bullpen, and Nolan McLean looks ready for Cy Young contention right away. There are too many holes here to consider them a serious World Series contender as currently constituted — they need to keep adding relievers, plus at least one outfielder and another starter as well — but I'd be surprised if they're not at least in the hunt for a Wild Card spot. And there's still plenty of time left for David Stearns to make a splash.
10. Baltimore Orioles
Biggest offseason move so far: Signing 1B Pete Alonso
Baltimore's offense felt ticketed for a bounce-back season even before adding Taylor Ward and Pete Alonso. There's a ton of talent here, assuming that Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Jordan Westburg and Jackson Holliday all stay healthy and play up to their potentials. But despite several additions, this pitching staff still makes me a bit nervous: How much do you trust Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, Shane Baz and Zach Eflin to all be healthy and effective at the same time? And was Ryan Helsley really the cure to what ailed this bullpen?
9. Atlanta Braves
Biggest offseason move so far: Signing RHP Robert Suarez
Lord help me, I'm willing to get hurt by the Braves again. This lineup is just too good on paper, especially with Drake Baldwin now on board and a full season of Ha-Seong Kim at shortstop. There are question marks in the rotation (health for Spencer Strider, Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez and Spencer Schwellenbach, effectiveness for Hurston Waldrep) and depth concerns in the bullpen despite the addition of Robert Suarez. But if this team can finally avoid the injury bug, why can't they rise to the top of non-Dodgers contenders in the NL?
8. Boston Red Sox
Biggest offseason move so far: Acquiring RHP Sonny Gray and 1B/DH Willson Contreras from the Cardinals
Gray and Contreras are both good players who fill positions of need for Boston, and both were acquired at a price that the organization was comfortably able to pay. But neither are true needle-movers at this point in their careers, and it's hard to avoid the feeling that Craig Breslow still has more to do. The infield is perilously thin, and the offense still feels light on power even if Alex Bregman returns. Add one more starter and one more bat, and we'll really be cooking with gas.
7. Seattle Mariners
Biggest offseason move so far: Re-signing 1B Josh Naylor
Seattle has yet to really dive into this offseason, but another big move or two could (and should) be coming sooner or later. The Mariners have among the deepest farm systems in the sport and are reportedly sniffing around infielders like Ketel Marte and Brendan Donovan. Add one more bat to this lineup, and Seattle should finally have the requisite firepower to pair with that star-studded, homegrown rotation. Pitching has never been the problem, and the offense is coming around.
6. Chicago Cubs
Biggest offseason move so far: Signing RHP Phil Maton
Bringing Shota Imanaga back on the qualifying offer is a big help, and Phil Maton and Hunter Harvey are shrewd additions to a bullpen in need of them. But the apparent loss of Kyle Tucker can't be overstated, no matter how badly his year in Chicago ended. This lineup still looks rock solid, but it's missing a true anchor to build everything around, especially if Pete Crow-Armstrong looks more like he did in the second half than the first. It would be shocking if the Cubs didn't swing a trade for or throw some money at a big-name starting pitcher; get that done, and we can start talking pennant.
5. New York Yankees
Biggest offseason move so far: Re-signing OF Trent Grisham
Would someone like to inform Brian Cashman that the offseason has begun? New York has every reason to get aggressive as the Aaron Judge/Gerrit Cole era winds down, and yet they've done almost nothing but sit on their hands so far. Judge covers for a multitude of sins, and the base of talent here remains considerable. But the outfield around No. 99 is a huge question mark, as is the rotation given that all of Cole, Carlos Rodon and Clarke Schmidt will start the year on the IL. (And it's not like Max Fried is Mr. Reliable in that department, either.) Whether the Yankees will ever start spending like the Yankees is one of the most pressing questions for the rest of the winter.
4. Philadelphia Phillies
Biggest offseason move so far: Re-signing DH Kyle Schwarber
It feels like the window is slowly closing on this era of the Phillies, but don't write the obituary just yet. There's still lots of talent here, starting in a rotation that features Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo and (eventually) Andrew Painter. The likely departure of Ranger Suarez hurts, and the depth isn't what it once was, but that could still be lethal come playoff time. And if Bryce Harper looks a little more like his old self, the heart of this order can still bang — even if it feels one bat short of truly threatening the Dodgers.
3. Milwaukee Brewers
Biggest offseason move so far: Acquiring LHP Angel Zerpa from the Royals
All Milwaukee does is win a bunch of games each regular season, and that should continue in 2025. It remains to be seen what the team is thinking regarding Freddy Peralta, but even if it deals the right-hander, there should be enough pitching in-house among Brandon Woodruff, Jacob Misiorowski, Quinn Priester, Logan Henderson, Chad Patrick and fast risers. The lineup should once again be chock full of athletes who want to make contact and wreak havoc on the bases, just like they did last year. Whether that will be enough come October is a different question. But it's hard to imagine the Brewers taking much of a step back in 2026.
2. Toronto Blue Jays
Biggest offseason move so far: Signing RHP Dylan Cease
The Blue Jays have attacked this offseason the way a team that came two outs away from a World Series title should. The rotation was the biggest question mark, and that's been just about answered after Shane Bieber surprisingly opted in for 2026 and Toronto went out and signed Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce. Of course, this team knows full well how tough it is to actually chase down the Dodgers, and one more big bat feels essential — whether that's a reunion with Bo Bichette or a run at Kyle Tucker. Get that done, and this team sure feels as well-rounded as any outside of L.A.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
Biggest offseason move so far: Signing RHP Edwin Diaz
Could it be anyone else? The two-time defending champs boast an embarrassment of riches in the starting rotation, plus the best player on the planet in Shohei Ohtani at the top of a star-studded lineup. And they began this offseason by aggressively attacking their Achilles heel from 2025, throwing big money at star closer Edwin Diaz. L.A. might not be seriously in on more big fish like Tucker, but they have the cash and the farm system to do just about anything they want. Even if they prioritize another versatile bench piece and call it a day, though, they're the kings until someone takes the throne from them.