Orioles Designate Jhonkensy Noel For Assignment

By Darragh McDonald | January 7, 2026 at 2:40pm CDT

The Orioles announced that they have claimed outfielder Marco Luciano off waivers from the Pirates, a move which was previously reported. To open a 40-man spot, outfielder Jhonkensy Noel has been designated for assignment. The O’s also announced that left-hander Josh Walker, who was designated for assignment last month, has cleared waivers and been sent to Triple-A Norfolk.

Noel, 24, was just claimed off waivers two days ago. It may seem strange to acquire a player and then immediately cut him from the roster but this sequence of events is becoming more common in baseball and the Orioles are one of the more aggressive teams in attempting it. The ideal outcome for the team is that the player eventually clears waivers and stays in the organization as depth without taking up a roster spot.

Baltimore fans should be familiar with the upside of the move. The O’s acquired Ryan O’Hearn from the Royals in January of 2023. He was designated for assignment two days later and cleared waivers. A few months after that, he hit his way back onto the roster and was a productive member of the club for over two years.

Up until he was claimed by the Orioles, Noel had spent his entire career with the Guardians. With that club, he has shown huge power potential but also a poor approach at the plate. He has 351 big league plate appearances to this point with 19 home runs but his 4.8% walk rate and 32.8% strikeout rate are both awful numbers. Despite the long balls, he has a .193/.242/.401 batting line and 79 wRC+, indicating he’s been 21% worse than the league average hitter.

He exhausted his final option season in 2025, which has pushed him into fringe roster territory. The Guards nudged him off and the O’s scooped him up. He’s now back into DFA limbo again, which can last as long as a week. The waiver process takes 48 hours, so the O’s could field trade interest for the next five days, but the Guards weren’t able to line up a trade in the previous weeks. Most likely, Noel will be back on the waiver wire.

Despite the rough major league results, he could draw interest from the raw power and also his better minor league numbers. Over the past two years, he has stepped to the plate 536 times at Triple-A. His 7.5% walk rate and 23.7% strikeout rate at that level are still not great but much closer to average. That’s helped him put up a .285/.349/.538 line and 130 wRC+.

If some other club scoops him up, Noel has just over a year of big league service time. That means he can be controlled for five full seasons and is still two years away from an arbitration raise. If he clears waivers, the O’s can keep him. Since he doesn’t have three years of service nor a previous career outright, he doesn’t have the right to reject an outright assignment.

The situation with Walker is somewhat similar. The O’s claimed him off waivers from the Phillies in August. The O’s then signed him to a major league deal in November. Salary terms of that pact haven’t been reported but it presumably pays Walker something slightly above the $780K league minimum, since he still hasn’t qualified for arbitration.

He was designated for assignment two days later. Like with the O’Hearn and Noel situations, the O’s were hoping Walker would clear waivers and stick with the club in a non-roster capacity. It didn’t work initially, as Atlanta claimed him. But that club designated him for assignment a few weeks later, which allowed the Orioles to claim him back. The O’s then tried again, designating Walker for assignment once more on December 19th.

DFA limbo normally only lasts a week at most, but there are different rules around the holidays, so Walker lingered in the ether for a few weeks. Today, he finally has clarity on his status. While he probably isn’t glad to lose his roster spot, he now at least knows which spring training location he’ll be reporting to.

Walker will try to win in the Baltimore bullpen at some point in 2026. His major league track record isn’t amazing, as he has a 6.59 earned run average in 27 1/3 innings. However, he just posted some intriguing minor league numbers in 2025. Split between the Blue Jays, Phillies and Orioles, he logged 42 2/3 Triple-A frames. His 4.64 ERA in that sample isn’t too exciting but he struck out 24.1% of batters faced and got grounders on 52.1% of balls in play.

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Blue Jays Continuing To Pursue Kyle Tucker

By Anthony Franco | January 6, 2026 at 7:37pm CDT

The Blue Jays had already been one of the sport’s most aggressive teams before signing NPB star Kazuma Okamoto to a four-year, $60MM contract over the weekend. Okamoto joins Dylan Cease, Cody Ponce and Tyler Rogers as significant free agent acquisitions. They’ve also been one of the clubs most frequently tied to the top two free agent hitters, Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette.

There has been plenty of speculation that the Jays could be Tucker’s eventual landing spot. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com wrote yesterday that two of his sources pegged Toronto as the favorite for the market’s top player. Meanwhile, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports this evening that the Jays are making a stronger push for Tucker than they had earlier in the winter. Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet adds that the sides have had recent conversations, though he suggests the door remains open to Tucker or Bichette. Toronto’s interest in Tucker stretches back to the beginning of the offseason; he visited the club’s Spring Training facility in Dunedin on December 3.

RosterResource calculates the Jays’ payroll around $280MM, which is already $40MM above where they opened the 2025 season. Their luxury tax estimate sits at $308MM, more than $20MM north of last year’s season-ending tax number. They’re above the $304MM mark that represents the top tier of penalization. That already has them on track to pay around $30MM in luxury taxes, more than all but four teams (the Dodgers, Mets, Yankees and Phillies) paid last season. Any future spending is taxed at a 90% clip on the average annual value. A hypothetical $35MM AAV for Tucker would come with a $31.5MM tax on top of it.

It’s unclear how much of a deterrent the tax obligations are for the Jays. They’re already into uncharted financial waters after coming a few inches away from their first World Series in three decades. The Rogers ownership group and the front office are clearly committed to a win-now posture. George Springer, Shane Bieber, Kevin Gausman and Daulton Varsho will all be free agents next offseason. That’s a lot of money coming off the books but also four key contributors whom they’re not guaranteed to have back in 2027, which should only increase the motivation to make another run this year.

Tucker, a career .273/.358/.507 hitter, is the best offensive player available. He’d step into an everyday right field role, pushing Anthony Santander to left. The Jays would have Springer as their primary designated hitter. Okamoto and Addison Barger could play either third base or factor into the corner outfield. It wouldn’t leave much playing time for Nathan Lukes, who’d be a speculative trade candidate. Lukes is coming off a solid season (.255/.323/.407 with 12 homers) but isn’t the kind of player who’ll prevent teams from making a run at a star.

If the Jays were to land Tucker, that’d almost certainly close the door on a reunion with Bichette. One team signing the top three free agents in an offseason is essentially without precedent, and adding both players would push Toronto’s luxury tax number well above $350MM. Bannon indeed suggests that while the Jays aren’t out of the running for Bichette, a new deal with their longtime shortstop looks less likely after the Okamoto signing.

Playing Okamoto and/or Barger regularly at third base pushes Ernie Clement to second, where Bichette would probably be penciled in if he heads back to Rogers Centre. The bigger deterrent may simply be a reluctance on the team’s part to make a long-term commitment to Bichette. Bannon writes that a reunion could be more likely if the infielder settles for a shorter deal that allows him to opt out after the first season.

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Newcomb brings veteran presence, rotation competition to White Sox

54 minutes ago

CHICAGO -- At 32 years old, and with parts of nine seasons and 223 games of Major League experience, left-hander Sean Newcomb immediately becomes the old man, or at least the true veteran, of the 2026 White Sox staff.

To take that idea one step further, Newcomb will have the Spring Training chance to feature that same unofficial position as part of the White Sox rotation.

“He’s going to come in and compete for a starting job, a job in the rotation I should say, which we are really excited about,” said manager Will Venable during a Wednesday Zoom. “We know he had some success in both the starting role and the reliever role, so he is capable of doing both, but he’s going to be in that mix for a starting-rotation job, and we are excited to help support him.”

“I’ve always been a starter, starter mentality,” said Newcomb on the Zoom call. “Over the past few years up in the big leagues, I’ve done a lot out of the 'pen, but even those outings I’ve had a lot of three-, four-plus innings outings. So, it’s kind of the same mentality for me, just be ready to attack a lineup once or twice, three times through if it gets to that point with five or six innings.”

Newcomb joined the White Sox via a one-year, $4.5 million deal as a free agent after posting a 2.73 ERA with two saves, four holds and 91 strikeouts over 48 combined appearances (five starts) and 92 1/3 innings with the Red Sox and Athletics in 2025. His success came primarily out of the bullpen, ranking fifth in the Majors among left-handed relievers with a 2.19 ERA and tied for seventh with 70 innings pitched.

After joining the Athletics on May 27, the southpaw finished 2-1 with a 1.75 ERA, a .214 opponents average and 50 strikeouts in 36 relief outings covering 51 1/3 innings. His 1.75 ERA since May 29 was the seventh-best mark among MLB relievers with at least 45 innings pitched. The first-round pick of the Angels in the 2014 Draft has a career 4.41 ERA in 65 starts and a 3.84 ERA over 158 games out of the bullpen.

Working as a starter allows Newcomb to better employ his six-pitch mix -- including a sinker employed with success in 2025, and what he described as a slurve. But it’s more basic than starter or reliever for Newcomb, as he discussed with Venable on Tuesday, and his role goes beyond on-field responsibilities.

“Just looking for some good quality innings to be eaten up,” Newcomb said. “I’ll kind of be one of the older guys on the staff, kind of coming in and being one of those kinds of presences for the younger guys.”

“His flexibility is great,” Venable said. “Having been successful in different ways, he can help our players, which is something that we’ll look to him to take a little bit of that role.”

The native of Boston joins the Northeast White Sox nucleus -- featuring Shane Smith, Mike Vasil and Sean Burke, who all hail from the same geographic area. Newcomb works out with Vasil and Smith during the offseason, while Burke and Smith will be battling with Newcomb to fill out the rotation’s front five.

Newcomb had White Sox questions for Vasil and Smith during this free-agent process. They had nothing but good things to say, according to Newcomb, who becomes the latest bona fide elder statesman of this developing young core.

“They kind of seem like they're on the up, on the climb right now, just as far as all the young guys and some of the changes they made all the way around,” Newcomb said. “It kind of was the perfect storm. It's pretty similar to what I had done with [the A's]. It was a spotty couple of years, then I had a good year last year with them.

“But it was pretty similar as far as just kind of, I guess, the rebuild or just the next wave of the prospects and everyone kind of coming into their own. So it's definitely something I like to be a part of. Obviously the goal is to go out there and win, but these dudes are all, it seems like, in their mid-20s just getting going. So it's an important time for them and the organization. It's definitely going to be fun to be a part of it."

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[ Kansas City, Chicago, and Detroit keep inching closer with every large or small deal they make. I hope someone is keeping track! ]

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Tarik Skubal’s $32 million arbitration demand could break baseball’s entire salary structure

Published: Jan. 09, 2026, 11:25 a.m.

By Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast, cleveland.com

CLEVELAND, Ohio — A seismic shift in Major League Baseball’s economic structure could be underway, and it’s happening right in the Guardians’ division. Tigers ace Tarik Skubal has shattered arbitration norms by requesting an unprecedented $32 million for the 2026 season – a figure that would represent the largest arbitration award in MLB history and one that could fundamentally alter baseball’s salary structure.

“He came in at 32 million which would have put him at the top end of any free agent out there,” explained Joe Noga on the Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast.

The Tigers countered with their own figure of $19 million, which itself would match the highest single-year arbitration award for a pitcher in his final arbitration year. The unprecedented $13 million gap between the two figures has created a dramatic showdown that will be decided by a three-judge panel in February.

What makes Skubal’s request so revolutionary is that he’s essentially demanding to be paid like a top-tier free agent despite still being under team control. “Basically, it’s asking the arbitrators to go ahead and tear down the entire system by bumping him up to a full free agent status before he’s able to be there,” Noga noted.

The implications extend far beyond Detroit’s payroll. With collective bargaining negotiations looming and a potential work stoppage after the 2026 season, Skubal’s case could become a central issue in the next labor agreement. Owners have already expressed interest in overhauling the arbitration system, and this case could accelerate those demands.

For the Guardians, this conflict within a division rival could create unexpected advantages. “Either you’ve got Skubal not pitching in the division anymore because he’s been traded to the Mets or somebody else, or you’ve got a really angry Skubal pitching on a team that he doesn’t want to be on,” Noga pointed out.

The Tigers now face a difficult predicament. They must hold roughly $13 million in reserve while awaiting the arbitration decision, limiting their ability to improve the roster in other areas. As Paul Hoynes noted, “If you’re the Tigers, I would think you’d want to reach a deal before that... it kind of handcuffs as far as improving the roster goes.”

Even if Skubal loses his arbitration case, the relationship damage could be irreparable. “If he does lose, you can’t be unhappy with a $19 million paycheck. But still, you’re probably going to be a little perturbed with whatever the Tigers said in the arbitration hearing that convinced the arbitrators not to give you 32 million,” Hoynes explained.

The situation draws parallels to Juan Soto’s record $31.5 million arbitration award before he departed the Yankees for a massive free agent contract. Skubal could follow a similar path – either winning his case and setting a new precedent, or becoming disgruntled and eventually leaving Detroit.

Either outcome could reshape the AL Central race and potentially help Cleveland’s championship aspirations, making this arbitration case one of the most consequential off-field developments of the offseason.

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Never mind one closer. This team has three -- and is set to make history

No team has ever broken camp with three closers who saved at least 20 games the previous season. But the Tigers are poised to do just that, with newcomer Kenley Jansen joining Kyle Finnegan and Will Vest in the bullpen.

The Tigers have made an identity out of bullpen creativity over the last couple of years, from the Pitching Chaos theme of their 2024 charge into the postseason to their conversion of All-Star closer Kyle Finnegan into a do-everything leverage role upon his arrival at last summer’s Trade Deadline. As they head into the 2026 season, they’re lined up to do something historic.

Since the save became an official statistic in 1969, no team has opened a season carrying three pitchers who had recorded 20 or more saves in the previous season. With Finnegan's return, Kenley Jansen’s signing and Will Vest still on board, the Tigers have such a trio under contract. And they’ll be pitching for a manager who has proudly declined to name a closer for most of his five-year Tigers tenure.

Yes, manager A.J. Hinch now has no shortage of options for the ninth inning. But he’s just as likely to place priority on those arms for the most dangerous part of the opposing lineup, whether it’s due up in the ninth or not.

“I wouldn’t say the specific [save] stat itself was something we were targeting,” general manager Jeff Greenberg said a couple weeks ago. “We were targeting impact arms that we felt could help this team win games in different situations. … And we have a manager in A.J. who is so good at finding ways to get the most out of these guys, putting those pieces together, using our guys in the right situations to get those wins.”

t’s a setup that admittedly requires buy-in from those involved. When the group includes a likely future Hall of Famer who sits 24 saves shy of 500 (Jansen), a former All-Star (Finnegan) and an arbitration-eligible reliever two years away from free agency (Vest), it becomes critical.

The Tigers are on board.

“I think it just feeds into the mindset of our bullpen,” said Finnegan, who got his old jersey No. 67 back in a swap with Bailey Horn, last month. “We have lots of different guys that can do lots of different things, and anytime you can get more options to throw in leverage, it’s a huge advantage. And you look at a lot of the teams in the postseason, their bullpens are built with multiple guys that you can throw out there in the eighth, ninth inning and have confidence that they can get it done. So I think the more closers you have on your team, the better.

“I think whoever it is, is going to have the mindset of: Tell me when to pitch and I’ll go out there and do my best.”

This story was excerpted from Jason Beck's Tigers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

The Tigers have made an identity out of bullpen creativity over the last couple of years, from the Pitching Chaos theme of their 2024 charge into the postseason to their conversion of All-Star closer Kyle Finnegan into a do-everything leverage role upon his arrival at last summer’s Trade Deadline. As they head into the 2026 season, they’re lined up to do something historic.

Tigers Special Ticket Packages for Heritage Nights & more are on sale now!
Since the save became an official statistic in 1969, no team has opened a season carrying three pitchers who had recorded 20 or more saves in the previous season. With Finnegan's return, Kenley Jansen’s signing and Will Vest still on board, the Tigers have such a trio under contract. And they’ll be pitching for a manager who has proudly declined to name a closer for most of his five-year Tigers tenure.

Yes, manager A.J. Hinch now has no shortage of options for the ninth inning. But he’s just as likely to place priority on those arms for the most dangerous part of the opposing lineup, whether it’s due up in the ninth or not.

“I wouldn’t say the specific [save] stat itself was something we were targeting,” general manager Jeff Greenberg said a couple weeks ago. “We were targeting impact arms that we felt could help this team win games in different situations. … And we have a manager in A.J. who is so good at finding ways to get the most out of these guys, putting those pieces together, using our guys in the right situations to get those wins.”


It’s a setup that admittedly requires buy-in from those involved. When the group includes a likely future Hall of Famer who sits 24 saves shy of 500 (Jansen), a former All-Star (Finnegan) and an arbitration-eligible reliever two years away from free agency (Vest), it becomes critical.

About salary arbitration and arbitration eligibility
The Tigers are on board.

“I think it just feeds into the mindset of our bullpen,” said Finnegan, who got his old jersey No. 67 back in a swap with Bailey Horn, last month. “We have lots of different guys that can do lots of different things, and anytime you can get more options to throw in leverage, it’s a huge advantage. And you look at a lot of the teams in the postseason, their bullpens are built with multiple guys that you can throw out there in the eighth, ninth inning and have confidence that they can get it done. So I think the more closers you have on your team, the better.

“I think whoever it is, is going to have the mindset of: Tell me when to pitch and I’ll go out there and do my best.”

Kyle Finnegan to return to Tigers on two-year deal
Dec 10, 2025 · 0:31
Kyle Finnegan to return to Tigers on two-year deal
Jansen had a similar outlook when he talked with reporters a few days earlier. Despite his track record and his milestone chase, he said he came with no guarantees of being a set closer, and it wasn’t a priority for him.

“It’s about winning,” Jansen said. “To me, yes, it’s unbelievable numbers to get this close. But like I told A.J., I didn’t do this to get 500 saves or 400 saves, whatever. You know, I was on a pretty good team, the Dodgers. I’ve had great opportunities, and all our focus is to try to help a team win, and all those things came with it. So at the end of the day, it will be a great accomplishment, but I think the greater accomplishment will be to try to get deep in the postseason and win the World Series with the Tigers. That’s my accomplishment at the end of the day. That’s why I’m here.”

Expect that mix to become clearer as Spring Training unfolds.

“We will build the team over the course of [the offseason] with some soft focus on what’s the best way to use the group,” Hinch said during last month’s Winter Meetings. “Then we’ll sort it out during the spring a little bit. Like, are there competitions for important innings? Of course. Are there competitions for at-bats? Of course. But performance in the spring is a tough gauge.”

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[ Looks like the Tigers are closing in on the advantages the Guardians held in this division. In fact, on paper, it appears the Tigers just may have improved their pitching staff significantly enough to have caught up to the Guardian's relief corps. If Skubal is a Tiger in 2026, all bets may be off in this division. The Guardians weren't exactly a juggernaut offensively against Detroit pitching in 2025 and the Guards have not made any offensive improvements but they're willing to take a chance with 1st & 2nd players to fill any voids left from 2025. I can't imagine these "kids" going up against that Detroit pitching staff. Double down if Skubal is still a Tiger in 2026. Let's not forget about Kansas City either. Somewhere along the line, the Guardians should be throwing in the towel and add at least one offensive contributor to this team. ]

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Unveiling the first Power Rankings of 2026

January 8th, 2026

Welcome to 2026! It should be a fascinating year. Frankly, it already has been. And a new year brings new Power Rankings. Here, thusly, are our first of the calendar year.

There are obviously many more moves to be made throughout the rest of this Hot Stove season, but this is our snapshot of where we currently stand. I’ll also look at each team’s realistic hopes for 2026: what they’re shooting for, and what expectations might be.

These rankings, as always, are compiled from MLB.com contributors whose names you can find at the bottom of this (and every) piece, but the words are mine. If you dislike the rankings, yell at all of us. But if you dislike the words, feel free to yell at me.

Note: Each team is listed with its ranking from our last poll, which was taken at the start of the offseason, in parentheses.

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Guardians Get No Love In Early 2026 Power Rankings

January 9, 2026

By Jimmy Swartz

The Cleveland Guardians entered the offseason as the defending AL Central champions, but that distinction doesn’t appear to be carrying much weight nationally. When MLB released its inaugural power rankings for the 2026 season, Cleveland found itself firmly in the bottom half of the league.

According to MLB.com’s early rankings, the Guardians came in at No. 21 overall, a placement that suggests there is plenty of skepticism about Cleveland’s ability to repeat its success from a year ago. Despite winning the division in 2025, the Guardians were ranked behind several teams that failed to reach the postseason.

MLB.com writer Will Leitch acknowledged Cleveland’s division title but made it clear why the team may be flying under the radar heading into 2026.

“It has been a little forgotten that it’s the Guardians, in fact, who are the defending AL Central champions. (A Wild Card Series loss will do that.),” Leitch wrote. “The Guardians are running it back this year, and hopefully they won’t need a historic comeback to win the division this time.”

That comment highlights the core issue surrounding the Guardians nationally. While Cleveland did finish on top of the AL Central, the path to get there was anything but smooth. A dramatic late-season surge was needed to secure the division, and the early playoff exit did little to leave a lasting impression outside of the fan base.

From a roster standpoint, the Guardians largely returning the same group is being viewed as both a positive and a concern. Internally, Cleveland believes continuity matters, especially with a young roster that continues to develop. Externally, however, there’s a belief that other teams improved more aggressively while the Guardians relied on internal growth.

That perception has followed Cleveland for years. The organization has often been underestimated in preseason rankings, only to outperform expectations once the games actually matter. Still, ranking 21st for a defending division champion is notable, even by Guardians standards.

The reality is that much of this ranking likely comes down to offense. Until Cleveland proves it can consistently generate power and run production, national outlets will remain hesitant to buy in. That’s where the Guardians believe internal reinforcements and natural progression can change the narrative.

Whether the lack of respect serves as motivation or simply background noise remains to be seen. What’s clear is that the Guardians are once again being asked to prove it on the field. And if history is any indication, being overlooked is a role they’re more than comfortable playing.


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1. Dodgers (1)
The Dodgers are getting older, particularly in the lineup, which is why you really can’t take your eyes off them this offseason: You can sense them lurking in the weeds on a lot of free agents. Either way, they’re the favorites to win a third straight World Series title, even if they stand pat for the rest of the winter (which they surely won’t).

2. Blue Jays (3)
When you get as close as the Jays did to winning the World Series -- multiple times! -- you certainly can’t be blamed for pushing as hard as they already have this offseason. They’re clearly better with Dylan Cease and Kazuma Okamoto. Could Kyle Tucker be next?

3. Mariners (5)
We all keep waiting for the Mariners to make another addition or two, and while they still might, this already looks like the clear AL West favorite. Now that they’ve cracked the door open, are they ready to finally rush through it?

4. Phillies (7)
Will J.T. Realmuto return? Are there more additions coming? The Phillies will once again try to win it all in 2026, before this team gets too old. It should be noted that they are not in fact that old yet. And a Bryce Harper bounceback in his age-33 season sure would be nice.

5. Red Sox (6)
Their two biggest offseason additions (Willson Contreras and Sonny Gray) have come from the Cardinals, but they were both smart moves that didn’t cost Boston too much. This team has a clear, solid foundation and surely still has some cards left to play. The AL East is stacked. But the Red Sox seem very much on the rise.

6. Brewers (9)
The team with the best record in baseball last year traded Isaac Collins, and there are persistent rumblings that their top starting pitcher, Freddy Peralta, might be next. If that makes you doubt them, well, people doubt the Brewers every year, and they keep winning the NL Central anyway.

7. Yankees (2)
The Yankees are running out of years of Peak Aaron Judge, which is why it has been so unsettling to so many Yankees fans that they’ve been so quiet this offseason. (No offense, Paul DeJong!) Is it possible the Yankees are closer to fourth in this division right now than first?

8. Mets (4)
It has been an emotionally demoralizing offseason for Mets fans, who have had to say goodbye to some beloved players, but don’t get it twisted: This team still has MVP candidates in Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor, all kinds of young talent and plenty of money to spend if it needs to. There is zero need for despair here.

9. Orioles (15)
At last, the Orioles have started to address their rotation, with their trade for Shane Baz (as well as re-signing Zach Eflin), and they’ve been aggressive in the lineup, too, with the additions of Pete Alonso and Taylor Ward. But you’ve got to think they’re all the way in at this point: Another starter, hopefully of the top-shelf variety, would seem to be next in line for a team with a whole bunch at stake in 2026.

10. Cubs (8)
Much to their fans’ chagrin, the Cubs had been awfully quiet this offseason … until they pulled off a trade for Marlins flamethrower Edward Cabrera on Wednesday (shortly after our voting closed). The Cubs might still be the favorites in this division, even assuming Kyle Tucker doesn’t return, but another significant move certainly wouldn’t hurt.

11. Braves (13)
It was a nightmarish 2025 season for the Braves, who had thought, quite reasonably, that this might be their decade. They’ve added around the margins, but what they really need is, at last, a little bit of good fortune … and for the hitters who have stagnated to turn it around.

12. Padres (11)
The Padres are forever trying to chase down the Dodgers, but at least the Dodgers are a good team to chase. San Diego hasn’t been all that busy this offseason, but this is A.J. Preller we’re talking about: It surely won’t stay that way for long.

13. Tigers (12)
Tarik Skubal, despite all the rumors, is still here, and it’s beginning to look like he’s not going anywhere, at least not before the season. So the Tigers best get off to a good start in 2026, like they did in 2025, to make the case for him to remain.

14. Astros (10)
Signing Tatsuya Imai, for a less-than-expected amount, was a pleasant surprise. Still, the Astros, after finally missing the postseason last year, look similar to that team that couldn’t quite get there. And is this lineup too right-handed now? The Astros would love to get back to the playoffs. But do they look closer or further away?

15. Diamondbacks (17)
Merrill Kelly is back in town, and it is starting to look like perhaps Ketel Marte isn’t going anywhere. This team should have been better than it was in 2025; can they overachieve in 2026 the way they underachieved last year?

16. Royals (21)
The Royals took a step backward last year, but Bobby Witt Jr. sure didn’t. The same question remains in 2026, however: Is there enough offense surrounding him?

17. Reds (18)
The Reds were rumored to be in on the Kyle Schwarber sweepstakes, but whether or not you believed they were serious contenders for him, it’s clear they still need some offensive firepower now that he’s back in Philly. (More than just JJ Bleday, anyway.) But there is a lane for this team in the NL Central, if the Reds can take it.

18. Athletics (23)
Signing Tyler Soderstrom to a contract extension was a sign that the A’s know on which side their bread is buttered: This is a team built around young, extremely exciting hitters. Now comes the hard part, which is finding pitching to support them. But the A’s have serious surprise potential this year, no?

19. Giants (16)
The Giants certainly haven’t proven to be risk averse during Buster Posey’s time as team president, trading for Rafael Devers and bringing in a manager straight from the college ranks, who will be spending his first days in a big league dugout. They’ve added to the rotation, but it sure looks like there’s a lot more work to be done here.

20. Rangers (14)
Brandon Nimmo is in, and Marcus Semien is out. But this is a team that felt like a disappointment last year and doesn’t look profoundly different at this point of the offseason. As the Mariners and A’s have taken steps forward, are the Rangers ready to meet them?

21. Guardians (19)
It has been a little forgotten that it’s the Guardians, in fact, who are the defending AL Central champions. (A Wild Card Series loss will do that.) The Guardians are running it back this year, and hopefully they won’t need a historic comeback to win the division this time.

22. Rays (20)
As usual, the Rays have moved a few pieces around (losing Brandon Lowe and Shane Baz, adding Cedric Mullins and Steven Matz) without any clear, obvious North Star. As usual, they’ll probably be considerably better than you think they will be. Being back at their home dome certainly won’t hurt.

23. Pirates (27)
They have added to their offense with Ryan O’Hearn, Jake Mangum and Brandon Lowe, moves that were desperately needed. Are they enough? The Pirates better hope so, because Paul Skenes is a gift that you best not squander.

24. Marlins (28)
Bringing in Pete Fairbanks was a sign they’re looking to boost their bullpen, which would make you think they’re more comfortable with their young offense than you might have thought. Is that enough moving forward? It’s a fascinating time for the NL East: Can the Marlins be the youthful surprise that the Nationals haven’t yet been?

25. Twins (24)
For all the trades the Twins made at the Deadline, on the whole, they look pretty close to what they did last season. As always, the Twins are hoping for health … but unlikely to be able to count on it.

26. White Sox (29)
The signing of Munetaka Murakami might have surprised some, but that the White Sox were willing to push for him is an indication that they’re ready to take the next step forward. They were a little better last year than you might have noticed. They’d like to keep that going in 2026.

27. Cardinals (22)
The Cardinals have already shipped out Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras, and it is widely assumed that Brendan Donovan and (they hope) Nolan Arenado are next. The Cardinals are finally doing the down-to-the-studs rebuild they’ve been avoiding for the last 20 years. New team president Chaim Bloom has his work cut out for him.

28. Nationals (26)
The Nats are one of the youngest teams in baseball, and now they have the youngest front office and manager in baseball, too. Whatever happens in 2026, they certainly should not be lacking for energy.

29. Angels (25)
The Grayson Rodriguez trade was another sign that the Angels are always willing to try something, and they have to be relieved that they were able to restructure Anthony Rendon’s contract. But all told, the Angels need a healthy and resurgent Mike Trout to have any chance, particularly with a surprisingly robust cadre of young hitters to spackle in around him.

30. Rockies (30)
The Rockies have a new leadership group, but the lack of actual moves to this point has left us without a lot of clarity just yet on what a new direction is actually going to look like. Still, a fresh set of eyes can’t help but be a good thing. The goal for 2026 is simply forward progress -- however that may come about.

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Every year the same Royals baloney !