The countdown is officially on. Pitchers and catchers report in less than three weeks, and while concerns linger about a potential lockout next year, the 2026 season is about to get underway and promises no shortage of intrigue. With several major free agents coming off the board in recent weeks, it’s a good time to take stock of which teams are shaping up as offseason winners and which ones are falling behind.
Best Offseasons
Los Angeles Dodgers
It’s impossible to ignore what the Dodgers have done. As much as fans around the league may hate it, Los Angeles has once again separated itself from the pack. The two clearest needs were bullpen stability and corner outfield production, and the Dodgers addressed both in emphatic fashion.
Edwin Díaz was signed to a three-year, $69 million deal to anchor the bullpen, while Kyle Tucker was brought in on a four-year, $240 million contract to solidify the lineup. Add in the return of Miguel Rojas, who delivered the game-tying home run in Game 7, and it’s hard to argue against the Dodgers owning the best offseason so far.
Chicago Cubs
Chicago made headlines by signing Alex Bregman and trading for Edward Cabrera, but the Cubs’ quieter moves may prove just as important. Hunter Harvey adds upside to the bullpen if he can stay healthy, while the team also re-signed Caleb Thielbar and added Jacob Webb and Hoby Milner.
Bregman and Cabrera are the headliners, but the supporting moves give Chicago depth and flexibility. If a few of those bullpen arms hit, this could look like one of the more complete offseasons in the league.
New York Mets
Two weeks ago, the Mets would have landed firmly on the other side of this list. Losing Pete Alonso and trading away Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil looked like the beginning of a reset. Instead, New York pivoted aggressively.
Signing Bo Bichette to a three-year, $126 million deal reshaped the lineup, while the acquisition of Freddy Peralta adds much-needed rotation stability. Add in deals for Devin Williams and Jorge Polanco, and the Mets have done enough late in the winter to climb into the “winner” category.
Worst Offseasons
Washington Nationals
The Nationals have a promising core in James Wood and C.J. Abrams, but the supporting cast remains thin. Trading MacKenzie Gore to Texas for prospects stripped away one of their most valuable pieces, and it’s hard to see a clear path forward.
After a 66-96 season in 2025, Washington needed momentum. Instead, the roster looks even thinner, raising real concerns about further regression.
St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals appear stuck between rebuilding and contending, and that indecision shows. Signing Dustin May is a calculated gamble, but his injury history makes it a risky centerpiece move. Trading Nolan Arenado to Arizona for Jack Martinez signaled a shift, but the return was modest.
Deals sending Wilson Contreras and Sonny Gray to Boston brought back pitching depth, but no clear impact pieces. If St. Louis commits fully to a teardown, a Brendan Donovan trade may still be coming. Until then, this offseason feels directionless.
New York Yankees
After being three wins away from a World Series in 2024 and narrowly losing the AL East in 2025, the Yankees entered the offseason with expectations to push all-in. Instead, the winter has been quiet.
Re-signing Cody Bellinger was a solid move, but it took months to finalize and stood largely alone. The Yankees remain a good team, but relative to their position and resources, this offseason has done little to improve their championship odds.
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