10 teams with plenty to do in the new year 

It’s a new year, and a new season is in sight. Spring Training begins Feb. 20, leaving only 50 days until MLB clubs take the field for the first time in 2026.

That means the offseason is starting to wind down -- even though plenty of teams with their sights set on contending in 2026 still have considerable work to do. Not all are created equal: Some clubs have made big moves in some areas but still have obvious needs elsewhere, while others have yet to complete a major signing or trade this offseason.

Here are 10 potential contenders with serious holes to fill before the 2026 season begins.

Red Sox

Boston has already begun building toward 2026 through the trade market, swinging three trades with NL Central clubs to bolster its roster. The Red Sox acquired starter Sonny Gray and first baseman Willson Contreras in separate deals with the Cardinals, and also landed starter Johan Oviedo in a deal with the Pirates. The moves cost some young talent (pitchers Richard Fitts and Hunter Dobbins were shipped to St. Louis, while outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia went to Pittsburgh) but should help set up the Red Sox for the year to come.

That said, it seems like Boston could still use another impact bat, particularly after trading Rafael Devers to the Giants in June. Among the top remaining free-agent hitters, shortstop Bo Bichette and outfielders Kyle Tucker and Cody Bellinger aren’t the most natural fits for the Red Sox, but re-signing third baseman Alex Bregman would be an obvious move. If Bregman signs elsewhere, slugger Eugenio Suárez could be a fallback option. The Red Sox have also been linked to D-backs second baseman Ketel Marte, but with the clock ticking on a potential deal for Marte, any big move for a hitter might have to come through free agency. Boston could also use help behind Aroldis Chapman and Garrett Whitlock in the bullpen, though landing an impact bat should be the top priority.

Mets

In addition to building up its bullpen with former Yankees relievers Devin Williams and Luke Weaver and signing veteran infielder Jorge Polanco, the Mets have made multiple moves to fortify a roster undergoing an offseason overhaul. Even still, New York's offseason might feel rather incomplete if the club can't make a big splash, considering fan favorites Pete Alonso (Orioles) and Edwin Díaz (Dodgers) have both signed elsewhere. After trading Brandon Nimmo to the Rangers for Marcus Semien and dealing Jeff McNeil to the Athletics, the Mets have room to add a bat to a lineup led by Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto. But who will it be?

Either Tucker or Bellinger would be a great fit for a Mets team that hasn’t shied away from spending big under owner Steve Cohen. Especially if they can’t land a top free-agent bat, the Mets are still in need of upgrades to their rotation, where covering innings was a serious challenge in 2025. With Framber Valdez, Ranger Súarez, Tatsuya Imai and Zac Gallen among the top arms on the market, there are plenty of options. Plus, with a bevy of talented young pitchers and position players coming up through the farm system, the Mets could always turn to the trade market to fill any need if they can’t find a good free-agent fit.

Blue Jays

After coming oh-so-close to their first World Series title since 1993, the Blue Jays are set to field one of MLB’s best starting rotations in 2026. They signed Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million deal and added KBO MVP Cody Ponce to a unit that already includes Kevin Gausman, Shane Bieber, and Trey Yesavage. The team also signed durable right-handed reliever Tyler Rogers, who has baffled opposing hitters for years, and it’s hard to say Toronto’s pitching staff isn’t pretty much set for the coming season.

But the Blue Jays still have a big opportunity to build on their pennant-winning season by adding to their lineup. That could be as simple as re-signing Bichette, a life-long Blue Jay who led the AL in hits in 2021 and 2022 and received down-ballot MVP votes after an impressive 2025. Toronto -- which famously missed out on Shohei Ohtani two offseasons ago -- has once again been tied to the top free agents, including Tucker and Bregman. In fact, Tucker visited the team's player development complex in Dunedin, Fla., earlier in December. Headlined by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer, the Blue Jays’ lineup is excellent as constructed, even without Bichette. But their offseason wouldn’t truly be complete without adding a big bat -- or perhaps two.

Orioles

No one can say the Orioles haven’t done anything this offseason. Baltimore has been among the most active teams after a last-place finish in the AL East, making their mark on both the free-agent and trade markets. The O’s made their biggest splash by reaching a five-year deal with first baseman Pete Alonso, whose power should play well at Camden Yards. Baltimore also added reliever Ryan Helsley and agreed to a deal to re-sign starter Zach Eflin. The O's also traded right-hander Grayson Rodriguez to the Angels for outfielder Taylor Ward, and recently acquired starter Shane Baz from the Rays for a package of prospects.

Even still, Baltimore could really use an elite arm to pair with 2025 breakout star Trevor Rogers and right-hander Kyle Bradish at the front of the rotation. The O's have been in the market for top free-agent starters such as Valdez and Suárez, either of whom would turn the rotation from a relative question mark to an unquestioned strength. Given the talent in their lineup (which also includes Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman), Baltimore seems primed to compete again in 2026. Adding a big name to the O's rotation would give them an excellent chance to do so.

Astros

The Astros’ streak of four straight AL West titles ended at the hands of the Mariners in 2025, and so far, Houston hasn’t done much to try to recapture the division crown. A core including Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez and Carlos Correa is still intact, but the Astros aren’t likely to re-sign Valdez, a rotation fixture for the past six years. With Valdez presumably gone and Ronel Blanco and Hayden Wesneski injured, Houston could stand to make a rotation upgrade.

So far, the Astros have been involved in two trades, including a three-team deal with the Pirates and Rays that netted right-handed starter Mike Burrows from Pittsburgh. Houston also dealt utility man Mauricio Dubón to the Braves in exchange for slick-fielding shortstop Nick Allen. But as far as major moves (or even something on the level of last year’s three-year, $60 million pact with first baseman Christian Walker), Houston has been silent. The Astros still have plenty of talent all around and should compete for a postseason berth yet again in 2026, but a big move -- especially for a starting pitcher -- could go a long way. Perhaps they will deal from their logjam of corner infielders, with Correa, Walker, and Isaac Paredes competing for two starting spots.

Cubs

A major bullpen shakeup has been the biggest part of the Cubs’ offseason to date. Chicago traded reliever Andrew Kittredge to the Orioles, while righty Brad Keller (Phillies) and lefty Drew Pomeranz (Angels) signed free-agent deals elsewhere. To replace them, the North Siders have brought in a host of relievers in free agency: Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, Jacob Webb and Hunter Harvey. Chicago also re-signed reliever Caleb Thielbar and kept lefty starter Shota Imanaga, who accepted the club’s one-year qualifying offer and will seek a bounceback season in 2026.

After coming up just short in the NLDS against the Brewers, the Cubs aren’t far from being one of the NL’s elite teams. But they appear unwilling to meet Tucker’s contract demands after the outfielder spent just one year in Chicago, and there’s no guarantee they’ll end up with one of the top free-agent starters, either. Adding either a starter or an impact bat (to play either third base or the outfield) would improve the Cubs’ chances significantly in 2026, but it comes down to finding the right fit. For one, the Cubs are said to be among the teams involved in the sweepstakes for Bregman.

Giants

San Francisco is hoping to escape .500 purgatory: The Giants have won between 79 and 81 games in each of the last four seasons, unable to recapture any semblance of the magic from its 107-win campaign in 2021. Perhaps new manager Tony Vitello, formerly at the University of Tennessee, is the right man to spark a turnaround. But if the season started today, Vitello would inherit a roster with a number of holes.

Even after signing Adrian Houser to a two-year contract and agreeing to a deal with right-handed starter Tyler Mahle, San Francisco could use more of what Giants general manager Zack Minasian referred to as “impactful” pitching. What that looks like remains to be seen. At the moment, the Giants are projected to have baseball’s weakest bullpen, even with the addition of veteran righty Jason Foley. Houser and Mahle are solid additions, but the rotation could use an upgrade, too, though that may not be in the form of a high-end arm. Perhaps the team opts for a reunion with Justin Verlander or reunites Max Scherzer with Vitello, his college pitching coach at the University of Missouri. Both future Hall of Famers showed they still have something left in the tank last season. Not to mention, on offense, the Giants must decide whether they feel comfortable ceding the bulk of playing time at second base to 26-year-old Casey Schmitt. Maybe a deal with Bichette makes sense, if he is willing to slide over from shortstop.

Yankees

The Yankees’ idle offseason stands in stark contrast to their AL East counterparts. To this point, the Bombers seem mostly content to run it back with the same squad that won 94 games a year ago: Trent Grisham accepted his qualifying offer, and the team re-signed left-hander Ryan Yarbrough and utility man Amed Rosario.

The missing piece here is Bellinger, whose lefty swing is a perfect match for Yankee Stadium. His first season in Pinstripes was a smashing success, as he posted a 125 OPS+ with sublime defense in all three outfield positions. While the Yankees are interested in a reunion with Bellinger, there’s a real possibility that he winds up elsewhere, which would leave a glaring hole in New York’s lineup. Tucker, the consensus top remaining free agent, could be Plan B, and the Yankees reportedly checked in on him earlier this offseason. But the team hasn’t been linked to any of the other big free-agent bats, like Bregman or Bichette. That should make re-signing Bellinger a priority, keeping intact a unit that led the Majors with 5.24 runs per game in 2025.

Brewers

On the heels of the best regular season in franchise history, Milwaukee has experienced a rather quiet offseason. The team stockpiled rotation depth, with Brandon Woodruff accepting the one-year qualifying offer and left-hander Angel Zerpa coming over in a trade with the Royals. Notably, the Brewers have thus far held onto their ace, Freddy Peralta, despite relentless trade rumors. Even though Peralta is under team control for just one more season, he would likely demand a significant return package in a trade, given the market price for reliable starting pitching. The same goes for closer Trevor Megill, a steady high-leverage arm drawing trade interest off an All-Star season.

Milwaukee could use a power bat in its lineup, and, with limited payroll flexibility, perhaps a trade will be the optimal route to acquire one. In flipping outfielder Isaac Collins for Zerpa, the Brewers dealt from a position of strength -- their outfield depth -- to land a talented arm. Might they do similar to land a bat? Last season, Milwaukee finished second-to-last in barrel rate and hit just 166 home runs, the ninth fewest in the Majors.

Guardians

It’s no secret that the Guardians could stand to bolster their offense. As a team, their .670 OPS last season ranked second-to-last in the Majors, only better than the White Sox. For an organization with a strong player development system, it’s possible that most of those improvements come from within. Second baseman Travis Bazzana (Cleveland’s No. 1 prospect, No. 17 overall) finished the year in Triple-A Columbus, and outfielder Chase DeLauter (Cleveland’s No. 2 prospect, No. 58 overall) even cracked the team’s postseason roster. Toss in 25-year-old George Valera, and the Guardians’ lineup seems primed for a youth movement.

But none of those players are likely to solve Cleveland's woes against left-handed pitching, with Bazzana and DeLauter both batting left-handed, and Valera a switch-hitter. Last season, the Guardians posted a .647 OPS against southpaws, the fourth-worst figure in the Majors. A free-agent signing or two could be beneficial here, and there are quite a few players who fit the bill. Someone like Harrison Bader, Miguel Andujar, or Austin Hays would provide an above-average bat in an area of need, raising the floor of the lineup.