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.
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.
Voters: Jason Catania, Mark Feinsand, Daniel Feldman, Doug Gausepohl, Will Leitch, Travis Miller, Brian Murphy, Arturo Pardavila, Andrew Simon, Zac Vierra.