As we enter a new year and inch closer to the 2026 baseball season, there's much to be determined for many clubs as they head to Spring Training.
While there has been plenty of offseason activity, many key free agents remain on the board, possible trade candidates haven't been moved and a plethora of teams have many questions to answer.
With all of this in mind, we asked all 30 MLB.com beat writers about the biggest question each team faces before Spring Training begins.
Jump to: AL East | AL Central | AL West | NL East | NL Central | NL West
AL East
BLUE JAYS: Are they done adding bats?
All of the attention has on Bo Bichette and Kyle Tucker, but the Blue Jays went out and gave Japanese slugger Kazuma Okamoto a four-year, $60 million deal. This likely removes the Blue Jays from the Alex Bregman market, given that Okamoto could play third base, but the other two big names remain options. A Bichette signing would push Ernie Clement into a super utility role while a Tucker signing would fit nicely in the outfield, but this is a matter of money after the Blue Jays have spent freely this offseason. This front office, like the other 29, is waiting on those markets to take shape … which typically means everyone is waiting for the price to come down. Expect the Blue Jays to remain involved and be open to one more big offensive addition. -- Keegan Matheson
ORIOLES: Will they add an ace starter?
The O’s needed to add at least one starting pitcher this offseason, if not multiple -- that’s for certain. They want a frontline arm to group with Kyle Bradish and Trevor Rogers at the top of the staff, and they’ve acquired additional mid-tier depth by trading for Shane Baz and re-signing Zach Eflin. However, it’s not yet clear how Baltimore will go about further upgrading its rotation. It continues to shop in the top tier of the free-agent market, but it also has trade chips (most notably first basemen Ryan Mountcastle and Coby Mayo) who could be flipped for another starter. -- Jake Rill
RAYS: Will they upgrade at catcher or shortstop?
The Rays addressed two areas of concern, adding Cedric Mullins and Jake Fraley to the outfield mix and signing Steven Matz to round out their rotation, but they haven’t changed their depth chart at catcher or shortstop. They might simply stick with Hunter Feduccia and Nick Fortes behind the plate, with prospect Dominic Keegan waiting in Triple-A. And all signs point to defensive whiz Taylor Walls starting at shortstop. But there’s time to make a move or, at least, bring in some more depth, particularly an infielder who can play short. -- Adam Berry
RED SOX: Will they off-load an outfielder?
It has been well-chronicled that the Red Sox have a log-jam in the outfield. They have four starting-caliber players for three spots in Roman Anthony, Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu. Anthony is the one player who for sure won’t be traded. But a deal involving one of the other three could help chief baseball officer Craig Breslow add a slugger or a starting pitcher. Duran, who has three more seasons before he becomes eligible for free agency, could probably generate the best return for the Red Sox given his speed and power, not to mention the versatility he has to play left or center field. -- Ian Browne
YANKEES: What’s going on in left field?
The Yankees have been loud about their desire to re-sign Cody Bellinger, but given how the market is developing, it looks like they’ll have plenty of competition (including across town from the Mets). Given Hal Steinbrenner’s recent comments about it being “ideal” to trim payroll, it’s fair to question if the Yanks will have the high bid for Bellinger, no matter how fine a fit he seemed. Jasson Domínguez and Spencer Jones are the in-house candidates, but don’t be shocked if the Yanks pivot to a significant trade if Bellinger comes off the board. -- Bryan Hoch
AL Central
GUARDIANS: How will the outfield shake out?
The Guardians have nearly a dozen outfielder options on their 40-man roster. But there's not a lot set in stone out there, and it's one area you could pinpoint for Cleveland to make an addition to bolster its lineup. Right now, there’s Steven Kwan in left field, whereas center and right are more open. Chase DeLauter (No. 2 prospect, No. 58 overall) will get reps at both positions in Spring Training. George Valera will be in the right-field mix, and C.J. Kayfus is another option there. Angel Martínez and Nolan Jones are also set to return from 2025. -- Tim Stebbins
ROYALS: Do they have another move to make?
The Royals have spent this offseason addressing their outfield, adding Isaac Collins and Lane Thomas, and bullpen, with a pre-Christmas trade for lefty Matt Strahm. They’ve seemed to check off the items general manager J.J. Picollo laid out at the beginning of the offseason, especially when it comes to adding on-base to the offense – and they’ve done it all without trading a starter, which seemed like the sure way to find bats. But there’s still plenty of time before Spring Training, and the Royals have said they’ll continue to look for ways to add talent to their team. Perhaps a trade for another bat comes to fruition before convening in Surprise in February. -- Anne Rogers
TIGERS: Does Skubal stay or go?
Detroit’s run of success the last couple years has come largely without distractions, but Tarik Skubal’s contract situation could become one if they’re not careful. First and foremost, the Tigers have to decide whether to keep Skubal or trade him this offseason. If they hold onto him, then comes the question of whether a contract extension is feasible before free agency, and how long they can negotiate before putting the matter aside and focusing on the season. The 2014 Tigers did well to win amidst Max Scherzer’s contract year and a Spring Training extension offer controversy, but this is a much younger club. -- Jason Beck
TWINS: Who’s in the bullpen?
Minnesota entered the winter with three established Major League relievers: Cole Sands, Justin Topa, and Kody Funderburk. They’ve added one more in Eric Orze, but that leaves at least four spots to fill. One or two of those will likely go to starting pitching candidates or prospects who get moved to relief, but the Twins also intend to add relief help from outside. There are other roster needs, but the front office’s biggest lift by far over the coming months will be restocking the relief corps. -- Matthew Leach
WHITE SOX: Who do they add for late-inning relief?
The Opening Day location of Luis Robert Jr. seems to be the recent standard for this question amid persistent two-year trade rumors. But general manager Chris Getz spoke at the Winter Meetings on a couple of occasions as to how the plan is for Robert to be the team’s center fielder. So, the focus moves to the bullpen, where the White Sox have talented relievers in Jordan Leasure, Grant Taylor and Mike Vasil but would benefit from a veteran hurler with more high leverage experience. The White Sox won’t necessarily add a true closer, but will add at least one pitcher to build out the bullpen. -- Scott Merkin
AL West
ANGELS: How aggressive will the Angels be in adding to the roster?
So far, the Angels have taken fliers on players with upside like right-handers Grayson Rodriguez and Alex Manoah and utilityman Vaughn Grissom, while signing a trio of relievers in Jordan Romano, Drew Pomeranz and Kirby Yates. The club saved $13-14 million in acquiring Rodriguez for Taylor Ward and might have more financial flexibility after restructuring Antony Rendon's contract. General manager Perry Minasian said they plan to add help at starting pitching, bullpen, third base/second base and possibly center field. It’ll be interesting to see if they’re willing to go after a top-end free agent. -- Rhett Bollinger
ASTROS: Will there be another move on the infield?
The Astros have five infielders who are considered starters, including a pair of All-Stars in Isaac Paredes and shortstop Jeremy Peña. Then there’s Carlos Correa, who was acquired from the Twins in July and moved to third base, along with second baseman Jose Altuve and first baseman Christian Walker. Astros manager Joe Espada said Paredes will play some third, second and DH next season, while it appears Altuve will play more second base to begin the season than left field. Simply put, there remains a logjam, which means Paredes or Walker could be dealt for pitching. -- Brian McTaggart
ATHLETICS: What does the rotation look like?
The current locks for the A’s rotation are Luis Severino, Jeffrey Springs, Luis Morales and Jacob Lopez. They have plenty of options to fill out the final slot with a group that includes J.T. Ginn, Jack Perkins and Gunnar Hoglund, but there is a feeling that the A’s would like to add one more proven starter to the rotation through trade or free agency. They must also take into account pitching prospects that could be Major League ready at some point in 2026, like Gage Jump, Braden Nett, Kade Morris and even 2025 first-round Draft pick Jamie Arnold. -- Martín Gallegos
MARINERS: Curtain call for Cal Raleigh?
The Mariners’ all-world catcher was able to set all of those home-run records in 2025 because he was playing as often as any backstop in the sport. Raleigh led all American League catchers in playing time by both plate appearances (705) and innings caught (1,072), and he never really showed signs of slowing or fatigue. Yet, as the 29-year-old approaches his 30s, the clearest question on his individual trajectory will be how sustainable that taxing toll will be longer-term? While he might not match the storybook 60-homer season again, he’s only just now entering the prime of his career. -- Daniel Kramer
RANGERS: What will the catching depth look like?
When the Rangers non-tendered Jonah Heim, they knew it would create a hole behind the plate. It was a necessary decision considering his regression over the last two seasons, but now 35-year-old Kyle Higashioka is the lone experienced option at catcher to this point. Texas claimed Willie MacIver on waivers last month, but he only got 33 games of big league experience with the A’s last season. There’s not much depth at the upper levels of the Minors either, so external additions will need to be made before Spring Training. -- Kennedi Landry
NL East
BRAVES: Will the offense bounce back after two disappointing seasons?
Ronald Acuña Jr. missed four months in 2024 and was limited over the four months he played in 2025 after returning from knee surgery. Austin Riley has missed most of the second half of the past two seasons. Ozzie Albies fractured his wrist in 2024 and dealt with the lingering effects throughout 2025. If each of these three stars stay healthy, this could once again be one of the game’s top lineups. Another key piece is Michael Harris II, who could earn superstar status if he ever puts a full season together. -- Mark Bowman
MARLINS: Who will be part of the rotation?
The answer to this question is multilayered. Marlins starters have been the subject of trade rumors, in particular Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera, but everyone is under club control for multiple years. Miami doesn't need to make a deal unless the return is enticing. The Marlins also won't know what to expect from Max Meyer (hip) and Braxton Garrett (elbow), both of whom are coming back from surgeries, until Spring Training. And there's always the possibility of the club signing a veteran to a one-year deal to add more depth. -- Christina De Nicola
METS: Will the Mets be good enough to win the NL East?
The Mets seemed like division co-favorites -- or at least close to it -- at this time last year. They looked like the best team in baseball in May and early June. Then they cratered in the second half, precipitating a core shakeup that came to include new homes for Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo and Edwin Díaz. Now, the Mets are trying to thread the difficult needle of moving on from three of their best players while still adding enough talent to improve overall. The good news is that despite competitive (albeit aging) rosters in Philadelphia and Atlanta, and despite the presence of a potentially spunky Marlins team, there’s no obviously dominant NL East club. Once their chaotic offseason is complete, can a Mets roster led by Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto and a slew of young pitchers fill that gap? -- Anthony DiComo
NATIONALS: Will the Nationals trade MacKenzie Gore?
As one of the top controllable starters in baseball, southpaw MacKenzie Gore has drawn trade interest this offseason. Gore, 26, is entering his second of three arbitration years. Asked at Winter Meetings how the Nationals would determine how high the bar to trade Gore would be, president of baseball operations Paul Toboni said, “My guess is that, more than anything, if we're going to entertain something for MacKenzie -- you said it -- we're going to hold a really high bar." Gore went 5-15 with a 4.17 ERA and 10.4 strikeout rates in 30 starts last season. -- Jessica Camerato
PHILLIES: Who’s the catcher?
The Phillies initially made what they believed to be a legitimate offer to re-sign J.T. Realmuto, but Realmuto and his representation have felt differently about it. Could another team swoop in, surprise the Phillies and sign him in the coming weeks? Of course. But the belief remains that the Phillies and Realmuto will find common ground. If not, however, the Phillies will need to turn to Plan B. None of the options are ideal. -- Todd Zolecki
NL Central
BREWERS: Should they trade Freddy Peralta or keep him?
The Brewers’ most pressing question at the start of the offseason was still their most pressing question at year’s end. On one hand Peralta is precisely the sort of pitcher you want on a contender, riding three straight seasons of 30-plus starts and 200-plus strikeouts. He’s due to earn a modest $8 million in his final year before free agency. And he’s one of the clubhouse “glue guys.” But for all of those reasons, a Brewers team that relies not on free agency to fill holes but rather on shrewd trades and productive drafts, has to listen when a player draws interest. And Peralta has been drawing interest. Still, it’s a move that would hurt. -- Adam McCalvy
CARDINALS: With the vets expected to be traded, do the Cards have enough leadership?
Even though the Cardinals are in the early stages of a full-on rebuild, president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom knows he can’t have a team completely full of youngsters in 2026. He is hopeful of adding veterans who can set proper examples. Silver Slugger Alec Burleson (27 years old), Pedro Pagés (27), Matthew Liberatore (26) and Matt Svanson (26) might be the most senior players on the squad if trades are made to move Nolan Arenado, Brendan Donovan and JoJo Romero. Can the Cards add veterans who can lead Masyn Winn (23), Jordan Walker (23) and JJ Wetherholt (23)? -- John Denton
CUBS: Will the Cubs have enough rotation depth for the long haul?
Manager Craig Counsell was able to get through the Wild Card Series and Division Series with a depleted rotation, but he acknowledged at the Winter Meetings that things could have been more problematic had the Cubs moved deeper into the playoffs. So far this offseason, Chicago has retained Shota Imanaga (one-year Qualifying Offer) and Colin Rea (one-year deal, plus club option). Jameson Taillon, Matthew Boyd and Cade Horton are all back, while Justin Steele (left elbow surgery in April) has a comeback on the horizon. There is a group of arms behind them for rotation/bullpen depth, too. The Cubs are hoping there are enough built-in contingency options there for the inevitable in-season roller coaster. -- Jordan Bastian
PIRATES: How much can they add to this offense?
The Pirates came into the offseason knowing they needed to improve their offense, and it’s definitely been the most active winter they’ve had in years. 2025 All-Stars Brandon Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn have bolstered the right side of their infield, and Jake Mangum and Jhostynxon Garcia has deepened their outfield mix. There is still a hole at third base and catcher could also be upgraded. Will either position be addressed before Spring Training? -- Alex Stumpf
REDS: Who will bat behind De La Cruz?
After missing out on Kyle Schwarber at the Winter Meetings, the Reds are still searching for a middle-of-the-order bat to put behind shortstop Elly De La Cruz. As they continue to explore the free agent and trade markets, they will also need their internal options to be prepared to produce. Young hitters like Sal Stewart or Noelvi Marte will have to prove in camp that they are ready to take the next step and become fixtures in the lineup. -- Mark Sheldon
NL West
D-BACKS: How will they fix the bullpen?
The Diamondbacks have taken steps to address their rotation, signing free agent right-handers Merrill Kelly and Michael Soroka, but have yet to make significant upgrades to the bullpen, which was an Achilles heel for them all season. A number of the top backend bullpen free agent options have signed, but GM Mike Hazen said recently that there were still avenues open to accomplish their goals. How they pull that off bears watching. -- Steve Gilbert
DODGERS: How will the outfield look?
The bullpen is shored up with the addition of Edwin Díaz, so the Dodgers could turn their attention to the outfield. While they could stand to add an outfielder to the mix, there's also the question of who will play where. Manager Dave Roberts reaffirmed at the Winter Meetings that Teoscar Hernández is the team's right fielder, but didn't rule out a move to left. Andy Pages could remain in center or shift to right, where the Dodgers could get more use out of his powerful arm. These are among the options that the team must sift through before spring. -- Sonja Chen
GIANTS: How talented of a roster can they put together for new manager Tony Vitello?
The Giants dismissed Bob Melvin following a disappointing .500 finish in 2025, so there will be pressure to improve now that the team has made long-term investments in core pieces like Rafael Devers, Willy Adames, Matt Chapman, Jung Hoo Lee and Logan Webb. The club believes Vitello’s arrival will help infuse the organization with fresh energy, but his new boss, president of baseball operations Buster Posey, will have to surround him with even more quality players to make a realistic run at the Dodgers, D-backs and Padres in the National League West. -- Maria Guardado
PADRES: Who’s in the rotation?
Dylan Cease is a Blue Jay. Yu Darvish is slated to miss the 2026 season following elbow surgery. Even after re-signing Michael King, the Padres need pitching. So where do they find it? Is a trade on the table? Would they deal from an area of strength – like their bullpen? Can they make another shrewd free-agent signing – like Nick Pivetta and Seth Lugo in recent years? Given the holes in their rotation, they’ll surely be open to all options. -- AJ Cassavell
ROCKIES: Who will offer experience?
A team coming off one of the worst seasons of the modern era offers much opportunity for young pitchers and position players. However, the extreme inexperience was one of the reasons for the poor record. Through trades and free agency, the Rockies hope to sprinkle a still-young roster with veterans who can set a standard and force younger players to earn their way to the Majors, rather than receive a call to help a desperate roster. Unable to count on the health of Kris Bryant, who continues to rehab back problems that have dogged him since he signed in 2022, the Rockies need to look elsewhere for veteran presence. -- Thomas Harding