There’s the roster you take into Opening Day, and then there's the roster you end the season with. Those – and all the permutations in between – are the most visible versions of a team, the ones fans see every day.
But there’s the roster you take into the winter, too, the version that’s lost free agents and hasn’t yet added anything new. It’s the point from which you start your decision-making process. In some cases, that can be very different from what you had just a few weeks earlier, when the playoffs were in full force.
Because of that, it’s always useful to kick off the Hot Stove by looking at the rosters teams take into the winter, identifying not only who’s leaving but what needs must be filled. The best way to do that is via 2027 projected rosters, ranked by Wins Above Replacement (WAR), as provided by our friends at FanGraphs.
Remember: This isn't about which teams were the best this past season. The rosters of even two weeks ago no longer exist in the same form. Tarik Skubal is not a Dodger, Jake Bauers is not a Brewer, Seiya Suzuki is not a Cub, and so on.
The rosters teams have right now are not the rosters they’ll carry into the 2027 season. They’re a moment in time, and a starting point. With that in mind, here's a ranking of all 30 rosters, as of Wednesday. (We'll list the most prominent free agents from each team, but you can see the full, team-by-team list here.)
1. Dodgers
Top free agents: RP Evan Phillips, SP Tarik Skubal, RP Alex Vesia
Biggest needs: Second base, bullpen, rotation depth
That’s right, still No. 1. An embarrassing four-game sweep at the hands of Milwaukee in the NLCS does not change the projections going into the next season, nor should it. (After all, the 2026 Brewers were coming off the exact same setback.) It’s true that Skubal, Phillips and Vesia are valued free agents, and it’s true that the infield in particular is aging quickly. With Max Muncy and Freddie Freeman entering the final years of their contracts, maybe things really do start to look different here soon.
But let’s not overthink this, either. You’ll still have a presumably healthier Shohei Ohtani, plus Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Freeman, Andy Pages, Mookie Betts, Muncy and all the rest. If Josue De Paula can field even a little, that’s another bat everyone expects to be very good to potentially elite. If Kyle Tucker’s late-season rebound carries into 2027, then the lineup is that much deeper. Sure, they could badly stand to import a second baseman to make Tommy Edman a utilityman; they, like everyone, could use a boost in the bullpen. But they did just win 100 games, and it’s hard to see a version of this where they aren’t the favorite again.
2. Yankees
Top free agents: RP David Bednar, 2B Jazz Chisholm Jr., OF Trent Grisham
Biggest needs: Third base, second base, bullpen, center field
Yes, the Yankees' three-game ALDS sweep at the hands of the Rays looked quite bad, but also this team won 93 games largely without the services of the best right-handed hitter who ever lived. They’re going to enter 2027 with one of baseball’s best starting rotations, and rookies Spencer Jones and George Lombard Jr. showed enough to feel optimistic about them as contributors.
There are, of course, plenty of questions in the infield and possibly center, because a punchless, Judge-free lineup is really where things fell apart. Chisholm is unlikely to be back, and so the question of whether second base belongs to Anthony Volpe or an external addition will linger all winter. They simply cannot run back Ryan McMahon at third again, and a righty center fielder with a plus glove would solve a lot of problems, particularly if Jones’ high strikeout rate gets untenable. There’s holes to fill. It’s still a talented roster -- if Judge is healthy.
3. Mariners
Top free agents: OF Randy Arozarena, SS J.P. Crawford, OF Taylor Ward
Biggest needs: Left field, right field, shortstop, bullpen
We’re stunned by this one, too, considering the disappointment that was Seattle's 2026 season. Still, it was easy to miss that Cal Raleigh was a top-15 hitter in the Majors over the last six weeks of the season, giving some hope that in 2027 he can be more like the star he was from 2022-’24. (No one should reasonably expect another 2025. Come on.) The rotation remains the envy of most teams in the sport, particularly now that Kade Anderson has made it up.
The problem is on offense, as usual. The Mariners may need two outfielders if Arozarena departs, and there’s at least some question about whether they can give shortstop back to 21-year-old Colt Emerson, who showed little with the bat before getting hurt. But it’s deeper than that, too. No team in baseball was slower last year. No team rated lower in Statcast’s defensive metrics, either. Speed and defense isn’t entirely why Milwaukee and Tampa Bay succeeded, but slow, limited defenders won’t get the job done. Even so, every year, we look at which losing team will jump back into the playoffs, because someone always does. Given the talent base here, the new coaching staff, and the state of the AL West, it’s not hard to think it’s Seattle this time.
4. Red Sox
Top free agents: SP Sonny Gray, INF Isiah Kiner-Falefa, SP Patrick Sandoval
Biggest needs: Shortstop, left field, power, bullpen
It would take a novel to summarize the ups and downs of the 2026 Red Sox, but they’re only (potentially) losing one significant free agent in Gray from a team that made the playoffs. Only four teams hit fewer homers than Boston in 2026, making a power bat an obvious need. Finally moving on from Jarren Duran and/or Masataka Yoshida to make room for a LF/DH type (depending on Roman Anthony’s health and position) would make a lot of sense.
The other big question is the same as it always seems to be: Who plays shortstop? Trevor Story has one more year left on his deal, and wasn't healthy or productive in 2026, which is why they’re projected with the second-weakest shortstop position. MLB Pipeline's No. 2 prospect Franklin Arias is waiting in the wings, but he’s also only turning 21 later this month. Are they willing to entrust him with the job from Opening Day?
5. Brewers
Top free agents: 1B Jake Bauers, SP Dustin May, SP Brandon Woodruff
Biggest needs: First base, rotation depth, right field
We understand that this will be seen as disrespect for the reigning champs, but also having them ranked as a top-five team in baseball, even with the potential subtraction of their most productive hitter from 2026, still shows just how good this roster can be. What the projections are seeing here is simple: It’s still a very, very good team, but there’s potential weaknesses right now at three lineup spots, between first base, right field and designated hitter. (Yes, Sal Frelick came up huge in the playoffs, but that was after a quite poor regular season, albeit in part due to injury.)
Now, given that they have an elite farm system and are likely viewed as a desirable place for players to go, maybe Bauers wants to stay, or maybe some other veteran wants to go there. Most of the core returns. Jesús Made, the best prospect in baseball, isn’t far away. They’re still going to be so good.
6. Mets
Top free agents: None
Biggest needs: Rotation, bullpen, first base, second base
You’re stunned they’re this high, and that’s partially that not enough people noticed the turnaround that had them playing better than .500 ball after the All-Star break. That didn’t come by accident; it was in part because Bo Bichette shook off a rough start, and in part because rookies Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing may have solved the outfield problem. (To go with, of course, Juan Soto, who remains elite.) Bichette and Francisco Lindor still make for a solid left-side duo, and while the right side needs more than a little help, it’s a better lineup than you’d think.
There’s obviously only one question here, and that’s whether David Stearns can rebound from an offseason he himself has admitted did not go very well. There’s no secret about what’s needed, either: the rotation is thin beyond Nolan McLean, and the bullpen is weaker than that. It’s why every single discussion will center around Skubal. If he goes elsewhere, though, the options behind him get thin quickly.
7. Guardians
Top free agents: SP Foster Griffin, C Austin Hedges, 1B Nathaniel Lowe
Biggest needs: First base, rotation depth, backup catcher, bullpen
It feels extremely weird to us to go into a Cleveland offseason saying that the lineup actually feels pretty solid, but the pitching needs work. That’s where we find ourselves, though, after youngsters Chase DeLauter, Angel Martínez and Travis Bazzana all made their marks in 2026. Put them around Steven Kwan, José Ramírez and Brayan Rocchio, find the right role for Jo Adell, and all of a sudden you’ve filled out most of the non-catcher core. They’ll need a first baseman, because Kyle Manzardo hasn’t claimed the job, and maybe Ralphy Velazquez isn’t ready yet. They’ll likely find a catcher to pair with Patrick Bailey, either Cooper Ingle or an outside vet. But the position player core feels … fine?
Meanwhile, the top of the rotation is strong, with Gavin Williams and Parker Messick, yet there’s several questions beyond that. It's a similar story in the bullpen, where the depth tapers off after a top group led by Cade Smith.
8. Rays (tie)
Top free agents: SP Nick Martinez, OF Cedric Mullins, SP Freddy Peralta
Biggest needs: Second base, rotation
In the World Series, we saw what happens to this lineup when Yandy Díaz and Junior Caminero aren’t hitting. Since most of an elite defensive outfield returns intact – save for fourth outfielder Mullins – any improvement has to come from the infield, with second base the most likely spot. That doesn't leave a lot of opportunity, though.
Tampa Bay always seems to find a way to dig up pitching, and they’ll need to again, with mid-season acquisition Peralta and World Series Game 1 starter Martinez both on the free-agent market.
8. Twins (tie)
Top free agents: 1B Josh Bell, C Ryan Jeffers, RP A.J. Minter
Biggest needs: Rotation, bullpen, catcher, power
A surprisingly high ranking for a 77-85 team? We’re not so much defending this as explaining it: While the Twins lineup doesn’t really look to have any stars, there’s not a lot of holes, either, and that does a lot to juice your rankings. Maybe, you think, there's too much optimism on Kaelen Culpepper or Victor Caratini, and hey, fair enough. But we get that’s happening here, at least. Even on the mound, you can look at Taj Bradley’s breakout, along with Joe Ryan and the pending return of Pablo López, and think: OK, I get it.
Not that there’s no room for improvement. Without Jeffers, a catching addition is a must. Replacing Bell’s 21 homers has to happen, too. The bullpen badly needs reinforcements. The rotation is quite top-heavy, and can’t commit hundreds more innings to Bailey Ober, Zebby Matthews and Dean Kremer. It’s just not nearly as dire as the record would have you think. The start of a good team is there.
8. Blue Jays (tie)
Top free agents: SP Shane Bieber, SP Max Scherzer, DH George Springer
Biggest needs: Outfield, rotation
The Jays ranked last in home runs and last in runs scored. No way around that. They can, should, and will make some moves to add lineup help, but there’s no way this all works if Vladimir Guerrero Jr. doesn’t figure out the cause of his stunning 2026 power outage and look more like he has in the past.
Still, it’s not just him. No outfield in baseball had fewer homers than the Jays' 41, and certainly that’s not something you can blame on Guerrero. Maybe they’ll count on a healthier year from Addison Barger, and first shot in center likely goes to impressive youngster Brett Bateman, but it’s incredibly difficult to see Josh Smith and Nathan Lukes getting the plurality of corner outfield time. At least one new outfielder is an absolute requirement, and at least another depth starting pitcher, as well.
8. Tigers (tie)
Top free agents: SP Jack Flaherty, RP Kenley Jansen, 2B Gleyber Torres
Biggest needs: Right-handed outfielders, defense, bullpen
Whatever form the 2027 Tigers rotation takes, it’s going to look different from the 2026 version that was supposed to feature Tarik Skubal, Justin Verlander, Casey Mize and Flaherty. There’s a version of this where Framber Valdez rebounds from a just-OK debut and the inexperienced trio of Troy Melton, Jackson Jobe and River Ryan absolutely explode. That’s all a lot to ask, though, so they’ll need at least one arm, particularly in front of a bullpen that also was just OK and is losing Jansen.
Still, it’s the position player core that needs some help. Setting aside Dillon Dingler's elite defense, the Tigers outpaced only two teams in Statcast's Fielding Run Value metric for non-catchers. There’s only so much that can be done about that given the team's holdovers, though a full season of Max Clark in center field should really help. He’ll need at least one righty partner out there, because Clark, Kerry Carpenter and Riley Greene all swing from the left side – as does top prospect Zyhir Hope, a prize of the Skubal deal.
12. Phillies (tie)
Top free agents: 2B Luis Arraez, 3B Alec Bohm, OF Adolis García
Biggest needs: Two outfielders, third base, rotation depth, bullpen
Assuming Bryce Harper moves back to first base, there’s an argument that the Phillies do not have one single full-time outfielder they can count on for 2027. That’s not how they’ll view it, of course; Justin Crawford will probably get another chance in center, perhaps with a platoon partner, and maybe Brandon Marsh is still the strong-side part of a left-field platoon. But baseball’s third-weakest outfield simply must improve, perhaps by signing a Seiya Suzuki or Randy Arozarena.
There’s more to it than that, of course. They’ll need a third baseman to replace Bohm, unless Bryson Stott moves there, in which case they’ll need a second baseman to replace Arraez. Their rotation has a solid top five but almost no depth beyond that, a problem that bit them repeatedly in 2026; they’ll need to turn over at least half the bullpen. Maybe those are solvable problems. But there’s also some hope-and-a-prayer here too, because catcher J.T. Realmuto and shortstop-for-now Trea Turner simply have to offer more than they just did.
12. Braves (tie)
Top free agents: UTIL Mauricio Dubón, RP Raisel Iglesias, SP Tyler Mahle
Biggest needs: Shortstop, rotation, left field, bullpen
With options exercised on Ronald Acuña Jr. and Ozzie Albies, the 2027 Braves might not look that different from the 2026 team. The issues here are obvious, starting with the fact that they do not have a shortstop (projected 28th at the position, sorry Jim Jarvis), and it’s hard to see them counting on Jurickson Profar for anything following a second suspension, meaning a right-handed outfielder who can play left field is simply a must.
Like most other contending teams, they need to flesh out their pitching depth, but we’re also getting close to an inflection point here on third baseman Austin Riley, who is now three full years into a hard-to-explain decline from his star-level 2021-’23. Given that he’s signed through 2032 on the largest deal in team history, you certainly understand why he’ll be given every chance to turn it around.
12. Pirates (tie)
Top free agents: 2B Brandon Lowe, RP Gregory Soto, RP Kirby Yates
Biggest needs: Third base, rotation depth, bullpen, outfield/DH
The 2026 Pirates' season defied expectations, with a strong lineup (sixth in runs) held back by pitching that was just OK, in part because of shoddy defense. A full healthy season from Konnor Griffin should help, as would moving Nick Gonzales full-time to second base, given how poor his defense was at the hot corner.
The good news is that the rotation’s top five could be very good, and yes, rumors of Paul Skenes’ demise are greatly exaggerated. There’s just not a lot of depth beyond that, and the bullpen needs a lot of help beyond breakout closer Mason Montgomery and quality setup man Luke Weaver. Few teams got less from DH than the Pirates did, so it would be a huge help to have a bat who could play there and also handle outfield if Esmerlyn Valdez falters after his impressive debut.
15. Cubs (tie)
Top free agents: OF Ian Happ, SP Shota Imanaga, OF Seiya Suzuki
Biggest needs: Rotation, bullpen, corner outfield
The Cubs had baseball’s best position player group last season, and while they definitely need a new corner outfielder or two in case Suzuki and/or Happ depart, there’s every expectation that the lineup should be high quality again. They’re currently rated 28th in left and 22nd in right, so at least one move is coming there.
The bigger issue is on the mound, where the 2026 Cubs pitching was A) not very good and B) is now losing a huge chunk of the staff. You can certainly hope that Ben Brown, Justin Steele, Cade Horton and Edward Cabrera come back healthy and productive, but you can’t really count on even a single one of them to be able to do that right now. Velocity isn’t everything, but no team threw softer fastballs in 2026 than the Cubs did, and not even the Rockies allowed as many home runs. That simply cannot continue in 2027.
15. Astros (tie)
Top free agents: RP Bryan Abreu, RP Steven Okert, OF Daulton Varsho
Biggest needs: Pitching, outfield, more pitching
Welcome aboard, Randy Flores. You have so much work to do. Forget the “division champs” flag, because this was a .500 team with a lot of issues. There’s a reason they parted ways with both their general manager and manager despite the AL West title.
Yordan Alvarez, of course, solves many problems, and Hunter Brown and Josh Hader remain excellent. But Flores has many questions to decide quickly: Sign Jeremy Peña to an extension or look to trade him? Can Jose Altuve still play second base regularly? Trade Isaac Paredes or Christian Walker to balance the infield? What's there to do about the weakest outfield in the AL, as well as the 26th-best projected rotation?
17. Athletics (tie)
Top free agents: C Jonah Heim, 2B Jeff McNeil, SP Jeffrey Springs
Biggest needs: Pitching, second base, more pitching
Brand-new head of baseball operations Taylor Smith, hired away from Boston, inherits an offensive core of Nick Kurtz, Tyler Soderstrom, Henry Bolte and Shea Langeliers. Smith certainly can hope for rebounds from Brent Rooker, Lawrence Butler and/or Jacob Wilson. That’s all a nice start, heading into the team's final season before its scheduled move to Las Vegas.
The real trick here is going to be figuring out the pitching. That means acquiring good pitchers but also trying to understand how good the arms you already have really are, given that the wild environment of West Sacramento led to a 6.37 ERA at home, compared to a 4.62 mark on the road. That’s merely one of the highest home ERAs in the entire history of baseball.
17. Orioles (tie)
Top free agents: SP Chris Bassitt, 1B Ryan Mountcastle, SP Trevor Rogers
Biggest needs: Rotation, corner outfield
For all the talk about how Baltimore wants to add rotation help – not unfairly, given that Rogers, Bassitt and Zach Eflin may all depart – reinvigorating a moribund offense has to be at least as high a priority. Some of that simply must come via internal improvement from the likes of Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday, Jordan Westburg and Samuel Basallo.
You can’t possibly ask for more from Pete Alonso, so where is the offense coming from? If Henderson and Holliday have to do more in the infield, then the outfield needs help from outside. Yes, replacing Rogers is important, though Shane Baz, Brandon Young and Kyle Bradish are at least nice pieces to have in place. Yes, the bullpen needs help. But the runs have to come from somewhere, too.
19. Rangers
Top free agents: RP Jakob Junis, DH Joc Pederson, SP Cal Quantrill
Biggest needs: Bullpen, rotation, outfield
The 2023 World Series champs have been hovering around average in the three seasons since, as a variety of big-name pieces simply haven’t really come together. It’s a team that was middle-of-the-pack in most everything, and continues to rely on a core of older players because a hyped collection of young talent has collectively been more good than great. That includes Evan Carter, who has struggled since his impressive debut at age 20 back in ‘23, and now will miss part of next year due to hip surgery.
The Rangers have shaken up the front office and coaching staff, and they’ll definitely need to find some help on the mound. It’s just mostly not clear what the next good Rangers team actually is going to look like.
20. White Sox
Top free agents: SP Erick Fedde, OF Randal Grichuk, RP Sean Newcomb
Biggest needs: Rotation, bullpen, corner outfield
How to build on one of the most incredible rebound seasons in baseball history? It probably starts with not thinking you’ve fully arrived, and realizing how much further there is to go. That seems to be exactly how they’re approaching this winter, and it’s with a roster that’s pretty easy to eyeball. The infield was excellent, and should continue to be, given how many of their young prospects play on the dirt. The outfield was OK, but there’s probably a case to be made to add a veteran corner option to not rely too heavily on Braden Montgomery and Sam Antonacci.
And the pitching? Well, this is all of it. You saw the playoff push where they tried to make a staff out of essentially one starter (Sean Burke), and that’s simply not tenable over a full season. It already wasn’t, really; their rotation in August had an eye-popping 6.21 ERA, and September was only a little better. There’s a lot of optimism that this can keep going. It’s going to require some outside pitching help.
21. Diamondbacks
Top free agents: SP Zac Gallen, RP Jonathan Loáisiga, SP Michael Soroka
Biggest needs: First base, bullpen, left field
Arizona got historically weak offensive production from first base, and giving Nolan Arenado some time there isn’t going to solve that fully. There’s also a massive need for a left-handed hitter, given that Arizona’s lefty bats were baseball’s worst in 2026 – a bigger problem than it sounds, given that Corbin Carroll hits lefty. There’s an excellent core to build on here, between Carroll, Gabriel Moreno, Geraldo Perdomo and Ketel Marte, assuming he’s not traded. They just don’t right now have the bullpen to support it, and adding another starter for depth would be a good idea, too.
22. Marlins
Top free agent: RP Pete Fairbanks
Biggest needs: Rotation, bullpen, outfield
While a scorching 20-6 June didn't lead to a playoff berth, the season was still something to build upon after 2024’s 100-loss disaster. The Marlins maybe have found a third baseman in Javier Sanoja, and an elite defensive catcher Joe Mack, with both players just 23. They could really use Kyle Stowers to take over first base full time, and it would be nice if Griffin Conine could finally stay healthy enough to take full advantage of his strong bat. But, while some added pop here would be nice, importing some arms to help the bullpen might help most of all.
23. Royals
Top free agents: RP Carlos Estévez, 2B Jonathan India, INF Josh Rojas
Biggest needs: Bullpen, outfield, rotation
Kansas City has three-quarters of a very good infield, and youngsters Jac Caglianone and Carter Jensen both had breakout years. But the team still went 69-93. Why? The bullpen was among the weakest in franchise history, and left and center field combined for the third-weakest OPS in baseball. Even the rotation wasn't as strong as expected, as Cole Ragans got hurt again and Seth Lugo, at 36, had the weakest year of his career. That’s why the Royals go into the offseason with the 28th-projected rotation and 29th-projected bullpen – as well as still being bottom five in left and center. The core here is good, but the depth has to improve.
24. Cardinals
Top free agents: RP Ryne Stanek
Biggest needs: Pitching, third base, center field
We know the Cardinals have enviable catching depth, with rookie Leo Bernal particularly standing out; we know that Alec Burleson, Masyn Winn and JJ Wetherholt make for three-quarters of an intriguing young infield; we know that Jordan Walker’s career trajectory is entirely different than it was a year ago.
That’s all a good place to start. There are issues elsewhere in the lineup, but the real problem comes on the mound, where the Cardinals are in desperate need of, for lack of a better phrase, filthy stuff. St. Louis finished 24th in strikeout rate, and Stuff+ models generally have them as “only better than the Rockies.” There are some interesting arms here, yet maybe not a single starter who’d be in the top four of the rotations of most contenders.
25. Nationals
Top free agents: None
Biggest needs: Rotation, bullpen, corner infield
A 77-85 campaign may not seem like much, but it was really a massive success for new management. It might even have been better than that, if not for a pitching staff – particularly a historically poor bullpen – that lagged far behind a very impressive offense. For 2027, you can count on budding ace Cade Cavalli, and midseason acquisition Connelly Early is expected to contribute. Sure, there are other issues on the roster, but there’s really only two things that matter here this winter. That’s finding some arms, and figuring out long-term plans for James Wood and CJ Abrams.
26. Padres
Top free agents: 1B Ty France, SP Michael King, RP Adrian Morejon
Biggest needs: An entire starting rotation, first base, left field
This isn’t about how well the team played down the stretch last year. It’s about the 2027 rotation being ranked 30th at the moment, with King, Nick Pivetta, Casey Mize, Walker Buehler and Robbie Ray all heading off to free agency. They’re left with Randy Vásquez, who’s a fine mid-rotation arm, and Joe Musgrove, who hasn’t pitched a regular-season inning since 2024, and … well, there’s a lot of work to be done here.
No one doubts that AJ Preller will frantically do that work, of course. But this is essentially a complete rotation rebuild, and Preller also has to address left field, the potential departure of Morejón, and the fact that the three big stars in the infield are all headed into their mid-30s. That's not an easy task.
27. Giants
Top free agents: RP JT Brubaker, C Andrew Knizner, RP Rowan Wick
Biggest needs: Rotation, bullpen, catcher
A team that lost 97 games despite a win-now core has more than a few questions to answer, enough that it’s hard to see this turning around in a single winter. How do they staff the rotation behind Logan Webb and Landen Roupp? How do they address a bullpen that had the fourth-weakest strikeout rate? On the offensive side, the Giants can be pleased about the seasons we just saw from Rafael Devers, Bryce Eldridge and Casey Schmitt, and you can certainly hope that Willy Adames rebounds. But there’s very little catching depth after Patrick Bailey was traded, and a chunk of the outfield needs to be rebuilt here, too.
28. Angels
Top free agents: C Travis d'Arnaud, 2B Adam Frazier, 3B Yoán Moncada
Biggest needs: President of baseball operations, manager
Now that incoming new ownership is expected to completely change the way things are done, there’s real ‘sleeping giant’ potential for the franchise. For now, though, this team doesn’t have a permanent general manager or a manager, as new ownership is still in the process of taking control. It all means that while the Angels will certainly add some help for 2027, it’s going to take a lot more than one winter to see this turn into a winning franchise.
29. Reds
Top free agents: SP Brady Singer, C Tyler Stephenson, 3B Eugenio Suárez
Biggest needs: Pitching, catcher, third base
The trio of shortstop Elly De La Cruz (25 next season), starter Chase Burns (24) and first baseman Sal Stewart (23) is a youthful, talented group that’s the envy of almost any other team in baseball. De La Cruz, in particular, made The Leap to being a true superstar. The problem is everything else. Cincinnati had the weakest-hitting outfield in baseball, and no pitching staff walked more batters. And to add injury to insult, ace Hunter Greene is likely to miss all of 2027. Three young stars is a great place to start, but there's so much work to do elsewhere.
30. Rockies
Top free agents: SP Kyle Freeland, RP Jordan Romano, SP Tomoyuki Sugano
Biggest need: Pitching
The Rockies were more competitive in 2026, especially in the first half, and you can look at Hunter Goodman, TJ Rumfield, Cole Carrigg and Jake McCarthy as success stories. But this franchise simply has to find a way to sort out the pitching, a project that didn’t get off to a good start when coach Alon Leichman lasted less than a year on the job. Unfortunately, considerable time is required for changes in internal processes to produce young arms. It’s never, ever easy to figure out pitching at altitude.