Previewing Every MLB Team's Biggest '26-27 Offseason Decision

It goes without saying that the biggest offseason decision that will affect all 30 teams will be the new collective bargaining agreement. Obviously, whether there's a salary cap and/or floor will go a long way in deciding how the offseason plays out.

What some people seem to be forgetting, though, is that the owners aren't able to lock the players out until after this current CBA expires on Dec. 1 at 11:59 p.m. ET. That means there will be close to a month of free agency before the lockout. With uncertainty about what the landscape will look like after the lockout, free agents might be more inclined to make quick decisions this offseason.

So with all that in mind, here's a preview of every MLB team's biggest 2026-2027 offseason decision.

Tampa Bay Rays: Will Nick Martinez return?

In his age-35 season, Nick Martinez was a first-time All-Star. He's 14-4 with a 2.92 ERA for a Rays team that's trending towards being the No. 1 seed in the AL playoffs.

His contract includes a mutual $20 million option for 2027. A general rule of thumb is that one side almost always declines a mutual option. Martinez may do that because he'll get paid a $4 million buyout if either side declines it. You also can never be sure how the Rays will choose to spend their limited budget. But dare we say, this could be a mutual option that both sides pick up.

New York Yankees: What does the future hold for Jazz Chisholm Jr.?

Jazz Chisholm Jr. started off his contract year by declaring he hoped to join Shohei Ohtani in the 50/50 home club. Well, it's mid September and Chisholm—currently on the injured list with a right thumb sprain—does have 40 stolen bases, but he's hit just 19 home runs.

Of course, no one—probably even including Chisholm himself—actually thought he would go 50/50. But a year ago, he homered 31 times and posted an .813 OPS. He's regressed almost 100 points this year, with a .715 OPS.

If the Yankees extend a qualifying offer to Chisholm—which was worth $21.05 million last offseason—the 28-year-old would probably be wise to take it and hope for a rebound season in 2027.

Boston Red Sox: Will Sonny Gray's option be exercised?

Remember what we said above about how rare it is that mutual options get picked up? Here's another situation where it could be in play, as Gray's deal includes a $30 million mutual option for 2027.

Gray has been tremendous after being acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals last offseason. He's 17-5 with a 2.76 ERA across 156.2 innings, which will likely earn him his third career top-five finish in AL Cy Young Award voting. Even with major money committed to Ranger Suárez and Garrett Crochet in the rotation already, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow will probably pick up the team's half of the option.

The question is whether Gray will. Considering he'll pitch next season at 37, he's probably not going to get more than $30 million for 2027 as a free agent. However, if he declines the option, the Red Sox will owe him a $10 million buyout . So he could collect that buyout, try to get at least $20 million for 2027 and perhaps pursue a multi-year commitment. He has plenty to consider.

Toronto Blue Jays: How do they retool after disappointing season?

Even if the Blue Jays manage to sneak into the postseason in a weak American League, it's been a very disappointing 2026 after they came so close to winning it all a year ago. There's still some very nice pieces here, but general manager Ross Atkins is going to have to consider how to retool this team to get them back in the World Series picture for 2027.

The good news for the Blue Jays is that George Springer ($24.16 million) and Shane Bieber ($16 million) will be coming off the books. They also moved off Kevin Gausman ($23 million), Jeff Hoffman ($11 million) and Daulton Varsho ($10.75 million) at the deadline. So there will be money to spend in the offseason.

With Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Dylan Cease, Trey Yesavage, Ernie Clement, José Soriano and Louis Varland, the Blue Jays still have a good base. They need to retool the rest of their roster in the offseason.

Baltimore Orioles: Are they going to bring back Trevor Rogers?

Really, we could got more broad here and just ask where the O's go after their second consecutive disappointing season. They tried spending money last offseason, and while Pete Alonso is having a tremendous season, the Orioles are in the cellar of the AL East.

On a micro level, they opted to hold onto Trevor Rogers before the trade deadline, despite him being in a contract year.

Trying to determine his value could be difficult, though. He finished runner-up for NL Rookie of the Year with the Miami Marlins in 2021, and posted a 1.81 ERA across 18 outings for Baltimore last season. In between those two campaigns, though, he posted a 5.09 ERA in just 52 outings. This season, he's logged a career-high 157.2 innings, but done so with a 4.22 ERA.

The easiest solution would be for the Orioles to extend Rogers, 28, a qualifying offer and have him accept it. If not, things could get more complicated.

Chicago White Sox: How do they build on improbable breakout?

Two years after losing a staggering 121 games, the White Sox are competing for the AL Central title, and seem to have an impressive young core with Miguel Vargas, Munetaka Murakami, Chase Meidroth, Tristan Peters, Sean Burke and Colson Montgomery.

The question will be, how, if at all, do the White Sox try to capitalize on being ahead of schedule? Adding a veteran starting pitcher would make sense, whether it would be Michael King or Clay Holmes in free agency, or Sandy Alcantara or Logan Gilbert via trade.

A couple things to consider here are that Justin Ishbia is still at least three years away from being able to purchase a controlling stake in the White Sox from Jerry Reinsdorf, and that the team is trying to get a new stadium. So it's unclear how all-in ownership will be on spending for the 2027 season, although the 2026 squad has been intriguing.

Cleveland Guardians: Will they trade Steven Kwan?

The reality with the way that ownership in Cleveland operates is that as star players get closer to free agency, the team often trades them. They've flirted with moving Steven Kwan before, and with the two-time All-Star set to become a free agent after the 2027 season, this might be the offseason to pull the trigger.

Kwan struggled at the plate for about a year, but has hit .356 with an .878 OPS since the All-Star Break. He's won four Gold Gloves in left field, and has graded out very well in center field this year, with five defensive runs saved and six outs above average.

The 29-year-old should be coveted by teams with needs in the outfield that are looking for a player with strong ball-to-bat skills.

Minnesota Twins: Will they continue to try to compete?

A year after a summer firesale, the Twins added before this year's trade deadline, acquiring the aforementioned Hoffman, A.J. Minter and Dean Kremer to bolster their pitching staff.

Unfortunately, even in a terrible AL, the Twins aren't going to be a playoff team. Another tremendous season was halted by injury for Byron Buxton, who is set to undergo surgery on his right hip . Buxton has made pretty clear that he doesn't have any desire to be traded, and his continued injuries would make it difficult to facilitate a trade. But two-time All-Star Joe Ryan can become a free agent after the 2027 season, and the Twins could probably fetch a very nice return for him in the winter.

It's admirable that Tom Pohlad is trying to change his family's reputation and get the franchise back on track. In this case, though, the best long-term move might be to take a step back in the winter, unless he plans to give Ryan a long-term contract.

Detroit Tigers: Could they actually make a push to bring back Tarik Skubal?

Tarik Skubal has expressed a willingness to consider the Tigers in free agency, even after they traded the two-time defending AL Cy Young Award winner to the Los Angeles Dodgers before the trade deadline.

The reality is that Skubal, a Scott Boras client, likely said that knowing that the Tigers won't make him a competitive offer in free agency, if they engage at all. If Mike Ilitch was still alive, they probably would. Chris Ilitch hasn't shown the same willingness to spend as his late father did.

Kansas City Royals: Are they really gonna hold onto Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha?

2026 is the second consecutive disappointing season for the Royals, but they resisted the temptation to trade either Seth Lugo or Michael Wacha before the trade deadline.

That suggests that general manager J.J. Picollo believes the Royals can compete in 2027. But there just hasn't been a ton of evidence since they were eliminated in the 2024 ALDS that this current group is capable of contending. And that makes it hard to justify carrying Lugo—who will turn 37 in November—and Michael Wacha, 35, into contract years.

Considering Lugo has a 5.76 ERA since the All-Star Break, it's probably going to be difficult to get anyone to take on his $21.5 million salary for 2027. Wacha will make $14 million in 2027, with a very affordable $14 million club option for 2028. There would definitely be teams interested in trading for him.

Houston Astros: Who will lead their front office?

The Astros parted ways with James Click after winning the 2022 World Series, so it's not particularly surprising they dismissed Dana Brown as general manager in August, even while they were in the midst of a race for the AL West title.

It's the worst-kept secret in the sport that Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell has major influence in the organization, but he's done so without actually ever being the point person. Maybe it's time to just cut out the middleman and see if Bagwell could do the job himself.

Given the number of cooks in the kitchen and that winning a World Series wasn't enough for Click to keep his job, the Astros might have a difficult time getting the most attractive external candidates to be interested in this job.

Texas Rangers: Are they adding or subtracting?

The Rangers tried to deal Jacob deGrom before the trade deadline, only for the two-time NL Cy Young Award winner to block the deal . Would deGrom—owed $37 million in 2027, the final guaranteed season of a five-year deal—reconsider his stance in the offseason?

Even if deGrom doesn't intend to move, what will the winter look like for president of baseball operations Chris Young? Will the Rangers be aggressive in adding, or could they look to unload other stars? Corey Seager, Nathan Eovaldi, MacKenzie Gore, Josh Jung, Jake Burger and Jacob Latz are among the other pieces in Arlington that would be of interest to contending teams if available.

Seattle Mariners: Will they retain Randy Arozarena?

We mentioned the possibility of Gilbert being a trade candidate ahead of his contract year, but it's entirely possible the Mariners will choose to hold onto the All-Star righty and try to win with him, Bryan Woo, George Kirby and Emerson Hancock in the 2027 rotation.

President of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto will have to make a decision on Randy Arozarena. Giving him a qualifying offer is a no-brainer, but the former AL Rookie of the Year will surely decline it. The question then becomes do the Mariners offer Arozarena, 32 next season, four or five seasons, or do they let him walk in free agency?

For as disappointing as this year has been for the M's, Arozarena has been tremendous, as evidenced by his .849 OPS. However, he has a career .788 OPS, and there's risk in paying a guy after a career year.

Athletics: Who will lead their front office?

The Athletics probably never had enough pitching to compete in 2026. But if you knew entering the season that the AL West was going to be this weak, it wouldn't have been ridiculous to think the A's offense would keep them in the race.

That hasn't happened, and the Athletics ultimately fired general manager David Forst in August. That means they are looking for a new head of baseball ops, and frankly, it should be a pretty attractive position.

Between Nick Kurtz, Shea Langeliers, Tyler Soderstrom and Jacob Wilson, the A's aren't short on offensive talent. They're also expected to move to Las Vegas in 2028, and teams often spend big the offseason before going to a new stadium (and in this case, a new city).

Los Angeles Angels: Who will lead their front office?

If John Mozeliak wants to lead the Angels' front office on a permanent basis, the Halos would be wise to remove the interim tag and have the long-time St. Louis Cardinals' president of baseball operations steer the ship.

Make no mistake, though, this won't be an overnight fix. In the final days of the 2026 season, the Angels are trying to avoid losing 100 games. Even if they do that, they've clinched their 11th consecutive losing season. It will be the 12th year in a row that Mike Trout and company don't go to the postseason.

The good news is that Arte Moreno has agreed to sell the team to Stan Kroenke, who has had success as an owner in pretty much every sport. But it will take years for him to clean up the mess he's inheriting.

Atlanta Braves: Can they acquire a star pitcher?

MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reported that the Braves tried to trade Spencer Strider to the Rangers for deGrom prior to the trade deadline. That didn't ultimately come to fruition, but it might indicate that Alex Anthopoulos will be big-game hunting this winter.

Chris Sale is likely headed for another top-five finish in NL Cy Young Award voting, but he'll pitch next season at 38. The Braves have to plan for life after Sale, and even if they think he'll be really good for another year or two, they need another ace to pair with him.

Trading for Alcantara—more on him in a minute— or Gilbert would make sense. Freddy Peralta could also be someone that the Braves buy low on and rebuild after an ugly contract year split between the New York Mets and Rays.

Philadelphia Phillies: Who will be the manager?

While Don Mattingly has expressed a desire to return as the full-time manager for the Phillies in 2027, USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported in August that he'll need to guide the to at least a World Series appearance to be back.

When the Phillies fired Rob Thomson in April, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski acknowledged the team tried to hire Alex Cora before ultimately naming Mattingly interim manager. Cora passed at the time, but it's pretty reasonable to assume Dombrowski is going to try to circle back this winter:

"I think Alex Cora is one of the finest managers in the game of baseball," Dombrowski said of Cora in April. "I've been fortunate enough to work with Hall of Fame managers like Tony La Russa and Jim Leyland. I've been very fortunate in my career. I think if Alex Cora decides to keep managing, he has a chance to be in that same category, that's how good he is."

Dombrowski and Cora were together in Boston when the Red Sox won the 2018 World Series, and it would seem to be a good bet the duo will be reunited in Philly next season.

Miami Marlins: Will they retain Sandy Alcantara?

The Marlins held onto Sandy Alcantara, arguably the greatest pitcher in franchise history, through the trade deadline. But it just feels like things are trending towards the former NL Cy Young Award winner getting dealt in the offseason.

First off, the Marlins will have to pick up his $21 million club option for 2027, which feels like a no-brainer. The two-time All-Star is once again back to being one of the game's elite workhorses, as he leads all pitchers with 205 innings pitched this season. He isn't necessarily as dominant as he was in 2022, but he has a 3.63 ERA since the All-Star Break, and his ability to log innings gives him a high floor.

Certainly, the Marlins could hold onto Alcantara and try to compete in 2027. Their history suggests that's unlikely though, because that would set up the possibility he walks in free agency after 2027 for nothing.

By all accounts, David Stearns will continue to be the president of baseball operations for the Mets, despite the fact that they're going to miss the playoffs with a top-five payroll for the second season in a row.

Stearns will have his work cut out trying to rebuild a roster he's at least partially responsible for tearing down. Before that happens, he'll also have to decide who will be the next manager. Interim manager Andy Green has a 35-34 record, but both he and Stearns have been pretty adamant that he'll be returning to the front office after the season concludes.

If it's not Green, Cora could also be a candidate, if he isn't hired by the Phillies. There's also going to be quite a bit of speculation about Hall of Famer Carlos Beltrán getting a crack at being skipper after being hired for that role and fired before ever managing a game in 2020 because of his involvement in the Astros' sign-stealing scandal. Beltrán is currently a special assistant to Stearns, as is J.D. Martinez, another intriguing name.

Washington Nationals: Will they consider offers for CJ Abrams and/or James Wood?

If the Nationals are planning to build around CJ Abrams and James Wood, they're getting to the point where owner Mark Lerner is going to have to authorize president of baseball operations to write some large checks. Since the late Ted Lerner passed away in 2023, the Nationals haven't been in the business of spending big money.

Until the Nationals sign both to long-term contracts, teams are going to call.

Abrams—whether you view him as a shortstop or second baseman—is one of the league's top infield bats. The 25-year-old two-time All-Star has two remaining arbitration years before he can become a free agent after the 2028 season. The Athletic's Spencer Nusbaum and Will Simmon linked the Yankees and Milwaukee Brewers to Abrams before the trade deadline, while Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that the Red Sox were interested as well.

While the price to acquire Abrams would be steep, Wood would be even more expensive. He was an All-Star for the second year in a row, and currently leads the NL with a .395 on-base percentage. The 23-year-old can't become a free agent until after the 2030 campaign.

Milwaukee Brewers: Will they trade William Contreras?

Brewers fans don't want to think about it right now, but these could be the final weeks of William Contreras in their uniform. They'll surely pick up his $14.5 million club option for 2027, but they may look to trade him rather than carrying the three-time All-Star into his contract year.

If Contreras is indeed available, there will be widespread interest in him. The two-time Silver Slugger Award winner has an .805 OPS since the All-Star Break. Milwaukee president of baseball operations could move Contreras before his contract year, as he's done with Corbin Burnes and Peralta in recent offseasons.

The good news for the Brewers is that they've seen the likes of Burnes, Willy Adames, Devin Williams and Peralta depart in recent years, only for the train to keep on chugging. Even if Contreras isn't on the Brewers at this time next year, there's no reason to think manager Pat Murphy won't have Milwaukee in the playoff picture.

Chicago Cubs: Will they keep either of their top two outfield free agents?

Both Seiya Suzuki and Ian Happ will be free agents this offseason, and the Cubs may be hard-pressed to keep both.

Suzuki's fifth MLB season has probably been his best one, as he's homered 24 times and posted an .842 OPS. Perhaps most impressive is he's erased questions about his fielding with 14 defensive runs saved and four outs above average in right field this year. The Cubs will surely extend him a qualifying offer, but he'll just as surely decline it. The 32-year-old will then likely seek a deal of at least four years in free agency.

Happ, meanwhile, is the longest-tenured player on the team. The 32-year-old is in the final season of a three-year, $61 million contract. He's homered 23 times with a .740 OPS, while continuing to play strong defense in left field. He would probably accept a qualifying offer if saddled with one, so president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer might be unlikely to extend a QO. That likely means it will take another multi-year commitment to retain Happ.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Can they hold onto Brandon Lowe?

This year hasn't panned out how the Pirates hoped, but they can't blame Brandon Lowe for that. After being acquired from the Rays in an offseason trade, Lowe has homered 29 times and posted a 114 OPS+ (100 is league average).

Presumably, the Pirates will give Lowe a qualifying offer, and he'll likely turn it down. But being saddled with the QO and having an injury history may suppress Lowe's market. The 32-year-old would probably love to get a four-year deal, but two or three seasons seems more likely. Will Bob Nutting pony up to keep Lowe with the Buccos?

St. Louis Cardinals: Do they try to make a splash?

Entering the season, the rebuilding Cardinals seemed liked they could lose 90-plus games. They're still probably going to finish with a losing record, but Oli Marmol's squad has been much better than anticipated.

As it turned out, the Cardinals had better internal talent than we thought. Jordan Walker put everything together in 2026, while Alec Burleson and JJ Wetherholt look like long-term lineup cogs as well.

President of baseball operations Chaim Bloom has made his name off of player development, so he might not be inclined to swing a big trade this winter. But if he could land a pitcher with multiple years of control—Kirby and Cole Ragans are a couple names who come to mind—it might help the RedBirds return to contention in 2027.

Cincinnati Reds: Will they listen on Elly De La Cruz?

While it doesn't seem like there was ever traction, it is notable that Sean McAdam of MassLive reported that the Red Sox engaged the Reds about superstar Elly De La Cruz before the trade deadline.

You can bet that Boston and other teams will circle back this winter. And if there isn't a salary cap as part of the next CBA, the Reds may considering moving De La Cruz, who declined an extension offer bigger than Joey Votto's franchise record 10-year, $225 million deal before the 2025 season.

De La Cruz is still only 24, and the Reds have three arbitration years remaining with him before free agency. It's possible that even if this relationship ultimately ends with De La Cruz getting traded, it doesn't happen this offseason. But the possibility is certainly worth monitoring.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Do they re-sign Tarik Skubal?

There's only a handful of teams, if that many, who will be willing to spend the money it takes to sign Tarik Skubal in the offseason. The Dodgers will probably enter the offseason as the favorites to sign the two-time defending NL Cy Young Award winner.

With that said, the Dodgers haven't kept all their star players during the Andrew Friedman run, allowing Manny Machado, Seager, Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to leave in free agency for huge deals elsewhere. We don't know how they feel about Skubal.

Presumably, the Dodgers are very high on the lefty, who has a 2.52 ERA in eight starts in their uniform. However, he had NanoScope surgery on his elbow earlier this season, and is almost certainly going to want to top the $325 million that his current teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto got in the largest guarantee ever for a pitcher. Maybe the Dodgers won't have the appetite to go that high for Skubal, who will turn 30 in November.

San Diego Padres: Is Michael King in their long-term plans?

It will be interesting to see whether new owners Kwanza Jones and José E. Feliciano authorize president of baseball operations A.J. Preller to be as aggressive as he's been under the Seidler Family. (Imagine if they tried to sign Skubal!)

One of the first interesting decisions the Padres will have is how to proceed with righty Michael King, who will probably opt out of the final two seasons of a three-year, $75 million contract. He'll be ineligible to receive the qualifying offer because he was saddled with it last offseason, so if he leaves in free agency, it will be for nothing.

King has eclipsed 30 starts for the second time in three seasons with the Padres, posting a 3.03 ERA. He's likely to garner at least four years as a free agent.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Is Ketel Marte still movable?

When Ketel Marte returned to the Diamondbacks in August after a restricted list stint turned into left knee inflammation, it felt like both sides had to just put on a good face for the rest of the season.

The problem is this isn't as simple as the Snakes deciding they are done with Marte in the offseason. By virtue of his 10-and-5 rights, Marte has a full no-trade clause. He can dig his heels in if he doesn't want to be traded.

Even if Marte is willing to move on, he's owed $82 million over the next four seasons, with a $13.5 million player option for 2031. That might have seemed team-friendly last offseason, but clubs who otherwise might have been interested likely will have some skepticism about Marte's character. It also doesn't help Marte's trade candidacy that he's posted a .758 OPS in 2026, a sharp decline from the .887 OPS he had from 2023 to 2025.

San Francisco Giants: What's Buster Posey's plan?

At 62-89, it's been a disastrous season for the Giants. President of baseball operations Buster Posey has already changed managers, so the heat is really on him heading into what could be a make-or-break offseason.

Rafael Devers had a rebound season, homering 37 times before a core muscle injury ended his season early. However, long-term deals given out to Matt Chapman and Adames already look like mistakes. Will ownership give him leeway to spend major money again this winter when his track record so far hasn't been great?

Alternatively, it would be interesting to see what the Giants could get for ace Logan Webb, who has two years left on his contract, if they shopped him. That's extremely unlikely to happen, however.

Colorado Rockies: Will new ownership flex muscle early?

Carrie Walton Penner and Greg Penner—already owners of the Denver Broncos—are slated to take over controlling interest of the Rockies from Dick Monfort after the resolution of the new MLB CBA. If you're a Rockies fans, it's hard not to feel ecstatic about that.

Denver isn't a major market, but the Penner's are among the richest people in the world given their ties to the Walmart. Not only do they have the ability to lose money on team payroll, but they can overhaul the organization and spend more on scouting, analytics, training, etc.

Perhaps the ownership change won't truly be felt until the 2027-28 offseason, but the Penner's taking control of the Rockies could be a game-changer.