MLB Power Rankings For All 30 Teams Entering 2026-27 Free Agency

The Milwaukee Brewers are World Series champions following a dominant 2026 season where they finished with baseball's best record and rolled through the playoffs with an 11-2 record.

The focus now shifts to what promises to be a tumultuous offseason as the current CBA is set to expire on Dec. 1 and a lockout is widely expected. Before that happens, it's time for an updated version of our MLB power rankings to set the stage for what's to come this winter.

For our first reshuffling of these rankings, teams are ranked based on their 2027 outlook. That includes how complete the roster is heading into free agency, how active the club is expected to be in adding outside talent and the overall direction of the franchise.

We'll put together fresh versions of these power rankings throughout the offseason if and when the hot stove is re-lit. For now, this will serve as a baseline for those future editions of our leaguewide rankings.

2026 Opening Day Rank: 29 2026 Finish: 58-104, Fifth in NL West Key Free Agents: SP Kyle Freeland, SP Tomoyuki Sugano, SP José Quintana, RP Jordan Romano

Outlook: Another year, another MLB-worst ERA (5.59) from the Colorado pitching staff, and now they have to find a way to replace 66 starts and 337.2 innings in the starting rotation as Kyle Freeland, Tomoyuki Sugano and José Quintana hit free agency.

Will they cash in trade chips like Hunter Goodman and Jake McCarthy to try to acquire some viable arm talent, or just stick with the status quo despite four straight 100-loss seasons? Recent history says they'll be content to stay the course.

Key Free Agents: IF Adam Frazier, 3B Yoán Moncada

Outlook: The Angels went beyond just moving rentals at the deadline, trading José Soriano, Jo Adell and Ryan Zeferjahn for a haul of prospects and controllable young talent.

If they decide to lean into a long-overdue rebuild, shortstop Zach Neto and left-hander Reid Detmers could both bring back a blockbuster return, but they have stopped short of blowing things up time and again during their 12-year playoff drought.

Outlook: With Rafael Devers, Willy Adames, Matt Chapman and Jung Hoo Lee set to earn a combined $99.2 million in 2027, roughly half of the Giants' projected salary for next year is tied up in four players.

Shoring up the pitching staff behind Logan Webb will be the top priority this winter, which means those four bats will need to earn their money, with help from young slugger Bryce Eldridge, if an offense that ranked 26th in runs scored (669) is going to improve.

1 Player Every Team Must Re-Sign in Free Agency 💰

Way-Too-Early 2027 MLB Playoff Predictions 🔮

2026 Opening Day Rank: 23 2026 Finish: 64-98, Fourth in AL West

Key Free Agents: C Jonah Heim, 2B Jeff McNeil (club option), SP Jeffrey Springs (club option)

Outlook: The Athletics looked like a potential dark-horse contender entering the 2026 season thanks to a dynamic young offensive core, but almost every key bat in their lineup ended up missing time to injury.

They should be back to full strength to kick off the 2027 campaign, but it's now abundantly clear they need significant additions on the pitching side to have any shot at relevance. Their 5.51 ERA ranked 29th in the majors, and the starting staff turned in only 33 quality starts.

2026 Opening Day Rank: 20 2026 Finish: 69-93, Fifth in AL Central

Key Free Agents: RP Carlos Estévez, IF Jonathan India

Outlook: There might be no team that would benefit more from a splashy signing to add someone like Randy Arozarena or Seiya Suzuki to an already improved lineup following breakout seasons from Jac Caglianone and Carter Jensen.

That said, after entering the year with a starting rotation that looked like one of the best in baseball, regression from Seth Lugo and more injury issues from Cole Ragans have turned starting pitching into perhaps an even more pressing need.

2026 Opening Day Rank: 25 2026 Finish: 77-85, Third in AL Central

Key Free Agents: C Ryan Jeffers, RP Taylor Rogers, RP A.J. Minter, 1B Josh Bell (mutual option)

Outlook: The Twins stopped short of a full-scale rebuild last offseason, then paused plans to sell due to a hot streak just before the trade deadline, and the end result might have been a lost year toward a necessary retooling.

Byron Buxton is likely staying put given his no-trade clause, but Joe Ryan will be a popular speculative trade candidate once again this winter. Do they try to contend once again, or start building toward the future around guys like Luke Keaschall, Walker Jenkins, Taj Bradley, Kaelen Culpepper, Brooks Lee and Connor Prielipp?

2026 Opening Day Rank: 18 2026 Finish: 80-82, Second in AL West

Key Free Agents: SP Cal Quantrill, RP Tyler Alexander, DH Joc Pederson (mutual option), RP Jakob Junis (mutual option), C Kyle Higashioka

Outlook: The Rangers front office has already made a point to shine a light on the team's lack of athleticism and youth, and that could mean some changes to the roster this winter.

Jacob deGrom (38 years old), Corey Seager (32 years old) and Nathan Eovaldi (36 years old) are set to earn a combined $92.5 million next season, so moving one or more of them would provide a roster shakeup, free up payroll and open the door for an influx of youth.

2026 Opening Day Rank: 10 2026 Finish: 79-82, Fourth in AL East

Key Free Agents: SP Trevor Rogers, SP Chris Bassitt, RP Andrew Kittredge, OF Luis Robert Jr., SP Zach Eflin (mutual option)

Outlook: The marquee addition of Pete Alonso in free agency last winter could not have gone better for the Orioles, but little else went right for a team that entered the year with legitimate expectations of playoff contention.

Rebuilding the starting rotation will be No. 1 on the offseason to-do list, but don't be surprised if they also continue looking for ways to shake up a stagnant homegrown core after Adley Rutschman was surprisingly moved at the deadline. The rebuild didn't go as planned, but there's enough talent here to salvage a quick turnaround if they are willing to spend on pitching.

2026 Opening Day Rank: 17 2026 Finish: 75-87, Fifth in NL Central

Key Free Agents: SP Brady Singer, C Tyler Stephenson, RP Brock Burke, DH Eugenio Suárez (mutual option), RP Pierce Johnson (mutual option)

Outlook: On the one hand, the Reds have some legitimate long-term building blocks after Chase Burns and Sal Stewart put together breakout seasons and Elly De La Cruz took another step toward becoming a more complete superstar.

On the other, the same issues that have plagued the Reds for years remain, as they ranked 27th in the majors in runs scored and had one of the worst bullpens in baseball. They have more financial flexibility than normal this winter with some money coming off the books, but they need to avoid using it on the next Mike Moustakas or Jeimer Candelario.

2026 Opening Day Rank: 3 2026 Finish: 74-88, Fifth in NL East

Outlook: Six years into the Steve Cohen era, and so far the Mets have two playoff appearances, zero pennants and they just finished in the NL East cellar for the first time in 23 years.

There's a case to be made that they are worse off now than they were before he bought the team. They recouped some prospect talent at the deadline, but the haul was ultimately underwhelming beyond Jefferson Rojas, and the farm system as a whole is still far from a strength. They are a prime example of why spending power is not a shortcut to building a title contender, and they will no doubt try to spend their way out of the hole they've dug once again this winter.

2026 Opening Day Rank: 30 2026 Finish: 77-85, Fourth in NL East

Outlook: CJ Abrams (127 OPS+, 33 HR, 5.1 WAR) and James Wood (144 OPS+, 30 HR, 3.7 WAR) were as dynamic a one-two punch as any in baseball, helping the Nationals climb from 20th to third in the majors in runs scored.

Cade Cavalli (32 GS, 3.02 ERA, 200 K, 169.2 IP) also gave the staff a bona fide ace, and he was rewarded with a four-year, $47 million extension. Now they need to fill in the gaps around those three cornerstone pieces, particularly on the pitching side where the rotation ranked 20th in ERA even with Cavalli's breakout season. That might be a multi-year process, and Abrams trade rumors continue to be a storyline to follow.

2026 Opening Day Rank: 14 2026 Finish: 81-81, First in AL West

Key Free Agents: RP Bryan Abreu, OF Daulton Varsho, RP Steven Okert, RP Enyel De Los Santos

Outlook: The Astros enter the offseason at a crossroads, as their win total has steadily declined every year since their 2022 World Series title, and they could opt to retool by shopping Jeremy Peña and Isaac Paredes ahead of their final season of club control.

If they push to contend, the outfield is a clear area to upgrade, along with the starting rotation behind ace Hunter Brown. With a thin farm system and coming off what amounts to a fluke playoff appearance given their .500 record, shifting their focus to the future might be the logical move.

2026 Opening Day Rank: 28 2026 Finish: 77-85, Fourth in NL Central

Key Free Agents: RP Ryne Stanek (club option)

Outlook: The Cardinals went 42-34 to begin what was largely expected to be a rebuilding season, and while they ultimately landed with a thud by going 35-51 the rest of the way, this team clearly outperformed that No. 28 ranking on Opening Day by a comfortable margin.

Jordan Walker, Alec Burleson, Iván Herrera, Masyn Winn and rookie JJ Wetherholt piled up a combined 17.1 WAR, giving the team a legitimate position-player core to build around. Now they need to decide whether to spend on assembling a competitive pitching staff in the short term, or continue to focus on building for the future.

2026 Opening Day Rank: 9 2026 Finish: 76-86, Fourth in AL Central

Key Free Agents: 2B Gleyber Torres, SP Jack Flaherty, SP Justin Verlander (retirement), RP Kenley Jansen (club option)

Outlook: That No. 9 ranking back on Opening Day is a good indication of how far the Tigers fell short of expectations in 2026, and now that Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize are gone the starting rotation has gone from a strength to a question mark.

That said, they have significant money to spend, some good foundational pieces still in place, and rising talent like Kevin McGonigle, Troy Melton, Jackson Jobe and Max Clark to help backfill some of that departing impact. There is work to do this winter, but don't sleep on this club in the AL Central race.

Outlook: There was enough talent on the Marlins roster for the team to go 20-6 with a plus-53 run differential in June, and while that level of play didn't prove sustainable, it does speak to a team that might be closer to contention than their 80-82 record suggests.

Sandy Alcantara's $21 million club option, which will almost certainly be exercised, is the Marlins' only multiyear contract commitment involving a player on their current roster.

Arbitration-eligible players and pre-arbitration youngsters will also return, but that's a rare level of flexibility to take into an offseason in which they might be just a few pieces away from making some legitimate noise.

2026 Opening Day Rank: 27 2026 Finish: 84-78, Second in AL Central

Key Free Agents: RP Sean Newcomb, SP/RP Erick Fedde, RP Trevor Richards, OF Randal Grichuk

Outlook: How much of the White Sox's surprise climb from a 102-loss season in 2025 to a playoff berth in 2026 will prove sustainable? The offense looks like the real deal, with Munetaka Murakami and Miguel Vargas anchoring a lineup that provides a nice mix of on-base ability and pop.

The pitching staff is a different story, and expecting to make the playoffs again with a starting rotation that ranked 26th in the majors with a 4.60 ERA is wishful thinking. If they can reel in a frontline starter and another reliable middle-of-the-rotation arm in free agency, they could be right back in the playoffs. If not, the slide could be significant.

Key Free Agents: SP Zac Gallen, RP Taylor Clarke, RP Kevin Ginkel, RP Ryan Thompson, RP Jonathan Loáisiga, IF Ildemaro Vargas, C James McCann, SP Michael Soroka (mutual option)

Outlook: Where would the D-backs have been in 2026 without far better-than-expected seasons from Nolan Arenado and Eduardo Rodríguez? That raises the question of how sustainable that production will be, but there are still reasons for optimism.

Jordan Lawlar, Ryan Waldschmidt and Brandyn Garcia flashed impact potential, Lars Nootbaar will be around for a full season, and a healthy Corbin Burnes could be back fronting a veteran rotation. At the very least, wild-card contention could be within reach once again.

2026 Opening Day Rank: 21 2026 Finish: 82-80, Third in NL Central

Key Free Agents: 2B Brandon Lowe, RP Gregory Soto, RP Kirby Yates (retirement)

Outlook: The Pirates went from 30th (3.60) to sixth (4.73) in runs scored per game this past season, as the offseason focus on upgrading the offense paid major dividends. Second baseman Brandon Lowe (121 OPS+, 35 HR) was at the center of that, and re-signing him should be a priority, though it might mean an AAV in the $20 million neighborhood.

Unfortunately, the pitching staff went in the opposite direction, even with a breakout season from Braxton Ashcraft. If they can get Paul Skenes back to pitching at a Cy Young level, shore up the bullpen and find a way to retain Lowe in free agency, this might be a wild-card contender.

Key Free Agents: SP Michael King (opt-out candidate), RP Adrian Morejón, 1B Ty France, RP Jason Adam, SP Walker Buehler, SP Casey Mize, SP Robbie Ray, OF Austin Hays, OF Ramón Laureano, RP Yuki Matsui (opt-out candidate), SP Lucas Giolito (mutual option), DH Miguel Andújar (mutual option), SP Griffin Canning (mutual option)

Outlook: Assuming Michael King opts out of the remaining two years and $58 million of his current contract, the Padres rotation entering free agency will be Joe Musgrove, Randy Vásquez and three shrug emojis.

They also stand to lose one of their bullpen aces in Adrian Morejón and the wildly unexpected 4.5-WAR season turned in by Ty France (139 OPS+, 21 HR, 72 RBI) on a minor league deal. It took a late-season surge to make the playoffs, and it will take an offseason of wheeling and dealing to get back there.

2026 Opening Day Rank: 2 2026 Finish: 79-83, Fifth in AL East

Key Free Agents: DH George Springer, SP Shane Bieber, SP Jameson Taillon, SP Max Scherzer, SP Patrick Corbin, RP Yimi García, RP Paul Sewald, OF Myles Straw (club option)

Outlook: The Blue Jays made it to Game 7 of the 2025 World Series and then added Dylan Cease as part of a busy offseason last winter, but they ended up tumbling all the way to the AL East cellar.

There is ample room for in-house improvement, starting with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and there is also a ton of money coming off the books which should make them one of the major players in free agency. They also took a proactive approach to the trade deadline as both buyers and sellers, and that could also help fuel a quick return to contention.

2026 Opening Day Rank: 4 2026 Finish: 76-86, Third in AL West

Key Free Agents: OF Randy Arozarena, SS J.P. Crawford, OF Taylor Ward, OF Victor Robles

Outlook: From eight outs away from the first World Series appearance in franchise history to 10 games below .500, the Mariners' step backward was a surprising one, but there is plenty of reason to believe they will be right back in the thick of things.

The starting rotation is still a clear strength, the offense looked better down the stretch as Cal Raleigh shook off a months-long slump and the farm system is one of the deepest in baseball. Potentially losing Randy Arozarena is a blow, but imposing young slugger Lazaro Montes might be the in-house answer to replacing his middle-of-the-order production.

2026 Opening Day Rank: 16 2026 Finish: 85-77, First in AL Central

Key Free Agents: SP Foster Griffin, 1B Nathaniel Lowe, 1B Rhys Hoskins, C Austin Hedges, RP Shawn Armstrong (mutual option)

Outlook: The Guardians likely made their biggest move at the trade deadline when they acquired Jo Adell, who is controllable through the 2027 season and will again pencil into the middle of the lineup.

Beyond that, this is not an organization that is suddenly going to spend in free agency after leaning almost exclusively on in-house talent in recent years. The rise of Chase DeLauter and Travis Bazzana gave the offense a nice boost, while Gavin Williams emerged as a bona fide ace. That might be enough for them to stay competitive in the AL Central.

2026 Opening Day Rank: 8 2026 Finish: 88-74, Second in NL East

Key Free Agents: 2B Luis Arraez, 3B Alec Bohm, IF Edmundo Sosa, RP José Alvarado, RP Brooks Raley

Outlook: Sooner or later, the window is going to slam shut on an aging Phillies core, and with multiple holes to fill alongside their high-priced veterans, this coming season will put that theory to the test.

After nearly squandering a playoff berth with a 10-14 month of September, they now need to add at least one infielder, a corner outfielder and multiple bullpen arms in free agency. With Zack Wheeler, Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, Bryce Harper, Jesús Luzardo, Aaron Nola and J.T. Realmuto on the books for $196.4 million in 2027, financial flexibility is not a strength.

2026 Finish: 89-73, Second in NL Central

Key Free Agents: OF Seiya Suzuki, OF Ian Happ, SP Shota Imanaga, SP Kevin Gausman, SP David Peterson, OF Tyrone Taylor, OF Michael Conforto, RP Aaron Civale, SP Matthew Boyd (mutual option), C Carson Kelly (mutual option), SP/RP Colin Rea (club option), SP Clay Holmes (player option)

Outlook: The starting pitchers on that list above accounted for 121 of the 162 starts made by Cubs pitchers in 2026, and while a healthy Justin Steele and Cade Horton could absorb some of that work, the Cubs have a lot of work to do this offseason to be Opening Day ready.

They also must decide whether to retain Seiya Suzuki, Ian Happ or both, while starting catcher Carson Kelly is likely to decline his end of a mutual option.

This could be the offseason that defines Jed Hoyer's tenure as president of baseball operations.

Key Free Agents: SP Tyler Mahle, IF/OF Mauricio Dubón, RP Raisel Iglesias, SP Martin Pérez, SS Ha-Seong Kim, OF Lane Thomas, DH Dominic Smith, RP Brent Suter

Outlook: The Braves' season ended in a chorus of boos from the home fans after they scored eight runs in four games against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS, and a significant roster shakeup is not out of the question.

That could mean shopping Ronald Acuña Jr. and Ozzie Albies, who have both entered the club-option years of deals once considered among the most team-friendly contracts in baseball. The Braves' hole at shortstop might also be the most glaring roster need of any would-be contender.

2026 Opening Day Rank: 7 2026 Finish: 87-75, Third in AL East

Key Free Agents: SP Patrick Sandoval, IF Isiah Kiner-Falefa, SP Sonny Gray (mutual option)

Outlook: The Red Sox made the postseason despite an offense that finished 23rd in runs scored. That might mean a roster overhaul for some teams, but there's reason to believe a healthy Roman Anthony and full seasons of Adley Rutschman and Curtis Mead could go a long way toward boosting the lineup. They also have one of baseball's top prospects in Franklin Arias knocking on the door for a likely 2027 debut.

They will also have Garrett Crochet back atop the rotation, which cushions the blow of a potential Sonny Gray departure if he decides to decline his end of a mutual option in favor of a multi-year deal. There might not be a team with more room for in-house improvement simply by way of a healthy roster.

2026 Opening Day Rank: 6 2026 Finish: 93-68, Second in AL East

Key Free Agents: RP David Bednar, RP Paul Blackburn, 2B Jazz Chisholm Jr., OF Trent Grisham, 1B Paul Goldschmidt, RP Tim Hill, RP Ryan Yarbrough, IF Amed Rosario, RP John Schreiber

Outlook: Who would have guessed Paul Blackburn (62 G, 1.62 ERA, 3.1 WAR) would be a bigger potential loss for the Yankees in free agency than Jazz Chisholm Jr. (137 G, 97 OPS+, 1.7 WAR)?

With their starting rotation set and their biggest offensive move potentially already made with the deadline addition of Luis Garcia Jr., the Yankees are in a unique position where they could focus their offseason resources on retaining their top bullpen arms while further bolstering the relief corps around them.

2026 Opening Day Rank: 19 2026 Finish: 98-64, First in AL East

Key Free Agents: SP Freddy Peralta, IF Jorge Mateo, SP Nick Martinez (mutual option), OF Cedric Mullins (mutual option)

Outlook: When the dust settles on a lopsided World Series defeat, the Rays will still be a team built for sustainable success thanks to their ability to find value on the margins and consistently field one of the best pitching staffs in baseball.

Freddy Peralta and Nick Martinez are two major losses to the starting rotation, and while a reunion with Martinez is a possibility, they are more likely to be hunting for the next guy who can provide surplus value on a short-term deal. Their ability to contend on a budget is unmatched, and now they have a bona fide superstar to anchor things in Junior Caminero.

2026 Opening Day Rank: 1 2026 Finish: 100-62, First in NL West

Key Free Agents: SP Tarik Skubal, RP Alex Vesia, RP Blake Treinen, RHP Evan Phillips, IF/OF Enrique Hernández, SP Eric Lauer, SP Kris Bubic, IF Miguel Rojas (retirement)

Outlook: Are the Dodgers going to re-sign Tarik Skubal? Will they be able to afford him if a salary cap is instituted this offseason? Zooming out, what would a salary cap mean with regard to all that money the organization has deferred in recent years?

The roster is stacked, and it will be stacked regardless of what happens with Skubal or any of their other free agents, but there might be no team with more on the line this offseason than the Dodgers as the new CBA is hammered out. A logical first step to shed some salary would be trading Teoscar Hernández to clear a path for Josue De Paula.

2026 Opening Day Rank: 12 2026 Finish: 103-59, First in NL Central

Key Free Agents: 1B Jake Bauers, SP Brandon Woodruff, RP JoJo Romero, SP Dustin May (mutual option), C Gary Sánchez (mutual option), RP Antonio Senzatela (club option)

Outlook: The Brewers will likely let someone else pay for Jake Bauers' breakout season, and they could shop closer Trevor Megill ahead of his final year of arbitration, but the defending World Series champions will return a largely intact roster.

They also have the $22 million they were paying Brandon Woodruff coming off the books, and even if they pursue a reunion with the organization's longest-tenured player, he's not going to cost that much again. Repeating is hard, even if the Dodgers just did it in 2025, but the Brewers are built for the long haul.