MLB Power Rankings: Where we stand ahead of spring training

Welcome to the second edition of the MLB Power Rankings for the offseason where we examine where each team stands one month until spring training games open.

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1. Los Angeles Dodgers

Team projected fWAR: 57.1

The reigning World Series champs have enjoyed the perfect offseason. The Dodgers didn't have many holes, though they did need help in the outfield and bullpen. Then Andrew Friedman signed arguably the best closer in baseball in Edwin Díaz and the top free-agent position player in Kyle Tucker. All this spending might catch up to the Dodgers one day, but it won't be in 2026, when they're well positioned for a three-peat.

2. Toronto Blue Jays

Team projected fWAR: 48.1

The Blue Jays had the correct response to being inches away from winning a World Series: going on a therapeutic shopping spree. Toronto spent big on pitching, adding frontline starter Dylan Cease, an intriguing swingman in Cody Ponce, and ground-ball merchant Tyler Rogers. It'll be fascinating to see how Kazuma Okamoto fares in MLB. If there's one knock on the reigning AL champs, however, it's that the loss of Bo Bichette and the inability to lure Kyle Tucker leaves them a key bat short.

3. New York Yankees

Team projected fWAR: 47.6

The Yankees essentially kept the band together, with the exception of Devin Williams and Luke Weaver. It isn't necessarily the worst idea; New York did tie with Toronto for the AL's best record before getting embarrassed in the ALDS. The addition of Ryan Weathers should help bridge the gap until Carlos Rodón and Gerrit Cole are healthy. The Yankees will once again be a force in the AL, even if this roster could have used more of a shake-up.

4. New York Mets

Team projected fWAR: 47.4

The Mets have undergone a dramatic makeover this offseason. They made numerous notable additions by bringing in Freddy Peralta, Luis Robert Jr., Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Marcus Semien, Bo Bichette, and Jorge Polanco, but they also let Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, and Edwin Díaz leave. New York clearly had some issues in the clubhouse last season, so it'll be interesting to see if this turnover results in more wins. One thing is undeniable: there's more than enough talent to reach the playoffs.

5. Seattle Mariners

Team projected fWAR: 45.7

The Mariners got a couple of nice pieces of business done early when they re-signed first baseman Josh Naylor and shored up the bullpen by acquiring Jose A. Ferrer. But the lineup still lacks punch at second and third base after Jorge Polanco departed and Eugenio Suárez became a free agent. A reunion with Suárez is still worth considering, as are potential trades for an infielder like Brandon Donovan. While Seattle's pitching will carry them all season, the club could use a little more offense.

6. Boston Red Sox

Team projected fWAR: 45.6

Despite all the negativity surrounding Boston, the Red Sox are having a nice offseason. Losing Alex Bregman is a sizeable blow and creates a void at third base, but pivoting to Ranger Suárez gives the club one of the deepest rotations. With the free-agent market pretty picked through, Craig Breslow will have to get creative in his search for another bat. Even after adding Willson Contreras, failing to bring in another impact position player would be a major miss for the front office.

7. Atlanta Braves

Team projected fWAR: 47.2

Last season was essentially a write-off for Atlanta, given how many injuries it endured. Though the Braves should be fine if the talent can stay on the field in 2026, the injury bug has already knocked shortstop Ha-Seong Kim out for four-to-five months. Meanwhile, the bullpen received a significant boost with Robert Suarez's addition and Raisel Iglesias' return. So much of this team's success depends on star players remaining healthy and regaining top form.

8. Philadelphia Phillies

Team projected fWAR: 45.7

The Phillies are essentially running it back, making only a few tweaks after Bo Bichette chose to sign with the Mets over Philadelphia at the last minute. Team president Dave Dombrowski re-signed NL MVP runner-up Kyle Schwarber and longtime catcher J.T. Realmuto, added two-time All-Star Adolis García, and inked high-leverage reliever Brad Keller. While the defending NL East champs still have a lot of talent, the clock is ticking on an aging core.

9. Baltimore Orioles

Team projected fWAR: 45.0

It's been great to see how aggressive Baltimore has been following a last-place finish. Signing Pete Alonso to anchor the lineup is a significant boost, as is bringing in Taylor Ward. Although the Orioles improved their rotation by re-signing Zach Eflin and trading for Shane Baz, acquiring an impact starting pitcher could give them a legitimate shot at going worst-to-first.

10. Chicago Cubs

Team projected fWAR: 43.6

The Cubs finally awoke from their winter slumber by trading for right-hander Edward Cabrera and signing Alex Bregman. Both moves make the team better, but Jed Hoyer's work clearly isn't done yet. Bregman's arrival has reportedly put Matt Shaw on the trade block. And even if Shaw stays in a utility role, Chicago could use another bat to help replace Kyle Tucker's production.

11. Milwaukee Brewers

Team projected fWAR: 39.9

Milwaukee trading Freddy Peralta is a disappointing follow-up to a season in which it won an MLB-best 97 games. Although Brandon Woodruff's return provides some reassurance and the trade return on the Peralta deal was solid, there's no denying that losing the right-hander weakens the team. Still, the Brewers have enough talent to compete for another division title. They've already proven that no one should count them out.

12. Houston Astros

Team projected fWAR: 42.4

The Astros are in a weird spot. After missing the playoffs last season for the first time since 2016, they have an aging roster and a dismal farm system. However, the front office made a pair of shrewd moves this winter, bringing in Tatsuya Imai and Mike Burrows to bolster a rotation that desperately needed help. But with Houston likely close to its payroll cap, the steep drop-off in talent at the bottom of the lineup could spell trouble for the team.

13. San Diego Padres

Team projected fWAR: 40.2

The Padres have spent the offseason watching the departures of key players such as Dylan Cease, Robert Suarez, and Ryan O'Hearn, while doing very little to replace them. Their notable moves include signing Korean infielder Sung Mun Song to play second base and bringing back Michael King. Meanwhile, the starting rotation could use a boost, with Yu Darvish potentially set to retire and Joe Musgrove coming off Tommy John surgery. We're still hopeful we'll see an A.J. Preller blockbuster trade.

14. Detroit Tigers

Team projected fWAR: 42.8

The Tigers are having an overwhelmingly quiet winter, with the exception of the noise surrounding Tarik Skubal's pending arbitration hearing. The Tigers tried to lure Alex Bregman to Detroit last season but didn't appear involved in the bidding this time around. When the club has spent, it's been on complementary pieces, dropping $16 million to add pitchers Kenley Jansen and Drew Anderson. We'll see how much Jansen has left in the tank.

15. Kansas City Royals

Team projected fWAR: 38.9

The Royals made several moves to shore up their outfield, trading for Isaac Collins and signing veteran Lane Thomas to platoon. The team doesn't necessarily need to make another move, but adding one more outfielder with power wouldn't hurt. Cole Ragans' name popped up in trade rumors, and if he's available, a need-for-need swap could be in the cards. However, that would create a hole in Kansas City's rotation.

16. Texas Rangers

Team projected fWAR: 39.3

The additions of Brandon Nimmo and MacKenzie Gore should help a team that finished .500 last season and missed the playoffs in consecutive years. Despite Texas somewhat surprisingly leading the majors with the lowest ERA in 2025, the club struggled offensively, ranking 22nd in runs scored and 26th in OPS. With Marcus Semien, Adolis García, and Jonah Heim each posting sub-.700 OPS last season and now departing, the Rangers will rely on new faces to spark the offense.

17. San Francisco Giants

Team projected fWAR: 38.1

The Giants have hovered around .500 in each of the previous four years, and that's about where this club feels going into 2026. Rather than making a big offseason splash - the trade for Rafael Devers last summer appeared to address the need for a big bat - president Buster Posey bulked up the depth with the signings of Harrison Bader, Tyler Mahle, and Adrian Houser. San Francisco is still below the luxury-tax threshold and could use a couple more additions if it wishes to snap its playoff drought.

18. Arizona Diamondbacks

Team projected fWAR: 37.9

The D-Backs spent most of their offseason answering questions about Ketel Marte's trade status before they addressed their biggest need at third base by acquiring Nolan Arenado. We'll see how much Arenado has left in the tank. Arizona could still use an upgrade at DH, where a reunion with Christian Walker might be a possibility. This club has some solid pieces, but its overall depth feels like a concern.

19. Tampa Bay Rays

Team projected fWAR: 37.9

It's best not to count the Rays out, though it appears this will be a transition year in Tampa Bay. Brandon Lowe, Pete Fairbanks, Shane Baz, and Josh Lowe are all gone, while Steven Matz, Cedric Mullins, Gavin Lux, and a number of prospects have joined the mix. The Rays' rotation has the potential to be excellent if Shane McClanahan is healthy after missing the last two seasons.

20. Cincinnati Reds

Team projected fWAR: 34.9

Cincinnati reportedly offered Kyle Schwarber a deal in the $125-million range, though it doesn't appear the Reds will use that money elsewhere. That's a disappointing development for a club trying to build off its first postseason appearance in five years. The team has a rotation loaded with young and talented arms, but the lineup needs more.

21. Athletics

Team projected fWAR: 37.1

The A's are quietly putting together a very good young team that could be a dark horse in the AL wild-card race. The roster remains a work in progress, but at least the lineup can mash. Some more pitching additions, both in the rotation and bullpen, would help this group take the next step.

22. Pittsburgh Pirates

Team projected fWAR: 35.7

The typically frugal Pirates turned heads with their additions of Brandon Lowe and Ryan O'Hearn as they look to build around NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes. Mason Montgomery and Jhostynxon Garcia are intriguing young pieces who should get plenty of opportunities to contribute. This club feels one impact bat away from being a pretty intriguing watch - and not just when Skenes is on the mound.

23. Cleveland Guardians

Team projected fWAR: 35.4

The Guardians locked up José Ramírez for the rest of his MLB career, but the organization still has only one other player earning more than $4.5 million this season (Steven Kwan: $7.75 million). Aside from that, the front office hasn't done much else this winter. Cleveland brought in Shawn Armstrong, Colin Holderman, and Connor Brogdon to prop up the bullpen depth, though it hasn't done anything to improve an offense that ranked 28th in runs and 29th in OPS last season.

24. Minnesota Twins

Team projected fWAR: 38.1

The Twins still have a lot of quality pieces despite blowing up a significant portion of the roster last summer. Minnesota opted not to trade Joe Ryan, Byron Buxton, or Pablo López, but it's only brought in Josh Bell and Victor Caratini on short-term deals. The club's front office will have to navigate the rest of the offseason under new leadership after the departure of longtime president of baseball operations Derek Falvey.

25. St. Louis Cardinals

Team projected fWAR: 32.7

There's an argument to be made that Chaim Bloom should have taken over the Cardinals last season. It's been a productive first couple of months for the new president of baseball operations, dealing Willson Contreras, Sonny Gray, and Nolan Arenado - three veterans with no-trade clauses - to free up money and playing time. St. Louis hasn't committed to a full rebuild in a long time, but it's great to see the team finally pick a firm direction.

26. Miami Marlins

Team projected fWAR: 31.2

Miami sold high on Edward Cabrera and Ryan Weathers, trading them to add several prospects to their pipeline. The organization also signed Christopher Morel and Pete Fairbanks to help improve the big-league roster. A significant signing seems unlikely as the Marlins continue to build their young lineup into a contender. Owen Caissie stands out as an incredibly intriguing talent, and Miami will hope he's a core piece to build around.

27. Los Angeles Angels

Team projected fWAR: 30.3

The Angels are in a tough position, pressured to chase a playoff spot despite not having the ingredients to be a legitimate contender. Cheap pitching depth remains a glaring need, as the club could use insurance behind injury-plagued wild cards in both the rotation (Grayson Rodriguez and Alek Manoah) and bullpen (Kirby Yates and Jordan Romano). With so many players seeking comeback seasons, this roster feels like an all-redemption team.

28. Chicago White Sox

Team projected fWAR: 26.9

The Luis Robert Jr. era is officially over as Chicago finally pulled the trigger on the final connecting piece to the organization's last playoff appearance. The White Sox can improve their roster in many ways, but they're probably content at this stage of their rebuild after landing one of the most intriguing free agents in Munetaka Murakami. The boom-or-bust Japanese slugger could fit in nicely with a young core.

29. Washington Nationals

Team projected fWAR: 25.8

The rebuild in Washington isn't ending anytime soon. The new front office received intriguing pieces for MacKenzie Gore, but none are close to reaching the majors. For some reason, the Nationals rejected offers for CJ Abrams, who remains under team control for three more years. At this point, anyone not named James Wood, Dylan Crews, or Eli Willits should be available.

30. Colorado Rockies

Team projected fWAR: 22.4

The Rockies are far from contention and would be wise to try to convince ownership to take on additional salary from clubs looking to shed payroll in exchange for prospect capital. Several contenders are looking to move players - Philadelphia's Nick Castellanos comes to mind - which could allow Colorado to add pieces to help expedite its rebuild.