The 2025 Main League Baseball common season is winding down and whereas we do not know precisely which 12 groups will make the playoffs, we just about know for positive which aren’t going to make it. These groups and their fan bases are already looking forward to subsequent season, so let’s briefly take that journey with them.
Which non-contenders are greatest positioned to make the 2026 playoffs?
For our functions, we’re calling anybody inside 5 video games a playoff contender. That may be a bit beneficiant, but it surely provides us groups just like the Royals or Rays who have not formally been eradicated whereas excluding groups within the hunt just like the Giants and Reds. Now we’re left with a tidy dozen non-contenders.
Now, let’s rank these groups primarily based on how good I feel they will be subsequent yr.
The Rockies stay the embarrassment of baseball. I am positive they will win extra video games subsequent season as a result of it is very powerful to lose so many video games in back-to-back seasons (ask the 2024-25 White Sox), however there’s little or no hope for a giant turnaround right here. The one main harm to a should-be essential participant has been Kris Bryant and it is laborious to see him ever being an important participant once more at this level. The listing of younger gamers who’ve proven nice promise is fairly brief. It might definitely embody Hunter Goodman and I feel we have seen sufficient from Jordan Beck to be somewhat bullish. Pitching-wise, there’s simply not a lot to love in any respect. I haven’t got any religion within the entrance workplace to do a lot good within the offseason both.
The one gamers we may be positive are good transferring towards subsequent yr are James Wooden, C.J. Abrams and MacKenzie Gore, however Gore has a 7.07 ERA because the All-Star break and Wooden has struck out in practically 40% of his plate appearances within the second half. Possibly there can be leaps ahead from gamers like Jacob Younger and Dylan Crews, plus there appears to be promise in Daylen Lile, however these are something however assured. Josiah Grey will return from elbow surgical procedure, however returns like this are at all times query marks. It is potential for this group to spend large — I assumed they need to have swung large final offseason on Alex Bregman and pitching — however they nonetheless have an interim basic supervisor. We simply do not know right here. My hunch is that they’ll be very unhealthy once more.
The Pirates have the most effective pitchers on the earth in Paul Skenes. Jared Jones can be getting back from elbow surgical procedure. Bubba Chandler has proven sufficient upside to imagine he might be superb all season in 2026 and Mitch Keller is a former All-Star nonetheless shut sufficient to his prime to imagine he’ll be sturdy. Braxton Ashcraft has proven good indicators, too. No matter what occurs within the offseason, I strongly imagine the Pirates can have an excellent rotation subsequent yr. However what else? The offense is horrible and there seemingly is not a lot assist coming from the minors except 19-year-old Konnor Griffin makes a huge leap and skips straight to the majors from Double-A, then manages to keep up his trajectory. I haven’t got religion within the entrance workplace to do a lot to bolster the offense by way of trades or free company, both. This rating might sound low, however there’s solely a lot rotation can do by itself.
9. Chicago White Sox
After going 41-121 final season, the White Sox won’t even lose 100 video games this yr. One other leap ahead like that and so they’d be a contender. Sadly, when you get into 60-win territory, it is exponentially harder so as to add one other 20 wins. There is definitely cause for optimism within the rotation with Shane Smith, Davis Martin, Sean Burke and Yoendrys Gómez. Additional, the work they did with Adrian Houser earlier than buying and selling him has to bode properly for future, low cost additions by the entrance workplace. There’s some hope on offense, too, with the likes of Chase Meidroth, Kyle Teel and Colson Montgomery main the best way. I am undecided they’re able to contend simply but, however I would not be shocked. Additionally, remember the fact that whereas possession continues to be an issue and stand in the best way, the White Sox technically might make large splashes in free company.
There’s nonetheless sufficient expertise right here for the Twins to be ranked far increased than this and it is potential I am flawed, however I really feel just like the commerce deadline was ripping off of the bandage and the Twins’ entrance workplace is about to finish the job within the offseason. That’s to say that I feel it is fully potential the Twins tear this factor right down to the studs and rebuild. That may imply trades of Pablo López, Joe Ryan and perhaps even Bailey Ober. I am positive they will attempt to persuade Byron Buxton to just accept a deal, however he positive appears set on sticking round. I truly considered placing the White Sox increased. I don’t imagine the Twins can be good subsequent yr in any respect.
There’s at all times the prospect they go on a giant spending spree and it truly works this time.
(pause for laughter)
For actual, although, Nolan Schanuel and Zach Neto have proven promise and neither has hit their twenty fifth birthday but. Jo Adell is having a pleasant breakout yr (cease me if you happen to’ve heard that one earlier than). Mike Trout remains to be able to a giant season, as is Taylor Ward. Did Yoán Moncada get fastened?
They’ve the makings of a basis of group and the entrance workplace would simply have to have a giant offseason. I do not suppose it’s going to occur, however there’s an opportunity.
You possibly can squint your method to the Marlins being superb and it begins with the rotation. Sandy Alcantara can have a full season underneath his belt since getting back from Tommy John surgical procedure and will type a trio of aces with leaps ahead from Edward Cabrera and Eury Pérez — to not point out the prospect that Ryan Weathers is sweet and Max Meyer comes again sturdy from hip surgical procedure. You are speaking a few potential high 5 rotation if all the things hits. Star outfielder Kyle Stowers might use some assistance on offense and maybe Connor Norby is in for a breakout season. Jakob Marsee seems the half to this point and Agustín Ramírez has proven good energy. Otto López and Xavier Edwards type a pleasant double-play combo. A pair savvy entrance workplace strikes together with assist from a prospect like catcher Joe Mack and the Marlins can be in enterprise.
Can the A’s persuade some good free agent pitchers to join enjoying in Sacramento the best way they did Luis Severino (who has now complained about pitching in Sactown)? They want some assist round promising teenager Luis Morales.
I deliver this up as a result of there’s loads to love concerning the A’s offense. Nick Kurtz seems like he’ll be a full-fledged star as early as subsequent season and he is solely 22 years previous. Shea Langeliers is among the greatest offensive catchers in baseball. Brent Rooker is a bona fide middle-of-the-order pressure. Tyler Soderstrom is having offensive season and so is rookie shortstop Jacob Wilson. Lawrence Butler has been a little bit of a disappointment this season, however he was nice final yr and is barely 24. Once more, there’s a lot to love right here. The A’s simply have to help the place gamers with pitching workers.
4. Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays hung round in rivalry a very long time this season regardless of having it ruined with the dearth of an actual, MLB-caliber house ballpark. That stretch of highway video games stacked by means of the center of the summer season had a giant hand in ruining their run towards the playoffs. There is a good nucleus in place, too, with Junior Caminero already establishing himself as a star.
Simply primarily based on historical past with this possession group, I will guess that the Rays don’t decide up choices on Yandy Díaz, Pete Fairbanks or Brandon Lowe, so all will have to be changed.
My expectation is the entrance workplace will as soon as once more nonetheless discover a method to preserve this group aggressive. They at all times appear to hold round in rivalry even when the personnel on the sphere does not appear nice. They had been 80-82 final yr, are headed for one thing comparable this yr and I will predict it is nearly the identical once more subsequent yr. Which means if they are a true-talent 80-win group and as a substitute catch a sequence of breaks, they will win a wild card spot.
Provided that the Orioles had been superior two years in the past, had been superb final yr and can have many of the identical core nonetheless round subsequent yr, lots of people can be anticipating the O’s to bounce again. It is definitely potential. The Adley Rutschman-Gunnar Henderson-Jordan Westburg core stays intact and there is cause to be enthusiastic about Jackson Holliday, Jeremiah Jackson and Samuel Basallo as properly. Maybe Coby Mayo turns it on subsequent yr. There’ll proceed to be questions concerning the rotation, however Trevor Rogers seems to have absolutely damaged by means of as a frontline starter and Kyle Bradish needs to be all-systems-go as he is now a handful of begins previous his return from Tommy John surgical procedure. Is pitching prospect Trey Gibson able to step in? I’ve just about misplaced hope in Grayson Rodriguez and Zach Eflin hits free company, so we’ll see how Mike Elias and his entrance workplace assault the rotation within the offseason. There’s first rate hope that this group makes it again to the playoffs in 2026.
2. Kansas Metropolis Royals
Given the wizardry of pitching coach Brian Sweeney, the Royals have a humiliation of riches within the rotation as soon as they get some harm returns. Commerce deadline acquisitions Stephen Kolek and Ryan Bergert have proven promise whereas Noah Cameron seems legit. Cole Ragans has Cy Younger potential. Kris Bubic was having a breakout season earlier than taking place with harm. Veterans Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo can nonetheless be efficient too. Possibly the Royals swing a commerce from this depth to assist the offense?
Bobby Witt Jr. is a top-level franchise centerpiece. Vinnie Pasquantino has grown right into a legit slugger. Maikel Garcia is an excellent third baseman. Will they carry Mike Yastrzemski again? He is a free agent and has been productive since his acquisition. They undoubtedly might use extra offense from their outfielders subsequent yr, however, once more, perhaps there is a commerce from the beginning pitching depth to assist there. Possibly Jac Caglianone figures issues out. There’s sufficient right here to imagine it is a good and even nice group subsequent yr if issues break proper.
The bullpen needs to be superb once more, too.
I just like the Royals for subsequent season. Simply not as a lot because the …
Chris Sale is exhibiting no indicators of slowing down and Spencer Strider will seemingly be a lot improved in his second season post-surgery. That is a pair of aces to begin. Reynaldo López and Spencer Schwellenbach can be again. Hurston Waldrep has proven good promise.
The next gamers, who’ve been stars earlier than or nonetheless are, are underneath contract and both are of their primes or shut sufficient to it that we might count on nice issues: Ronald Acuña Jr., Matt Olson, Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies, Michael Harris II and Jurickson Profar. Drake Baldwin and Sean Murphy give the Braves an important catching duo. There are definitely considerations there, notably with Olson seemingly in his decline whereas Albies and Harris have been extra unhealthy than good this season, however there’s large upside.
The Braves have cash too, so they may make a splash available on the market (nearer Raisel Iglesias and designated hitter Marcell Ozuna are free brokers and can have to be changed).
So many issues, so many issues, went flawed this season, however the window of rivalry remains to be open. The entrance workplace can be aggressive in attempting to win with this Acuña-Olson-Riley core. The Braves will as soon as once more be an honest guess to make the playoffs and perhaps even win the NL East.
