MLB’s offseason has come to an end. Players have arrived at spring training camps across Florida and Arizona. The 2026 season will be upon us shortly.
To welcome the sport back for another season, Yardbarker’s team of MLB writers got together to assess how teams handled their offseasons. Did clubs address all of their needs or fail to plug an obvious hole? It’s time for each of them to get graded on their offseason.
Toronto Blue Jays infielder Kazuma Okamoto (7)
Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
AL East
Baltimore Orioles | Grade: B+ | 2025 was a big step back for the Orioles, and the team came into the offseason seeking a course correction. Adding first baseman Pete Alonso, left fielder Taylor Ward, and utilityman Blaze Alexander will go a long way towards improving a lineup that will also benefit from bounceback seasons by shortstop Gunnar Henderson and catcher Adley Rutschman. But did the birds do enough to address their pitching staff with the additions of right-handers Chris Bassitt, Shane Baz, and Ryan Helsley?
Boston Red Sox | Grade: A |
It didn’t always seem apparent, but Red Sox president of baseball operations Craig Breslow had a plan for the team’s offseason. Outside of being unable to retain Alex Bregman, Breslow seems to have executed it – bolstering the lineup with the additions of first baseman Willson Contreras and infielder Caleb Durbin, while creating room for Marcelo Mayer without sacrificing any of the outfield depth; while also adding right-handers Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo, plus left-hander Ranger Suarez to lengthen an already deep pitching staff.
New York Yankees | Grade: B- | The Yankees had a solid team a season ago, finishing the regular season tied with Toronto for the best record in the AL before losing to the Blue Jays in the Division Series, but the club has largely returned the same roster this season, only adding left-hander Ryan Weathers to deepen a pitching staff that will get a midseason boost from Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón’s returns from injury. Given what the rest of the division did in the offseason, it might not be enough.
Tampa Bay Rays | Grade: D |
It has largely been a quiet offseason for the Rays. Peter Zelupski officially took over as the club’s new owner late in September, but has remained mostly silent in the months since about the team’s future and what his plans are regarding payroll, development, and other areas in which the franchise has lagged behind the rest of the sport. The club’s biggest acquisition this offseason may have been renderings for a potential new stadium.
Toronto Blue Jays | Grade: A |
Toronto finished the 2025 season tied with New York for the best record in the AL, won the division by virtue of its season series results against the Yankees, and then rolled its way through the playoffs to reach the World Series, only to lose the championship to Los Angeles in seven games. Toronto responded by adding right-handers Dylan Cease, Cody Ponce, and Tyler Rogers to a talented pitching staff, then brought in third baseman Kazuma Okamoto to help make up for the loss of Bo Bichette. The Jays will be a team to contend with once again in 2026.
– Aaron Somers
Chicago White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami
Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
AL Central
Chicago White Sox | Grade: A |
Although the White Sox are in the middle of their rebuild, they have added several intriguing pieces this offseason. Luisangel Acuna, acquired in the Luis Robert Jr. trade, could be a dynamic option atop the lineup. Munetaka Murakami adds needed power to the lineup, and several additions to the pitching staff have made the White Sox better. They may not be contenders just yet, but something is brewing in Chicago.
Cleveland Guardians | Grade: C |
The Guardians needed to address their lineup, but their biggest move on that front involved signing outfielder Stuart Fairchild to a minor league contract. Yes, Jose Ramirez signed another extension, and the Guardians have several prospects on the cusp of the majors, but the lineup remains a weakness.
Detroit Tigers | Grade: A- |
The surprise addition of Framber Valdez arguably gives the Tigers the best rotation in the American League. However, Tarik Skubal’s impending free agency and questions at third base and shortstop remain. The Tigers may be the favorites to win the AL Central, but the lack of firepower in the lineup could be their undoing.
Kansas City Royals | Grade: C |
Like the Guardians, the Royals needed to upgrade the lineup. And, like the Guardians, their biggest move of the offseason was to lock up their third baseman to a long-term extension. The additions of Lane Thomas and Isaac Collins should help the lineup to some extent, but neither really moves the needle in terms of production.
Minnesota Twins | Grade: F | The Twins held on to pitchers Pablo Lopez and Joe Ryan during the offseason because they are looking to contend in 2026. While the Twins said they would spend, their primary additions were first baseman Josh Bell and a slew of minor league contracts. Losing Lopez for the season during his first simulated game of spring training was a capstone for an offseason spent spinning their wheels.
– David Hill
Seattle Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor (12)
Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
AL West
Athletics | Grade: C+ |
The best outside addition the A’s made this offseason was at second base, swapping Luis Urias for 2022 NL batting champ Jeff McNeil. The team also earns high marks for extending core young pieces in shortstop Jacob Wilson and outfielder Tyler Soderstrom, although the failure to improve one of the league’s worst pitching staffs brings down its grade.
Houston Astros | Grade: B- |
Even with Framber Valdez’s departure, the Astros have starting pitching depth after adding former Pirates right-hander Mike Burrows, who had 97 strikeouts in 96 innings a season ago, and Japanese standout Tatsuya Imai, who had a 1.92 ERA across 163.2 innings for Seibu in the JPPL in 2025. Joey Loperfido, acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays, has upside in the outfield, but Houston’s lineup remains a potential liability, with the most prominent question at first base. The team was unable to trade Christian Walker, who struggled last season and is entering Year 2 of an onerous three-year, $60 million pact, making a bounce-back 2026 from the 11-year vet crucial to the Astros returning to the playoffs for the 10th time in 12 seasons.
Los Angeles Angels | Grade: C- |
If the Angels get a season from offseason trade acquisition Josh Lowe like his 2023, when he slashed .292/.335/.500 with 20 home runs (55 total extra-base hits) in 135 games, their offseason will look much better. That’s the biggest problem of L.A.’s winter, with the front office banking on its additions turning back the clock. Grayson Rodriguez, acquired in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles for Taylor Ward, has 259 strikeouts in 238.2 innings but missed all of 2025 with an elbow injury, while reliever Jordan Romano has a 7.83 ERA in 56.1 innings over the past two seasons after posting a 2.29 ERA in 200.2 innings from 2020-23.
Seattle Mariners | Grade: A |
Extending Josh Naylor, whom Seattle added a week before the 2025 trade deadline, was one of several excellent moves that should keep the Mariners at the top of the AL West in 2026. The team upgraded at second base by trading for Brendan Donovan earlier this month, which created a potential spot for rising prospect Colt Emerson, one of the more interesting players to track during spring training, to crack the starting lineup in the process. The three-team deal for Donovan sent 2025 third baseman Ben Williamson to the Tampa Bay Rays, and Emerson, The Athletic senior MLB writer Keith Law’s No. 4 overall prospect in 2026, could get an extended look at the corner infield position as a result.
Texas Rangers | Grade: B |
Swapping Adolis Garcia for Brandon Nimmo at this stage of their careers — both turn 33 in March — appears to be an upgrade. Nimmo is a more consistent batter, a necessity for a team that squandered an excellent season from its league-best pitching staff in 2025. The Rangers also improved their starting rotation, swapping out aging veteran Patrick Corbin for fellow southpaw MacKenzie Gore, who turns 27 on Feb. 24 and has a 4.03 ERA and 366 strikeouts over the past two seasons.
– Eric Smithling
New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (right) and outfielder Luis Robert Jr. (left)
Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
NL East
Philadelphia Phillies | Grade: C | Despite re-signing slugger Kyle Schwarber and catcher J.T. Realmuto, the Phillies’ only other offseason moves were to bring in Adolis Garcia and allow Ranger Suarez to depart in free agency. Philadelphia is taking a big gamble by relying on its young prospects, Justin Crawford and Andrew Painter, to make an impact this season.
New York Mets | Grade: A | The Mets collapsed down the stretch last season (with a 28-37 record after the All-Star Break). The club has done well to turn things around this offseason, swapping out their lineup with a new defensive-minded core that includes second baseman Marcus Semien, center fielder Luis Robert Jr., and third baseman Bo Bichette. Adding right-hander Freddy Peralta to the top of the staff also helps keep this team on par with the Phillies.
Atlanta Braves | Grade: C | The Braves finished the season below .500 for the first time since 2017, thanks to several injuries. The team did little to add to the roster this offseason aside from bringing in reliever Robert Suarez and re-signing shortstop Ha-Seong Kim. Injuries have already struck the team again, with Kim and right-handers Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep going down. The team’s quiet offseason could come back to bite them.
Miami Marlins | Grade: B | Miami’s bullpen ranked 22nd in ERA (4.28) last season, making it an obvious area of need this offseason. The Marlins added veteran reliever Pete Fairbanks to the bullpen mix, but did little else on that front. Trading starter Edward Cabrera to the Chicago Cubs for a package of prospects led by outfielder Owen Caissie was a prudent move.
Washington Nationals | Grade: Inconclusive (possible D) | The Nationals are in a period of transition. Hiring Paul Toboni to replace Mike Rizzo and bringing in Blake Butera to manage the club may prove to be the biggest offseason additions. The Nationals won’t have high expectations this season, but will need to see growth from James Wood, Jacob Young, Dylan Crews, and CJ Abrams.
– Zachary Cariola
Chicago Cubs Alex Bregman
Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
NL Central
Chicago Cubs | Grade: B |
Chicago responded to losing All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker to the Los Angeles Dodgers with an aggressive offseason of their own. The pair of key additions in 2025, All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman and RHP Edward Cabrera, signal a win-now approach following a second-place finish in the NL Central last season.
Cincinnati Reds | Grade: C |
Fresh off its first postseason appearance since 2020, Cincinnati’s offseason felt more like a reshuffle than a true upgrade. The lone headline move was bringing back 3B/DH Eugenio Suarez on a one-year, $15 million deal. If the rotation performs up to expectations, the Reds could contend for a postseason spot for a second-straight season, but the middling offense didn’t get much of the needed jolt.
Milwaukee Brewers | Grade: C+ |
Milwaukee took multiple big hits, headlined by trading away ace Freddy Peralta — fifth in NL Cy Young last season — to the New York Mets and rookie third baseman Caleb Durbin – third in NL Rookie of the Year — to the Boston Red Sox. Some key pieces in return bring upside, however, including two of the Mets’ top-five prospects, SS Jett Williams and RHP Brandon Sproat, plus additional pitching help from the Red Sox in LHP Kyle Harrison and LHP Shane Drohan. With 3B Luis Rengifo acquired to likely replace Durbin, Milwaukee’s 2026 outlook hinges on how the new pieces fit in.
Pittsburgh Pirates | Grade: B+ |
Finishing last in the NL Central for a second-straight season, a large part was due to a sizable lack in the hitting department. Pittsburgh ranked last in MLB in home runs (117) — 31 less than the next-lowest team (St. Louis) — and near the bottom offensively with the NL’s lowest batting average (.231) and MLB-worst slugging percentage (.350) and OPS (.655). Making needed additions, the Pirates brought in 2025 All-Stars 1B Ryan O’Hearn and 2B Brandon Lowe, as well as DH Marcel Ozuna, hoping to boost a struggling offense.
St. Louis Cardinals | Grade: B- |
St. Louis has fully committed to a youth-driven reset, prioritizing a younger roster even at the cost of parting with established veterans, including RHP Sonny Gray, INF Brendan Donovan, 1B Willson Contreras, and 3B Nolan Arenado. The short-term outlook for 2026 could be rough for St. Louis, but the Cardinals were able to bolster their pitching staff by adding arms such as RHP Hunter Dobbins, RHP Dustin May, RHP Richard Fitts, and RHP Ryne Stanek.
– Taylor Bretl
Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Kyle Tucker (23)
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NL West
Arizona Diamondbacks | Grade: C+ |
The Diamondbacks salvaged their offseason by re-signing ace right-hander Zac Gallen after he found a tepid market in free agency. To the surprise of no one, righty Merrill Kelly, a Phoenix-area native, returned after being traded to the Texas Rangers at last year’s deadline. Signing Paul Sewald to be the closer is a gamble, as is adding first baseman Carlos Santana and third baseman Nolan Arenado as the corner infielders.
Colorado Rockies | Grade: C |
In their never-ending quest to build a solid starting rotation, the Rockies signed three veterans – left-hander Jose Quintana and right-handers Michael Lorenzen and Tomoyuki Sugano – to see if they can succeed at Coors Field. The offensive additions are depth pieces: utility player Willi Castro, infielder Edouard Julien and outfielder Jake McCarthy. Julien is the only one who might be able to provide long-term help.
Los Angeles Dodgers | Grade: A+ |
The Dodgers didn’t seem to need any help after winning back-to-back World Series. However, Los Angeles made two additions that stamp it as the clear favorite to be the first team to win three in a row since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees. Right fielder Kyle Tucker, who was the best player on the free-agent market, was signed to a four-year, $260-million contract, and star closer Edwin Diaz got three years and $69 million.
San Diego Padres | Grade: D |
Right-hander German Marquez should benefit from moving to Petco Park from Coors Field. However, designated hitter Miguel Andujar and disgruntled outfielder Nick Castellanos don’t really move the needle. Instead, San Diego’s offseason was more about who it lost in right-hander Dylan Cease, closer Robert Suarez, first baseman Luis Arraez, and designated hitter Ryan O’Hearn.
San Francisco Giants | Grade: C |
The Giants made the most interesting manager hire of the winter by plucking Tony Vitello away from the University of Tennessee, where he won the College World Series in 2024. However, their roster additions were not as interesting as they signed right-handers Tyler Mahle and Adrian Houser, center fielder Harrison Bader, and Arraez. San Francisco missed out on a big bat and a frontline starting pitcher.
– John Perrotto
