This offseason, a highly competitive American League (AL) saw drastic changes from several contending teams. Meanwhile, the repeat champion Los Angeles Dodgers added key pieces in hopes of winning their third straight Commissioner’s Trophy. The results of the 2026 season have huge implications on whether or not the MLB has a lockout in 2027.
Notably, the Boston Red Sox lost out on elite third baseman Alex Bregman to the Chicago Cubs. Bregman’s signing with Boston last year caused internal conflict, resulti
ng in Boston trading fan-favorite slugger Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants. Now Boston has nothing to show for it.
The New York Yankees remained remarkably quiet for most of the offseason. Aside from re-signing lefty veteran Cody Bellinger, New York made few significant offensive acquisitions. On the pitching side, the Yankees grabbed southpaw Ryan Weathers. Whether the front office sees Weathers as a key rotation piece or a placeholder for injured starters is up for debate. The offseason caused frustration for Yankees fans who felt the roster needed dramatic changes.
After a disappointing season, the New York Mets front office got to work. The Mets let go of several familiar faces including Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo, Jeff McNeil and Edwin Diaz. In a trade with the Chicago White Sox, the Mets acquired Cuban outfielder Luis Robert Jr. New York also signed shortstop Bo Bichette to a three-year contract. Bichette will move from his primary position at shortstop to third base. It remains to be seen how he adjusts to the role. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, the Mets traded for much needed starting pitching, Freddy Peralta, a 29-year-old ace with high velocity and exceptional offspeed pitches.
In this offseason, several Japanese players made the transition to the MLB. Munetaka Murakami, a 26-year-old with serious power, signed with the White Sox. Contact hitter Kazuma Okamoto joined the reigning AL champion Toronto Blue Jays. When asked why he chose Toronto, Okamoto said that of the 30 team logos, the Blue Jays’ emblem was his daughter’s favorite. Renowned pitcher Tatsuya Imai signed with the Houston Astros. Imai made headlines for his quotes about not wanting to join the Dodgers, saying he’d rather beat them.
Several ballclubs took steps towards becoming contenders in their divisions. The Baltimore Orioles added firepower to their offense in the form of Alonso. After falling short last year, the Detroit Tigers signed Framber Valdez and Justin Verlander, a huge upgrade to their starting rotation. Recovering from their losses, the Red Sox landed veterans Wilson Contreras and Sonny Gray. Three years removed from falling short in the World Series, the Arizona Diamondbacks made noise by trading for future Hall of Fame third baseman Nolan Arenado.
While established powerhouses like the Yankees and Blue Jays made notable moves, there are no guarantees in the AL. Clubs; the Red Sox and the Tigers could easily emerge as the new favorites to win the pennant. Though fairly inactive this offseason, the Seattle Mariners remain well positioned to replicate their impressive 2025 season given their top-tier starting pitching and relentless lineup. Realistically, there are at least six teams in the AL that are more than capable of earning a trip to the World Series.
On the other hand, the National League (NL) feels more like a foregone conclusion. It’s hard to imagine the Dodgers improving on their roster which features countless MVPs and Cy Youngs. However, they did. Los Angeles signed All-Star closer Edwin Diaz to a three-year deal, bolstering their bullpen. Big talent, Kyle Tucker, inked a deal with the Dodgers, further solidifying their lineup. The few NL teams that could potentially threaten Los Angeles did little to improve their rosters.
Baseball is referred to as a sport where any team can lose on any day, but taking into account the Dodgers’ new additions, they seems inevitable. The Collective Bargaining Agreement, a settlement between players and owners regarding salary caps, luxury taxes and arbitration expires in December of this year. If the Dodgers win it all again, the league may be headed towards a much dreaded lockout.
