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One essential move each MLB team must make this offseason
It's official, the 2025 regular season has come to a close. Twelve teams still have the postseason to focus on, but the rest of the league will start to shift attention to the offseason. The next few months will be a busy time of re-assessing and rebuilding for most, hoping that next season will result in an opportunity to continue playing into October.
Yardbarker's MLB writers took a look ahead at the offseason, identifying one essential move each club needs to make for 2026.
AL East
Toronto Blue Jays (94-68) | Add an elite closer | The Blue Jays are AL East champions for the first time since 2015 and have much to look forward to this October. However, they could still benefit from adding a lockdown closer in their bullpen next season, especially as righty Jeff Hoffman’s 4.37 ERA simply isn’t good enough for that role, despite the 33 saves he racked up in 2025.
New York Yankees (94-68) | Add a left-handed bat | Acquiring outfielder Cody Bellinger from the Chicago Cubs was a great move for the Yankees as part of their Juan Soto pivot plan. But that doesn’t mean they’ve achieved perfect lineup balance: With powerful left-handed bats like Kyle Schwarber and Kyle Tucker approaching free agency, New York would be silly not to inquire about one (or both) of those names, given Yankee Stadium’s right-field short porch and the need for protection around captain Aaron Judge.
Boston Red Sox (89-73) | Retain third baseman Alex Bregman | It goes without saying that the Red Sox would not be where they are if not for Bregman’s winning pedigree and elite numbers (.822 OPS, 3.5 bWAR). The veteran third baseman has an opt-out after this season despite signing for an average annual value of $40 million on a three-year deal last winter. It’s not as if Boston has a better third base option waiting in the wings, either.
Tampa Bay Rays (77-85) | Extend third baseman Junior Caminero | The Rays may feel betrayed after extending former shortstop Wander Franco, but there’s no denying Caminero is the type of rare talent that should not be allowed to leave the Tampa area. The 22-year-old’s numbers speak for themselves: 45 home runs and an .846 OPS in 602 at-bats this season. That’s absolutely elite production at the plate, regardless of position.
Baltimore Orioles (75-87) | Trade catcher Adley Rutschman for pitching | Baltimore has a few promising starters in right-handers Kyle Bradish, Grayson Rodriguez and Tyler Wells (all of whom were injured this year), but more is needed on the starting pitching front. That’s where catcher Adley Rutschman could help: With Samuel Basallo set to be the Orioles’ backstop of the future, Rutschman could potentially be dealt for an impact arm or two this offseason. That’d be a win for both sides, with Rutschman getting a needed change of scenery, while Baltimore would bolster its staff.
-- Seth Carlson
NL East
Philadelphia Phillies (96-66) | Re-sign DH Kyle Schwarber | Schwarber has been the cornerstone of the Phillies’ offense ever since the club signed him to a four-year, $79M deal in March 2022. The 32-year-old had a career year in 2025, posting an NL-leading 56 homers and MLB-best 132 RBI. He has enjoyed his best seasons in Philadelphia, tallying 187 home runs alongside 434 RBI and an .856 OPS. If the Phillies want to continue to be competitive, re-signing Schwarber is a must – no matter how much money he commands.
New York Mets (83-79) | Address the starting rotation | The Mets’ epic collapse came to a close on Sunday, with New York missing the playoffs after losing 4-0 to the Marlins. Many factors can be attributed to New York’s disappointing season, but starting pitching may be the main culprit. The Mets are in dire need of a frontline starter who can supply them with innings and help mentor their rookie hurlers. Dylan Cease, Zac Gallen and Framber Valdez headline the 2026 free-agent class.
Miami Marlins (79-83) | Keep Sandy Alcantara | The Marlins overachieved this year, and might have something special brewing for 2026. That's why keeping starter Sandy Alcantara, once a primary trade candidate, should be a priority. Miami’s rotation is its biggest strength, with Alcantara, Edward Cabrera, Eury Perez and Max Meyer leading the charge. Pair that with a young, talented roster, and the Fish could be dangerous next year.
Atlanta Braves (76-66) | Acquire a shortstop | Atlanta has lacked a true shortstop since letting Dansby Swanson walk during the 2022 offseason. Orlando Arcia filled in well in 2023, but tapered off in 2024, while Nick Allen failed to hit a homer in nearly 400 at-bats this season. The Braves may need to explore trades, as the 2026 shortstop free-agent class is sparse. If they wish to be the team to beat in the NL East again, getting steady production out of the most important position on the diamond is paramount.
Washington Nationals (66-96) | Supplement roster with veterans | While the Marlins overachieved, the Nationals underachieved in 2025. What's clear with this young and inexperienced squad is that they need a veteran presence. Washington has the potential to be a much better team next season, but that's only if it supplies its young stars, like James Wood, CJ Abrams and Dylan Crews, with bona fide leaders.
-- Lauren Amour
AL Central
Cleveland Guardians (88-74) | Move on from Luis Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase | The investigation into both pitchers regarding prop bets on their first pitches is ongoing, with Ortiz and Clase remaining on administrative leave. Regardless of the outcome, the Guardians need to move forward and address potential issues in the locker room.
Detroit Tigers (87-75) | Find an impact bat | Hot starts by second baseman Gleyber Torres and utility men Javier Baez and Zack McKinstry led to All-Star berths, but they were unable to keep that pace in the second half. Landing another impact bat, such as third baseman Eugenio Suarez, would make a drastic difference to the lineup.
Kansas City Royals (82-80) | Finally do something about the outfield | The Royals tried addressing the outfield during the 2024-25 offseason as they reportedly made an offer to Anthony Santander. That quest continued at the trade deadline with the acquisitions of outfielders Randal Grichuk and Mike Yastrzemski. The Royals need to continue to pursue an impact bat or two in their lineup as they look to return to the postseason.
Minnesota Twins (70-92) | Trade pitchers Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez | The Twins had a surprising fire sale at the 2025 trade deadline, getting rid of anything that wasn’t nailed down. As they are clearly in another rebuilding process, Lopez and Ryan should be the next pieces out the door and should fetch a significant return.
Chicago White Sox (60-102) | Continue to stay the course | The White Sox are not going to be contending next year, but the future appears bright in the Southside. If the White Sox are going to do anything in the free agent market, they should add a couple of low-cost potential bounce-back candidates with an eye toward the 2026 MLB trade deadline.
-- David Hill
NL Central
Chicago Cubs (92-70) | Decide which outfield star to lock up long-term | The Cubs hold one of the best outfield duos with center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and right fielder Kyle Tucker. Crow-Armstrong, under team control through 2027, declined a five-year, $75 million contract extension before the season, while Tucker – on a one-year deal and a proven veteran – would likely get a franchise-record contract. With both factors, it’s unlikely Chicago can keep both outfielders long term and has to decide how they pursue the future.
Cincinnati Reds (83-79) | Get Elly De La Cruz to play outfield | De La Cruz is undeniably the face of the Reds offense, but his defensive struggles at shortstop – leading MLB with 26 errors – raise concerns. With the Reds dealing with an inconsistent outfield all season, often relying on infielders like Miguel Andujar, Gavin Lux, Noelvi Marte and Spencer Steer to fill in, a position switch could benefit both De La Cruz and the Reds. At just 23 years old, he possesses the second-strongest arm among all MLB infielders, which could be impactful when gunning down runners from a further distance. Similar position changes have been seen in players like Fernando Tatis Jr. and Oneil Cruz, and De La Cruz could come next.
Milwaukee Brewers (97-65) | Extend Freddy Peralta at a reasonable price | In a career-defining season, Peralta posted a career-best 2.70 ERA and led the National League with 17 wins. With a club option for 2026 and unrestricted free agency looming in 2027, the Brewers need to find the best option to keep Peralta in Milwaukee. Peralta’s current five-year, $15.5 million contract is a bargain, but to keep him in Milwaukee – especially after an All-Star season – his asking price is bound to skyrocket. The Brewers need to find a smart, team-friendly deal to keep the 29-year-old ace in Milwaukee.
Pittsburgh Pirates (71-91) | Maximize Paul Skenes’ value | With Skenes on track to win the NL Cy Young at just 23-years-old – leading MLB with a 1.97 ERA – the Pirates have to decide how to value Skenes: build aggressively around him, save money to re-sign him once he’s due for a new contract or trade him for a haul of players. Next season will be Skenes’s last year under pre-arbitration.
St. Louis Cardinals (78-84) | Evaluate Nolan Arenado’s future | Traded to the Cardinals in 2021, Arenado signed the largest contract in franchise history to stay with St. Louis through 2027. But with the Cardinals missing the playoffs for the third consecutive season and trending towards a rebuild, they will need to evaluate the 34-year-old’s value for his current cost.
-- Taylor Bretl
AL West
Seattle Mariners (90-72) | Re-sign Josh Naylor | The AL West-winning Mariners made two trade deadline splashes, acquiring former All-Stars Eugenio Suarez and Josh Naylor. While the mashing Suarez struggled to the tune of a .189 batting average post-deadline (the second stint in which he has underperformed in Seattle), Naylor thrived, posting a .299 average with nine homers and shocking 19 steals.
Houston Astros (87-75) | Get healthy | In one sense, the Astros were wildly successful at reforming a winning identity after moving superstars Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman. Unfortunately, injuries plagued current stars Yordan Alvarez (limited to 48 games), Isaac Paredes (102 games), Spencer Arrighetti (limited to seven starts) and Ronel Blanco (limited to nine starts).
Texas Rangers (81-81) | Correct their offensive woes | The 2025 Rangers were expected to be an offense-led club with sluggers Wyatt Langford (OF), Corey Seager (SS), Adolis Garcia (OF), Joc Peterson (DH) and Marcus Semien (2B) setting the pace. Shockingly, all of these stars (due to either injury or subpar play) failed to meet expectations. The Rangers must recapture a dangerous lineup to support a solid, but aging, pitching staff in 2026.
Athletics (76-86) | Pursue a top-line starting pitcher | Perhaps no team in baseball did more to positively increase its year-over-year expectations than the Athletics. Nick Kurtz quickly established himself as the AL Rookie of the Year favorite and as one of the league’s premier power hitters, while fellow rookie Jacob Wilson seems destined to become a franchise cornerstone. Adding a free agent ace like Dylan Cease, Framber Valdez or Zac Gallen would immediately make the A’s a postseason contender in 2026.
Los Angeles Angels (72-90) | Rediscover Mike Trout's swing | The Angels have the makings of a solid core centered around Zach Neto (SS), Nolan Schanuel (1B), Jo Adell (OF) and Logan O'Hoppe (C). While franchise icon Mike Trout shook off his considerable injury history to play 130+ games for the first time since 2019, he did struggle to the tune of a .232 average. Rediscovering his Hall-of-Fame-level swing will be key to the Halos’ success in 2026.
-- Allen Settle
NL West
Los Angeles Dodgers (93-69) | Fix the bullpen | Blake Treinen (5.40 ERA) and Tanner Scott (4.74 ERA) are both signed through next season, but both are serious question marks heading into the postseason. The Achilles’ heel for Los Angeles is its late-inning pitching, something that may keep the team from the World Series this season.
San Diego Padres (90-72) | Have the pitching match the lineup | San Diego’s core position players are all locked up with long-term deals, meaning the lineup will be strong again, but there could be a lot of turnover this offseason on the mound. Closer Robert Suarez could opt out of his deal, and starters Dylan Cease and Michael King are expected to test free agency, meaning new Padres arms may be plentiful in 2026.
San Francisco Giants (81-81) | Figure out first base | The trade for Rafael Devers seemed to give San Francisco its first baseman (although perhaps a bit reluctantly) for years to come. However, Giants’ top prospect Bryce Eldridge is going to need somewhere to play if he’s truly going to make an impact in 2026, so could he slide in at first with Devers moving to more of a DH role, or will those roles be reversed?
Arizona Diamondbacks (80-82) | Fill the rotation holes | The Diamondbacks are likely saying goodbye to Zac Gallen while Corbin Burnes will still be rehabbing from Tommy John surgery when spring training opens. Filling those two holes with starters that will help Arizona keep up with the rest of the NL West will be critical.
Colorado Rockies (43-119) | Figure out the Kris Bryant situation | Sidelined by lumbar degenerative disc disease, Bryant registered just 39 at-bats this season, part of what has been an injury-filled four campaigns in Colorado. His seven-year, $182 million deal runs through the 2028 season, but Bryant may not be able to physically live up to that contract, meaning the Rockies need to know if he can play in 2026 or they need to find another veteran bat.
-- Kevin Henry
More must-reads:
- What to know about the 2025 MLB postseason
- The 25 most iconic MLB batting stances
- The '45 home runs, 100 RBI MLB seasons since 2003' quiz
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