Congratulations are in order to the Los Angeles Dodgers for winning the World Series. Now, what are you going to do for an encore?
There were plenty of surprises this past season, so success in 2025 doesn't necessarily translate into being a playoff contender in 2026. But it's as good a place as any to start.
While acknowledging that free agent signings, trades and injuries will certainly shift the relative strengths of the clubs between now and the start of the regular season, we're diving right in with a way-too-early look at which teams should be poised to compete in 2026 and which ones figure to scuffle.
Toronto Blue Jays: Their relentless offense paved the way to the franchise's first World Series appearance since 1993. Most of those hitters will be back, but will a World Series ring/AL pennant be enough to keep free agent SS Bo Bichette in the fold? The pitching staff sure looks a lot better with postseason hero Trey Yesavage in the rotation.
Los Angeles Dodgers: You see stars everywhere you look in L.A. Sure, they flex their financial muscle to attract the brightest and the best, but they're also very good at finding the right complementary pieces. As long as Shohei Ohtani is around, the Dodgers will be tough to beat. (And he's under contract through 2033.)
