(Photo by Los Angeles Times)

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

Well, that wasn't expected. The O's decided to make changes to get them to the top, including THE GREAT PETER ALONZO! Can Baltimore finally reach their promised land after a huge setback in 2025?

BOSTON RED SOX

Another off-season, another flurry of moves to help the BoSox find an identity. Are they a playoff contender or are they a middle-of-the-pack squad? 2026 could determine where the BoSox are headed for their future.

NEW YORK YANKEES

For Yankees haters, the end of 2025 was a work of excellence when it came to failure. However, the Yanks can still be a lethal group who can take the AL pennant despite not splurging in free agency as usual.

TAMPA BAY RAYS

EVERYONE, STUART STERNBERG HAS SOLD THE RAYS! And Tropicana Field is almost ready to be open for baseball this season. The question is can new owner Patrick Zalupski bring that long awaited new stadium to the citizens of Tampa....err St. Petersburg?

TORONTO BLUE JAYS

They were two outs away from a title, now the Jays are doing everything to keep momentum going by signing Dylan Cease and Kazuma Okamoto. Toronto can still be one of the most dangerous teams in all of baseball entering 2026.

CHICAGO WHITE SU.....SOX

They are doing things, so they are back to the White Sox. They improved from 19 games from last year, signed Munetaka Murakami and received a nice haul in the Luis Robert trade. The White Sox should improve again in 2026....say win 71 games. (Side note: They also have the #1 pick in the draft that is loaded.)

CLEVELAND GUARDIANS

Unless your name is Jose Ramirez, the Guardians likely will not extend you. This is Cleveland's baseball team. Now, under the reins of Paul Dolan, this will likely continue despite the Guardians being loaded with young talent. I see a division win for them.

DETROIT TIGERS

They were so close to making an ALCS appearance for the first time in 12 years, now they can continue the momentum and improve from last year. Yet they decided to lowball Tarik Skubal in arbitration, so they might trade him for pieces.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

The Royals were consistent but didn't improve from 2024. They didn't make any significant moves except acquire Matt Strahm and I smell an enormous season for Jac Caglianone while Bobby Witt Jr. will continue his ascent as one of the best players around.

MINNESOTA TWINS

The Pohlads were going to sell the team and everyone rejoiced. Then, they didn't and everyone is pissed. It's going to be a long season for the Twins as they figure out what direction this franchise is headed.

ANAHEIM ANGELS OF LOS ANGELES

Well, they are free from that Anthony Rendon contract and hopefully, can power through for the future.....then Arturo Moreno decided to say the quiet part out loud by saying that winning wasn't the top priority to fans. I really feel bad for the fans of the Anaheim Angels.

HOUSTON ASTROS

The Astros are hovering between playoffs and mediocrity. They have a hopefully, healthy Yordan Alvarez back and a full season of the return of Carlos Correa. Other than that, it's a wait-and-see approach when it comes to Houston.

Can you excuse me for a second?

(AJ) So, they put the name Sacramento on the front of the jersey?

(JN) Yes, they did.

(AJ) Now, are they called the Sacramento A's?

(JN) No, they are not.

(AJ) Are you serious?

ATHLETICS

Steps on how to piss off baseball fans as an owner

1. Put the name of your side chick city on front of the jersey

2. Show financial commitments to young players that you didn't do in your former city

3. Continue to play in a AAA stadium that players publicity hate

4. Continue to count the money on that shiny new stadium in a city that doesn't want them

Other than that, the Athletics should improve this season.

SEATTLE MARINERS

Julio Rodriguez screaming during Bryan Woo's interview after Game 7 has been a microcosm of the Mariners franchise to this point. They go into 2026 with an ax to grind as they use this heartbreak to finally reach the World Series.

TEXAS RANGERS

They went from World Series Champions to finding an identity in three years. Skip Schumaker is the skipper now that Bruce Bochy is retired...again. Adolis Garcia and Marcus Siemen are gone, but they have youngsters who can step up.

ATLANTA BRAVES

The Braves didn't exactly set the world on fire in 2025. Walt Weiss takes over as manager, but the question is, can Atlanta break past the failures of yesteryear and bring another World Series title? Who knows.

MIAMI MARLINS

The Fighting Fish had somewhat of a breakthrough in 2025. Kyle Stowers became a star, and Miami could be that team who can make some noise in the NL. The future should be bright for the Marlins......they are going to do the same (bleep) five years from now, huh?

NEW YORK MESS....ERR METS

After that epic, epic collapse, Daddy Cohen decided to open many more vaults and signed Bo Bichette, traded for Luis Robert Jr., Marcus Siemen and Freddy Peralta. While he is breathing, Daddy Cohen will keep the Mets from sinking....from now on.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

Another year, another phailure for Philadelphia. They re-signed Kyle Schwarber and added "El Bombi" (Adolis Garcia) to keep the Phils aphloat. Also, that whole Dave Dombrowski calling Bryce Harper "not elite" should not cause phriction

(You are probably tired of me replacing f's with ph's, I really don't care.)

WASHINGTON NATIONALS

It was a national disaster in 2025 as Dave Martinez and Mike Rizzo were shown the door and the Nats are doing a rebuild from a rebuild for 2016. James Wood, CJ Abrams and Dylan Crews are there in hopes for an uprising in 2026.

CHICAGO CUBS

The Cubs are there and hanging around near the top of the NL Central, so what is the holdup of advancing past the divisional round? Signing Alex Bregman could help as Chicago tries to get past that pesky divisional round.

(Also, weird that it's been ten years since the Cubs won the World Series.)

CINCINNATI REDS

Year one of the Terry Francona era was a success. Elly De La Cruz continues to impress as he's racing toward some brownie points for MVP. The rest of the Reds are sure to rise up and shock people if they go far in the playoffs.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS

This team seems to trip over themselves with certain trades.....oh, and because of this....

This franchise has the temerity to get to the promised land, then again, can they get over that hump in 2026?

PITTSBURGH PIRATES

They have the best pitcher in the NL, the #1 prospect in baseball, a nice roster on paper and a rabid fanbase, what can possibly be the reason why the Pirates can't succeed in 2026?

Yep, that will do it.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

Yes folks, the Cardinals of baseball has entered the abyss of rebuilding. The hopes of JJ Wetherholt and other young players could come to fruition in upcoming years. 2026 could be a downer.

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

The D-Backs did what they usually do in the off-season, make moves to see what sticks. Trading for Nolan Arenado, re-signing Merrill Kelly and THE MILKMAN...

....could work wonders for the Snakes. Key word is could.

COLORADO ROCKIES

2025 was the season that Denver's baseball team hit (sigh) rock bottom. They made changes in the general manager and manager positions, but will it help, who knows and for diehard baseball fans, let's hope for a positive outlook.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS

For the first time in 25 years, a team went back-to-back in World Series championships. The Dodgers could sit on their laurels and not do anything that can shake up the baseball world and cause anyone to be upset and call for a salary cap...

Yep, that'll do it.

SAN DIEGO PADRES

Ever since Peter Seider passed, the Padres lost their identity. I mean, they still have Machado and Tatis Jr., but are they still pushing for the playoffs or are they going to fall back a bit? Strange things happening in the 619.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

Buster Posey wants to make a splash, so why not hire Tony Vitello as the first college coach to become a MLB manager. Can the Giants overcome lost expectations and breakthrough in 2026?

Well, this year, ABS is making umpires less than perfect and baseball is back on NBC. Should be an exciting 2026....with a potential lockout looming.

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