As we shut the guide on 2025 and have fun the groups that loved an amazing 12 months, the groups that didn’t ought to hold this in thoughts: One 12 months could make an enormous distinction.
Simply ask the Blue Jays. In 2025, they reached a World Sequence that they got here this near successful (a number of occasions). However in 2024? They completed the 12 months in final place after enduring months of hypothesis that they may simply commerce Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and begin over.
It may well flip round for you quick. In each instructions.
So with 2026 simply days away, we glance at the moment at six groups that aren’t precisely doing backflips about how 2025 turned out however have all types of causes to be optimistic concerning the new 12 months. Even after a season wherein issues didn’t go too properly, the seeds might have been planted for a greater tomorrow.
Athletics2025: 76-86 (4th in AL West)
The crew’s first 12 months in West Sacramento didn’t go all that properly, which most likely ought to have been anticipated; it was, in any case, the primary 12 months of a somewhat unconventional association. However when you’re going to have a 12 months wherein you lose 86 video games and are by no means actually within the playoff chase, you’d prefer it to be one wherein you emerge because the crew with essentially the most thrilling batch of younger hitters in your complete sport.
Tyler Soderstrom, Jacob Wilson, Lawrence Butler, Max Muncy, Denzel Clarke and, after all, Nick Kurtz (the AL Rookie of the Yr who mainly hit like Aaron Choose upon being known as up) are all 25 years previous or youthful, with every man below crew management for years to return. Add to that Brent Rooker (31, and signed to a long-term deal) and the newly acquired Jeff McNeil, and also you’ve received one of many extra fascinating, high-ceiling lineups in baseball.
Clearly, the A’s nonetheless want pitching assist, one thing they’ve but to deal with this offseason, save the small addition of veteran reliever Mark Leiter Jr. However with an offense like this, you solely must make the pitching satisfactory. This seems to be like a .500 crew on the very least, with the upside to do much more.
Braves2025: 76-86 (4th in NL East)
After a 2024 that felt largely snakebit, due to a seemingly infinite variety of accidents, the Braves have been hopeful that ’25 can be a return to regular, the comeback of a crew that gained the World Sequence in ’21 and gained 101-plus video games every of the 2 years afterward. It didn’t end up that manner.
Accidents have been an issue once more, however they have been hardly the one problem; the Braves began 0-7 and simply have been by no means in a position to actually get their season on observe. Nonetheless, pitching accidents have been the story of 2025, and all these pitchers, save for AJ Smith-Shawver, must be again and able to go by Opening Day. The actual query is whether or not the offensive declines we noticed from some main gamers are everlasting or short-term. The stats for Matt Olson, Michael Harris II, Austin Riley and Ozzie Albies have been manner down in 2025, and the Braves are relying on them to bounce again in ’26.
Nationals2025: 66-96 (fifth in NL East)
Whenever you haven’t had a successful season since earlier than the pandemic — even when that 2019 season led to a World Sequence title — it’s most likely an indication that you simply want some recent eyes main your group. The Nationals definitely have that, with a 33-year-old supervisor, a 35-year-old president of baseball operations and a 31-year-old basic supervisor. Crusty previous salts, they’re not.
However it is sensible to place youth in command of this franchise, as a result of the entire basis of the Nats is youthful: Just one participant of their projected beginning lineup is older than 25, and that’s Keibert Ruiz, who is simply 27. The subsequent step is for these younger gamers to make leaps ahead, and there’s each motive to assume that James Wooden, Dylan Crews and even Daylen Lile could also be able to do exactly that.
Nats followers have been ready for all that youth — on the sphere, and now in dugout and the entrance workplace — to translate into on-field success. This could be that 12 months.
Orioles2025: 75-87 (fifth in AL East)
No crew has been extra aggressive than the Orioles this offseason, and for good motive: After a pair of disappointing postseasons and a very depressing 2025, that Group Of The Future label all people placed on the Orioles was beginning to collect just a little mould.
Thus, listed below are Pete Alonso and Ryan Helsley and Taylor Ward and Shane Baz, with absolutely extra additions but to be made. The Orioles, just like the Nats, want a few of their younger hitters to start out enjoying like the celebs they’ve been grooming them to be, however the entrance workplace, sensing the urgency right here, has eventually given them extra help.
If one other big-time beginning pitcher finally ends up signing in Baltimore, there’s each motive to consider the Orioles’ consolidation season, the one when all of it comes collectively, might be 2026.
Pirates2025: 71-91 (fifth in NL Central)
What do you do when you’ve got maybe one of the best pitcher in baseball, Paul Skenes, and he’s not even eligible for wage arbitration but? It’s a must to, lastly, after 10 straight seasons of lacking the playoffs, construct round him aggressively.
The Pirates nonetheless have extra to do, however their latest exercise (buying and selling for Brandon Lowe and Jake Mangum and signing Ryan O’Hearn) has been an encouraging begin. O’Hearn (125 OPS+) and Lowe (116) each have observe information as well-above-average hitters, and that’s an enormous improve for a Pirates offense that in 2025 had precisely one participant (Spencer Horwitz) hit at higher than league common in any variety of plate appearances. And there’s nonetheless room so as to add one other energy bat right here, to make sure. The Pirates won’t find yourself with the top-dollar guys, however if you’ve received Skenes, to not point out a complete rotation of promising younger pitchers, you won’t want them.
White Sox2025: 60-102 (fifth in AL Central)
The signing of Munetaka Murakami stunned many across the baseball business, but it surely most likely shouldn’t have. The White Sox have the look of a crew on the come-up proper now. Positive, they misplaced 102 video games final 12 months, however keep in mind, that’s a 19-game enchancment from 2024 and, extra to the purpose, they have been a good 9 video games below .500 after the All-Star break and performed competitively all through September.
Are they a World Sequence contender but? No. However they’re not going to lose 100 video games once more for fairly a while. And within the AL Central … they might be preventing for a division title earlier than you assume.
