The pop of the mitt. The crack of the bat. Gamers speaking about being in one of the best form of their lives.
Whilst many people work to dig out from beneath the newest snowfall that disrupted the weekend, the sounds of spring shall be right here earlier than we all know it.
It’s comforting to know that the beginning of Spring Coaching is just a pair weeks away, however which groups have finished essentially the most to justify the joy as we glance towards the 2026 season?
Right here’s a have a look at seven groups which have had spectacular winters. This isn’t meant to be seen because the seven groups that ought to be favored heading into the season, however slightly those who have made strikes to place themselves in a greater place than they have been final yr.
Had the two-time defending World Collection champions determined to run it again with the identical group that hoisted the Commissioner’s Trophy in October, the Dodgers would seemingly have entered the season as favorites to win all of it once more. However that’s not the Dodgers’ means.
As an alternative, Los Angeles doled out a three-year, $69 million contract to Edwin Díaz, the highest nearer on the free-agent market, to bolster one of many few bother spots on the roster. Greater than a month later, the Dodgers made arguably the most important transfer of the offseason, signing Kyle Tucker – the No. 1 participant in free company – to a four-year, $240 million deal, including the four-time All-Star to an already loaded lineup.
After profitable two straight championships, the Dodgers added one of the best hitter and greatest nearer in the marketplace. If that’s not a powerful offseason, I’m unsure what’s.
The defending American League champs struck early this winter with the signing of Dylan Stop to a seven-year, $210 million contract, including a frontline starter to a rotation that was dropping Chris Bassitt and Max Scherzer. Toronto additionally signed Cody Ponce, who went 17-1 with a 1.89 ERA final season in Korea, to bolster the rotation, whereas Tyler Rogers was added to beef up the bullpen.
Though the Blue Jays missed out on Tucker after an aggressive pursuit, they did add Kazuma Okamoto, a 29-year-old power-hitting infielder who is anticipated to see the majority of time at third base. Sure, Toronto misplaced Bo Bichette, however with Andrés Giménez in a position to slide over to shortstop and Ernie Clement and Davis Schneider able to overlaying second base, the Jays have been set as much as deal with life with out Bichette.
The Blue Jays put all of it collectively in 2025 and got here tantalizingly near profitable their first World Collection since 1993. The strikes this offseason have them in place to take that last step in 2026.
The Mets have been lively within the month main as much as Christmas, buying and selling Brandon Nimmo for Marcus Semien whereas signing Jorge Polanco, Devin Williams and Luke Weaver. But after watching Díaz signal with the Dodgers and Pete Alonso depart for the Orioles, the general public notion was that the Mets have been having a dismal offseason.
That every one modified final week.
Within the span of some days, New York traded for White Sox middle fielder Luis Robert Jr. to solidify an enormous gap within the lineup, signed Bichette to a three-year, $126 million contract to play third base, then made what could have been a very powerful transfer, buying Brewers ace Freddy Peralta for prime prospects Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat.
After lacking the postseason in 2025, the Mets have turned over 30 % of their 40-man roster, giving them a brand-new look heading into 2026 as they search a return to October.
Just like the Mets, the Cubs reworked a sluggish winter into a really stable one within the span of some days, first buying and selling for right-hander Edward Cabrera in a cope with the Marlins, including him to a rotation that had already returned Shota Imanaga after he accepted a qualifying provide in November.
Solely days later, Chicago got here to phrases on a five-year, $175 million cope with Alex Bregman, the membership’s largest free-agent signing since Dansby Swanson ($177 million) three years in the past, and the third-biggest assured complete in franchise historical past after Swanson and Jason Heyward ($184 million). The Cubs additionally signed Tyler Austin, who has had success over the previous six years in Japan, including depth to its bench.
Previous to the Cabrera and Bregman strikes, the Cubs had centered on upgrading the bullpen, which was dealing with the lack of Brad Keller, Drew Pomeranz and Andrew Kittredge, amongst others. Chicago pivoted shortly and successfully with the additions of Phil Maton, Jacob Webb, Hoby Milner and Hunter Harvey, reshaping a bunch that ranked fifth within the NL in bullpen ERA (3.78) final season.
After watching president of baseball operations Mike Elias construct up a younger core of gamers, we’ve been ready to see all of it come collectively for Baltimore.
Elias got here by with an enormous offseason, beginning off with a commerce for Taylor Ward, including a much-needed outfield bat to the lineup. It got here at a probably steep worth (Grayson Rodriguez), however the Orioles play within the hardest division in baseball and are in win-now mode, making such a threat value taking.
Ryan Helsley signed a two-year, $28 million deal to develop into Baltimore’s new nearer, changing into solely the second free agent to land a multi-year deal throughout Elias’ tenure. It didn’t take lengthy for the Orioles to spice up that listing to a few, as Baltimore signed Alonso to a five-year, $155 million contract, making the most important free-agent splash in franchise historical past. Alonso’s deal trails solely Chris Davis’ seven-year, $161 million contract when it comes to complete assure. The Orioles wanted to ship a message that they have been critical about contending after a disappointing 2025, which they did with the Alonso signing.
A bit of greater than per week after signing Alonso, Elias made one other large transfer, buying and selling 4 prospects and a Draft decide to the Rays for right-hander Shane Baz. Zach Eflin additionally returned on a brand new deal, strengthening a rotation that additionally contains Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers and Dean Kremer. The Orioles won’t be finished, both; they proceed to be linked to free-agent lefty Framber Valdez, who would give Baltimore the workhorse atop the rotation it nonetheless lacks.
Whereas the primary 5 groups on our listing have all been to the postseason lately, the Pirates haven’t performed into October since 2015. Early within the offseason, phrase was that Pittsburgh was able to spend some cash this winter, although no person anticipated them to dive into the highest finish of the free-agent market.
Nonetheless, the Pirates hadn’t signed a free agent to a multi-year deal since Ivan Nova in December 2016, and no free-agent hitter had acquired a multi-year contract since John Jaso a yr earlier than that. That modified this winter when the Pirates signed All-Star Ryan O’Hearn to a two-year, $29 million deal, whereas the Pirates additionally acquired two-time All-Star Brandon Lowe. The additions of O’Hearn and Lowe ought to assist a lineup that ranked final within the NL in runs scored in 2025, whereas Mason Montgomery (acquired within the Lowe commerce) and Gregory Soto (one yr, $7.75 million free-agent deal) ought to assist fortify the bullpen.
Throw within the commerce for middle fielder Jhostynxon Garcia – who ranked because the No. 3 prospect for the Purple Sox and presents offensive upside – and the Pirates have had a stable winter as they take intention at their first profitable season since 2018.
Just like the Pirates, a profitable winter for the White Sox was going to be seen in another way than among the league’s heavy hitters. Chicago stunned all people with its two-year, $34 million cope with Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami, who could finally be seen as a steal if his prodigious energy can translate to the Majors.
The White Sox additionally signed left-hander Anthony Kay, who posted a 1.74 ERA in 155 innings final season in Japan. Chicago had success a couple of years in the past when it introduced again Erick Fedde to the Majors, and if Kay – who signed a two-year, $12 million deal – can have comparable outcomes, the White Sox could have a stable commerce chip to make use of both this season or subsequent.
Chicago added Seranthony Domínguez on a two-year, $20 million deal, whereas Sean Newcomb – who was thought-about by many to be among the best left-handed relievers on the free-agent market – took a one-year, $4.5 million deal to affix the Sox. These signings will assist a bullpen that ranked tenth within the AL with a 4.16 ERA, and so they may wind up giving the Sox extra invaluable chips to make use of on the Commerce Deadline.
Final week, Chicago dealt Luis Robert Jr. to the Mets for infielder Luisangel Acuña and righty Truman Pauley, including extra younger, controllable expertise to the roster whereas lastly bringing an finish to the commerce hypothesis that had lengthy surrounded Robert. The White Sox additionally rolled the cube on former prime prospect Jarred Kelenic, signing him to a Minor League deal.
