There are six MLB groups with an energetic streak of no less than three consecutive seasons under .500, however because the offseason kicks into excessive gear forward of subsequent week’s Winter Conferences, every of these six have causes to really feel eager for the long run.
There are many holes to fill on these rosters, however the Scorching Range supplies loads of alternatives to just do that. And every of those groups has positives to level towards. So here’s a nearer take a look at these six golf equipment: What has gone fallacious, what they’ve going for them, what they could do to finish their streak of dropping seasons … and the probabilities that they really will.
Athletics (76-86 in 2025)Final successful season: 2021
What has gone fallacious: Properly, it’s truthful to say the A’s have had a tumultuous few years since their final successful season. It could be asking lots of any crew to maintain a gentle ship amidst all of the motion and transition the A’s have been coping with, however at the same time as they performed their first season in West Sacramento as they put together for his or her eventual transfer to Las Vegas, the issue stays easy: Pitching. The A’s at all times have hitters — and so they have much more than typical now — however the previous “Moneyball” A’s days of Barry Zito, Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder and the gang appear lengthy previously. The A’s simply haven’t been in a position to put collectively a full pitching workers, for some time now, and it most likely didn’t assist that Sutter Well being Park performed very hitter-friendly within the crew’s first season there.
What goes in the precise course: Significantly, take a look at these hitters. Tyler Soderstrom. Jacob Wilson. Lawrence Butler. Max Muncy (the opposite one). Zack Gelof. Denzel Clarke. Shea Langeliers. And naturally, reigning AL Rookie of the Yr Nick Kurtz, who was merely among the finest hitters within the sport final 12 months. And all these guys are of their 20s, most of them of their early 20s. And we haven’t even talked about Brent Rooker but, who simply had one other high quality 12 months at age 30. The A’s are going to attain runs, and lots of them, and so they’re going to take action for a number of years to return.
Probabilities the streak ends in 2026 (scale of 1-10): Seven. The A’s doubtless gained’t be swimming on the high of the pitching market, however they don’t have to: They only want some league-average arms to help that lineup. If they’ll discover them … this seems very very like a .500 crew. And perhaps even higher.
White Sox (60-102 in 2025)Final successful season: 2021
What has gone fallacious: Their 2024 season was one of many worst in baseball historical past. They final had a successful season when Tony La Russa was the supervisor, and that once-promising period of White Sox baseball by no means fairly materialized prefer it appeared it might. A lot of the crew’s struggles since then have been a results of a rebuilding course of that’s nonetheless ongoing.
What goes in the precise course: It certain won’t look that means while you see that “102” quantity within the loss column up there, however final 12 months was an enormous enchancment for the White Sox. They have been 19 wins higher in 2025, and that’s nothing to slough off. And it has been thrilling to see among the younger gamers they’ve been ready on start to make their method to the South Facet, most notably shortstop Colson Montgomery, who was their greatest participant final 12 months and completed fifth in AL Rookie of the Yr voting regardless of taking part in solely 71 video games. They’ve boosted their system by way of trades, too — Chase Meidroth, Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero and Miguel Vargas, all of their 20s like Montgomery, are right here — and outfielder Braden Montgomery is subsequent. It might nonetheless be some time, however there are glints of sunshine right here.
What they should repair: The White Sox don’t simply have place gamers of their 20s: Their complete rotation, led by final offseason’s Rule 5 Draft decide Shane Smith, is stuffed with twentysomethings, too. Or no less than it was till the crew reached an settlement Wednesday with 30-year-old lefty Anthony Kay to lure him again from Japan after two profitable NPB seasons. Perhaps yet one more mid-level free-agent arm to assist fill innings will assist, however the perfect factor the White Sox can do is let their younger guys proceed to marinate.
Probabilities the streak ends in 2026 (scale of 1-10): Two. One other enchancment of 19 video games would put them at 79-83, and so they don’t look prepared for that but. However the constructing blocks for a successful crew in 2027 are very a lot right here, proper now.
Nationals (66-96 in 2025)Final successful season: 2019
What has gone fallacious: It’s been an enormous battle for the Nats following their 2019 World Collection title. And that’s regardless of having Juan Soto the three years after that after which buying and selling him for a bounty of prospects who’re presently the crew’s subsequent massive stars. That they weren’t in a position to benefit from that’s the reason Mike Rizzo is not main baseball operations in Washington.
What goes in the precise course: 4 of the gamers they acquired for Soto — pitcher MacKenzie Gore, CJ Abrams and outfielders James Wooden and Robert Hassell III — ought to be within the Opening Day lineup subsequent 12 months, barring a commerce of Gore or Abrams this offseason. (One other piece acquired for Soto, hard-throwing righty Jarlin Susana, remains to be simply 21 and the crew’s No. 3 prospect, per MLB Pipeline. He might arrive in 2026.) In the meantime, 2023 No. 2 total decide Dylan Crews, who might find yourself higher than all of them, can be in there, too. Your complete projected lineup is 27 or youthful, as is many of the rotation. The youth motion is right here. Now it must percolate.
What they should repair: Heck, even the brand new president of baseball operations (Paul Toboni, 35) and supervisor (Blake Butera, 33) are younger right here. The Nats aren’t beginning over, although: They’re making an attempt to make the expertise they presently have pop. Some bullpen additions would assist, too, after final 12 months’s ‘pen completed final within the Majors with a 5.59 ERA.
Probabilities the streak ends in 2026 (scale of 1-10): Three. We’ve been ready for “the 12 months the Nats flip the nook” for some time now, and this division could also be too sturdy for it to be 2026. However the uncooked materials is definitely right here.
Pirates (71-91 in 2025)Final successful season: 2018
What has gone fallacious: The Pirates’ greatest hitter over the previous three seasons has been Bryan Reynolds, however the second greatest has very probably been Andrew McCutchen. That labored within the 2010s, when Cutch was a perennial MVP candidate, however he’s now 39 and a DH. The Pirates have been strong at creating younger pitching, however a lot much less so with bats, and the spending that will have been wanted to carry some in has not been there. They’ve truly been somewhat higher than you would possibly assume the previous few years, nevertheless it has nonetheless been practically a decade since they completed increased than fourth within the NL Central.
What goes in the precise course: They’ve acquired this man named Paul Skenes, and he’s tremendous good. The NL Cy Younger Award winner’s profession is off to one of many biggest begins in MLB historical past, and he’s on report saying he thinks, terrifyingly, he has lots of enchancment left in entrance of him. He’s not alone in that rotation, by the way in which: Mitch Keller is a superbly strong No. 2, and Bubba Chandler, their Minor League pitcher of the 12 months final season, ought to be a captivating No. 3 in 2026.
What they should repair: Yeah, they should get some hitters in right here, and quick, to capitalize on having an elite, cost-controlled ace atop their rotation. They may most likely should spend to get some, however it might additionally assist if Oneil Cruz would flip all these instruments into outcomes. He higher hurry, too: He’s already 27.
Probabilities the streak ends in 2026 (scale of 1-10): 4. There have been rumblings that the Pirates can be extra aggressive this offseason, however we’ll see in the event that they observe by way of. However having Skenes take the mound each fifth day is the envy of the remainder of baseball.
Rockies (43-119 in 2025)Final successful season: 2018
What has gone fallacious: Properly, they misplaced 119 video games final 12 months, though after a really nightmarish 13-57 (.186) begin, they have been 30-62 (.326) the remainder of the way in which, which was solely 4 video games behind the Twins for the worst report within the Majors over that span. The Coors Area riddle, humidor or not, continues to vex the Rockies, and the organizational inertia — which they lastly appear to have addressed — has at all times appeared to impede the mandatory modifications.
What goes in the precise course: You don’t want to look at “Moneyball” to know that Paul DePodesta comes with a powerful résumé (in baseball, anyway) and, maybe extra necessary than anything, a contemporary perspective. By hiring him, the Rockies might have admitted that’s what they wanted greater than something. Additionally, a lineup in a few years with Hunter Goodman, Ethan Holliday and Charlie Condon in it appears a lot promising.
What they should repair: That is ceaselessly the Rockies’ conundrum, however for what it’s value, the pitching was higher than the hitting was final 12 months. Perhaps it’s time to get again to the Blake Road Bombers period?
Probabilities the streak ends in 2026 (scale of 1-10): One. You want the brand new voices that appear to be coming into the group. However they’ll want a 19-game enchancment just like the White Sox simply needed to even get again to 100 losses. However the course of has ultimately begun.
Angels (72-90 in 2025)Final successful season: 2015
What has gone fallacious: Properly, Mike Trout has by no means gained a playoff sport: Let’s begin with that. The Angels have tried to spend away their issues, and it retains going badly for them. It’s to their credit score that they proceed to attempt to win yearly, that they by no means tear it down and begin over, not so long as Trout is right here. Nevertheless it’s additionally to not their credit score.
What goes in the precise course: There’s extra younger expertise right here than you most likely understand. You certain might do lots worse than a younger core of Nolan Schanuel, Zach Neto, Logan O’Hoppe and the finally-breaking-out Jo Adell. Trout hasn’t been in a position to keep wholesome and isn’t a celebrity anymore, however he’s nonetheless Mike Trout. Even diminished, he had a 121 OPS+ final 12 months.
What they should repair: Pitching, pitching, pitching. It’s at all times pitching. The commerce for Grayson Rodriguez and the signing of Alek Manoah present that they’re ceding nothing, that they’re nonetheless looking out and striving to win, for higher or worse. However significantly, extra pitching.
Probabilities the streak ends in 2026 (scale of 1-10): Three. The division retains getting higher, which is a headache for them: They could have missed a window to sneak into second place. However that they’re actively trying so as to add guys — effectively, they’re no less than, perpetually, going for it.
