NEW YORK, NY — Welcome to the Show, Major League Baseball in 2026. A short offseason of activity with roster moves, big name contracts signed, the beginning of an automated-ball strike challenge system (ABS), early season looks, and a race to play baseball in October.
And the topic with focus, will there be baseball next year as a new collective and contentious bargaining agreement with players and owners will drag with a salary cap issue in the balance. So enjoy the show now until October and hope for more in 2027. A thrilling World Baseball Classic and Venezuela win was just a tease.
Venezuela defeated Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic Championship earlier this month, marking the country’s first-ever WBC title – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Seems like it was yesterday, we had Game 7 of the Dodgers-Blue Jays World Series, closing a memorable baseball season on a high note. The Dodgers have become a dynasty and very few teams have that opportunity to deny them of going back-to-back-to-back which has also become a topic with this salary cap issue and talk of parity.
I won’t predict who will sprint to October, it’s a long marathon. And we have witnessed the unexpected since the expansion of a third wild card which definitely has retained interest of the old and known pennant race down to the wire.
A veteran scout said to me days ago: “Enjoy the ride because there may not be one next year, baseball is in a situation of hit and miss and the game can’t afford another long and vicious lockout with players and owners.”
Opening Day is right around the corner with MLB’s 2026 regular season set to begin this week on Wednesday night and Thursday – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Again, the Dodgers, Yankees, Mets and their vast payrolls. And the AL East included with the Yankees, Blue Jays, Red Sox, and even the pesky Rays could be a nail biter with improvements all around. Of course the Dodgers, Yankees, and Mets—three of the highest payroll structured teams should be in the mix, though questions will arise as they always do during a 162-game season.
The Mariners, Tigers, Guardians, Phillies, and Braves? And two All star pitchers, the reigning Cy Young Award winners in the NL with Paul Skenes (Pirates) and AL with Tarik Skubal (Tigers), should be favored to win their respective league’s award once again. Skubal, though in that walk year of a contract, is a key for the Tigers and hopes to return again to the postseason.
Tarik Skubal will be a free agent at the end of the 2026 season, making for many questions in the pitching free agent market and which teams will line up for his services – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Yes, it’s a show and finding your team on a televised network will require some research as the complexion of streaming has put everything upside down. Netflix is in, which is hard for a purist to understand with the billion dollar network broadcasting Opening Day baseball Yankees at Giants Wednesday evening. What happened to that traditional opener in Cincinnati and the Reds?
So with that and more to address, here is my brief analysis of the 2026 show. Start with the AL today and a look at the NL later in the week. Baseball, regardless of the controversy and salary cap issues, means a new beginning, hope. And what’s better than looking at green grass, hearing a crack of the bat, or watching a ball hit hard out of the yard?
AL EAST – Has potential as the best division in baseball as the Yankees, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Orioles and Rays all should compete down the stretch for the division crown or wild card. The Yankees running it back with almost the entire roster return from that disappointing exit of last October to the Blue Jays. A key return of Cody Bellinger, the Aaron Judge home run watch, and a healthy Giancarlo Stanton?
Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge will look to bring the Yankees back to the postseason in their quest for the AL East division title – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Ben Rice, Austin Wells, and Anthony Volpe’s breakout? Jazz Chisholm Jr. looking at more than a 30-30 season, José Caballero, a solid defender and threat on the bases.
Trent Grisham after a career year, can he top that? And Gerrit Cole returns to the starting rotation in early June with Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, and the continued emergence of Cam Schlittler.
Blue Jays runner ups in the World Series and no longer with Bo Bichette, he’s a Met, recording the fourth most runs scored last year, Vladimir Guerrero Jr, a veteran 36-year old George Springer, Japanese free agent Kazuma Okamoto with contact, depth of lineup, and overall good pitching return.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Blue Jays won the 2025 AL East division title on a tie-breaker with the Yankees and later eliminated NYY in the 2025 ALDS – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Red Sox with depth and prospects Franklin Arias, and Dorian Soto. Mention Roman Anthony as a young star, Ranger Suárez also a good addition to a rotation with a healthy Garrett Crochet. The Orioles signed Pete Alonso and Camden Yards will be good for the former Mets home run hitter. Pitching will determine where they stand at the end. The Rays return to a refurbished Tropicana Field in Tampa.
AL CENTRAL – Never count out the Guardians, led by José Ramírez with 30-HR and 44 SB in 2025, along with veterans and rookie Chase Delauter. The Tigers around Skubal (AL CY Young) and addition of Framber Valdez to their rotation. Gleyber Torres is a run producer, rookie Kevin McGonigle a good bat and defensive gem at shortstop.
Gleyber Torres and the Detroit Tigers will look to carry their momentum from the 2025 postseason into 2026 – Image Credit: Larry C. Arreguin/Latino Sports
Royals will always be in the mix, thanks to Bobby Witt Jr., veteran Salvador Pérez, and the 2026 WBC MVP Maikel García. The Twins are rebuilding as are the White Sox, though who will be the first team to lose 100 games?
AL WEST – Mariners tied for ninth in runs scored last year and with AL MVP runner-up Cal Raleigh, the first catcher in MLB history to hit 60 home runs in a season. Julio Rodríguez can put up MVP numbers, while Josh Naylor remains a catalyst in lineup as is newly acquired Brendan Donovan as an RBI threat with power of Randy Arozarena. They are seeking an October return and the franchise’s first World Series title, but it all comes to if their pitching stays healthy and gets length from starters.
Julio Rodríguez and the Mariners fell to the Blue Jays in Game 7 of the 2025 ALCS, resulting in an even more hungry Seattle club for 2026 – Image Credit: Francisco Rodriguez/Latino Sports
Astros on the decline after a decade of postseason runs and success. They still have José Altuve and Carlos Correa for an entire year but probably time to begin the rebuild. The Texas Rangers added Brandon Nimmo, and Danny Jansen as Marcus Semien got sent to the Mets for Nimmo. Lookout for a breakout year from Evan Carter. Two-time World Series MVP Corey Seager can lead the offense and pitching will tell where they are headed as the season progresses. Remember, a healthy Jacob deGrom in the rotation does go a long way.
The A’s are young and competitive, they will be a part of the show and prepare to move away from Sacramento and hit Las Vegas with a new stadium on the strip. Ownership doing their best to field a competitive team in Sacramento and lock in contracts with the youngsters. Still teams are aware the A’s come to play.
The A’s and their young core have the potential to shake up a lot of projections in the American League – Image Credit: Francisco Rodriguez/Latino Sports
And the Angels? A forgotten team and probably headed to another next to or last place finish in the AL West. Taylor Ward, their power hitter, was traded to the Orioles. Mike Trout and that contract, a championship ring or postseason appearance is probably not in the cards again.
And my 24th year covering MLB for LatinoSports.com. The team will also be there on the field, in the clubhouse, and up in the press box. We got you covered.
Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and columnist at LatinoSports.com with coverage of MLB, boxing, and MLS – X: @Ring786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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