Previewing Every MLB Team's Biggest '25-26 Offseason Decision
While around half the league is currently focused on securing a postseason spot and ultimately doing damage in October, there are plenty of other clubs just playing out the remainder of the 2025 slate before they can begin making offseason decisions.
Heck, while executives for the teams in the playoff picture will tell you they are 100 percent focused on this season, it would be malpractice not to at least be thinking about how they will proceed with key offseason decisions in the winter.
So with two weeks left in the regular season, here's a look at the biggest offseason decision facing every MLB team.
AL East
1 of 6
Toronto Blue Jays: Can they re-sign Bo Bichette?
After a nightmarish 2024 season, Bo Bichette has bounced back in 2025 to lead baseball in both hits (181) and doubles (44). He's been a major reason why the Blue Jays have the best record in the American League.
Toronto would certainly like to re-sign the 27-year-old, pairing him with Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who signed a 14-year, $500 million extension back in April.
But general manager Ross Atkins will likely first have to see Bichette decline a qualifying offer and test free agency. The Blue Jays have shown a willingness to offer big money over the last few years, but it will be interesting to see what happens if the Los Angeles Dodgers make a play for Bichette.
New York Yankees: What does Cody Bellinger's future entail?
This isn't NL MVP Cody Bellinger, but the Yankees have gotten really strong offensive production—28 home runs, 93 RBI, .828 OPS—from Bellinger. His swing obviously makes him a great fit to play 81 games a year at Yankee Stadium.
Additionally, Bellinger remains very flexible in the field, having spent time at first base and all three outfield positions for Aaron Boone in 2025.
Bellinger, still only 30, is going to opt out of the final year of his three-year, $80 million deal and return to the open market. Considering he won't be eligible to receive a qualifying offer, the Yankees will probably be the team most motivated to pay Bellinger. With the season-to-season volatility Bellinger has had in his career, he might have trouble getting as many years as he wants. But at the very least, he'll get another lucrative three-year deal.
Boston Red Sox: Does Alex Bregman re-sign after opting out?
Alex Bregman is going to opt out of the final two seasons of his three-year, $120 million deal and return to free agency. Both because he won't have a qualifying offer attached to him and because he'll be coming off of one of the best seasons of his career, Bregman's second trip into free agency should be more fruitful than the first.
With an .835 OPS over 104 games, Bregman has put together his best season since he was runner-up for AL MVP in 2019. He's also a strong defender at third base, who has middle infield experience and is considered one of the best clubhouse leaders in the sport.
Bregman will be entering his age-32 season, but is expected to receive a five-year deal this offseason. With such a talented young roster, the Red Sox would surely love to keep his veteran presence around.
Tampa Bay Rays: Do they keep Yandy Díaz and Brandon Lowe?
President of baseball operations Erik Neander has already picked up Yandy Díaz's $12 million club option for 2026, and the guess is he'll do the same with Brandon Lowe's $11.5 million option, rather than taking the $500,000 buyout.
However, picking up both of those options doesn't necessarily mean that both or either will actually play for the Rays in 2026.
If the Rays listened to offers on Díaz, there would be plenty of interest. The former AL batting champion is hitting .291 with 24 home runs, 79 RBI and an .825 OPS. He is 34 years old, but $12 million in 2026 looks like a bargain. His contract also contains a $10 million conditional club option that will vest at $13 million if Díaz has 500 plate appearances in 2026.
Lowe, who will be in a true contract year, might be even more likely to be dealt. Yes, he's spent his entire career in Tampa Bay and has 28 home runs and 75 RBI in 2025. Yet the 31-year-old hasn't exactly been an ironman in his career, and could walk for nothing after next season.
Baltimore Orioles: How do they fix their starting rotation?
President of baseball operations Mike Elias has made his name off of drafting and developing position players, but he's going to have to find a way to overhaul the pitching staff this winter if the O's are going to bounce back from a disastrous 2025.
Trevor Rogers has pitched like an ace, Kyle Bradish is back from Tommy John surgery and Grayson Rodriguez (right elbow debridement surgery) could play a factor for the team in 2026 after missing this whole year.
Still, this is a team that badly needs to make an external addition to the starting rotation if they want to make the most of the likely limited remaining years they have with Gunnar Henderson.
Framber Valdez, Dylan Cease, Ranger Suárez, Zac Gallen and Michael King will be among the top free-agent options, while Sandy Alcantara's name will certainly resurface in trade rumors.
Elias needs to add a big arm to the top of this rotation in the winter.
AL Central
2 of 6
Detroit Tigers: Can they extend Tarik Skubal?
Tarik Skubal is about to become the first pitcher to repeat as AL Cy Young Award winner since Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez in 1999 and 2000. After that, he'll try to lead the Tigers back to the World Series for the first time since 2012.
But Skubal—who has unquestionably been the best pitcher in baseball since the second half of the 2023 season—will be entering a contract year in 2026. The Tigers have to make a competitive offer to see if they can keep the face of their franchise from testing free agency after the '26 campaign.
It may be that Skubal, who will turn 29 in November, is intent on testing free agency after next season. But in the not-so-distant past, the Tigers were a major spender. Keeping Skubal around long-term is reason enough to reopen the checkbook.
Cleveland Guardians: What is the resolution of gambling investigation?
Both Luis Ortiz and Emmanuel Clase have been on the restricted list since July as part of a gambling investigation. That neither has been exonerated to this point doesn't leave you with a good feeling.
Presumably, if the end point of this investigation is that Ortiz and Clase are found guilty, they will receive lifetime bans. Ortiz is a talented arm, so his loss would burn, but not nearly as much as Clase, the reigning Mariano Rivera Award winner.
Beyond potentially losing two valuable arms, the Guardians will have to determine why two of their pitchers became susceptible to nefarious external influences and how they can restore trust with the rest of their clubhouse and fan base.
Kansas City Royals: How do they fix their outfield?
The Royals were a playoff team a year ago, despite not receiving competitive offensive production from their outfield. However, it has again been an issue in 2025, and it appears to be the major reason Kansas City is likely to miss the playoffs.
With nine defensive runs saved and 12 outs above average in center field, you can live with underwhelming offensive production from Kyle Isbel. But that formula only works if you get strong production in the corners, which the Royals haven't.
Jac Caglianone has underwhelmed in his rookie season, but the low-budget Royals are just going to have to hope that last year's No. 6 overall pick—who has world-class power—figures it out in 2026.
However, another corner outfield addition from outside the organization is in order this offseason. They aren't going to be players for Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger, but Cedric Mullins and Trent Grisham are among the outfielders who will be free agents. Bryan Reynolds and Nick Castellanos could be trade candidates.
General manager J.J. Picollo has done a lot right for the Royals, but he needs to stabilize the outfield in the winter.
Minnesota Twins: Do they continue to tear down their roster?
To recap, the Twins traded Carlos Correa, Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, Harrison Bader and Louis Varland, among others, during a trade-deadline firesale.
How the Pohlad Family—who have decided not to sell the team, after all—proceeds from here will be interesting. Will they continue a full-scale teardown, or will there be an effort to sign veterans this winter to try to put together a respectable team for 2026?
If the Twins are willing to bottom out, teams will be lined up to trade for Joe Ryan and Pablo López this offseason.
Chicago White Sox: Will they really pick up Luis Robert Jr.'s option?
Part of the argument for not taking pennies on the dollar and trading Luis Robert Jr. this summer was that the White Sox were willing to pick up his $20 million club option for 2026.
Well, now the rubber is going to meet the road.
According to Spotrac, the White Sox would only have $47.1 million in salary commitments for 2026 if they exercised the option. They can definitely afford to pick up Robert's option if they believe it will yield a return on investment.
The problem is that Robert has hit .223 with a .660 OPS since the start of the 2024 season. He also has a lengthy injury history, including a left hamstring strain that has prematurely ended his 2025 campaign.
It would just be too hard to justify committing $20 million to Robert in 2026. The guess here is that Chicago will decline his option and instead take the $2 million buyout.
AL West
3 of 6
Seattle Mariners: Can they convince hitters to sign?
The reason we recently predicted the Mariners would reach the World Series for the first time in franchise history is that they finally have an offense capable of matching what their pitching staff is at its best.
However, that's because, in addition to Cal Raleigh, Randy Arozarena, and Julio Rodríguez, Seattle's president of baseball operations, Jerry Dipoto, acquired both Eugenio Suárez and Josh Naylor at the trade deadline.
Re-signing Suárez—who has struggled in his second stint in Seattle—feels unlikely. He's hit just .213 with a .722 OPS in 189 career games at T-Mobile Park. He'll likely opt to sign in greener hitting pastures this offseason.
Dipoto recently told Darragh McDonald of MLB Trade Rumors that the M's are hopeful of retaining Naylor beyond this year. Getting the 28-year-old to sign on the dotted line might be more likely than Suárez, who has now seen an offensive dip twice when playing his home games at Seattle.
Houston Astros: Will Framber Valdez be re-signed?
Framber Valdez has been one of baseball's best pitchers since 2020, posting a 3.21 ERA across 961.1 innings pitched. In theory, that's someone you would like to re-sign.
However, Jim Crane's Astros have let Charlie Morton, Gerrit Cole, Justin Verlander, Carlos Correa and Alex Bregman walk for more money in free agency.
Both that history and the bizarre fallout after he appeared to purposely cross up catcher César Salazar earlier this month lead you to believe Valdez, 31, will be pitching elsewhere next season.
Texas Rangers: Does Bruce Bochy retire?
Even with Corey Seager (appendectomy) and Nathan Eovaldi (right rotator cuff) out, the Rangers have managed to remain in the race both for the AL West and final wild-card spot in the AL, a testament to manager Bruce Bochy.
But there's been no commitment from the 70-year-old on whether he'll return for a fourth year on the job next season. He would need a new contract to do so, and presumably, Texas would be happy to give the four-time World Series Champion skipper a short-term extension if he wants to continue. We just don't know.
If Bochy is going to retire in the near future, Texas might prefer it to be this offseason, rather than next. The Rangers have former NL Manager of the Year Skip Schumaker serving as a senior advisor this year. If Bochy retires, Schumaker could succeed him. If Bochy remains, Schumaker may be hired elsewhere.
Los Angeles Angels: Can Ron Washington return as manager?
Ron Washington has missed much of this season because he underwent quadruple bypass surgery in June. Washington indicated in August that he hoped to "finish what we started" by returning as manager next season.
Whether the 73-year-old will A) be given clearance to do so, and B) have his club option picked up for 2026 remains to be seen. The Angels could opt to remove the interim tag from Ray Montgomery, who had been Washington's bench coach, and make him the manager.
Ultimately, whoever is here is going to need much, much more pitching to work with.
Athletics: Will they be able to get any pitching help?
Don't look now, but the Athletics have the makings of what could be a World Series-caliber lineup in the not-so-distant future with Nick Kurtz, Brent Rooker, Jacob Wilson, and Lawrence Butler.
The problem for the A's is that they don't have nearly enough pitching. Spending at least two more seasons playing their home games at a minor-league park that pitchers have complained about is going to make it tough to attract arms with options.
Last offseason, the A's gave hazard pay to Luis Severino, who could become an offseason trade candidate after complaining about what it's been like to pitch at Sutter Health Park. In his defense, Severino has a 6.51 ERA in 14 home starts, as opposed to 3.11 in 13 on the road.
What the A's might need to do is trade for a few arms who haven't yet made their money and hope that they hit on them. If they do, they could be a sneaky contender next season.
NL East
4 of 6
Philadelphia Phillies: Is Kyle Schwarber re-signed?
All Kyle Schwarber has done since putting on a Phillies uniform is hit dingers at a Ruthian pace. His fourth season with the team has been the best, as Schwarber is an MVP candidate thanks to his career-high 52 home runs and 127 RBI, both of which lead the NL.
Beyond that, Schwarber is the leader for the Phillies, and losing him from that presence would also be devastating. Both Managing Partner John Middleton and President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski have publicly expressed a desire to retain Schwarber, and if we had to predict, that is what will happen. However, it's likely to come on a lucrative four- or five-year deal.
From there, the Phillies will have to decide how to proceed with their other free agents, a list that also includes Ranger Suárez, J.T. Realmuto, Harrison Bader, David Robertson and, if his $9 million club option isn't picked up, José Alvarado.
New York Mets: Will they pony up for Pete Alonso?
It sure felt last offseason like Pete Alonso was more interested in the Mets than the other way around. This offseason, now that he's set a new franchise record for career home runs, won't have a qualifying offer attached to him, and will be coming off a better season, Alonso might be less inclined to wait things out if the Mets aren't aggressive.
Earlier this month, the president of baseball operations, Dave Stearns, was asked about Alonso's future.
"Yeah, I'm not gonna get into the game of speculating what an offseason looks like when we're still in the middle of a season," Stearns told Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman of The New York Post. "But what I will say is I love Pete. [I] like him as a Met, like him as a person, he's a great guy in the clubhouse, I know what he means to our fan base, he has performed here, I'm thrilled we have him, and we'll go from there.
"He's having a really good year," Stearns continued. "And right now, I'm focused on doing everything we can as an organization to continue to support him to allow him to continue having a really good year, and have some of the big-moment type performance that he demonstrated he can have last year."
With 34 home runs and an .853 OPS, Alonso should be able to get a five-year deal in free agency this offseason, whether it's from the Mets or another team.
Miami Marlins: Do they trade Sandy Alcantara?
Sandy Alcantara struggled so much in the first half of the season that the Marlins—who seemed like locks to trade the former NL Cy Young Award winner at the trade deadline—chose to hold onto him.
But as Alcantara nears two years since having Tommy John surgery, he's started to get better results. After posting a 7.22 ERA over 18 starts this year, Alcantara has a 3.34 ERA in 11 outings since the All-Star Break.
In theory, the Marlins should still be trying to win with Alcántara, who only just turned 30, but we know that's not how they operate.
Alcantara will make $17.3 million in 2026, and his contract also contains a $21 million club option for 2027. If the Fish listen in earnest, Alcantara will probably be dealt at the MLB Winter Meetings.
Atlanta Braves: How much turnover will there be?
It feels like this is probably the end for manager Brian Snitker, although nothing has been firmly decided. The 69-year-old, however, has certainly not quelled retirement speculation.
Beyond a potential managerial change, an extremely disappointing season will leave the president of baseball operations, Alex Anthopoulos, to ponder how to fix the roster.
Marcell Ozuna is probably going to be allowed to leave in free agency after six seasons in Atlanta.
35-year-old closer Raisel Iglesias, despite a strong second half, might be as well.
The question will be whether the Braves shake up their core at all. Surely, they are going to pick up Ozzie Albies' $7 million player option for 2026. But considering he has a .687 OPS since the start of 2024, he might be a trade candidate.
Washington Nationals: Will they spend again?
When the Nationals won the World Series in 2019, they had the fifth-highest payroll in baseball. In 2025, they have the 24th-highest payroll in baseball. Part of that is because their young players like James Wood, MacKenzie Gore and CJ Abrams aren't yet expensive, but it's also because, since Ted Lerner passed in 2023, his kids haven't spent major money.
Let's be clear: D.C. is not a small market. While Mark Lerner and company have flirted with selling the team, at last check, they've decided to hold onto it. So they need to start spending again.
Yes, Gore is good, and you can still hope that Cade Cavalli and/or Josiah Gray pan out. But this organization needs multiple starters and relievers. They could use a big veteran bat, like Alonso.
The Nationals will be searching for a new head of baseball operations and manager this offseason, assuming they don't removed the interim tag from Miguel Cairo. But whoever is leading the team will only be successful if ownership makes a commitment to winning again.
NL Central
5 of 6
Milwaukee Brewers: Does Freddy Peralta become a trade candidate?
The Brewers are having their best season in franchise history, and will have a shot this October to win the club's first World Series. So we get it, Brewers fans don't want to hear about this right now.
However, the bottom line is that as players have become more expensive in recent years, the Brewers have generally either traded them or allowed them to walk. Devin Williams and Corbin Burnes were dealt before their contract years. Willy Adames walked in free agency last offseason. Could Freddy Peralta be the next star to leave Milwaukee?
Peralta was an All-Star and is headed for a top-five finish in NL Cy Young Award voting. It will be the biggest no-brainer of the offseason for the Brewers to pick up Peralta's $8 million club option for 2026. What general manager Matt Arnold does after that will be a much tougher decision.
Do the Brewers trade Peralta before his contract year, getting a nice return and handing over the keys in the starting rotation to Jacob Misiorowski and Quinn Priester? All of this is further complicated by the fact that Brandon Woodruff will be a free agent after the season.
Milwaukee could keep Peralta for 2026, knowing they could either trade him at the deadline or offer him a qualifying offer next offseason. But they won't get a better return for him than they would in the offseason.
Chicago Cubs: Do they re-sign Kyle Tucker?
You know how we mentioned that the D.C. isn't a small market in reference to the Nationals? Well, you know what's even less of a small market? Chicago. Yet owner Tom Ricketts pinches pennies, at least relative to how the Cubs should operate.
Ricketts could kill that narrative this offseason if he gives a megadeal to Kyle Tucker, who is a much better player than shown recently, as he's been playing through a hairline fracture in his right hand. However, ESPN's Kiley McDaniel recently polled MLB executives about the offseason and stated, "There was little confidence from those surveyed (none of whom work for the Cubs) about the Cubs winning a bidding war for Tucker."
Perhaps the Cubs could try to lure Schwarber back to Chicago in free agency if they aren't going to spend on Tucker. However, there's a deeper question of who prints money, given that their stadium is a tourist attraction, but it doesn't typically carry a top-five payroll most years.
Cincinnati Reds: Can they add a big bat?
Despite playing their home games at the hitter's haven that is Great American Ballpark, the Reds are only 13th in runs scored this season. Cincinnati has a rotation that would be scary if they reached the playoffs, but their offense might prevent that from happening.
Elly De La Cruz is a building block player in the lineup, but there are just a lot of guys around him. Matt McLain and Spencer Steer are worth continuing to give opportunities to, but the Reds desperately need a sure thing or two in their lineup.
When the Phillies visited Cincinnati earlier this year, you got the sense that the Reds might like to pursue Middletown, Ohio native Schwarber in free agency. Whether the $100+ million it will take to sign him or not remains to be seen, but adding a lineup anchor like that would completely change the Reds.
St. Louis Cardinals: How will Chaim Bloom operate in first offseason?
Chaim Bloom will succeed John Mozeliak as the president of baseball operations this offseason. He didn't get to reap the rewards of his player development in Boston, but considering the Red Sox have almost too many talented young position players, it's fair to say that Bloom will focus on rebuilding the farm system in St. Louis.
It will be interesting to see if he decides to bring in his own manager this offseason or sticks with Oli Marmol for another season.
Additionally, how active will the RedBirds be in free agency? Will they consider trading Sonny Gray and/or Nolan Arenado/will they be willing to waive their no-trade clauses? Does Bloom think Jordan Walker is salvageable?
The Cardinals probably won't be a World Series contender in 2026, but they will be one of the most interesting teams to follow in the offseason.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Will they try to put a team around Paul Skenes?
Whether it's Ben Cherington or someone else, the top baseball executive in Pittsburgh needs to have some financial backing from owner Bob Nutting to put a team around Paul Skenes this offseason.
Skenes won the NL Rookie of the Year in 2024 and leads the National League in ERA (1.92), ERA+ (225), FIP (2.35), WHIP (0.921), strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.21), and WAR (6.2), per FanGraphs. But despite having the likely NL Cy Young Award winner, the Pirates are 65-85.
The Pirates may never have a World Series team with Skenes, who will likely price his way out of their financial comfort zone in the not-so-distant future. But it can't just be that they bring Andrew McCutchen back every year as a way to try to distract fans from the fact that the owner is unwilling to spend. And if he's unable to, then he should sell the team.
NL West
6 of 6
Los Angeles Dodgers: King Tuck?
In the aforementioned story by ESPN's Kiley McDaniel on Kyle Tucker, this paragraph stood out.
"There was little confidence from those surveyed (none of whom work for the Cubs) about the Cubs winning a bidding war for Tucker. The Los Angeles Dodgers, longtime fans of Tucker, were mentioned by a number of industry insiders. We didn't ask about a projected team, so the Dodgers coming up often seems to be indicative of a feeling in the industry that they're the team to beat."
An outfield of Teoscar Hernández, Andy Pages, and Tucker would be quite the trio, and the Dodgers might be motivated to lock in another big deal in the offseason before a new collective bargaining agreement might make it more difficult to sign a deal with significant deferred money.
San Diego Padres: What will they do in the starting rotation?
There are serious questions about what the Padres can expect from Dylan Cease and Michael King down the stretch, and because both are scheduled to become free agents in the winter, what San Diego's starting rotation will look like next year.
Cease finished fourth in NL Cy Young Award voting last season, but has posted a 4.59 ERA across 30 starts this year.
Michael King has a 2.87 ERA in his second season with the Padres, but has been limited to just 12 starts this year because of inflammation in his right shoulder and left knee.
One would think the Padres will give both qualifying offers in the offseason. They'll probably both decline them. Could A.J. Preller re-sign one or both in free agency, or will the league's most aggressive president of baseball operations be looking to remake his rotation in the offseason?
Yu Darvish is under contract for 2026, but he'll be 39 years old and coming off a poor 2025.
Nick Pivetta has been excellent in the first season of a four-year, $55 million deal, but he can opt out after 2026 and return to free agency, which he'll do if he's able to match what he's done in 2025.
San Francisco Giants: Can they find one more big bat?
Willy Adames has had a big second half after underwhelming to start his Giants career, while Rafael Devers has an .809 OPS since being acquired by the Giants. Add in Matt Chapman's .804 OPS and the Giants finally have some big offensive pieces signed long-term.
But it's getting greedy to ask the president of baseball operations, Buster Posey, for just one more? Whether it's a first baseman or a corner outfielder, the Giants feel one big bat away.
Could Posey—who himself had a Hall of Fame-level career playing his home games at Oracle Park—convince Pete Alonso, Cody Bellinger or another big bat to come to a park that doesn't have a good reputation for hitters?
Arizona Diamondbacks: How do they fill out their starting rotation?
Entering the season, the Diamondbacks appeared to have a chance to have a special rotation. But it didn't pan out that way.
Any hopes of a rebound season from Jordan Montgomery were dashed when he had Tommy John surgery in March.
Corbin Burnes signed a six-year, $210 million deal to join the Snakes in the offseason, but the former NL Cy Young Award winner underwent Tommy John surgery in June.
Zac Gallen was one of baseball's best pitchers between 2022 and 2024, but he has had a poor contract year, posting a 4.84 ERA over 30 starts. Gallen will become a free agent after this season, so it's unclear what his future with the team will be, unless he accepts the qualifying offer.
Merrill Kelly had a 3.22 ERA over 22 starts, but then was traded to the Rangers.
Eduardo Rodríguez has made 26 starts after an injury-plagued first season in Phoenix, but he has an unsightly 4.98 ERA. His four-year, $80 million deal increasingly feels like an albatross.
But Rodríguez will be under contract next year, as will Brandon Pfaadt. But with Burnes sure to miss at least the first half of the season, general manager Mike Hazen is going to have his work cut out for him filling out the rotation.
Colorado Rockies: Do they care?
The Rockies fired Bud Black in May, and it would hardly be shocking if general manager Bill Schmidt is shown the door after a season where the Rockies have already lost 109 games.
For Colorado, like Pittsburgh, the biggest question is whether the ownership is bothered. Dick Monfort seems content to have a beautiful stadium host 81 games a year, and then pack it up until the next spring.
The Rockies now have seven consecutive losing seasons, and three in a row of 100+. Will that prompt ownership to invest more resources this offseason? Don't count on it.
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