Ranking All 30 MLB Teams as a Free-Agent Destination For the 2025-26 Offseason
It's going to take a minute for this winter's free-agent market to pick up steam, and it's only then that we'll have a good idea as to which teams are the best destinations for players looking for work.
For now, though, we can size up and rank each team based on how appealing they should be to prospective free-agent targets. This has become an annual exercise, and the main parameters are the same:
NerdWallet was a helpful resource for cost-of-living comparisons—the standard in this case was Manhattan—and for state tax rates. FanGraphs provided the payroll projections, while farm system rankings are courtesy of B/R's Joel Reuter.
30. Washington Nationals
1 of 30
Payroll Situation
2025 Payroll: $118 million
Projected 2026 Payroll: $94 million
The Nationals used to be a reliable spender in free agency, but that was back before they collapsed as a contender. They're now rebooting a failed rebuild under the direction of Paul Toboni, and it seems safe to assume ownership won't give him a blank check to make it happen overnight.
Contention Window
2025 Record: 66-96, 5th in NL East
2025 WAR: 11.9 (29th in MLB)
Farm System Rank: 24
Only the Rockies have lost more games than the Nationals since 2020, and it's just plain hard to sugarcoat how things are looking for the immediate future. The club's core at the major league level is lacking, and the farm system needs a lot of work even though it just welcomed No. 1 pick Eli Willits.
Quality of Life
Stadium: Nationals Park since 2008
2025 Attendance: 1,916,768
Cost of Living vs. Manhattan: -42%
Highest Income Tax Rate: 10.75%
Nationals fans understandably haven't been turning out in recent years, and it'll likely be a couple years before that trend reverses. Otherwise, one bright side here is that Washington, D.C. is significantly more affordable than it was when we did this last year.
29. Colorado Rockies
2 of 30
Payroll Situation
2025 Payroll: $124 million
Projected 2026 Payroll: $97 million
The Rockies intentionally lowered their payroll for 2025, and it seems unlikely ownership will choose the immediate aftermath of a 119-loss season as a time to spend again. If Paul DePodesta is going to make upgrades, they'll presumably have to be on the cheap.
Contention Window
2025 Record: 43-119, 5th in NL West
2025 WAR: -3.8 (30th in MLB)
Farm System Rank: 21
It's hard to know what's worse: the 119 losses or the fact that the Rockies channeled 2018 Chris Davis in the WAR department. Either way, this team is likely a long way off from being relevant in an NL West that is run by a big bad in Los Angeles.
Quality of Life
Stadium: Coors Field since 1995
2025 Attendance: 2,404,613
Cost of Living vs. Manhattan: -53%
Highest Income Tax Rate: 4.4% (flat)
Coors Field is truly one of the gems of Major League Baseball, and you have to go back to 2005 to find the last time it drew fewer than two million fans in a season that wasn't impacted by COVID. And relative to other cities and states, dollars go pretty far in Denver.
28. St. Louis Cardinals
3 of 30
Payroll Situation
2025 Payroll: $144 million
Projected 2026 Payroll: $124 million
The Cardinals dropped their payroll by roughly $40 million from 2024 to 2025, and the drumbeat coming out of St. Louis suggests more of the same is in order for 2026. The idea for now is to build a contender from within, so it won't be a surprise if the Cardinals sit out free agency entirely.
Contention Window
2025 Record: 78-84, 4th in NL Central
2025 WAR: 24.3 (26th in MLB)
Farm System Rank: 19
The Cardinals were nine games over .500 as late as June 29, yet their downfall after that caught nobody by surprise. They have some solid young players to build around, but the real question is which veterans will leave this winter. Nolan Arenado, Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras are all prime candidates to be traded.
Quality of Life
Stadium: Busch Stadium since 2006
2025 Attendance: 2,250,007
Cost of Living vs. Manhattan: -62%
Highest Income Tax Rate: 4.7%
St. Louis is about as affordable as MLB cities come, so it's not a bad place for a free agent to park himself even if it's only likely to be for one season. It's just a shame that the Cardinals aren't a draw right now, as attendance at Busch Stadium has fallen by close to one million fans since 2023.
27. Minnesota Twins
4 of 30
Payroll Situation
2025 Payroll: $136 million
Projected 2026 Payroll: $96 million
The Twins are only a few months away from blowing up their roster at the trade deadline, so it would be a surprise if they immediately turned around and inflated their payroll again this winter. There is no "clear direction" from ownership, according to Rosenthal, and this doesn't feel like a situation where no news is good news.
Contention Window
2025 Record: 70-92, 4th in AL Central
2025 WAR: 26.7 (23rd in MLB)
Farm System Rank: 7
That the Twins have such a solid farm system after their fire sale is the good news, but it's not easy to be bullish on their major league roster. It'll be even harder if they subtract more pieces this winter, including Byron Buxton, Joe Ryan and Pablo López.
Quality of Life
Stadium: Target Field since 2010
2025 Attendance: 1,768,728
Cost of Living vs. Manhattan: -60%
Highest Income Tax Rate: 9.85%
Target Field is a nice spot, and Minneapolis is one of the more affordable MLB cities. But anyone who signs with the Twins would have to expect lower attendance after what happened this year, and Minnesota's income taxes on high earners are significant.
26. Chicago White Sox
5 of 30
Payroll Situation
2025 Payroll: $85 million
Projected 2026 Payroll: $67 million
White Sox GM Chris Getz has all but promised he won't be signing any free agents to multi-year deals, so fans should adjust their expectations accordingly. If anything, it'll be a surprise if their 2026 Opening Day payroll matches what they spent in 2025.
Contention Window
2025 Record: 60-102, 5th in AL Central
2025 WAR: 21.5 (27th in MLB)
Farm System Rank: 16
The White Sox have endured 100-plus losses in each of the last three seasons, and they're still in the early stages of establishing a core to build around. To this end, Colson Montgomery and Kyle Teel look like strong cornerstones.
Quality of Life
Stadium: Guaranteed Rate Field since 1991
2025 Attendance: 1,445,738
Cost of Living vs. Manhattan: -50%
Highest Income Tax Rate: 4.95% (flat)
White Sox fans will show up if the team is good, but that won't be the case for another year or two. And while Chicago is a relatively favorable financial environment for free agents, that only matters so much if the Sox are only doing one-year deals.
25. Athletics
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Payroll Situation
2025 Payroll: $79 million
Projected 2026 Payroll: $77 million
The A's ended up being serious about their promise to raise payroll for 2025, though they had to spend their revenue-sharing dollars. Either way, they have some credibility to back up their latest hint at yet another payroll increase for 2026, even if they don't need to spend much to make it happen.
Contention Window
2025 Record: 76-86, 4th in AL West
2025 WAR: 29.3 (21st in MLB)
Farm System Rank: 17
The A's have gone from a 112-loss team to an 86-loss team in just two years, and they were even over .500 in the second half of this season. Their Nick Kurtz-led offense has the potential to be genuinely scary in 2026, so a wild-card run could be in order if their pitching improves on this year's 4.71 ERA.
Quality of Life
Stadium: Sutter Health Park since 2025
2025 Attendance: 768,464
Cost of Living vs. Manhattan: -47%
Highest Income Tax Rate: 13.3%
Sutter Health Park did not get good reviews from A's players this season, and nobody seemed to hate it more than Luis Severino. That's a big ol' "Beware" sign if there ever was one, and it's not as if money goes especially far in Sacramento.
24. Tampa Bay Rays
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Payroll Situation
2025 Payroll: $87 million
Projected 2026 Payroll: $96 million
Yes, the Rays are already projected to spend more in 2026, though that will ultimately depend on whether they keep guys like Brandon Lowe and Yandy Díaz. And if you're wondering if the new owners are ready to make a splash, indications are that this isn't the case just yet.
Contention Window
2025 Record: 77-85, 4th in AL East
2025 WAR: 34.6 (16th in MLB)
Farm System Rank: 9
The Rays haven't fielded a truly non-competitive team since 2016, and there's little reason to think they won't keep competing in 2026. And fresh off his 45-homer breakout, Junior Caminero gives them a superstar to build around—at least until he becomes arbitration-eligible in 2028.
Quality of Life
Stadium: Tropicana Field since 1998
2025 Attendance: 786,750
Cost of Living vs. Manhattan: -58%
Highest Income Tax Rate: None
The Rays intend to build a new stadium in the near future, but the plan for now is to return to Tropicana Field in 2026. They have paid for upgrades in addition to the repairs it needed after Hurricane Milton shredded the roof. But for free agents, the cost of living and taxes are the best reasons to sign with the Rays.
23. Kansas City Royals
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Payroll Situation
2025 Payroll: $138 million
Projected 2026 Payroll: $142 million
The Royals are already projected to bump up against the franchise's all-time high mark for payroll in 2026. Because of that, they may need to subtract before they can add, with one possibility being that they non-tender Jonathan India to dodge a projected $7.4 million salary in 2026.
Contention Window
2025 Record: 82-80, 3rd in AL Central
2025 WAR: 35.6 (13th in MLB)
Farm System Rank: 23
The Royals have been in the thick of things in the AL Central for two years now, and it's easy to imagine more of the same in 2026. They have an excellent pitching staff, plus a proper superstar Bobby Witt Jr. and strong supporting characters like Salvador Perez, Maikel Garcia and Vinnie Pasquantino in their everyday lineup.
Quality of Life
Stadium: Kauffman Stadium since 1973
2025 Attendance: 1,748,801
Cost of Living vs. Manhattan: -62%
Highest Income Tax Rate: 4.7%
It's a shame the Royals need bats more than arms, because Kauffman Stadium is not exactly welcoming to free-agent hitters. That Kansas City is eminently affordable is the good news, and Missouri actually has lower taxes than neighboring Kansas.
22. Milwaukee Brewers
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Payroll Situation
2025 Payroll: $123 million
Projected 2026 Payroll: $114 million
There isn't much space between those two figures, and there will be none if Brandon Woodruff accepts his $22 million qualifying offer. So even if the Brewers weren't historically a non-participant in free agency, it would be hard to count on them doing anything of note on the open market.
Contention Window
2025 Record: 97-65, 1st in NL Central
2025 WAR: 47.5 (3rd in MLB)
Farm System Rank: 6
This is where you find the good stuff for prospective free-agent targets. The Brewers had the best record in MLB this year, and they have a knack for maintaining a solid foundation no matter how many stars they cut. Right now, it's guys like Jackson Chourio, Brice Turang and Jacob Misiorowski.
Quality of Life
Stadium: American Family Field since 2001
2025 Attendance: 2,650,089
Cost of Living vs. Manhattan: -57%
Highest Income Tax Rate: 7.65%
Brewers fans are good at showing up, as the club has consistently drawn over two million fans and even challenged three million here and there since American Family Field opened. Not bad for the smallest market in MLB, and Milwaukee is about as affordable as you'd expect for a place like that.
21. Texas Rangers
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Payroll Situation
2025 Payroll: $224 million
Projected 2026 Payroll: $198 million
Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young expects to have a payroll "high enough for us to win," but the general vibe is to not expect anything like what they spent in 2025. If so, Young is going to be restricted to bargain-bin shopping unless he finds ways to move salaries off the team's books.
Contention Window
2025 Record: 81-81, 3rd in AL West
2025 WAR: 37.8 (12th in MLB)
Farm System Rank: 26
The Rangers were World Series champions just two years ago, but then came diminished returns in 2024 and 2025 and now a new direction under Skip Schumaker. Stars such as Corey Seager and Jacob deGrom and youngsters like Wyatt Langford will give Texas a shot in 2026, but the club's depth is going to be a concern.
Quality of Life
Stadium: Globe Life Field since 2020
2025 Attendance: 2,397,069
Cost of Living vs. Manhattan: -58%
Highest Income Tax Rate: None
Arlington is slightly more costly than the other MLB city in Texas, but only by three percent and you still get the lack of income taxes. And even if it's not much to look at, Globe Life Field is the newest stadium in the league and, mercifully unlike Globe Life Park, air-conditioned.
20. Los Angeles Angels
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Payroll Situation
2025 Payroll: $206 million
Projected 2026 Payroll: $179 million
The Angels will have room to add salaries for 2026 if they're comfortable with running a similar payroll as they did in 2025. The other thing to keep in mind is that they'll be done paying Anthony Rendon $35 million per year after next season, which could embolden them to channel their aggressiveness from past winters.
Contention Window
2025 Record: 72-90, 5th in AL West
2025 WAR: 19.0 (28th in MLB)
Farm System Rank: 29
The Angels own the longest playoff drought of any MLB team, as they last played in October 11 years ago in 2014. They at least trended in the right direction with a nine-win swing from 2024 to 2025, but they simply don't have a strong core of players—hence rumors and speculation that they could subtract from it this winter.
Quality of Life
Stadium: Angel Stadium since 1966
2025 Attendance: 2,615,506
Cost of Living vs. Manhattan: -31%
Highest Income Tax Rate: 13.3%
The cost of living comparison here is technically for all of Orange County, which is definitely one of the nation's high-rent districts. Add in California's high taxes on big earners, and arguably the best thing the Angels have going for them is that their fans keep Angel Stadium should at least have air conditioning soon.
19. San Diego Padres
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Payroll Situation
2025 Payroll: $211 million
Projected 2026 Payroll: $201 million
It suffices to say there's a lot of uncertainty in San Diego right now. The Padres are reportedly losing money, and the Seidler family announced Thursday that it is exploring selling the franchise. And even after you cut through all that, you're left looking at less than $10 million in luxury-tax breathing room.
Contention Window
2025 Record: 90-72, 2nd in NL West
2025 WAR: 41.4 (8th in MLB)
Farm System Rank: 30
Though the Padres have made the playoffs four times in six seasons, they are built on an aging core and have major question marks hanging over their pitching staff. Once you factor in the sorry state of their farm system, they begin to look like a contender with a closing window.
Quality of Life
Stadium: Petco Park since 2004
2025 Attendance: 3,437,201
Cost of Living vs. Manhattan: -37%
Highest Income Tax Rate: 13.3%
Even if it comes with a high cost of living and California's taxes, San Diego is one of the most downright pleasant places to live that the country has to offer. And Petco Park has never been a hotter ticket, as only the Dodgers were a bigger draw in MLB this year.
18. Arizona Diamondbacks
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Payroll Situation
2025 Payroll: $188 million
Projected 2026 Payroll: $144 million
Managing partner Ken Kendrick has been open about his expectations for a reduced payroll, though he also said it will be "significant." As the D-backs can still run a lower payroll event after adding tens of millions in fresh salaries, there may yet be hope of an active offseason in Phoenix.
Contention Window
2025 Record: 80-82, 4th in NL West
2025 WAR: 35.3 (15th in MLB)
Farm System Rank: 18
The D-backs have fallen short of October two years in a row since going to the World Series in 2023, and there is some question now as to whether they'll move a core piece by trading Ketel Marte. But if they don't, the team is probably just a few arms short of at least being a wild-card contender in 2026.
Quality of Life
Stadium: Chase Field since 1998
2025 Attendance: 2,393,973
Cost of Living vs. Manhattan: -54%
Highest Income Tax Rate: 2.5% (flat)
Chase Field is due to get some improvements in the years to come, and attendance there is on an upswing after a few lean years. And while Arizona isn't Texas or Florida, its income tax rate is as close to zero as it gets for states where MLB has a presence.
17. San Francisco Giants
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Payroll Situation
2025 Payroll: $177 million
Projected 2026 Payroll: $170 million
The Giants dramatically reduced their payroll from 2024 to 2025. They can now add roughly $50 million in average annual value before going over the 2026 luxury tax. Yet according to Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic, the vibe is that they won't be going crazy in a free-agent class that they seem unimpressed with.
Contention Window
2025 Record: 81-81, 3rd in NL West
2025 WAR: 32.0 (19th in MLB)
Farm System Rank: 20
Though the Giants did win 107 games in 2021, that's a clear outlier in a sea of mediocrity that goes back to 2017. They do have a good core to build on, plus an exciting new manager in Tony Vitello. But if the idea is to challenge the Dodgers for the NL West title, they're going to need to add a significant amount of talent.
Quality of Life
Stadium: Oracle Park since 2000
2025 Attendance: 2,925,823
Cost of Living vs. Manhattan: -31%
Highest Income Tax Rate: 13.3%
Oracle Park is not exactly a magnet for free-agent hitters, and all free agents might get sticker shock when looking at California's taxes and the cost of living in San Francisco. But at least being a Giant means playing in front of loyal fans, and they did turn up in greater numbers this year.
16. Pittsburgh Pirates
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Payroll Situation
2025 Payroll: $87 million
Projected 2026 Payroll: $67 million
The Pirates? As free-agent spenders? These two concepts are typically at odds, as the Bucs have spent less in free agency than any other team since 1991. Yet according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, they could add between $30 million and $40 million to their payroll. That doesn't necessarily portend any long-term deals, but it would be a notable change of pace.
Contention Window
2025 Record: 71-91, 5th in NL Central
2025 WAR: 30.1 (20th in MLB)
Farm System Rank: 3
Trade speculation continues to swirl around Paul Skenes, but the Bucs insist he'll still be their ace in 2026. He's the best hope they have of contending any time soon, though that No. 3-ranked farm system could provide another in the form of shortstop Konnor Griffin, who is now the top prospect in MLB.
Quality of Life
Stadium: PNC Park since 2001
2025 Attendance: 1,525,025
Cost of Living vs. Manhattan: -58%
Highest Income Tax Rate: 3.07% (flat)
PNC Park is arguably the most beautiful stadium in the league, and Pittsburgh is pretty much a player's dream in terms of both affordability and taxes. And if the Bucs are indeed willing to spend, that could actually matter for a change.
15. Miami Marlins
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Payroll Situation
2025 Payroll: $70 million
Projected 2026 Payroll: $59 million
The Marlins rank 24th in free-agent spending since 1993, but past might not actually be prologue in this case. According to Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic, the Marlins are "showing a greater interest in spending" than in years past. If so, their ceiling may go beyond the $70 million they spent this year.
Contention Window
2025 Record: 79-83, 3rd in NL East
2025 WAR: 26.8 (22nd in MLB)
Farm System Rank: 14
The Marlins pulled off a 17-win swing from 2024 to 2025, and they do have a solid foundation of players in guys like Kyle Stowers, Edward Cabrera, Eury Pérez and (assuming he sticks around) Sandy Alcantara. If they do add this winter, a playoff run in 2026 could be possible.
Quality of Life
Stadium: LoanDepot Park since 2012
2025 Attendance: 1,156,880
Cost of Living vs. Manhattan: -48%
Highest Income Tax Rate: None
There are only so many teams that can dangle "no state income taxes" as a carrot for free agents, and the Marlins are one of them. Yet Miami is the more expensive of the two MLB cities in Florida, and LoanDepot Park isn't exactly a hot spot. The Marlins have ranked last in the NL in attendance annually since 2013.
14. Cincinnati Reds
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Payroll Situation
2025 Payroll: $119 million
Projected 2026 Payroll: $97 million
Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall has said the club's 2026 payroll will be "around the same" as what it spent in 2025. That would give him a decent budget to work with, though that doesn't necessarily mean the club record for a free-agent signing ($64 million) is bound to fall.
Contention Window
2025 Record: 83-79, 3rd in NL Central
2025 WAR: 35.4 (14th in MLB)
Farm System Rank: 15
The Reds are coming off their first full-season playoff run since 2013, and the pieces are there to keep the good times rolling in 2026. Of course, that is assuming they keep Hunter Greene and don't regress further on offense, for which it would help if Elly De La Cruz played more like he did in 2024.
Quality of Life
Stadium: Great American Ball Park since 2003
2025 Attendance: 2,170,963
Cost of Living vs. Manhattan: -58%
Highest Income Tax Rate: 3.5%
Cincinnati isn't as affordable as the other MLB city in Ohio, but it's ultimately a case of splitting hairs. And even if pitchers need to be wary of signing up to pitch there, Great American Ball Park is a pretty stadium that has drawn over two million fans three years in a row.
13. Cleveland Guardians
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Payroll Situation
2025 Payroll: $102 million
Projected 2026 Payroll: $75 million
Those numbers sure look like an excuse for the Guardians to spend this winter, and they could even get an extra $6.4 million in breathing room pending discipline for Emmanuel Clase in the aftermath of the wagering scandal involving him and Luis Ortiz. And if they don't spend, it would frankly be contention malpractice.
Contention Window
2025 Record: 88-74, 1st in AL Central
2025 WAR: 24.8 (24th in MLB)
Farm System Rank: 8
The Guardians have missed the playoffs only three times in the last decade. They have one of the game's best managers and (assuming they don't trade anyone) stars in the right places. Former No. 1 pick Travis Bazzana is among the top prospects they're set to graduate in 2026.
Quality of Life
Stadium: Progressive Field since 1994
2025 Attendance: 2,051,360
Cost of Living vs. Manhattan: -60%
Highest Income Tax Rate: 3.5%
Cleveland is the more affordable of the two MLB cities in Ohio, and Ohio's tax rate is on the low side, to boot. So, if the Guardians are willing to make a push in free agency, general economic well-being is their ace in the hole.
12. Baltimore Orioles
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Payroll Situation
2025 Payroll: $160 million
Projected 2026 Payroll: $92 million
The Orioles have been wary of free agency since Mike Elias took over their front office, but reporting from Feinsand suggests the team is ready to be "aggressive." If that means closing the current gap between their 2025 and 2026 payrolls, then they can cast their line in the direction of truly big fish.
Contention Window
2025 Record: 75-87, 5th in AL East
2025 WAR: 24.7 (25th in MLB)
Farm System Rank: 11
As bad as the Orioles were this year, it isn't hard to envision a turnaround in 2026. Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday and Samuel Basallo is a potentially explosive offensive trio, and don't underrate what Trevor Rogers and healthy versions of Kyle Bradish and Grayson Rodriguez can do on the mound.
Quality of Life
Stadium: Oriole Park at Camden Yards since 1992
2025 Attendance: 1,803,655
Cost of Living vs. Manhattan: -57%
Highest Income Tax Rate: 5.75%
Attendance at OPACY slipped this year, but Orioles fans have historically shown a willingness to show up if the team is worth watching. That could sway free agents, though the affordability of Baltimore and Maryland's taxes may hold even more sway.
11. Houston Astros
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Payroll Situation
2025 Payroll: $224 million
Projected 2026 Payroll: $231 million
That juxtaposition of those two numbers wouldn't seem to hint at an upcoming free-agent splurge, but never say never. The Astros have been teased for a run at Dylan Cease, and what really matters is that they have about $17 million in average annual value standing between them and the 2026 luxury-tax threshold.
Contention Window
2025 Record: 87-75, 2nd in AL West
2025 WAR: 40.5 (11th in MLB)
Farm System Rank: 27
The Astros missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016, which fits into a pattern of diminishing returns. Yet they have done a good job of keeping their core fresh, and they stand to gain as much as any team from better health in 2026. Yordan Alvarez, for example, will hopefully be back after enduring a lost 2025 season.
Quality of Life
Stadium: Daikin Park since 2000
2025 Attendance: 2,727,877
Cost of Living vs. Manhattan: -60%
Highest Income Tax Rate: None
Even though the Astros didn't draw as well this year, they were still top-five in the AL for attendance for a fifth year in a row. Houston is also an excellent place for free agents to put down roots, as the city is affordable and Texas doesn't do taxes.
10. Detroit Tigers
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Payroll Situation
2025 Payroll: $155 million
Projected 2026 Payroll: $124 million
The Tigers raised their payroll by roughly $50 million from 2024 to 2025. Even if they don't go that far again, another active winter would appear to be in the cards. The question this time is whether they're comfortable pursuing longer deals after only doing one- and two-year contracts last winter.
Contention Window
2025 Record: 87-75, 2nd in AL Central
2025 WAR: 32.2 (18th in MLB)
Farm System Rank: 5
The Tarik Skubal trade noise has quieted a little, with Rosenthal and Sammon reporting that the Tigers want to win with him. If so, the chances of them sustaining as a contender in 2026 are that much better, and it shouldn't be underrated just how much talent the team stands to mine from its farm system in the near future.
Quality of Life
Stadium: Comerica Park since 2000
2025 Attendance: 2,413,442
Cost of Living vs. Manhattan: -56%
Highest Income Tax Rate: 4.25%
Comerica Park is a better place for pitchers than hitters, but what's really notable is that only the Mets enjoyed a bigger attendance spike from 2024 to 2025. That should be attractive, and so should Detroit's cost of living and Michigan's taxes.
9. Seattle Mariners
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Payroll Situation
2025 Payroll: $166 million
Projected 2026 Payroll: $142 million
The Mariners purportedly have a $30 million-$35 million budget for new salaries this winter, which marks a huge step up from their painfully frugal offseason a year ago. And after falling one win short of finally going to the World Series, you wonder if they could push the envelope even further.
Contention Window
2025 Record: 90-72, 1st in AL West
2025 WAR: 40.9 (9th in MLB)
Farm System Rank: 1
The Mariners just won the AL West for the first time since 2001, and there's no reason to think it'll be a one-off. They have built an elite pitching staff from within, and Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez represent arguably the best lineup duo in MLB. That a team with these creds also has the league's best farm system almost feels unfair.
Quality of Life
Stadium: T-Mobile Park since 1999
2025 Attendance: 2,538,053
Cost of Living vs. Manhattan: -39%
Highest Income Tax Rate: None
T-Mobile Park isn't going to make it easy for the Mariners to sign hitters, but anyone they approach could look forward to playing to a packed house on a regular basis. And while Seattle is an expensive place to live, the state of Washington only taxes capital gains.
8. Philadelphia Phillies
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Payroll Situation
2025 Payroll: $291 million
Projected 2026 Payroll: $240 million
Matt Gelb of The Athletic wrote in late October that the Phillies' 2026 payroll will resemble their year-end payroll from this season, though "perhaps a tick lower." They're already projected to be about $15.5 million over the luxury-tax threshold, so any salaries they add will cost them more than the sticker price.
Contention Window
2025 Record: 96-66, 1st in NL East
2025 WAR: 51.9 (1st in MLB)
Farm System Rank: 10
The Phillies aren't about to stop contending in 2026, but they really began to show their age this year. Andrew Painter and Justin Crawford are ready to provide some much-needed youth, but there are still the questions of whether Kyle Schwarber will return and whether Zack Wheeler can be the same after thoracic outlet surgery.
Quality of Life
Stadium: Citizens Bank Park since 2004
2025 Attendance: 3,375,457
Cost of Living vs. Manhattan: -55%
Highest Income Tax Rate: 3.07% (flat)
The Phillies have drawn over three million fans to Citizens Bank Park in each of the last three seasons. It only helps their cause that Philadelphia is on the affordable side for a major city, and prospective free-agent targets shouldn't balk at Pennsylvania's taxes.
7. Chicago Cubs
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Payroll Situation
2025 Payroll: $206 million
Projected 2026 Payroll: $158 million
Only the Dodgers and Yankees pull in more revenue than the Cubs, so why they tend to place outside of MLB's top 10 in spending is a question without a good answer. But if they want to have a big winter, they can. To wit, they could add $70 million in average annual value and still be short of next year's luxury tax.
Contention Window
2025 Record: 92-70, 2nd in NL Central
2025 WAR: 46.5 (4th in MLB)
Farm System Rank: 13
This year marked the first time the Cubs had made the playoffs at the end of a full season since 2018. They have the core to keep the party going, notably in the sense that Kyle Tucker was one of six hitters who reached 4 rWAR this year. What they need is pitching, which makes it that much weirder that they let Shota Imanaga go.
Quality of Life
Stadium: Wrigley Field since 1914
2025 Attendance: 3,017,983
Cost of Living vs. Manhattan: -50%
Highest Income Tax Rate: 4.95% (flat)
The Cubs just drew over three million fans to Wrigley Field for the first time since 2019, and you have to think fans will keep showing up for the foreseeable future. And compared to MLB's other big markets in New York and Los Angeles, money goes much further in Chicago.
6. Boston Red Sox
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Payroll Situation
2025 Payroll: $207 million
Projected 2026 Payroll: $180 million
That 2026 payroll figure is a bit misleading, as the Red Sox are at $216.4 million for luxury tax purposes. Yet even that figure allows for almost a $30 million budget, and the message coming from CEO Sam Kennedy is that this year's playoff run created a sense of urgency in the front office. If ownership shares it, it could be a big winter.
Contention Window
2025 Record: 89-73, 3rd in AL East
2025 WAR: 46.0 (5th in MLB)
Farm System Rank: 12
Boston has to re-sign or replace Alex Bregman and Lucas Giolito, and otherwise add power to an offense that was short on home run hitters this year. Yet this is undeniably a team built for the long haul, notably with ace Garrett Crochet and rookie sensation Roman Anthony signed to club-friendly deals.
Quality of Life
Stadium: Fenway Park since 1912
2025 Attendance: 2,776,496
Cost of Living vs. Manhattan: -38%
Highest Income Tax Rate: 9.0%
Boston is an expensive city, and Massachusetts puts high taxes on high earners. Fenway Park is an icon, though, and you have to go back to 1998—not counting COVID years, of course—to find the last time it drew less than 30,000 fans per game.
5. Atlanta Braves
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Payroll Situation
2025 Payroll: $214 million
Projected 2026 Payroll: $202 million
According to Atlanta chairman Terry McGuirk, the goal for 2026 is to have a top-five payroll. As the Braves opened at eighth in MLB three years in a row, that would mark a substantial step up. And the club is well situated for it, as it's more than $50 million in average annual value short of next year's luxury-tax threshold.
Contention Window
2025 Record: 76-86, 4th in NL East
2025 WAR: 34.2 (17th in MLB)
Farm System Rank: 28
The Braves have dramatically regressed since winning 104 games in 2023, and specific concerns include an offense that may be past its best days and a pitching staff led by an aging ace in Chris Sale. Yet for whatever it's worth, there's only one team in the NL that projects for more WAR in 2026.
Quality of Life
Stadium: Truist Park since 2017
2025 Attendance: 2,903,167
Cost of Living vs. Manhattan: -59%
Highest Income Tax Rate: 5.39% (flat)
Truist Park is the newest stadium in the National League, and it's part of a larger complex that basically prints money for the Braves. That should be appealing to free agents, and Atlanta is one of those places where dollars go far.
4. New York Yankees
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Payroll Situation
2025 Payroll: $296 million
Projected 2026 Payroll: $240 million
The Yankees' luxury-tax payroll for 2026 is currently at $263.1 million, putting them a little over $40 million away from the "Cohen tax." The Yankees should be comfortable going there, but it was also just earlier this year that Hal Steinbrenner was questioning the necessity for a $300 million payroll.
Contention Window
2025 Record: 94-68, 2nd in AL East
2025 WAR: 47.7 (2nd in MLB)
Farm System Rank: 25
The Yankees did just fine without Juan Soto this year, for which it helped that Aaron Judge had another monster season. He will be 34 next year, though, and he stands to lose lineup support if the Yankees can't retain Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger. There are also age and durability questions in the rotation, plus holes in the bullpen.
Quality of Life
Stadium: Yankee Stadium since 2009
2025 Attendance: 3,392,659
Cost of Living vs. Manhattan: N/A
Highest Income Tax Rate: 10.9%
NerdWallet unfortunately doesn't have an option for the Bronx, but guys like Judge live in Manhattan anyway. If so, they subject themselves to the most expensive city in America in addition to high taxes. But if nothing else, being a Yankee means always playing in front of packed crowds, both at home and on the road.
3. Toronto Blue Jays
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Payroll Situation
2025 Payroll: $258 million
Projected 2026 Payroll: $235 million
The Blue Jays always tend to be cagey about their payroll plans, but team president Mark Shapiro has said he doesn't expect a reduction in support from ownership in 2026. That's certainly what you would hope for after a trip to the World Series, and this one is only $3.5 million above the 2026 luxury tax for now.
Contention Window
2025 Record: 94-68, 1st in AL East
2025 WAR: 42.9 (6th in MLB)
Farm System Rank: 22
With Bo Bichette, Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt afloat on the free-agent waters, the Blue Jays do have major holes in their roster that need filling. But it's not going to be lost on their prospective targets that they outlasted the Yankees in the AL East, much less that they fell just two outs shy of winning it all.
Quality of Life
Stadium: Rogers Centre since 1989
2025 Attendance: 2,849,935
The Blue Jays were a top-10 attendance team this year, and they'll surely draw even more fans in 2026. And while NerdWallet unfortunately doesn't calculate cost of living comparisons for cities outside the U.S., other sites show Toronto as being more affordable than New York. The tax situation is much more complicated, though it does bear noting that Canadian taxes only apply to income earned in Canada.
2. New York Mets
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Payroll Situation
2025 Payroll: $340 million
Projected 2026 Payroll: $235 million
The Mets have had so much money come off their books that they're almost $70 million in average annual value shy of the "Cohen tax" for 2026. You can rest assured they're not going to use this as an excuse to get cheap all of a sudden, as Steve Cohen has shown he doesn't care that he operates at a loss.
Contention Window
2025 Record: 83-79, 2nd in NL East
2025 WAR: 40.7 (10th in MLB)
Farm System Rank: 4
This year was a disappointment for the Mets, and it was primarily because their starting pitching malfunctioned early and never recovered. They'll need to do something about that and the holes left by Pete Alonso and Edwin Díaz, yet they can aim to do so while knowing the Phillies have a weak hold on NL East supremacy.
Quality of Life
Stadium: Citi Field since 2009
2025 Attendance: 3,184,570
Cost of Living vs. Manhattan: -35%
Highest Income Tax Rate: 10.9%
Even if Queens is way more affordable than Manhattan, this is another case where you have to expect players will live in Manhattan anyway. The real appeal should be the potential of Citi Field, which may yet become a hotter ticket even after a 10,559-fan boost in average attendance in 2025.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
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Payroll Situation
2025 Payroll: $396 million
Projected 2026 Payroll: $338 million
The Dodgers are going to end up spending over $500 million on their 2025 payroll, but ask them if they care after winning back-to-back World Series titles. Another $500 million expense—that is, between payroll and luxury-tax penalties—may well be in order for 2026, and what's nuts is how easily they can afford it.
Contention Window
2025 Record: 93-69, 1st in NL West
2025 WAR: 42.1 (7th in MLB)
Farm System Rank: 2
The Dodgers were far from perfect this year, yet they still won the World Series, and all the main players who made it happen (including four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani) are around for 2026 and beyond. That they also have such a good farm system further speaks to how well they're run, and Josue De Paula is one of several prospects who could graduate from it next year.
Quality of Life
Stadium: Dodger Stadium since 1962
2025 Attendance: 4,012,470
Cost of Living vs. Manhattan: -35%
Highest Income Tax Rate: 13.3%
Even if it's significantly more affordable than New York, Los Angeles still isn't what you'd call "cheap." And yes, there are those danged California taxes again. But Los Angeles has also become the center of the baseball world, and Dodger Stadium is the only stadium in the league drawing four million fans to come watch.
