EDITOR’S NOTE: Boyd Bergquist was the sports director at KETS-TV in East Tree Stump, Nebraska for almost 40 years.  Known across the Husker state as the voice of the Boy’s High School Basketball Tournament, Bergquist was a four-time winner of the Marv J. Butz “Golden Cob” Award For Excellence In Nebraska Broadcast Journalism. That background, along with his quick if not cliché-riddled wit and love of single-malt scotch makes Bergquist a perfect fit to be our “Question” guy, but today, he’s here to dish up a preview of the upcoming baseball season.

Opening Day…the one time in every baseball season where everybody has hope. It’s not really true, but the old romantic in me can’t help falling for that sort of slop. We all know some have more hope than others; some have so much it’s become expectation. That’s what the usual “power ranking” stuff is all about, which is why I don’t do that.  Instead, all 30 major all eventually fall into six main buckets.

The question is how right am I?

• Ready To Win Right Now
  • Los Angeles Dodgers
  • Toronto Blue Jays
  • Seattle Mariners
  • New York Mets
  • Chicago Cubs
• There’s Just One Thing Missing
  • Detroit Tigers
  • New York Yankees
  • Boston Red Sox
  • Baltimore Orioles
  • Philadelphia Phillies
• Need Some Things To Go Their Way
  • Atlanta Braves
  • Houston Astros
  • Texas Rangers
  • San Diego Padres
  • Kansas City Royals
• At Least They Don’t Suck
  • Cincinnati Reds
  • Cleveland Guar dians
  • Arizona Diamondbacks
  • Milwaukee Brewers
  • San Francisco Giants (by J-Dub)
• Why Wait For Next Year?
  • Oakland Las Vegas Sacramento U-Haul Athletics
  • Pittsburgh Pirates
  • Los Angeles Angels (by J-Dub)
  • Miami Marlins
  • Tampa Rays
• It’s Going To Be A Long Summer
  • Washington Nationals
  • Minnesota Twins (by J-Dub)
  • St. Louis Cardinals
  • Chicago White Sox
  • Colorado Rockies

Ready To Win Right Now

These are teams ready to pop the corks this year…no ifs, ands or buts.

Los Angeles Dodgers

• Key Additions: OF Kyle Tucker, RP Edwin Díaz, IF Andy Ibáñez
• Key Losses: RP Evan Phillips, RP Michael Kopech, RP Kirby Yates, SP Tony Gonsolin, IF/OF Enrique Hernández, OF Michael Conforto

I always lead-off with this fact: You’re the champ until somebody beats you. Like it or not, the Dodgers are the defending champs, and they are the first repeat winners since the 2000 Yankees. For even more “like it or not,” the rich got richer strong got stronger. Despite being two-time champions, the Dodgers had two areas needing improvement.

They hit on both.

Adding Kyle Tucker to an underwhelming outfield may be the free-agency win of the off-season. We can argue about the value of the addition of Edwin Díaz, but conventional wisdom says it’s a plus for a talented but inconsistent bullpen.

Toronto Blue Jays

• Key Additions: SP Dylan Cease, 3B Kazuma Okamoto, SP Cody Ponce, RP Tyler Rogers
• Key Losses: SS Bo Bichette, SP Chris Bassitt, RP Seranthony Domínguez, IF Isiah Kiner-Falefa

Toronto took the Dodgers to the 9^th inning of World Series Game 7, and like Los Angeles, the Blue Jays only got better over the winter. Some say Bo Bichette is a big loss, but we must never forget they topped the Yankees and Mariners last post-season with a middle infield of Ernie Clement and Andrés Giménez. Besides, Kevin Gausman, Dylan Cease, Shane Bieber, Trey Yesavage, José Berríos, and Cody Ponce compose a collection of starting pitching as good as anybody.

Seattle Mariners

• Key Additions: RP José A. Ferrer, OF Rob Refsnyder, C Andrew Knizner
• Key Losses: 3B Eugenio Suárez, 2B Jorge Polanco, RP Caleb Ferguson, C Mitch Garver, RP Trent Thornton, C Harry Ford

The Mariners have won between 85 and 90 games in 5 consecutive seasons, which makes many think the Mariners can win it all. That makes 2026 a year in which the Seattle Mariners find themselves with expectations higher than they’ve had in 25 years. Here’s a team who gave Toronto all it could handle; taking them to Game 7 of the 2025 ALCS.

To a core containing MVP-caliber Cal Raleigh, superstar-in-waiting Julio Rodriguez, and a starting rotation that takes a back seat to none, Seattle added uber-utilityman Brendan Donovan and the best up-and-coming bullpen flamethrower in José A. Ferrer.

To go with that, the five-year, $92.5 million Josh Naylor deal marks the largest free agency contract in the Jerry DiPoto era; which should signal Seattle intends to win. For the future…perhaps one as close as the trade deadline…Seattle has a farm system loaded with majors-ready talent.

The bottom line is this might be the year Seattle’s intentions become reality.

New York Mets

• Key Additions: SP Freddy Peralta, 3B Bo Bichette, 2B Marcus Semien, 1B Jorge Polanco, OF Luis Robert Jr., RP Devin Williams, RP Luke Weaver, RP Luis García, SP/RP Tobias Myers
• Key Losses: 1B Pete Alonso, RP Edwin Díaz, OF Brandon Nimmo, IF/OF Jeff McNeil, RP Ryan Helsley, RP Ryne Stanek, RP Tyler Rogers, RP Max Kranick, OF Cedric Mullins, OF Starling Marte, SP Brandon Sproat, IF/OF Luisangel Acuña, IF/OF Jett Williams

I know I’m going to eat these words hard. For all the times I’ve seen the Mets of recent vintage have a disappointing season, pull a big-money re-tool…only to disappoint again…you would think I would learn.

Until further notice, my official position on optimism concerning the New York Mets is this: I’ll believe when I see it. It’s already looking like another promising spring in Port St. Lucie might become another long summer in Queens. Sure, I understand the excitement over owner Steve Cohen’s spreading money across the free-agent market like a lawn sprinkler, but come on, Mets fans. Haven’t you seen this movie before?

~ Everyone of my baseball previews in the Steve Cohen era

While they lost out to the Dodgers in the Kyle Tucker sweepstakes, the Mets more than rang the big money bell in true Cohen-esque style by signing Bo Bichette and trading for Luis Robert Jr. and Freddy Peralta. Not only did they replace Pete Alonso’s offensive production, they added the legitimate “front of the rotation” guy they haven’t had since the younger, less-injured Jacob deGrom.

They didn’t address the weakening of the bullpen from the departure of Edwin Díaz, but the NL East will be wide-open, so why not the Mets?

After all, why can’t this be the year the Mets stop doing Mets things and I can finally stop using this meme of WFAN’s Gregg Giannotti?

There’s Just One Thing Missing

Did you ever almost complete a jigsaw puzzle, but the remaining pieces don’t fit the holes you have left? Welcome to the stories of these teams…

Detroit Tigers

• Key Additions: SP Framber Valdez, SP Justin Verlander, RP Kenley Jansen, SP/RP Drew Anderson
• Key Losses: IF Andy Ibáñez, SP Chris Paddack, RP Tommy Kahnle, RP Rafael Montero, RP Alex Lange, RP Jason Foley, RP Chase Lee
• What’s Missing: The Future

After the arbitration disaster with two-time defending Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, it’s no secret he will be hitting the free-agent market in the first fraction of a second he’s able. That makes the Tigers the definition of “gotta win now.” But that window will depend on the return on investment for the one-year, $22.05 million qualifying accepted by Gleyber Torres.

That’s not the only gamble in Detroit. The return of 43-year old franchise legend Justin Verlander, the ascension of top shortstop prospect Kevin McGonigle, the meeting of expectations for Kenley Jansen and Drew Anderson, and the continued growth of Parker Meadows, Colt Keith, and Wenceel Pérez all need to hit for Detroit.

Desperation is a stinky cologne, and the Tigers are awash in it. Winning is “now or never” for Detroit…and they know it.

New York Yankees

• Key Additions: SP Ryan Weathers, RP Kaleb Ort
• Key Losses: RP Devin Williams, RP Luke Weaver, 1B Paul Goldschmidt, RP Mark Leiter Jr., RP Ian Hamilton
• What’s Missing: Healthy Starting Pitching

While Ryan Weathers is a solid addition, everybody knows he’s just a walking Band-Aid awaiting the returns of Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón, and Clarke Schmidt from the injured list. Meanwhile, the re-signing of Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham keeps the core together for a line-up that led the Pinstripes to 94 wins in 2025. The question is will the Yankees post enough “Ws” to stay in front of the Blue Jays…or the Red Sox for that matter.

Boston Red Sox

• Key Additions: SP Ranger Suárez, SP Sonny Gray, 1B Willson Contreras, SP Johan Oviedo
• Key Losses: 3B Alex Bregman, SP Lucas Giolito, RP Steven Matz, RP Justin Wilson, RP Brennan Bernardino, OF Rob Refsnyder, 1B Nathaniel Lowe, SP Dustin May, SP Richard Fitts, SP Hunter Dobbins, OF Jhostynxon García
• What’s Missing: Two of the Three Fundamentals

“[Baseball] is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball!”

~Joe Riggins

Those sage words came from the “Skipper” from Bull Durham. Those really are baseball’s three fundamentals. While Boston will pitch the hell out of the ball with rotation featuring Ranger Suárez, Sonny Gray, and Garrett Crochet, but catching and hitting the ball will be an issue.

They’ll deal with the “meh” nature of the middle relievers, but the infield defense is lacking. Unless Abraham Toro and Wilyer Abreu live up to their billing, Roman Anthony and Trevor Story will be forced to shoulder the bulk of the offense.

Baltimore Orioles

• Key Additions: 1B Pete Alonso, SP Shane Baz, OF Taylor Ward, RP Ryan Helsley, RP Andrew Kittredge
• Key Losses: SP Grayson Rodriguez, SP Tomoyuki Sugano, OF Dylan Carlson, C Gary Sánchez, C Alex Jackson
• What’s Missing: An “Ace”

Lord knows I’ve won a lot of poker pots without a “bullet” in my hand, but even George Strait knew the value of having an “Ace in the Hole.” Had Baltimore been able to land Framber Valdez, they would probably be in “Ready To Win Right Now.”

Even without an “ace,” getting Shane Baz and re-signing Zach Eflin makes a foundation. If the O’s can get full, healthy campaigns from Trevor Rogers and Kyle Bradish, that rotation could be just good enough. And…if the big bats of Pete Alonso and Taylor Ward like the comfy confines of Camden Yards as much as I think they will, Baltimore could easily return to it’s 100-win form.

Philadelphia Phillies

• Key Additions: OF Adolis García, RP Brad Keller, RP Jonathan Bowlan, RP Zach Pop, RP Chase Shugart
• Key Losses: SP Ranger Suárez, RP Matt Strahm, OF Harrison Bader, OF Max Kepler
• What’s Missing: Pitching Depth

The Phillies clearly believe in keeping big bats in that bandbox known as Citizens Bank Park. Not only did they re-sign notable thumpers Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto, they added Adolis García to go along with Bryce Harper. The problem is while Brad Keller makes any bullpen better, relying on Aaron Nola, Taijuan Walker, and Andrew Painter to adequately fill three spots in the rotation is the definition of “risky.”

Need Some Things To Go Their Way

Welcome to a collection of clubs who almost have the goods to win on their own; but anything is possible if they get a “lucky break.”

Atlanta Braves

• Key Additions: RP Robert Suárez, OF Mike Yastrzemski, IF Mauricio Dubón, SS Jorge Mateo
• Key Losses: DH Marcell Ozuna, SP Charlie Morton, SS Nick Allen, RP Pierce Johnson, OF Jake Fraley
• Break They Need: Staying Healthy

Injuries are really what took this perennial World Series contender down to last year’s 76-win finish. There’s nowhere to go but up if Atlanta gets full seasons from Ronald Acuña Jr., Austin Riley, Chris Sale, Spencer Schwellenbach, and Sean Murphy. Jurickson Profar getting suspended doesn’t really help, but it doesn’t really hurt either. What does help is adding Robert Suárez to the bullpen.

Houston Astros

• Key Additions: SP Tatsuya Imai, SP Mike Burrows, SP Ryan Weiss, IF Nick Allen, RP Nate Pearson
• Key Losses: SP Framber Valdez, C Victor Caratini, IF Mauricio Dubón, IF Ramón Urías, OF Chas McCormick, OF Jacob Melton
• Break They Need: A Fountain of Youth in the clubhouse

Ever since their last championship in 2022, they’ve declined in winning percentage every year. That just might be a function of age. Don’t look now, but Jose Altuve and Christian Walker are both past their 35^th birthdays, and a big chunk of the roster are past their 30^th. Not to mention, the rotation is a collection of “What Ifs?” and there’s another in the bullpen concerning Josh Hader’s arm.

Texas Rangers

• Key Additions: LHP MacKenzie Gore, OF Brandon Nimmo, C Danny Jansen, RP Jakob Junis, RP Alexis Díaz, RP Tyler Alexander, RP Carter Baumler
• Key Losses: 2B Marcus Semien, OF Adolis García, SP Merrill Kelly, SP Tyler Mahle, SP Patrick Corbin, RP Phil Maton, RP Shawn Armstrong, RP Hoby Milner, RP Danny Coulombe, RP Jacob Webb, RP Josh Sborz, C Jonah Heim, SP/RP Jon Gray
• Break They Need: Their “Temu” gamble pays off

Texas entered 2026 with a focus on cutting payroll. They let several veteran starting pitchers walk and non-tendered Adolis García, but then they swung deals acquiring Brandon Nimmo and MacKenzie Gore. Someday they’ll have to pay at least one of those guys, but will they be enough to keep Texas in the American League playoff picture today?

San Diego Padres

• Key Additions: IF Sung-Mun Song, RHP Triston McKenzie, OF Nick Castellanos, SP Germán Márquez, OF Miguel Andujar
• Key Losses: SP Dylan Cease, RP Robert Suárez, IF Luis Arraez, 1B/OF Ryan O’Hearn, C Elías Díaz, IF Jose Iglesias, IF/OF Tyler Wade, SP Nestor Cortes
• Break They Need: Their strengths to cover their weaknesses

The Padres arguably lost more this off-season than any other so-called contender. Keeping Michael King on a three-year, $75 million deal helps, and their bullpen is good enough to absorb the loss of Robert Suárez. Aside from their loaded stock of relievers and a rotation led by a healthy Joe Musgrove, they have no shortage of star power at the plate. But San Diego has yet to address losing Dylan Cease or deal with the loss of the entire right side of the infield.

Kansas City Royals

• Key Additions: OF Isaac Collins, OF Lane Thomas, RP Matt Strahm, RP Nick Mears, RP Alex Lange
• Key Losses: OF Mike Yastrzemski, SP Michael Lorenzen, RP Angel Zerpa, RP Taylor Clarke, RP Jonathan Bowlan, RP Hunter Harvey, IF/OF Adam Frazier, OF Randal Grichuk, OF MJ Melendez
• Break They Need: Finding another “breakout” offensive star

What a difference four wins makes. In 2024, the Royals went from 86 wins and a surprise appearance in the play-offs to a “disappointing” 82 wins last year. The common thread is the Royals simply don’t have the punch at the plate to be a contender. Despite having superstar Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City found itself ranked near the bottom of the American League in runs scored and OPS in 2025. While they have enough pitching to stay relevant in the weak AL Central, they need one of their promising young bats…Jac Caglianone, Vinnie Pasquantino, Carter Jensen, or even Maikel Garcia…to emerge.

At Least They Don’t Suck

Do I really need to explain this one? They aren’t terrible, but they also aren’t great. These are teams you can expect to be somewhere around the .500 mark.

Cincinnati Reds

• Key Additions: 3B Eugenio Suarez, OF J.J. Bleday, OF Dane Myers, RP Brock Burke, RP Pierce Johnson, RP Caleb Ferguson, C Ben Rortvedt
• Key Losses: IF/OF Gavin Lux, SP Nick Martinez, SP Zack Littell, OF Austin Hays, OF Miguel Andújar, RP Scott Barlow, RP Brent Suter, IF Santiago Espinal
• Why It Might Work: They can pitch
• Why It Probably Won’t: They can’t score

Coming off their first playoff appearance since 2020, the Reds were forced to address their lack of offense. Adding Eugenio Suarz and J.J. Bleday should add some thump at the plate. Left fielder Dane Myers has a huge upside as potential 30+ stolen base threat, and there’s no reason not to expect continued improvement from from right fielder Noelvi Marte and second baseman Matt McLain.

They also are looking to the future with rookie first baseman Sal Stewart, who slammed 5 homers in his first 55 at-bats in the bigs. That projects to 54 dingers in a 600-AB season. That’s not going to happen, but the Reds would be overjoyed if he could hit 30. Either way, somebody needs to step up to join franchise cornerstone Elly De La Cruz.

For whatever the lineup may lack, the pitching staff more than makes up for. Hunter Greene has all the trappings of a legitimate “tops in the league” ace, and Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, Chase Burns, and Brady Singer complete a deceptively great rotation…dare I say “top five” in all of baseball?

Cleveland Guar dians

• Key Additions: RP Shawn Armstrong, RP Connor Brogdon, RP Colin Holderman
• Key Losses: RP Jakob Junis, RP Kolby Allard, OF Lane Thomas, SP Ben Lively, RP Sam Hentges
• Why It Might Work: Other than Detroit, nobody in the AL Central is any good
• Why It Probably Won’t: Cleveland refuses to enter the free agent market

Home-grown talent is the underpinning of long-term success, but it’s not the only component. The guts of the Guardians are all products of Cleveland’s minor-league system. Possible future Hall-of Famer Jose Ramirez, All-Star Steven Kwan, and pretty damn good 1B Kyle Manzardo, C Bo Naylor, SS Brayan Rocchio, DH C.J. Kayfus, and CF Chase DeLauter all came from the farm.

The same can be said for starting pitchers Gavin Williams, Tanner Bibee, and Logan Allen, as well as key relievers Cade Smith and Hunter Gaddis. The Guardians’ ability to grow their own talent was a major factor in their 20-7 September last year, which combined with Detroit’s 7-17 stumble down the stretch was enough for Cleveland to win its second straight AL Central title.

But even the most fertile farm can’t grow a tractor. That means while Cleveland keeps making the post-season with one of the lowest payrolls in baseball, they still need something to pull them to the next level.

Arizona Diamondbacks

• Key Additions: SP Merrill Kelly, 3B Nolan Arenado, SP Michael Soroka, RP Taylor Clarke
• Key Losses: OF Jake McCarthy, C James McCann, RP Jalen Beeks, RP Kyle Backhus, IF Ildemaro Vargas
• Why It Might Work: Like the Reds, they can pitch
• Why It Probably Won’t: Like the Reds, they probably won’t be able to score.

The Snakes led all of MLB in scoring in 2024. They dropped to sixth in last year. 2026 doesn’t look to be the trend-breaker with the departure of big bats Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez. Left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is still rehabbing a knee, while right fielder Corbin Carroll had wrist surgery earlier this spring.

Arizona still has a solid 1-2-3 at the top of the order in shortstop Geraldo Perdomo, second baseman Ketel Marte, and Carroll when healthy. Catcher Gabriel Moreno has some pop in his bat, but the rest of the lineup is flatter than warm beer. I know they added Nolan Arenado, but let’s be honest…he’s nudging up on his 35^th birthday, his league-leading days were a decade ago, his last 30-HR 100-RBI campaign was in 2022, and his numbers are trending the same way as the Diamondbacks total production.

But like the Reds, Arizona’s rotation will keep them in games. It’s another sneaky-good rotation with options including with the likes of Merrill Kelly, Zac Gallen, Ryne Nelson, Eduardo Rodriguez, Brandon Pfaadt, and Michael Soroka.

But unlike the Reds, the bullpen defines “suspect,” the hitters won’t get help from a phone-booth sized ballpark, and Arizona isn’t in a weak division.

I don’t have a crystal ball…it could work…

Milwaukee Brewers

• Key Additions: SP Brandon Sproat, RP Angel Zerpa, IF/OF Jett Williams
• Key Losses: SP Freddy Peralta, OF Isaac Collins, RP Nick Mears, SP Tobias Myers, C Danny Jansen, 1B Rhys Hoskins, SP José Quintana, RP Shelby Miller
• Why It Might Work: Because it always does (so far)
• Why It Probably Won’t: Ownership modeled after Scrooge McDuck

Who knew washing your hair with beer was a thing? It makes sense given the “rinse, lather, repeat” nature of the Milwaukee Brewers. It was the typical off-season for them. They didn’t sign a “big time” free agent. They dealt an All-Star (Freddy Peralta) so they didn’t have to pay him, and they tried to plug holes in the roster with a bunch of bottom-end of the roster guys…all of whom are under club control for the foreseeable future.

The recurring theme…the Brewers’ ownership is not willing to invest in going from contender to champion. They’ve got a core good enough to contend in catcher William Contreras, left fielder Jackson Chourio, and second baseman Brice Turang. Even without Peralta, Milwaukee really is in a league of their own in terms of pitching depth. The big club boasts Brandon Woodruff, Quinn Priester, and rising phenom Jacob Misiorowski. The farm system is well-stocked; that’s how it keeps supplying a steady stream of guys the Brewers won’t pay.

San Francisco Giants (by J-Dub)

Entering Year Two of the Buster Posey era as the Giants’ president of baseball operations, I have to say the fans need to give this a chance. I know it looks like this team continues to fall behind the Dodgers and the Padres in the NL West. That’s all true, but two things are happening which involve the “long game.”

First, The Giants are quietly re-building their farm system. Free agent signings get all the splash, but you can’t win long-term without the ability to grow and develop your own talent. Second, not spending a billion dollars over the next few years puts San Francisco in a good position to weather whatever is going to happen in the anticipated collective bargaining agreement issues coming this off-season.

As for 2026, the addition of Tyler Mahle and Adrian Houser makes for an above average rotation with Logan Webb and Robbie Ray. However, the bullpen is collection of question marks. The offense will likely rely too much on Bader and Arraez getting on base and Rafael Devers driving them in.

It will be icing on the cake if Bryce Eldridge lives up to two-thirds of his hype. Either way, this team is looking past 2026.

Why Wait For Next Year?

One way or another, these teams need to make a decision about their future.

Oakland Las Vegas Sacramento U-Haul Athletics

• Key Additions: 2B Jeff McNeil, RP Mark Leiter Jr.
• Key Losses: RP Sean Newcomb, OF J.J. Bleday, IF Luis Urías, RP José Leclerc
• Needs To Pull The Trigger On: Getting to Vegas

The Athletics have one of baseball’s best offensive cores, and 2025 AL Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz has legitimate MVP potential, but this team desperately needs more quality arms to take the next step forward. Jacob Lopez and Luis Morales both showed flashes behind Luis Severino and Jeffrey Springs, but others will need to step forward if they want to avoid simply trying to outslug teams.

But…

As long as they remain the nomads of baseball, the question becomes will this finally be the year the A’s commit to having a competitive roster for the new Las Vegas digs…now scheduled for who the hell knows 2028. Either way, building from the bottom up takes years.

Given the way they screwed up this move, my money says look for another abandoned storage locker auction come the trade deadline.

Pittsburgh Pirates

• Key Additions: 2B Brandon Lowe, DH Ryan O’Hearn, RP Gregory Soto, OF Jake Mangum, OF Jhostynxon García, RP Mason Montgomery
• Key Losses: SP Mike Burrows, SP Johan Oviedo, DH Andrew McCutchen, OF Tommy Pham, RP Dauri Moreta, RP Colin Holderman
• Needs To Pull The Trigger On: Understanding when their “window” to win is

The Pirates’ offense defines the term “anemic.” 2025 saw them with a lineup that only managed a MLB-worst 3.6 runs per game. In fact, the Bucs have scored fewer runs than any other team in this decade. That explains why Pittsburgh added second baseman Brandon Lowe, left fielder Ryan O’Hearn, and designated hitter Marcell Ozuna. Combined with existing studs right fielder Bryan Reynolds and center fielder Oneil Cruz, the offense has to show improvement. There’s nowhere to go but up.

Pittsburgh also boasts a talented young rotation headlined by Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes, but Mitch Keller, Braxton Ashcraft, top rookie Bubba Chandler, and on-the-mend Jared Jones could keep this team competitive in the weak NL Central. The problem will be young pitching staffs rely on good gloves behind them. That won’t be the case in Pittsburgh because the Pirates got those new bats by giving up defense.

This could be the seeds of a contender, but 2026 seems a shade early for a bloom. But if this team finds itself in a race at the deadline, they’ve got to pull the trigger on whatever they need at the time, because it feels like a sure bet somebody is going to offer Paul Skenes a truckload of money.

Los Angeles Angels (by J-Dub)

As Angels fans, we must never forget that owner Arte Moreno saved this franchise from the evil clutches of Disney and he was key in bringing a World Series title to Orange County. But that championship was nearly a quarter-century ago. Since then, the Angels have only won a single playoff series, and haven’t even seen October since 2014. In the last ten years, the Angels are a .450 team.

Moreno…and his never-ending legion of “spend on wrong guys” GMs…now want us to believe the saviors of 2026 are guys like Grayson Rodriguez, Kirby Yates and Josh Lowe. I’m not buying that, and I don’t think many other Angel fans do either.

This team has lost 90 games in three straight years, and dropped 89 in the two seasons before that. The Angels damn near notched 100 loses in 2024. The reality is Moreno’s glory days are long gone. Since 2010, the Los Angeles Angels have been one of the worst run franchises in all of sports. I’m an Angels fan dating back to Dick Enberg on the radio and Nolan Ryan on the mound, and I’m on record here when it comes to Arte Moreno.

Because Moreno loves to spend money on the wrong people, the Angels will continue to be “the red Mets” as they share a proclivity for spending themselves into 4^th place. That’s not changing as long as Moreno owns this team.

It’s time for all of us to accept that.

Miami Marlins

• Key Additions: RP Pete Fairbanks, OF Owen Caissie, 1B Christopher Morel, SP Bradley Blalock, OF Esteury Ruiz
• Key Losses: SP Edward Cabrera, SP Ryan Weathers, 1B Eric Wagaman, OF Dane Myers
• Needs To Pull The Trigger On: Deciding if they can run with the “big boys” or not

Excuse time is over in Miami. The fact is the Marlins are the most complete team in this category. Even after trading Edward Cabrera and Ryan Weathers, they still have the foundation for a pretty-damn-good rotation with ace-in-waiting Eury Pérez and established veteran Sandy Alcantara. Kyle Stowers, Agustín Ramírez, and Jakob Marsee have all shown they can be “impact” bats, and Owen Caissie has “breakout star” written all over him.

Any way you slice it, the 2026 vibe in south Florida resembles that of Toronto in 2024. This team likely can’t contend yet, but as I’ve already noted the Mets, Phillies and Braves all have notable holes, particularly with pitching. What it all boils down to is sooner rather than later, this franchise needs to decide if they are in it to win it. After all, the Marlins went 35-32 after the All-Star break last year and won three more games than the Atlanta Braves.

Tampa Rays

• Key Additions: 2B Gavin Lux, SP Steven Matz, OF Cedric Mullins, OF Jake Fraley, RP Steven Wilson, RP Yoendrys Gómez, OF Justyn-Henry Malloy, SP Ken Waldichuk, OF Jacob Melton
• Key Losses: 2B Brandon Lowe, OF Josh Lowe, SP Shane Baz, RP Pete Fairbanks, OF Jake Mangum, SP Adrian Houser, RP Mason Montgomery, OF Christopher Morel
• Needs To Pull The Trigger On: Build a goddamn stadium already

On the field, the proved to be another “as usual’ off-season for thee Rays; there was a bit of both buying and selling. But none really will move the needle. The Rays, as they always do, will get the most out of their talent, but they’re going to spend 2026 looking up at the rest of the loaded AL East.

As for the field itself, this franchise and various municipal bodies have been farting around with building a ballpark for far too long now. Even after Mother Nature ripped the roof off the “Juice Box,” nobody has got a project past the conceptual phase. At this rate, the Tampa Rays should wait about five more years until they can move to Havana.

It’s Going To Be A Long Summer

Everybody has hope during Opening Week, but some lose it far faster than others. But that begs the question: Can you have “heartbreak” if you never had expectations to begin with?

Minnesota Twins (by J-Dub)

I lived through the dreck the Twins were putting on the field in the mid 90s. This team could have Twins’ fans pining for the good old days of Scott Stahoviak, Pedro Munoz, and Matt Lawton. This team is the poster-child for the effects of the collapse of the regions sports networks. Once those cash-pillars were yanked, several teams found themselves in baseball’s version of the guy bridging paychecks with payday loans. That’s why Minnesota snagged an Honorable Mention for a Dubsy Award this past year.

Calling what the Twins did last summer a “fire sale” would be like saying Hiroshima was a “just a bomb.” Shipping Carlos Correa, Jhoan Durán, Griffin Jax, Harrison Bader, and six others out of town at the deadline not only poured the concrete for the concept Minnesota is cash-starved, the fact that heading into 2026 sees Byron Buxton and Joe Ryan still being shopped (and Pablo López if he didn’t have a season-long injury) completely hardens it.

Despite that, even when the Twins started spending the regional sports network money, their trend line didn’t match their expenditure. Minnesota notched 5 fewer wins in 2024 than they did the previous year, and they dropped 12 more games than that in 2025. Given all that, 2026 doesn’t hold much promise.

And yes…I’m trolling somebody merely mentioning Matt Lawton…

St. Louis Cardinals

• Key Additions: SP Dustin May, RP Ryne Stanek, SP Richard Fitts, SP Hunter Dobbins, UT Brendan Donovan
• Key Losses: 1B Willson Contreras, SP Sonny Gray, 3B Nolan Arenado, SP Miles Mikolas, RP John King
• The Ray Of Hope: St. Louis is a great baseball town

I’ve been watching baseball for a half-century and this is the first time I can remember saying St. Louis is in full “re-build” mode. With Willson Contreras, Sonny Gray, Brendan Donovan, and Nolan Arenado all having been traded, and Miles Mikolas riding free agency out of town. That means this summer for the Cardinals will be all about youngsters like Nolan Gorman, Jordan Walker, and Victor Scott II. Cardinal fans are among the best in baseball, but this will be new territory for everybody.

Chicago White Sox

• Key Additions: 1B Munetaka Murakami, SP Anthony Kay, SP Sean Newcomb, IF/OF Luisangel Acuña, OF Everson Pereira, RP Seranthony Dominguez
• Key Losses: OF Luis Robert, OF Mike Tauchman, SP Martín Pérez, RP Tyler Alexander
• The Ray Of Hope: They have a fair amount of young talent

Let’s not kid anybody; 100 losses is still a distinct possibility. Yeah, there’s a lot of young potential “up-and-comers, but so many of the positives for the Pale Hose come with a question mark. There’s the $34 million dice roll of the “Japanese Babe Ruth,” but the word is Munetaka Murakami may not be able to handle Major League gas. Anthony Kay is back “state-side” after a tour manning the mound as a Gaijin. Joining him in the rotation is starter-turned-reliever-turned-starter-turned-God-know-what Sean Newcomb. The most solid positive is converting perennial “project” Luis Robert into a lot of contract-friendly Luisangel Acuña.

Colorado Rockies

• Key Additions: SP Michael Lorenzen, IF Willi Castro, OF Jake McCarthy, RP Brennan Bernardino
• Key Losses: SP Germán Márquez, 1B Michael Toglia, SP Bradley Blalock, SP Austin Gomber, IF Thairo Estrada, IF Kyle Farmer
• The Ray Of Hope: They really are getting better

It’s not really a false hope; it’s more like an empty one. Free-agent have less than zero interest in pitching in the hitter-gasmic world that is Coors Field, so when the Rockies can get even a moderately effective big league hurler to come to Colorado, it’s kind of a big deal.

Granted Michael Lorenzen isn’t going to be mistaken for the second coming of Sandy Koufax anytime soon. But combined with Kyle Freeland, Chase Dollander and a healthy Ryan Feltner, they should be at least not the worst rotation in baseball.

The issue is from how far down the Rocks need to rise. 2025 saw this team set a modern era record for worst run differential by giving up 424 more runs than they scored. That mark was previously held for 92 years by the 1932 Boston Red Sox at -349. Needless to say, you’re not winning a lot ball games at that rate, which explains Colorado’s 43-119 mark in 2025.

Check back on Memorial Day to see how right I am…

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