2026 MLB thread - Play Ball!

[Jmass]

How's your team looking this year? Thoughts and/or predictions for the upcoming season?
I'm a long time Cardinals fan. I'm expecting a rough ride this year. The Cardinals have finally decided to rebuild and spent their offseason trading away high salary players. Time to see what the kids can do.

[MRP]

I'm excited for baseball to be back. Red Sox had an active offseason, adding a lot of pitchers (and former Cardinals) to their roster. They have some exciting young talent-can't wait to see what Roman Anthony does in a full season-and playoff aspirations, but they're eina stacked division-3 teams from the AL East made the post-season last year and it could be 4 this year if the Orioles bounbce ack and signings like Pete Alonso pan out.

Sox start in Cinci on Thursday, but the seasons starts tomorrow. Woot!

-M

[shaunaconda]

If the Rangers offense can do anything this year, they could have a chance. Pitching was great last season, but the offense was terrible! It’ll be tough though with Seattle and Houston in the division.

Dodgers probably win it all again!

[Jmass]

I'm excited for baseball to be back. Red Sox had an active offseason, adding a lot of pitchers (and former Cardinals) to their roster. They have some exciting young talent-can't wait to see what Roman Anthony does in a full season-and playoff aspirations, but they're eina stacked division-3 teams from the AL East made the post-season last year and it could be 4 this year if the Orioles bounbce ack and signings like Pete Alonso pan out.

Sox start in Cinci on Thursday, but the seasons starts tomorrow. Woot!

-M

I hope you have a great season and whale the tar out of the Reds. I'm hoping you get good returns out of Gray and Contreras (sp?). I found them to be solid players and at the same time frustrating as all get out. I felt that Wilson had a bad habit of checking out mentally during games which led to bone headed plays. The guy has talent but some of his decisions will leave you throwing your remote at the tv. Last season I came to the conclusion that Sonny Gray just has trouble with hot weather (not a great weakness in baseball). No one sweats through a uniform like Sonny. Dude looks like he needs an IV almost immediately. It got to the point as the season wore on that you just didn't know what he was going to give you when he started. Still I wish them and you the best this season. Hoping my buddy and I make it to what I consider baseball heaven (Fenway) soon.

[Jmass]

If the Rangers offense can do anything this year, they could have a chance. Pitching was great last season, but the offense was terrible! It’ll be tough though with Seattle and Houston in the division.

Dodgers probably win it all again!

I love your manager. Skip was one of my favorite Cardinals and I hope he does well for you. The video of him going to the mound to tell the pitcher that he made the big club was great.

Don't disagree about the Dodgers, but don't they make great heels? Baseball is more fun with a team like that.

[Dan2Dan]

Padres up for sale. And they're in the same division as the Dodgers. Our only joy is that we here in San Diego don't live in 'Mudville.' But our 2026 MLB prospects may be 'Mudville adjacent'!

[TrekStar]

The Dodgers with the talent and payroll they have, I wouldn’t be surprised if they buy… I mean win it again and three peat,
I would love to see the Padres dethrone them.

The home town Redsox play in a tough division, Yankees-BlueJays-Orioles and yes, sometimes even the pesky Rays, but I’m expecting them to reach the post season again this year, probably wildcard again which is fine, just get in.

Always been a big Braves fan and hope they do well, but not expecting much, I’m guessing they’ll finish 3rd behind the Phillies and Mets.

[MRP]

I see a lot of complaints about the Dodgers, but I don't see the Dodgers as being any different than the Yankees through the entirety of the 20th century. Yanks won 27 championships on the strength of having the most resources to get the best players and having players want to play for them. Don't get me wrong, I hate the Yankees, but I don't see what the Dodgers are doing as an existential threat to baseball, baseball thrived as a whole when the Yanks did it, it gave everyone a target and increased interest in the game overall, not driving interest away.

-M

[Dan2Dan]

I see a lot of complaints about the Dodgers, but I don't see the Dodgers as being any different than the Yankees through the entirety of the 20th century. Yanks won 27 championships on the strength of having the most resources to get the best players and having players want to play for them. Don't get me wrong, I hate the Yankees, but I don't see what the Dodgers are doing as an existential threat to baseball, baseball thrived as a whole when the Yanks did it, it gave everyone a target and increased interest in the game overall, not driving interest away.

-M

As a nearly lifelong Padres fan, I totally agree.

Current-day Dodgers are, simply, an exceptionally well-funded and exceptionally well-run organization.

That said, two things can be true at the same time, and when 'we' Padres are back in 'sale mode' (once again) this season, and also in the same division as Los Doyers, well, it's not hopeless (so few Three-Peats in MLB history), but a well-trodden (and I would say well founded) resignation sets in.....

[MRP]

As a nearly lifelong Padres fan, I totally agree.

Current-day Dodgers are, simply, an exceptionally well-funded and exceptionally well-run organization.

That said, two things can be true at the same time, and when 'we' Padres are back in 'sale mode' (once again) this season, and also in the same division as Los Doyers, well, it's not hopeless (so few Three-Peats in MLB history), but a well-trodden (and I would say well founded) resignation sets in.....

I'm just worried owners will use this to get fans on board with forcing a salary cap and the fight will cost everybody the 2027 season. No one benefits from losing a season of Ohtani is his prime, of losing Roman Anthony's ascending to his, of Aaron Judge approaching the tail of his career etc. But the labor fight is going to be nasty and long. MLB is not the NFL or the NBA and a salary cap is not going to solve the issue, especially if it's implemented without requiring a floor for minimal spending for some of the smaller franchises. None of those other league have an actual minor league system, neither draft players to develop in those minor leagues and not to make a big league impact immediately.

I'm in the opposite camp-more of the revenue earned by the league should wind up with players, not owners. Yes, star players make astronomical money, but a salary ca isn't going to change that, it will jus mean the players on the lower end of the roster and the vets and young players will have to settle for a lot less, and if there's no floor, there still won' be parity in spending. A lock out will damage the game far more than any strong of championships fueled by massive spending that the Dodgers (or any other team) would.

-M