There’s a reason why midterm winter grades are a foolish exercise in Major League Baseball: Simply, some teams do not yet begin to cook until well after the New Year.
With just one of the top 10 consensus free agents still available, and two of the best arms on the trade market changing hands, the heavy lifting is all but over. Certainly, we’ll see some end-of-roster and depth moves, and perhaps more trades during the course of spring training.
But with most of that tranasactional hay in the proverbial barn, USA TODAY Sports issues grades for all 30 teams this offseason:
American League
By Gabe Lacques
Athletics: C+
They locked down another piece of their ostensibly Vegas-bound core, signing slugger Tyler Soderstrom to a seven-year deal, and acquired Jeff McNeil to add some seasoning to their talented young infield. Yet serious competition doesn’t seem to be reality in the second of these three Yolo County years.
Baltimore Orioles: B+
This becomes an easy A if left-hander Framber Valdez falls to them in free agency, giving them admirable pitching depth. As it is, trades for right-hander Shane Baz and power-hitting outfielder Taylor Ward and the signing of Pete Alonso brings significant improvement. Ryan Helsley capably locking down the ninth would make this a fine winter.
Boston Red Sox: C
Picking apart the remains of the Cardinals organization for Sonny Gray and Willson Contreras was wise. Yet Alex Bregman was the guy they had to have and they let him slip away to Wrigley Field. Nice of them to pivot to Ranger Suárez to buff out the rotation, but too many potential holes and injury history in the everyday lineup.
Chicago White Sox: C-
Hey, it’s movement. The White Sox will more closely resemble a big league team this year, their fortunes largely hinging on seeing something in Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami that apparently everyone else missed.
Cleveland Guardians: C
Fairly standard winter here: A Jose Ramírez extension some onramp granted to young players like Chase DeLauter and little material external gains. At least Steven Kwan is still a Guardian.
Detroit Tigers: C
They held onto Tarik Skubal, thank goodness, and buffed out their late-inning look by re-signing Kyle Finnegan and adding Kenley Jansen. A really good team, one that should be prohibitive favorites to win the Central again. Just a bummer the activity wasn’t commensurate with the opportunity Skubal’s final year offers.
Houston Astros: B-
They finished 87-75 and three games out of the division race, and essentially swapped lefty Framber Valdez for Japanese right-hander Tatsuya Imai, while Mike Burrows was a nice low-key rotation add from Pittsburgh. Carlos Correa’s acquisition in August crowded the roster, with Isaac Paredes and prospect Zach Cole ticketed for part-time roles.
Kansas City Royals: B
Does moving the fences in count toward the grade? There were a few tucks around the edges, too, most notably a contract extension for Maikel Garcia and acquiring Isaac Collins and Nick Mears from Milwaukee, and reuniting with lefty reliever Matt Strahm.
Los Angeles Angels: C-
Just a little more snipping around the edges: A flyer on Grayson Rodriguez. Reuniting with Yoan Moncada. Vaughn Grissom is here. You get the idea.
Minnesota Twins: D+
The roster thoroughly flattened by the 2025 trade deadline added Josh Bell along with the more cost-effective Rogers relief twin. At least Pablo Lopez and Joe Ryan are still here.
New York Yankees: C
Trent Grisham: Back. Cody Bellinger: Back. Ryan Weathers: Aiming to hold down the fort for the injured starters. A dynamic winter, this was not, but still an all right ballclub.
Seattle Mariners: B+
Something tells us they may not be done yet but it’s been a nice offseason anyway. Locking up productive glue guy Josh Naylor early on was huge and they probably hopped off the Jorge Polanco train at the right time. Probably one infielder short still.
Tampa Bay Rays: C+
A real classic Rays winter – Shane Baz, Brandon Lowe, Josh Lowe and Pete Fairbanks are out, Gavin Lux, Cedric Mullins and Steven Matz are in. They received an impressive haul for Baz, but it’s tough to ascertain how much more they improved for 2026.
Texas Rangers: A-
They needed a fairly big reset and got it, exchanging Marcus Semien for Brandon Nimmo and trading for coveted lefty MacKenzie Gore to immediately rebrand them as contenders. Winning that trade – and any shot at the West – must involve unlocking greater consistency from Gore.
Toronto Blue Jays: A
That’s not to say we’re thrilled with an endgame that includes no Bo Bichette. But the early strikes for Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce solidify a very good rotation beyond 2026, and the price for Kazuma Okamoto was not exorbitant. They may miss the elites like Bichette and Kyle Tucker not so much in topline production, but overall depth.
National League
By Bob Nightengale
Arizona Diamondbacks: C-
The Diamondbacks were able to pull off a couple of moves in their hopes of getting back to the playoffs, but they still have holes. The D-backs re-signed Merrill Kelly to a one-year, $20 million contract after trading him to the Texas Rangers in July. They acquired former Gold Glove third baseman Nolan Arenado to replace Eugenio Suarez. They took a flier on starter Michael Soroka. And they re-signed backup catcher James McCann.
Still, they have yet to address their bullpen. Their best two closing options are A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez, but each are recovering from elbow surgeries. Puk could return in mid-season while Martinez is expected to be out until late season. They will rely on Kevin Ginkel and Ryan Thompson for the time-being.
Atlanta: C
Some nice under-the-radar moves by signing former Padres closer Robert Suarez to a three-year, $45 million contract, infielder Mauricio Dubón and outfielder Mike Yastrzemski. They also re-signed Gold Glove shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, who will now be out until mid-May after fracturing his finger when he slipped on ice, and reliever Raisel Iglesias.
Still, they need a front-line starter if they’re going to return to being the class of the division. It’s hard to believe they won’t sign a free-agent starter to join Chris Sale, Spencer Schwellenbach and Spencer Strider in the rotation.
Chicago Cubs: A-
Oh, what a difference a year makes.
A year ago, the Cubs were bidding for All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman, but finished third in the sweepstakes to Boston and Detroit. Well, after making the playoffs, and having their zealous fanbase feeling like it’s 2016 all over again, the Cubs went out and made sure they got Bregman this time around.
They also rebuilt their bullpen with veterans Phil Maton, Hunter Harvey, Jacob Webb and Hoby Milner.
Now, after watching their little brothers up north in Milwaukee pound them year after year – winning three consecutive division titles and four of the last five – the Cubs believe this is the year it all changes.
They not only are favorites to win the NL Central, but perhaps could be a legitimate threat to the Dodgers too.
Cincinnati Reds: F
The Reds did make a strong push to bring Kyle Schwarber back to his home state and were willing to offer even more than the Phillies’ five-year, $150 million deal, but couldn’t make up for his loyalty and love for Philadelphia.
Instead of pivoting, they stopped and still haven’t added to their offense.
They did bring back closer Emilio Pagán, signed relievers Pierce Johnson and Caleb Ferguson and traded for reliever Brock Burke. They also acquired outfield depth with Dane Myers and JJ Bleday.
Still, there were no big moves for a team that made great strides and reached the playoffs last year.
Colorado Rockies: F
The Rockies have had three consecutive 100-loss seasons, including a 43-119 record last year.
They have done nothing this winter to believe it won’t be a fourth in a row.
The Rockies turned over the reins of the franchise to Paul DePodesta, who had been out of baseball for a decade, but their only notable moves were signing Michael Lorenzen to a one-year, $8 million deal and acquiring outfielder Jake McCarthy from the Arizona Diamondbacks.
It will take years before the Rockies are even a .500 team again.
Los Angeles Dodgers: A
The Dodgers became the first team to win consecutive World Series since the New York Yankees in 1996-2000, so what did they do?
Got even better, positioning themselves for a three-peat.
The Dodgers’ biggest nemesis last season was their bullpen, becoming such a mess that starters Roki Sasaki, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and even Clayton Kershaw pitched in relief in the postseason.
So instead of simply hoping that their bullpen would improve and Tanner Scott would bounce back from his horrific year, they went out and grabbed perhaps the best closer in baseball in Edwin Diaz. And if the Mets weren’t infuriated enough by the Diaz signing, the Dodgers took their No. 1 free-agent target away from them in right fielder Kyle Tucker, paying him a sunning four-year, $240 million contract.
Just like that, the Dodgers become Exhibit 1-A for a labor war with their $413 million payroll, and mocking the mantra that the “Dodgers are ruining baseball.’’
Miami Marlins: D
The Marlins still want to contend in the powerful NL East, but how is that possible when you trade away starters Edward Cabrera and Ryan Weathers, and your only free-agent signing is closer Pete Fairbanks?
They at least kept former Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara, but that could change dramatically at the trade deadline. If Alcantara can improve on his finish – yielding a 2.68 ERA while giving up just 36 hits while striking out 42 in 53.2 innings – he can be an invaluable trade chip.
The Marlins offense should be improved, grabbing Cubs outfield prospect Owen Caisse in the Cabrera deal, but for a rotation that ranked 26th in baseball with a 4.84 ERA last season, things got worse.
Milwaukee Brewers: D
The Brewers were able to keep veteran starter Brandon Woodruff, but dealt ace Freddy Peralta.They also let starter Jose Quintana and first baseman Rhys Hoskins walk, while trading outfielder Isaac Collins to the Royals for left-hander Angel Zerpa.
The small-market Brewers, who spent a grand total of $1.25 million on free agents this winter (outfielder Akil Baddoo), but every time you think they’ve got no shot, they find a way to playi in October.
Still, the cold-hearted reality in 2026 is that the Cubs got better, and the Brewers got worse.
New York Mets: B
David Stearns, Mets president of baseball operations, isn’t going to win any popularity contests in New York after letting Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz walk away.
Yet, he badly wanted to re-shape the team after their historic collapse, remained patient, and then struck last week. In a matter of six days, he signed Bo Bichette to a three-year, $126 million contract, traded for Brewers ace Freddy Peralta and reliever Tobias Myers, and White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr.
Just like that, the Mets are back in business, but it’s a $343 million gamble in their new players. Bichette has never played third base. Jorge Polanco, who replaces Alonso, has never played first base. Robert has played more than 110 games just once in six years. And what if Bichette exercises his opt-out, costing them $47 million and $15.2 million in luxury tax penalties for one season?
Is this really an improved team over the one that won 83 games last season and missed the playoffs by a day?
We’re about to find out.
Philadelphia Phillies: D+
The Phillies wanted to shake things up after fizzing out the last three years in the postseason, and were poised to do so with a seven-year, $200 million offer to Bo Bichette – until the Mets swooped in at the last second.
So, now they’re running it back again with an infusion of youth led by rookie center fielder Justin Crawford, and the gamble that new outfielder Adolis Garcia can resemble the player who hit 39 homers with 107 RBIs two years ago with the Texas Rangers.
Yet, for the most part, it’s the same team, but a year older.
They had to re-sign DH Kyle Schwarber. They re-signed catcher J.T. Realmuto to a three-year, $45 million contract once Bichette left them at the altar. But outside Garcia, their only other notable acquisition is reliever Brad Keller (two years, $22 million).
The fanbase is upset they’re running it back, but it’s still a team that won 96 games last season and 95 games in 2024.
Pittsburgh Pirates: B-
The Pirates recognized they needed some offense, and this time actually opened up their wallet, giving Cy Young winner Paul Skenes and the rotation a real chance to win some games.
The Pirates brought in Brandon Lowe, Ryan O’Hearn and Jhostynxon Garcia to their lineup in what has been GM Ben Cherington’s most aggressive winter.
Lowe was their big acquisition after hitting 31 homers with 83 RBIs last season for the Rays. They spent $29 million on O’Hearn for two years after he slashed .281/.366/.437 with 21 doubles and 17 home runs. And Garcia was a Red Sox prized prospect who could make the team after hitting 21 homers with 75 RBIs last season at Class AA and Triple-A.
And, yes, don’t forget about having the game’s best prospect in Konnor Griffin, who turns 20 in April, and produced a.941 OPS across three levels in his first pro season last year. He’ll arrive at some point.
Who knows, maybe the Pirates will be a playoff contender before Skenes departs.
San Diego Padres: F
The Padres spent wildly for years, but suddenly the money has dried up, and so have the hopes of knocking off the Dodgers.
They were engaged in plenty of trade talks early in the winter, but since have flat-lined, losing starter Dylan Cease, closer Robert Suarez, and first base/outfielder Ryan O’Hearn.
They were able to bring back starter Michael King and signed backup infielder Sung-Mun Song, but that’s it.
Their best chance of improving the roster is if Yu Darvish walks away from the remaining three year and $45 million in his contract, and using that money to acquire more help.
San Francisco Giants: C-
The Giants’ offseason wasn’t bad, but acquiring a defensive center fielder and adding back-end starters were hardly the moves to make the Los Angeles Dodgers sweat.
After all, this is a team that is 18-40 against the Dodgers the last four years.
“Obviously, it’s not fun for me to watch the team that won it and the team that kicked our ass a lot last year,’ ace Logan Web said at the club’s Fanfest, “go out and get some really good players just to make it more difficult. But at the end of the day, you just got to play better and be better. Hopefully we do that.’
The Giants did make a nice pickup signing defensive whiz Harrison Bader, 31, to a two-year, $20.5 million contract, helping shore up an outfield that ranked last in outs above average last season. He will play center field, pushing Jung Hoo Lee to right field and helping cover ground in left field for defensively-challenged Heliot Ramos.
The Giants added starters Tyler Mahle and Adrian Houser to fill out their rotation behind Webb, Robbie Ray and Landen Loup, along with relievers Sam Hentges and Jason Foley.
Their best chance to make the playoffs is for Rafael Devers to start hitting like he did in Boston and Willy Adames to play like the shortstop who earned a $182 million contract.
St. Louis Cardinals: D-
The Cardinals, for the first time in 30 years, are going into a full-scale rebuild.
They dumped three veterans – Sonny Gray, Nolan Arenado and Willson Contreras – and tossed in $59 million for them to go away, picking up horde of prospects.
And they still are hoping to trade infielder/outfielder Brendan Donovan before spring training.
The Cardinals’ highest-paid player now is Dustin May ($12.5 million) and they don’t have a single player under contract past 2026.
This is going to be the first of several long years for the passionate Cardinals’ fanbase.
Washington Nationals: F
The Nationals were on their way to contention, with their front office believing they were about three free agent players shy of making ground.
Instead, president Mike Rizzo and Davey Martinez were fired, and with Paul Toboni taking over, they have embarked on another rebuild. They already traded starter MacKenzie Gore with shortstop CJ Abrams on the trade block. And all they spent in free agency this winter was $5.5 million on Foster Griffin, who had been pitching for the Yomiuri Giants since 2023.
They did receive a nice package for Gore, highlighted by third baseman Gavin Fien, the Rangers’ first-round draft pick of a year ago and wound up getting five of the Rangers’ top 15 prospects.
Still, with a team so young that their only player under contract past 2026 is catcher Keibert Ruiz, it will be years before this team is competitive again.
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