MLB 2026 Offseason Re-Grades: Winners, Losers, and Surprises (2026)

Re-Grading Every MLB Team's Offseason: A Comprehensive Analysis of Free-Agent Signings, Trades, and Roster Reshuffling

The 2026 MLB season is halfway through, and it's time to re-evaluate the offseason moves of all 30 teams. This article provides a detailed breakdown of each team's performance, focusing on trades and free-agent signings, while also considering moves that weren't made.

American League East:

• Baltimore Orioles: C

  • Key Gains: Pete Alonso, Taylor Ward, Shane Baz, Chris Bassitt, Zach Eflin, Ryan Helsley, Leody Taveras, Andrew Kittredge, Blaze Alexander
  • Key Losses: Tomoyuki Sugano, Grayson Rodriguez, Jorge Mateo, Gary Sánchez
  • Commentary: The Orioles' pitching struggles, with Baz and Kittredge having high ERAs, overshadow the solid hitting performance of Alonso and Ward.

• Boston Red Sox: B

  • Key Gains: Ranger Suárez, Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras, Caleb Durbin, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Andruw Monasterio, Danny Coulombe, Johan Oviedo
  • Key Losses: Alex Bregman, Lucas Giolito, Kyle Harrison, Nathaniel Lowe, Hunter Dobbins, Jhostynxon Garcia, Shane Drohan
  • Analysis: The Red Sox's trade for Harrison is a blunder, but solid additions like Suárez, Gray, and Contreras help balance the team.

• New York Yankees: B

  • Key Gains: Cody Bellinger, Trent Grisham, Paul Goldschmidt, Amed Rosario, Ryan Weathers
  • Key Losses: Devin Williams, Luke Weaver
  • Opinion: The Yankees' 'run it back' campaign is holding up, but they might have expected more from their free-agent signings.

• Tampa Bay Rays: C

  • Key Gains: Nick Martinez, Gavin Lux, Jacob Melton, Cedric Mullins, Jake Fraley, Steven Matz, Ben Williamson
  • Key Losses: Brandon Lowe, Shane Baz, Pete Fairbanks, Josh Lowe, Mason Montgomery, Christopher Morel, Jake Mangum, Tristan Peters
  • Commentary: The Rays' trades are still being evaluated, but Martinez's strong performance balances out the disappointment of Matz.

• Toronto Blue Jays: A

  • Key Gains: Dylan Cease, Kazuma Okamoto, Tyler Rogers, Cody Ponce, Jesús Sánchez, Max Scherzer
  • Key Losses: Bo Bichette, Chris Bassitt, Joey Loperfido
  • Analysis: The Blue Jays' strong season is despite losses, with Okamoto and Cease contributing significantly.

American League Central:

• Chicago White Sox: A

  • Key Gains: Munetaka Murakami, Tristan Peters, Luisangel Acuña, Austin Hays, Anthony Kay, Seranthony Domínguez, Sean Newcomb, Erick Fedde
  • Key Losses: Luis Robert Jr., Mike Tauchman
  • Commentary: Murakami's performance is a major reason for the White Sox's high grade, with Peters also contributing positively.

• Cleveland Guardians: D

  • Key Gains: Shawn Armstrong, Austin Hedges, Rhys Hoskins, Colin Holderman
  • Key Losses: Lane Thomas, Sam Hentges, Jakob Junis
  • Opinion: The Guardians' offseason is a disappointment, but Armstrong and Holderman provide some solace.

• Detroit Tigers: D

  • Key Gains: Framber Valdez, Justin Verlander, Gleyber Torres, Drew Anderson, Kenley Jansen, Kyle Finnegan
  • Key Losses: Tommy Kahnle, Paul Sewald, Chris Paddack, Rafael Montero
  • Analysis: Torres' performance is a bright spot, but Valdez and Verlander's injuries are concerns.

• Kansas City Royals: F

  • Key Gains: Isaac Collins, Lane Thomas, Matt Strahm, Nick Mears, Bailey Falter, Kameron Misner
  • Key Losses: Mike Yastrzemski, Angel Zerpa, Adam Frazier, Michael Lorenzen, Taylor Clarke
  • Commentary: The Royals' offseason is a disappointment, with Collins' underperformance a major setback.

• Minnesota Twins: D

  • Key Gains: Josh Bell, Victor Caratini, Taylor Rogers, Anthony Banda
  • Key Losses: Christian Vázquez
  • Opinion: The Twins' inactivity is a contrast to the Royals, with Bell and Caratini underperforming.

American League West:

• Athletics: F

  • Key Gains: Jeff McNeil, Aaron Civale, Mark Leiter Jr., Scott Barlow
  • Key Losses: JJ Bleday, Sean Newcomb
  • Commentary: The A's struggle with injuries, and their new additions fail to make a positive impact.

• Houston Astros: F

  • Key Gains: Tatsuya Imai, Mike Burrows, Nick Allen, Joey Loperfido, Christian Vázquez
  • Key Losses: Framber Valdez, Mauricio Dubón, Jacob Melton, Victor Caratini, Jesús Sánchez
  • Analysis: The Astros' trades are not working out, with Imai and Burrows struggling.

• Los Angeles Angels: F

  • Key Gains: Josh Lowe, Grayson Rodriguez, Kirby Yates, Drew Pomeranz, Brent Suter, Jordan Romano, Yoán Moncada, Alek Manoah
  • Key Losses: Taylor Ward, Tyler Anderson, Kenley Jansen, Kyle Hendricks, Luis Rengifo
  • Opinion: The Angels' offseason is a 'Why, though?' situation, with replacement-level signings.

• Seattle Mariners: B

  • Key Gains: Josh Naylor, Brendan Donovan, Jose A. Ferrer, Rob Refsnyder, Mitch Garver
  • Key Losses: Jorge Polanco, Eugenio Suárez, Harry Ford, Jurrangelo Cijntje
  • Commentary: The Mariners' additions are a mixed bag, but Ferrer's performance is a positive surprise.

• Texas Rangers: B

  • Key Gains: Mackenzie Gore, Brandon Nimmo, Danny Jansen, Jakob Junis, Chris Martin, Tyler Alexander
  • Key Losses: Marcus Semien, Adolis García, Jonah Heim, Tyler Mahle, Merrill Kelly, Patrick Corbin, Shawn Armstrong, Hoby Milner, Jon Gray
  • Analysis: The Rangers' bullpen is strong, and Gore and Nimmo justify their trades.

National League East:

• Atlanta Braves: A

  • Key Gains: Robert Suarez, Raisel Iglesias, Ha-Seong Kim, Mauricio Dubón, Mike Yastrzemski, Jorge Mateo, Dominic Smith
  • Key Losses: Marcell Ozuna, Nick Allen, Pierce Johnson
  • Commentary: The Braves' bullpen is exceptional, and they win the Allen-for-Dubón trade.

• Miami Marlins: F

  • Key Gains: Owen Caissie, Pete Fairbanks, Christopher Morel, John King
  • Key Losses: Edward Cabrera, Ryan Weathers, Dane Myers
  • Opinion: The Marlins' offseason is a disappointment, with Caissie and Fairbanks underperforming.

• New York Mets: F

  • Key Gains: Freddy Peralta, Bo Bichette, Jorge Polanco, Marcus Semien, Luis Robert Jr., Devin Williams, Luke Weaver
  • Key Losses: Pete Alonso, Edwin Díaz, Brandon Nimmo, Jeff McNeil, Brandon Sproat, Starling Marte, Luisangel Acuña, Griffin Canning, Ryne Stanek, Tyler Rogers
  • Analysis: The Mets' offseason is a failure, with Bichette and Polanco underperforming.

• Philadelphia Phillies: C

  • Key Gains: Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, Brad Keller, Adolis García
  • Key Losses: Ranger Suárez, Matt Strahm, Nick Castellanos, Harrison Bader
  • Commentary: Schwarber's performance is a bright spot, but the Phillies' other additions are underwhelming.

• Washington Nationals: C

  • Key Gains: Harry Ford, Foster Griffin, Miles Mikolas, Zack Littell, Curtis Mead
  • Key Losses: Mackenzie Gore, Jose A. Ferrer, Josh Bell
  • Opinion: The Nationals' offseason had low stakes, but Griffin and Mead provide some positive signs.

National League Central:

• Chicago Cubs: D

  • Key Gains: Alex Bregman, Shota Imanaga, Edward Cabrera, Phil Maton, Hoby Milner, Hunter Harvey
  • Key Losses: Kyle Tucker, Owen Caissie, Brad Keller, Drew Pomeranz, Andrew Kittredge, Justin Turner, Michael Soroka
  • Commentary: The Cubs' loss of Tucker is not a significant setback.

• Cincinnati Reds: C

  • Key Gains: JJ Bleday, Nathaniel Lowe, Eugenio Suárez, Emilio Pagán, Pierce Johnson, Caleb Ferguson, Brock Burke, Dane Myers
  • Key Losses: Nick Martinez, Austin Hays, Gavin Lux, Zack Littell, Taylor Rogers, Brent Suter
  • Analysis: Suárez and Pagán's underperformance is a concern, but Bleday and Lowe are unexpected positives.

• Milwaukee Brewers: C

  • Key Gains: Brandon Woodruff, Jett Williams, Brandon Sproat, Kyle Harrison, Shane Drohan, Angel Zerpa, Gary Sánchez, David Hamilton
  • Key Losses: Freddy Peralta, Caleb Durbin, Isaac Collins, José Quintana, Rhys Hoskins, Nick Mears, Andruw Monasterio
  • Commentary: Harrison's strong performance is a highlight, but the Brewers' other additions are mixed.

• Pittsburgh Pirates: B

  • Key Gains: Brandon Lowe, Marcell Ozuna, Ryan O'Hearn, Mike Montgomery, Jake Mangum, Gregory Soto, Jhostynxon Garcia
  • Key Losses: Mike Burrows, Johan Oviedo, Andrew McCutchen, Colin Holderman
  • Opinion: Ozuna's performance is a self-own, but Lowe and O'Hearn are positive additions.

• St. Louis Cardinals: C

  • Key Gains: Hunter Dobbins, Dustin May, Richard Fitts, Ryne Stanek, Jurrangelo Cijntje
  • Key Losses: Sonny Gray, Brendan Donovan, Willson Contreras, Nolan Arenado, Miles Mikolas, John King
  • Commentary: The Cardinals' offseason is a mix of trades and keeping players, with May's performance a positive note.

National League West:

• Arizona Diamondbacks: B

  • Key Gains: Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Nolan Arenado, Carlos Santana, Michael Soroka, Paul Sewald, Taylor Clarke, Jonathan Loáisiga
  • Key Losses: Jake McCarthy, Blaze Alexander
  • Commentary: The D-backs' pitching duo of Gallen and Kelly is underperforming.

• Colorado Rockies: C

  • Key Gains: José Quintana, Tomoyuki Sugano, Willi Castro, Michael Lorenzen, Edouard Julien, Jake McCarthy, Brennan Bernardino
  • Key Losses: Germán Márquez, Michael Toglia, Thairo Estrada
  • Opinion: The Rockies' offseason is a relatively small splash, but any progress is positive.

• Los Angeles Dodgers: F

  • Key Gains: Kyle Tucker, Edwin Díaz, Miguel Rojas, Enrique Hernández, Evan Phillips
  • Key Losses: Michael Conforto, Anthony Banda, Kirby Yates
  • Commentary: The Dodgers' offseason is a disappointment, with Tucker and Díaz underperforming.

• San Diego Padres: D

  • Key Gains: Michael King, Lucas Giolito, Miguel Andujar, Sung-Mun Song, Nick Castellanos, Griffin Canning, Germán Márquez
  • Key Losses: Dylan Cease, Robert Suarez, Luis Arraez, Ryan O'Hearn
  • Opinion: The Padres' losses are significant, but King's performance is a positive note.

• San Francisco Giants: C

  • Key Gains: Luis Arraez, Tyler Mahle, Adrian Houser, Harrison Bader, Sam Hentges
  • Key Losses: Justin Verlander, Wilmer Flores
  • Commentary: The Giants' chance on Arraez pays off, but their other additions are a mixed bag.