The playoffs are already in full force, and we all focus our attention on the 12 teams that were lucky/good enough to make it there. But before we go all-in on them, let’s take a moment to think about the unfortunate 18 franchises that have gotten a headstart on the offseason. The mix of teams that don’t reach the playoffs follows a familiar narrative, from the teams that were doomed from the start to the ones that crashed and burned despite high expectations at the beginning of the year.
To give them a fair share of thought and space in this website, we will take a look at their upcoming outlook and what we can expect from them before 2027 comes into focus. To simplify the process, they are separated into tiers that reflect their current situation. Baseball is a year-round sport, and these franchises must start thinking about ways to improve if they want to be part of 2027’s playoff field… or at least show some kind of improvement.
Same Old Story
Los Angeles Angels (62-100) – having hit a new rock-bottom with the franchise’s first 100-loss season, it would seem that the Angels have nowhere to go but up. On the baseball side, there is not much hope for an imbalanced roster that at least got to see Mike Trout play 140+ games for the first time since 2018. The silver lining for the Angels is that they are finally getting a new owner, as Stan Kroenke is set to take over in early 2027. Until that happens, don’t expect to see LA make any significant moves. In the meantime, Angels fan can at least dream of better days ahead.
Colorado Rockies (58-104) – with four straight 100-loss seasons, something unseen since the expansion Mets of the 60s, the Rockies can’t be considered a serious franchise in any way. The recently ended season provided a few glimpses of hope, including catcher Hunter Goodman and a lineup full of players under 30. Alas, the pitching remains a downright atrocity, and another significant downturn in attendance may force the front office to make a splash in free agency. Aiming for 70 wins may not be much, but it could be the right step for a Colorado team that urgently needs a makeover.
Middle of Nowhere
Athletics (64-98) – after a promising 2025, the A’s were fulfilling their destiny of becoming a dark-horse contender in the AL West, even leading the division by late May. Alas, a terrible stretch of injuries and regression bit them hard, ultimately leading to a 98-loss season. With still one season in Sacramento, there is some value to trying to figure out how to pitch in a tricky home stadium, but it seems that ownership is content with simply playing it out before making a real investment on the roster. Making sure that Nick Kurtz is healthy is paramount for the near future, while taking fliers on cheap veterans may be a better strategy than sending unprepared youngsters to pitch in a bandbox.
Kansas City Royals (69-93) – going from 82 to 69 wins was not on the cards for a Royals team that thought of itself as a playoff contender, but the many holes in their roster were exposed during a rough season. With Bobby Witt, Jr. entering his prime, the front office should have a responsibility to build a decent team around him, while playing in the Central means that there is always a chance for a quick rebuild. The Royals have a few good pieces still under contract for 2027, but complementing them with another veteran hitter and a competent bullpen should become the priority to climb back to the .500 range.
Cincinnati Reds (75-87) – the Reds gave at least 100 plate appearances to seven hitters that put up negative WAR, which is how you go from a playoff team to an afterthought. At the same time, there are enough shiny pieces on this team to think that even league-average complements could produce a wild card contender. Sal Stewart emerged as the perfect Robin to Elly de la Cruz’s Batman, while Chase Burns look like a clear ace to lead the rotation. In what could become the final year of legendary manager Terry Francona’s career, the front office owes it to him to field a better lineup.
Minnesota Twins (77-85) – a season after selling most of their major league roster at the deadline, many expected the Twins to bottom out. Instead, they were just… fine? The nature of the AL Central gave them a crack at a playoff race, but the season was basically lost when Byron Buxton started his usual injury woes. Before that, he was slugging .511 in a surprisingly potent offense, which should become the biggest takeaway from this season. Alas, most of Minnesota’s good hitters are hovering around 30, and there is not much of a foundation to consider Minnesota as a team that could reach a new level with just a couple of signings. In the end, they will probably mix and match to continue in this road to mediocrity.
Baltimore Orioles (79-82) – the post-hype Orioles improved a tad over 2025, but it was still far from what was supposed to be an era of contention for the franchise. The inspired Pete Alonso signing worked as expected, but the rest of Baltimore’s key players were middling. With three clear top dogs in the AL East, the front office must now decide whether to make some necessary investments or stay put and hope for better luck. Getting Gunnar Henderson right again should be a priority, while the decision to re-sign Trevor Rogers or let him go will let us know if ownership is really trying to make a splash in a tough division.
Things Are Looking Up
Miami Marlins (80-82) – the Marlins basically replicated their 2025 record and could be part of the last tier, but there is something about their brand of baseball that is just tantalizing. Miami had nine hitters with double-digit homers and six players with at least ten steals, while also featuring several solid pitchers that at one point made wild-card contention a possibility. Picking up Sandy Alcantara’s option is a no-brainer, while seeing Pete Fairbanks‘ salary come off the books will certainly be a relief (no pun intended). Operating at a budget is always a challenge, but the Marlins clearly need at least one proven veteran bat to complement their fun array of 20-somethings.
Washington Nationals (77-85) – joining the Marlins as NL East teams with a good taste from 2026, the Nationals were also one of the most fun and chaotic teams of the season. In their case, the offense became a legit force, with the duo of James Wood and CJ Abrams fulfilling their promise as faces of the franchise. However, terrible pitching almost gave it all back, as Washington was the only team in baseball to score and allow at least 800 runs. With no significant free agents on their roster and still carrying a modest payroll, the perfect storm is there to invest on the rotation and bullpen. The front office already went ahead and extended Cade Cavalli, their top pitcher, and they have the chance to be aggressive in free agency. If the offense can keep it up, even an average staff could be the difference to take the next step.
St. Louis Cardinals (77-85) – in year three of the franchise’s self-imposed rebuild, the Cardinals and their fans were probably excited for the first time. Having traded all of their veterans, the Cardinals were finally able to use a lineup full of prospects, with rookie J.J. Wetherholt becoming an immediate impact player and Jordan Walker finally putting together a full season of solid results. The team’s rotation has no clear standouts, creating a clear need if the Cards wish to contend in a tricky NL Central. As attendance was again lacking for the legendary franchise, it would make sense to create some excitement around the major-league product. Spending in free agency is essential to get to that point.
A Couple of Breaks Away
Texas Rangers (80-82) – with a second straight season of .500 ball, the Rangers will probably regret their lack of aggression at the deadline, as the AL West was quite winnable. However, the foundation for a good team is still there, while a second year of Skip Schumaker at the helm will probably help with the team’s identity. Relying on the combined health of players like Corey Seager, Wyatt Langford, Nathan Eovaldi, and Jacob deGrom produced the expected mixed results, and it is clear that this roster is still a couple of players away from elite status. With this kind of veteran presence, it makes sense to run it back and build around the margins. Alas, it should also create an enhanced sense of urgency, which is not something the Rangers have displayed since their title season.
Pittsburgh Pirates (82-80) – after missing the postseason for an eleventh straight year, it could be easy to think that the Pirates were a disappointment. That narrative has some legs, but it also ignores the fact that Pittsburgh still posted a winning season and went from the worst offense in the league to a top-five unit. With this solid baseline, hope should be justified as long as the team builds on it, which starts with making a decision on free agent Brandon Lowe. Pittsburgh traded for Lowe and he immediately became the team’s top hitter, so it all lines up for opening the checkbook. On the same vein, figuring out Paul Skenes‘ issues is essential to the franchise, as him recouping his ace-like performance may be the difference between a good season and a great one for the Pirates.
Arizona Diamondbacks (86-76) – the Dbacks made a spirited run during the final week to earn the final NL wild card, but could not make up for the inconsistency the team showed for most of 2026. The bizarre Ketel Marte saga will probably end in him being traded away, while free agent Zac Gallen may have pitched himself out of Arizona, but the roster as a whole has enough weapons to think that a smart retooling could propel them back to playoff contention. Corbin Burnes made a brief return before going back on the IL, and his status could be the key to decide if the Dbacks go for more pitching or try to spend big on a Marte replacement. The NL West presents several challenges, but Arizona is in a good spot to choose their best way forward.
Soul Searching
San Francisco Giants (65-97) – the Giants barely avoided a 100-loss season, but their day to day surely felt as if they had lost 120. Bad play on the field and controversy off it made for a miserable experience, and now they face a crucial offseason in which they have to decide their next move. Employing several highly-paid veterans makes a full rebuild unlikely, but the roster has too many holes to simply run it back and expect different results. The trade deadline yielded several quality prospects, but the organization is unlikely to rush them to the majors. Bryce Eldridge and Rafael Devers are a good place to start an offense, but at least one quality bat is needed to bridge the gap between them and their questionable teammates. Building a reliable bullpen should be considered a priority, but with Buster Posey trying to quickly erase the stench of 2026, San Francisco could instead pursue a Skubal-like splash in free agency.
New York Mets (74-88) – while several league-wide disappointments took away some attention from the Mets, it is still shocking to see how this highly-paid roster missed the playoffs yet again. The recent interviews from POBO David Stearns have showed a leadership group that is having a hard time figuring out how to fix the mess they have created. On the flip side, manager Andy Green righted the ship and was anointed as the full-time skipper, while the return of Juan Soto showed that he can still be a difference-maker. The Mets also had a couple or productive rookies in Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing providing glimmers of hope, though it is clear several changes need to be made. Bo Bichette is unlikely to opt out of his deal, and so New York has no other option but to continue spending, albeit wisely this time around. At least two starting pitchers are obvious needs, but the bullpen also deserves a larger look to navigate the rough NL East.
Toronto Blue Jays (79-83) – the Blue Jays went from almost champions to a frustrating season in shocking fashion, never holding a playoff spot since early April. The ultra-competitive nature of the AL East creates a scenario where Toronto needs to be quick in figuring out how to improve and understand how it all went wrong. Fixing Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. is easier said than done, but that could be the key for a team that is depending on their homegrown star to be a star in this league. The Blue Jays will lose a popular veteran to free agency, as George Springer is unlikely to return, but re-signing Shane Bieber while getting a full season from Trey Yesavage may also help in their attempt to return to playoff relevancy. Toronto will probably be active in free agency and aggressive at seeking trades, but first they need to figure out what happened in 2026.
Detroit Tigers (76-86) – Detroit is aware that many underlying numbers suggest that they were terribly unlucky in 2026, and that their current roster looks good enough to contend in the weak AL Central. At the same time, rebuilding the bullpen and complementing their young rotation with at least one veteran is essential. A Tarik Skubal reunion is unlikely, but it could become the best feel-good story for a franchise that has yet to fulfill its promise of returning to the upper echelon of the American League. Manager A.J. Hinch is probably safe to start the season, but his team’s lack of clutch hitting and pitching could create a few questions if the Tigers start off slowly next year.
Seattle Mariners (76-86) – having just fired manager Dan Wilson, the Mariners at least found a scapegoat for their terribly disappointing season, and now they get a fresh start in their quest towards a pennant. Alas, Wilson’s decisions cannot explain how most of Seattle’s roster regressed badly after a spectacular 2025, including Cal Raleight’s power outage and the rotation’s turn from elite to mediocre. To make matters worse, their best hitter is now a free agent, and now the team must decide if Randy Arozarena is worth a multi-year contract to headline the offense. The front office is now on the hot seat, and that should produce a busy offseason for Seattle, including trades and connections to several prominent free agents.
