As it happens every season, the ultimate prize is limited to only one team and fanbase. For several innings, it all looked as if the Blue Jays (and Canada by extension) would earn those rights. Alas, baseball is usually cruel, especially for teams that fail to take advantage of the chances in front of them, and so the Dodgers are the only franchise with no postmortem and articles wondering where they go from here.
Toronto was the final vanquished team, but we will also include the Championship Series losers in this combo, as the Brewers and Mariners had the chance to erase decades of pain for their tortured fans, but failed in completely different ways. In any case, these three teams that came oh so close to making history should take solace in the fact that they remain in a good spot going forward.
Notable Free Agents: Brandon Woodruff (mutual option), Rhys Hoskins (mutual option), Jose Quintana (mutual option)
Despite being the #1 seed and having home-field advantage, the Brewers’ playoff performance was never up to what they had done during the regular season. Starting with a series that got extended to five games against the Cubs and ending with a disappointing four-game sweep versus the Dodgers, it was clear that Milwaukee was not able to replicate its formula of winning baseball, especially on offense.
One thing has remained constant in Milwaukee’s recent string of playoff exits: they never seem to have a star player who can carry them through stretches, which puts a low ceiling on what they can aspire to, especially compared to high-payroll teams with a larger margin for error. This was evident in the NLCS, as it looked like the team completely collapsed after being one hit-by-pitch away from at least sending Game 1 to extras. Instead, it was the first step towards a sweep where the Brewers scored a total of four runs, with the offense completely looking out of sorts, which was especially shocking when you consider the high-volume and contact style the team displayed through 162 games.
Even with this sad ending, it is also clear that the Brewers are in an enviable spot when you consider their whole situation. They literally posted the best win total in franchise history, and most of their top talent will remain with the team for the foreseeable future. That bodes well in the perennially soft NL Central, but it may be time to become more aggressive to finally get over the hump in October.
"The present as good as it is for the #Brewers, pales compared to the future." 👀@JeffPassan on the future of the Brewers being bright 💫 pic.twitter.com/ey2aTj7hAw
— ESPN Milwaukee (@ESPNMilwaukee) October 29, 2025
Despite predictable team options declined for Brandon Woodruff, Rhys Hoskins, and Jose Quintana, the Brewers were quick to squash any possible trade talks around their ace, as Freddy Peralta is now expected to return after the team picked up his option. With Peralta and a full year of Jacob Misiorowski in the rotation, Milwaukee has one of the most solid rotation cores to build around, and the franchise is known for always being able to produce cheap young hurlers to round out the staff.
With a solid farm system and the emergence of the likes of Brice Turang, the offense appears to be in good shape, but this is where the front office should take advantage of this moment and fan a couple of impact bats that can show up when it matters most. Unfortunately, team anchor Christian Yelich is coming off another playoff stinker, and his best years may be behind him. Trusting that Andrew Vaughn will have a repeat performance is also risky, and the Brewers must also know that even a modest increase in payroll could go a long way toward sustaining this kind of momentum.
The NL as a whole projects to be the tougher league in 2026, but the Brewers are part of that elite as of this day. However, they will need a bit of better luck and an aggressive offseason approach to fight for that elusive pennant.
Notable Free Agents: Jorge Polanco (player option), Mitch Garver (mutual option), Josh Naylor, Eugenio Suárez
The Mariners did everything right…and it was still not enough. Following two seasons of barely missing the playoffs, the front office finally got serious in their “all-in” message, with a proper offseason haul that was later surpassed by a clear message at the trade deadline. It all worked out wonders, with the Mariners winning their first AL West title in 24 years, and then reaching the ALCS, where they took a 2-0 series lead on the road. Alas, some critical plays led to a winner-take-all Game 7, where Seattle managed to take a 3-1 lead that looked safe considering the talent on their staff, only to squander it and return home empty-handed.
Not the ending we wanted, but we’ll never forget this ride.
Thanks for being part of the journey 💙 pic.twitter.com/FMWKgk6o4E
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) October 21, 2025
The Game 7 loss may have been devastating, and two of their prized deadline acquisitions are now coveted free agents, but that still does not take away from the fact that the Mariners are in a really good spot looking towards 2026. It all starts with a roster that should be hungry to return and finally earn the franchise’s first pennant, and having a core of Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodríguez is an excellent start towards that goal. Raleigh is either winning MVP or becoming a tough-luck second place, and he should still be in his prime for the next couple of seasons, while Rodriguez is barely entering his best seasons. Both provided playoff heroics and are well ingrained into Seattle’s team philosophy, and it is now paramount that the front office finds a way to complement them.
While it should be a tall task to ask for the returns of Eugenio Suárez and Josh Naylor, re-signing one of them is perfectly doable, especially as the Mariners should be looking at an increase in revenue due to their higher attendance and playoff run. The pitching staff, on the other hand, is probably the best in the AL, and the Mariners could even deal with this surplus to be aggressive on the trade market in exchange for more offense. The untimely Bryan Woo injury may have limited the team’s ceiling in the playoffs, but Woo should come back strong to lead a rotation that also includes the likes of Logan Gilbert, Luis Castillo, and George Kirby, all of whom profile as at least solid #2 options.
With an AL West that features a non-entity like the Angels, a team that still looks a year away from contending like the A’s, an enigma like the Rangers, and a fading veteran core like the Astros, it is clear that the Mariners will enter 2026 as the clear favorite to win the division. Team history suggests that things will not be that simple, but the franchise should take advantage of this moment and ride the good vibes that the 2025 Seattle Mariners produced for a fanbase that was desperate for such a season. If money is not an impediment and the front office continues to be creative and aggressive, we could be entering a golden age in the Emerald City.
Notable Free Agents: Bo Bichette, Max Scherzer, Chris Bassitt, Isiah Kiner-Falefa
If Seattle’s elimination was devastating, then Toronto’s final loss may be more in the traumatic category. After returning to the World Series for the first time in 32 years, the Blue Jays had the mighty Dodgers on the ropes. They first took a 1-0 lead with a convincing win at home, and then improbably took a 3-2 series lead despite suffering a tough 18-inning loss in Game 3. All they needed was a win at home, where they had been one of the best teams during 2025, but it was not to be. Game 6 ended on an improbable sequence of a trapped ball and a weird double play, while Game 7 saw the Jays blow an early 3-0 lead and a late 4-3 score, ultimately losing in extra innings to create a tough, painful memory for their rabid fanbase.
In many ways, the loss reminded me of the Royals in 2014. Both teams lost a Game 7 at home despite probably being the better team throughout the series, running into an unstoppable starting pitcher that closed out the series with the winning run at the plate. In 2014, it was Madison Bumgarner crushing Kansas City, and in 2025, it was Yoshinobu Yamamoto earning MVP while Toronto is left with a bunch of what-ifs. However, we already saw how the Royals responded to that sadness, immediately retooling to make the most of their moment, with that strategy being rewarded with a title next season. Now, can the Blue Jays also pick up the pieces and bring glory back to Toronto?
There is an argument that the Jays may have reached their peak and missed their best chance, especially as they might lose Bo Bichette in free agency and are unlikely to repeat the heroic playoff performances of Addison Barger, Alejandro Kirk, Ernie Clement, and Andrés Giménez (with RISP). On the other hand, this is a deep-pocketed franchise that already locked up its best player forever, has a solid base, and may have reinforced its status as a solid landing option for free agents. The latter argument looks even stronger now that Shane Bieber has opted into his player option to play in Toronto for at least one more season, which gives credence to the idea that this team really enjoyed playing for each other and feels like there is unfinished business.
A special fanbase. We're counting down the days until we see you again.
Thank you for a memorable year 💙🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/YMaC8K2VGL
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) November 5, 2025
The extra money from this deep playoff run and knowing that the AL East will always be tough could create a situation where Toronto is more aggressive than ever, pushing towards a top-5 payroll to bring back Bichette and even splash for a solid starter to make up for the likely exit of Chris Bassitt and the uncertain status of José Berríos. The bullpen situation should also be a priority, especially if Jeff Hoffman’s homer issues continue to make every ninth inning an adventure, just like it happened at the worst possible time.
Ultimately, there is no way to take out the sting of this loss, but a lot is to be learned and valued from this experience, especially for a franchise that had been stuck in mediocrity for nearly a decade. Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. has ascended to a top-5 player in the league, and the Jays showed they have enough talent to match the likes of the Yankees and Red Sox in the toughest division in baseball. We could be entering a half-decade with Toronto being a perennial contender, but they must avoid the pitfalls that have plagued many World Series losers and instead embrace what they did well in 2025 as a building block for a happier ending in 2026 and beyond.
