We’re less than two months from non-fake baseball. And almost every gain to be had over the winter has been spoken for.
With that, USA TODAY Sports rolls out its first power rankings for 2026, an alignment with many nods to the year that passed, yet allowances for all that transpired since the Los Angeles Dodgers converged in a disbelieving dogpile on the Rogers Centre infield, their consecutive World Series championships narrowly secured.
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No, nobody “wins the winter,” but it’s impossible to ignore the many seismic shifts that unfolded. Check back around Opening Day, but for now, here’s how Major League Baseball’s 30 title hopefuls (well many have such hope) stack up:
1 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$765,000,000: Juan Soto, New York Mets (2025-39)
1 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$765,000,000: Juan Soto, New York Mets (2025-39)
2 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$700,000,000: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers (2024-33)
3 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$500,000,000: Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., Toronto Blue Jays (2026-39)
4 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$426.5 million: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels (2019-2030)* includes extension
5 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$365 million: Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers (2020-32)
6 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$360 million: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees (2023-2031)
7 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$350 million: Manny Machado, San Diego Padres (2023-33)
8 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$341 million: Francisco Lindor, New York Mets (2022-31)
9 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$340 million: Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres (2021-34)
10 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$330,000,000: Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies (2019-31)
11 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$325 million: Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins (2015-2027) – traded to New York Yankees in 2017
12 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$325 million: Corey Seager, Texas Rangers (2022-31)
13 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$325,000,000: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers (2024-35)
14 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$313.5 million: Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox (2024-33) – traded to San Francisco Giants in 2025
15 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$300 million: Trea Turner, Philadelphia Phillies (2023-33)
16 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$292 million: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers (2014-2023)* includes extension
17 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$288,777,777: Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals (2024-34)
18 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$280 million: Xander Bogaerts, San Diego Padres (2023-33)
19 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$275 million: Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees (2008-2017)
20 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$260 million: Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies (2019-26) – traded to St. Louis Cardinals in 2021, traded to Arizona Diamondbacks in 2026
21 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$252,000,000: Alex Rodriguez, Texas Rangers (2001-10)
22 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$245 million: Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals (2020-26)
23 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$245 million: Anthony Rendon, Los Angeles Angels (2020-26)
24 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$240,000,000: Kyle Tucker, Los Angeles Dodgers (2026-29)
25 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$240 million: Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels (2012-2021)
26 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$240 million: Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners (2014-2023) – traded to New York Mets in 2019
27 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$225 million: Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds (2012-2021)
28 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$218,000,000: Max Fried, New York Yankees (2025-32)
29 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$217 million: David Price, Boston Red Sox (2016-2022) – traded to Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020
30 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$215 million: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers (2014-2020)
31 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$215 million: Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers (2020-28)
32 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$214 million: Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers (2012-2020) – traded to Texas Rangers in 2013
33 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$212 million: Austin Riley, Atlanta Braves (2023-32)
34 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$210 million: Corbin Burnes, Arizona Diamondbacks (2025-30)
35 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$210 million: Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals (2015-2021)
36 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$209.3 million: Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners (2023-34)
37 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$206.5 million: Zack Greinke, Arizona Diamondbacks (2016-2021) – traded to Houston Astros in 2019
38 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$202,000,000: CC Sabathia, New York Yankees (2009-17)
39 / 39
MLB’s $200+ million contracts
$200 million: Carlos Correa, Minnesota Twins (2023-28) – traded to Houston Astros in 2025
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
If you think a threepeat is a fait accompli, keep in mind: These guys finished fifth in these here power rankings at the end of last season.
A tentative bet on contributions from Aidan Miller and Justin Crawford.
A very different look in 2026 – but perhaps an even more consistent one.
4. Seattle Mariners
They gotta hope the conviction gained from best season ever outweighs ALCS Game 7 hangover.
5. New York Yankees
Assuming the winter rehabs of Cole, Rodón, Judge and Volpe continue apace.
Not much boom, more bust potential for pitching staff.
Wilyer Abreu set for All-Star campaign. And these guys probably need that.
8. New York Mets
Not often a team with a half-billion dollar luxury tax payroll also has a “so crazy, it just might work!” vibe.
9. Detroit Tigers
Tarik Skubal arbitration hearing not the sort of preseason spice a fan hopes for.
Famous Wisconsinite Harry Houdini would be impressed if the Brewers can pull off their next trick.
Wild to see how long they can keep this going.
12. Houston Astros
The Framber Valdez-Tatsuya Imai de facto swap will be fascinating to track.
Harrison Bader and Luis Arráez fill highly specific needs at little commitment beyond this year.
Some aggressive and potentially strong moves (hello, MacKenzie Gore), but ’24 additions Joc Pederson and Jake Burger need to get going.
Almost like they expected an “At Least You Tried” cake for pursuing Kyle Schwarber.
Gunnar Henderson getting over a shoulder impingement a significant winter development.
If Tigers underachieve again, they can take advantage.
Seemed inevitable they’d wind up with Nolan Arenado.
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19. Cleveland Guardians
The Jose RamÃrez track record: Six division titles, six Silver Sluggers, seven All-Star selections.
20. Tampa Bay Rays
Shane McClanahan aiming once again to get to the starting line.
21. Atlanta Braves
Still expecting a pitching addition before that Grapefruit League tipoff.
22. Miami Marlins
Swapping a mid-rotation starter for Owen Caissie’s upside is wise.
23. St. Louis Cardinals
Arrival of the J.J. Wetherholt train worthy of excitement.
24. Pittsburgh Pirates
Crazy experiment they got going, aiming to pair a great pitching staff with a potentially league-average offense.
25. Athletics
Jacob Wilson joins Tyler Soderstrom, Lawrence Butler Jr. and Brent Rooker in the group of Yolo County survivors bound for Las Vegas.
26. Los Angeles Angels
Yoan Moncada is back, in case you were waiting on that decision.
27. Minnesota Twins
Manager fired. New ownership control person. President of baseball operations nudged out. Your basic slow drip of news.
28. Chicago White Sox
Raise your hand if you’ll miss all the Luis Robert Jr. trade rumors. Anybody?
29. Washington Nationals
There does appear to be a framework of a plan, but this year? Avert the eyes, perhaps.
(Hands keys to No. 30 to Paul DePodesta) “Not much to it, but we can get you two hots and a cot. Try not to stay here too long.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB power rankings 2026: Dodgers reign, can Phillies or Jays stop LA?
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