Real baseball is less than two months away. Nearly all of the winter’s harvest has been mentioned.
With that, USA TODAY Sports unveils its first Power Rankings for 2026, which pay many tributes to the past year but also take into account everything that’s happened since the Los Angeles Dodgers assembled an incredible dog pile in the Rogers Center infield to narrowly clinch back-to-back World Series titles.
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No, no one can “win winter,” but it’s impossible to ignore the many seismic changes taking place. To take a look back at what happened before and after Opening Day, but for now, here’s where MLB’s 30 championship hopefuls (and there are many) look like:
1 / 39
$765 million: Juan Soto, New York Mets (2025-39)
1 / 39
$765 million: Juan Soto, New York Mets (2025-39)
2 / 39
$700 million: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers (2024-33)
3 / 39
$500 million: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays (2026-39)
4 / 39
$426.5 million: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels (2019-2030)* includes extension
5 / 39
$365 million: Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers (2020-32)
6 / 39
$360 million: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees (2023-2031)
7 / 39
$350 million: Manny Machado, San Diego Padres (2023-33)
8 / 39
$341 million: Francisco Lindor, New York Mets (2022-31)
9 / 39
$340 million: Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres (2021-34)
10 / 39
$330 million: Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies (2019-31)
11 / 39
$325 million: Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins (2015-2027) — traded to New York Yankees in 2017
12 / 39
$325 million: Corey Seager, Texas Rangers (2022-31)
13 / 39
$325 million: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers (2024-35)
14 / 39
$313.5 million: Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox (2024-33) — Traded to San Francisco Giants in 2025
15 / 39
$300 million: Trae Turner, Philadelphia Phillies (2023-33)
16 / 39
$292 million: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers (2014-2023)* Includes extension
No. 17 / 39
$288,777,777: Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals (2024-34)
18 / 39
$280 million: Xander Bogaerts, San Diego Padres (2023-33)
19 / 39
$275 million: Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees (2008-2017)
20 / 39
$260 million: Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies (2019-26) — Traded to St. Louis Cardinals in 2021, Arizona Diamondbacks in 2026
twenty one / 39
$252 million: Alex Rodriguez, Texas Rangers (2001-10)
twenty two / 39
$245 million: Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals (2020-26)
twenty three / 39
$245 million: Anthony Rendon, Los Angeles Angels (2020-26)
twenty four / 39
$240 million: Kyle Tucker, Los Angeles Dodgers (2026-29)
25 / 39
$240 million: Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels (2012-2021)
26 / 39
$240 million: Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners (2014-2023) — traded to New York Mets in 2019
27 / 39
$225 million: Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds (2012-2021)
28 / 39
$218 million: Max Fried, New York Yankees (2025-32)
29 / 39
$217 million: David Price, Boston Red Sox (2016-2022) – traded to Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020
30 / 39
$215 million: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers (2014-2020)
31 / 39
$215 million: Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers (2020-28)
32 / 39
$214 million: Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers (2012-2020) — traded to Texas Rangers in 2013
33 / 39
$212 million: Austin Riley, Atlanta Braves (2023-32)
34 / 39
$210 million: Corbin Burnes, Arizona Diamondbacks (2025-30)
35 / 39
$210 million: Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals (2015-2021)
36 / 39
$209.3 million: Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners (2023-34)
37 / 39
$206.5 million: Zach Greinke, Arizona Diamondbacks (2016-2021) — traded to Houston Astros in 2019
38 / 39
$202 million: CC Sabathia, New York Yankees (2009-17)
39 / 39
$200 million: Carlos Correa, Minnesota Twins (2023-28) — Traded to Houston Astros in 2025
If you thought a three-peat was a fait accompli, remember: These guys were ranked fifth in these power rankings at the end of last season.
Bet on contributions from Aidan Miller and Justin Crawford for now.
The look of 2026 will be very different, but perhaps more consistent.
They’re hoping the belief gained from their best season ever will outweigh the hangover from Game 7 of the ALCS.
Assuming the winter rehab of Cole, Rodon, Judge and Volpe continues apace.
For pitchers, there’s not much of a boom, but more likely to go bust.
Wilyer Abreu is about to play in the All-Star Game. These people may need this.
It’s rare that a team with a half-billion-dollar luxury tax payroll simultaneously entertains the thought “so crazy, this might work!” Atmosphere.
Tarik Skubal’s arbitration hearing wasn’t the preseason excitement fans were hoping for.
If the Brewers can make their next move, Wisconsin great Harry Houdini will be impressed.
Curious to see how long they can keep this going.
A de facto swap between Frambert Valdez and Ryuya Imai would be interesting.
Harrison Bader and Luis Arráez fill highly specific needs that require little commitment beyond this year.
Some aggressive and potentially power moves (hello, MacKenzie Gore), but ’24 additions Joc Pederson and Jake Berg need to hit the ground running.
It’s almost like they were courting Kyle Schwarber expecting a “at least you tried it” cake.
Gunnar Henderson has overcome a shoulder impingement in a major development over the winter.
If the Tigers perform poorly again, they can take advantage of this.
Their eventual collaboration with Nolan Arenado seemed inevitable.
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Jose Ramirez’s record: six-time division champion, six-time Silver Slugger, seven-time All-Star.
tampa bay rays
Sean McClanahan is targeting the starting line again.
21. Atlanta Braves
Still looking to add pitching before the Grapefruit League starts.
22. Miami Marlins
Trading a mid-round starter for Irving Casey’s upside would be smart.
23. St. Louis Cardinals
The arrival of the JJ Wetherholt train was exciting.
24. Pittsburgh Pirates
They ran wild experiments designed to combine good pitching with a potentially league-average offense.
25. Athletics
Jacob Wilson joins Tyler Soderstrom, Lawrence Butler Jr. and Brent Rooker as they travel to Las Vegas with Yolo County survivors.
26. Los Angeles Angels
Yoan Moncada is back, if you were waiting for that decision.
27. Minnesota Twins
The manager was fired. New Ownership Controller. President of baseball operations is introduced. Your basic slow press coverage.
28. Chicago White Sox
Raise your hand if you missed all the trade rumors surrounding Luis Robert Jr. Anyone?
29. Washington Nationals
It does look like there is a framework for a plan, but what about this year? Maybe, please look away.
(Gives key 30 to Paul DePodesta) “Nothing, but we can get you two hot water and a crib. Try not to stay here too long.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 MLB Power Rankings: Dodgers dominate, can Phillies or Jaycees stop Los Angeles?
