NL EAST
Braves: Players returning from injury
The Braves were one of the most injured teams in MLB last year, with key starters Chris Sale, Spencer Schwellenbach, and Spencer Strider all missing time. Superstars Ronald Acuña Jr. and Austin Riley also missed significant stretches. A few players heavily underperformed, including Michael Harris II and Ozzie Albies, both of whom had career-worst seasons at the plate. Despite having a solid roster, the Braves had a disaster of a year in 2025. A fresh season and improved health alone give fans plenty of reason for optimism.
Marlins: Young, exciting position players
Many small-market teams struggle to build strong rotations because quality starting pitching comes at a premium. The Marlins are no exception, and although they have exciting arms like Eury Perez and Sandy Alcantara, their true strength is in the lineup.
Headlined by 2025 All-Star Kyle Stowers, the lineup features SS Xavier Edwards and 2B Otto Lopez, both of whom have already blossomed into 3-WAR players. Catcher Agustin Ramirez and 3B Connor Norby are 25 and under and primed for breakout seasons. Owen Caissie, a top prospect recently acquired from the Cubs, is projected to slot into the outfield. There is legitimate young upside here.
Mets: New blood
Yes, losing Pete Alonso hurts. But look who David Stearns went out and acquired.
He injected new life into a lineup that already featured superstars Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor. The additions include Bo Bichette, Jorge Polanco, Marcus Semien, and Luis Robert Jr. He also brought in a much-needed ace in Freddy Peralta to bolster the rotation. It was a funky offseason, but Mets fans can at least be excited about the new blood in the Big Apple.
Phillies: Proven MLB talent
It is easy to talk about potential and prospects for rebuilding teams, but the Phillies’ lineup is full of players who have already proven it. Trea Turner, Bryce Harper, Christopher Sanchez, J.T. Realmuto, and Kyle Schwarber are established stars who consistently perform at a high level.
The biggest move of the offseason was re-signing Schwarber, which signals their strategy for 2026: run it back with proven MLB talent.
Nationals: A duo of high-end young talent
Ignore the starting rotation for a second. Now ignore most of the bullpen and the rest of the lineup.
James Wood and CJ Abrams are youthful and dynamic. They might be one of the most exciting young duos in the majors. Abrams is a four-tool player with solid defense at shortstop and plus speed, along with a steady bat. Wood is a hitter through and through. He slashed .256/.350/.475 in 2025 and hit 31 home runs. That is a foundation worth building around.
NL CENTRAL
Cubs: A complete lineup in its prime
There are plenty of positives about this Cubs team, especially after the acquisition of Alex Bregman. One thing that stands out is the age profile of the lineup. Almost everyone is between 28 and 32, widely considered the prime of a baseball player’s career.
There are younger players, like Pete Crow-Armstrong, 24, but he established himself as a proven MLB talent after breaking out in 2025. This lineup is experienced, but not old enough to be declining.
Reds: An dominant starting rotation
This Reds rotation could be among the best in baseball, and better yet, every projected starter is under 30. The 2025 rotation was outstanding but battled injuries. Of the seven pitchers who started eight or more games last season, five return.
The only tangible loss was Nick Martinez, who was entering his age-35 season. Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, and Andrew Abbott all have true ace potential. That kind of ceiling gives Cincinnati real upside.
Brewers: A full season of Jacob Misiorowski
The Brewers play a unique brand of baseball. They are crafty, fast, and patient at the plate. That formula consistently produces winning seasons without relying on superstar power.
Now add a full season of Jacob Misiorowski. He shocked the league in his first few starts in 2025. If he continues to dominate with his 100 mph fastball, a one-two punch with Misiorowski and Brandon Woodruff could be one of the best in baseball.
Pirates: A complete starting rotation
This rotation is not the best in baseball, but it is at least complete. Paul Skenes is the reigning NL Cy Young winner and a true number-one starter. Mitch Keller is a steady number two, while Bubba Chandler and Jared Jones, once healthy, fill out the middle with significant upside.
Braxton Ashcraft and Jose Urquidy are question marks, but both have shown they can handle back-end roles. It is a young rotation with a Cy Young winner and real potential. The question is whether the revamped offense can provide enough run support to push this team toward 80 wins.
Cardinals: Room for prospects to grow
It was a difficult offseason for Cardinals fans as Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras, Brendan Donovan, and Nolan Arenado were shipped out. New President of Baseball Operations Chaim Bloom made it clear this is a reset.
That creates opportunity. MLB’s number-five prospect JJ Wetherholt will likely earn a starting role at second or third. Nolan Gorman should see increased playing time. Slugger Ivan Herrera is projected for more plate appearances at DH, and Thomas Saggese profiles as a versatile utility option.
And do not forget Jordan Walker. He is still just 23 years old. There is real room for growth here.
NL WEST
Diamondbacks: A premier infield
Ketel Marte and Geraldo Perdomo combined for 48 home runs in 2025 and posted OPS marks of .893 and .851, respectively. Together, they form arguably the best middle infield duo in MLB.
Gabriel Moreno is a Gold Glove catcher who is also an above-average hitter. Nolan Arenado, recently acquired, brings elite defense to third base. First base is more uncertain, with Carlos Santana and Pavin Smith projected to split time. Still, the infield is one to envy.
Rockies: Hunter Goodman
Yes, that is really it.
Hunter Goodman was the only Rockies position player who consistently hit and fielded well, launching 31 home runs and posting 3.7 WAR. The Rockies finished dead last in Defensive Runs Saved in 2025. Mickey Moniak posted a .824 OPS but a negative WAR because of his -23 DRS, the worst in MLB.
Warming Bernabel had a brief stretch where he looked like a star before regressing. Goodman remains the one clear bright spot on an otherwise struggling roster.
Dodgers: They have only gotten better
The Dodgers won their second straight World Series in 2025 and then spent heavily again, adding Kyle Tucker and Edwin Diaz. That pushed them to a record-setting payroll for luxury tax purposes in 2026.
They are running back their championship core, replacing Michael Conforto with Tucker and adding one of the best closers in baseball in Diaz. It is difficult to find a weakness here.
Padres: Experience
The Padres have been through it. Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, and Fernando Tatis Jr. anchor the lineup and bring years of postseason and regular-season experience.
Even the youngest projected position player, Jackson Merrill, is entering his third MLB season. That experience gives San Diego a high floor. It is unlikely that every bat goes silent at once, something that can happen with younger teams.
Giants: A more balanced lineup
The 2025 Giants were fairly one-dimensional. Much of the lineup relied on three true outcomes: strikeouts, walks, and home runs. Jung Hoo Lee was one of the few impact players who offered a different profile.
This offseason, the Giants addressed that. Luis Arraez adds exceptional contact skills, and Harrison Bader brings speed and defensive range. Bader, especially, fits Oracle Park’s expansive outfield perfectly.
If this was your kind of read, you’ll like what’s next. Get The Sandman Ticket, our free, weekly newsletter with picks, insights, and a little bit of everything we love about sports.
