Which teams improved the most this winter? The 2026 MLB offseason saw many teams bolster their rosters, but which ones made the biggest strides?
As we look back on the just-completed offseason, it's clear that some teams made significant improvements. But which ones are the biggest improvers? It's not just about the best teams; it's about the teams that made the most progress from where they were in November. So, let's dive into the numbers and see which teams made the biggest gains.
The Numbers Game
We'll use FanGraphs depth charts and projected WAR as of Thursday morning to compare with the first week of November. This way, we can see how much value was added to each team's roster. In November, there was 163 projected WAR worth of talent on the free agent wire. Now, we're down to 26 WAR still out there. That's a significant drop, and it means teams had to work hard to improve.
The Top Improvers
Dodgers (+7.9 WAR): With Kyle Tucker, Edwin Díaz, and Miguel Rojas, the Dodgers improved their outfield and bullpen. Despite not being a top-two seed in the National League last season, they now have a top-five projected outfield group.
Phillies (+6.8 WAR): The Phillies addressed their needs by bringing back J.T. Realmuto and signing Kyle Schwarber and Adolis García. They also added Brad Keller to the bullpen.
Red Sox (+6.3 WAR): Boston improved its rotation with Ranger Suárez, Sonny Gray, and Johan Oviedo. They also added Willson Contreras and Isiah Kiner-Falefa to the infield.
Orioles (+6.1 WAR): The Orioles added Pete Alonso, Taylor Ward, and Shane Baz to the rotation. They also signed Ryan Helsley and Andrew Kittredge to the bullpen.
Blue Jays (+6 WAR): The Blue Jays bolstered their rotation with Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce. They also added Kazuma Okamoto to the infield and Tyler Rogers to the bullpen.
Tigers (+5.9 WAR): The Tigers added Framber Valdez, Justin Verlander, and Gleyber Torres to the rotation and bullpen.
Cubs (+5.8 WAR): The Cubs signed Alex Bregman and added Shota Imanaga, Edward Cabrera, and Phil Maton to the rotation and bullpen.
Giants (+5.1 WAR): The Giants added Luis Arraez, Harrison Bader, Tyler Mahle, and Adrian Houser to the roster.
Rockies (+5 WAR): The Rockies added Michael Lorenzen, Tomoyuki Sugano, José Quintana, and Willi Castro to the rotation and bullpen.
Mets (+4.8 WAR): The Mets traded Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil but added Bo Bichette, Marcus Semien, Freddy Peralta, Luis Robert Jr., Jorge Polanco, Luke Weaver, Devin Williams, and Tobias Myers to the roster.
Controversy & Comment Hooks
- The Yankees' Outfield: Many believe the Yankees are 'running it back' with Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger, and Trent Grisham. But the team had to take proactive steps to bring Bellinger and Grisham back, which is a significant improvement.
- The Phillies' Rotation: While the Phillies' rotation is thinner, they improved their roster significantly from November. The question is, are they better than their 96-win 2025 roster?
What do you think? Which team made the biggest improvement this offseason? Share your thoughts in the comments!
