Truly Transformative

After a lockout that dragged on for most of the winter, the WNBA and WNBPA came to an agreement on a new CBA that resulted in no games being lost.  It also created a breakneck month of April where they'll try to cram basically an entire offseason into a few weeks.  They just had the expansion draft and free agency is about to begin, with the regular draft set for next week before the opening of training camps on April 19 and the first preseason games a week later.  It'll be a busy few weeks to be sure.  And it was all made possible by perhaps the most transformative CBA ever signed.

You have to give the WNBA players credit, too.  They knew their value and were determined to cash in on it.  Women's basketball has never been hotter than it is right now.  And the players are savvy businesswomen who knew they were the ones negotiating from a position of strength.  The longer the lockout went on, the more leverage they had.  But had it dragged on to the point where games were missed, that would've damaged everything they've built over the past few years.  So, it was imperative to get a deal done before that happened.  Which they did.

Everything in the new seven-year agreement benefits the players.  Salaries will grow exponentially across the board.  There will be revenue sharing between the owners and players for the first time in league history.  And there will be ancillary benefits that may not seem like much on the surface, but were incredibly important to the players.  So important, in fact, that they made sure they were worked into the CBA so that all players can enjoy the same benefit.

Let's start with the biggest and most obvious benefit.  Player salaries will go up dramatically.  The minimum salary will be around $270,000 and super max contracts will top out at $1.4 million, with the average salary setting at about $600,000.  Players still on their rookie contracts (such as Caitlin Clark and Paige Bueckers) will receive a significant raise, too, from $80,000 to $500,000.

WNBA players will be paid enough to make a living without needing to play overseas during the WNBA's offseason.  When Unrivaled was founded, that was part of its purpose--a chance to make money during the offseason without having to go overseas.  I'd imagine some players may choose to continue playing in Unrivaled, and some may continue to play overseas in the offseason, as well.  But, the point is, they no longer need to.  They're professional athletes whose chosen career is playing a sport, and they'll finally be compensated as such.

With those higher salaries, the salary cap will also be significantly higher.  Last season, the salary cap was $1.3 million per team.  That's now the amount of the maximum contract!  This season's salary cap is expected to be around $7 million.  That, obviously, will only go up throughout the duration of the deal.

That's why nearly every WNBA veteran is a free agent right now.  They all knew that a windfall was likely coming their way once the new CBA was signed, so they set themselves up to cash in once it was agreed to, so they all had their contracts end after last season.  Many stars (A'ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart) have indicated they intend to re-sign with their previous team.  But when they do, a massive raise will be headed their way.

Perhaps even more significantly than the new salary structure is the introduction of revenue sharing.  This was one of the biggest hold-ups during negotiations as the sides went back-and-forth about what percentage the players should receive and how exactly the math would be done.  Ultimately, they settled at 20 percent.  If the WNBA meets their revenue projections, the players get their cut.  Early indications are that about $8 million will be spread across 13 teams based on last year's numbers.

This incredible period of growth in the WNBA extends to new franchises.  After the WNBA held firm at 12 teams for more than a decade, the Golden State Valkyries joined the league last season, with two more (the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo) being added this season.  Future expansion teams are lined up for Philadelphia, Cleveland and Detroit, as well.  Once those three teams join, the WNBA will have increased by 1/3 from 12 to 18 teams.  Which means the owners will get a 1/18th share instead of a 1/13th share.  But they're OK with that because of how much revenue is expected to increase.  (Those expansion fees will soften the blow, too.) 

Those expansion teams obviously mean more WNBA jobs for players.  Making a WNBA roster is hard.  Staying on one is even harder.  Especially when teams would occasionally carry 11 players instead of 12.  Now teams will be required to carry 12 players, and they can also have a "developmental" spot for a younger player that doesn't count against the roster limit.  If the developmental player appears in a game, she'll receive a pro-rated minimum salary.

Along with the expansion teams will be an extended season.  Last season, the WNBA played a 44-game schedule for the first time (as well as extending the WNBA Finals to best-of-seven).  By 2029, they could be playing a 52-game season that extends into November.  Whether they will is a different question.  But the option exists.  (And, a benefit of a longer season on both ends is that it'll keep players with their teams year-round since their overseas options will be limited.)

A few years ago, the WNBA moved to allow charter flights for all road trips.  That has now been codified into the CBA.  Along with the improved travel, they also codified minimum requirements regarding teams' medical staffs.  Teams will also have to meet minimum standards at their practice facilities by 2028.

Family planning has also been a big point of emphasis for WNBA players in recent years.  Stipulations were put in to protect players' jobs if they have to miss time due to pregnancy while also giving teams greater salary cap flexibility in covering the pregnant player's salary (which, I'd assume, is similar to the long-term IR provision in the NHL's CBA).  Likewise, those players who have dependent children can bring them on the road at the team's expense, and teams are also required to provide an extra hotel room for them.  Players were also granted increased parental leave, as well as expanded retirement benefits.

Player housing was one of the big sticking points during negotiations.  The WNBA has always provided it, but wanted to phase it out.  Instead, they came to a compromise where players are given team-provided housing during their first few years in the league before those provisions are gradually reduced once they become established veterans making more money.  So, not exactly what the players wanted, but a reasonable concession.  Especially since seeing the rookies and those making the minimum salary have their housing continue to be covered was the priority, and that was achieved.

There are so many other provisions in the WNBA's new CBA that I didn't mention here.  But the bottom line is that "transformative" is an understatement.  Both sides saw the growth over the past few years and the potential for more.  And they'll both benefit from that growth.  Not just in the near-term.  Well into the future.

UEFA World Cup Qualifying

Almost immediately after Italy's latest World Cup qualifying failure (how does a four-time World Cup champion miss three tournaments in a row??!!), there was bellyaching (and not just from Italian fans) about how "unfair" World Cup qualifying is for UEFA teams.  Apparently, one of their issues is how UEFA "only" gets 16 teams in the field.  Because, you know, having 1/3 of the qualified teams come from the same confederation evidently isn't enough!

What they either don't know or are conveniently forgetting is that when World Cup expansion was first being discussed, UEFA only wanted 16 teams.  Because there are more European teams than groups at the World Cup, there had to be groups with at least two European teams.  UEFA didn't like that.  They didn't want European teams facing each other in group play.  And, since the original plan for the 48-team World Cup was 16 groups of three, having 16 European teams would've accomplished that goal.  Each group would only have one European team.

FIFA eventually changed the format for this year's World Cup (going to 12 groups of four, meaning four groups will feature two UEFA teams).  But that wasn't done until after the qualifying slots for each confederation were already allotted.  Who knows if it'll be different in 2030 (when Spain and Portugal are already qualified as co-hosts)?  But FIFA wouldn't have been able to give UEFA more teams in this year's tournament even if they wanted to, which I'm not sure they did.

Qualifying for the next World Cup will be different.  There are six host nations, all of whom get automatic entry.  Those berths come out of their continent's allotment, but there are also the two "host confederation" spots in the final playoff tournament.  So, I wouldn't be surprised if UEFA was given an extra playoff place (or two) at the very least.  Which would obviously give them an opportunity to have another team in the field.

The whole point of expanding the World Cup (other than to make FIFA more money) was to give more nations, especially those from Africa and Asia, a chance to qualify.  So, you can bet those confederations wouldn't be too pleased if UEFA were to be given, say, 18 berths in the 2030 tournament.  Nor should they be.  Because UEFA teams already account for 33 percent of the World Cup field.

There are 55 national federations that are members of UEFA.  Just under 30 percent of them qualify for the World Cup.  CONMEBOL, meanwhile, has 10 members and six guaranteed World Cup berths, so at least 60 percent of CONMEBOL qualifies.  The percentages for the other four confederations, meanwhile, are under 20 percent of their members.  Yes, UEFA and CONMEBOL are the two strongest confederations.  That's why they make up nearly half of the World Cup field between them.  Or, to put it another way, 65 nations are competing for 22 World Cup berths, while 146 compete for the other 26.

Europe has more good teams than World Cup berths.  That's always been true and always will be true.  As a result, good European teams will always be left out.  That's what makes UEFA World Cup qualifying so competitive.  But, just because it's competitive, that doesn't mean it's "unfair."  And it certainly doesn't mean UEFA needs more teams in the field.

Another factor that needs to be taken into account is the UEFA Nations League.  UEFA loves the Nations League.  So much so that they've tied the Nations League into qualifying for both major tournaments (the World Cup and the Euro).  Which adds an entirely different wrinkle to UEFA qualifying.  Because UEFA is the only confederation where teams can get a guaranteed second chance no matter how well they do in the initial stage. 

Just ask Sweden.  They went 0-2-4 in six games and finished last in their group, yet they advanced to the UEFA playoffs because of their Nations League performance.  Sweden went on to win their playoff path and qualify for the World Cup.  I'm sure they don't find the format unfair.

One element of the European playoffs that could reasonably be considered unfair is how there are home teams for every game.  In the 12 UEFA playoff games, eight were won by the home team (and Sweden's win over Ukraine was played at a neutral site since Ukraine can't play home games right now due to the Russian invasion).  Playing at home is such a tremendous advantage, especially in a one-and-done setting.

In the past, UEFA's final playoffs always a two-legged home-and-home series.  Now that qualifying is tied to the Nations League, that gives more teams the opportunity to participate in the playoff, but it also makes the two-legged home-and-home impossible.  So, instead, UEFA decided to go with four four-team mini-tournaments, with the winners of each qualifying for the World Cup.  Which also meant every game was single-elimination.  That's great for suspense and definitely adds to the urgency, but it also makes it incredibly tough for the team playing on the road.

It's been suggested that if UEFA's going to stick with four-team tournaments as the final stage of qualifying (which it sure looks like they will), they should do it at a neutral site.  That certainly seems like a solution that's both fair and doable.  Look at the Champions League Final as an example of a neutral site playoff conducted by UEFA that works.  It would eliminate the built-in disadvantage of playing a winner-take-all game on the road, which is something that's determined entirely by the luck of the draw.

And, with Spain and Portugal both hosting the next World Cup, they could each host two of the UEFA playoff tournaments as World Cup tune-up events (the third co-host, Morocco, could then host the two interconfederation playoffs).  That could be the perfect test run for the neutral site final qualifier, which would definitely level the playing field for the participants much more than randomly deciding who gets the benefit of playing at home.  Then, if it works, that could be the way to go moving forward.  Which, I agree, is better than having home teams that are determined by draw.

While there are definite questions about the fairness of UEFA's qualifying format, what isn't unfair is the number of berths reserved for UEFA in the World Cup.  Italy didn't get the job done.  It's as simple as that.  Even if UEFA had, say, 18 berths instead of 16, they still might not have qualified.  The whole system doesn't need to be overhauled simply because Italy was upset in qualifying again.  Especially when the system is already incredibly weighted in UEFA's favor.  (Besides, Italy's a baseball country now.  LOL!)

A 32- Team NBA

While it's not a done deal yet, the NBA's announcement that it'll be expanding to 32 teams is expected to come fairly soon.  The announcement that those two franchises will be located in Seattle and Las Vegas should follow shortly after.  Which, of course, will trigger the necessary NBA realignment talk.  Somebody in the Western Conference will have to move to the East.  The real question is who?

Logically, it would make the most sense for the Grizzlies to make the move.  After all, Memphis is the furthest-east team in the Western Conference.  However, that might not be the case.  All indications are it would actually be Minnesota switching conferences.  And the rationale for it actually makes a lot of sense.  So, even though it was surprising at first, I was able to quickly get on board with the idea of the Timberwolves in the East.

It's all about the location of the Grizzlies and Timberwolves in relation to other teams.  Minnesota is isolated among Western Conference teams.  It's closer to Milwaukee and Chicago than anybody in the West.  The Vikings, Packers and Bears have been NFC North rivals for decades.  So, it's not a stretch to envision the Timberwolves, Bucks and Bulls having a similar rivalry.

You've gotta think that's a part of it, too.  The Vikings and Packers are rivals.  The Twins and Brewers are each other's interleague partner.  The Timberwolves and Bucks have always been in separate conferences, though, so they haven't established that same type of rivalry.  The Timberwolves don't have one with anybody, actually.  Because the Bucks would be the one.  So, I'd imagine both teams are excited about the prospect of facing each other more often.

Meanwhile, Memphis is within driving distance to New Orleans, Oklahoma City and all three Texas teams.  It's within driving distance to several Eastern Conference cities, as well, but the point is the NBA has more options with the Grizzlies than it does with the Timberwolves.  It's really a matter of what makes more sense--keeping the Timberwolves in the West despite the closest NBA cities being the East and moving the Grizzlies away from their established rivals simply because they're the furthest east among Western Conference teams or moving Minnesota, despite being further west, so that the Timberwolves don't have to travel as much.

Whether it's the Timberwolves or Grizzlies who switches conferences, you'd also have to figure the NBA would adopt the NFL's alignment of four four-team divisions in each conference.  Not only is it the only way to evenly divide 32 teams (unless you do it like the NHL and have four divisions of eight), it's the only way to make the math work for both the regular season schedule and the NBA Cup.

NBA teams currently play five games against the other four teams in their division (20 games), three against the other 10 in their conference (30 games) and two against the other conference (30 games) with the other two games TBA based on the NBA Cup.  That 80-game breakdown wouldn't be fundamentally different with four divisions of four per conference: reducing the number of division games from five to four (12 games), keeping the three against the other 12 in your conference (36 games), keeping the two against the other conference (32 games) and still leaving the two TBA games for the NBA Cup.

Another argument for the expansion to 32 teams is how it would improve the NBA Cup.  With three groups of five, the final group games can't be simultaneous.  With four groups of four, they can.  Just like in the World Cup.  It would also eliminate the need for a fourth "wild card" team to make the quarterfinals since they could just do the four group winners.  Likewise, there wouldn't need to be interconference games between teams that didn't make the quarterfinals since now you'd have 12 teams per conference eliminated instead of 11.  All the more reason to go to 32 teams.

As for how to realign the divisions, it would actually be fairly straightforward.  Only two divisions would have somewhat awkward configurations.  But, for the most part, the league pretty much geographically aligns itself pretty well.  So, setting up four divisions of four really wouldn't be that complicated.  There might be some slight tweaks, but I'd expect the realigned NBA to look something like this:

EASTERN CONFERENCE
Atlantic: Nets, Knicks, 76ers, Wizards
Northeast: Celtics, Cavaliers, Pistons, Raptors
Central: Bulls, Pacers, Bucks, Timberwolves
Southeast: Hawks, Hornets, Heat, Magic

WESTERN CONFERENCE
Midwest: Nuggets, Grizzlies, Thunder, Jazz
Southwest: Mavericks, Rockets, Pelicans, Spurs
Northwest: Warriors, Trail Blazers, Kings, Sonics
Pacific: Las Vegas, Clippers, Lakers, Suns

Memphis and Minnesota are interchangeable, so they'd simply swap places if the Grizzlies were moved to the East instead of the Timberwolves.  Although, if, as expected, they move Minnesota, that could leave the West open to a slight shakeup.  The Northwest and Pacific wouldn't change, but I can see the Grizzlies and Pelicans being kept together with Denver and Utah, with the two outlier pairs making up one division and Oklahoma City with the Texas teams instead of New Orleans.

In the East, there are two divisions that are kinda awkward.  I had to take Washington out of the Southeast since they're the furthest north and the easiest to move.  I also couldn't find any possible way to work Charlotte into any other division.  So, the Hornets are with the Hawks and the two Florida teams almost by default.  Likewise, I had to break up the Central and put either Memphis or Minnesota in the division with Milwaukee, Chicago and Indiana.  (If it's the Timberwolves, I'd imagine the Bulls would insist on keeping their rivalry with the Pacers intact.)

Because of where the other Eastern Conference teams are situated, there are a few possibilities for how to align them.  The Knicks and Nets would obviously stay together, but that's it.  You could do them with Boston and Toronto, then have Cleveland and Detroit with Philadelphia and Washington, but that seems just as arbitrary as what I went with.  And that wraparound division is a little less gangly.  Especially since Detroit and Cleveland are relatively close to Toronto.  Doing a Knicks, Nets, 76ers, Wizards division would also mirror the NHL's Metropolitan Division.  (Boston, Toronto and Detroit are all in the same division in the NHL, as well.)

Are these divisions perfect?  No.  Frankly, the geography of the NBA means there will be some flaws in any divisional alignment.  The best you can do is getting it pretty close where enough people will be happy with it.  And I think the divisions I've proposed would achieve that.

None of this is set in stone, obviously.  The NBA needs to formally announce it's expanding first.  Then they can worry about all of these logistics.  And I'd imagine there will be some lobbying being done by multiple teams regarding the realigned divisions.  I would be shocked if they didn't ultimately look pretty close to what I'm suggesting, though.

Bring Back the Sonics! (And the Comets!)

I do feel for fans of the Connecticut Sun (and I have plenty of friends who are), who'll be losing their WNBA team after this upcoming season.  I also can't help but be excited by the news that the Sun are being sold and relocated to Houston, where the assumption is they'll become the reborn Comets.  The Houston Comets were the marquee franchise of the WNBA's early days, building a dynasty that won the first FOUR WNBA championships with Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes and Tina Thompson.  The original Comets, unfortunately, fell victim to financial trouble and were folded in 2008 when the WNBA couldn't find a new owner.

The Comets aren't the only former WNBA team returning.  The Portland Fire, who joined the WNBA as an expansion team in 2000, only to fold just two years later, have risen out of the ashes and will begin their second incarnation this season.  Ditto with Cleveland, which had the Rockers from 1997-2003 and will have its second WNBA team begin play in 2028 (the new team can't be called the "Rockers" since the WNBA no longer holds the trademark).  And Detroit, whose original WNBA team has relocated twice and is now the Dallas Wings, will be back in the WNBA fold in 2029.

None of those franchises are the Houston Comets, though.  The Detroit Shock did win three championships in their 12 seasons of existence, but their relocation to Tulsa wasn't met with the same type of disappointment as the original Comets' demise.  It's really felt like the WNBA has been missing something without them.  So, while upsetting for the fans in Connecticut, it's a great thing for the WNBA that one of their marquee original franchises will be back.

While not official yet, it wouldn't surprise anyone if they inherit the old Comets' history, basically picking up where the original left off 18 years ago.  We've seen it in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns.  We've seen it in the NBA with the Charlotte Hornets, who reclaimed the original team's name and history when New Orleans rebranded as the Pelicans.  And we'll soon see it in the NBA again.

Another basketball team that left its city in 2008 is, presumably, about to be reborn.  I'm, of course, talking about the Seattle SuperSonics.  It's been nearly 20 years, and the scars are still real from the Sonics' relocation to Oklahoma City.  Most fans agree that it was an ill-advised move and have clamored for Seattle to get its NBA team back ever since.  And we're thisclose to it finally happening.

Later this week, the NBA is expected to vote on whether to approve expansion from 30 to 32 teams.  That will likely be merely a formality.  NBA expansion to 32 teams has been seen as inevitable for a while.  And they already know where they're putting the two new teams--Las Vegas and Seattle.

It's sort of funny if you think about it.  The NBA was the first league associated with Las Vegas.  When I was in grad school, we had a "Create a Franchise" project and my group did an NBA team.  We called it the "Las Vegas Rounders" (I came up with the name, thank you very much).  That was 20 years ago!  Then they had the NBA All*Star Game there in 2007, furthering the belief that it was just a matter of time.  Yet, the NBA still isn't in Las Vegas.

Meanwhile, they've seen the NHL launch an expansion team in Las Vegas to phenomenal success.  Ditto with the Aces, who moved there from San Antonio in 2018 and have won three of the last four WNBA Finals.  Then the Raiders moved to Las Vegas, with the Oaklamento Athletics set to make their way to Sin City in 2028.  The common assumption was that the NBA would be the first major pro league to put a team in Las Vegas.  Instead, it'll be the last.

Likewise, it wasn't a matter of if Seattle would get its beloved Sonics (the city's first pro team) back.  It was a matter of when.  So, when the NBA made its inevitable move from 30 to 32, the cities were also inevitable.  It just so happens they're expanding into the same two cities the NHL added in the last decade.  And both markets make sense.  Hence no competition among cities for where the NBA will expand (as if the results of that "contest" wouldn't have been a foregone conclusion).

Las Vegas and the NBA are a perfect fit.  And it's already hosted its fair share of NBA action.  The Championship Game of the NBA Cup has been played at the Golden Knights' T-Mobile Arena since its inception.  Las Vegas is also the primary home of the NBA Summer League.  The league and the city have been interconnected for so long that it's hard to believe Las Vegas doesn't have its own NBA team.  Although, it looks like that will soon be changing.

For a change, though, Las Vegas won't be the headliner when the expansion franchises are approved and officially announced.  Seattle will be.  And it deserves to be.  Especially with the way the Sonics left and how it's been nearly two decades waiting for their return.  A return that finally seems oh-so-close to becoming a reality.  (Please make their first game at home against the Thunder!)

When they return, there's no doubt that the NBA's expansion franchise in Seattle, much like the WNBA's relocated franchise in Houston, will take the name of the city's original team.  The SuperSonics.  And with it, the Sonics' history and records will be returned to their rightful place (just like the Hornets' history and records were).  That was actually part of the deal when the Thunder moved to Oklahoma City.  When/if the NBA returned to Seattle, they'd hand over everything Sonics-related to the new team.

Although, there is one guy who isn't excited about the prospect of the Sonics returning.  There's a Thunder beat reporter who wrote an asinine article suggesting that, once the Sonics come back, Seattle fans should apologize for their "misguided anger" and actively rooting against Oklahoma City.  He also suggested that the Thunder could/should hold the Sonics' history hostage until then (even though, legally, they can't since it was literally part of the settlement...they don't even acknowledge the Sonics' NBA title as their own).  So, yeah, I wouldn't expect that apology anytime soon.  He should probably prepare himself for that chorus of "boo's" to be even louder for that first Sonics-Thunder game in Seattle, in fact.

Everybody else is beyond thrilled to see this wrong made right.  Basketball fans in Seattle had their team ripped away from them and have been waiting a generation for its return.  Which appears as if it's finally about to happen.  Las Vegas, welcome to the NBA.  More importantly, welcome back Sonics!  Back where you belong!

2026 Baseball Preview (AL Central)

We've made it!  Not just to Opening Day, but also to Part VI of my annual MLB season preview.  And the only division I've got left is the AL Central.  The AL Central is a division that has a very clear favorite in Detroit.  But the Tigers were also the very clear favorite last season and ended up finishing second (although, they did beat Cleveland in the Wild Card Series and had that great, five-game Division Series with Seattle).

This year, the Tigers are an even bigger division favorite than they were last season.  And they're going all-in since they know Tarik Skubal is a free agent after this season and may or may not be returning next year.  So, expect Detroit to go for broke.  Which they should.  Because they're the best team in this division by far.

Although, as we saw last year, don't count Cleveland out.  The Guardians are one of those teams that, no matter what, always ends up in the conversation.  So, it would be foolish to think they won't make it a race.  Ditto with Kansas City.  Practically the entire Royals roster played in the World Baseball Classic, and the WBC MVP was Kansas City's Maikel Franco.  They're two years removed from a playoff berth and could very easily make this a three-team race.

Then there's the Twins and White Sox.  Neither on should be very good.  Minnesota is slightly better, but is still looking at 90-plus losses.  The White Sox, meanwhile, are better than they were a few years ago, when they set the record for losses.  But that doesn't mean they're any good.  They're still probably the worst team in the American League.

1. Detroit Tigers: Justin Verlander is back where it all began for potentially his final season.  And the future Hall of Famer will be the No. 4 or even No. 5 starter for the deepest rotation in Baseball.  That's why the Tigers are such an overwhelming favorite.  Skubal is obviously the headliner, but that rotation is this team's biggest strength.  Especially when you consider they signed arguably the best free agent starter out there, Framber Valdez, to put behind him.  If they all stay healthy, this is not a rotation you want to face in October!

The lineup is a step behind that awesome pitching staff, which isn't a knock on them at all.  Especially since the Tigers figure to be actively looking for a bat at the trade deadline.  And that's not to discredit these quality hitters.  Gleyber Torres made the All*Star team last season.  Riley Greene is a star and Parker Meadows is on the verge of becoming one.  And Spencer Torkelson was the No. 1 overall pick for a reason.  They aren't the sluggers of a team like the Dodgers or Yankees.  Or even a do-it-all lineup like Seattle or Toronto.  But they don't need to be.  Because the Tigers will live and die by their pitching.  They just need enough offense to back it up.
Projected Lineup: Parker Meadows-CF, Gleyber Torres-2B, Riley Greene-LF, Kerry Carpenter-DH, Spencer Torkelson-1B, Colt Keith-3B, Matt Vierling-RF, Dillon Dingler-C, Kevin McGonigle-SS
Projected Rotation: Tarik Skubal, Framber Valdez, Jack Flaherty, Casey Mize, Justin Verlander
Closer: Kenley Jansen
Projected Record: 90-72

2. Kansas City Royals: I don't think it's breaking news to say that the Royals have a lot of young talent...and Salvador Perez.  They also have one of the more entertaining lineups to watch in all of Baseball.  We already knew that Bobby Witt Jr. is a star, but he isn't the only one.  Vinnie Pasquantino.  Jac Caglianone.  Maikel Garcia.  And, of course, the heart and soul of the team, the ageless Salvador Perez.  He's the only player left from the World Series championship team from a decade ago and shows no signs of slowing down.

While not as star-studded as Detroit's rotation, the Royals have five very capable starters, as well.  And, perhaps the most important thing about them is that they give you innings.  It's so reassuring to know your starter will give you length every night and you don't have to overtax your bullpen.  Their closer Carlos Estevez, meanwhile, had a career-high 42 saves last season, so they're in good hands at the end of games.  If the Tigers stumble at all, Kansas City could easily swoop in and snag the division title.  They can definitely be in the wild card mix, too.
Projected Lineup: Bobby Witt Jr.-SS, Jonathan India-2B, Vinnie Pasquantino-1B, Salvador Perez-C, Maikel Garcia-3B, Jac Caglianone-RF, Starling Marte-DH, Kyle Isbel-CF, Isaac Collins-LF
Projected Rotation: Cole Ragans, Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Kris Bubic, Noah Cameron
Closer: Carlos Estevez
Projected Record: 85-77 

3. Cleveland Guardians: We've finally reached the point where Jose Ramirez doesn't surprise people anymore.  He's no longer underrated.  He's simply appreciated as one of the best players in the game.  And, I've come to realize, as long as the Guardians have J-Ram, they're gonna be in the conversation.  Take last year.  No one had them pegged to do anything.  They ended up winning the division.  So, would it shock anybody if they did it again?

Still, Cleveland is only the third-best team in the AL Central.  Their rotation behind Tanner Bibee isn't as strong as Detroit's or Kansas City's.  And that, ultimately, could be their undoing.  Lineup-wise, there isn't much beyond Ramirez and Steven Kwan, either.  To put it simply, the Guardians just aren't as good as either the Tigers or the Royals.  Which probably means they're gonna win 90 games and run away with the division title.
Projected Lineup: Steven Kwan-LF, Angel Martinez-CF, Jose Ramirez-3B, Rhys Hoskins-DH, Kyle Manzardo-1B, Bo Naylor-C, Chase DeLauter-RF, Gabriel Arias-SS, Brayan Rocchio-2B
Projected Rotation: Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams, Slade Cecconi, Joey Cantillo, Parker Messick
Closer: Cade Smith
Projected Record: 83-79

4. Minnesota Twins: Josh Bell is apparently on the Twins now.  He's really making his way around the Majors, isn't he?!  Bell joins a lineup that includes Royce Lewis and Byron Buxton, who continues to show that he's one of the best all-around players in the game when healthy.  Unfortunately, he just isn't healthy that frequently.  Even if he does stay healthy, Buxton's not enough to rise the Twins to the same level as their division foes.

Joe Ryan, who was originally supposed to start the WBC Championship Game for Team USA, headlines the Minnesota rotation.  Their starting staff behind him is very weak, however.  Ditto about their bullpen.  Taylor Rogers is the closer by default, but is probably better served in a setup role.  Even if they do hit, the Twins simply don't have enough pitching.  And, frankly, they don't have enough hitting either.
Projected Lineup: Byron Buxton-CF, Luke Keaschall-2B, Royce Lewis-3B, Josh Bell-1B, Trevor Larnach-DH, Ryan Jeffers-C, Matt Wallner-RF, Brooks Lee-SS, Austin Martin-LF
Projected Rotation: Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, Taj Bradley, Simeon Woods Richardson, Mick Abel
Closer: Taylor Rogers
Projected Record: 68-94

5. Chicago White Sox: If there's any silver lining to be found on the South Side, it's that they might not be the worst team in the American League anymore.  And, if they're not even the worst team in the AL, they can't be the worst team in Baseball.  They actually snagged a Japanese import, as well, with Munetaka Murakami set to play first base.  I'm also curious to see what they get from Luisangel Acuna, who came over from the Mets in the Luis Robert trade and will get the chance to be an everyday player for the first time in his career.

Shane Smith was their All*Star representative last year and fronts the rotation.  The White Sox bullpen, meanwhile, consists of a bunch of former starters and Seranthony Dominguez, who threw in seemingly every game of last year's World Series for the Blue Jays.  He'll likely be the go-to guy for the White Sox, as well.  Just how many games will he end up appearing in?  There seems a very genuine risk of him being overworked.  Especially since the rest of the bullpen figures to give up a lot of runs.
Projected Lineup: Andrew Benintendi-LF, Luisangel Acuna-CF, Miguel Vargas-3B, Austin Hays-RF, Lenyn Sosa-DH, Munetaka Murakami-1B, Colson Montgomery-SS, Chase Meidroth-2B, Edgar Quero-C
Projected Rotation: Shane Smith, Sean Burke, Anthony Kay, Davis Martin, Erick Fedde
Closer: Seranthony Dominguez
Projected Record: 63-99

2026 Baseball Preview (NL East)

Three NL East teams ended last season really pissed off.  The Phillies had a team that was a legitimate World Series contender, only to get smacked by the Dodgers in the Division Series.  The Mets went from having the best record in Baseball in June to missing the playoffs.  And the Braves were never able to get going after a terrible start, resulting in a season that they'd just as soon forget. 

You can bet all three will be looking for redemption in 2026.  Which should make the NL East race this season awfully fun!  And it's a race that could legitimately yield three playoff teams.  Still, though, you've got to consider the Phillies the division favorites.  The Braves and Mets aren't far behind, and they'll both be in the thick of the wild card mix, with at least one joining Philadelphia in the postseason.

Miami could factor into the NL East race, too.  Not because the Marlins figure to contend for the division title, but because they're bound to play well against one of the other three, which could be the deciding factor at the top.  Especially since they'll have Sandy Alcantara pitching every fifth day.  Which is more than I can say about Washington.  The Nationals even traded away their best pitcher, Mackenzie Gore, during the offseason.

So, it should really come down to those top three again.  The Phillies are simply too good.  They may be the second-best team in Baseball behind the Dodgers.  I've got both Atlanta and the Mets joining them in the playoffs as wild card teams.  I see them both bouncing back after missing the postseason last year.

1. Philadelphia Phillies: The most important move the Phillies made this offseason was re-signing Kyle Schwarber.  As great as Bryce Harper and Trea Turner are, it's Schwarber who's the anchor of that lineup.  As he goes, so go the Phillies.  They couldn't afford to lose him, and they didn't.  A person they could afford to lose is somebody they couldn't get rid of fast enough--Nick Castellanos.  They replaced him with Adolis Garcia, who's a perfect fit in the Phillies lineup.  Especially since he'll be a complementary piece instead of having to be the man like he was in Texas.

Zack Wheeler will be out to start the season, but that doesn't impact their rotation too much.  Cristopher Sanchez had an incredible 2025 campaign and has emerged as their No. 1.  And, if what he did pitching for Italy in the WBC is any indication, Aaron Nola is very much back.  The combination of the lineup and the rotation is what makes this team so good.  And that's to say nothing of an excellent bullpen, with Brad Keller and Jose Alvarado setting up for Jhoan Duran, who was great after coming over from Minnesota at the deadline last season.
Projected Lineup: Kyle Schwarber-DH, Trea Turner-SS, Bryce Harper-1B, Alec Bohm-3B, Adolis Garcia-RF, J.T. Realmuto-C, Brandon Marsh-LF, Bryson Stott-2B, Justin Crawford-CF
Projected Rotation: Cristopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo, Aaron Nola, Taijuan Walker, Andrew Painter
Closer: Jhoan Duran
Projected Record: 96-66

2. Atlanta Braves: Walt Weiss takes over for Brian Snitker in Atlanta, and the Braves seem destined to improve upon their disastrous 2025.  How could they not?  Everything that could go wrong last season did.  And there's simply too much talent there for them to not get back on track.  That's especially true when you consider Ronald Acuna Jr. is a rare talent who can do special things when he's healthy, which he really hasn't been for a full season since his MVP year.  And they improved their only real weak area by signing Mike Yastrzemski to play left field (where Jurickson Profar is out for the year with a PED suspension).

Their pitching staff took a hit when they found out Spencer Strider will start the season on the IL, with Spencer Schwellenbach already out.  Pitching injuries have been their Achilles heel, but their pitching depth, especially in the rotation, is enviable.  Still, though, that pitching depth will be tested and is the biggest key to their success.  In the bullpen, they already had a top-notch closer in Raisel Iglesias, but that didn't stop them from signing former Padres closer Robert Suarez to be his setup guy.
Projected Lineup: Ronald Acuna Jr.-RF, Ozzie Albies-2B, Matt Olson-1B, Austin Riley-3B, Drake Baldwin-C, Mike Yastrzemski-LF, Dominic Smith-DH, Mauricio Dubon-SS, Michael Harris II-CF
Projected Rotation: Chris Sale, Reynaldo Lopez, Grant Holmes, Bryce Elder, Jose Suarez
Closer: Raisel Iglesias
Projected Record: 91-71

3. New York Mets: Steve Cohen and David Stearns didn't handle not making the playoffs well.  In their first season after signing Juan Soto to the largest contract in MLB history, he was great, finishing third in MVP voting.  Yet the Mets completely collapsed down the stretch and missed out on the postseason.  So, they blew it up and completely rebuilt the team.  Pete Alonso is gone.  So are Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil.  In their place, the Mets traded for Marcus Semien and Luis Robert Jr. and signed Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco.

It isn't the offense that was the problem last season, though, and it won't be the problem this year, either.  It's the pitching that will ultimately determine the Mets' success.  Their pitching wasn't good last year and it cost them.  So, they added Freddy Peralta to front a rotation that also includes the electric Nolan McLean, who impressed in a handful of September starts last year.  They also brought in Devin Williams to anchor the bullpen, with the hopes that he returns to the form that he showed in Milwaukee and not the struggles he had last season across town.  If the Mets can get the pitching to match their powerful offense, they're a playoff team.  If not, they could be watching October baseball on TV again.
Projected Lineup: Francisco Lindor-SS, Marcus Semien-2B, Juan Soto-LF, Bo Bichette-3B, Jorge Polanco-1B, Brett Baty-DH, Luis Robert Jr.-CF, Carson Benge-RF, Francisco Alvarez-C
Projected Rotation: Freddy Peralta, Nolan McLean, Clay Holmes, David Peterson, Kodai Segna
Closer: Devin Williams
Projected Record: 88-74

4. Miami Marlins: No one expects the Marlins to be a playoff team.  Not this year at least.  But they've got a lot of young talent and could be very entertaining to watch.  We've already seen some of that talent on display.  Kyle Stowers was sensational last season, and Owen Caissie, who came over in a trade from the Cubs, has a chance to be a breakout star now that he'll be getting regular at-bats.  Caissie also gained valuable experience playing for Canada in the WBC.  So did teammate (and fellow Canadian) Otto Lopez.  And center fielder Jakob Marsee was a revelation on that Italian squad that made the semifinals.

Let's not forget, too, that they have one of the elite starting pitchers in the game in Sandy Alcantara.  He's now a full year removed from the Tommy John surgery that cost him the 2024 season.  Alcantara was only a .500 pitcher last season, but as he gets stronger, he'll get back in form and go back to being his dominant self.  They also have a solid No. 2 starter in Eury Perez, and Miami has also brought in a veteran closer, as Pete Fairbanks comes over from Tampa Bay.  So, there's a real chance they could surprise.  At the very least, they'll cause some headaches for good teams.
Projected Lineup: Otto Lopez-SS, Xavier Edwards-2B, Kyle Stowers-LF, Christopher Morel-1B, Jakob Marsee-CF, Owen Caissie-RF, Griffin Conine-DH, Agustin Ramirez-C, Connor Norby-3B
Projected Rotation: Sandy Alcantara, Eury Perez, Max Meyer, Chris Paddack, Janson Junk
Closer: Pete Fairbanks
Projected Record: 65-97

5. Washington Nationals: Washington is more likely to challenge the Rockies and Angels for the worst record in Baseball than the Phillies, Braves and Mets in the NL East.  So is the rebuild, which continues for another year and enters a new phase.  The Nationals traded their No. 1 pitcher, Mackenzie Gore, so expect that rotation to take some licks in 2026.  It's not like the bullpen is much better, either.  They're gonna give up a lot of runs and need to outhit people, which they don't have enough talent to do.

James Wood and CJ Abrams are quality players, and they've certainly gotten the most out of catcher Keibert Ruiz since he was the key piece in the Max Scherzer trade with the Dodgers a few years ago.  But that's about it.  The rest of the lineup is incredibly young and, as such, will go through its share of growing pains.  If they don't lose 100 games, it'll be a miracle.  Things aren't as bad as they were when they first moved to DC and had the No. 1 pick back-to-back years (and got Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper out of it), but it's close.  Teddy Roosevelt might win the President's race more than the Nationals win games.
Projected Lineup: CJ Abrams-SS, Luis Garcia Jr.-1B, James Wood-RF, Jacob Young-CF, Brady House-3B, Andres Chapparo-DH, Keibert Ruiz-C, Daylen Lile-LF, Nasim Nunez-2B
Projected Rotation: Cade Cavalli, Zack Littell, Jake Irvin, Foster Griffin, Miles Mikolas
Closer: Cole Henry
Projected Record: 61-101

2026 Baseball Preview (AL West)

Last year, we finally saw a changing of the guard in the AL West.  The division had been dominated by Houston for so long, but the Astros not only didn't win it in 2025, they didn't even make the playoffs.  Instead, it was the Mariners winning the AL West for the first time in 25 years and coming oh so close to making the first World Series appearance in franchise history.

This season shouldn't be much different.  The Mariners aren't just the best team in this division, they're arguably the best team in the entire American League.  Although, they're also now the hunted.  How will having the target on their backs affect them, if at all?  After all, they're the only team in the Majors that's never been to the World Series, and now there are expectations that they can get there.

Texas is really the only team in the division that has any chance at dethroning Seattle.  Even if they don't, the Rangers are plenty capable of snagging a wild card.  Especially since those three teams in the East will be in a dogfight all season and could easily eat each other alive.  And who knows what Houston will do?  The Astros have been shedding players left and right over the past few years, to the point that they're a middle-of-the-pack team now.

There will also be American League baseball played in the State of California.  The A's will continue their vagabond existence as not the worst team in the division and with actual reasons to be optimistic they'll be good once they do officially relocate to Las Vegas.  The Angels, meanwhile, will be doing battle with the White Sox for the worst record in the AL.  Fortunately for them, there are National League teams that are worse.

1. Seattle Mariners: Can they repeat what they did last year?  There's no reason to believe they won't.  Is it realistic to think Cal Raleigh will hit 60 home runs again?  Of course not!  But he doesn't need to.  The Mariners have built a really complete lineup.  Losing Eugenio Suarez's bat hurts, but they did re-sign Josh Naylor, which was huge.  And you also know that they'll be active at the deadline if they need a bat.  They might not need to do anything major at the deadline, though.  Because this team is really good as-is.

That includes their starting rotation, which is really underrated.  None of them are superstars, but the top four are all top-notch Major League starters.  If they can stay healthy, that's an even bigger strength than their devastating lineup.  Especially since they've got one of the best closers in the business in Andres Munoz.  As you can tell, I really like this team.  I have a lot of reason to.  There's a real possibility the Mariners could run away with this division.
Projected Lineup: Julio Rodriguez-CF, Randy Arozarena-LF, Cal Raleigh-C, Josh Naylor-1B, Victor Robles-RF, Brendan Donovan-3B, J.P. Crawford-SS, Rob Refsnyder-DH, Cole Young-2B
Projected Rotation: Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo, George Kirby, Luis Castillo, Bryce Miller
Closer: Andres Munoz
Projected Record: 92-70

2. Texas Rangers: Just imagine how different things would've been for the Rangers had they been healthy at all at any point in the two seasons since they won the World Series.  Especially in their pitching staff.  Texas built a top-tier starting rotation, but it's been ravaged by injuries.  Which isn't entirely bad since it allowed Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker to develop at the Major League level.  With the two of them, Nathan Eovaldi, Jacob deGrom and new addition Mackenize Gore, who came over from Washington, that's the strength of the team.

Their lineup will look different, too.  Marcus Semien is gone.  So is Adolis Garcia.  Which really puts the onus on Corey Seager, Josh Jung and Evan Carter to perform at a high level.  I'm also curious to see what they get from longtime Met Brandon Nimmo, who Texas acquired in the Semien trade.  He replaces Garcia in right, but is a very different type of player without that same power.  If players stay healthy, they're the AL West team most capable of challenging in Seattle.  If they don't, the Rangers are looking at another season out of the playoffs.
Projected Lineup: Brandon Nimmo-RF, Wyatt Langford-LF, Corey Seager-SS, Jake Burger-1B, Jace Jung-3B, Joc Pederson-DH, Evan Carter-CF, Kyle Higashioka-C, Josh Smith-2B
Projected Rotation: Nathan Eovaldi, Jacob deGrom, Mackenzie Gore, Jack Leiter, Kumar Rocker
Closer: Robert Garcia
Projected Record: 90-72

3. Houston Astros: To say the Astros' roster looks different than it has in recent years is an understatement.  Seemingly everybody not named Jose Altuve has either been traded or left as a free agent when the time game.  The latest former Astro to join that list is Framber Valdez, who's now a part of that sensational rotation in Detroit.  It leaves Hunter Brown as the ace of the staff, with the rest of the rotation likely to be filled out by whoever's healthy at the moment.  They do have an elite closer in Josh Hader, though.

The big news on the lineup front is that Altuve moves back to second base after that ill-fated adventure in left field last season.  Instead, Yordan Alvarez is projected to be out there, even though his best position is actually DH.  Houston's biggest problem over the past couple seasons has been keeping people healthy.  This lineup can be incredibly dangerous if everybody's in it at the same time.  But, in addition to the lineup, they have to keep the pitching staff healthy, too.  Should both of those things happen, the Astros could regain their once seemingly permanent place in October.
Projected Lineup: Jose Altuve-2B, Carlos Correa-3B, Yordan Alvarez-LF, Christian Walker-1B, Isaac Paredes-DH, Jeremy Pena-SS, Jake Meyers-CF, Yainer Diaz-C, Cam Smith-RF
Projected Rotation: Hunter Brown, Mike Burrows, Tatsuya Imai, Cristian Javier, Lance McCullers Jr.
Closer: Josh Hader
Projected Record: 85-77

4. Athletics: Something strange happened last season in Sacramento.  The team without a home playing in a Minor League park showed promise.  They had the top two finishers in Rookie of the Year voting and added them to a talented young core that already included Brent Rooker and Shea Langeliers.  This season, they threw a veteran into the mix, making a trade with the Mets for Jeff McNeil.  It won't translate into a playoff berth, but Not Oakland/Not Las Vegas will definitely be watchable.

While they're set up lineup-wise for when they move to Las Vegas, the pitching staff is still a weakness.  They made the big splash last winter to bring in Luis Severino, only for him to complain about pitching in Sacramento and being terrible at home.  Unfortunately, they don't have much of a rotation behind Severino.  There's also a question about who'll finish games.  They had an All*Star closer in Mason Miller, but traded him to San Diego at the deadline last season.  So, who'll be their closer?
Projected Lineup: Lawrence Butler-RF, Jacob Wilson-SS, Nick Kurtz-1B, Brent Rooker-DH, Shea Langeliers-C, Tyler Soderstrom-LF, Jeff McNeil-2B, Max Muncy-3B, Denzel Clarke-CF
Projected Rotation: Luis Severino, Jeffrey Springs, Aaron Civale, Jacob Lopez, Luis Morales
Closer: Elvis Alvarado
Projected Record: 74-88
 
5. Los Angeles Angels: Here's the good news: Anthony Rendon is no longer taking up a roster spot!  They restructured his contract to spread the money they're wasting on him over seven years, which was a necessary move.  That contract was an albatross that was holding them back from doing the things they need to do to become competitive again.  And they used some of that money to help their bullpen by signing Kirby Yates.  That's the first step, with so many left to go.

They have the longest playoff drought in Baseball, and it will likely continue this season.  Their pitching staff is a mess, both in the rotation and in the bullpen.  So, it doesn't really matter how good their offense is if their pitchers can't hold a lead.  They also have no depth, which will make it tough to navigate around Mike Trout's inevitable injury.  And they can't even DH Trout since Jorge Soler is there.  This isn't the worst Angels team, but it isn't exactly good either.
Projected Lineup: Josh Lowe-LF, Yoan Moncada-3B, Mike Trout-CF, Jorge Soler-DH, Nolan Schanuel-1B, Logan O'Hoppe-C, Jo Adell-RF, Adam Frazier-2B, Zach Neto-SS
Projected Rotation: Yusei Kikuchi, Jose Soriano, Reid Detmers, Grayson Rodriguez, Ryan Johnson
Closer: Jordan Romano
Projected Record: 64-98