MLB power rankings: Can anybody stop Dodgers' quest for a three-peat?

February 02, 2026 Cosmopolite
MLB power rankings: Can anybody stop Dodgers' quest for a three-peat?

We're less than two months from non-fake baseball. And almost every gain to be had over the winter has been spoken for.

USA TODAY Sports

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 theLos Angeles Dodgersconverged 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 howMajor League Baseball's 30 title hopefuls (well many have such hope) stack up:

<p style=$765,000,000: Juan Soto, New York Mets (2025-39)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=$700,000,000: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers (2024-33)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=$500,000,000: Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., Toronto Blue Jays (2026-39)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=$426.5 million: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels (2019-2030)* includes extension

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=$365 million: Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers (2020-32)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=$360 million: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees (2023-2031)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=$350 million: Manny Machado, San Diego Padres (2023-33)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=$341 million: Francisco Lindor, New York Mets (2022-31)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=$340 million: Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres (2021-34)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=$330,000,000: Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies (2019-31)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=$325 million: Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins (2015-2027) – traded to New York Yankees in 2017

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=$325 million: Corey Seager, Texas Rangers (2022-31)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=$325,000,000: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles Dodgers (2024-35)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=$313.5 million: Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox (2024-33) - traded to San Francisco Giants in 2025

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=$300 million: Trea Turner, Philadelphia Phillies (2023-33)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=$292 million: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers (2014-2023)* includes extension

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=$288,777,777: Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals (2024-34)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=$280 million: Xander Bogaerts, San Diego Padres (2023-33)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=$275 million: Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees (2008-2017)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=$260 million: Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies (2019-26) - traded to St. Louis Cardinals in 2021, traded to Arizona Diamondbacks in 2026

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=$252,000,000: Alex Rodriguez, Texas Rangers (2001-10)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=$245 million: Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals (2020-26)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=$245 million: Anthony Rendon, Los Angeles Angels (2020-26)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=$240,000,000: Kyle Tucker, Los Angeles Dodgers (2026-29)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=$240 million: Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels (2012-2021)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=$240 million: Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners (2014-2023) – traded to New York Mets in 2019

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=$225 million: Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds (2012-2021)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $218,000,000: Max Fried, New York Yankees (2025-32) <p style=$217 million: David Price, Boston Red Sox (2016-2022) – traded to Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=$215 million: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers (2014-2020)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=$215 million: Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers (2020-28)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=$214 million: Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers (2012-2020) – traded to Texas Rangers in 2013

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=$212 million: Austin Riley, Atlanta Braves (2023-32)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=$210 million: Corbin Burnes, Arizona Diamondbacks (2025-30)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=$210 million: Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals (2015-2021)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=$209.3 million: Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners (2023-34)

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> <p style=$206.5 million: Zack Greinke, Arizona Diamondbacks (2016-2021) – traded to Houston Astros in 2019

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> $202,000,000: CC Sabathia, New York Yankees (2009-17) <p style=$200 million: Carlos Correa, Minnesota Twins (2023-28) - traded to Houston Astros in 2025

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />

MLB's $200+ million contracts

$765,000,000: Juan Soto, New York Mets (2025-39)

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.

2.Philadelphia Phillies

  • A tentative bet on contributions from Aidan Miller and Justin Crawford.

3.Toronto Blue Jays

  • 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.

6.Chicago Cubs

  • Not much boom, more bust potential for pitching staff.

7.Boston Red Sox

  • 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.

10.Milwaukee Brewers

  • Famous Wisconsinite Harry Houdini would be impressed if the Brewers can pull off their next trick.

11.San Diego Padres

  • 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.

13.San Francisco Giants

  • Harrison Bader and Luis Arráez fill highly specific needs at little commitment beyond this year.

14.Texas Rangers

  • Some aggressive and potentially strong moves (hello, MacKenzie Gore), but '24 additions Joc Pederson and Jake Burger need to get going.

15.Cincinnati Reds

  • Almost like they expected an "At Least You Tried" cake for pursuing Kyle Schwarber.

16.Baltimore Orioles

  • Gunnar Henderson getting over a shoulder impingement a significant winter development.

17.Kansas City Royals

  • If Tigers underachieve again, they can take advantage.

18.Arizona Diamondbacks

  • Seemed inevitable they'd wind up with Nolan Arenado.

19. Cleveland Guardians

  • The Jose Ramírez 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.

30.Colorado Rockies

  • (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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