Spring training games are underway across Florida and Arizona. Regular-season games will begin before March concludes. There may be no better time than now to recap what teams did this offseason and preview some of what’s ahead for them in 2026.

Leading off, the NL East.

Washington finished the 2025 season with a 66-96 record (5th place in the NL East, 30.0 GB). It marked the sixth straight season the team finished under .500, and it also meant the franchise needed to accept that its rebuild needed a reboot. General manager Mike Rizzo and manager Davey Johnson were fired in early July, with Mike DeBartolo and Miguel Cairo stepping in on an interim basis to finish the season.

In late September, Washington hired Paul Toboni as the club's new president of baseball operations. The former assistant general manager for the Red Sox, Toboni, 35, became the youngest front office executive in the sport and signaled a significant change for the Nationals. Toboni then hired 33-year-old Blake Butera to manage the team.

Trade rumors throughout the offseason centered on the Nationals, with a focus mainly on left-hander MacKenzie Gore (who was finally traded to the Rangers) and shortstop CJ Abrams (who remains in Washington). None of that talk ever seriously connected the Nationals to a trade of outfielder James Wood, who should instead be approached about a long-term extension to secure his place as the face of the franchise.

Wood is a Scott Boras client, who rarely lets his clients discuss extensions before reaching free agency, but Wood’s case may be different. A 2nd-round pick in the 2021 Draft by the Padres, who was traded to the Nationals in the Juan Soto deal, Wood has slashed .259/.351/.459 (129 OPS+) with 51 2B, 40 HR, 135 RBI, and 29 SB in 1025 PA over the last season and a half, making the 2025 All-Star team. He’ll be arbitration-eligible after the 2027 season.

Considering the relative inexperience of the pitchers on the team’s 40-man roster, there was no question that the Nationals would bring in at least one veteran arm in free agency who could cover some innings every few days. After spending the last eight seasons in St. Louis, Miles Mikolas wasn’t invited back to the Cardinals, as the team shifted towards a younger roster.

Instead, the 37-year-old veteran joined the Nationals on a one-year, $2.25 million deal in what just might be his swan song. Mikolas has pitched in 10 seasons in the majors, posting a 72-75 record with a 4.24 ERA (96 ERA+) over 1252.1 IP, while going to a pair of All-Star Games. Mikolas also spent three seasons pitching in Japan's NPB, going 31-13 with a 2.18 ERA in 424.1 IP.

Paul Toboni's first roster-related move in Washington involved his former team, with the Nationals shipping left-hander Jake Bennett to Boston for right-hander Luis Perales. The 22-year-old (23 in April) from Venezuela hasn’t been on the mound much over the last two seasons, undergoing Tommy John surgery in June 2024 before returning for just a handful of minor league appearances late last season. Perales’s fastball has reached 101 mph, but there are some concerns about his control.

Perales holds a 3.31 ERA across 163.1 IP in the minors (47 games, 43 starts) with 228 SO (12.6 K/9) and 86 BB (4.7 BB/9). Most of his career has been spent in the rotation, but some scouts believe he could be a potential relief weapon in the late innings if he can harness his control issues.

Atlanta finished the 2025 season with a disappointing 76-86 record (4th in the NL East, 20.0 GB). Injuries decimated a roster that was expected to compete for a division title, leaving the Braves near the bottom of the division for most of the regular season. It was the first time since 2017 that the franchise had failed to reach the postseason.

Long-time manager Brian Snitker stepped down after the season, moving into an advisory role within the organization rather than fully transitioning into retirement. Snitker's bench coach since 2018, Walt Weiss, was promoted to replace him. Weiss has already seen a share of injuries crop up this spring, with right-handers Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrop both going down.

Chris Sale would have been the obvious choice here before the left-hander agreed to extend his contract, agreeing to a deal that will pay him $27 million in 2027 with a team option for 2028 (at $30M, with no buyout). Many of the club’s other key pieces are already locked into long-term deals, thanks in part to aggressive efforts from Atlanta’s front office in recent years. That leaves few realistic options for a potential extension.

Right-hander Reynaldo Lopez might be an option, with just one year remaining on his deal (a team option for 2027 at $10M), but the choice here is Drake Baldwin. The Braves don’t need to rush into anything with last year’s NL Rookie of the Year, as Baldwin won’t even reach arbitration eligibility until after the 2027 season, but with so many cornerstones locked into long-term deals, there’s no reason the club shouldn’t explore a new deal with their 24-year-old catcher.

There have been no indications that Raisel Iglesias is thinking about the end of his career, but there may be a reason why the 36-year-old reliever settled for a one-year deal when he reached free agency. Iglesias also returns to a Braves roster he's become quite accustomed to over the last three and a half seasons.

Entering his 12th season in the big leagues, the Cuban closer has collected 253 saves while posting a 2.90 ERA (148 ERA+) over 736.0 IP with 869 SO (10.6 K/9, 29.3 K%). He’ll remain the Braves’ closer when the season starts, but with Robert Suarez signed to a multiyear deal, the club would seem to have Iglesias’ future replacement already in-house. There may not be a place for him in Atlanta beyond this season.

Atlanta's player development systems have produced talented big-league pitchers for decades, with no signs of slowing down. Right-hander Hurston Waldrep and left-hander Cam Caminit get most of the attention when the club’s young arms are discussed, but it’s right-hander JR Ritchie who may be the next jewel of the system.

Ritchie was the Braves’ 1st-round pick in 2022 (35th overall), and he’s made a steady rise through the club’s minor leagues, splitting the 2025 season between High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A. Ritchie has a 2.82 ERA and 235 SO (9.7 K/9) over 217.1 IP in his minor league career. He’ll almost certainly start the 2026 season at Triple-A, where he’ll be just down the road from helping the Braves when needed.

Miami finished the 2025 season with a 79-83 record (3rd in the NL East, 17.0 GB). It marked the 15th straight season the franchise finished below .500, though they have made a pair of Wild Card playoff appearances in that stretch, the last coming three seasons ago. Clayton McCullough led the team to a 17-win improvement from the season prior, so there may be some reason for optimism in South Florida.

The Marlins' offseason was generally quiet, as has been the norm in Miami. Trade rumors swirled around the club’s pitchers until two deals were completed, sending right-hander Edward Cabrera to Chicago and left-hander Ryan Weathers to New York. Outside of the prospect return from those two deals and a few small additions, the club's only real pickup over the winter may have been Pete Fairbanks to anchor the back of the bullpen.

Recent reports suggest that the Marlins and outfielder Kyle Stowers discussed a long-term deal over the offseason. No deal came together, but Stowers remains open to talks. Miami could also look to explore an extension with the other piece from the trade that sent Trevor Rogers to Baltimore, bringing Stowers and infielder Connor Norby to Southern Florida.

A wrist injury cut his 2025 season short, but the 25-year-old third baseman has hit .249/.305/.407 (96 OPS+) in 499 PA since the July 2024 trade, with 25 2B, 15 HR, and 11 SB. Locking him into a long-term deal now might seem a bit premature. Norby won’t reach arbitration until after the 2027 season, but the Marlins don’t appear to have another infield cornerstone to build around yet (unless they view shortstop Xavier Edwards as that piece instead).

Alternatively, and perhaps more logical from a long-term standpoint, it could be time for the franchise to discuss a deal with right-hander Eury Pérez. Pérez, who turns only 23 in April, returned to the Marlins last season after Tommy John surgery with solid results, including a 4.25 ERA (104 ERA+) and 105 SO (9.9 K/9, 27.3 K%) in 95.1 IP. Miami holds a team option for Sandy Alcantara for the 2027 season (provided he isn’t traded this summer), but locking Pérez up long-term now (he will reach arbitration eligibility after the 2026 season) would give the team its next anchor to the rotation until one of Robby Snelling or Thomas White is ready to step into the ace spot.

Looking at the Marlins roster heading into the season, right-hander Pete Fairbanks is the oldest player in the room at the ripe old age of ... 32. Chris Paddack, who just turned 30 in January, is the only other veteran player the club brought in this offseason on a one-year deal. Neither player looks like they’re at the end of their careers, with Miami likely only a stopping point (assuming both could be trade candidates this summer).

It has seemed like the two southpaws in the Marlins' minor league system have been linked for some time. The only remaining question now is which of them reaches the majors first.

The 6’3” lefty from Nevada is Robby Snelling. The Padres used the 39th overall pick in the 2022 Draft to select Snelling, only to trade him to Miami at the 2024 deadline (along with infielder Jay Beshears, infielder Graham Pauley, and right-hander Adam Mazur) for left-hander Tanner Scott. A rough 2024 season on the mound dropped Snelling from top prospect lists, but he rebounded with a strong 2025 to land back on the Top 100 rankings from multiple outlets heading into 2026. Snelling has a 3.17 ERA in 355.0 IP with 399 SO (10.1 K/9) since turning pro.

The 6’5” lefty from Massachusetts is Thomas White. Miami selected White with the 35th overall pick in the 2023 Draft out of high school, and he’s steadily risen through their system since. White ranks ahead of Snelling on those same prospect lists, posting a 2.65 ERA over 190.0 IP with 272 SO (12.9 K/9) in his minor league career.

New York finished the 2025 season with an 83-79 record (2nd in the NL East, 13.0 GB). It was a disappointing finish to the season for the Mets, who lost the final Wild Card spot by virtue of a tiebreaker with the Reds. More was expected from a team that had reached the NLCS in 2024.

The Mets’ offseason involved many moving parts, as the club sought to address both their defensive tendencies and unspecified “clubhouse culture concerns”. The team saw a lot of change this winter, including the surprising decision to watch their all-time home run leader, Pete Alonso, depart, but no clubhouse may be better suited to adjust than one with Francisco Lindor as its unofficial captain.

It’s well-documented how extensive their history together is for Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns and right-hander Freddy Peralta. Stearns was helming the Brewers' front office when the club acquired a 19-year-old Peralta from the Mariners (for first baseman Adam Lind) in December 2015. Stearns spearheaded a five-year contract extension with Peralta (with a pair of team options, the last of which he'll play on this season while earning “just” $8 million) in 2020. It was Stearns who pushed to trade for Peralta this offseason.

At some point in the coming months, Stearns and Peralta will discuss a potential long-term deal to keep the now 29-year-old in Queens beyond this season. A deal won't come easily — Peralta stands to be among the top available arms in a deep free agent class next offseason — but can’t be ruled out completely. The two-time All-Star holds a 70-42 record and 3.59 ERA (117 ERA+) in 931.0 IP over his eight-year career.

Luis García has pitched for eight franchises over a 13-year career in the big leagues. As he heads into Year 14 with team number nine, it’s fair to wonder if this might be the last run for the 39-year-old reliever who joined the Mets on a one-year, $1.4 million deal. García holds a 4.07 ERA (102 ERA+) in 583.1 IP, and has pitched well in the postseason, with a 1.42 ERA in five appearances.

An honorable mention here goes to Craig Kimbrel. The 37-year-old potential Hall of Famer is in camp on a minor league deal and a long shot to make the Mets roster. If he does, the Mets will mark his 10th franchise of a long career. Kimbrel has posted a 2.58 ERA (159 ERA+) with 1282 SO (14.0 K/9, 38.8 K% - well ahead of the league average of 21.3 K%) while collecting 440 saves in his 16-year career. The nine-time All-Star and former Rookie of the Year Award winner sits fifth on the all-time saves list (and second among active players behind only Kenley Jansen).

Most of the focus in New York has centered on the club's young arms (Nolan McLean and Jonah Tong) and outfielder Carson Benge. All three will surely play a role for the club this season and are already well-known. So, let’s focus on the next player rising through the system who could force his way into at-bats in 2026.

A 4th-round pick in the 2022 Draft, Jacob Reimer broke out in a big way this past season between High-A and Double-A. The 22-year-old who has seen time at first base, third base, and the corner outfield slashed .282/.379/.491 in 522 PA this past season, adding 32 2B, 5 3B, 17 HR, 77 RBI, and 15 SB. With a strong spring training and an aggressive assignment to Triple-A to start the year, it's not out of the question to think Reimer might leapfrog over Ronny Mauricio on the club’s depth charts.

Philadelphia finished the 2025 season with a 96-66 record, good enough to win the NL East and the second-best mark in the National League. It was a solid season for the club, though they lost in the Division Series to the eventual World Series Champion Dodgers (3 games to 1). 2025 marked the fourth straight season in which the Phillies reached the postseason.

Manager Rob Thomson will largely have the same roster to lead in 2026, though he will have a more seasoned voice in his ear with Don Mattingly joining his staff as bench coach, and several young prospects looking to make an impact, including Andrew Painter and Justin Crawford. Bryce Harper isn’t playing the “Harper isn’t elite anymore” comments as something that motivates him, but don't be surprised if he makes a point to have another big season.

“The Phillies need to address the back of the bullpen" has been a common refrain for several seasons in Philadelphia, but that seems to have changed with last summer's acquisition of Jhoan Duran from the Twins. The Phillies paid a steep price to add the right-hander, parting with catching prospect Eduardo Tait and right-hander Mick Abel, but Duran fit right into the Phillies' clubhouse.

The 28-year-old has posted a 2.44 ERA (172 ERA+) with 319 SO (11.3 K/9, 30.8 K%) in 254.1 IP during his four-year career, while collecting 90 saves. Duran and the Phillies agreed to a one-year, $7.5 million contract for 2026 to avoid an arbitration hearing. He remains under team control for one more season, but the timing may be ideal for the club to lock in a late-inning solution now.

Suggesting the end of his career is near might be a reach, but it’s likely this is the last season Taijuan Walker spends in Philadelphia. The right-hander has flexed back-and-forth between the rotation and bullpen over the last two seasons, seemingly without a locked-in role with the team. Walker enters the 2026 season in line for a spot in the rotation again, but it may only be temporary until Zack Wheeler returns.

The 43rd-overall pick in the 2010 Draft by the Mariners, Walker has a 4.18 ERA (99 ERA+) over 1278.0 IP across a 13-year career in the majors. He’ll play the 2026 season on the final year of a four-year free-agent deal he signed with Philadelphia before the 2023 season, which will pay him $18 million.

Right-hander Andrew Painter should get every chance to win the fifth spot in the starting rotation this spring. Justin Crawford should figure into the starting outfield mix, as well, after Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski spent the offseason singing his praises, while failing to add an outfielder who could realistically challenge the 22-year-old for the starting center field job.

21-year-old shortstop Aidan Miller may very well be the next player to step up in the Phillies’ system. Philadelphia selected Miller with the 27th overall pick in the 2023 Draft, when Miller was viewed as the elder statesman among that year’s high school class. Packing what scouts viewed as an "advanced feel at the plate", it didn’t take long for Miller to acclimate himself to pro pitching. He’s slashed .265/.383/.434 with 58 2B, 25 HR, and 86 SB over three seasons as a pro. With Trea Turner locked in at shortstop in Philadelphia (and signed through the 2033 season), Miller may need to slide over to third when he forces his way into the Phillies lineup.