The Oakland Athletics have promising offensive players like Nick Kurtz and Shea Langeliers, but their playoff prospects hinge on improving their pitching staff.

The Minnesota Twins might undergo a rebuild by trading key players such as Pablo López and Joe Ryan, which could impact their chances of contending next year.

The Colorado Rockies are unlikely to make a significant turnaround due to a lack of promising young talent and pitching concerns, despite a slight expected increase in wins.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have a strong rotation led by Paul Skenes and Mitch Keller, but weaknesses in offense and front-office support limit their playoff chances.

The Los Angeles Angels have promising young players like Nolan Schanuel and Zach Neto, and a capable core, but require a significant offseason to become contenders.

The Tampa Bay Rays have a solid core including Junior Caminero, but roster uncertainties and potential player departures suggest they will likely remain around their current level of performance.

The Kansas City Royals possess excellent pitching depth and promising players like Bobby Witt Jr. and Vinnie Pasquantino, making them the most likely among these teams to improve and contend in 2026.

The Miami Marlins have a strong rotation with Alcantara and others returning from injury, and they could improve with strategic moves and prospects.

An analysis of 12 non-contending MLB teams from 2025 assesses their potential to make the playoffs in 2026 based on current situations and possible improvements.

The Atlanta Braves are considered the top non-contender with a strong core of stars and talented pitchers like Spencer Strider and Chris Sale, and they are expected to be serious playoff contenders next season, possibly winning the NL East.

The Washington Nationals have a promising young core including James Wood, C.J. Abrams, and MacKenzie Gore, but face uncertainties in their pitching staff and front office stability.

The Chicago White Sox showed notable improvement from last season but still lack the overall talent and consistency to be serious contenders in 2026.