The MLB season is just right around the corner, and fans are already speculating where their team will stand after 162 games. With so many changes within each organization, it is hard to determine where teams are going to finish each season. There are so many storylines, injuries, and past failures and successes that can dictate the outcome of the season.
Many teams have decided to trade franchise legends, sign big-name free agents, and trade for win-now or win-later talent. Then there are some teams that have yet to spend a dime and plan on rolling out the same team as last season. Regardless of where your team stands right now, many things can change throughout the season. Look at the Milwaukee Brewers last season, they started the season 21-25 and then finished as the No. 1 seed in all of baseball.
There are many compelling storylines throughout all of baseball heading into the season. Here are my compelling storylines to watch this upcoming season.
The Brewers’ Infinite Win Cycle
Throughout the years, Milwaukee has opted for trading its top talent instead of offering long-term contracts. Josh Hader, Corbin Burnes, Devin Williams, and now Freddy Peralta are all pitchers that Milwaukee refused to extend on a long-term contract.
Peralta and Tobias Myers were dealt for two Top 100 prospects: right-handed pitcher Brandon Sproat and infielder Jett Williams. Both were projected to make the Opening Day roster; however, Jett Williams chances increased significantly with Milwaukee’s most recent trade.
Third baseman Caleb Durbin headlined a trade package dealt to the Boston Red Sox for a package headlined by left-hander Kyle Harrison. Harrison is a former top-lefty prospect and has already on his third team in three years. Durbin is coming off a season where he finished 3rd in National League Rookie of the Year and helped Milwaukee win a franchise high 97 games. This trade is interesting, considering that Durbin has many years of control left and played well in his rookie season.
Regardless of if no other trades happen this offseason, Milwaukee has continued to lean into their tactics. General Manager Matt Arnold has continued to prove he is one of the best in the business by making moves that help Milwaukee’s coaching staff succeed. However, can they continue to implement this strategy and win 90+ games? We will have to see, but it will be one of the best small-market storylines to watch.
Robot Umps Are Here (Sort Of)
In the 2026 MLB season, players will have the power to appeal pitch calls of human umpires by turning to the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System. This is a technological advancement that will not only help correction of questionable calls, but it also adds an exciting layer to an already changing sport.
Let’s review the rules of ABS:
- Each team will start the game with two challenges apiece.
- The pitcher and the batter are allowed to issue a challenge, no one else; not even the manager.
- Challenges must be issued immediately after the umpire’s call, without assistance from the dugout or other players.
- If you enter extra innings with no challenges, you will be granted one challenge. If a team uses their challenge in that inning, they will gain another challenge in the following inning.
- Challenges from the original 9 innings will count heading into extra innings, but you will not gain another challenge until they are all used and teams are heading to another extra inning.
- ABS will be used at every MLB ballpark, during the postseason.
There are plenty of other wrinkles within the system; however, these are the main rules that you need to know. Once a player taps their helmet after a pitch, that pitch is under review. Many have questions around how long each challenge will take. According to MLB.com, in regards to the Spring Training games it was used it, challenges should take around 13-14 seconds.
ABS has been tested throughout the minor leagues, even in Spring Training last season. However, players and fans are afraid of the usage and the eventual discussion of full-time robot umps, afraid that it takes the human decision-making out of the sport. ABS is not a robot umpire; it is cleaning up the decisions made by human umpires, who have shown to dictate the game to a certain degree.
The pitch clock has been a great addition to the MLB, and I believe the ABS will be another great option for players. Over the years, every fan can recall a horrendous call that dictated a game, and if this system was in place, the outcome of the game could have changed. The ABS could change storylines for your favorite team this upcoming season.
The New-Look Mets: Boom or Bust?
The New York Mets have been one of the most intriguing teams in all of baseball. They are at the top of baseball in payroll; however, they have not had the same success as the Los Angeles Dodgers have had. After signing Juan Soto to the biggest contract in MLB history, New York started 2025 red-hot and then dwindled itself out of the playoffs. The season could be different as New York has been continuing to make headlines throughout the offseason.
Here is a list of the considerably big trades/signings New York has made this offseason:
- OF Brandon Nimmo traded to the Texas Rangers for 2B Marcus Semien.
- Signed INF Jorge Polanco to a two-year contract.
- Signed RHP Luke Weaver to a two-year contract.
- Signed RHP Devin Williams to a three-year contract
- INF/OF Jeff McNeil traded to the Athletics for SP Yordan Rodriguez.
- Traded INF/OF Luisangel Acuna and SP Truman Pauley for OF Luis Robert Jr.
- Signed INF Bo Bichette to a three-year deal with an opt out after each season
- Traded top prospects INF/OF Jett Williams and SP Brandon Sproat for SP Freddy Peralta and RHP Tobias Myers.
The biggest revamp of the squad is in the infield and the pitching staff. The starting rotation is one of the deepest in all of baseball. Headlined by All-Star Freddy Peralta and dynamic Nolan McLean, Sean Manaea, Clay Holmes, David Peterson, Kodai Senga, and Jonah Tong will all be fighting for a spot in the rotation. Tobias Myers, Luke Weaver, and Devin Williams are improving a bullpen that desperately needs reinforcement. Even with the loss of Edwin Diaz,
With the loss of Pete Alonso and Jeff McNeil, New York has added stellar pieces; however, they will be playing out of position in 2026. Marcus Semien will lock down second base as he has throughout his career, but this forces Bo Bichette to make the move to third base for the first time in his MLB career. Jorge Polanco will be playing first base full-time for the first time in his career as well, raising questions about what the product will look like. The offense will be improved from 2026, but defensively, it is still in question.
President of Baseball Operations David Stearns has completely revamped New York’s roster, creating an intriguing yet compelling roster. This is the deepest New York Mets team we have seen in a long time. The starting rotation could be one of the best in all of baseball, but one of the most compelling storylines in baseball will be whether the New York Mets can put the talent together and make the postseason once again.
Finally Spending: The New-Look Pirates
Along with the Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh has continued its tactics of refusing to spend in free agency. Unlike Milwaukee, this strategy has not worked. Pittsburgh has continued to miss the postseason for the past decade; however, 2026 could be a different season.
Ryan O’Hearn and Marcell Ozuna agreed to short-term contracts with Pittsburgh, bringing in much-needed power to the lineup. They signed hard-throwing lefties Gregory Soto and Mason Montgomery. All-Star Brandon Lowe was acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays, as well as trading for prospect Jhostynxon Garcia, who is expected to make an impact for Pittsburgh in 2026.
Pittsburgh already has one of the best pitching rotations in all of baseball. Headlined by Cy Young winner Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller, and Jared Jones have proven success in the majors. Former top prospect Bubba Chandler has the tools to be a frontline ace in the MLB, but with the rotation ahead of him, he doesn’t have to carry that pressure.
The National League Central is one of the brightest, youngest divisions in baseball (read my article about the National League Central and its future), and Pittsburgh is a big reason why. With an incredible rotation and much-needed additions to the lineup, Pittsburgh could surprise many next season. Will they make the postseason? Probably not. Honestly, Pittsburgh fans do not care; they just want to see competitive baseball and that would be one of the best storylines in baseball.
Conclusion
These storylines can turn out to be some of the worst in baseball, but it does not take away from how compelling they are for the 2026 season. Teams are escaping their comfort zone and spending, and spending $0 as they do every offseason. I am excited for the MLB season and will be making lots of content covering the best sport in the world.
