This was certainly a strange division in 2025. The Detroit Tigers, coming off a surprising finish to 2024, looked like the best team in the AL for a chunk of the first half, only to have a historic collapse and watch the offensively challenged Cleveland Guardians steal a second straight AL Central title. The Kansas City Royals, who should have been in that mix, weren’t and could be a sleeper this offseason. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Twins shockingly dismantled their roster at the trade deadline and will keep the Chicago White Sox company at the bottom of the division as both teams rummage through the bargain bin during the offseason.
2025 record: 88-74 (first place)
Postseason: Lost to Detroit Tigers in the AL Wild Card Series 2-1.
What went right: It was a tale of two seasons for the Guardians. The second half was much better than the first, allowing the Guardians to erase the largest deficit (15½ games) and win a division. Pitching was at the forefront of that as the Guardians put up a 2.61 ERA in September, by far the best mark of any team, and went 20-7 to edge the Tigers by a single game on the last day of the regular season for the Central crown. That coincided with the most runs the Guardians scored in a month. The bullpen was amazing once again, led by closer Emmanuel Clase (more on him in a minute), Cade Smith, Jakob Junis and Hunter Gaddis. Right-hander Gavin Williams (12-5, 3.06 ERA) was the best of a decent rotation. Offensively, there is really only one name to talk about. Third baseman José Ramírez, perhaps the most underappreciated superstar in MLB, put up a .283/.360/.503 slash line with his second straight 30-40 season (30 homers, 44 steals) and third 30-30 of his career. He finished third in AL MVP voting.
What went wrong: Clase and right-handed starter Luis L. Ortiz got caught up in a gambling scandal and were recently indicted on federal charges. They were put on nondisciplinary leave in July and face a probable suspension, perhaps for life, that will be issued before spring training. Meanwhile, while “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” we also shouldn’t talk about the Guardians’ offense, either. It was bad. Really bad for a contending team. They had a .669 team OPS, which was 29th in MLB and worse than the No. 27 Colorado Rockies (.679) and No. 28 Chicago White Sox (.675), only better than the Pittsburgh Pirates‘ .655. Designated hitter-first baseman Kyle Manzardo was the only player other than Ramirez to have an OPS+ of 100 (league average) at 110. Nolan Jones came over in a preseason trade from the Rockies, but slashed a paltry .211/.296/.304 with five homers and 34 RBIs. First baseman Carlos Santana put up a .225/.316/.333 line with only 11 homers before being cut loose in August. There wasn’t much in the form of expectations from the rest of the lineup and that proved true. Despite the torrid finish to the season, the Guardians had the tables turned on them by the Tigers, who eliminated Cleveland in a decisive Game 3 of the Wild Card Series. Right-hander Tanner Bibee at times showed ace-like qualities (two complete games, including a shutout), but was too inconsistent as a No. 1 (12-11, 4.24 ERA).
What needs to be done: Outfielder Lane Thomas, who battled injuries, and Junis are the only free agents. Upgrades at every position except for third base should be on the table. Even left fielder Steven Kwan, who has had a pattern of a really good season followed up by something mediocre, falls into that group, perhaps as a trade chip. It might seem silly, but the Guardians, with back-to-back division titles under two-time AL Manager of the Year Stephen Vogt, has holes all around the lineup. There could be help in the form of prospects. Center fielder Chase DeLauter made his MLB debut in the Wild Card Series and will get first shot at being the everyday starter next year. Second baseman Travis Bazzana, the Guardians’ top prospect with a terrific hit tool, played at three levels in 2025, reaching Triple-A and seems to need a bit more seasoning before joining the big club as he didn’t put up good numbers at any stop. Smith did well taking over for Clase in the closer’s role, so that isn’t a pressing need, although another setup option might be to step in for Smith. Left-hander Joey Cantillo will get a look at the back end of the rotation, with includes lefty Logan Allen and righty Slade Cecconi behind Bibee and Williams. A modestly priced veteran could help here.
2025 record: 87-75 (second place, 1 GB)
Postseason: Beat Guardians in AL Wild Card Series 2-1, lost to Seattle Mariners 3-2 in AL Division Series.
What went right: Ace left-hander Tarik Skubal proved that his 2024 AL Cy Young Award season wasn’t a fluke by having a slightly better 2025 and repeating as the Cy Young winner. He posted an ERA+ of 187, which was notably better than 174 from 2024. Skubal led MLB in WHIP (0.891) and walks per nine (1.5), while finishing second in strikeouts (241). Right-hander Casey Mize, a former top prospect, restored some of the luster to his career by posting a 3.87 ERA in 28 starts to become a reliable rotation piece. The same was said for right-hander Reese Olson, who had a 3.15 ERA in 13 starts before a shoulder injury in late July ended his season. The trade deadline brought a second closing option as right-hander Kyle Finnegan, picked up from the Washington Nationals, was paired with left-hander Will Vest. The offense was an interesting mix. Left fielder Riley Greene paced that unit with 36 homers and 111 RBIs, but he also struck out an AL-worst 201 times. Right fielder Kerry Carpenter emerged as a legitimate power source with 26 homers in 130 games. First baseman Spencer Torkelson, a former No. 1 overall draft pick, had his moments, especially early in the season, and cracked 31 homers. But altogether, the offense felt more like a group production with players getting hot at different times. Dillon Dingler showed he can be a No. 1 catcher and provide some offense.
What went wrong: Blowing a 15½-game lead from early July that was still a 10½-game advantage on Aug. 25 will be remembered for a while in Detroit. It was a 1-11 stretch in September that spelled doom as far as the division went. Still, you have to give the Tigers credit for flushing that finish and taking out the Guardians in the playoffs. And don’t forget that the Tigers were a 15-inning loss to the Seattle Mariners in Game 5 of the AL Division Series from playing for a spot in the World Series. While Skubal was stellar at the top of the rotation, the same can’t be said for the other starters. Rookie right-hander Jackson Jobe, a prized prospect, was lost for the season after just 10 starts due to Tommy John surgery, which will take out most if not all of his 2026. Right-hander Jack Flaherty returned to the Tigers after Detroit traded him to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the 2024 trade deadline and had an AL-worst 15 losses to go along with a 4.64 ERA. Right-hander Chris Paddack, acquired at this year’s trade deadline, put up a horrendous 6.32 ERA in 12 games, seven starts. Rookie shortstop Trey Sweeney was a black hole offensively with a .196/.258/.291 slash line and was only OK defensively.
What needs to be done: Unlike the Guardians, there are a lot of pieces already in place. Skubal will be mentioned in trade rumors until he signs an extension or takes the mound for the Tigers on Opening Day as he is set to become a free agent after 2026. The rotation could use some fortification, possibly a No. 2 behind Skubal following Flaherty’s 2025 struggles, although there are in-house options for the back end like right-hander Troy Melton and Sawyer Gipson-Long. Second baseman Gleyber Torres decided to stick around after a solid year, accepting the qualifying offer. That leaves right-handed reliever Tommy Kahnle as the only notable free agent. Any additions are likely to come from free agency. Do the Tigers revisit bringing in third baseman Alex Bregman?
2025 record: 82-80 (third place, 6 GB)
Postseason: None (since 2024).
What went right: Pitching was the strength of this Royals team, particularly the bullpen. Right-hander Carlos Estévez led the majors with 42 saves and had standout setup guys in Lucas Erceg, Daniel Lynch IV and John Schreiber. In the rotation, rookie left-hander Noah Cameron stepped into a prominent role and finished fourth in AL Rookie of the Year balloting. Right-hander Kris Bubic made 20 starts and had a 2.55 ERA, while Michael Wacha shouldered the No. 1 label for most of 2025 and had a solid season with a 3.86 ERA. On offense, versatile third baseman Maikel Garcia became a reliable source, putting up a .286/.351/.449 slash line with 16 homers, 78 RBIs and 23 steals.
What went wrong: Are the expectations too high for Bobby Witt Jr.? The superstar shortstop led MLB in hits and doubles, yet was considered to have had a down season while notching a 7.1 fWAR. Why? His 23 homers fell short of the 30 and 32 he hit each of the last to seasons and his 88 RBIs were down from the 96 and 109 from 2023 and ’24. Witt was still fantastic defensively and is one of the top players in all of MLB even after this slight drop in production. Second baseman Jonathan India didn’t have the expected impact from the leadoff spot, turning in the lowest slash line of his career at .233/.323/.346 with a career-low nine homers and failing to steal a single base. The outfield was a mess that not even top hitting prospect Jac Caglianone could fix. Caglianone seemed overmatched as the Royals likely rushed him to the majors in need of offense while they were in contention for a wild-card spot. Star left-hander Cole Ragans dealt with a couple of injuries that limited him to 13 starts.
What needs to be done: There are no key free agents and the Royals already locked in veteran catcher Salvador Perez through 2027 (two years, $25 million) after his contract was set to expire after 2026. The Royals have addressed the offense by hiring new hitting coaches, but you have to wonder if India will be worth paying a projected $7.4 million (only a slight raise from 2025) for what he produced this year. Upgrades in the outfield will be the major focus. Caglianone will be penciled in for right, but a more prudent move might be to have him be the designated hitter at least a majority of the time considering his lack of outfield experience. After all, Caglianone is a home run hitter and not much of a fielder. Ragans will return atop the rotation, which looks to be in very good shape with Bubic, Wacha and Cameron. There will be a good battle for the fifth spot from candidates already on the roster.
2025 record: 70-92 (fourth place, 18 GB)
Postseason: None (since 2023).
What went right: This section is going to be brief, because, well, you know. Center fielder Byron Buxton for the most part stayed healthy, playing in 126 games, his most since a career-best 140 in 2017. That resulted in a .264/.327/.551 slash line with career highs of 35 homers and 83 RBIs, mainly hitting out of the leadoff spot. He also stole 24 bases, just short of his 2017 total of 29 and was selected as a first-time All-Star, playing in his home state of Georgia. Rookie second baseman Luke Keaschall, after a seven-game MLB debut in April, came up in August and showed he could be a big part of the future with a .302/.382/.445 slash line. Right-hander Joe Ryan was the rock of the rotation, turning in a 3.42 ERA in 31 games, while right-hander Pablo López was limited to 14 starts due to a strained muscle in his right shoulder, yet still posted a 2.74 ERA. The bullpen, led by closer Jhoan Duran, was full of valuable arms.
What went wrong: The Twins were solid until Memorial Day weekend, when they were three games out of first place and seven games above .500 at 29-22. Just three weeks later, they saw .500 for the last time at 37-37 and were already 10 games out. Things didn’t improve over the next month, so the Great Selloff of 2025 began. No team decimated its roster this year like the Twins did. The biggest surprise move was unloading shortstop Carlos Correa and his contract — which still has three years and $92 million on it — back to the Houston Astros. The bullpen was cleared out of anything that could contribute to a contender elsewhere, while a few position players were sent packing, too. Technically, the only financial commitments the Twins had for 2026 entering the offseason were to Lopez ($21.75 million) and Buxton ($15.143 million). Everyone else is either arbitration-eligible or pre-arb — that includes Ryan, who is entering his second year of arbitration. What led to the selloff? Third baseman Royce Lewis was injured and managed a slash line of just .237/.283/.388 with 13 homers and 52 RBIs in 106 games, while Correa was very underperforming considering his contract (.267/.319/.386). Others contributed, but when your big bats don’t produce or aren’t available, your offense is doomed.
What needs to be done: Change already happened with Rocco Baldelli being fired as manager the day after the season ended, with Derek Shelton — fired by the Pittsburgh Pirates during the season — replacing him after being the Twins’ bench coach in 2018-19. There is a group of young players already in place that won’t make this an overwhelming rebuild. In addition to Keaschall, the Twins have Ryan Jeffers at catcher, Brooks Lee at shortstop, Kody Clemens likely at first base, Lewis at third and multiple options at the corner outfield spots around Buxton. The starting rotation is actually in really good shape all things considering. That starts with Ryan and Lopez and includes prospect Mick Abel, acquired in the Duran deal, and, in some order, Simeon Woods Richardson, Bailey Ober, Zebby Matthews and David Festa. Ryan is drawing a lot of trade interest due to his contract situation. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Twins work on bringing in some short-term veterans to help on offense, in the rotation and in the bullpen. But 2026 will definitely be about regrouping and building toward 2027, when some top prospects such as outfielder Walker Jenkins could be ready to contribute.
2025 record: 60-102 (last place, 28 GB)
Postseason: None (since 2021).
What went right: Well, at least it wasn’t 2024. A year after going 41-121 and setting an MLB record for losses in a season, the White Sox were still bad, just not historically bad. The offseason trade of Garrett Crochet paid immediate dividends. Three of the four prospects obtained from the Boston Red Sox made their MLB debuts and showed they can contribute at the MLB level. Catcher Kyle Teel, the headliner of the prospect package, had a .273/.375/.411 slash line with eight homers and 35 RBIs in 78 games. Chase Meidroth, who split his time between shortstop and second base, played 122 games and put up a .253/.329/.320 slash line with five homers, 23 RBIs and 14 steals. Finally, reliever Wikelman González had a 2.66 ERA in 16 appearances. Catcher Edgar Quero, acquired in 2023, registered a .268/.333/.356 slash line in 111 games, showing the team has depth at the position. Shortstop Colson Montgomery showed he had big-time pop by hitting 21 homers among his 61 hits in 71 games. Second baseman Lenyn Sosa hit 22 homers and drove in 75. There were wins on the pitching side, too. Right-hander Shane Smith, the Rule 5 selection from the Milwaukee Brewers, had a 3.81 ERA in 29 starts, while fellow righties Davis Martin and Sean Burke proved worthy of rotation spots. Jordan Leasure, Mike Vasil and Grant Taylor, all right-handers, are solid building blocks in the bullpen.
What went wrong: This was still a bad roster even with some positive developments mentioned above. Center fielder Luis Robert Jr. continues to be a riddle wrapped in an enigma. He had a .223/.297/.364 slash line with 14 homers, 53 RBIs and 33 steals in 110 games. The White Sox still picked up his $20 million option for 2026 in hopes he stays healthy and returns to the production of 2023, when he hit 38 homers and received down-ballot AL MVP votes. Left fielder Andrew Benintendi, the team’s highest-paid played in 2025 at $17.125 million, mustered a .240/.307/.431 slash line with 20 homers in 116 games. First baseman Andrew Vaughn, the third overall pick of the 2019 draft, was so bad that he was sent to Triple-A after 48 games, then dealt to the Brewers, where he flourished.
What needs to be done: The good news is there are prospects who turned into productive players as rookies, especially around the infield. Teel and Quero behind the plate, Sosa played some first, Meidroth at second, Montgomery at short and veteran Miguel Vargas at third can be built around. In the outfield, it is Benintendi, Robert and Mike Tauchman. If the White Sox can get someone to take the final two years of Benintendi’s deal ($32.2 million), upgrades can be made at the corner outfield spots. The rotation has some promise with Smith, Martin and Burke. Gonzalez, one of the prospects received from the Red Sox, could move into the rotation. There won’t be much fishing in the deep end of the free-agent pond, but there will be guys out there who can provide this young group some leadership as its grows together.