With Opening Day just around the corner, the offseason is nearly complete for MLB’s 30 clubs and teams are now focused on the upcoming season and becoming a team to raise the Commissioner’s Trophy. Until the play-offs start, the teams will focus on a small goal: to win their division. At the start of the season, we’ll be running a series of polls to find out who MLBTR readers think is the favorite in each division. The AL Champion Blue Jays came out on top yesterday in the AL East with 39% of the vote. Today, we’ll move on to the AL Central. All teams are ranked in order of their 2025 regular season record:
Cleveland Cavaliers (88-75)
The Rangers managed to sneak into the AL Central title at the eleventh hour last year, outlasting the Tigers at the end of the year by going 20-7 in September. They quickly lost in the playoffs to Detroit, however, and their response to that quick exit this season left something to be desired. That seemed to set the stage for a great season, but no such eventful winters materialized. It deserves as Jose RamirezThe latest extension is likely, it does nothing to improve the team in 2026. The only potential impact player the team has added anywhere on the roster is a veteran first baseman. Rhys Hoskinswho is in camp on a minor league deal but is sure to make the team. Going back to last year’s 88-game winning streak isn’t the worst idea in the world, but it’s easy to feel like last year’s class of players might be outdone by rivals who made big mistakes last season.
Detroit Tigers (87-76)
The Tigers took the Mariners to Game 5 of the ALDS before falling short, and now they will look to make the most of that potential. Tarik Skubal‘s last season with the organization. Meeting again Gleyber Torres it was the only major step in sin (although the upcoming debut of high hopes Kevin McGonigle they can still change the lineup this year), but the Tigers have been very busy adjusting their pitching staff. Framber Valdez joins Skubal at the front of the rotation and helps prevent a losing streak Reese Olson shoulder surgery, while Justin Verlander provides moderate rotational stability on his homecoming at age 43. In the bullpen, the addition of a second future Hall of Famer Kenley Jansen and meeting Kyle Finnegan should create a strong bullpen backbone for a Tigers team that had the second-worst bullpen in the AL in FIP last year. Those additions appear to be enough to make the Tigers a favorite to finally capture the AL Central crown for the first time since 2014, though that seemed unlikely last year.
Kansas City Royals (82-80)
The Royals had a mediocre season last year where they sat on the brink of playoff importance but did not crack the top division. They finished just over .500, but will enter 2026 hoping to return to the postseason. A better life from Cole Ragans again Chris Bubic it should go a long way in the club, like the rise of the top players Carter Jensen as the heir apparent of holding franchises Salvador Perez. Regarding the external add-ons, the external environment will now be visible Isaac Collins, Star Marteagain Lane Thomas more than those in positions Jac Caglianone again Kyle Isbellwhile Matt Strahm was brought in to strengthen the combination of high-quality assistance already in place Carlos Estevez again Lucas Erceg. With some solid (if not obvious) additions and some exciting young talent from the minors, it’s not hard to imagine the Royals having a better year in 2026. Will that be enough to overcome the split?
Minnesota Twins (70-92)
The year 2025 was a difficult year for the Twins, as the organization could not close the sale of both ownership and the fans were hoping not to leave the field, while the diamond team struggled and was finally blown away during the trade period of last summer. Minnesota was saved from the bottom of the AL Central by the lowly White Sox, but this season a change in manager, the hiring of a new manager, and the sudden departure of team president Derek Falvey led to instability at the top of the organization without much movement in the lineup. Josh Bell again Victor Caratini both are solid complementary additions to the lineup, but they don’t make up for losses Carlos Correa. It’s a turn that looks like the team’s energy is gone Pablo Lopez before the season starts, when Taylor Rogers and others will be asked to save the bullpen after losing John Duran, Griffin Jaxagain Louis Varland. There are many exciting young talents (Royce Lewis, Brooks Lee, Luke Keachall, Hello Bradley) in the lineup, but a lot will have to go right for the Twins to fight back to the top of the AL Central this year.
Chicago White Sox (60-102)
The White Sox are still in the midst of what figures to be a long rebuilding process, but more hope can be found in the organization than has been the case in quite some time now. Young, influential players love it Shane Smith, Colson Montgomeryagain Kyle Teel they’re starting to settle in at the big league level, and the White Sox are making some effort to add to that budding young core by adding outfielders. Munetaka Murakami a big addition that could easily add 40 home runs to the White Sox’s lineup if he pans out, but Anthony Kay, Sean Newcombagain Seranthony Dominguez all could be smart additions to the lineup and to his pitching side. It would be a shock if these moves were enough to pull Chicago all the way to the top of the AL Central, but it looks like their days of losing 100 games a year are coming to an end.
Who do MLBTR readers think will win the division when all is said and done? Will the Guardians be able to come out on top for a third consecutive season despite nothing being added? Will the Tigers finally enter Skubal’s final season before free agency? Will the Royals’ busy season be enough to help them advance? Or will the Twins or White Sox shock the baseball world? Have your say in the poll below:
