With spring training underway, we look at the biggest question facing each American League club as preparations begin for the 2026 MLB season. The National League's biggest questions can be found here.
Athletics: Who wins the third-base job?
The Athletics improved over the winter and enter 2026 with a ton of talent, but the hot corner remains an open competition. At first glance, the front-runner would appear to be Max Muncy (not to be confused with the Dodgers star of the same name), who debuted last season. But Muncy struggled to hit big-league pitching. Veteran Andy Ibáñez, a surprise waiver claim by the A's shortly after he signed a guaranteed deal with the Dodgers in January, offers great defense and a good bat against left-handers, and he has no options remaining. Darell Hernaiz and Brett Harris are both on the 40-man roster and should also be involved here. And don't sleep on 19-year-old Leo De Vries, baseball's No. 4 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, who's in camp as a non-roster invitee and knocking on the door.
Baltimore Orioles: Can Coby Mayo make the leap?
Mayo, a former top prospect, hasn't been able to translate his minor-league numbers into sustained big-league success. But his bat is suddenly more important than ever to the Orioles, who will start the season without Jordan Westburg and Jackson Holliday. Those injuries make Mayo the obvious choice to cover third base on Opening Day despite his disappointing MLB track record. He needs to use this spring to convince the Orioles that they can trust him as a hitter.
Boston Red Sox: Where do all the outfielders play?
Craig Breslow didn't address the outfield logjam this winter, so it's up to manager Alex Cora to maneuver an unbalanced group of position players. Roman Anthony is locked into left field. Ceddanne Rafaela is coming off a Gold Glove season in center and is one of the few right-handed hitting options in the outfield. Wilyer Abreu will get the chance to prove himself against left-handed pitching, so expect to see him in the lineup every day in right field. That likely slots Jarren Duran into the DH spot - and makes it tough to envision a place on the roster for Masataka Yoshida. Then there's Kristian Campbell, who will fully transition to the outfield as well. Unless there's an injury, Cora will have to get creative.
Chicago White Sox: Will Munetaka Murakami's game translate to MLB?
There might not be a more fascinating rookie to watch this season than Murakami. Despite his prodigious power, the Japanese slugger's free-agent market collapsed this winter due to significant concerns over his strikeout rate, and he ultimately signed a two-year deal with the White Sox. We'll see how he fares in camp against an uptick in velocity and whether he can maintain his power without too much swing-and-miss. Murakami won't have much time to get acclimated before he departs for the WBC, so it's crucial that he doesn't struggle too much early.
Cleveland Guardians: How do Chase DeLauter and Travis Bazzana look?
The Guardians' two top prospects are on the cusp of breaking through to help the big club. DeLauter is closer, having made his MLB debut during last year's playoffs. At worst, he's expected to start 2026 in a center-field platoon, but he could easily win the everyday job outright with a big spring. Bazzana, meanwhile, will miss a portion of Cactus League play while he competes for Australia in the World Baseball Classic. But might that help his chances? If the former first overall pick has a great tournament, he could be knocking on the door when he returns to Guardians camp. The future is bright in Cleveland, and the performances of DeLauter and Bazzana will determine a lot about how the 2026 Guardians look.
Detroit Tigers: What does Justin Verlander have left?
Verlander will wear a Tigers uniform for the first time since 2017. The 43-year-old was a late surprise signing by Detroit and could be a pretty important arm after Reese Olson was lost for the season. The right-hander isn't the pitcher that he was last time he played for Detroit, but the second half of 2025 proved he's got something left in the tank. Although spring training is mostly a formality for someone with Verlander's resume, it's important for him to start the season fully healthy. And don't underestimate how valuable his presence will be for all the young players in camp.
Houston Astros: Does Isaac Paredes get traded?
Paredes' name was bandied about in trade rumors all winter. The talk may have cooled down a bit over the last few weeks, but a trade before Opening Day is hardly out of the question because of the Astros' infield crunch. Paredes is blocked at his natural position of third base by Carlos Correa, at second base by Jose Altuve, and at first base by Christian Walker - whose contract would be much more difficult to move. Even Yordan Alvarez is in Paredes' way at DH. As long as Paredes is on the Astros' roster, they'll have to find a way to play him, but it's unclear how.
Kansas City Royals: Is Jac Caglianone ready for Year 2?
Expectations were high when Caglianone arrived in Kansas City last June after jumping three levels in three months. However, the former top prospect struggled in his first taste of the bigs and was sent back to Triple-A for part of the summer. Now, he's likely the Royals' Opening Day right fielder, and they'll hope he serves as an offensive anchor alongside Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, and Salvador Perez. Caglianone's playing for Italy in the WBC, and a successful tournament could go a long way toward helping him break through in MLB. Though he's just 23 years old, Caglianone needs to use this spring - both in Cactus League and the WBC - to show he deserves an Opening Day roster spot.
Los Angeles Angels: Can Grayson Rodriguez and Alek Manoah stay healthy?
The Angels spent the offseason seemingly targeting every bounce-back player they could find. Of that group, Rodriguez and Manoah are the two pieces that could drastically alter the team's season. Rodriguez, a former top prospect, has yet to reach his full potential due to constant injuries. He missed all of last season due to elbow and shoulder issues but enters the spring healthy. Manoah was once a rising star, finishing third in AL Cy Young voting in 2022 as a 24-year-old. Since then, injuries and poor performance have limited him to 111 2/3 MLB innings over the last three seasons. If the Angels are going to so much as resemble a playoff team, they need to get the most out of these two pitchers.
Minnesota Twins: Can Walker Jenkins make the team?
Jenkins, ranked as the Twins' top prospect and No. 14 in all of baseball by MLB Pipeline, is in big-league camp as a non-roster invitee after reaching Triple-A last summer. It might seem like there's no room for him on Minnesota's roster, since he's not displacing Byron Buxton in center any time soon. But the 21-year-old has a golden chance to win a job this spring once Buxton leaves for the WBC. Jenkins could easily play his way into the Opening Day conversation for left field at the expense of Trevor Larnach and Austin Martin, who are projected to platoon at the position and each have options remaining. Jenkins is more than capable of forcing the Twins' hand over the next four weeks.
New York Yankees: What are Jasson Domínguez's and Spencer Jones' roles?
The Yankees once again come into spring facing questions about what they'll do with two bright young outfielders who appear ready to contribute to the big club. Even if they both have great showings - Jones started his audition by crushing a home run out of Steinbrenner Field in the Grapefruit League opener - it's difficult to see how they could crack the Opening Day roster barring an injury. The returns of Trent Grisham and Cody Bellinger seem to mean all three outfield spots are locked down. Surely the Yankees would rather have Domínguez and Jones play every day in Scranton than rot on the bench in the Bronx. This is likely the spring where the team has to decide if Domínguez and Jones have futures in pinstripes.
Seattle Mariners: What does Kade Anderson look like in his first spring?
Barring injury, the Mariners' 2026 rotation is locked and loaded, with plenty of Triple-A depth to support the big five. That makes this spring a great opportunity for Seattle fans to see the future in Anderson, a third overall pick last year who got an invite to big-league camp. The 21-year-old left-hander's stock skyrocketed after he tallied 180 strikeouts in 119 innings at LSU last season. The Mariners shut Anderson down after drafting him, so Cactus League games will mark his first professional action, and his arm should be fresh. Anderson is likely still a full year or two away from the majors, giving him a chance to show what he's capable of this spring without too much pressure.
Tampa Bay Rays: Can Shane McClanahan finally stay healthy?
Tampa Bay's been without its best pitcher the last two seasons, but McClanahan enters the spring healthy and optimistic. The 28-year-old faced hitters over the weekend. McClanahan was an All-Star in the last two seasons in which he pitched, and he's one of the most dominant starters in baseball when healthy. If he's able to avoid the IL for much of the 2026 season, he'll represent a major X-factor for a Rays team that currently looks like a fringe playoff contender.
Texas Rangers: Will they unlock the best version of MacKenzie Gore?
It's easy to see why Texas traded five prospects for Gore, who's celebrating his 27th birthday Tuesday. He was an All-Star in Washington last year, he owned a K/9 rate above 10, and he's emerged as a reliable innings-eater. But there were warning signs under the hood. Gore led the majors in wild pitches for a second straight season in 2025, and although he looked like an ace early, he was one of the worst pitchers in baseball during the second half. Batters also teed off on Gore's fastball - his primary pitch, which he throws nearly 50% of the time - to the tune of a .294 average and .483 SLG last year. That simply won't fly on a club with playoff expectations. How Gore fares this spring with a new team - while potentially using a new approach - could tell us a lot about the pitcher the Rangers acquired for that prospect haul.
Toronto Blue Jays: Who wins the final two rotation spots?
2026 should be a redemption tour for José Berríos. The 31-year-old has an excellent chance to reclaim his spot in the rotation after an awkward finish to last season - he struggled down the stretch before landing on the IL and leaving the team. With Kevin Gausman, Trey Yesavage, and Dylan Cease all locked into the rotation, Berríos appears to be competing with Eric Lauer and Cody Ponce for the final two starting spots until Shane Bieber gets healthy. The simplest solution for the Blue Jays is having Berríos start and using Lauer as the long man out of the 'pen. But Berríos needs to earn his spot based on performance, not salary, and prove that when everyone's healthy, he's genuinely one of the five best options. Toronto is reportedly also discussing a reunion with Max Scherzer, potentially putting more pressure on Berríos.
