Every January, baseball analysts attempt to forecast the future of Major League Baseball by predicting which teams are most likely to win a World Series over the next decade. This year, instead of naming winners for each year through 2035, franchises were ranked by their likelihood to secure at least one championship between 2026 and 2035.
The Los Angeles Dodgers top the list. Despite concerns about an aging roster and key players entering their thirties, the team’s recent success—two consecutive World Series titles—and a strong farm system position them as favorites. The report notes that “they’ve won two in a row, they’ll be favored to win a third and they’ve got the resources and the smarts to lay down a foundation for the next generation of great Dodgers teams.”
The Seattle Mariners follow closely in second place. The franchise has built momentum with young talent such as Julio RodrÃguez and boasts one of baseball’s best farm systems. According to the analysis, “Seattle is extremely well-positioned over the next decade to finally make (and win) that first World Series.”
Other teams rounding out the top five include the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, and Boston Red Sox. Each has demonstrated aggressive roster building or features core players under long-term contracts.
The Philadelphia Phillies are ranked sixth on this list. The assessment states: “Many of these teams have been picked because they’re not only good right now, they’re set up to be good for years to come. The Phillies? Well, the Phillies are here because they’re good right now … and need very badly to win before that is no longer the case.” It adds that while Philadelphia’s roster is aging, it remains competitive after winning 96 games last season.
Founded in 1883 as a charter member of Major League Baseball’s National League official website, the Phillies have earned multiple league titles including World Series victories in 1980 and 2008 official website. They play home games at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia official website.
Teams such as Baltimore Orioles (seventh), Chicago Cubs (eighth), San Diego Padres (ninth), and Oakland Athletics (tenth) also made the list based on factors like young talent pipelines or recent front office moves.
Some notable omissions include franchises like the New York Yankees—cited due to uncertainty beyond star player Aaron Judge’s peak years—as well as Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, Milwaukee Brewers, Kansas City Royals, St. Louis Cardinals, and Pittsburgh Pirates.
The exercise concludes with: “See you in a decade to find out which ones I got right.”
