It is the middle of January 2026. The ground in most of the country is frozen solid. Most people are thinking about the NFL playoffs or wondering if they should finally cancel that gym membership they bought on New Year’s Day. But if you’re a baseball fan, you’re likely staring at a blank standings page wondering about MLB who is in first place during the dead of winter.
Technically? Nobody. The 2026 season hasn't started. The standings are a series of beautiful, symmetrical zeros. But if we are talking about who sits on the throne of the baseball world right now—the "first place" team in terms of momentum, roster strength, and the weight of the gold on their fingers—there is only one answer.
The Los Angeles Dodgers: First Place in the World
The Los Angeles Dodgers are the reigning, back-to-back World Series champions. They aren't just in first place in the National League West; they are in first place in the hierarchy of the sport. Last November, they took down the Toronto Blue Jays in a seven-game thriller that featured a Game 3 that lasted 18 innings and a Game 7 clincher where Yoshinobu Yamamoto slammed the door in the 11th.
Winning one title is hard. Repeating is nearly impossible in the modern era. The Dodgers became the first team to do it since the 1998-2000 New York Yankees. Honestly, it’s kinda gross how good they are. They finished the 2025 regular season with 93 wins—actually fewer than the Milwaukee Brewers (97) or the Philadelphia Phillies (96)—but they proved that "first place" in October is the only one that pays out.
Why the Dodgers Still Own the Top Spot
Most teams win a ring and then exhale. They might let a key reliever walk or play it safe with the budget. Not Andrew Friedman. This winter, the Dodgers went out and snagged Edwin Diaz from the New York Mets on a three-year, $69 million deal.
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Think about that. They already have Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman. Now, they have the best entrance music in baseball and a closer who can touch triple digits. They are essentially playing a video game with the "unlimited budget" cheat code turned on.
MLB Who Is in First Place in the 2026 Power Rankings?
While the official standings won't matter until April, the "Power Rankings" act as the surrogate leaderboards for the offseason. If you look at the mid-January projections, the MLB who is in first place conversation shifts slightly toward the north.
- Los Angeles Dodgers: The default #1. Until someone knocks them off the mountain, they stay there.
- Toronto Blue Jays: After losing the World Series in seven games, they didn't mope. They spent. They've already committed over $337 million this winter to guys like Dylan Cease and Japanese star Kazuma Okamoto.
- Seattle Mariners: Cal Raleigh hit 60 home runs last year. Read that again. Sixty. If their pitching stays healthy, they are the favorites to win the AL West again.
- New York Yankees: They have Aaron Judge. He hit 53 homers and posted a 10.1 WAR last year. They are always "in first" in the minds of their fans, but they’ve been quiet this winter, mostly retaining guys like Trent Grisham and Ryan Yarbrough.
The Toronto "Almost" Dynasty
It’s worth mentioning just how close Toronto came. They won 94 games last year, matching the Yankees for the best record in the American League. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was the ALCS MVP. They are essentially the "first place" team of the American League right now, even if the trophy is sitting in a case in California.
The Blue Jays are currently the most aggressive team in free agency. While the Dodgers are "in first" because of what they did, the Jays are "in first" for what they are trying to do in 2026. They are the clear frontrunners to land some of the remaining big fish, though losing Bo Bichette to the Mets (who just signed him to a three-year, $126 million deal) was a massive gut punch to the Toronto faithful.
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What Most Fans Get Wrong About "First Place"
When people search for MLB who is in first place, they usually look at the winning percentage. But in the 2025 season, the team with the best record didn't win the World Series. The Milwaukee Brewers finished with 97 wins. They were the "best" team for six months. Then they ran into the Dodger buzzsaw in the NLCS and got swept 4-0.
Total wins are a vanity metric. What matters is the "First Place" designation in your division, which earns you that precious bye. Last year, the Blue Jays, Yankees, Brewers, Phillies, Mariners, and Dodgers all took home division titles.
The 2025 Division Winners
- AL East: Toronto Blue Jays (94-68)
- AL Central: Cleveland Guardians (88-74)
- AL West: Seattle Mariners (90-72)
- NL East: Philadelphia Phillies (96-66)
- NL Central: Milwaukee Brewers (97-65)
- NL West: Los Angeles Dodgers (93-69)
If you're wondering why the records seem a bit "low" compared to the 105-win juggernauts of the past, it's basically because the league is more balanced than ever. Parity is real. Except for the Colorado Rockies, who lost 119 games last year. That is a lot of losing.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season
If you are trying to track who will be in first place when the 2026 season actually kicks off, keep your eyes on these three specific developments. This is where the pennants are won in January.
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Watch the "Tucker Sweepstakes"
Kyle Tucker is the consensus top player left in this free agent class. Wherever he signs, that team immediately moves into the top tier of World Series favorites. The Dodgers are reportedly in on him. If they get him, just hand them the 2026 trophy now.
The "Bichette Factor" in Queens
The New York Mets just made a massive splash by signing Bo Bichette. After a "moribund" start to the winter, this move puts the Mets back in the conversation for the NL East. Keep an eye on how this affects the Phillies, who were also rumored to be in on him.
Spring Training Reporting Dates
Pitchers and catchers report in about four weeks (mid-February). That is the first time we see the "real" standings take shape. Until then, "first place" is a matter of opinion, payroll, and who has the best social media highlight reels from their winter workouts.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, stop looking at the 2025 standings. Start looking at the 2026 projected WAR (Wins Above Replacement). Teams like the Blue Jays and Mariners are projected to have a massive leg up because of their young, power-hitting cores. The Dodgers are the kings, but the crown is heavy, and the rest of the league is catching up fast.