Our 2026 MLB awards: The best, worst and weirdest from a wild season

Did anyone have the Toronto Blue Jays , who were 90 feet away from a World Series championship last year, sitting home for October on their bingo card?

If you were told the Seattle Mariners would be playing in perhaps the worst division in baseball history, you'd have predicted they'd have a playoff berth clinched in July, instead of becoming the biggest embarrassment in franchise history, right?

Oh, the 2026 regular-season was filled with plenty of surprises, a whole lot of disbelief, and proof that money doesn't buy happiness (we're talking about you again, New York Mets ); money isn't a requirement to build a power ( Milwaukee Brewers , and yes, the Tampa Bay Rays ); but money sure does cover up plenty of flaws (yep, you again, Los Angeles Dodgers ).