The Milwaukee Brewers captured their first World Series championship in 2026, defeating the Tampa Bay Rays and becoming the fourth first-time winner in the last decade, joining the 2017 Houston Astros, 2019 Washington Nationals, and 2023 Texas Rangers. With the Brewers' drought broken, four franchises have yet to win a World Series: the Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, and Tampa Bay Rays. Here is an authoritative ranking of those teams based on their proximity to a first title.
4. Colorado Rockies
2026 record: 58-104 (5th in NL West). 2026 finish: Missed postseason. Pennants: 2007. The Rockies' new front office, led by president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta and general manager Josh Byrnes, represents a significant upgrade. Pitchers such as Chase Dollander (who underwent UCL surgery in June) reshaped their arsenals, signaling a move toward modern analytics. However, the organization lacks depth: only Dollander, Cole Carrigg, Hunter Goodman, Kyle Karros, and TJ Rumfield project as contender-caliber players. The farm system ranks middle of the pack, and Coors Field's altitude remains a competitive disadvantage for run prevention and player health. The Rockies are described as "two years away from being two years away" from contention.
3. San Diego Padres
2026 record: 91-71 (2nd in NL West). 2026 finish: Lost NLDS. Pennants: 1984, 1998. The Padres boast a young core of Jackson Merrill, Fernando Tatis Jr., and catcher Ethan Salas, plus Manny Machado's continued production and closer Mason Miller. The front office has found value additions like Ty France and Gavin Sheets, and new ownership signals willingness to spend. Conversely, large contracts for aging players (Machado, Xander Bogaerts, Jake Cronenworth) create downside risk. The rotation is thin with Michael King (opt out) and Nick Pivetta (club option) uncertain for 2027, and the farm system is depleted behind Salas. A World Series run in 2027 is possible but requires heavy pitching investment and good health.
2. Seattle Mariners
2026 record: 76-86 (3rd in AL West). 2026 finish: Missed postseason. Pennants: None. Seattle's homegrown rotation (Kade Anderson, Logan Gilbert, Emerson Hancock, George Kirby, Bryce Miller, Bryan Woo) and up-the-middle group (Colt Emerson, Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodríguez, Cole Young) form a near championship-caliber core. The AL West is considered baseball's weakest division, meaning an 87-win season could win the division comfortably. However, the core underperformed in 2026, and key players like Gilbert and Brendan Donovan approach free agency. Ownership has kept payroll in the middle of the pack, limiting pursuit of elite free agents. Despite a disappointing 2026, the Mariners could return to the postseason in 2027 with minimal changes.
1. Tampa Bay Rays
2026 record: 98-68 (1st in AL East). 2026 finish: Lost World Series. Pennants: 2008, 2020, 2026. The Rays feature a bona fide superstar in 23-year-old Junior Caminero, supported by Jonathan Aranda, Liam Hicks, Victor Mesa Jr., Chandler Simpson, and top prospect Theo Gillen. A new ballpark in Tampa is on the horizon. The organization consistently develops pitching and maintains a rich farm system. The primary constraint is payroll: even with new ownership, the Rays are unlikely to become top spenders, limiting margin for error. They also compete in a brutal AL East alongside the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and Toronto Blue Jays. Having reached the 2026 World Series and returning most key players (aside from free agents Nick Martinez and Freddy Peralta), the Rays are positioned to contend again next season.
