What happened: Major League Baseball entered its offseason market with positional evaluations underway across every spot on the diamond. Front offices have begun assessing market depth to address depth charts and roster turnover ahead of the 2027 season.

Why it matters: Positional tiers establish market benchmarks for payroll flexibility and luxury-tax planning throughout the winter. Early evaluations set organizational priorities before free-agent negotiations intensify across the league.

What to watch: Formal negotiations and contract agreements will accelerate as winter meetings approach.