This question was posed to us in Tuesday’s CHGO Cubs podcast and it ended in a pretty spirited discussion.

Where do the Cubs rank among MLB’s best organizations?

There are many factors to consider with this question and there is no one, singular way to come to an answer.

So here is my ranking of the best teams in MLB right now, with a heavy emphasis on looking forward to the next few years as well as the recent past. In other words, if you were choosing an MLB team right now to be a fan of, this is how I would rank them.

Another way to look at it: How confident am I in success for this franchise moving forward? Call it “hope factor.”

In compiling these rankings, I came up with my own system. I looked at each team’s core (players under contract for 2027 and beyond) as well as the farm system (including the most recent rankings from MLB.com). I also created a sort of catch-all category which I labeled as “Confidence” and sums up my overall view of each organization in terms of recent success, belief in the ability to put together a contending team in the next few years and the organization’s desire and willingness to put together a contender.

[MORE: 3 lessons Cubs can learn from MLB playoffs]

While farm system ranking is an important indicator of future success, it is certainly not everything. So think of the “Core” and “Confidence” categories as each carrying twice the weight of the “Farm System” category.

Let’s go team-by-team with the rationale behind each ranking (starting from the bottom). You will see a number next to each category — that is assigned to give a simple idea of how I feel about the team, with 1 being the lowest mark and 10 serving as the highest.

30. Colorado Rockies

Core: 2
Confidence: 2
Farm system: 7 (Ranked 16th by MLB.com)

If we’re talking about the near future, what hope is there that the Rockies will be anything but among the worst teams in baseball for at least the next several years? Does anybody really see this team becoming a contender anytime between 2027 and 2030?

If we’re talking about recent success … well, there is none. The Rockies haven’t even been to the playoffs in nearly a decade (their last postseason appearance included a win over the Cubs in the 2018 Wild Card Game before being swept by the Brewers in the NLDS.

29. Cincinnati Reds

Core: 6
Confidence: 2
Farm system: 5 (Ranked 23rd by MLB.com)

The core is solid, led by Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart. But the Reds have had a solid-to-strong core for the last half-decade and what do they have to show for it? A pair of playoff appearances since 2013 — and they were swept in the Wild Card Series in both.

The Reds haven’t won more than 83 games in a season since that 2013 campaign and what level of confidence does anybody have that they will change that narrative anytime soon? The farm system is in the bottom quarter of the league and they haven’t shown a willingness to spend big on the roster or even make aggressive trades that pan out.

28. Los Angeles Angels

Core: 3
Confidence: 3
Farm system: 6 (Ranked 17th by MLB.com)

If you took Mike Trout off this roster, the Angels would be contending with the Rockies for last place in these rankings. Trout may no longer be one of the game’s elite players, but he is still productive and will certainly be a Hall of Famer when his career ends.

It’s a decent farm system that has been getting better of late, but there really isn’t much hope for the future in Anaheim.

27. Miami Marlins

Core: 6
Confidence: 3
Farm system: 8 (Ranked 10th by MLB.com)

They have a bunch of players under contract for the next few years, led by Otto Lopez, Eury Perez and Kyle Stowers. But will this organization keep their quality talent and add more? I have little faith of that given how they have operated the last couple decades.

26. Baltimore Orioles

Core: 4
Confidence: 4
Farm system: 9 (Ranked 7th by MLB.com)

That vaunted Orioles core of young players has not led to much (back-to-back postseason appearances in 2023-24 but led to zero playoff wins) and now it appears as if their time has come to an end.

Gunnar Henderson is only under team control for two more years — will the Orioles be able to capitalize on that and put a winner on the field in that time? Seems doubtful, even with a strong farm system.

25. Detroit Tigers

Core: 4
Confidence: 4
Farm system: 9 (Ranked 8th by MLB.com)

The Tigers can lean on recent success, taking the ALDS to five games in each of the 2024 and 2025 postseasons. But they couldn’t put together a deep run and now it seems as if their time has passed.

Tarik Skubal is gone and the team owes a bunch of money to Framber Valdez and Javier Baez in 2027 (both deals that have not turned out well to date). At least they have Kevin McGonigle inked to a long-term deal, but there is not much beyond that apart from a strong farm system (buoyed by the Skubal trade).

24. San Francisco Giants

Core: 5
Confidence: 5
Farm system: 9 (Ranked 5th by MLB.com)

I will give the Giants credit for trying and “going for it,” so to speak, in recent years. They have certainly spent the money in free agency or by taking on deals via trade and generally acting like a big-budget team. It’s just that the moves have not really worked out and now the core is aging and expensive.

They don’t have any recent success, finishing five straight seasons at .500 or below. And while there isn’t exactly hope for the near future, I’m curious to see how president of baseball operations Buster Posey handles the next few years.

23. Minnesota Twins

Core: 5
Confidence: 4
Farm system: 8 (Ranked 11th by MLB.com)

In theory, the Twins should be below the Giants, given I feel more confident about the Giants’ future. But the Twins have at least had some recent success, winning the division and making it a couple games shy of the ALCS in 2023.

But the franchise-altering sell-off in 2025 and a Byron Buxton-Pablo Lopez-Joe Ryan core that’s nearing its end has the Twins positioned for what could be some lean years coming up.

22. Houston Astros

Core: 3
Confidence: 5
Farm system: 3 (Ranked 29th by MLB.com)

The Astros and their fans have a lot of recent success to point to — including a World Series victory in 2022 and 2017. But 2026 marked the first full season since 2014 in which the Astros did not finish above .500 (even if they made the postseason) and their future does not look bright.

I’m not necessarily counting the Astros out given they still boast the AL MVP (Yordan Alvarez) and an ace in Hunter Brown, but they have a lot of holes to fill on their 2027 roster and the rest of their core is aging. Couple that with one of the worst farm systems in the game and it’s not exactly a bright future.

21. Texas Rangers

Core: 5
Confidence: 5
Farm system: 6 (Ranked 20th by MLB.com)

The Rangers do have some recent success, winning the World Series in 2023. But that’s the only good in the last decade. In the other nine seasons since 2016, the Rangers have not finished above .500 and have averaged nearly 22 games out of first place in the AL West in those campaigns.

They have spent recently, but the core is now old and expensive and there are question marks all over the roster.

20. Athletics

Core: 6
Confidence: 4
Farm system: 7 (Ranked 14th by MLB.com)

They haven’t finished above third in the division or made the playoffs since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and have historically sat near the bottom of the league in payroll. Will that change with the upcoming move to Vegas?

It could, but I need to see it to believe it. I do like the core that’s all under contract/team control led by Nick Kurtz and Shea Langeliers.

19. Pittsburgh Pirates

Core: 8
Confidence: 3
Farm system: 7 (Ranked 13th by MLB.com)

The Pirates are in the Cubs’ division, but it would be fun to see this franchise return to relevance and regular contention. I love the core that includes Konnor Griffin, Bryan Reynolds and a host of strong pitching options (Paul Skenes, Braxton Ashcraft, Bubba Chandler, Jared Jones, etc.).

If MLB does go to a salary cap, that would also mean a salary floor. Which would be good news for anybody hoping to see the Pirates potentially become a contender again because it will force them to spend on adding talent to the roster.

18. Arizona Diamondbacks

Core: 6
Confidence: 6
Farm system: 4 (Ranked 25th by MLB.com)

Any core headlined by Corbin Carroll and Geraldo Perdomo (both under team control through at least 2030) is a strong start. And the D-Backs just made it to the World Series in 2023. But outside of that season, it’s been a bunch of years of coming up short playing in the ultra-competitive NL West.

17. Kansas City Royals

Core: 6
Confidence: 5
Farm system: 6 (Ranked 19th by MLB.com)

Those 2014-15 seasons were fun weren’t they? Since then, the Royals have made the playoffs just once despite boasting one of the game’s best players in Bobby Witt Jr.

Witt is locked up long-term and could well finish his career in Kansas City. There are some other enticing pieces around him (Maikel Garcia, Jac Caglianone, Carter Jensen, Vinnie Pasquantino), but the sun is starting to set on Salvador Perez’s career and their rotation is filled with aging and injury-prone options.

However, they do play in arguably the game’s weakest division year-in and year-out. Will the Royals ownership/front office work to add the proper talent around Witt and make a run in the near future? It’s a legitimate question.

16. Toronto Blue Jays

Core: 6
Confidence: 6
Farm system: 5 (Ranked 22nd by MLB.com)

Admittedly, this ranking might be a bit too low on a team that came this close to winning the World Series in 2025. But they were also one of the league’s most disappointing squads in 2026.

I’d feel a lot better about the Blue Jays’ core and prospects for the future if their franchise player, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., didn’t just have a shockingly down season marred by viral quotes on his contract.

15. Washington Nationals

Core: 8
Confidence: 5
Farm system: 9 (Ranked 6th by MLB.com)

The Nationals haven’t even made the playoffs or won more than 77 games since the historic 2019 campaign. But they took a step forward to relevancy in 2026 and have a core of good, young position players led by James Wood.

The Nats are also finally out from under the Stephen Strasburg contract and has an extra $35 million available to spend on the roster. Could they be a dark horse to invest in pitching and potentially ascend into the contending squads in the near future?

14. St. Louis Cardinals

Core: 8
Confidence: 6
Farm system: 9 (Ranked 4th by MLB.com)

These aren’t your older brother’s Cardinals.

After 15 straight seasons of finishing over .500, the Cardinals have turned the trick just once over the last four campaigns. But there is reason for optimism and excitement with Jordan Walker breaking out and some other intriguing pieces around him on the roster, including presumptive Gold Glover and NL Rookie of the Year J.J. Wetherholt.

The Cardinals have a rich history and I do expect them to return to contention soon. The question is: When?

13. Chicago White Sox

Core: 7
Confidence: 7
Farm system: 7 (Ranked 15th by MLB.com)

This was one of the hardest teams to rank here. What fanbase had more fun in 2026 than the South Siders’ crew? The team arrived earlier than expected and was packed with a bunch of young players that were incredibly easy to root for.

Most of those players are under team control for years to come and the influx of talent under Chris Getz’s watch has been impressive so far. They still have a ways to go and I was uninspired by the lack of aggression at the trade deadline, but the White Sox also have the benefit of playing in a winnable division and have plenty of financial flexibility moving forward.

12. Boston Red Sox

Core: 7
Confidence: 7
Farm system: 5 (Ranked 24th by MLB.com)

It has been quite the drama-filled time in Boston in recent seasons between the Rafael Devers stuff and the team also parting ways with respected manager Alex Cora early in 2026. The season also ended on a sour note with a clear — and public — divide between the front office and the clubhouse.

But this is a big-market team that has mostly acted like it over the last couple decades and they have a strong core. After a run of disappointing seasons, there is motivation to be aggressive and “go for it.”

11. New York Mets

Core: 7
Confidence: 7
Farm system: 6 (Ranked 18th by MLB.com)

All of that money spent on the roster and basically nothing to show for it. The Mets might be the single most disappointing team in the last half-decade. But, I give them credit for at least acting like a big market team and trying to spend and win each and every season.

Maybe I’m putting too much stock into that given that the Mets have mostly given their fans reason to be frustrated — or worse, apathetic.

But this is a team that still has Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor, Nolan McLean and others with an owner willing to spend as much as anybody in the league. Would it really be so surprising to think the Mets contend for the next several years?

10. Atlanta Braves

Core: 8
Confidence: 8
Farm system: 5 (Ranked 21st by MLB.com)

Consider these next two more of a 9A/9B type of situation rather than the Braves at 10 and Phillies at 9. I think they’re both clear Top 10 organizations in baseball right now, moving forward and in the recent past.

The Braves hoisted the World Series trophy in 2021 and have won the division in seven of the last nine seasons. They have also done an excellent job of locking up their stars on contract extensions, though that core is getting a bit older. Even Ronald Acuña Jr. is about to turn 29. And their pitching is either Chris Sale (still elite, but about to turn 38) or injured.

I’m not sure what the future holds for the Braves. But the past has been excellent.

9. Philadelphia Phillies

Core: 8
Confidence: 8
Farm system: 4 (Ranked 26th by MLB.com)

I’m not sure what the future holds for the Phillies, either. The past has also been filled with a lot of winning, though unlike the Braves, they haven’t been able to get to the top of the mountain recently (their last championship came nearly 20 years ago).

This roster has enough talent to make one or two more legitimate runs at the World Series. But will they get the opportunity, or will the front office decide it’s time for a shakeup?

8. San Diego Padres

Core: 8
Confidence: 8
Farm system: 2 (Ranked 30th by MLB.com)

This farm system has been decimated by recent years of going all-in to try to put together a winner. The Padres have won 90 games for three straight seasons, though they only sniffed a World Series in 2022.

They may be losing some key pieces this winter, but they still have plenty of talent, a big-market payroll, a passionate fanbase and front office/ownership should have plenty of motivation to try to keep striving for the first World Series championship in franchise history.

7. Seattle Mariners

Core: 7
Confidence: 8
Farm system: 9 (Ranked 9th by MLB.com)

Maybe I have too much faith in a team that has never won it all and has only been in the playoffs twice since 2001. But 2025 was a magical season where the Mariners came just short of representing the AL in the World Series.

And I really like their ability to develop pitching. They have had a steady stream of quality arms arriving in Seattle in recent years and I think that will eventually serve them well alongside a strong farm system and a lineup anchored by Julio Rodriguez.

6. Cleveland Guardians

Core: 8
Confidence: 7
Farm system: 8 (Ranked 12th by MLB.com)

I swear I’m not trying to lump all the teams together who have either never won a World Series or have the longest active championship drought in MLB (the Guardians fit the latter mold).

The Guardians have been in the ALCS twice in the last three seasons and, like the Mariners, always seem to churn out strong arms. Jose Ramirez had a down year, but turned it on in the playoffs.

If they spend (which, like the Pirates, would be a distinct possibility if the salary floor becomes a thing), the Guardians could finally get over the hump.

5. New York Yankees

Core: 7
Confidence: 7
Farm system: 3 (Ranked 27th by MLB.com)

The Yankees are consistent winners — they last finished below .500 in a season in 1992. But they also haven’t won it all since 2009.

They’re consistently among the highest spenders in baseball and still have Aaron Judge and a bunch of other good players under contract. They just need to find a way to win the big one.

4. Chicago Cubs

Core: 9
Confidence: 8
Farm system: 3 (Ranked 28th by MLB.com)

That’s fine if you want to call this a homer pick.

There has certainly been plenty for the fanbase to be disappointed about in the decade since the curse-breaking championship a decade ago. But the Cubs have made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons and have finally started to act like a true big-market team again in recent years.

Jed Hoyer’s front office was aggressive in both the offseason and at the trade deadline to try to improve the team’s weaknesses. Not all of those moves worked out, of course. And it led to just a single playoff run scored this fall.

But the front office has also locked up the clear best player in baseball (Pete Crow-Armstrong) long-term as well as Gold Glove second baseman Nico Hoerner.

The biggest ding on the Cubs’ ranking is their inability to develop pitching throughout the organization. But they’ve spent big on arms (both financially and with prospects in trades) and could continue to do that until the pipeline catches up.

3. Los Angeles Dodgers

Core: 8
Confidence: 10
Farm system: 10 (Ranked 1st by MLB.com)

Maybe there is a bit too much recency bias in these Top 3 rankings. While the Dodgers have been a bonafide dynasty recently, there is a distinct possibility that dynasty has already come to an end.

The Dodgers have the best farm system in baseball and a clear desire to spend big to win right now. But a salary cap would drastically alter their habits — to the point where they very well may have to move players on their 2027 roster just to fit under the cap.

The core is getting up there in years, too, and is looking more human of late. Even Shohei Ohtani dealt with injuries and had a down season in 2026 and he will play much of next year at age 33. Freddie Freeman is a free agent after 2027 and a bunch of players are free agents this winter.

The past has been fantastic for the Dodgers. I’m slightly unsure of the future.

2. Tampa Bay Rays

Core: 8
Confidence: 10
Farm system: 10 (Ranked 2nd by MLB.com)

It’s almost not fair that the Top 3 organizations also have the Top 3 farm systems. But it’s a testament to all three of these teams finding a way to win in the present while keeping one eye on the future.

The Rays didn’t finish above .500 or make the playoffs in either 2024 or 2025, but they made the postseason five years in a row before that and they’re back on top now, searching for their first championship in team history.

They are one of the most well-run organizations up and down, constantly getting the most out of their roster despite a low payroll and a small market. The one tiny knock on them is (apart from never winning it all) is they have a bunch of players who are set to become free agents after the Fall Classic. Still, they have a core led by Junior Caminero.

Regardless of what their payroll is, there are very few teams I have more confidence in building a contender moving forward.

1. Milwaukee Brewers

Core: 10
Confidence: 10
Farm system: 10 (Ranked 3rd by MLB.com)

There was a true changing of the guard in the NLCS last week — not only did the Brewers take the crown from the Dodgers as the best team in the NL right now, I think they’re set up with arguably the best future in the league, too.

The Brewers have won four straight divisions and the Cubs (and the other NL Central teams) have their work cut out for them to try to overtake this Milwaukee team in future years. They simply maximize every corner of their organization and develop pitching better than anybody else in baseball.

Almost all of the important players on the roster are back for 2027 and many are under team control for multiple years. Jacob Misiorowski is the best pitcher in baseball, Jackson Chourio is an ascending superstar and Logan Henderson has put himself firmly on the map this fall. And all three are under team control through the 2031 season.

I also count Pat Murphy as part of the “core” and he’s clearly the best manager in the game, about to win his third straight NL Manager of the Year. They consistently do more with less on the entire roster and have one of the best farm systems in baseball to boot.

The only thing they’re missing is that elusive first World Series championship in franchise history. They’re set up for that this fall.