Overview
- Seven teams were placed in Competitive Balance Round A and eight in Round B for 2026, with each round ordered by the 2025 standings.
- The Royals received a Round A selection currently projected near No. 30 overall, subject to changes from the lottery and compensatory additions.
- The Dec. 9 draft lottery will determine the top six picks for 15 eligible non‑playoff teams, while the Rockies, Nationals and Angels are ineligible under lottery rules.
- The Blue Jays, Dodgers, Mets, Phillies and Yankees exceeded the second competitive‑balance tax threshold, triggering 10‑spot drops for their first selections, with a Mets exception if they land a top‑six pick.
- Prospect‑promotion incentive picks for Atlanta (Drake Baldwin) and Houston (Hunter Brown) are already slotted in Round 1, and additional compensatory picks could be added if unsigned qualifying‑offer free agents sign elsewhere.