Predictions are risky business, and that\u2019s especially the case in baseball. The beauty of the sport is that nothing is truly certain in it.<\/p>\n
I mean, who can honestly say they predicted the Toronto Blue Jays<\/a> would make it to the World Series or that Cal Raleigh would lead MLB in home runs? Not me.\u00a0<\/p>\n For example, I correctly predicted Carlos Correa would be traded mid-season, only instead of him going to the Bronx, as I forecasted, the star infielder was dealt to Houston.\u00a0<\/p>\n With that said, I\u2019m hoping for better luck in this edition. Here\u2019s a look at my bold predictions for the 2026 campaign.\u00a0<\/p>\n Harper returns to ‘elite’ status<\/p>\n \u201cIn Bryce\u2019s case, of course, he’s still a quality player,\u201d Dombrowski told reporters. \u201cHe’s still an all-star-calibre player. He didn’t have an elite season like he has had in the past. I guess we only find out if he becomes elite (again) or he continues to be good.\u201d<\/p>\n Harper is entering his age-33 season and it\u2019s obviously unrealistic to expect him to be the same player he was in his 20s. So, in that sense, Dombrowski\u2019s comments aren\u2019t off base.\u00a0<\/p>\n However, proving doubters wrong is one of the best motivational tools for a competitive athlete such as Harper and there are reasons to believe the first baseman can turn in another dominant season.\u00a0<\/p>\n For one, as George Springer proved last year, it\u2019s not impossible for an aging hitter to find the fountain of youth thanks to modern advancements in coaching, training and video. Secondly, Harper\u2019s 2025 campaign, which saw him post an .844 OPS that was his lowest since 2016, was largely impacted by a nagging right wrist injury.<\/p>\n Injuries like that can severely hamper a hitter\u2019s production, yet with an off-season of healing, a dose of spite and another year batting behind Kyle Schwarber, I\u2019m betting Harper emphatically returns to form.\u00a0<\/p>\n Forget last year\u2019s ugly 76-86 finish. The Braves have made a bunch of shrewd moves this winter and will see a return to health from several key players, most notably Ronald Acuna Jr.\u00a0<\/p>\n By mid-season, the club will own the best record in the National League, ahead of the Dodgers and Phillies, and that will prompt general manager Alex Anthopoulos to go full 2015 trade deadline mode and shock the baseball world by acquiring Skubal in July.\u00a0<\/p>\n Skubal, a pending free agent, is a Scott Boras client and the left-hander is in line to receive the largest contract ever for a pitcher. The Tigers will be priced out and that means a trade is imminent because even if the club is contending by July, it simply can\u2019t afford to lose Skubal for nothing when he walks in free agency.<\/p>\n Santander leads Blue Jays in homers<\/p>\n Anthony Santander<\/a> was one of the Blue Jays\u2019 prized off-season additions, but his campaign was essentially doomed by a left shoulder injury that he suffered in May. The switch-hitting outfielder finally returned during the final week of the regular season, yet it was clear Santander just wasn\u2019t himself.<\/p>\n