As the 2026 Major League Baseball season approaches, Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge, and Manny Machado are identified among players experiencing significant pressure, according to a recent survey of 36 current and former MLB executives, managers, coaches, and scouts. The survey, conducted by The Athletic’s Jayson Stark, highlights Harper and the Philadelphia Phillies as the group under the greatest expectations entering the season. The Phillies received 18 votes, followed by the New York Mets’ leadership with 13, Yankees players including Judge with 10, and Machado alongside the San Diego Padres with 8 votes.
Philadelphia Phillies’ Aging Core Amplifies Expectations
The spotlight on the Phillies centers on the age of their roster, especially among their star players. Last year, Philadelphia had the sixth-oldest starting lineup in the league, averaging 30.17 years. Over the offseason, the main change was replacing Nick Castellanos with Adolis Garcia, who is approaching 33. Several key contributors—Harper, Garcia, Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, and Taijuan Walker—are all older than 32. Despite steadily increasing their win totals every year since 2021, the Phillies’ postseason results have declined, with their best recent achievement being a World Series appearance in 2022. Since then, they lost in the NLCS in 2023 and were eliminated in the NLDS in both 2024 and 2025.
An executive noted the troubling trend, stating,
You hate to say they’re trending like the Tigers in Dave’s last year there,
referring to Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and his previous tenure with the Detroit Tigers,
But it feels more and more like it.
Yankees’ Legacy and Aaron Judge’s Role Increase the Yearly Pressure
Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees continue to face intense heat every season, largely fueled by the franchise’s historic success and demanding fan base. One executive explained,
I’m saying the Yankees, just because they’re on this list every year. They’re pretty much always the answer to this question, and they bring it on themselves. Those 27 (championship) flags will bring it out on you every time. It’s been so long since they won, that pretty soon, those Red Sox fans are going to start chanting, ‘2009,’ the way the Yankees fans used to chant, ‘1918,’ at them.
The Yankees are currently enduring a 16-year championship drought, which, although far shorter than the Red Sox’s 86 years, is still significant given the organization’s tradition. Despite Judge’s rare talent—he has recorded three 10-WAR seasons in the last four years, outpacing peers like Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani—the team’s performance has not fully capitalized on his ability. New York has made the playoffs eight times in nine years but only reached the World Series once, losing in five games to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024.
The team has made few major roster changes, re-signing Cody Bellinger to a five-year, $162.5 million deal but largely relying on recovering injured stars, including Gerrit Cole, who missed the entire 2025 season due to Tommy John surgery. Judge himself will turn 34 in April, and alongside 30-plus veterans such as Bellinger, Giancarlo Stanton, Cole (35), and Carlos Rodón (33), the Yankees’ core is aging, with several key players managing injury histories.
San Diego Padres Face Urgency With Machado and Front Office Moves
The Padres and Manny Machado also ranked high in the pressure assessments, with Machado and his teammates receiving eight votes, while the front office, led by general manager A.J. Preller, accounted for an additional 12 votes. One American League executive described the Padres’ situation, saying,
Big future commitments, top-heavy roster and lesser depth make the future now,
highlighting the urgency around the team’s current window for success.
Preller’s aggressive approach to transactions included trading promising prospect Leodalis De Vries last summer to acquire Mason Miller. This heavy trading has left limited top prospects within the organization; Ethan Salas and Jackson Merrill remain among the few from the previously top-rated list still with the Padres.
Although these moves helped the Padres reach the NLCS in 2022, the team has managed only one playoff series win over the past three seasons. Machado, while no longer considered a frontline MVP candidate, remains a valuable player, finishing 16th in NL MVP voting in consecutive years. However, his offensive production has declined, with sub-.800 OPS noted each season since 2023. Machado’s long-term contract through 2033 adds to the stakes for the Padres.
Pressure Reflects Broader Challenges as 2026 Season Unfolds
The pressure on Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge, Manny Machado, and their respective teams signals the high expectations that will shape the 2026 MLB season. The Phillies must reconcile the challenges that come with an aging star lineup against the backdrop of diminishing playoff success. The Yankees face the weight of legacy and the need to maximize Judge’s extraordinary talent amid an aging core and injury concerns. Meanwhile, the Padres look to balance bold front office decisions with the realities of a top-heavy roster and limited depth. How these teams and players manage this pressure may determine their immediate future and impact the league’s competitive landscape.
