MLB Betting News This Month | Brewers Are NOT 2027 World Series Odds Favorites | Biggest Offseason Storylines | October 29, 2026

For the first time in franchise history the Milwaukee Brewers are officially Major League Baseball’s World Series champions. But while they get to bask in their five-game victory over the Tampa Bay Rays, it’s time for us to look ahead.

You better believe the favorites to win the World Series in 2027 have already been released. And you also better believe we’re about to go through them.

More importantly, though, MLB’s offseason is coming. Between rumors of a lockout, drama in the land of the Los Angeles Dodgers and big-name free agents galore, there’s a lot to think about and break down. Which is exactly what we’re here to do.

But first, let’s have a look at who the top MLB betting sites have pegged as the most likely 2027 World Series Champions ahead of the offseason:

Questions galore await Major League Baseball and its teams as we gear up for the winter. We don’t necessarily know the answer to all of these inquiries and developments, but rest assured, they will go a long way towards defining next season, assuming there even is one.

Speaking of which, that’s where we will begin.

Will there even be an MLB season next year?

MLB owners and the players’ union are tasked with negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) this offseason. The previous negotiations led to a 99-day lockout in 2021–22, and this round could be just as contentious.

Plenty of sticking points already loom. Chief among them, though, is the salary cap.

Although MLB has luxury-tax tiers and penalties, it doesn’t actually have a fixed salary cap. Teams can technically spend however much they want so long as they’re willing to pay.

With the #WorldSeries over, baseball fans are left wondering when we’ll see the game again. It’s going to be a long winter, and the looming lockout is an unsettling reality.

But the impact of a lockout extends far beyond the field. Local businesses, stadium workers, restaurants, bars, and countless others who depend on baseball for their livelihoods will feel the consequences. The economies of all 30 #MLB cities stand to lose, too.

Baseball is more than a game. It’s a livelihood, a community, and a part of the fabric of so many cities. Here’s hoping those responsible remember what’s at stake and find a resolution before the damage extends beyond the diamond.

— Dusty Baker (@DustyBakerTV) October 29, 2026

Owners want to establish a salary cap in the new CBA. (They also want there to be a salary floor.) The players’ union is against it. They believe the salary cap will repress player salaries.

Other issues include the season’s length, roster limits, changes to the offseason calendar, playoff-bracket expansion, changes to the draft and more. But the salary-cap focus is strong enough that experts believe owners will dig in and shut down the league.

In fact, pretty much no one believes the next MLB season will start on time. Moreover, many are wondering whether there’ll be one at all.

How much money will Tarik Skubal get?

The Dodgers’ soon-to-be 30-year-old ace is set to enter unrestricted free agency this winter, at which time he’s also expected to have a bunch of suitors, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

Given how well Skubal pitched after returning from NanoScope surgery, he could set the record for guaranteed money received for a pitcher aged 30 or older. That mark is currently held by Stephen Strasburg, who signed a seven-year, $245 million deal with the Washington Nationals all the way back in 2019.

Best team fits for Tarik Skubal this offseason, per @JimBowdenGM:

New York Mets
Los Angeles Dodgers
Chicago White Sox

Contract prediction: “Anywhere from $350-$500 million depending on length of contract.” https://t.co/k4Vza9SuHX

— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) October 27, 2026

The next question, of course, is which team will be paying him that kind of money. The Dodgers would have been the default once upon a time. But their owner’s financial problems could, in theory, prevent the club from continuing their spend-whatever-it-takes ways.

As of now, the Dodgers, Chicago White Sox and New York Mets are all expected to be in the mix for his services.

What’s going on with Mark Walter and the Dodgers?

Facing an investigation from the U.S. Attorney’s office in Manhattan and the Securities and Exchange Commission, Dodgers owner Mark Walter has already started divesting his sports-investment portfolio.

The NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers were sold less than 18 months after he initially purchased them. He then offloaded his stake in the Premier League Club Chelsea. And a report from Bloomberg suggests the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks could be the next to go.

This has naturally led to questions about Walter’s commitment to the Dodgers. Amid all the speculation, he spoke with the California Post‘s Jack Harris and said he has no plans to sell the team:

Exclusive: Dodgers owner Mark Walter spoke to @californiapost about the speculation regarding a potential sale of the club

His answer was definitive

“We’re going to keep the team no matter what.”

More @capostsports:
https://t.co/QhPoixox3j

— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) October 28, 2026

Still, even if Walter plans to hang onto the Dodgers, they might curtail spending amid his financial, let’s say, oddities. Los Angeles is currently on the hook for nearly $385 million in player salaries and luxury taxes next season, according to Spotrac. And that’s without factoring in a new deal for Skubal.

Will more teams try to follow the Brewers’ World Series blueprint?

The Brewers just won a title while having one of MLB’s 10 cheapest payrolls. This is a formula a boatload of franchises will want to replicate. Not everyone can spend like the Dodgers, and even if they could, the potential implementation of a salary cap complicates that model.

Granted, the Brewers’ formula can’t be repeated overnight. Sure, the spirit of what they do might be translatable. The Brewers have eschewed power for on-base magnets, defense and low-mistake talent. This team committed just 72 errors during the 162-game regular season.

A MOMENT THAT WILL LIVE IN BASEBALL IMMORTALITY https://t.co/Mg7PXbPlJm

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) October 29, 2026

Checking those boxes without spending through the nose is a different story. Milwaukee cultivated its collection of talent over time, via shrewd trades, signings and draft selections. Developing the latter, in particular, takes time. The Brewers finished with a winning record in five consecutive seasons and made four straight playoff berths before getting over the hump. Not every franchise will have that kind of patience. They will turn over the roster rather than follow a gradual path.

Perhaps we see teams attempt to accelerate Milwaukee’s formula over the offseason. Or maybe we just see more clubs embrace gradual rebuilds, in which case this winter may feature gobs of cost-cutting trades. No matter what form the imitation takes, though, we can rest assured others will try to follow in Milwaukee’s footsteps.

Previous MLB betting news updates

• [October 16-29]: The Brewers become favorites to win the 2026 World Series
• [October 1-15]: Both the Dodgers and Yankees faced slumping progress reports entering the start of MLB postseason play.
• [September 1 – 30]: The Dodgers remained favorites to win the World Series overall, but the Yankees hung tough as the odds-on American League choice despite dealing with a bunch of injuries.
• [August 1–August 29]: Yordan Alvarez’s odds to lead MLB in home runs tumbled as Kyle Schwarber surged past him, but Alvarez’s AL MVP price shortened from -900 to -2000 as he remained firmly in the Triple Crown hunt.
• [July 2 – July 31]: Yordan Alvarez’s odds to lead MLB in home runs surged, and his MVP betting odds exploded right along with them.
• [May 23 – July 1]: The Los Angeles Angels have become a team to watch at the MLB trade deadline after firing their general manager.
• [May 15-22]: The Pittsburgh Pirates are the biggest surprise in baseball, but bookmakers aren’t yet placing stock in their rise. They remain +4500 to win the World Series.
• [April 15-22]: The Minnesota Twins moved into the top 15 of World Series betting odds, but experts are skeptical of whether they can stay there.
• [April 8-15]: Oddsmakers are starting to show distrust in the Seattle Mariners. They have seen their World Series odds ever so slightly start to shift after a shaky start, dipping from +1000 to +1100 this past week.
• [April 1-7]: Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is officially paying out less than even money to win NL MVP. If he stays healthy, it seems the NL’s MVP race may already be a wrap.