Padres Given Third-Best Chance To End Long World Series Drought In 2027

One of the most prominent storylines of the recently completed World Series was that with a pair of title-less franchises meeting - the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays - it was guaranteed that a new name would join the honor roll of MLB champions.

Now that the Brewers have gotten the proverbial monkey off their back with a five-game defeat of the Rays, which franchise that is suffering through a long-time championship drought might be next to capture that elusive title?

That's the question MLB.com's Will Leitch posed and answered on Saturday as he ranked which long-suffering teams - since MLB expanded to 30 teams in 1998 - he thought most likely to win a title in 2027.

The San Diego Padres, who are now one of four franchises to have never experienced World Series-winning glory, ranked high on Leitch's list as he gave them the third-best chance to spray champagne and lift the Commissioner's Trophy sometime next fall.

Of the Padres, who were arguably the Brewers' most difficult opponent to subdue this postseason, Leitch wrote: "The Padres should be loaded for bear with the same gaggle of veterans they trotted out there last year, and a new ownership group that’s eager to show the same commitment to winning Padres fans have gotten used to. It also helps that Fernando Tatis Jr. looks like an MVP candidate again. They’ll be a fun sleeper pick next year."

Indeed, while a 91-71 record, second-place finish in the NL West and defeat of the Chicago Cubs in an NL Wild Card Series were notable this year, it was the approval of new owners Jose E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones by MLB in August that added an extra jolt to the season and raised expectations for even greater success in 2027.

Of course, there are holes that need to be filled and patched, beginning on the pitching mound where the Padres may need to build an almost entirely new starting rotation, especially if they choose not to pick up Nick Pivetta's contract option and ace Michael King - he opted out of the final two years of his contract on Thursday - cannot be coaxed into a return.

The lineup will also have to be addressed with first baseman Ty France, coming off a career year, is also a free agent, with other unknowns concerning who will play leftfield and fill the designated hitter role needing satisfactory solutions.

So, while Leitch is high on the Padres' 2027 prospects, others are a little more circumspect, with one outlet ranking San Diego as MLB's 18th-best team heading into the offseason and only the 10th-best in the NL.

For the record, Leitch lists the recently vanquished Rays, who still have not won a title since debuting in 1998, as the most likely to snap their long title-less drought next season, with the Seattle Mariners, who are trophyless since joining MLB in 1977 (and the only current franchise that has never even played in a World Series), in the No. 2 spot.

Rounding out Leitch's top five are the Toronto Blue Jays (last WS: 1993) and the New York Mets (last WS: 1986).