The Complete Franchise Guide to MLB The Show 26

Franchise Mode is taking center stage this year, and everything we've seen so far suggests that MLB The Show 26 is preparing its most ambitious overhaul in years. From a completely redesigned user interface to what appears to be a massive trade system revamp, this year's focus is clear: deeper immersion, smarter roster management, and a more dynamic league ecosystem.

If you're someone who lives for 162-game grinds, deadline drama, and long-term rebuilds, this guide will walk you through everything revealed so far — and what it likely means for your next franchise save.

A Completely Reimagined Franchise UI

The first and most immediately noticeable change is the brand-new menu layout. In early screenshots — including one featuring the Boston Red Sox — we can see a drastically redesigned interface centered around:

Front Office Manager

League

Tasks

Win Totals and Projections

This isn't just a cosmetic change. The presence of these categories suggests a structural shift in how Franchise Mode is organized.

Front Office Manager

This likely consolidates roster control, financial management, and organizational decisions into a more cohesive hub. Instead of bouncing between scattered menus, the game appears to be grouping key executive functions together.

League Section

Expect this area to provide a broader MLB-wide perspective: standings, league news, farm systems, trends, and potentially expanded statistical tracking.

Tasks: A Return to GM Goals?

The "Tasks" tab is especially intriguing. Long-time players may remember older GM goal systems, where ownership set seasonal objectives. The new Tasks system could be:

A modernized goal-tracking feature

Story-driven objectives

Dynamic season challenges

Or even narrative-based front office missions

If Tasks connect to storylines (which we'll discuss later), Franchise Mode may feel more alive than ever.

Projected Wins and Season Expectations

One of the subtle but fascinating additions is the visible projected win total. In one screenshot, the Red Sox are projected to win 97 games — presumably enough for a division title. In another, the St. Louis Cardinals are projected for 66 wins.

This is a significant evolution.

Instead of simply reacting to standings, you now have a benchmark:

Are you outperforming expectations?

Are you underachieving?

How does your team's projection shift after a trade?

Projected wins could influence:

Trade market behavior

Owner expectations

Market dynamics

Player morale

It adds context to your season beyond wins and losses.

The Trade Hub Overhaul: The Biggest Change Yet

If there's one feature clearly positioned as the headline improvement, it's the new Trade Hub system.

After major improvements to free agency and scouting in previous iterations, trades were the next logical evolution — and it appears San Diego Studio has gone all-in.

Trade Hub Structure

The new system includes:

Trade Overviews

Rumors

Team Trade Blocks

Untouchables

Trade Targets

Positional Needs

League-Wide Blocks

This suggests trades are no longer isolated, one-off negotiations. Instead, you're operating inside a living marketplace.

Locked Players and Untouchables

Multiple screenshots show star players marked with a lock icon — including names like Gunnar Henderson and Garrett Crochet (seen in preview footage).

While we won't speculate too deeply, this likely indicates:

No-trade clauses

Untouchable designations

Long-term contract protections

Team-imposed restrictions

In another screen, we explicitly see an "Untouchable" category for the Cardinals.

This is huge.

For years, CPU teams could feel too willing to part with cornerstone players. By adding locked or untouchable status:

Franchise realism improves dramatically

Rebuilds become more challenging

Star acquisition becomes rarer and more meaningful

Trade Rumors and Market Gossip

The Trade Hub includes live rumor feeds, such as:

Teams looking to upgrade specific positions

Clubs shopping certain players

Buyer vs. seller dynamics

This transforms trades from simple roster swaps into strategic timing decisions.

If several teams are bidding for third basemen, prices may inflate.

If many teams are selling, buyers gain leverage.

Dynamic Market Segments

One of the most exciting additions is the concept of market conditions.

In one screenshot, we see:

Market Segment: Neutral Market — Trade price remains stable with an average number of teams looking to sell.

This implies the market can fluctuate.

Imagine scenarios like:

Deadline frenzy inflating prices

Contender-heavy leagues creating bidding wars

Rebuilding cycles lowering market value

Position scarcity raising demand

This creates something Franchise Mode has lacked for years: economic realism.

Budget Impact Transparency

The Trade Hub also clearly displays budget impact — showing how much payroll relief you gain or absorb in a deal.

That matters because:

Large-market vs. small-market strategy becomes meaningful

Dumping contracts becomes viable

Rebuild timelines become financially strategic

Salary management may finally feel like a real front office simulation.

Expanded Trade Construction?

Currently, screenshots show three-player trade structures — but there are hints that four-player trades might be possible.

If expanded, that would allow:

Multi-prospect packages

Salary balancing deals

Complex contender swaps

Blockbuster deadline megadeals

Even if three-player limits remain, the added systems around them make trades far deeper.

ABS System in Franchise

Because Franchise is offline-compatible, the new ABS (Automated Balls and Strikes) challenge system will be available.

This adds:

Umpire realism adjustments

Strategic challenges

Late-game tension shifts

While subtle, this further bridges gameplay authenticity with front office simulation.

Presentation Upgrades: Storylines and Game Context

Franchise Mode isn't just about menus — it's about immersion.

Game Storylines

New "Game Storylines" screens appear before matchups, highlighting:

Player hot streaks

Matchup narratives

Seasonal milestones

Rivalries

Special calendar events (Mother's Day, etc.)

There is even a "Select Storyline" option — implying you may be able to focus the broadcast presentation on certain narratives.

That's massive for immersion.

Instead of generic pregame screens, you'll get curated context.

Sunday Night Showcase & Game of the Week

Screenshots referencing a Sunday Night Showcase featuring the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers suggest nationally featured games may now carry unique presentation elements.

That means:

Enhanced commentary

Broadcast-style graphics

Spotlight energy

League-wide attention

For long franchise saves, this prevents repetition fatigue.

Farm Reports & League News

Farm system updates are returning, giving you:

Prospect tracking

Minor league progression

Organizational depth analysis

Combined with trade rumors, this paints a more interconnected MLB ecosystem.

Pitching Management and Energy Visibility

Screenshots also show deeper visibility into pitcher energy and readiness. This suggests:

Smarter rotation decisions

Fatigue management emphasis

Strategic bullpen deployment

In long simulations, these subtle management layers separate good GMs from great ones.

What Still Needs Improvement?

While trades appear to be the centerpiece, there are still areas that could see refinement:

Contract Structure Flexibility

Many fans hope for:

Front-loaded deals

Back-loaded deals

Player options

Opt-outs

Star incentives

Modern MLB contracts are complex. If Franchise Mode expands contract customization, realism would skyrocket.

Free Agency Fine-Tuning

While previous versions improved signing logic, further refinements could include:

Competing offers visibility

Market leverage swings

Player personality traits affecting negotiations

The Big Question: Online Franchise?

Despite community demand, there is no strong indication that online franchise mode will return this year.

While disappointing for some, the focus appears to be on making offline Franchise Mode elite.

Given the scope of changes, that may be the right call — at least for now.

What This Means for Different Franchise Players

Rebuilders

More realistic trade difficulty

True prospect value inflation

Strategic contract dumping

Market timing advantages

Contenders

Deadline bidding wars

Salary balancing moves

Storyline-heavy playoff pushes

National broadcast immersion

Simulation-Heavy Players

Projected win comparisons

Dynamic market behavior

Farm system tracking

League narrative evolution

Final Thoughts: A True Front Office Experience

Everything shown so far suggests that MLB The Show 26 Franchise Mode is evolving from a roster sandbox into a living baseball economy.

The key pillars appear to be:

Complete UI redesign

Projected performance metrics

Massive Trade Hub overhaul

Dynamic market conditions

Locked/untouchable realism

Enhanced presentation storytelling

ABS integration

League-wide rumor systems

If these systems work together seamlessly, this could be the most immersive Franchise Mode the series has ever delivered.

The real test will be how dynamic the trade market truly feels over multiple seasons. If projections shift realistically, markets fluctuate organically, and locked players behave authentically, Franchise Mode could finally reach the level of depth fans have been asking for. Players must accumulate enough MLB The Show 26 Stubs to cope with changes in the gaming market.

For now, one thing is clear:

Franchise is no longer a side feature.

In MLB The Show 26, it's the headline act.

MMOexp MLB 26 Team