How do I set up my Franchise correctly at the start?

The first thing to decide is whether you want full control or a faster experience.

If you want to build a team long-term, you should take manual control of:

Trades

Free agency

Player development

Scouting

Lineups and rotations

Auto-management can work, but it often wastes money on older players and blocks your young talent from getting playing time.

At the start of a Franchise, check your roster and immediately identify:

Who is part of your long-term core

Who is replaceable

Who has trade value

Who is taking up payroll without producing

A lot of teams start with veterans on expensive contracts. You don’t have to get rid of them all, but you should know which ones are stopping you from rebuilding or extending younger players later.

What’s the best way to manage contracts without running out of money?

The easiest mistake is signing too many mid-level free agents. It feels safe, but it usually creates a payroll trap.

A better approach is to spend money in two places:

Elite players worth building around

Short-term gap fillers (1–2 year deals)

Avoid giving long contracts to average players in their 30s unless they are clearly producing at a high level. In Franchise, regression can hit quickly, and you don’t want dead salary clogging your budget.

The best contracts are usually:

Young stars you extend early

Veterans on short deals

Players you sign while their value is low

If you wait until a young player becomes an 88–92 overall star, the extension price goes up fast. Extending them when they’re still developing is often the best value.

How do I know which players to trade and which to keep?

Most good Franchise teams are built through smart trades, not just free agency. But you shouldn’t trade everyone.

A player is usually worth keeping if they are:

Under 30

Still improving

Playing a premium position (SP, SS, CF, C)

On a cheap contract for their overall

A player is usually worth trading if they are:

A veteran with a high salary

Blocking a top prospect

Near the end of their contract and unlikely to re-sign

A reliever with inflated value (common trade target)

Relievers are often the easiest place to save money. In most Franchise saves, you can rebuild an entire bullpen through cheap signings and call-ups. Paying big money for closers is rarely worth it unless you’re in a win-now season.

When trading, don’t just look at overall rating. Look at age, contract years left, and positional depth.

What positions should I prioritize when rebuilding a team?

If you’re rebuilding, focus on positions that are hardest to replace:

Starting pitching

Catcher

Shortstop

Center field

These positions tend to be expensive in free agency and harder to develop quickly. If you can lock down a good catcher or shortstop early, it stabilizes your roster for years.

First base and corner outfield are usually easier to fill with:

Power hitters in free agency

Trade targets

Random breakout prospects

That’s why many players build up the middle of the field first, then add offense later.

How do I actually develop prospects faster?

Prospect development in MLB The Show 26 isn’t magic. It mostly comes down to two things: playing time and performance.

If you stash a prospect in AA or AAA for too long, their growth often slows. At the same time, rushing them into the MLB before they can hit or pitch effectively can hurt their stats and momentum.

A practical approach is:

Let hitters reach AAA once they’re consistent

Call them up when they can hold their own, not when they’re perfect

Give them regular starts, not bench time

A common mistake is calling up a top prospect, then platooning them or batting them 8th with limited at-bats. If you call someone up, commit to giving them a real role.

Pitchers are similar. If a young starter is stuck as a long reliever, they may not develop as well. If you believe they’re part of your future rotation, put them in the rotation.

Also, don’t ignore defensive ratings. A prospect might not be a star hitter yet, but if they play strong defense at a key position, they can stay in your lineup and grow naturally.

Should I simulate games or play them? What works best for Franchise?

Most Franchise players do a mix, and that’s usually the best way.

A common method is:

Sim most regular season games

Play key series against rivals

Play playoff games

Play games where a prospect is debuting

Simulating saves time, but playing important games gives you control over development and standings. It also helps prevent the AI from misusing your bullpen or lineups in critical moments.

If you sim too much, you might notice odd stat lines or underperformance. That’s normal. The key is checking monthly to make sure:

Your best hitters aren’t buried in the lineup

Your rotation order makes sense

Your bullpen roles aren’t broken

Franchise mode rewards basic maintenance.

How do I build a lineup that performs well over a full season?

A lot of players stack their lineup by overall rating, but that’s not always the best method.

In practice, a better lineup usually has:

High on-base players at the top

Your best all-around hitter batting 2nd or 3rd

Power hitters in the 3–5 spots

Contact hitters and speed near the bottom

Also, pay attention to handedness. If your lineup is all right-handed, you’ll struggle against certain pitchers. Having at least two left-handed bats (or switch hitters) in the top half helps.

Defense matters too, especially in sim-heavy saves. A lineup full of bad defenders can quietly cost you wins, even if the offense looks good.

How do I handle free agency without wasting stubs or payroll?

Free agency is where Franchise saves get ruined. The biggest trap is signing too many players because they look like upgrades.

Before you sign anyone, ask:

Does this player block a prospect?

Is this player worth the contract length?

Can I get similar production from a cheaper player?

If you’re rebuilding, free agency should mostly be about short deals. Sign veterans for one year, then trade them at the deadline if they perform well.

If you’re contending, you can spend more, but it still helps to avoid long contracts unless the player is truly elite.

Some players also like to manage their resources carefully and look for deals outside the game, such as MLB The Show 26 stubs discount offers, but regardless of how you handle stubs, the best Franchise teams are still built by drafting well and making smart roster decisions.

How do I keep my team competitive for multiple seasons?

The most important thing is staying ahead of roster decline.

Teams usually fall apart because of:

Too many aging starters

No replacement prospects ready

Payroll tied up in declining players

To avoid that, you should always be building your “next version” of the team.

A good long-term Franchise strategy is:

Have 2–3 MLB-ready prospects in AAA at all times

Trade veterans before they lose value

Avoid paying for bullpen arms long-term

Extend your core players early if possible

Also, don’t overreact to one bad season. Sometimes a strong roster underperforms due to injuries or bad sim luck. Check underlying player ratings before blowing up your team.

What’s the smartest way to use the trade deadline?

The trade deadline is where you can gain the most value.

If you’re contending, trade for:

A reliable starting pitcher

A bullpen arm with strong attributes

A bat that fits your lineup needs

If you’re not contending, trade away:

Expiring contracts

Veterans having good seasons

Relievers with high trade value

A common player behavior is holding onto veterans too long because they’re familiar names. In Franchise, familiarity doesn’t win championships. Value management does.

If you can flip a 33-year-old starter for a 22-year-old prospect with upside, that’s usually the right move unless you’re in a title run.

What should I check regularly to avoid Franchise problems?

If you only do one thing consistently, make it this: check your roster once a month.

Look at:

Team stats and run differential

Injuries and fatigue

Prospect performance in AA/AAA

Contract years remaining

Players losing overall quickly

Small adjustments prevent big problems. If you wait until the offseason, you’re often forced into bad contracts or rushed trades.

Final thought: what actually wins in Franchise mode?

In MLB The Show 26 Franchise, winning teams usually have:

A strong rotation

A few reliable bullpen arms

Good defense up the middle

Young hitters on cheap contracts

Payroll flexibility

You don’t need a perfect roster. You need a roster that stays stable while constantly improving. If you manage contracts, keep prospects moving, and avoid long-term dead money, your Franchise team will stay competitive for years.