Happy New Year, HumBabe Dynasty General Managers! It’s January 2026, the keepers are starting to lock in, and momentum builds as we transition to Discord, readying ourselves for the 2026 Season. But before we get carried away, let’s take a moment to reflect on 2025 — a year that started with the LeBronto Blue James dominating the regular season and ended with Jackal Attack hoisting the championship trophy after an epic playoff run.

The Champion: Jackal Attack

Congratulations to the Jackal Attack, who stormed through the playoffs like a pack on the hunt! After finishing a strong 2nd in the regular season (16–4 record, .800 win percentage), they dispatched Coastal Splitters in the finals with a convincing performance (960.083–894.583). This squad was built for contention: elite balance across the board, timely acquisitions, and just enough luck to avoid the injury bug that plagued others. Standout players carried them — none more than Shohei Ohtani (936.5 FPts, 5.93 FP/G), the two-way phenom who was basically a cheat code all year. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (691 FPts) provided consistent power at first base, while Brice Turang (658 FPts) stole bases and locked down second with underrated efficiency (for those wondering… Bo Bichette finished the season with 633.5 FPts). In dynasty terms, this win cements Jackal as a powerhouse heading into 2026 — loaded with keepers and primed for a run at a repeat if they play their cards right.

Runner-up honors go to the Coastal Splitters, who made a deep run but couldn’t quite overcome the Jackal in the end. Still, what a turnaround story (more on that below).

Biggest Winners of 2025

1 — Jackal Attack — The Obvious #1

From playoff contender to champions. Their regular-season dominance translated perfectly to the postseason, and smart mid-season moves (like acquiring Edwin Díaz for saves help) paid massive dividends. Ohtani was the MVP, but don’t sleep on Guerrero’s clutch hitting or Turang’s speed — dynasty gold with a young core intact.

2 — Coastal Splitters — The Trade-Deadline Sorcerers

Finished 7th in the regular season (.600 win percentage) but caught absolute fire in the playoffs, knocking out heavy hitters to reach the finals. This was the league’s most active trader — Coastal was involved in a whopping 25 trade pieces (players + picks). Blockbusters like sending Gerrit Cole and Nick Castellanos to Eastside Bombers for Jordan Westburg, flipping Josue De Paula for Jazz Chisholm Jr. earlier, and the big-surprise, sending away Kevin Gausman for prospects Jackson Jobe and Jarlin Susana, lined this team up for the run they made. Key standouts: Juan Soto (897.5 FPts, 5.61 FP/G) mashed his way to near-MVP status, Kyle Schwarber (867.5 FPts) bombed homers left and right, and Corbin Carroll (752.5 FPts) brought elite speed and defense. Classic win-now mode that nearly delivered a ring. If they keep the contention window open, watch out in 2026.

3 — Pablo and the Secret Weapons — Quietly Elite

Tied for 3rd with a solid .700 record and strong category balance. They made key moves (e.g., acquiring Matt Olson for three young talents) while staying competitive. Aaron Judge (956 FPts, 6.29 FP/G) was the league’s top scorer, a monster at the plate; Julio Rodriguez (753 FPts) patrolled the outfield with flair; and Matt Olson (702 FPts) anchored first base. Underrated contender who could explode next year.

Honorable mention: LeBronto Blue James for the best regular season (18–2 record, .900 win percentage) even if the playoff bye didn’t lead to hardware. Their big three — Cal Raleigh (864 FPts, 5.43 FP/G) behind the plate, Geraldo Perdomo (807.5 FPts) at short, and Jose Ramirez (804 FPts) at third — dominated categories all year.

Biggest Losers (or “What Happened?” Awards)

1 — Galactic Crusaders — The Trade Machine That Stalled

The league’s trade kingpin (26 involvements!), wheeling and dealing stars like Justin Steele, CJ Abrams, Josh Hader, and Cole Ragans. But it translated to a disappointing 15th-place finish (3–17 record). Too much flipping disrupted chemistry? Or just bad luck with performances? Standouts like Tyler Soderstrom (610.5 FPts) and CJ Abrams (609.5 FPts) showed promise, and prospect Paul Skenes (598.33 FPts) flashed ace potential, but overall, the points didn’t add up. In dynasty, the prospect hauls could pay off long-term, but 2025 was a tough pill.

2 — Golden City Gatekeepers — Weekly Whiff

In our new Discord, you’ll find one General Manager who’s name populates in the #group-chat as a lovely shade of red — a role we’ll come to know as the “Weekly Whiff.” Defined as the team that scored the lowest point total in the prior week, the “Weekly Whiff” will reside on one General Manager for an entire off-season after a dead-last season finish. Our current “Weekly Whiff” crown-wearer: the Golden City Gatekeepers.

Despite being tied for the most trade activity outside the top duo (13 pieces), including sending Matt Olson away in a rebuild move, the Gatekeepers finished dead-last (2–18) in the league standings. Fernando Tatis Jr. (725.5 FPts, 4.68 FP/G) was a bright spot with his five-tool magic, Riley Greene (644.5 FPts) raked in the outfield, and Michael Busch (616.5 FPts) provided solid production at first — but the team lacked depth. Full teardown mode — expect them to rise in a few years with the youth incoming.

3 — Eastside Bombers & Lone Star Drillers — Late Sellers Who Missed

Both hovered in the middle/bottom and made deadline dumps (e.g., Eastside grabbing Cole), but finished 14th and 12th respectively. For Eastside, Manny Machado (680.5 FPts) was steady at third; Lone Star had Pete Alonso (759 FPts) mashing dingers. Too late to contend, too early to fully tank?

League-Wide Takeaways from 2025

• Trading Was King: This was one of the most active seasons ever — Coastal Splitters and Galactic Crusaders alone accounted for over 50 trade involvements. Big names like Gerrit Cole, Jazz Chisholm, Kevin Gausman, Matt Olson, Edwin Díaz, and Josh Hader all moved. Lesson: In dynasty, bold moves win championships… or set up future ones.
• Playoff Magic Matters: Regular-season beasts like LeBronto faltered early, while lower seeds (Coastal) went on Cinderella runs. Depth and hot streaks trump all in head-to-head.
• Standout Surprises: Beyond the stars, shoutouts to high FP/G gems like Garrett Crochet (23.09 FP/G for STRO) dominating as a starter, or Junior Caminero (4.74 FP/G for SQZ) emerging as a young stud.
• Rebuilds in Progress: Teams like Golden City, Galactic, and Florida Squeeze loaded up on prospects — 2026–2028 could see a power shift.
• Off-Season Outlook: With keepers looming and the free agent/rookie class looking deep, expect more fireworks. Who’s buying for another run? Who’s selling vets for picks?

Which trade looks best (or worst) in hindsight? Sound off in the Discord!

Here’s to a chaotic, trade-filled, championship-caliber 2026.

— Your HumBabe Chronicler