8 League-Winning Fantasy Baseball Veterans - Upside Draft Targets (2026)

March 12, 2026

Frank's league-winning fantasy baseball veterans, sleepers, and targets for the later rounds of 2026 drafts. These MLB veteran values have big fantasy upside.

We've already dived into league-winning hitters and pitchers, so now we're moving on to league-winning veterans for 2026 fantasy baseball leagues. These are either hitters or pitchers at advanced ages who can make a major impact on your championship hopes.

Last year, we saw George Springer smash expectations, so he'd be the benchmark in what we're looking for in terms of upside for a veteran player. One quick note: Mike Trout is not in this article because he's in my 10 league-winning hitters column, listed above.

We're going to focus on players aged 30 or older for this article. We'll use NFBC ADP as of February 10 for this article. So, without further ado, let's get right into it. Find out why I'm in on Mookie Betts, Seiya Suzuki, Eugenio Suarez, Christian Yelich, Zack Wheeler, Tyler Glasnow, Adolis Garcia, and Shane McClanahan.

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Mookie Betts, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers

NFBC ADP: 54.92 (Min: 32, Max: 79)

Mookie Betts 2025

Lost 20 pounds to illness in mid-March

1st half: .244/.315/.381, 35.2 PA/HR
2nd half: .279/.342/.442, 29.6 PA/HR

and he's three rounds cheaper than last year pic.twitter.com/gq57yFpIXe

— Jon Anderson (@JonPgh) February 19, 2026

Mookie Betts is coming off a disappointing season, where he slashed .258/.326/.406 with 20 home runs and eight stolen bases in 663 plate appearances. But we have to remember that Betts dealt with a severe stomach virus right before the season, which caused him to lose a lot of weight and start off slow. He was never able to truly get going.

Now entering his age-33 season, Betts is poised for a bounce-back. We can't underestimate Hall of Fame talent like this. Let's not forget that this is a player who is one year removed from a 140 wRC+ season. Last year was the worst of his career, but there's a long track record here.

Playing in a stacked Dodgers lineup, Betts should have plenty of opportunities to rack up counting stats. Don't be surprised to see 25+ homers, 10+ steals, and 180 combined runs+RBI with a strong batting average.

Seiya Suzuki, OF, Chicago Cubs

NFBC ADP: 90.17 (Min: 54, Max: 121)

Seiya Suzuki is one of the more underrated hitters in the game. The 31-year-old is coming off a rock-solid season, where he hit .245 with 32 homers, 103 RBI, and five steals. The low batting average is an outlier, as Suzuki hit .280+ in each of his previous two seasons.

We saw Suzuki reach a new career-high with a 16.6% barrel rate last year, which was a significant increase from 11.5% in the previous year.

The veteran has a home in the middle of the Cubs' order, so we could see another 30+ homer season with good counting stats, only this time with a better batting average. Last year, Suzuki's BABIP was at .282, which was a huge decrease from .370 in the year before. If that normalizes, you're likely looking at a .260 BA, which is a lot more tolerable than last year.

Eugenio Suarez, 3B, Cincinnati Reds

NFBC ADP: 94.21 (Min: 40, Max: 121)

Eugenio Suarez continues to be a bit underrated in drafts, even after homering 49 times last year. Part of the reason is that Suarez struggled once he was traded to the Mariners, but I blame that on one of the most pitcher-friendly parks in baseball.

Now back with the Reds, where he gets to hit at Great American Ball Park, an absolute bandbox, we could see Suarez hit 40+ homers once again. That would be especially huge because third base is such a thin position.

There's a chance that Suarez falls in your draft due to batting average concerns, making him even more of a value.

Christian Yelich, OF, Milwaukee Brewers

NFBC ADP: 123.93 (Min: 78, Max: 161)

Christian Yelich is a veteran who is often overlooked in drafts, despite a strong 2025 season in which he hit .264 with 29 homers and 16 steals. Part of that is due to his age, as he's entering his age-34 season. But, more importantly, it's because he's only eligible at UT in NFBC leagues right now.

However, there's a good chance Yelich will continue to play outfield at times, so the eligibility should return in short order. Take advantage of the buying opportunity from your league mates refusing to take a player with a strong track record just because "they don't want to clog up their UT spot."

Yelich still hits the ball hard, putting up a 10.3% barrel rate last year, which was his highest since 2020.

Zack Wheeler, SP, Philadelphia Phillies

NFBC ADP: 129.38 (Min: 99, Max: 199)

Zack Wheeler says he felt "good" and "smooth" after his first time on a mound this spring. 👏 pic.twitter.com/MWaYRBNu1o

— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) February 27, 2026

Zack Wheeler has been one of the best free agent signings of all time. He's been superb with the Phillies, and last year was no different, where he registered a 2.71 ERA and 0.94 WHIP with a 33.3% strikeout rate and 5.6% walk rate in 149 2/3 innings.

The advanced metrics also looked fantastic, including a 2.73 SIERA, the highest of his career.

The problem is that Wheeler is coming back from thoracic outlet syndrome, prematurely ending his season last year. We don't know if he'll return to form, so that uncertainty keeps his price low. But recent reports suggest that Wheeler will be back in April, so you should buy in because if he's back to normal, he'll return league-winning value at this price.

Tyler Glasnow, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers

NFBC ADP: 129.78 (Min: 85, Max: 220)

Tyler Glasnow misses time due to injury every single season, which is why the fantasy community is fed up with him, resulting in a discount at 129.78 ADP. But with Blake Snell (shoulder) starting the year on the injured list, perhaps the Dodgers will need Glasnow more. You also have to think he's a bit more motivated this year after being the subject of trade rumors at times during the offseason.

Glasnow is only one year removed from a season where he put up a 3.49 ERA and 1.10 WHIP with 168 strikeouts in 134 innings. If he can get to 140+ innings (a career-high), you're likely getting great value here.

This isn't a question of skill, only health. That's the type of gamble that I like to make, especially on a pitcher playing for the clear-cut best team in MLB.

Adolis Garcia, OF, Philadelphia Phillies

NFBC ADP: 218.05 (Min: 156, Max: 264)

I came into the offseason without any interest in Adolis Garcia, especially since he hit .227 with 19 homers and 13 steals in 547 plate appearances last year. However, I absolutely love the landing spot with the Phillies.

Garcia gets to go from a pitcher's park in Texas to a hitter-friendly environment in Philadelphia. There's a good chance that the veteran will hit in the heart of the order, behind Trea Turner and Bryce Harper, putting him in a terrific position to rack up RBI.

Projections systems love him, with ATC having him down for 24 homers and 11 steals. That's the type of upside that you want to target outside the top-200 ADP.

Shane McClanahan, SP, Tampa Bay Rays

NFBC ADP: 222.36 (Min: 175, Max: 321)

Shane McClanahan is finally ready to return to action after a lengthy absence due to Tommy John surgery as well as a nerve injury. Reports out of camp have been positive, and you have to like that the Rays are returning to Tropicana Field, which is a pitcher-friendly environment.

I know, McClanahan has been gone for a while, but don't forget what he did when we last saw him healthy in 2023, when he posted a 3.29 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 115 innings.

It wouldn't shock me to see McClanahan come back and give us 130 innings of excellent ratios. With a price tag outside the top-200, that's exactly the type of upside that you want to target.

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