2026 Second Base Fantasy Baseball Rankings

December 31, 2025

Early second base (2B) fantasy baseball rankings, tiers for 5x5 mixed roto leagues (December updates). Nick Mariano's tiered 2B rankings for 2026 drafts.

At RotoBaller HQ, we continue our fantasy baseball rankings series and focus on second base today. Second base has many quality options, but the position lacks an elite fantasy producer, with Jazz Chisholm Jr. being the only 2B to crack the top 30 overall in our latest rankings. Find out where other key second basemen, such as Ketel Marte, Nico Hoerner, Jackson Holliday, Brice Turang, and others, are listed in our MLB teams' 2026 fantasy baseball second base rankings and tiers for 5x5 mixed roto leagues. These 2B rankings cover the top 30 second basemen for 2026.

There were several key news, transactions, and rumors about floating trades/signings this offseason involving second base. Marcus Semien was traded to the New York Mets while the Diamondbacks continue to shop around star second baseman Ketel Marte. Veteran Jeff McNeil was traded to the Athletics, while the Pirates, desperately looking to revamp their offense, acquired Brandon Lowe from the Tampa Bay Rays. How will these moves affect the second base position in 2026?

The second base rankings below are specifically designed for traditional 5x5 Roto Mixed Leagues, put together by RotoBaller's lead MLB forecaster Nick Mariano. We're also writing fresh articles all throughout the off-season for fantasy baseball prospects, fantasy baseball dynasty, and so much more. Win more in 2026!

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2026 Fantasy Baseball 2B Rankings (December)

Fantasy Baseball Second Base (2B) News

Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks

The New York Mets have been busy making moves this offseason, and that continued on Monday when they traded infielder/outfielder Jeff McNeil to the Athletics. The Mets are wasting no time looking for this replacement as they've reportedly explored trading for Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Ketel Marte, per MLB Insider Francys Romero.

The biggest problem with this move is that Marte would likely have to shift to the outfield in New York, since they have second base locked up after acquiring Marcus Semien earlier this offseason. Marte would likely take over in center field, which is a position he hasn't played in consistently since the 2021 campaign. The Mets seem to be fine with the downgrade in defense with Marte being an elite-level bat. This is nowhere near a done deal, but it will be something to monitor throughout the offseason.

Jeff McNeil, Athletics

New York Mets infielder/outfielder Jeff McNeil was traded to the Athletics on Monday, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. In exchange, the Mets will receive right-hander Yordan Rodriguez from the A's. The assumption is that McNeil will take over the starting second base job to begin the 2026 season. Last season, McNeil slashed .243/.335/.411 with 12 home runs and 54 RBI in 122 games with the Mets.

His numbers have fallen over the last few seasons, but McNeil is still a decent contributor. McNeil finished with a 2.0 WAR last season, so the A's will take that in exchange for a 17-year-old pitcher. The hope is that the move to a smaller stadium with the A's should boost his offensive numbers. The 33-year-old did undergo thoracic outlet surgery in November, but he's expected to be ready for spring training.

Brandon Lowe, Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired second baseman Brandon Lowe, left-hander Mason Montgomery, and outfielder Jake Mangum. In return, the Tampa Bay Rays received right-hander Anderson Brito and outfielder Jacob Melton. The Houston Astros acquired right-hander Mike Burrows. Lowe will give the Pirates some much-needed pop in their lineup. The 31-year-old hit 31 home runs last year with a .256/.307/.477 slashine, good for a 114 wRC+.

Montgomery projects as a serviceable middle reliever with nasty stuff, while Mangum should immediately rank among the Pirates' better defensive outfielders. The Rays add more upper-level prospect depth to their farm system in Brito and Melton. Meanwhile, the Astros acquire an up-and-coming right-hander in Burrows, who has less than a year of service time and still has an option remaining.

Jazz Chisholm Jr., New York Yankees

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said he views second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. as "currently part of the solution," but that the team will be "open-minded" when asked about a possible trade, per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. While it doesn't appear that the Yankees are actively shopping Chisholm Jr., it seems that the team may listen to the right offer. Across 531 plate appearances in the Bronx last season, Chisholm Jr. slashed .242/.332/.481 with 31 home runs, 80 RBI, 75 runs scored, and 31 stolen bases.

He will play the entire 2026 season, his final year under club control, at 28 years old. If the Yankees don't view Chisholm Jr. as part of their long-term plans, they could look to move on. However, a Chisholm Jr. trade would leave what is presumably a win-now team with a hole at second base. Depending on how the rest of New York's offseason progresses, Chisholm Jr. could be a name to monitor.

Jorge Polanco, New York Mets

Free-agent infielder Jorge Polanco has agreed to a two-year, $40 million deal with the New York Mets. According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, Polanco is expected to see time at first base and designated hitter in Queens. After losing Pete Alonso and Edwin Díaz to free agency and trading fan favorite Brandon Nimmo, the Mets have finally made a notable move to stabilize the roster.

Polanco, 32, is coming off a strong season with the Seattle Mariners in which he slashed .265/.326/.495 with 26 home runs, 78 RBI, 64 runs scored, six stolen bases, and a 132 wRC+ across 524 plate appearances. From a fantasy perspective, Polanco's multi-position eligibility enhances his value beyond his offensive production. With an ADP around 242, he profiles as a solid middle- or corner-infield option with some upside.

Marcus Semien, New York Mets

The Texas Rangers traded second baseman Marcus Semien to the New York Mets in exchange for outfielder Brandon Nimmo on Sunday evening. Semien has spent the past four seasons with the Rangers but is coming off his most disappointing campaign of his 13-year MLB season. In 2025, Semien posted a low .230/.305/.364 line with a .669 OPS, which was even a drop from the modest .699 OPS he held back in 2024. Last summer, the veteran infielder hit just 15 home runs, which was his lowest mark since the 2018 season (excluding the shortened 2020 campaign).

While he still ranked in the 92nd percentile in Range, he was a below-average hitter by several metrics, placing in the 42nd percentile in xwOBA (.318) and the 33rd percentile in xBA (.245). However, Semien should see an everyday role covering the keystone in New York. Despite his disappointing 2025 campaign, he could be primed to bounce back, batting near the top of a lineup that will feature Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor. Josh Smith will likely see most of the opportunities at second base in Texas next summer.

Brendan Donovan, St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals are not necessarily looking to trade infielder Brendan Donovan, but ESPN's Jeff Passan reports that the "market for him is percolating." Several teams see Donovan as an option at second base, third base, or left field. The 28-year-old left-handed hitter gives teams options, as he can hit leadoff or bat in the middle of the order because of his elite bat-to-ball skills and gap power. He has two years of club control left and is very affordable in arbitration before he reaches free agency.

The Cardinals are retooling under the new president of baseball operations, Chaim Bloom, and almost nobody on the roster is off limits. For fantasy purposes, outside of Donovan's excellent contact and on-base skills and positional versatility, he doesn't bring much intrigue. The Dodgers, Mariners, Yankees, Red Sox, Pirates, Giants, Royals, and Guardians are teams that could come calling for Donovan.

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