January 28, 2026
New York Mets manager
Carlos Mendoza suggested that infielder
Jorge Polanco could open the season as the team's primary cleanup hitter. When discussing his initial plans for the top of the New York Mets lineup with Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Mendoa noted that
Francisco Lindor would likely remain the leadoff hitter with
Juan Soto and
Bo Bichette sitting behind him as the No. 2 and No. 3 hitters. Polanco was then suggested as the primary cleanup hitter with second baseman
Marcus Semien listed as the No. 5 option. Mendoza noted that having two switch-hitters on the roster (Polanco and Lindor) gives him a lot of versatility when constructing lineups. Polanco is coming off a resurgent season in which he posted a .265/.326/.495 line with 30 doubles and 16 home runs. If he were to bat in the cleanup spot behind the three All-Stars, Polanco could surpass his previous career-high of 98 RBI, which he tallied back in 2021.
--Andy SmithSource: Jon Heyman
January 28, 2026
San Francisco Giants infielder
Casey Schmitt (wrist) was cleared to begin a hitting progression last week, according to Maria Guardado of MLB.com. Schmitt has been on the shelf since undergoing wrist surgery early in the offseason. The infielder noted that he hopes to be a full-go for spring training. Schmitt sustained this injury on June 25 but was able to play through it during the entire second half. Across 95 games, the former 49th overall pick held a .237/.305/.401 line with a .706 OPS. He hit 12 home runs and added 15 doubles. Under the hood, Schmitt generated a modest .328 xwOBA with a slightly higher .256 xBA. Managers should expect the 26-year-old to open the regular season serving as the team's primary second baseman.
--Andy SmithSource: Maria Guardado
January 27, 2026
Baltimore Orioles infielder
Jordan Westburg was an All-Star in his second MLB season in 2024, when he hit .264/.312/.481 with a .792 OPS and career-highs in home runs (18) and RBI (63) in 107 games played. Westburgh took a slight step back in 2025 and played in just 85 games. The 26-year-old former first-rounder in 2020 out of Mississippi State slashed .265/.313/.457 with a .770 OPS, 17 home runs, 41 RBI, and 59 runs scored for the O's. Most of the disappointment came in the form of injuries -- he missed six-plus weeks with a hamstring injury and a month with a right-ankle sprain. Westburg is probably only eligible at third base in most fantasy baseball leagues going into 2026, but his high contact rates and power stroke still give him upside in Baltimore if he can avoid injuries. If you wait at the position, Westburg is a decent low-end starting third baseman with the clear potential for 20-plus home runs over a full season.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
January 27, 2026
Tampa Bay Rays speedy outfielder
Chandler Simpson made his major-league debut in 2025 and didn't disappoint with his wheels, stealing 44 bases in 109 games. Simpson also hit an impressive .295 (122-for-414), but outside of his speed and high average, there was a lot to pick apart. The 25-year-old former second-rounder was caught stealing a league-high 12 times, had zero home runs, and only drove in 26 runs while hitting at the bottom of the batting order. Simpson's lack of power is a major drawback, and his subpar defense puts him at risk of losing playing time if he's not hitting and getting on base regularly. On the plus side, Simpson hit over .300 against both fastballs and breaking pitches in his first year in the big leagues. If you draft Simpson specifically for his speed, you'll need to get your power elsewhere. Heading into his sophomore season, RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 39 fantasy outfielder.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
January 27, 2026
Atlanta Braves second baseman
Ozzie Albies has been a disappointment for fantasy managers each of the last two years. He played in only 99 games in 2024 due to injury, but Albies was even worse in 2025 despite playing in 157 contests. The 29-year-old switch-hitting infielder slashed .240/.306/.365 with a career-worst .671 OPS, 16 home runs, 74 RBI, 74 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases in 667 plate appearances in his ninth year in the big leagues. It was one of Albies' worst seasons, and it ended on a sour note with a fractured hamate bone in his hand. There's reason for hope, though, as Albies reached the 30-homer mark in his previous two full seasons, and he should be fully recovered from his left-hand injury in time for Opening Day. Albies has dropped to No. 11 in RotoBaller's 2B rankings for 2026. Reasons to not be optimistic include his underwhelming hard-hit rate (30.7%), barrel rate (4.9%), and average exit velocity (87.5 mph) from last year.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
January 27, 2026
Houston Astros left-handed closer
Josh Hader (shoulder) was among the most dominant closers in baseball again in 2025, but he will carry more risk into 2026 after his season was cut short by a left-shoulder strain. The 31-year-old veteran southpaw said recently that he feels back to normal, but until we see that he's at full strength during spring training, Hader will carry extra risk in fantasy baseball. When he was on the mound last year, Hader was still dominant as ever, ranking fifth with a 29.1 K-BB percentage. Hader leaned heavily on his wipeout slider and produced an absurd 55.2% whiff rate with the pitch. The six-time All-Star had a nice 2.05 ERA and 0.85 WHIP with 28 saves, 76 strikeouts, and 16 walks in 52 2/3 innings. Hader's price tag on draft day might be a little deflated due to his shoulder injury, but if it proves to be a thing of the past, he could wind up being a massive value.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
January 27, 2026
In his first full season in the Bronx, New York Yankees second baseman
Jazz Chisholm Jr. earned his second career All-Star nod and finished the year by slashing .242/.332/.481 with an .813 OPS and career-highs in home runs (31) and RBI (80). He also had 31 stolen bases and a career-high 75 runs scored in 130 regular-season games. In what will be a contract year if he doesn't reach a long-term extension with the Bombers, the 27-year-old infielder could have another strong season in pinstripes. Chisholm's power/speed combination is rare for a player who qualifies at the keystone, and it helps mask some of his liabilities. The former Miami Marlins second baseman is streaky, has a lengthy injury history, and has struck out almost 28% of the time in his six-year big-league career. Fantasy managers are mostly comfortable with sacrificing some average at the 2B position for Chisholm's power/speed upside, especially with the short right-field porch at Yankee Stadium.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
January 27, 2026
Chicago Cubs outfielder
Seiya Suzuki had a career-worst .245 batting average in his fourth year in the big leagues with the Cubs in 2025, but he also set career-highs in home runs (32), RBI (103), and runs scored (75) while stealing five bases in a career-high 151 regular-season games. Suzuki's career-best numbers in homers and RBI were attributed to the fact that he pulled the ball more and put the ball in the air more often than in his previous three campaigns after coming over from Japan. The 31-year-old veteran's counting stats were also aided by the fact that he didn't go on the injured list for the first time in his MLB career. Reaching the 30-homer mark for a second straight season in a contract year is certainly attainable for Suzuki, and he should once again have plenty of chances to drive in runs in the middle of Chicago's batting order. Fantasy managers should consider Suzuki just inside the top-25 outfielders for 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
January 27, 2026
Houston Astros right-hander
Hunter Brown broke out as an All-Star in 2025 in his fourth year in the big leagues, going 12-9 with a 2.43 ERA (3.14 FIP), 1.02 WHIP, and 206:57 K:BB in 31 starts over 185 1/3 innings pitched. The 27-year-old was essentially Houston's ace. The former fifth-round selection out of Wayne State has come a long way since he had a 5.09 ERA and 1.36 WHIP in 155 2/3 innings in 2023 in his first year in the big leagues. Brown reached the illustrious 200-strikeout mark for the first time in his career, and opposing hitters batted a tick over .200 against him. Brown has the arsenal (six pitches) to keep batters off balance and continue to be successful in 2026, but fantasy managers shouldn't necessarily expect another ERA under 3.00. Keeping the ball in the yard was a big reason for his success last year, as he allowed just 0.8 home runs per nine innings. RotoBaller has Brown ranked as the No. 8 starting pitcher.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
January 27, 2026
Outfielder
Teoscar Hernandez has won the World Series in both of his seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was much better in his first year in Hollywood, slashing .272/.339/.501 with an .840 OPS, career-high 33 home runs, 99 RBI, 12 stolen bases, and 84 runs scored in 154 regular-season games. Last year in 134 regular-season games, Hernandez hit .247/.284/.454 with just a .738 OPS, 25 home runs, 89 RBI, 65 runs scored, and five steals. The 33-year-old Dominican outfielder had a career-best 24.6% strikeout rate, but also a career-worst 4.8% walk rate. His power was down in 2025, but Hernandez's batted-ball metrics weren't far off from his strong 2025 campaign with L.A. Fantasy managers should know that Hernandez has hit at least 20 homers in each of the last seven full seasons. Hitting in the middle of the best lineup in baseball gives Hernandez a pretty safe floor, while he has 30-homer, 100-RBI upside. RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 31 fantasy outfielder.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
January 27, 2026
Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter
Kyle Schwarber led the league and set a new career high with 56 home runs in 2025 in his fourth season with the Phils. He also had a league- and career-high 132 RBI while slashing .240/.365/.563 with a career-best .928 OPS, career-high 111 runs scored, and career-best 10 stolen bases in 162 games. The 32-year-old left-handed slugger is strictly a DH, though, and his high strikeout totals will ensure that his batting average will remain low. He finished last year third in walks (108), and he was the runner-up to
Shohei Ohtani in the National League MVP voting. Schwarber has had 100-plus RBI in each of the last three years. The fact that Schwarber re-signed with the Phillies is a huge plus for his fantasy outlook going into the 2026 campaign, where he'll remain an elite power threat and run producer. RotoBaller has Schwarber ranked as the No. 23 overall player.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
January 27, 2026
New York Yankees infielder
Marco Luciano has been designated for assignment by the organization on Tuesday. Luciano didn't even last a week on the team before getting kicked off the 40-man roster. The Yankees needed to make room for recently acquired pitcher Don Hamel, so Luciano was the odd man out. Since the end of the 2025 season, Luciano has been on the Giants, Pirates, Orioles, and Yankees. The 24-year-old is a former top prospect, but hasn't put it together at the MLB level. During parts of two seasons, Luciano is slashing .217/.286/.304 with three RBI in 41 games. He posted an ugly slash line in the minors last season, but blasted 23 home runs with 85 walks at Triple-A Sacramento. Luciano should hopefully land somewhere to at least compete for a spot during Spring Training.
--Andy WebbSource: New York Yankees
January 27, 2026
Right-handed power-hitting first baseman
Pete Alonso signed with the Baltimore Orioles in free agency on a five-year, $155 million contract. The New York Mets decided not to bring him back after a very successful 2025 season in Queens, in which he hit .272/.347/.524 with an .871 OPS, 38 home runs, a league-leading 41 doubles, 87 runs scored, and 126 RBI in 162 games played. The 31-year-old played in all 162 regular-season games for the second year in a row. While Camden Yards hasn't been the most hitter-friendly park in the American League East, we don't think Alonso will have any issues driving in plenty of runs in the middle of the O's lineup. In the last four regular seasons, only
Aaron Judge has driven in more runs than Alonso. The Polar Bear is ranked just inside the top-25 overall players by RotoBaller, and he's the No. 3 first baseman, behind only
Nick Kurtz and
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball Reference
January 27, 2026
The New York Yankees have reportedly expressed interest in re-signing free-agent first baseman
Paul Goldschmidt. It seems that the Bronx Bombers are open to a reunion with the veteran slugger. During his lone season in the Bronx, Goldschmidt slashed .274/.328/.403 with 10 home runs and 45 RBI in 146 games in 2025. The Yankees are seeking a platoon partner for
Ben Rice, so Goldschmidt does make sense for them. The power dropoff from Goldschmidt is concerning, as his 10 long balls are the third-fewest during his 15-year career. The 38-year-old still posted a solid slash line and is a viable option at first base. It would likely be a short, one-year deal, so it's unlikely to be a bad investment if the Yankees decide to go that route.
--Andy WebbSource: SNY
January 27, 2026
Seattle Mariners outfielder
Julio Rodriguez got off to another slow start in 2025 and was hitting just over .207 at the end of April, but the 25-year-old Dominican eventually figured things out, tying a career-high with 32 home runs while adding 95 RBI, 106 runs scored, and 30 stolen bases in a league-high 710 plate appearances over 160 regular-season games. The three-time All-Star and former American League Rookie of the Year has been a 20-homer, 20-steal player in all four of his big-league seasons, with two of them being 30-30 campaigns. He's the youngest player in MLB history with four 20-20 seasons. On top of J-Rod's strong 2025 season, he had a career-low 24.1% strikeout rate. There aren't many better power/speed options to target in the late-first, early-second round of fantasy baseball drafts than Rodriguez.
--Keith HernandezSource: Baseball
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