2026 Shortstop Fantasy Baseball Rankings

December 22, 2025

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

It's never too early to get a jump on fantasy baseball prep. The shortstop position is usually deep, and that's the case again in 2026, with 14 shortstops ranked within the top 100. At RotoBaller HQ, we will be pumping out fantasy baseball content all offseason and are back with our MLB teams' 2026 fantasy baseball shortstop rankings and tiers for 5x5 mixed roto leagues. These December rankings cover the top 40 shortstops for 2026.

There were several key news, transactions, and rumors about floating trades/signings this offseason involving shortstops. Trevor Story opts in for his two remaining years on his contract with the Red Sox. Ha-Seong Kim signs a one-year, $20 million contract with the Braves while Bo Bichette remains a free agent. Reds star shortstop Elly De La Cruz played through a partially torn quad from late July onward. The Nationals are open to discussing a deal with teams regarding shortstop CJ Abrams. 

The shortstop 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 Shortstop Rankings (December)

Fantasy Baseball Shortstop (SS) News

Elly De La Cruz, Cincinnati Reds

In a media appearance on Wednesday night, Cincinnati Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall said that shortstop Elly De La Cruz (quad) played through a"partial torn quad" from late July onwards, per Doug Gray of Redleg Nation. Krall later attempted to clarify his statements by calling the injury "more nagging than serious," but Krall also said that De La Cruz has been "rehabbing this whole offseason."

It certainly sounds as though De La Cruz was playing through a significant leg injury for the final two-plus months of the 2025 season. Overall, De La Cruz slashed .264/.336/.440 with 22 home runs, 86 RBI, 102 runs scored, and 38 stolen bases across 699 plate appearances.

However, the 23-year-old hit just .221 with three home runs and eight stolen bases from August onwards. If De La Cruz can get fully healthy heading into the 2026 season, he could push closer towards the 67 stolen bases he racked up in 2024 than the 38 he collected in 2025. The health of De La Cruz's quad is something for fantasy managers to monitor over the course of the winter.

Bo Bichette, Free Agent

Free-agent shortstop Bo Bichette has been telling interested teams this offseason that he is willing to make the position switch from shortstop to second base, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Bichette hasn't been an excellent defender at the 6, but he showed in the World Series that he can play the keystone just fine after being forced to second base in the postseason due to a knee injury late in the season.

Feinsand mentions the San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners, and even the Toronto Blue Jays as teams with openings at the keystone. The 2025 season was a major bounce-back campaign for Bichette in his walk year, as he hit .311 with 63 extra-base hits, 94 RBI, 78 runs, 281 total bases, and an .840 OPS in 13 regular-season games for Toronto. Returning to Toronto is probably best for Bichette's fantasy outlook, but even if he departs, he has a high floor as a middle infielder, averaging 20 homers and 10 steals since he became a full-time starter.

Ha-Seong Kim, Atlanta Braves

Free-agent infielder Ha-Seong Kim re-signed with the Atlanta Braves on Monday night on a one-year, $20 million deal, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Kim started the 2025 season with the Tampa Bay Rays but didn't make his season debut until July 4 after recovering from shoulder surgery. The 30-year-old South Korean native played in only 24 games with Tampa before being cut, and he finished the year with the Braves.

Kim slashed a combined .234/.304/.345 with a .649 OPS, five home runs, 17 RBI, 19 runs scored, and six stolen bases in 191 plate appearances over 48 games played. He hit .253 with three homers and 12 RBI in 24 games in Atlanta, and he figures to see most of the playing time at short for the Braves going into next season. Kim's biggest draw in fantasy baseball is for his speed, as he swiped a combined 60 bases in 2023 and 2024. His reckless playing style makes him injury-prone, which we've seen firsthand the last two years.

Amed Rosario, New York Yankees

Free-agent infielder Amed Rosario and the New York Yankees agreed on a one-year, $2.5 million deal on Saturday, a source told Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. Rosario played in 46 games with the Washington Nationals in 2025 before getting traded to the Yankees. The veteran infielder only played in 16 regular-season games in the Bronx, though, going 10-for-33 (.303) with a home run and five RBI.

Rosario slashed .276/.309/.436 in 62 total games with six home runs, 23 RBI, and 20 runs scored as a utility infielder. The 30-year-old will continue to serve as a bench player for the Yankees in 2026, making him pretty useless in mixed redraft leagues. Rosario's greatest skills are his defensive versatility and his ability to make contact at the plate.

CJ Abrams, Washington Nationals

The Washington Nationals are getting pushed aggressively on shortstop CJ Abrams this offseason, people familiar with their talks told Will Sammon and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. According to league sources, the Nationals are open to talks on Abrams, but "the bar is high." The 25-year-old is attractive to teams around the league, given the lack of shortstops available on the open market.

He's expected to make $5.6 million next year with two more years of arbitration eligibility before becoming a free agent. Beyond Bo Bichette and Ha-Seong Kim, there is a significant drop-off in talent. Additionally, Abrams is coming off his best offensive season with a .748 OPS, 19 home runs, and 31 stolen bases. Regardless of where Abrams is playing in 2026, the young shortstop is one of the more attractive young power/speed options at the shortstop position for fantasy drafts next spring.

Anthony Volpe, New York Yankees

The New York Yankees don't expect shortstop Anthony Volpe (shoulder) to return in April of next season, according to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch. Volpe suffered a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder while diving for a ball on May 3, but he didn't have surgery on it until the middle of October after the team had been eliminated from the postseason. The 24-year-old is expected to be cleared to hit by February, but he won't be allowed to dive until around April.

Expect the Yankees to be cautious with their starting shortstop, so it's possible that we won't see him until mid to late May. Until he's ready, speedy infielder Jose Caballero is expected to see most of the playing time at the 6 in the Bronx. Volpe needed several cortisone shots throughout the year for his shoulder and hit just .204/.253/.374 after the injury. He's going to be much cheaper in fantasy drafts in 2026, and for good reason.

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