As spring training begins, I’m covering 11 position battles that will unfold over the next few weeks and will ultimately impact fantasy baseball draft rankings. Here’s an update on each fight, and as an added bonus I’ve included details on the closer fights currently taking place in Florida and Arizona.
[Draft your Yahoo Fantasy Baseball team for the 2026 MLB Season]
position player
Baltimore Orioles RF: Dylan Beavers vs. Tyler O’Neal
spring update: O’Neal got off to a hot start in spring training, slashing .636/.692/1.000 in 13 games before joining Team Canada for the World Baseball Classic. He didn’t make much of an impact in the global championships. The Beavers have been solid this spring, batting .241 with five extra-base hits, but also have a BB:K ratio of 1:9.
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judgment: I initially expected O’Neal’s contract to secure him a new opportunity, and I stand by that position. The Beavers will come into the lineup and will get some starts against right-handers. It won’t be a straight line, and I expect O’Neal to play as often as he did with the Beavers.
Tampa Bay Rays LF/RF: Chandler Simpson vs. Jake Fraley vs. Jonny DeLuca vs. Justin-Henry Malloy vs. Jacob Melton
spring update: So far this feels like a race to the bottom. Look at the OPS of Malloy (.601), Melton (.593), DeLuca (.760) and Simpson (.666). Fraley (1.241) is the best of the group despite having fewer chances.
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judgment: We’re destined for a pair of platoons, with Chandler and Fraley starting against right-handers, and DeLuca and Malloy (or Ryan Villard, who has no choice) starting against left-handers. Melton will start 3A play in 2026 but should become a full-time player by midseason. Simpson is the only draftable player in this group, and his value is limited to category leagues.
Pittsburgh Pirates SS: Nick Gonzalez vs. Connor Griffin
spring update: This fight mostly revolves around Griffin’s preparation. In his 33 spring at-bats, he’s had some highs (four homers) and lows (0:9 BB:K ratio, .212 average). Gonzalez only competed in six spring fights due to representing Mexico in the WBC.
judgment: Considering Griffin is only 19 years old and has yet to light up the Grapefruit League, he will likely start 2026 in Triple-A. The budding superstar likely won’t be there for long, and smart investors would bet on his debut before Memorial Day.
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Detroit Tigers SS: Kevin McGonigal vs. Zach McKinstry
spring update: McKinstry lived up to modest expectations this spring by collecting a few singles and en route to an .815 OBP. But McGonigal has always been Camp’s story. His .444 OBP and 8:6 BB:K ratio suggest he’s ready to occupy a quality spot in a Tigers lineup that could use another impact player.
judgment: The Tigers would be foolish to send McGonigal back to the minors. He should be ranked lower in the Opening Day lineup with an eye toward making him the leadoff hitter in late April. His current Yahoo ADP (206.2) is underrated
New York Mets LF: Carson Benge vs. Tyrone Taylor
spring update: While Benji has yet to hit a home run, his performance this spring has been impressive. He led the team in hits, batting .367 with only five strikeouts. Taylor also performed well (.292/.333/.667 slash line), although the spring results were less than convincing when analyzing the veteran. The spring performances of Cristian Pache (1.140 OPS), Mike Tauchman (1.101 OPS) and MJ Melendez (1.364 OPS) further muddied the waters.
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judgment: Benji is doing everything asked of him, but it’s not enough. It would be too easy for the Mets to start the season with a veteran package that would allow Benji to play full-time in Triple-A for a few months to start his season. I expect to see Benji in June.
Cincinnati Reds 1B/LF: Sal Stewart vs. JJ Brady vs. Spencer Steele
spring update: Stewart has been great this spring (1.100 OPS), and Bleday has been great too (.881 OPS). Steele, meanwhile, struggled, posting an OPS of .582 but neither hitting a home run nor stealing a base.
judgment: Stewart is locked into a full-time role and should be considered a top-15 first baseman in the 2026 draft. Brady, who hits left-handed, should start against right-handers, while Steele will start against left-handers and get some extra starts at other positions. Neither veteran can be drafted in a mixed league.
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rotation battle
Boston Red Sox SP5: John Oviedo vs. Connery Early vs. Peyton Tolle
spring update: Looking at the K:BB ratio, it seems to be a close battle so far between Oviedo (14:6), Early (9:3), and Tolle (8:1).
judgment: All three pitchers have options, but Oviedo is much older and more experienced than Early and Tol. Oviedo’s performances were enough to earn him a spot among the Challengers, who will start 2026 in the third division. Early is expected to generate significant value sometime this year.
Texas Rangers SP5: Jacob Ratz vs. Kumar Roark
spring update: Rocker had a great spring this year with a K:BB ratio of 8:1. Notably, one of his three games came as a reliever, while the less impressive Ratz (10-6) was exclusively a starter.
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judgment: If Lock continues his strong performance, the Rangers would be foolish to send him to the minors. After all, they’ve been waiting for him to break through for years. Ratz should head to the bullpen, where he can serve as a long reliever until a rotation spot becomes available.
New York Mets SP 3/4/5: Sean Manaea VS. David Peterson VS. Kodei Senga VS. Clay Holmes VS. Jonah Tong
spring update: While he could still be recalled, the fact that Tong has been drafted suggests he’s been ruled out. Here are the veteran results: Manaea (5:2 K:BB, 6.35 ERA), Holmes (13:3 K:BB, 2.84 ERA), Senga (7:0 K:BB, 3.18 ERA), Peterson (3:0 K:BB, 2.25 ERA).
judgment: None of the veterans have options, which means we’re heading toward one of two conclusions — a six-man rotation or a bullpen demotion. Keep an eye on Manaea – his velocity has dropped off this spring, which could lead to a stint on the IL.
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Baltimore Orioles SP 4/5: Shane Baz vs. Zach Eflin vs. Dean Kremer
spring update: No one is taking these jobs. Baz has been wild (4 BB in 5.1 IP), Kramer has struggled (7.71 ERA, 2:4 K:BB ratio), and Eflin has barely pitched (two innings).
judgment: Baltimore seems destined for a six-man rotation as their ace staffer (Kyle Bradish) will manage his workload throughout the season. Baz is an interesting late-round passer in Standard, and Eflin fits the same bill in the 15-team league. Kramer is not draftable.
St. Louis Cardinals SP5: Kyle Leahy vs. Hunter Dobbins vs. Richard Fitts
spring update: The favorite for the final rotation spot, Leahy may pitch well enough this spring (14:4 K:BB) to maintain an advantage over Fitz, who has allowed six ERA in 9.1 innings. Dobbins, who is recovering from a torn ACL in his right knee, has yet to play in a spring training game but should be ready early in the season.
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judgment: Leahy has this spot locked down. He’s worth a late-round pick in a 15-team league and can be monitored through the 12-team waiver wire.
close combat
Milwaukee Brewers: Trevor Megill vs. Abner Uribe
spring update: Megill, who was hampered by injuries ending 2025, looked to be in good shape this spring. After all, he had a K:BB ratio of 8:1 in 3.2 innings. Uribe spent much of the spring pitching in the World Baseball Classic, but his results were inconsistent.
judgment: Megill has been the primary closer for most of 2025 and is currently the most popular. Two relievers could end up sharing ninth-inning duties, but if fantasy managers have a choice in the second half of the draft, Megill is the top choice.
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Tampa Bay Rays: Edwin Ucita vs. Griffin Jaquez
spring update: This fight was over before it even started, with Uceta sidelined with a shoulder injury. He may return to the ninth-inning picture at some point, but he’s already well behind Jaquez, who pitched well with the Rays (5:1 K:BB ratio) and was part of the World Baseball Classic.
judgment: Jaquez is the save favorite, but this is the Rays, which means we could see 3-4 relievers with at least one save by the end of April. Currently, it makes sense to expect Jax to have 20-25 saves.
St. Louis Cardinals: Riley O’Brien vs. Jojo Romero vs. Matt Swanson
spring update: O’Brien, a spring training favorite, was slowed by a minor calf injury and walked five batters in 3.2 Grapefruit League innings. Meanwhile, Swanson is building on the success of the 2025 season, achieving a 5:1 K:BB ratio on six spring frames. Veteran southpaw JoJo Romero has been neither impressive nor worrisome this spring (5:2 K:BB ratio).
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judgment: There’s a good chance Svensson will get the first opportunity and fill the role. But the more likely scenario remains that all three relievers get opportunities in the first month of the season.
Washington Nationals: Clayton Beet vs. Cole Henry
spring update: Beeter has been outstanding this spring (9:2 K:BB, 4.1 IP), while Henry hasn’t allowed more than 3.2 innings of runs but recorded a mediocre 4:3 K:BB ratio.
judgment: For deeper coaching, Bueter remains a reliever for the Nationals. But given the lack of recent experience and overall talent on the roster, this is something to avoid in head-to-head league play.
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Arizona Diamondbacks: Paul Sewald vs. Kevin Kinkel
spring update: Kinkel recorded a solid 4:1 K:BB ratio, but he also allowed hitters to get hit on him, which resulted in 11 hits and a 10.38 ERA in 4.1 innings. Sewald has been solid (4:0 K:BB, 3.60 ERA).
judgment: It is too early to declare a winner of this battle. My gut feeling is that one of the two veterans will serve in a closer role rather than a committee. If I had to make a deeper draft, I would take Sewald.
Minnesota Twins: Tyler Rodgers vs. Justin Topa vs. Cole Sands
spring update: Rodgers was solid, striking out seven batters while allowing two runs in 4.2 innings. Topa, meanwhile, has been struggling (22.09 ERA). Sands has been acceptable (6.00 ERA, 5:2 K:BB).
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judgment: With 83 career saves and a stellar spring season, Rodgers has emerged as the favorite for early-season save opportunities. Since Rodgers is left-handed, Sands should be the primary option when the right-hander is clearly needed in the ninth inning.
Los Angeles Angels: Robert Stephenson vs. Kirby Yates vs. Jordan Romano
spring update: Yates has been great this spring (4:1 K:BB ratio), and although he was the underdog in this fight, Romano kept his name alive through four scoreless innings. Stephenson, who has pitched just 10 innings over the past two seasons, was limited to bullpen sessions and was unable to be ready for Opening Day.
judgment: Yates is starting to emerge as the top option. He’s the only Angels reliever worthy of consideration in the standard Yahoo format.
