This morning before I finished writing this post, I went outside, cleaned up my car, and shoveled some snow. It’s winter here in the Midwest. My toes are cold and my head feels stuffy.
So the launch of Yahoo Fantasy Baseball couldn’t come at a better time. I could use some spring heat. You might be able to, too.
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[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Baseball league for the 2026 MLB season]
With games opening this week and our rankings about to be revealed, I thought now would be a good time to list some topics I’m excited about for 2026. Think of it as an appetizer for the new season, and a more comprehensive main course in the coming weeks.
chicago cubs lineup
Before I get into the fun, let me admit that as a Red Sox fan, the loss of Alex Bregman stings quite a bit. Bregman’s career closely matches that of Hall of Famer Adrian Beltre. Both players spent their age-31 seasons in Boston, returned to the All-Star Game after missing several years, and hit the market after having great seasons. Beltre headed to Texas after his Boston stop and had a great time in his 30s; Bregman hopes to do the same with the Cubs.
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Beltre’s first season at Texas (2011) sparked a World Series trip with an above-league-average offense with six regulars. The 2026 Cubs have similar dreams and may have a deeper offense than the Rangers. Nine of Chicago’s 10 primary hitters have an above-average projected wRC+, with one of the bigger hitters – Dansby Swanson – right near league average. Pitchers will hate facing this lineup.
The Cubs’ roster has a balance of lefties and righties, a mix of power, speed and OBP skills, and a lot of players in their theoretical prime — everyone here is in their late 20s or early 30s. Last year’s 92-win season felt like a starting point.
Not only is this collection fun, it’s also affordable—at least so far. Pete Crow-Armstrong and Sei Suzuki are also the only Chicago players currently ranked in the top 100 in global ADP. Nico Hoerner, Michael Busch, Bregman and Swanson are all in the top 150. Ian Happ and Carson Kelly are even cheaper, and Moisés Ballesteros is a giveaway for ADP so far. Make this lineup look long all spring long.
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Shortstop Ranking and Drafting
When you’re a kid and first get into baseball, you quickly learn that the shortstop is the key to the game. The best player on your minor league team may be the shortstop (who may also pitch). MLB’s first-year player draft is typically filled with shortstops, with the hope that most of them will actually play professionally.
There was a time when the shortstop position was a fantasy wasteland. But in the Internet age, we’re faced with so many offensive options at the position that it becomes a fantasy playground. Consider that last year, we saw seven different shortstops hit 20 homers and 20 steals, while a handful just missed those cutoffs. (For comparison, consider that only one second baseman has a 20-20 record in 2025.)
The shortstop position is filled with young and promising talent. Geraldo Perdomo was the best offensive player at his position last year (using Baseball-Reference oWAR) and he’s having a breakout season at age 25. Bobby Witt (25) follows closely behind, with Gunnar Henderson (24), Jeremy Peña (27), Bo Bichette (27) and Elly De La Cruz (23) completing the top ten. Zach Neto just needs to be healthy to become a superstar. Jacob Wilson batted .311 as a rookie. CJ Abrams delivers plenty of category juice.
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The old guys aren’t bad either. Francisco Lindor has been very solid, Trea Turner is a versatile guy, and Mookie Betts isn’t lost at shortstop. Willie Adams, Corey Seager or Swanson could be the right price. Take a good look around, there’s a lot to unpack here.
Targeting Seattle’s top pitching staff
The trivia question remains — the Mariners remain the only current MLB club to have never been to a World Series. The Mariners almost got there in 2025, ultimately losing to the Blue Jays in a fantastic ALCS Game 7.
But this Seattle team still has plenty of talent on the escalator, especially pitching. Bryan Woo is coming off a breakout season and was the fourth most valuable pitcher in fantasy last year. Andres Munoz is the third most valuable closer. Logan Gilbert missed most starts but was useful when available (3.44 ERA, 1.031 WHIP). George Kirby also battled injuries and wasn’t at the rate we wanted, but he also struck out 137 in 126 innings. His upside remains enticing.
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Any one of these pitchers could be on the verge of a pro career — and they’re all in attractive age ranges. Wu enters his 26-year-old campaign, Munoz will turn 27 this year, Kirby will have 28 candles on his next cake, and Gilbert will turn 29 in May.
Every time you send out a Seattle pitcher, you have a tailwind behind you. T-Mobile Park has been by far the toughest stadium to score at over the past three seasons, and with its good field size and game atmosphere, Seattle pitchers can relax. The park’s strikeout rate has also improved 17% over the past three years, easily the best float in the game. Before you enter any fantasy draft, you need to vet these employees.
