Fred’s Fades: Fantasy Baseball Players to Avoid in 2026 Drafts

As the 2026 fantasy baseball drafts approach, it’s time to assess players who may not live up to their average draft positions. Enter Fred’s Fades, a critical look at those players I’ll be steering clear of this season.

First on the list is José Ramírez. While his skill set is undeniable, my concerns lie with the Guardians’ offense. After the front office chose not to bolster a lineup that finished 28th in runs scored last season, I question whether the existing talent can drive significant improvement. Instead, I’d prefer to target hitters from more productive teams like Elly De La Cruz, Julio Rodríguez, or Kyle Tucker.

Corbin Carroll is another player whose draft stock has taken a hit due to his recent surgery on a broken hamate bone. While he has the potential to be a strong fantasy asset, drafting him now feels risky, especially with healthier options like Pete Alonso and Nick Kurtz still available. Carroll’s career .258 batting average doesn’t inspire confidence in his ability to impact the batting average or RBI categories significantly.

Ketel Marte, despite being a talented player, has a troubling history of injuries, appearing in 140 games just once in the past five seasons. This limited availability inevitably affects his counting stats, especially since he rarely steals bases. Furthermore, the D-backs’ lineup has transformed since they led the majors in runs two years ago, raising further doubts about Marte’s potential output this year.

It’s hard to put Mookie Betts on this list, as he has been one of the game’s elite players for years. However, I’m skeptical that the 33-year-old will provide enough of a return on investment to justify his ADP. His declining steal totals, with none since 2018, and only 39 home runs across the last two seasons suggest that he may not have the category juice he once did.

Max Fried is another surprising inclusion, as he enjoys a strong reputation within the fantasy community. However, I find his ceiling to be mediocre, given his good-but-not-great strikeout skills. Logan Webb, with a similar ADP, has shown improvements in his whiff rate and has established himself as a reliable workhorse, making Fried less appealing to me.

Josh Naylor’s speed—or lack thereof—also raises concerns. I can’t envision him stealing 15 bases, let alone 30, especially in a pitcher-friendly environment like T-Mobile Park. Although he had a strong finish with the Mariners last season, my doubts about his first full season in that park outweigh any potential upside.

While I recognize the scarcity of talent at third base this season, I’m hesitant to invest in Alex Bregman. Moving from Fenway Park to Wrigley Field represents a considerable downgrade, and his recent stats—nine steals over the past six seasons and a .263 average since 2020—do not inspire much confidence. Moreover, he hasn’t hit more than 26 home runs since 2019.

One player who raises eyebrows is Oneil Cruz. Although he possesses impressive exit velocities, his strikeout rate of 32.0% last season makes him a risky selection. His struggles against left-handed pitchers, where he managed just a .102 average and a .400 OPS, further complicate his viability as a consistent hitter, likely leading to a future as a platoon player.

Tyler Glasnow is another name to consider avoiding. With only three seasons in his 10-year career where he’s thrown over 100 innings, projecting him for more than 120 innings seems unrealistic. I’d much rather take a chance on a high-upside young pitcher like Jacob Misiorowski or Trey Yesavage.

Finally, I’m uncertain about Ramírez’s ability to remain a regular in the lineup. His defensive skills are subpar, which poses a significant issue at such a crucial position. With prospect Joe Mack potentially better suited to handle the pitching staff, Ramírez could become an offensive liability if he moves off the catcher position. Given his disappointing .701 OPS from his rookie season—particularly a troubling .637 OPS in the second half—hopes for a year-two surge seem dim.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.