The 2026 Major League Baseball season is just a couple of weeks away, which means fantasy baseball draft season is in full swing. Whether you’re tweaking a 20-year dynasty roster, entering a redraft money league, or preparing for your first categories draft, most fantasy managers should be deep into prep by now.
Yesterday we looked at some of the best fantasy sleepers for the 2026 season. Today we’re going in the opposite direction.
It’s easy to get pulled in by the biggest names in fantasy baseball. Everyone wants star power on their roster, but some of the most recognizable players can end up being overrated at their draft price.
Here are several players fantasy managers may want to approach with caution in 2026 drafts.
Mookie Betts
Mookie Betts is coming off the worst fantasy season of his career, yet his draft price has barely budged. He still ranks among the top 20 players in average salary on Ottoneu and sits 45th in average draft position on FantasyPros.
Recent Ottoneu auctions have still paid an average of $33 for Betts. His eligibility at shortstop provides some value, but the lack of steals and declining offensive production make that price a significant overpay.
Cal Raleigh
Just as teams should hand out contracts based on what a player is going to do rather than what he has already done, fantasy managers have to project forward. Paying for last year’s production is rarely a winning strategy.
Cal Raleigh is coming off arguably the best offensive season ever by a catcher, and he was by far the most valuable fantasy catcher in 2025. The question is whether that justifies spending a top 20 pick in redraft leagues.
At his current price, the answer is no. Shea Langeliers and Will Smith offer far better value at their respective draft slots, and it’s highly unlikely Raleigh matches his 2025 production in 2026.
Corey Seager
Let’s get this out of the way: Corey Seager is an elite player. He posted 6.2 bWAR in just 102 games last season. The issue, however, is those 102 games. Since 2017, Seager has reached 124 regular-season games only twice.
An ADP of 86.8 might not seem unreasonable at first glance. However, fantasy managers are still paying more than $30 for Seager in Ottoneu auctions, which is a steep price for a player who may require another 50 or more games of replacement-level shortstop production.
Pete Crow-Armstrong
Pete Crow-Armstrong is an excellent defender in center field and should be a highly productive player for years to come. Still, it is unlikely he repeats a season with 31 home runs and 35 stolen bases.
Plate discipline and contact skills remain areas of concern, with a high strikeout rate and limited walks. Crow-Armstrong also finished below league average in xwOBA in 2025. An average Ottoneu price of $21.40 is reasonable, but his 29.6 ADP is steep given the risk.
Freddie Freeman
Like Betts, Freddie Freeman showed noticeable signs of decline in 2025. His xwOBA was the lowest of his career, and his strikeout rate climbed to its highest level since 2016. A slight drop in sprint speed could also signal further regression heading into 2026.
In traditional formats, Freeman will still benefit from the RBI and run-scoring opportunities that come with hitting in the Dodgers’ lineup. However, Los Angeles also has the depth to move him down the order if his production slips. Given that risk, there are stronger options at first base, including Matt Olson, Bryce Harper, and Rafael Devers.
You could also wait and target players such as Tyler Soderstrom, Michael Busch, or Willson Contreras later in drafts.
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