2026 Dynasty Fantasy Baseball Rankings: 200-176

Another week is in the books, meaning I welcome you back for another installment of the 2026 Dynasty Rankings. After two weeks of looking at huge chunks of players, we finally get down to the smaller groupings of 25 players each week.

There are a few players in the below rankings that could be much better than where they are currently ranked. If I am building a team from scratch and doing these rankings, I’d bump them up. But not everyone is building from scratch – they are trying to fill holes and thus care more about the present than the upside some players may have. So my balancing act means the players landed in this group.

Here is a quick breakdown of the positions and ages of the players:

• SP: 8
• C: 3 | 1B: 3 | 2B: 3 | IF: 3
• RF: 1 | CF: 1 | LF: 1 | OF: 1
• IF/OF: 1
• Ages 20-24: 8
• Ages 25-29: 9
• Ages 30-34: 6
• Ages 35+: 2

Not surprisingly, the ages of the players in this group are trending younger as only two players are 35 or older and another six are between the ages of 30-34, meaning 68% of the players listed below are in their 20s.

As for positions, there is a solid showing from starting pitchers, a position I target early for the aces and then go heavy later in the auction/draft process to add the best of a huge group of similar players. As for position players, there are no shortstops and few outfielders, meaning those positions will be showing up a lot as we count down toward the number one overall player.

With that out of the way, let’s get started.

200-196

Notes:
*Age as if April 1, 2026
**Position = at least 10 games played at that position

RANK	PLAYER	TEAM	AGE	POSITION
200	Christian Walker	HOU	35	1B
199	Carlos Rodon	NYY	33	SP
198	Bryson Stott	PHI	28	2B|SS
197	TJ Friedl	CIN	30	CF
196	Andrew Vaughn	MIL	27	1B

Silently Productive

According to many Houston fans, Christian Walker had a poor first season for the Astros. But that is not entirely correct. He led the team in homers (27) and RBI (88), topping 25 homers, 80 RBI for the fourth straight season. His problem was his horrible splits. In the first half (90 games) he slashed .229/.286/.374 with 12 homers and 47 RBI. He went .250/.312/.488-15-41 over the second half of the season. Even stranger was his home-road splits. Walker slashed .202/.279/.342 with eight homers and 34 RBI in 74 home games and .265/.311/.482 with 19 homers and 54 RBI in 80 road games. He had a very strong second half, and if he can just improve a tad at home, he should put up solid numbers for the next two to three years.

Just Be Consistent!

Carlos Rodon has always irritated me. One season he is good, then he is bad, then he is good for two years, then bad for two years. Pick one or the other, dude! From 2015-2020, he was not a good pitcher, going 29-33 with a 4.14 ERA, 1.39 WHP, 3.9 BB/9 ratio and an 8.8 K/9 rate. Then he suddenly became good for two years, going 27-13 with a 2.67 ERA, 0.998 WHIP and ratios of 2.5 BB/9 and 12.2 K/9. Then he stunk in 2023, was decent in 2024 and pretty good in 2025.

He is also recovering from left elbow surgery to remove loose bodies and shave down a bone spur. He is expected to return in late April or early May, but will he be fully healthy? Because I never really know what Rodon is going to do during a given season, AND because he is coming off surgery, AND because he is 33 this season, he lands here in the rankings.

Good, But That Is About It

I don’t have anything against Bryson Stott personally. But as a fantasy baseball player, he is pretty average. His career slash line is .256/.318/.383 and he will give you 14 homers, 60 RBI and 25 steals in a typical season. If it wasn’t for those steals, he’d be ranked lower. But speed is still important in fantasy baseball, despite more and more players starting to steal bases. Stott can also play shortstop in addition to second base, giving him a little extra value.

TJ Friedl is a lot like Stott – .257/.344/.414 career slash with some power and speed. He possesses more thump than Stott but not the speed. And he plays in the outfield and not the infield. But other than that, Friedl is a lot like Stott! I wish he played more than just the center field position as that would give him more value in leagues that break down the outfield by positions. He isn’t a bad player, but he is useful for more depth than as a starter on your team.

Found His Swing In Milwaukee

When players take the field for the Chicago White Sox, they can probably see the life being sucked right out of them while on the diamond. I think that is what happened to Andrew Vaughn. In 2023 he hit 21 homers and drove in 80 runs while slashing .258/.314/.429. Each subsequent season on the South Side saw Vaughn be less and less productive, bottoming out in 2025 when he slashed .186/.218/.314 with five homers and 19 RBI in 48 games.

But Vaughn found new life when he was traded to Milwaukee for Aaron Civale in June. In 64 games he slashed .308/.345/.493 with nine homers and 46 RBI. Will Vaughn reach 20 homers this season? I think there is a good chance as he is in a good lineup.

195-191

RANK	PLAYER	TEAM	AGE	POSITION
195	Nolan Schanuel	LAA	24	1B
194	Lourdes Gurriel Jr.	ARI	32	LF
193	Cade Horton	CHC	24	SP
192	Nick Lodolo	CIN	28	SP
191	Kris Bubic	KC	28	SP

Is There More?

There is a chance that what we have seen from Nolan Schanuel the last two seasons is what we are going to get from Nolan Schanuel this season and beyond. If that is the case, we are going to get 12 homers and 55 RBI out of him with a .259/.353/.389 slash line. If that holds true, he is ranked too high here because I want more from a first baseman.

But I think (or am I hoping) that Schanuel can add more power to his game, something he showed while in college. The logic behind that thinking is the fact he ranked in the 83rd percentile for LA Sweet Spot% and in the 93rd percentile for Squared-Up%. That is the good news. The bad news is percentile rankings of 16, 13, 6 and 4 in Avg. Exit Velo, Barrel%, Hard Hit% and Bat Speed. So he is going to have to improve in all of those areas for his power to reach its full potential.

The Steady Vet

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is no spring chicken as he will be 32 on Opening Day. But when it comes to production at the plate, he has been a consistent player, meaning he will hit close to 20 homers and drive in 80 runs while slashing .270/.320/.450. Those are not great numbers, but they are solid numbers for someone who would be your third or fourth outfielder. He did have a dip in his metrics this past season as his Avg. EV and Hard Hit% dropped, but not at a huge margin. So if you are looking for a veteran to fill a hole while waiting for a younger outfielder to come up, Gurriel is a great candidate to grab.

Impressive Rookie Season

Due to having Tommy John surgery in college, Cade Horton threw only 53.2 inning for the Oklahoma Sooners before turning pro. Since signing with the Cubs, however, Horton has proven to be an advanced pitcher. He mixes his pitches well and keeps hitters off balance while throwing strikes above the MLB average leading to an above average Whiff%. He came in and solidified the Cubs’ starting rotation this season, going 11-4 with a 2.67 ERA and 1.085 WHIP. He doesn’t have a huge strikeout rate (7.4/9) but if that number keeps you from going after him, then that is your loss.

Hitting Their Stride

Injuries have slowed the progress of Nick Lodolo in his career. A back injury sidelined him for two months in 2022, then a stress reaction in his left tibia limited him to only seven starts in 2023. In 2024 he suffered through a variety of injuries and last year a sprained left middle finger ended his year early. The good news for Lodolo is he is coming off a career high 28 starts (29 appearances) last year and posted a 3.33 ERA and 1.079 WHIP. He had an outstanding 1.8 BB/9 rate and posted a solid 9.0 K/9 rate.

Kris Bubic appeared in only three games in 2023 and in 2024 he pitched in 27 games, but all out of the bullpen. This past season Bubic returned to the starting rotation and put up great numbers (2.55 ERA, 1.178 WHIP, 3.0 BB/9, 9.0 K/9). He had a 161 ERA+ and a 2.89 FIP. So with those numbers, why is he ranked at #191? Because before this past season he was not a great starting pitcher. From 2020-2022 he had a 4.89 ERA and 1.531 WHIP with a 4.2 BB/9 rate and 8.0 K/9 rate in 57 starts and 67 appearances overall.

I like both pitchers, and I think there is actually a strong chance for them to replicate their 2025 seasons in 2026. But am I 100% sold in that belief? No. So instead of being ranked 25 or so spots higher, they land here as safe picks with strong upside.

190-186

RANK	PLAYER	TEAM	AGE	POSITION
190	Jac Caglianone	KC	23	RF
189	Christian Moore	LAA	23	2B
188	Lenyn Sosa	CHW	26	2B|1B
187	Shota Imanaga	CHC	32	SP
186	Matt McLain	CIN	26	2B

The Tools Are There

Jac Caglianone had a horrible time with the Royals this past season. In 62 games, he slashed .157/.237/.295 with a 27% Whiff% and 22% strikeout rate. But there is some good news. His 12% Barrel% was nearly five points higher than the MLB average and his xBA and xSLG were .241/.418 and the strikeout rate is league average. He did hit seven homers in his 62 games, which equates to 18 in 162 games. Caglianone has all the tools to become a top right fielder, he just has to find those tools, and it may not be this year.

He Will Get Better

Christian Moore was drafted with the 8th overall pick in 2024 and a year later he was playing second base for the Angels. Moore has all the tools you look for in a player as he can hit for average, power and has speed. During his college career at Tennessee he slashed .338/.447/.697 with 61 homers, 160 RBI and 22 steals in 186 games. During his 93-game stint in the minors he hit 13 homers, drove in 62 runs and stole 12 bases while slashing .292/.378/.469.

Moore’s debut with the Angels did not match the success he had in college or in the minors as he slashed .198/.284/.370 with seven homers, 16 RBI and three steals in 53 games. Moore is another player in this tier who I think can make a big jump up the rankings for 2027.

He Was This Good?

Lenyn Sosa seemingly came out of nowhere to hit 22 homers and drive in 75 runs while slugging .434. He hit 13 homers over his final 50 games, and that could be an outlier. But compared to many of the second basemen out there, I will take the chance on that power remaining a part of his game as he has displayed pop during his minor league career. Sosa made the majority of his starts at second base (85) this season, but also had 35 starts at first and has played third many times in past seasons to give him some extra value.

Rebound Seasons Coming

Shota Imanaga had an outstanding rookie season for the Cubs in 2024, posting a 15-3 record with a 2.91 ERA, 1.021 WHIP, 9.0 K/9 rate and 1.5 BB/9 rate. His 2025 season was solid, but he fell short of matching some of his 2024 numbers. His record was 9-8 and his ERA jumped to 3.73 and his K/9 rate fell to 7.3. But he still had a nice 0.988 WHIP and a solid 1.6 BB/9 rate. The drop in his strikeout rate is a concern, but I think Imanaga will land somewhere in the middle of what he has done the past two seasons, making him a solid No. 3 pitcher on your staff for the next few years.

Like Imanaga, Matt McLain had a solid rookie season only to fall short of meeting the same level of production the next season. In the case of McLain, his rookie season came in 2023 when he slashed .290/.357/.507 with 16 homers, 50 RBI and 14 steals in 89 games. After missing the 2024 season, McLain returned to appear in 147 games for the Reds and slashed .220/.300/.343 with 15 homers, 50 RBI and 18 steals. I think McLain will rebound and be closer to his 2023 production, meaning a 20-20 season with a better OBP and SLG to match.

185-181

RANK	PLAYER	TEAM	AGE	POSITION
185	Brandon Woodruff	MIL	33	SP
184	Kristian Campbell	BOS	23	2B
183	Austin Wells	NYY	26	C
182	Francisco Alvarez	NYM	24	C
181	Daylen Lile	WAS	23	LF|RF

Back In The Saddle

After missing half of the 2023 season and all of 2024, Brandon Woodruff finally returned to the mound in July and looked like his old self down the stretch for the Brewers. In 11 starts he went 7-2 with a 3.20 ERA and 0.912 WHIP. In 64.2 innings of work, Woodruff struck out 83 batters for an 11.6 K/9 rate while posting a 1.9 BB/9 rate. In short, Woodruff looked like the pitcher he was before suffering his shoulder injury. The only reason he isn’t ranked higher is the fact that he is 33 and thus more of a short-term pitcher to target.

OK, So The Debut Was Not Good

Kristian Campbell received a lot of fanfare when the Red Sox recalled him from the minors. Campbell was one of the top prospects in baseball thanks to a 2024 season in which he slashed .330/.439/.558 with 20 homers, 77 RBI and 24 steals over three levels in the minors. But the success he had down on the farm did not come with him to Boston as he slashed .223/.319/.345 with six homers, 21 RBI and two steals. But a host of top prospects struggled during their first foray in the majors. Campbell has too much talent to not turn things around show why he was a top prospect.

Austin Wells isn’t going to help your batting average or OBP, but what he will do is hit home runs and drive in runs. His career AVG/OBP is .224/.294. But the career SLG is .423. This year he hit 21 homers and drove in 71 in 126 games and his career 162-game average is 24 homers and 87 RBI. I’ll take that production every year.

Francisco Alvarez burst onto the scene in 2023 when he hit 25 homers and drove in 63 in 123 games for the Mets. But he didn’t come close to matching those numbers in 2024 (11 homers, 47 RBI in 100 games) but bounced back with a .256/.339/.447 slash line and 11 home runs and 32 RBI in 76 games. In 41 second half games, he hit eight homers and drove in 21 while slashing .276/.360/.561.

Which Version Is The Real Version?

Daylen Lile is an intriguing player. In 302 career minor league games, he had a .273/.356/.422 slash line with 19 homers and 150 RBI with 62 steals. The speed is real and his ability to not strike out is real (19% rate in minors, 16% with the Nats). In his rookie season with Washington he had a .299/.347/.498 slash line, so better numbers than what his minor league would suggest.

And nearly all of his damage was done in September, when he slashed .391/.440/.772 with six homers, 19 RBI and one steal. His numbers from May through August – .262/.309/.389 with three homers, 22 RBI and seven steals in 66 games and 251 plate appearances. If you want to go all in on Lile and his 91 games of MLB experience, be my guest and move him up, trade for him or whatever. As for me, I’m happy with where I ranked him as I am not going to let one great month change my view of him as a speedy outfielder who will likely hit some homers here and there.

180-176

RANK	PLAYER	TEAM	AGE	POSITION
180	Spencer Steer	CIN	28	1B|LF
179	Will Smith	LAD	31	C
178	Nolan McLean	NYM	24	SP
177	Cam Schlittler	NYY	25	SP
176	Salvador Perez	KCR	36	C|1B

Still Thinking There Is More

As a rookie in 2023, Spencer Steer slashed .271/.356/.464 with 23 homers and 86 RBI while swiping 15 bags. But Steer has yet to take the next step at the plate. But he hasn’t regressed either. His homer total the last two years has been 20 and 21 and his RBI total has been 92 and 75. The slash line, however, has been a concern as it is a combined .231/.316/.406. But I believe Steer can be and will be the player we saw in 2023. It may come more as a DH or outfielder than at first base, but he should enough time at first to retain his eligibility into 2027.

Aging Gracefully

Will Smith will be 31 next season, but he is still a very productive hitter at the plate as he isn’t going to kill your slash line and will also provide some power, as displayed by his .497 SLG this season. His OPS+ thus year was 152 and it has never been lower than 127 in a full season. If you are looking for a young catcher to anchor your team for years, Smith is not your guy. Otherwise, he is a good player to target and be happy to have.

A Pair From New York

A two-way player when he was drafted by the Mets, Nolan McLean blossomed on the mound when he gave up hitting. He went from a pitcher with a 4.27 ERA and 1.208 WHIP with a 9.5 K/9 rate in 2024 to one who had a 2.45 ERA and 1.126 WHIP with a 10.1 K/9 rate this year in the minors. McLean can blow the ball past hitters if/when needed thanks to his fastball, but he is also showing the ability to be a great pitcher, using his sweeper and sinker to get easy outs on the ground. It is not often for a pitcher who has a strikeout rate above 10.0 to also be a pitcher who can induce so many ground balls.

While McLean was doing his thing at Shea Stadium, over in the Bronx Cam Schlittler was saving the Yankees rotation. He went 4-3 with a 2.96 ERA and 1.219 WHIP, 10.9 K/9 rate and 3.8 BB/9 rate. But which version of Schlittler can we count on moving forward. In three June starts, he was 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA, 1.841 WHIP and a 9.2 K/9 rate. Six July starts produced a 1-1 record with a 1.60 ERA and 0.980 WHIP and 10.4 K/9 rate. In September he had a 3.65 ERA, 1.176 WHIP and 10.9 K/9 rate. What he did in September is more in line with his career minor league numbers. But even if he is more September than July, he would still be a solid pitcher to have on your staff.

Yes, I know He Is Old

I know 36 is old for a catcher, but I simply cannot ignore Salvador Perez. There are some players who can simply hit, no matter what their age is. Perez is one of those players. The Royals catcher/first baseman/DH hit 30 homers and drove in 100 during the 2025 season. Since hitting 48 homers and driving in 121 in 2021, Perez has averaged 26 home runs and 90 RBI while slashing .254/.300/.447. His Average EV is still what it has been his entire career as well as his strikeout rate and home run rate, for the most part. Perez may be getting older, but he isn’t slowing down at the plate.

Thank You

Thanks for taking the time to get through this first installment of 2026 Dynasty Rankings. Come back next week for the players ranked from 200-176.

If you missed previous rankings, just click below.

2026 Dynasty Rankings: 400-301
2026 Dynasty Rankings: 300-201