A fresh look at 2026 fantasy baseball: Judge and Otani anchor the top, with Witt Jr., Soto, Ramirez, Scooble, Acuña Jr., Carroll, Tucker, Rodriguez, Crochet, and Lindor rounding the elite tier. Busts like Vientos, Dunía, and Cruz shape risk, while a two-round mock emphasizes power combined with speed. Injury risk and free-agent chatter color ADP shifts as winter-ball intel surfaces.

Postseason context fuels the prep: ALCS vibes, Dodgers’ edge, and Mariners’ resilience inform allocations of scarce scarce positions and premium arms. Skeens, Scooble, and Crochet headline the pitching trio; Lindor and Ramirez anchor stable hitters. Contract-year dynamics and market moves (Kim, Bellinger) color late picks, with Lawler and Jensen heading to winter ball to sharpen next year’s board.

The takeaway: prioritize a high-floor core early, chase power-speed upside where feasible, and account for injuries and free-agent moves as the offseason unfolds. A disciplined approach beats hype in this dialed, multi-category format.

Cody Bellinger stands as the Yankees’ top offseason target, offering rare multi‑positional value, a reduced strikeout profile, and a power-friendly approach that plays well at Yankee Stadium’s short porch. Durability through 152 games this season adds to the allure, and his ability to play center field or first base could unlockJudge days off while keeping the lineup balanced. The discussion also threads Soto’s return and Mets flirtations into a broader New York win-now narrative.

Beyond Bellinger, the panel weighs the shadow of Aaron Judge’s workload, the Mets’ potential bid, and past big‑money moves like Ellsbury’s as cautionary context. The overall takeaway: Bellinger’s ceiling and versatility make him a clean fit for the Yankees, with Soto and other options shaping a larger strategic puzzle for 2025 rosters.

Philadelphia faces a high-stakes winter: Kyle Schwarber potentially leaving would inject a rare power void while complicating a roster already balancing DH and corner-outfield duties. The hypothetical fit for the Mets highlights the challenge of attaching a positional niche to a high-power bat. Pete Alonso’s status looms large—his return would influence how much room there is for Soto in a crowded lineup. Re-signing Alonso, keeping Bryce Harper and Trea Turner, and integrating young arms like Andrew Painter become the core pathway to sustaining a playoff window.

Edwin Díaz’s looming return reshapes bullpen odds, and the rotation trio of Christopher Sánchez, Jésus Luzardo, and Zack Wheeler offers a solid foundation if health cooperates. Ownership’s willingness to spend remains pivotal as the team weighs a 2026 projection that could hinge on balance between payroll, improved defense, and who slots into the DH and outfield. The overarching theme: the window isn’t closed, but the roadmap is intricate and high-stakes.

Mets face a core reshape, with Lindor and Nimmo under contract while Alonso’s future floats. A bold idea stands out: move Soto to first base to unlock the DH and lift defense, hoping the offense stays strong.

Soto’s buy-in is essential; Harper’s first-base switch is cited as a blueprint but not a guarantee. If it clicks, Mets gain roster flexibility, extend Soto’s prime, and trade-off risk for improved run prevention.