Fantasy Baseball bust candidates for the 2026 season on American League teams
Success in fantasy baseball isn’t just about recruiting stars, it’s also about avoiding costly mistakes. Every season, several highly drafted players fail to live up to expectations due to injuries, regressions, role changes, or unsustainable numbers from the previous year. As managers prepare for the 2026 season, identifying at-risk players in advance can be just as useful as finding late sleepers. With that in mind, here are several American League players who could end up being fantasy baseball busts in 2026, making them potential traps for fantasy managers if drafted too aggressively.
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Carlos Narvaez:
September 30, 2025; Bronx, New York, United States. Boston Red Sox catcher Carlos Narvaez (75) and relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (44) celebrate after defeating the New York Yankees in game 1 of the Wildcard round of the 2025 MLB playoffs at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Narvaez got off to a great start for the Red Sox a year ago, before his bat went cold for the entire second half of the season. He was one of the best offensive catches from April to June, but from July to September he hit under .200 and had an OBP around .250, both of which are replacement level at best. He’s still the clear starter going into the season, as backup Connor Wong has been terrible in 2025. If Narvaez’s bat turns out to be more like his second half of 2025 and his first half, he could lose his starting job entirely.
Griffin Jax:
He’s a good pitcher, and he’ll have solid ratios with elite strikeout numbers; 99 in 66 innings last season. The problem is that Jax is drafted as the Rays closer, even though he doesn’t have the job. He’s one of the three closest possible right now, and while he could seemingly get the job, if he doesn’t or if he only gets 15-20 stoppage opportunities and is on a committee, you’ll regret not going after Uceta 4-5 rounds later. Interestingly enough, though, if the Rays name Jax their primary closer heading into the season, then his current draft position would make him a huge steal.
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MORE: 2026 Fantasy Baseball First Base Rankings (16-30)
Jasson Domínguez:
August 17, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, United States. The New York Yankees left Jasson Dominguez (24) for a single against the St. Louis Cardinals in the fourth inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
He is still incredibly young and talented. The problem is that his playing time will be limited. He was drafted around the 200th overall pick, but entered the season as the 4th outfielder. He’s the Yankees’ worst defensive outfielder, and as long as Giancarlo Stanton is healthy, Dominguez is stuck behind him at DH. The temporary capital you need to invest in Dominguez is too large. This is especially true considering his playing time and production won’t be up to par.
Bryan Woo:
As good as Bryan Woo was last season, he is now drafted as a top 10 starting pitcher. While he certainly pitched well, that high ranking seems due in large part to his 15 win total. It’s very likely he’ll be good again in 2026, but at this price you’re essentially recruiting him at his ceiling. This leaves considerable room for disappointment, especially when there are pitchers with similar skill profiles going multiple rounds later in drafts.
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MORE: 2026 Fantasy Baseball Catcher Rankings (16-30)
Jeff Hoffman:
October 29, 2025; Los Angeles, California, United States. Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Jeff Hoffman (23) celebrates after a game-ending strike against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game five of the 2025 MLB World Series at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Due to his closer start to the season, Jeff Hoffman has moved as high as 73rd overall in drafts over the past month. He has an average draft position of 126. As the price gets closer, the price is fair, but if he were to lose his job it could end up being a disaster. The Jays have shown interest in the top RP on the free agent market this season, proving that while they like Hoffman, they aren’t sold on him as their closer.
Kyle Teel:
There’s understandably a lot of excitement about the 20 pounds of extra muscle he’s put on this offseason. I’m still not convinced he’ll take the step forward many expect from him in 2026. He has the plate discipline to perform well and grow at just 23 years old. The extra muscle could help add power, but he hasn’t really shown anything too exciting from a fantasy standpoint. Additionally, his speed could suffer due to the extra weight he gains. Another way to look at it is that his teammate Edgar Quero is still only 22 years old. He gets drafted over 100 times later and, in my opinion, has just as much upside.
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