Top 5 Fantasy Baseball Shortstop Busts for 2026: Overvalued Draft Risks to Avoid

Don't draft these shortstops! They won't do anything this season!

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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By Athlon Sports. Don't draft these shortstops! They won't do anything this season! Their MLB teams should get rid of them! That's the stereotypical interpretation of any player list when seeing the term "bust." But the word's meaning is far closer to "overvalued" than "useless" in fantasy. More specifically, "overvalued at their current ADP at time of writing and publishing."

Why it matters

This article serves as a good guide in understanding what the true target ranges of these players are as you monitor ADP changes through spring training with your 2026 fantasy baseball draft approaching. In fact, there's a good chance come draft day that one or more of these individuals fall to draftable or even undervalued status.

The details

The five shortstops highlighted as potential busts are Francisco Lindor, Trea Turner, CJ Abrams, Corey Seager, and Trevor Story. The article provides detailed analysis on why each player is considered overvalued at their current ADP, including factors like injury history, age-related decline, and regression in underlying metrics.

  • Lindor had surgery on February 11 to repair a hamate bone injury in his left hand.
  • Turner will turn 33 in June 2026.
  • Abrams turned 25 in October 2025.
  • Seager turns 32 in April 2026.
  • Story turned 33 in November 2025.

The players

Francisco Lindor

A Mets superstar who recently underwent surgery to repair a hamate bone injury in his left hand, raising concerns about his early-season production.

Trea Turner

A Phillies player who is exiting his prime years and has seen a decline in his production, including a lucky second half in 2025.

CJ Abrams

A young Nationals player who is being drafted with the expectation of a breakout, but his projections suggest a more modest improvement over his 2025 season.

Corey Seager

A Rangers player with a long history of injuries, having failed to exceed 125 games played in each of the last three seasons.

Trevor Story

A Red Sox player whose bounce-back 2025 season may be an outlier, as his underlying metrics show the effects of age and injuries on his ability to produce.

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The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of looking beyond just the surface-level stats and considering factors like injury history, age, and regression risk when drafting players, especially in the early rounds. Managers who avoid these potential shortstop busts and pivot to other areas of need or similar players at the position may find more value in their 2026 fantasy baseball drafts.