2026 Fantasy Baseball Draft Prep: Top 25 position battles, from Pirates shortstop to Brewers closer
CBS Sports
by
Scott White
February 20, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The 2026 Fantasy Baseball Draft Prep highlights the most impactful position battles across Major League Baseball, with a focus on young talent and key contenders. Among the top matchups are Konnor Griffin of the Pirates and Trevor Megill of the Tigers, both highly touted prospects aiming to secure starting roles. While the Pirates might be hesitant to rush Griffin due to organizational constraints, his impressive performance in Double-A last year (.333/.415/.527 with 21 homers and 65 steals) makes him a strong favorite for the shortstop job. Meanwhile, Megill's status as a potential closer for the Brewers is uncertain after his elbow injury last season, but his All-Star performance in 2025 remains a significant factor.
Other notable battles include Chase Burns of the Reds, who is locks into the rotation despite rumors of competition from less-experienced pitchers. His battle-tested experience and lack of service time manipulation make him a safer bet for fantasy owners. For the Tigers, prospect Casey McGonigle is vying for a starting role
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Originally published on CBS Sports on 2/20/2026