With my final Sorare MLB article of the season, I'm looking forward to 2026. Specifically, by focusing on the guys we won't see again in 2025. That is to say, players who are injured and who are done for the season. These are the kind of players you might forget when it comes to your Sorare MLB lineups in 2026. I will still be looking at upgrades, holds and downgrades, but I am looking exclusively to next season. These guys may be down for now, but not for good. Hopefully you had success this Sorare season, and hopefully my recommendations helped on that front in some way, shape or form. And now, onto the final recommendations of the year.
Note: the number in parentheses represents each player's last limited card sale price as of 9/24.
Upgrades
Corey Seager, TEX ($5.57): This was Seager's age-31 season, and he's a shortstop, and he hasn't played more than 123 games in any of the last three campaigns. However, he remains so productive that I think he will be just fine in 2026, and probably a couple years beyond that. Injuries limited Seager to 102 games in 2025, so he didn't have his fourth-straight 30-homer season. He still hit 21 home runs, though, and his .373 OBP was excellent. Seager had 12 games with at least 20.0 Sorare points, and with better health in 2026 he should at least match that total and perhaps exceed it.
Zack Wheeler, PHI ($2.69): Wheeler's injury was particularly a bummer, because there was a good chance he was going to win the NL Cy Young. In 24 starts, he had a 2.71 ERA and 5.91 K/BB rate. While Corbin Burnes and Gerrit Cole will be working back from Tommy John surgery, Wheeler is dealing with venous thoracic outlet syndrome. He, too, may not be ready for Opening Day in 2026, though he has a better chance than Burnes or Cole. Also, prior to his shoulder issue, we know how excellent Wheeler was on the mound. Even if he's limited to 24 starts against in 2026, that should yield plenty of Sorare points.
Zach Neto, LAA ($1.36): Neto hasn't been out as long as some of the guys on this list, but he went out in early September with a hand injury and won't be back this year, with the Angels not having anything to play for. That's wise, because he's the franchise's cornerstone going forward. The 24-year-old doesn't walk, but he hit .257 with 26 homers and 26 stolen bases in 128 games. A 30/30 season certainly seems to be in his future. One month before his final game, he had 40.0 Sorare points, and while that can't be the normal expectation, it's indicative of his upside.
Holds
Austin Riley, ATL ($2.92): After having core surgery, Riley is expected to be ready for spring training. He hit .260 this year and had 16 homers in 102 games. Solid numbers, but he also slugged a mere .428. That's well below his career slugging percentage of .492. Now, you might be wondering if the issue with his core played a role in that. Maybe, but he was already heading in the wrong direction in 2024, a year in which he hit .256 and slugged .461. There's a real possibility we must recalibrate and expect a lower level of Sorare production going forward.
Max Meyer, MIA ($2.73): When Meyer returns from his hip injury in 2025, will he finally looking like the pitcher he was projected to be? Or will he never live up to the prospect hype? This was his best MLB season thus far, but in 12 starts he had a 4.47 FIP, though he did have a 9.46 K/9 rate as well. However, over his first five starts Meyer had a 2.10 ERA with at least 20.0 Sorare points in every start. There may still be something here with the Marlins hurler, but it's hard to know for sure.
Downgrades
Triston Casas, BOS ($3.55): Casas is expected to be back from his knee injury to start spring training. Will he still be with the Red Sox, though? And if he is, what will his role be? I believe Casas is not the future at first base for the Red Sox at this point. Over the last two seasons, in which he has only managed to play 92 games, he's slashed .222/.318/.412. Had Rafael Devers been down to play first base, Casas likely would have already been dealt elsewhere. It's very much possible 2023 proves to be an outlier season. While, at 25 years of age, Casas should have several seasons of professional baseball left, where will they be played? Probably somewhere that isn't as kind to left-handed hitters as Fenway Park, and probably in a platoon with a righty first baseman.
Jared Jones, PIT ($2.93): Recently, Jones started throwing for the first time since he had Tommy John surgery in the middle of May. He should be ready to go early in the 2026 season. Don't get overly excited, though. His rookie season got a little overhyped because he started strong and then when Paul Skenes arrived it became "The Pirates' future on the mound is bright!" Indeed, Skenes looks primed to win a Cy Young or two in his career, but after that strong start Jones faded, and he ended up with a 4.14 ERA. That includes a 5.81 ERA on the road. When you throw in the elbow surgery, Jones' future could be much closer to Mitch Keller than Skenes. Don't get over your skis here.
Marcus Semien, TEX ($2.48): Semien's late-August foot injury isn't going to complicate next season for him. He's a second baseman, where the average offensive production is not as high as most positions. Semien did have double-digit homers and stolen bases as well, which did yield Sorare points. All that said, he had a bad season, even worse than he had in 2024. Semien ducked just under .700 in terms of his OPS last season, landing at .699. This year, even with 32 extra-base hits, Semien had a .669 OPS. That's pretty rough. Additionally, this was Semien's age-34 season. He's not just been unlucky. He's on the downswing of his career.
