Fantasy Baseball Player Notes

George Springer silenced skeptics in 2025 with his strongest campaign since 2019, turning in a monster season at age 35. He appeared in 140 games, launching 32 home runs while scoring 106 runs, driving in 84, and swiping 18 bases. His .309/.399/.560 slash line was the best of his career, and his 166 wRC+ ranked third across MLB. The obvious question is how to value Springer heading into his age-36 season in 2026. A repeat batting average is unlikely, as his .309 mark was fueled by a .340 BABIP—well above his career norm. Most projections pull his power back into the mid-20s for home runs, but the strength of the lineup around him should help preserve strong run and RBI totals, along with roughly 15 stolen bases. If Springer can once again stay on the field for around 140 games, he remains a valuable fantasy asset. While a full encore of 2025 shouldn't be expected, even modest regression still leaves him among the more reliable contributors.

Addison Barger took a significant step forward in 2025, improving across the board with a .243/.301/.454 slash, 21 homers, and a league-average 105 OPS+ after struggling mightily as a rookie. The power growth was especially encouraging. While his strikeout rate remains elevated, everyday playing time and defensive versatility at third base and the corner outfield helped solidify his role. Projections reflect cautious optimism, positioning Barger as a late-round sleeper with legitimate 20-plus homer upside if the plate discipline continues to stabilize.