MLB Top-10 First Basemen 2026: Freddie Freeman Ranked No. 1 By The Shredder Freddie Freeman has been named the top first baseman by MLB Network’s The Shredder for the third straight season and the sixth time in his career. The 36-year-old remains a key figure in the 2026 rankings, despite a slightly subdued performance in 2025. He posted a .295 batting average with a .367 on-base percentage and .502 slugging mark, accumulating 39 doubles, 24 home runs, and 90 RBIs across 147 games. His postseason heroics continued with a walk-off home run in the 18th inning of Game 3 of the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, showcasing his clutch ability. Since the 2022 season, Freeman’s 149 weighted runs created plus (wRC+) leads all first basemen with at least 1,000 plate appearances over that span. However, he has not reached a .300 batting average or .900 on-base plus slugging since 2023. Recent injuries have impacted his production, but he is now fully recovered and received praise from Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts during Spring Training. Freeman, entering his fifth season with the Dodgers, has expressed a strong desire to conclude his career with the team. “I would like that, yeah,” Freeman said earlier this year. “I love being here. I’m from Southern California. I’ve had a great time. The fans, you guys treat me great. Everyone’s treating my family good. So that’s out of my control. I’m not worried about another contract, not going to bring it up, not going to talk about it. I got two years left. I’m just an employee. I just do my job, and if they want me back, they want me back. But I think Andrew and everyone know that I love being here. So whatever happens, happens.#los_angeles_dodgers #toronto_blue_jays #freddie_freeman #dave_roberts #the_shredder
MLB Top-10 Relief Pitchers Right Now for 2026 New Los Angeles Dodgers closer Edwin Díaz has been ranked as the third-best relief pitcher for the 2026 season by MLB Network’s The Shredder. This marks his first appearance on the list since 2024, when he placed sixth. The Shredder’s rankings include Díaz alongside other top relievers, with Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman ranked first. Other notable names include San Diego Padres’ Mason Miller in second, Cleveland Guardians’ Cade Smith in fourth, and Seattle Mariners’ Andrés Muñoz in fifth. The Dodgers’ Díaz is set to become the team’s first dedicated closer since Kenley Jansen in 2021. Díaz’s inclusion on the list follows a dominant 2025 season with the New York Mets, where he recorded 28 saves, a 1.63 ERA, and 98 strikeouts in 66.1 innings. His performance earned him a third All-Star Game selection and a second Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year award. The Dodgers signed Díaz to a three-year, $69 million contract, which includes a $9 million signing bonus and more than $13 million in deferrals. His average annual value of $23 million is the highest ever for a relief pitcher in MLB history. The Shredder’s rankings for 2026 are based on a combination of past performance, advanced statistics, traditional metrics, and analysis from the MLB Network research team. The rankings also reflect personal evaluations from analysts like Brian Kenny and Mike Petriello. Kenny placed Díaz fifth, while Petriello ranked him fourth. The Dodgers last had a reliever in The Shredder’s top-10 in 2024, when Evan Phillips placed fourth. Former Dodgers relievers like Tanner Scott (No. 7) and Kirby Yates (No. 8) were included in 2023’s rankings before joining the team.#los_angeles_dodgers #new_york_mets #mlb_network #the_shredder #aroldis_chapman
