7 MLB Players Worse Than You Think in 2026

For all the time spent this time of year on those who had special seasons, there is a flip side to that.

Every year, there are a slew of players who underperform what was expected or projected of them coming into the season. Some are obvious, but others fly more under the radar.

Here's a look at seven MLB players who were worse than you think during the 2026 regular season.

Jose Altuve, Houston Astros

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Jose Altuve did homer in Game 2 of the ALWCS against the Chicago White Sox, his 28th career postseason homer. Only Manny Ramirez (29) has more in MLB history.

With that said, the former AL MVP isn't nearly the player he used to be. In his age-36 season, Altuve hit just .250, far below his .300 career batting average. And for the first time since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Altuve finished with an OPS+ below 100 (which is considered league average), posting a 97 in 2026.

What's more, he continues to be a nightmare in the field, as evidenced by his minus-17 defensive runs saved and minus-10 outs above average at second base this season. With Yordan Alvarez at DH and the experiment of Altuve in left field failing in 2025, there's not much they can do with their franchise icon defensively.

Altuve has a resume deserving of induction into the Hall of Fame, but the final three seasons of a five-year, $125 million deal could be ugly.

Brandon Marsh, Philadelphia Phillies

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Brandon Marsh was one of the best stories of the first half of the 2026 season, getting voted to start in the All-Star Game for the National League at his home park after batting .301.

Following the All-Star break, though, he was one of the worst players in baseball by just about any metric. In the second half, he batted just .184 with a meager .502 OPS. By the end of the season, his 0.3 WAR was the eighth-worst mark among all qualified position players, per FanGraphs.

The Phillies could well bring Marsh back and hope for a resurgence during his contract year. However, having Otto Kemp pinch hit for him—even if it was against Chris Sale—with the season on the line felt pretty damning.

It would hardly be shocking if the Phillies, in need of a shake-up, consider trading Marsh this offseason.

Seth Lugo, Kansas City Royals

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Despite not being in contention, the Royals weren't really interested in moving Seth Lugo prior to the trade deadline, with USA Today's Bob Nightengale saying at the time that the team believes he'll be a key cog in a 2027 turnaround.

The problem with that is that Lugo posted a 6.12 ERA in 13 starts after the All-Star Break. Even prior to the Midsummer Classic, Lugo had a disappointing 4.56 ERA over 104.2 innings. He did log 172.1 innings pitched, but also led AL starters in both hits (200) and earned runs (99).

Lugo is just a couple seasons away from finishing runner-up in AL Cy Young voting, but he'll also pitch next season at 37 years old. Lugo is owed $21.5 million in 2027, with a conditional $17 million club option for 2028. Given the budget constraints president of baseball operations J.J. Picollo has to operate under, he may live to regret not moving Lugo when he had the chance.

Jo Adell, Cleveland Guardians

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Jo Adell is such a frustrating player, because his high-end flashes—be it homering 37 times in 2025 or robbing three homers in an April game—are so enticing. But 2026 is just another season where he didn't put it all together.

Adell felt like someone who would benefit greatly from a change of scenery, and finally got one in August when the Los Angeles Angels traded him to the Guardians. His production in 2026 was better in Cleveland than Anaheim, but he still only posted a .740 OPS in 48 games with the Guards.

To be fair to Adell, he has a place in the league as is. He mashed lefties this season, batting .320 with a .971 OPS against southpaws. Perhaps he should just be a platoon guy.

It's always felt like he had a higher ceiling than that, though. For him to finish the season with just a 0.6 WAR and 98 OPS+ is underwhelming. Perhaps a full year in Cleveland next year will lead to better results.

Merrill Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks

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After trading him to the Texas Rangers at the 2025 deadline, the Diamondbacks brought back Merrill Kelly on a two-year, $40 million contract with a vesting option for a third season last winter.

Early returns suggest they may have gotten too sentimental in giving a guy heading into his age-37 season a multi-year deal.

Granted, he did log 162 innings this season, despite beginning the campaign on the injured list with left intercostal nerve irritation. But the Snakes didn't bring Kelly back to just be an innings eater, so they have to be concerned by the fact that the veteran righty posted a 4.94 ERA and 5.32 FIP.

It's difficult to know what to make of Arizona's rotation heading into 2027. Kelly will be 38, and coming off a disappointing year. Corbin Burnes made just three starts in his return from Tommy John surgery before having to go on the IL with shoulder inflammation.

Robbie Ray, San Diego Padres

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In a season split between the San Francisco Giants and Padres, Robbie Ray did post a 3.59 ERA across 165.2 innings, which sounds pretty good if you don't dig any deeper into it.

However, his 3.08 ERA in 22 outings with the Giants seemed unsustainable considering it came with a 4.36 FIP. Indeed, he experienced a regression in nine starts after his trade to San Diego, with a 5.02 ERA in nine starts for the Friars. He then lasted just 2.2 innings in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Milwaukee Brewers, allowing four hits and two earned runs.

Ray does still carry value as a back-end starter who will eat innings, but the 35-year-old is past the stage of his career where he should be viewed as a frontline starter.

Taylor Ward, Seattle Mariners

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Even though he only hit seven home runs, Taylor Ward was pretty effective in 111 games for the Baltimore Orioles, doubling 20 times and drawing 87 walks.

Not only did a trade to Seattle, unsurprisingly, not reignite his power stroke, but Ward just completely hit a wall after being dealt to the Mariners. In 101 plate appearances with the M's, Ward hit just .125 with zero homers. After posting a .383 on-base percentage with the O's, Ward finished his brief Mariners stint with just a .238 OBP.

Obviously, Ward won't be back in Seattle. He'll be a difficult free agent to figure out. He homered 36 times and drove in 103 runs for the Angels in 2025. In 2026, he hit seven homers and drove in 37 runs in 143 games. He did walk 99 times, but it's hard to know what to expect from him moving forward.