Chris Paddack

If Paddack has a path forward in 2026, it is likely out of the bullpen, because his days as an effective starter are gone. Paddack is at his best when he is quickly getting ahead in the count and forcing batters to expand their strikezone to protect against his secondaries, but the necessary ingredient was often lacking in 2025, as he struggled with his command in the zone, and many opposing hitters made him pay for his problems. He surrendered 31 home runs in 158 innings and has now allowed 45 over the past two seasons. His .492 SLG percentage and 18 homers allowed against lefties is unacceptable for someone featuring, and righties were not far behind those efforts. A move to the bullpen could allow Paddack to perhaps tap into a Chris Martin-like role somewhere, but you should otherwise keep this name off your draft list for 2026 unless you're in a 50-round draft-and-hold with 25 teams. Read Past Outlooks