José Ramírez

2026 Fantasy Baseball Player Profile

José Ramírez continued his run as the heart and soul of the Cleveland Guardians during a 2025 season that saw him reach several significant career milestones. Over 158 games, he delivered a .283/.360/.503 slash line and recorded 30 home runs, marking his second consecutive 30-homer campaign. While his 85 RBIs were a slight dip from previous years—largely a byproduct of a Guardians offense that struggled to produce outside of its core—Ramírez compensated by becoming an even more aggressive threat on the bases. He swiped a career-high 44 bags, securing his third career 30/30 season and leading Cleveland to a surprising AL Central title. His defensive work at third base was equally elite, earning him the American League Platinum Glove as the league’s overall best fielder, along with his sixth Silver Slugger Award and seventh All-Star selection.

Entering 2026, Ramírez remains the "gold standard" for third base in both real-world value and fantasy production. Most major projection systems, including Steamer and ZiPS, expect another remarkably consistent year with a projected .277 average, 29 home runs, and roughly 34 stolen bases. While there are some concerns about the lack of offseason additions to the Guardians' lineup, analysts believe the internal development of young hitters like Kyle Manzardo and Chase DeLauter could lead to a rebound in Ramírez's run-scoring and RBI opportunities, potentially pushing him back over the 100-RBI threshold. He holds a consensus top-five ADP in 2026 drafts due to his unparalleled floor and five-category impact. Additionally, Ramírez is slated to be a featured star for Team Dominican Republic in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, further cementing his status as one of the game's premier international icons as he enters the first year of a reported seven-year, $175 million extension that keeps him in Cleveland through 2032.