Which players could be the most impactful defensive acquisitions for their teams in 2026?

We’ve got a list for you. This one’s of 10 players from nine different teams so as to show a variety of teams that made improvements this offseason.

We largely used Defensive Runs Saved as our guide for this analysis and are aware that other metrics may tell a different story. But we feel pretty good about this group. They are listed alphabetically by last name.

Nick Allen (Astros) isn’t necessarily sure where he’s going to play in 2026 after being traded to Houston for Mauricio Dubon. We suspect that wherever he ends up, he’s going to be pretty good. He ranked 5th among shortstops with 12 Runs Saved last season, though that’s not his most likely spot given Jeremy Peña’s presence. If he’s at second base, his pedigree there is fine. He had 4 Runs Saved in 43 games in 2022.

Nolan Arenado (Diamondbacks) isn’t what he once was, but even with 6 Runs Saved in each of the last two seasons, he should help the team at third base. Arizona hasn’t finished a season with a positive Runs Saved total at the hot corner since 2019.

Harrison Bader (Giants) takes over in center field, sliding Jung-Hoo Lee to right field. Giants center fielders ranked last in MLB last season with -18 Runs Saved, so it’s a low bar for Bader to clear to be better than that. Bader has had as many as 18 Runs Saved in a season in center field (2021). He had 6 in 81 games there last season.

Caleb Durbin (Red Sox) is part of a revamped right side of the Red Sox infield, as he’ll play second base next to first baseman Willson Contreras. In each case, they’ll be manning a position that totaled -9 Runs Saved and ranked among the worst in baseball last season. Durbin had 5 Runs Saved at third base as a Brewers rookie. Most of his second base history came in the minors, where he had 4 Runs Saved in 133 games.

Adolis Garcia (Phillies) replaces Nick Castellanos as the team’s right fielder and may provide the biggest upgrade of any free agent or trade acquisition. Castellanos had -9 Runs Saved or worse in right field in each of the last five seasons. Garcia led right fielders with a career-best 16 Runs Saved in 2025 and has averaged 7 Runs Saved there over the last five seasons.

Jeff McNeil (Athletics) may be the most surprising name on the list, and he’s here more because the A’s have been bad at second base rather than that he’s been great. The A’s haven’t had a positive Runs Saved season from second base since 2015. McNeil has had a positive Runs Saved there in four of the last five seasons, though that was only 2 Runs Saved in 2025.

Carlos Santana (Diamondbacks) takes over first base for a team whose first basemen combined for an MLB-worst -11 Runs Saved last season. Santana could give the Diamondbacks something closer to what they had in the days of Paul Goldschmidt and Christian Walker in the field. He’s ranked in the top three in Runs Saved at first base in each of the last three seasons.

Marcus Semien (Mets) is listed here, though the Mets were pretty good at second base in 2025 (9 Runs Saved, paced by Luisangel Acuña’s 5). Semien has had double figures in Runs Saved in four of the last five seasons, including a career-high 16 in 2023.

Ben Williamson (Rays) has posted great numbers at third base both in the minors and in the major leagues. We’re taking it on faith that he’s going to be able to handle second base well as part of a platoon with Gavin Lux that replaces Brandon Lowe. Lowe had -14 Runs Saved in 121 games last season, so this is another situation with a low bar to clear.

Mike Yastrzemski (Braves) is expected to play left field for the Braves, though the team would be well served to flip Yaz and right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr. Yaz hasn’t played much left field (93 games, 0 Runs Saved) but he’s generally been pretty good in right field (17 Runs Saved in the equivalent of about two seasons since 2023). Braves left fielders had -8 Runs Saved last season.

Honorable mentions: Luisangel Acuña (White Sox utility), Mauricio Dubon (Braves utility), Danny Jansen (Rangers catcher), Isiah Kiner-Falefa (Red Sox utility), Ranger Suárez (Red Sox pitcher), Kyle Tucker (Dodgers RF).

I’ll note that if you’re looking for Alex Bregman, we didn’t list him because we don’t necessarily view him as a defensive upgrade at third base for the Cubs. Matt Shaw had 12 Runs Saved there to Bregman’s 1 in 2025. Bregman is a good third baseman but has never finished a season with more than 8 Runs Saved there.