FunnellVision - Adding Players Already on the Injured List
Tuesday, March 17, 2026
If you’re like me, you’ve already drafted in most of your leagues. However, you’ll notice that a lot of players who will likely begin the year on the Injured List haven’t yet been placed there. This is because teams want to give their players ample time to be healthy enough to play. They also tend to wait until the last possible moment to designate those player injuries, meaning that Opening Day will have a lot of moves onto the Injured List right before the opening pitch.
However, some teams have been proactive enough that you can take advantage of the situation. If your league has Injured List slots, here are some of the players that are already on the Injured List and are worth stashing there.
Corbin Burnes: 60-Day IL
Burnes is targeting July as his return, making him a candidate for a post-All-Star Break mixture into the rotation. It’s very tough to rely on the quality of pitchers who have had Tommy John Surgery, but if he is someone who is at the end of your already strong rotation, he could be the push you need come playoff time.
Romy Gonzalez: 60-Day IL
The good news here is that his shoulder injury wasn’t as severe as it could have been, making this a cleanup procedure instead of a reconstruction. It still was a major injury that will require extensive time away, but he is someone to target in the deepest of leagues to help fill in your bench for later in the year when you’re likely dealing with other injuries. He was outstanding in spurts last year and could be the spark your team needs.
Jared Jones: 60-Day IL
I’ve already written before about Jones’ timeline and the likelihood of a return date. The focus here is on him and his abilities once he returns. While I have my concerns regarding players coming back from the internal brace procedure, the talent and upside are enough to warrant a spot on your Injured List now, with the hopes of him being someone to give you a lift once he does, in fact, return.
Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep: 60-Day IL
Both of these pitchers got more or less the same sort of procedure done to remove loose bodies from their elbows. Their timelines might be slightly different in that their operations happened about a week apart, and that Schwellenbach has more Major League experience than Waldrep. It would make sense that both should be in the Braves’ rotation later this season, given the lack of depth the team now faces. Their progress will be interesting to monitor, but both are worth stashing.
Troy Melton: 60-Day IL
This one is tricky, as it mixes in an elbow strain injury and the fact that the contending Tigers don’t necessarily have a spot open for him. Still, he’s already started a throwing program, which is a great sign for how he’s recovering. In addition to that, his spot on your team’s Injured List is dependent on how confident you are in 42-year old Justin Verlander staying healthy and effective. Stash him now and drop him for someone else if need be, but you could do worse.