MLB Position-by-Position Player Power Rankings, Preseason Edition
Last season, I wrote a handful of articles breaking down my position-by-position power rankings. With spring training games underway and the regular season fast approaching, now is as good a time as any to put together my preseason rankings for 2014.
What follows is a look at the 10 (or 15 in the case of outfielders) best players at each position based on how I expect them to perform in the year ahead.
I've taken into account their all-around offensive abilities, their defensive contributions and then what they have meant to the success of their respective teams.
To put it another way, think of it as though you were building a team to compete for just the 2014 season. This is the order in which I would select players at each position to build said team.
Also included in my statistics is each player's Baseball-Reference WAR or rWAR. While WAR is a useful stat in gauging a player's value, it's not the be-all, end-all stat that some view it to be. As such, don't expect this to simply be a list of the top 10 in WAR at each position.
Included on each slide is also "one to watch," a player who falls outside of the rankings now and has yet to truly break out but has a chance of finding his way onto the rankings before the season is over.
Catchers
1 of 10
| 1. Yadier Molina | 136 G, .319/.359/.477, 44 2B, 12 HR, 80 RBI, 68 R | 5.7 |
| 2. Buster Posey | 148 G, .294/.371/.450, 34 2B, 15 HR, 72 RBI, 61 R | 5.2 |
| 3. Salvador Perez | 138 G, .292/.323/.433, 25 2B, 13 HR, 79 RBI, 48 R | 4.1 |
| 4. Brian McCann | 102 G, .256/.336/.461, 13 2B, 20 HR, 57 RBI, 43 R | 2.2 |
| 5. Jonathan Lucroy | 147 G, .280/.340/.455, 25 2B, 18 HR, 82 RBI, 59 R | 2.9 |
| 6. Russell Martin | 127 G, .226/.327/.377, 21 2B, 15 HR, 55 RBI, 51 R | 4.3 |
| 7. Jason Castro | 120 G, .276/.350/.485, 35 2B, 18 HR, 56 RBI, 63 R | 4.5 |
| 8. Wilin Rosario | 121 G, .292/.315/.486, 22 2B, 21 HR, 79 RBI, 63 R | 2.3 |
| 9. Matt Wieters | 148 G, .235/.287/.417, 29 2B, 22 HR, 79 RBI, 59 R | 0.4 |
| 10. Wilson Ramos | 78 G, .272/.307/.470, 9 2B, 16 HR, 59 RBI, 29 R | 2.4 |
One to Watch: Welington Castillo (Chicago Cubs)
Position Overview
Yadier Molina and Buster Posey are in a tier by themselves at the top, and while Posey may have more pop, Molina remains the best all-around catcher in the game and the clear choice for the top spot at this point.
Salvador Perez and Jason Castro both enjoyed breakout seasons in 2013, though the ceiling is much higher for the 23-year-old Perez moving forward, and he could join that top tier before too long.
Offensively, Brian McCann and Jonathan Lucroy are legitimate middle-of-the-order bats, while veterans Russell Martin and Matt Wieters deliver some pop and do a great job handling their respective staffs.
Wilin Rosario is a below-average defender, but he has the best power at the position.
Wilson Ramos put up fantastic numbers over just 78 games last season, and if he can stay healthy, he could be in for a big year.
1st Basemen
2 of 10
| 1. Miguel Cabrera | 148 G, .348/.442/.636, 26 2B, 44 HR, 137 RBI, 103 R | 7.2 |
| 2. Paul Goldschmidt | 160 G, .302/.401/.551, 36 2B, 36 HR, 125 RBI, 103 R | 7.1 |
| 3. Joey Votto | 162 G, .305/.435/.491, 30 2B, 24 HR, 73 RBI, 101 R | 6.4 |
| 4. Chris Davis | 160 G, .286/.370/.634, 42 2B, 53 HR, 138 RBI, 103 R | 6.3 |
| 5. Freddie Freeman | 147 G, .319/.396/.501, 27 2B, 23 HR, 109 RBI, 89 R | 5.4 |
| 6. Joe Mauer | 113 G, .324/.404/.476, 35 2B, 11 HR, 47 RBI, 62 R | 5.4 |
| 7. Edwin Encarnacion | 142 G, .272/.370/.534, 29 2B, 36 HR, 104 RBI, 90 R | 4.0 |
| 8. Adrian Gonzalez | 157 G, .293/.342/.461, 32 2B, 22 HR, 100 RBI, 69 R | 4.0 |
| 9. Prince Fielder | 162 G, .279/.362/.457, 36 2B, 25 HR, 106 RBI, 82 R | 1.7 |
| 10. Albert Pujols | 99 G, .258/.330/.437, 19 2B, 17 HR, 64 RBI, 49 R | 1.5 |
One to Watch: Jose Abreu, Chicago White Sox
Position Overview
Until further notice, Miguel Cabrera remains the best hitter on the planet, and a return to first base should help keep him healthy in 2014. Not far behind, though, is Paul Goldschmidt, who took a huge step forward in his second full season and should be a perennial MVP candidate.
Joey Votto and Freddie Freeman will be chasing Goldschmidt for the title of top first baseman in the NL. While neither has elite power, no one gets on base like Votto, and Freeman is still improving even after an MVP-caliber season.
Chris Davis is undoubtedly due for some regression after his monster 2013 season, but he should still be one of the top power threats in all of baseball. Veterans Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols have fallen down the list, but a healthy season from Pujols and a move to hitter-friendly Texas for Fielder could help them climb back up.
Edwin Encarnacion and Adrian Gonzalez have become two of the more reliable run-producers in the game, with Encarnacion possessing more power and Gonzalez the far better defender of the two. Joe Mauer is the newcomer here, as he moves out from behind the plate full time, and his offense could spike as a result.
It's worth noting that it was awfully hard to leave Brandon Belt off this list. With another step forward in 2014, he could definitely bump someone out.
2nd Basemen
3 of 10
| 1. Robinson Cano | 160 G, .314/.383/.516, 41 2B, 27 HR, 107 RBI, 81 R | 7.6 |
| 2. Dustin Pedroia | 160 G, .301/.372/.415, 42 2B, 9 HR, 84 RBI, 91 R | 6.5 |
| 3. Jason Kipnis | 149 G, .284/.366/.452, 36 2B, 17 HR, 84 RBI, 86 R | 5.9 |
| 4. Ben Zobrist | 157 G, .275/.354/.402, 36 2B, 12 HR, 71 RBI, 77 R | 5.1 |
| 5. Ian Kinsler | 136 G, .277/.344/.413, 31 2B, 13 HR, 72 RBI, 85 R | 4.9 |
| 6. Brandon Phillips | 151 G, .261/.310/.396, 24 2B, 18 HR, 103 RBI, 80 R | 1.6 |
| 7. Jedd Gyorko | 125 G, .249/.301/.444, 26 2B, 23 HR, 63 RBI, 62 R | 2.2 |
| 8. Aaron Hill | 87 G, .291/.356/.462, 21 2B, 11 HR, 41 RBI, 45 R | 1.1 |
| 9. Chase Utley | 131 G, .284/.348/.475, 25 2B, 18 HR, 69 RBI, 73 R | 3.5 |
| 10. Daniel Murphy | 161 G, .286/.319/.415, 38 2B, 13 HR, 78 RBI, 92 R | 1.8 |
One to Watch: Anthony Rendon (Washington Nationals)
Position Overview
Robinson Cano has a new home in far less hitter-friendly Seattle, but he remains atop the second base list for the time being. He'll need similar numbers to last season to justify his 10-year, $240 million deal, though.
Behind Cano, the AL is loaded at the position, as Dustin Pedroia, Jason Kipnis, Ben Zobrist and Ian Kinsler could all make a run at a spot on the AL All-Star team. Zobrist has spent the bulk of his time at second but remains supremely valuable because of his versatility, while Kinsler has a new home atop the Tigers lineup.
The NL crop is not nearly as impressive, as Brandon Phillips still leads the way despite a poor season in 2013 that was masked by a career-high RBI output. Veteran Chase Utley has undoubtedly slipped, but he showed he still has something in the tank last season.
Jedd Gyorko had a big rookie season from a power standpoint, and he should only get better in the years to come. A healthy season from Aaron Hill could make him the most productive second baseman in the NL, as his numbers were solid over 87 games last year. Daniel Murphy edges out the likes of Omar Infante, Marco Scutaro, Brian Dozier and Neil Walker for the final spot.
3rd Basemen
4 of 10
| 1. David Wright | 112 G, .307/.390/.514, 23 2B, 18 HR, 58 RBI, 63 R | 5.8 |
| 2. Adrian Beltre | 161 G, .315/.371/.509, 32 2B, 30 HR, 92 RBI, 88 R | 5.5 |
| 3. Evan Longoria | 160 G, .269/.343/.498, 39 2B, 32 HR, 88 RBI, 91 R | 6.3 |
| 4. Manny Machado | 156 G, .283/.314/.432, 51 2B, 14 HR, 71 RBI, 88 R | 6.5 |
| 5. Matt Carpenter | 157 G, .318/.392/.481, 55 2B, 11 HR, 78 RBI, 126 R | 6.6 |
| 6. Josh Donaldson | 158 G, .301/.384/.499, 37 2B, 24 HR, 93 RBI, 89 R | 8.0 |
| 7. Pedro Alvarez | 152 G, .233/.296/.473, 22 2B, 36 HR, 100 RBI, 70 R | 3.3 |
| 8. Kyle Seager | 160 G, .260/.338/.426, 32 2B, 22 HR, 69 RBI, 79 R | 3.9 |
| 9. Pablo Sandoval | 141 G, .278/.341/.417, 27 2B, 14 HR, 79 RBI, 52 R | 2.5 |
| 10. Ryan Zimmerman | 147 G, .275/.344/.465, 26 2B, 26 HR, 79 RBI, 84 R | 3.8 |
One to Watch: Nolan Arenado (Colorado Rockies)
Position Overview
It's a tossup at the top here, as you can make a case for David Wright, Adrian Beltre and Evan Longoria each being the best third baseman in the game. Put those three in any order you like at the top, but for my money I'll take Wright by the slimmest of margins.
Manny Machado needs to prove healthy, and Josh Donaldson needs to prove his breakout season was for real before they make a run at that upper tier. Matt Carpenter is also in the mix, as he moves from second to third, and even with some regression he should still be a dynamic table-setter in St. Louis.
Pedro Alvarez enjoyed a breakout season and may have the best power at the position, while Kyle Seager remains one of the more underrated players out there. Ryan Zimmerman struggled throwing the ball across the diamond last season, but he still has the bat to be an elite option.
Pablo Sandoval could be the wild card here, as he slimmed down in the offseason and is entering a contract year. He hit .315/.357/.552 with 23 home runs back in 2011, and a run at those type of numbers is not out of the question.
To all of you Atlanta Braves fans out there who are questioning the exclusion of Chris Johnson, he's an above-average option at the position, but I just don't see any way he maintains a .394 BABIP and hits anywhere near .321 again.
Shortstops
5 of 10
| 1. Hanley Ramirez | 86 G, .345/.402/.638, 25 2B, 20 HR, 57 RBI, 62 R | 5.4 |
| 2. Troy Tulowitzki | 126 G, .312/.391/.540, 27 2B, 25 HR, 82 RBI, 72 R | 5.3 |
| 3. Andrelton Simmons | 157 G, .248/.296/.396, 27 2B, 17 HR, 59 RBI, 76 R | 6.8 |
| 4. Ian Desmond | 158 G, .280/.331/.453, 38 2B, 20 HR, 80 RBI, 77 R | 3.7 |
| 5. Jose Reyes | 93 G, .296/.353/.427, 20 2B, 10 HR, 37 RBI, 58 R | 2.5 |
| 6. J.J. Hardy | 159 G, .263/.306/.433, 27 2B, 25 HR, 76 RBI, 66 R | 3.7 |
| 7. Jean Segura | 146 G, .294/.329/.423, 20 2B, 12 HR, 49 RBI, 74 R | 3.9 |
| 8. Jhonny Peralta | 107 G, .303/.358/.457, 30 2B, 11 HR, 55 RBI, 50 R | 3.3 |
| 9. Elvis Andrus | 156 G, .271/.328/.331, 17 2B, 4 HR, 67 RBI, 91 R | 4.3 |
| 10. Jed Lowrie | 154 G, .290/.344/.446, 45 2B, 15 HR, 75 RBI, 80 R | 2.3 |
One to Watch: Xander Bogaerts (Boston Red Sox)
Position Overview
Heath is a big question at the top, but provided they can stay on the field, Hanley Ramirez and Troy Tulowitzki are clearly at the top of the heap here. Ramirez may very well have walked away with NL MVP if he had played the whole season, and he opens the year in the top spot.
The phenomenal glove of Andrelton Simmons makes anything he does with the bat gravy, and he actually wound up putting up far better power numbers than anyone expected. Ian Desmond is a notch below the top two guys offensively, but he's close. With his mix of power, speed and defense, he remains largely underrated.
Jose Reyes is still an impact table-setter when healthy, while J.J. Hardy came away with the AL Silver Slugger and Gold Glove last season. Jed Lowrie had a nice first season in Oakland, and Elvis Andrus will have the benefit of no longer seeing his name pop up in trade rumors after the team opted to deal Ian Kinsler this offseason.
The two biggest question marks are Jean Segura and Jhonny Peralta. Segura was phenomenal in the first half but hit just .241/.268/.315 after the All-Star break, and Peralta is returning from a 50-game PED suspension and has joined a new team in the Cardinals.
Derek Jeter does not crack my top 10 after playing all of 17 games last season, but a big final year would also not surprise me in the least. Yunel Escobar and Alcides Escobar are both terrific defenders but need to do a little more at the plate to earn a spot here.
Outfielders
6 of 10
| 1. Mike Trout | 157 G, .323/.432/.557, 39 2B, 27 HR, 97 RBI, 109 R | 9.2 |
| 2. Andrew McCutchen | 157 G, .317/.404/.508, 38 2B, 21 HR, 84 RBI, 97 R | 8.2 |
| 3. Carlos Gonzalez | 110 G, .302/.367/.591, 23 2B, 26 HR, 70 RBI, 72 R | 4.9 |
| 4. Carlos Gomez | 147 G, .284/.338/.506, 27 2B, 24 HR, 73 RBI, 80 R | 8.4 |
| 5. Jose Bautista | 118 G, .259/.358/.498, 24 2B, 28 HR, 73 RBI, 82 R | 4.1 |
| 6. Shin-Soo Choo | 154 G, .285/.423/.462, 34 2B, 21 HR, 54 RBI, 107 R | 4.2 |
| 7. Adam Jones | 160 G, .285/.318/.493, 35 2B, 33 HR, 108 RBI, 100 R | 4.4 |
| 8. Ryan Braun | 61 G, .298/.372/.498, 14 2B, 9 HR, 38 RBI, 30 R | 2.0 |
| 9. Bryce Harper | 118 G, .274/.368/.486, 24 2B, 20 HR, 58 RBI, 71 R | 3.8 |
| 10. Jay Bruce | 160 G, .262/.329/.478, 43 2B, 30 HR, 109 RBI, 89 R | 5.1 |
| 11. Matt Holliday | 141 G, .300/.389/.490, 31 2B, 22 HR, 94 RBI, 103 R | 2.7 |
| 12. Starling Marte | 135 G, .280/.343/.441, 26 2B, 12 HR, 35 RBI, 83 R | 5.4 |
| 13. Giancarlo Stanton | 116 G, .249/.365/.480, 26 2B, 24 HR, 62 RBI, 62 R | 2.4 |
| 14. Hunter Pence | 162 G, .283/.339/.483, 35 2B, 27 HR, 99 RBI, 91 R | 4.1 |
| 15. Yasiel Puig | 104 G, .319/.391/.534, 21 2B, 19 HR, 42 RBI, 66 R | 5.0 |
One to Watch: Khris Davis (Milwaukee Brewers)
Position Overview
After an amazing first two seasons in the majors, Mike Trout enters 2014 as not only the top outfielder in the game but the best all-around player in baseball.
Reigning NL MVP Andrew McCutchen slots right behind him, as he had a huge second half in helping the Pirates reach the playoffs and is a legitimate five-tool player.
Health has held back the likes of Carlos Gonzalez, Jose Bautista and Giancarlo Stanton, but they are all capable of being among the most productive outfielders in the game. Ryan Braun is returning from a PED suspension and has as much to prove as anyone in the game.
On-base machine Shin-Soo Choo has a new home in Texas, and he could be in for a big year, while Carlos Gomez enjoyed a breakout year in 2013 and will be looking to continue his climb to stardom.
Adam Jones, Matt Holliday, Jay Bruce and Hunter Pence have all proven themselves as consistent producers, while young guys like Bryce Harper, Starling Marte and Yasiel Puig still have plenty of room to improve in the years to come.
Right-Handed Starting Pitchers
7 of 10
| 1. Felix Hernandez | 31 GS, 12-10, 3.04 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 216 K, 204.1 IP | 5.2 |
| 2. Yu Darvish | 32 GS, 13-9, 2.83 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 277 K, 209.2 IP | 5.8 |
| 3. Adam Wainwright | 34 GS, 19-9, 2.94 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 219 K, 241.2 IP | 6.2 |
| 4. Max Scherzer | 32 GS, 21-3, 2.90 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 240 K, 214.1 IP | 6.7 |
| 5. Jose Fernandez | 28 GS, 12-6, 2.19 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 187 K, 172.2 IP | 6.3 |
| 6. Justin Verlander | 34 GS, 13-12, 3.46 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, 217 K, 218.1 IP | 4.6 |
| 7. Stephen Strasburg | 30 GS, 8-9, 3.00 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 191 K, 183 IP | 3.1 |
| 8. Anibal Sanchez | 29 GS, 14-8, 2.57 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 202 K, 182 IP | 6.3 |
| 9. Zack Greinke | 28 GS, 15-4, 2.63 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 148 K, 177.2 IP | 3.9 |
| 10. James Shields | 34 GS, 13-9, 3.15 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 196 K, 228.2 IP | 4.1 |
One to Watch: Sonny Gray (Oakland Athletics)
Position Overview
There are only a handful of bona fide staff aces in the MLB today, and the trio of Felix Hernandez, Yu Darvish and Adam Wainwright all fall into that category as the clear leaders of their staff. A bounce-back season from Justin Verlander would put him in that category as well, and he looked strong down the stretch.
Even if Verlander does not fully return to form, the Tigers have two other dynamic right-handers in their rotation in AL Cy Young winner Max Scherzer and ERA title winner Anibal Sanchez.
There may be some regression ahead for Jose Fernandez, but it's hard to ignore just how good the 21-year-old was last year. Meanwhile, Stephen Strasburg has yet to have a true breakout season, but he has all the talent in the world.
Zack Greinke and James Shields edged out a handful of players for the final two spots on the list. Veterans Hisashi Iwakuma, Mat Latos, Jordan Zimmermann, Justin Masterson and Johnny Cueto all received serious consideration, as did youngsters Michael Wacha, Shelby Miller, Gerrit Cole and Julio Teheran.
Left-Handed Starting Pitchers
8 of 10
| 1. Clayton Kershaw | 33 GS, 16-9, 1.83 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 232 K, 236 IP | 7.8 |
| 2. Chris Sale | 30 GS, 11-14, 3.07 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 226 K, 214.1 IP | 6.9 |
| 3. Cliff Lee | 31 GS, 14-8, 2.87 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 222 K, 222.2 IP | 7.3 |
| 4. David Price | 27 GS, 10-8, 3.33 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 151 K, 186.2 IP | 2.8 |
| 5. Madison Bumgarner | 31 GS, 13-9, 2.77 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 199 K, 201.1 IP | 3.8 |
| 6. Cole Hamels | 33 GS, 8-14, 3.60 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 202 K, 220 IP | 4.6 |
| 7. Jon Lester | 33 GS, 15-8, 3.75 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 177 K, 213.1 IP | 3.0 |
| 8. Francisco Liriano | 26 GS, 16-8, 3.02 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 163 K, 161 IP | 3.0 |
| 9. Matt Moore | 27 GS, 17-4, 3.29 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 143 K, 150.1 IP | 2.6 |
| 10. Gio Gonzalez | 32 GS, 11-8, 3.36 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 192 K, 195.2 IP | 3.0 |
One to Watch: Martin Perez (Texas Rangers)
Position Overview
Few would argue that Clayton Kershaw is the best pitcher in the game today, and after winning his third straight ERA title and second NL Cy Young in three years, he cashed in with a seven-year, $215 million deal.
Chris Sale proved his big first season in the rotation in 2012 was no fluke last year, and he is one of the best young arms in the game.
The duo of Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels in Philadelphia is among the best in the game, while Madison Bumgarner was the lone bright spot in the Giants rotation last year. David Price and Jon Lester are both legitimate staff aces, and Francisco Liriano filled that role for the playoff-bound Pirates last year as well.
Matt Moore finally started to live up to the hype last year, and he checks in at the No. 9 spot with room to climb the list. Gio Gonzalez takes the final spot over C.J. Wilson, Mike Minor, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Travis Wood and Mark Buehrle.
Right-Handed Relief Pitchers
9 of 10
| 1. Craig Kimbrel | 68 G, 4-3, 50 SV, 1.21 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 13.2 K/9 | 3.3 |
| 2. Greg Holland | 68 G, 2-1, 47 SV, 1.21 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 13.8 K/9 | 3.1 |
| 3. Kenley Jansen | 75 G, 4-3, 28 SV, 1.88 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 13.0 K/9 | 2.6 |
| 4. Koji Uehara | 73 G, 4-1, 21 SV, 1.09 ERA, 0.57 WHIP, 12.2 K/9 | 3.6 |
| 5. Joe Nathan | 67 G, 6-2, 43 SV, 1.39 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 10.2 K/9 | 3.2 |
| 6. Trevor Rosenthal | 74 G, 2-4, 3 SV, 2.63 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 12.9 K/9 | 1.4 |
| 7. David Robertson | 70 G, 5-1, 3 SV, 2.04 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 10.4 K/9 | 2.4 |
| 8. Jason Grilli | 54 G, 0-2, 33 SV, 2.70 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 13.3 K/9 | 0.8 |
| 9. Sergio Romo | 65 G, 5-8, 38 SV, 2.54 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 8.7 K/9 | 0.7 |
| 10. Grant Balfour | 65 G, 1-3, 38 SV, 2.59 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 10.3 K/9 | 1.4 |
One to Watch: Tommy Hunter (Baltimore Orioles)
Position Overview
The most dominant reliever in the game today, Craig Kimbrel has gone 139-of-154 on save chances with a 1.39 ERA and 15.1 K/9 in his young career.
Greg Holland actually had better numbers than Kimbrel last season, but he'll need another big year before he gets consideration for the top spot. That said, the most dominant reliever in the game last year was Koji Uehara, who stepped up big for the Red Sox when a number of others faltered.
Kenley Jansen uses the best cut-fastball since Mariano Rivera to dominate in the ninth for the Dodgers, while veteran Joe Nathan is now the active saves leader with Rivera retired. He's set to close things out for a new team in Detroit.
Trevor Rosenthal and David Robertson are both entering their first full season in the ninth inning, but they have the stuff to thrive in that role. Veterans Jason Grilli, Sergio Romo and Grant Balfour beat out guys like Jim Johnson, Fernando Rodney, Casey Janssen, Addison Reed, Rafael Soriano and Huston Street for the final three spots.
Left-Handed Relief Pitchers
10 of 10
| 1. Aroldis Chapman | 68 G, 4-5, 38 SV, 2.54 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 15.8 K/9 | 2.0 |
| 2. Glen Perkins | 61 G, 2-0, 36 SV, 2.30 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 11.1 K/9 | 2.1 |
| 3. Rex Brothers | 72 G, 2-1, 19 SV, 1.74 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 10.2 K/9 | 3.1 |
| 4. Javier Lopez | 69 G, 4-2, 1 SV, 1.83 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 8.5 K/9 | 0.9 |
| 5. Craig Breslow | 61 G, 5-2, 0 SV, 1.81 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 5.0 K/9 | 1.6 |
| 6. Kevin Siegrist | 45 G, 3-1, 0 SV, 0.45 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 11.3 K/9 | 1.9 |
| 7. Luis Avilan | 75 G, 5-0, 0 SV, 1.52 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 5.3 K/9 | 2.4 |
| 8. Tony Watson | 67 G, 3-1, 2 SV, 2.39 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 6.8 K/9 | 1.4 |
| 9. Sean Doolittle | 70 G, 5-5, 2 SV, 3.13 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 7.8 K/9 | 1.2 |
| 10. Jake McGee | 71 G, 5-3, 1 SV, 4.02 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 10.8 K/9 | 0.2 |
One to Watch: Donnie Joseph, Kansas City Royals
Position Overview
There are only two left-handed pitchers projected to open the season in the closer's role, but they are an awfully good duo. Flame-throwing Aroldis Chapman continues to put up video game-type strikeout numbers, while Glen Perkins was fantastic in his first full season in the ninth last year.
Rex Brothers saw some time as the Rockies closer last season after Rafael Betancourt went down, but the team signed LaTroy Hawkins to close games in 2014, and Brothers will return to a setup role.
Veterans Javier Lopez and Craig Breslow continued to throw well last season, and Lopez cashed in with a three-year, $13 million deal in free agency.
Sean Doolittle and Jake McGee were solid as setup men once again last season, while a trio of youngsters in Kevin Siegrist, Luis Avilan and Tony Watson enjoyed breakout seasons and will be looking to do it again in 2014.
