Updating MLB's Top 100 Players at 2016's Three-Quarter Mark
We have reached what can be considered roughly the three-quarter mark of the 2016 MLB season, and that means it's time for an updated look at the top 100 players in the game.
While previous editions of this list have taken into account things such as a player's track record and future expectations, we're far enough along that this time the only thing that matters is performance here in 2016.
It's not about reputation—it's about production this season. Nothing else. Can't stress that enough.
Included alongside each player is a chart featuring their notable stats for the year, among which you'll find their Baseball-Reference.com WAR total.
Just like any stat, WAR is a tool used to further understand the game.
It's not the be-all and end-all stat to determine a player's value, though. With that in mind, don't expect this to simply be a reflection of the top 100 WAR totals around the league.
No one will agree completely with this list, and that's the beauty of it—hopefully this will spark some levelheaded debate.
Notable Exclusions
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When putting together the following rankings, I first went team by team and made a preliminary list of players to consider.
From there I dropped everyone who did not have at least a 1.0 WAR. If you're not one win above replacement at the three-quarter mark, it's fair to say you're not a top-100 player.
From there the list was whittled down slowly but surely until we got to 100. The following guys made that preliminary list but did not crack the final 100:
Starting Pitchers
Trevor Bauer (CLE), Carlos Carrasco (CLE), Tyler Chatwood (COL), Gerrit Cole (PIT), Bartolo Colon (NYM), Adam Conley (MIA), Zach Davies (MIL), Anthony DeSclafani (CIN), Jerad Eickhoff (PHI), Doug Fister (HOU), Junior Guerra (MIL), Jon Gray (COL), Jeremy Hellickson (PHI), Felix Hernandez (SEA), Rich Hill (LAD), Hisashi Iwakuma (SEA), John Lackey (CHC), Colby Lewis (TEX), Kenta Maeda (LAD), Steven Matz (NYM), Jake Odorizzi (TB), Danny Salazar (CLE), Ervin Santana (MIN), Dan Straily (CIN), Josh Tomlin (CLE), Vincent Velasquez (PHI)
Relief Pitchers
Cody Allen (CLE), Tony Barnette (TEX), Kyle Barraclough (MIA), Cam Bedrosian (LAA), Brad Brach (BAL), Ryan Buchter (SD), Santiago Casilla (SF), Edwin Diaz (SEA), Jake Diekman (TEX), Ryan Dull (OAK), Sam Dyson (TEX), Neftali Feliz (PIT), Jeanmar Gomez (PHI), Kelvin Herrera (KC), Will Harris (HOU), Kenley Jansen (LAD), Jeremy Jeffress (TEX), Nate Jones (CWS), Shawn Kelley (WAS), Craig Kimbrel (BOS), Brandon Kintzler (MIN), Adam Liberatore (LAD), Hector Neris (PHI), Seung Hwan Oh (STL), David Phelps (MIA), A.J. Ramos (MIA), Addison Reed (NYM), Fernando Rodney (MIA), Francisco Rodriguez (DET), Hector Rondon (CHC), Pedro Strop (CHC), Tyler Thornburg (MIL), Tony Watson (PIT)
Catchers
Yasmani Grandal (LAD), J.T. Realmuto (MIA), Cameron Rupp (PHI), Stephen Vogt (OAK)
Infielders
Nick Castellanos (DET), Zack Cozart (CIN), Logan Forsythe (TB), Todd Frazier (CWS), Didi Gregorius (NYY), Eric Hosmer (KC), DJ LeMahieu (COL), Brad Miller (TB), Brandon Moss (STL), Mike Napoli (CLE), Eduardo Nunez (SF), Rougned Odor (TEX), Steve Pearce (TB), Anthony Rendon (WAS), Addison Russell (CHC), Carlos Santana (CLE), Jonathan Schoop (BAL), Devon Travis (TOR), Joey Votto (CIN), Neil Walker (NYM)
Outfielders
Jay Bruce (NYM), Kole Calhoun (LAA), Adam Duvall (CIN), Adam Eaton (CWS), Matt Kemp (ATL), Odubel Herrera (PHI), Matt Holliday (STL), Adam Jones (BAL), Matt Joyce (PIT), Max Kepler (MIN), Kevin Kiermaier (TB), J.D. Martinez (DET), Tyler Naquin (CLE), Paulo Orlando (KC), Kevin Pillar (TOR), Stephen Piscotty (STL), Josh Reddick (LAD), Giancarlo Stanton (MIA), Mark Trumbo (BAL), Melvin Upton (TOR)
Next 10
- RP Brad Brach (BAL)
- SP Carlos Carrasco (CLE)
- SP Bartolo Colon (NYM)
- RP Jeremy Jeffress (TEX)
- RP Seung Hwan Oh (STL)
- RF Stephen Piscotty (STL)
- SP Danny Salazar (CLE)
- RF Giancarlo Stanton (MIA)
- RF Mark Trumbo (BAL)
- 1B Joey Votto (CIN)
Nos. 100-91
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100. RP Wade Davis, Kansas City Royals
| 35 | 33.2 | 1-0 | 21/23 | 1.60 | 1.099 | 4.0 | 8.6 | 1.5 |
Davis has been sidelined since July 27 with a forearm strain, or he might have be pitching elsewhere considering the trade market for late-inning relievers. While his 4.0 BB/9 is somewhat uncharacteristic, the rest of his numbers were at their usual dominant level pre-injury.
99. RF Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals
| .233/.374/.438 | 115 | 83 | 13 | 20 | 57 | 59 | 15 | 1.5 |
Who would have guessed at the start of the season or even at the All-Star break that Harper would find himself ranked this low? His .374 on-base percentage and 18.3 percent walk rate is still enough to earn him a spot, but he's hitting just .134 with a .468 OPS and one home run in the second half.
98. UT Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Indians
| .309/.365/.443 | 109 | 117 | 28 | 7 | 48 | 58 | 14 | 2.4 |
After being supplanted at the shortstop position by Francisco Lindor a year ago, Ramirez has carved out a key role as a super-utility guy this season. Splitting his time between third base and left field, his production has gone a long way in helping ease the loss of Michael Brantley.
97. SP Zack Greinke, Arizona Diamondbacks
| 18 | 115.1 | 11-3 | 3.67 | 117 | 1.153 | 1.7 | 7.6 | 2.7 |
It was a rough start to the season for Greinke on the heels of signing that massive six-year, $206.5 million contract, as he posted a 6.16 ERA in his first five starts. He's done a nice job righting the ship since, though, going 9-1 with a 2.76 ERA and 1.039 WHIP in his last 13 starts.
96. 3B Martin Prado, Miami Marlins
| .321/.374/.433 | 121 | 137 | 26 | 6 | 50 | 54 | 1 | 3.1 |
Prado is not hitting for much power and is average at best defensively, but he ranks seventh in the NL in batting average (.321) and 17th in on-base percentage (.374). In a weak upcoming free-agent class, the 32-year-old has positioned himself nicely for a multiyear deal.
95. C Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals
| .263/.297/.461 | 97 | 98 | 22 | 16 | 48 | 40 | 0 | 2.5 |
Perez is the only player to crack the top 100 with an on-base percentage under .300, as he's here largely for his solid pop from the catcher position and terrific all-around defensive skills. He's thrown out 53 percent of potential base stealers and caught a whopping 79.1 percent of his team's innings on the year.
94. SP Carlos Martinez, St. Louis Cardinals
| 22 | 137.1 | 10-7 | 3.34 | 121 | 1.223 | 3.3 | 7.3 | 3.0 |
A year after leading the majors with a 2.99 starter's ERA, things have not gone nearly as smooth for the Cardinals rotation this season. Martinez has been the best of the bunch, though, as he's learning to limit his pitch count and work deeper into games by relying less on the strikeout.
93. SP Chris Tillman, Baltimore Orioles
| 25 | 151.0 | 15-4 | 3.46 | 128 | 1.212 | 3.2 | 7.5 | 4.2 |
Tillman has been the one constant in an otherwise rocky Orioles rotation. His peripheral numbers have returned to their 2013 form, when he earned an All-Star nod and posted the best all-around season of his career. Baltimore will be counting on him to keep it up if it hopes to hold on in the AL East.
92. 2B Jason Kipnis, Cleveland Indians
| .285/.347/.488 | 113 | 123 | 23 | 19 | 62 | 67 | 10 | 2.9 |
Kipnis enjoyed a nice bounce-back season last year when he hit .303 with an .823 OPS to finish 16th in AL MVP voting. His average is down a bit this year, but he's hitting for more power, already setting a new personal best with 19 home runs and raising his OPS to .835.
91. CF Marcell Ozuna, Miami Marlins
| .285/.342/.490 | 125 | 118 | 18 | 19 | 59 | 60 | 0 | 2.0 |
After struggling to a .691 OPS last season and spending some time in the minors as a result, Ozuna has bounced back in a big way with the best numbers of his career. The 25-year-old looked to be firmly on the trade block heading into last offseason, but the Marlins made the right decision being patient.
Nos. 90-81
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90. RP Mark Melancon, Washington Nationals
| 50 | 46.2 | 1-1 | 32/35 | 1.35 | 0.879 | 1.7 | 8.7 | 1.8 |
Melancon set the Pirates' single-season save record when he nailed down 51 of 53 chances last season, and he's been lights out once again in a contract year. The Pirates shipped him to the Nationals at the trade deadline, and he's tallied two saves over five scoreless innings so far with his new team.
89. RF Gregory Polanco, Pittsburgh Pirates
| .279/.351/.493 | 123 | 100 | 25 | 16 | 60 | 59 | 11 | 2.2 |
A .330/.380/.500 line last August proved to be a sign of things to come for Polanco. The 24-year-old is enjoying a breakout season; he's already set new career highs in home runs (16) and RBI (60) while raising his OPS from .701 to .844.
88. LF Michael Saunders, Toronto Blue Jays
| .271/.356/.507 | 129 | 102 | 26 | 19 | 47 | 58 | 1 | 2.4 |
Probably the leading candidate for AL Comeback Player of the Year honors, Saunders played in just nine games for the Blue Jays last season following a spring knee surgery. The first-time All-Star is another player who has boosted his stock considerably ahead of an offseason turn at free agency.
87. SP Masahiro Tanaka, New York Yankees
| 23 | 146.1 | 8-4 | 3.32 | 127 | 1.114 | 1.7 | 7.4 | 3.0 |
Tanaka is still pitching with that partially torn UCL in his throwing elbow, but that has not stopped him from being the Yankees' best pitcher and one of the most steady contributors in the AL. He ranks 10th in the league in ERA (3.32) and eighth in WHIP (1.114), and his 1.7 BB/9 is good for sixth among all qualified starters.
86. SP Rick Porcello, Boston Red Sox
| 23 | 151.0 | 15-3 | 3.40 | 133 | 1.079 | 1.6 | 7.5 | 3.2 |
Porcello has been on a nice roll of late, going 8-1 with a 2.88 ERA in his last 12 starts and tying his career high for wins (15) along the way. In what has been a disappointing debut for David Price, it's Porcello who has been the Red Sox's most consistent starter.
85. CF Dexter Fowler, Chicago Cubs
| .283/.390/.467 | 131 | 86 | 21 | 9 | 37 | 56 | 8 | 2.8 |
It's not hard to see how important Fowler is as a catalyst atop the Cubs lineup, and he was sorely missed when he went down with a hamstring injury earlier this year. The Cubs are 58-24 (.707) with him in the lineup, compared to 14-17 (.452) without him.
84. DH Victor Martinez, Detroit Tigers
| .305/.362/.496 | 131 | 121 | 16 | 20 | 66 | 45 | 0 | 1.5 |
He doesn't provide anything in the way of defensive value, and he's not putting up elite power numbers; but it's been a solid bounce-back season for V-Mart. After finishing second in AL MVP voting in 2014, he saw his OPS plummet from .974 to .667 in the first year of a four-year, $68 million deal.
83. 2B Ben Zobrist, Chicago Cubs
| .275/.385/.442 | 123 | 105 | 23 | 13 | 57 | 67 | 4 | 2.8 |
If not for a 24-game stretch in the middle of the season where he hit a dismal .143/.250/.319, Zobrist might be challenging for a spot inside the top 50 in these rankings. He's started to get things back on track, and the Cubs will need him to finish strong.
82. SP Drew Pomeranz, Boston Red Sox
| 22 | 127.2 | 8-9 | 3.03 | 135 | 1.167 | 3.8 | 9.9 | 3.2 |
The Red Sox gave up prized pitching prospect Anderson Espinoza—who ranks as the No. 18 prospect in baseball, per MLB.com—to acquire Pomeranz shortly after the All-Star break. So far, he's 0-2 with a 5.26 ERA in five starts with his new team, but with team control through 2018, this trade will need to be evaluated beyond just his contributions over the final two months of this season.
81. SP Steven Wright, Boston Red Sox
| 22 | 146.2 | 13-5 | 3.01 | 150 | 1.193 | 3.1 | 7.6 | 2.5 |
If not for a spring injury to left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, Wright might be pitching somewhere else right now, as he was out of minor league options and far from a lock to win a bullpen job. Instead, he broke camp as the Red Sox's No. 5 starter, and the knuckleballer has been a revelation this season.
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Nos. 80-71
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80. 2B Brian Dozier, Minnesota Twins
| .262/.338/.509 | 127 | 111 | 26 | 23 | 66 | 66 | 8 | 3.8 |
Dozier is on pace to set new career bests in home runs and RBI for the third consecutive year after he posted a .751 OPS with 28 homers and 77 RBI in 2015. He's also shown an improved approach this season en route to lowering his strikeout rate (21.0 to 16.6 percent) and raising his on-base percentage (.307 to .335).
79. SP J.A. Happ, Toronto Blue Jays
| 23 | 143.0 | 16-3 | 2.96 | 143 | 1.140 | 2.7 | 7.8 | 3.4 |
Happ turned two good months with the Pirates last season into a three-year, $36 million payday from the Blue Jays, and that has proven to be one of the steals of the offseason. The 33-year-old leads the AL with 16 wins and ranks in the top 10 in ERA (2.96, sixth) and WHIP (1.140, ninth).
78. SP Tanner Roark, Washington Nationals
| 23 | 150.0 | 12-6 | 2.88 | 143 | 1.173 | 2.7 | 7.4 | 3.8 |
Roark was by no means guaranteed the No. 5 starter job after Bronson Arroyo was signed to a minor league deal and invited to spring training, but he's enjoying one of the best under-the-radar seasons of any pitcher in baseball. His 2.88 ERA is 11th in the NL, and he's tallied 16 quality starts on the year.
77. RF Carlos Beltran, Texas Rangers
| .304/.344/.544 | 135 | 118 | 24 | 23 | 68 | 51 | 0 | 1.9 |
Beltran has been a liability in the field and a stud at the plate this season, making him the perfect addition by the Rangers to replace Prince Fielder in the DH spot. The 39-year-old is already a sure-fire Hall of Famer for many people. With the way he's hitting this season, he may still have a couple of productive seasons left in the tank.
76. RP Jeurys Familia, New York Mets
| 55 | 54.2 | 2-3 | 39/41 | 2.80 | 1.317 | 3.8 | 9.6 | 1.5 |
His 2.80 ERA and 1.317 WHIP are both higher than any other reliever on this list, but Familia leads all of baseball with 39 saves and has blown just two on the year. Tip of the cap to his setup man Addison Reed (55 G, 27 HLD, 2.01 ERA, 11.4 K/9) as well.
75. 2B Jean Segura, Arizona Diamondbacks
| .310/.358/.456 | 113 | 140 | 26 | 10 | 44 | 69 | 22 | 3.2 |
Segura looked like a prime candidate to benefit from a change of scenery, and that's exactly how things have played out with his move from Milwaukee to Arizona. He's showing a good mix of power (41 extra-base hits) and speed (22 steals), and he's made a smooth transition from shortstop to second base.
74. CF Charlie Blackmon, Colorado Rockies
| .317/.376/.499 | 114 | 131 | 24 | 15 | 54 | 73 | 14 | 2.9 |
Unlike some of his teammates, Blackmon does not have the drastic home/road splits that are often referenced to water down a Rockies player's offensive numbers. The 30-year-old is hitting .322 with an .892 OPS at Coors Field and .312 with an .858 OPS on the road.
73. SS Aledmys Diaz, St. Louis Cardinals
| .312/.376/.518 | 138 | 110 | 25 | 14 | 57 | 64 | 4 | 3.2 |
It's hard to believe that a year ago Aledmys Diaz was designated for assignment and removed from the 40-man roster, as all 29 other teams had a chance to scoop him up for nothing. A spring injury to Jhonny Peralta opened the door at shortstop, and he seized the opportunity on his way to earning a spot on the NL All-Star team. He'd rank higher if not for a fractured right thumb that has him sidelined.
72. 3B Adrian Beltre, Texas Rangers
| .280/.333/.460 | 104 | 118 | 20 | 18 | 72 | 58 | 0 | 3.8 |
Still going strong in his age-37 season, Beltre leads a good Rangers offense in RBI (72) en route to surpassing 1,500 for his career. He's also still a standout defender at the hot corner. His 12 DRS is tops among AL third basemen and second only to Nolan Arenado (14) at the position.
71. SS Jonathan Villar, Milwaukee Brewers
| .305/.389/.447 | 124 | 127 | 28 | 9 | 41 | 63 | 45 | 3.2 |
Acquired from the Astros to help keep the shortstop position warm for top prospect Orlando Arcia, Villar has instead been one of the biggest surprises of the 2016 season. A .408 BABIP is inflating his batting average, and he's been caught stealing 15 times to go along with his 45 successful thefts. That takes nothing away from what he's done to this point, just don't expect it to continue going forward.
Nos. 70-61
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70. LF Yoenis Cespedes, New York Mets
| .289/.362/.548 | 140 | 96 | 18 | 22 | 59 | 49 | 2 | 2.2 |
While a quad issue has plagued Cespedes during the second half and currently has him on the disabled list, he's once again been a force in the middle of an otherwise unproductive Mets lineup when healthy. Provided he exercises his opt-out clause, he'll be the biggest bat on the free-agent market this coming winter.
69. RP Roberto Osuna, Toronto Blue Jays
| 51 | 51.1 | 2-1 | 25/27 | 1.93 | 0.857 | 1.9 | 11.1 | 1.7 |
In his first full season as the Blue Jays closer after taking over at midseason last year, Osuna has continued to be nothing short of dominant. Still just 21 years old, he's lowered his walk rate (2.1 to 1.9 BB/9), raised his strikeout rate (9.7 to 11.0 K/9) and blown just two saves in 27 chances.
68. RP Alex Colome, Tampa Bay Rays
| 40 | 40.0 | 1-3 | 27/28 | 2.02 | 1.025 | 2.7 | 11.9 | 1.5 |
Colome was thrust into ninth-inning duties after a spring injury to All-Star Brad Boxberger, and he's taken the job and run with it. The 27-year-old is the classic case of a former starter whose stuff plays up in shorter spurts, and he's been nearly perfect with 27 saves in 28 chances.
67. C Jonathan Lucroy, Texas Rangers
| .294/.354/.499 | 125 | 108 | 18 | 17 | 56 | 53 | 5 | 3.0 |
The prize of this year's trade deadline, Lucroy went to the Rangers along with reliever Jeremy Jeffress in exchange for top prospects Lewis Brinson and Luis Ortiz, as well as a player to be named. He's rebounded nicely from a concussion-plagued 2015 season and will once again be one of the league's best bargains next year with a $5.25 million team option.
66. SP Jon Lester, Chicago Cubs
| 23 | 141.1 | 12-4 | 2.93 | 135 | 1.090 | 2.5 | 8.9 | 2.4 |
Lester took some undue flak during his first season with the Cubs, going 11-12 with a 3.34 ERA after signing a six-year, $155 million contract, but he finished the season strong. He's picked up right where he left off this year and given the Cubs rotation a front-line presence once again.
65. SP Jason Hammel, Chicago Cubs
| 22 | 127.1 | 12-5 | 2.90 | 136 | 1.084 | 2.8 | 7.5 | 2.4 |
A second-half collapse from Hammel last season (14 GS, 5.10 ERA) was a big reason why the Cubs signed John Lackey this winter, as they sought a proven No. 3 starter for the postseason. No such swoon appears to be in the works for Hammel this season, though, as he's gone 5-0 with a 1.16 ERA in his last five starts.
64. 1B Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves
| .281/.371/.521 | 139 | 121 | 28 | 21 | 49 | 63 | 4 | 3.7 |
Adonis Garcia, Nick Markakis, Jeff Francoeur, Tyler Flowers, Kelly Johnson, A.J. Pierzynski and now Matt Kemp...those are the players who have been tasked with protecting Freddie Freeman in the Braves lineup. Why anyone would ever pitch to him remains a mystery and makes his numbers all the more impressive.
63. SS Trevor Story, Colorado Rockies
| .272/.341/.567 | 119 | 101 | 21 | 27 | 72 | 67 | 8 | 3.0 |
Story saw his standout rookie campaign come to a screeching halt when he suffered a torn UCL in his left thumb that required season-ending surgery. The 23-year-old made his mark, though, and his 27 home runs go down as the third-highest total ever by a rookie shortstop, trailing only Nomar Garciaparra (30 in 1997) and Cal Ripken (28 in 1982).
62. RF George Springer, Houston Astros
| .260/.353/.471 | 125 | 120 | 22 | 23 | 68 | 82 | 7 | 4.5 |
The 26-year-old Springer is one of the game's most dynamic all-around talents. Despite his plus power, he actually serves as a catalyst out of the leadoff spot in the Astros' free-swinging lineup, and he's done a terrific job getting on base ahead of MVP candidate Jose Altuve.
61. SP Marco Estrada, Toronto Blue Jays
| 20 | 128.1 | 7-5 | 2.95 | 144 | 1.036 | 3.2 | 8.5 | 3.0 |
Despite a terrific season last year (13-8, 3.13 ERA), the two-year, $26 million deal given to Estrada in the offseason looked like a risky proposition given his .216 BABIP and 4.40 FIP. He's continued to induce weak contact this season, though, and maintained that low BABIP with a nearly identical .217 mark.
Nos. 60-51
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60. CF Ian Desmond, Texas Rangers
| .291/.341/.486 | 114 | 133 | 25 | 20 | 70 | 81 | 17 | 3.2 |
Desmond was forced to settle for a one-year, $8 million deal from the Rangers and a position change this offseason when he struggled to drum up interest on the free-agent market. A bounce-back season offensively and a surprisingly smooth transition to center field has him once again positioned for a big payday.
59. 3B Justin Turner, Los Angeles Dodgers
| .275/.342/.504 | 128 | 109 | 26 | 21 | 67 | 56 | 3 | 3.9 |
On June 12, Turner was hitting .221/.312/.348 with five home runs and 21 RBI in 234 plate appearances as one of the biggest culprits of a struggling Dodgers offense. Since then, he's put up a .332/.376/.668 line that includes 17 doubles, 16 home runs and 46 RBI in 213 plate appearances.
58. 3B Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays
| .280/.332/.526 | 132 | 123 | 29 | 25 | 64 | 57 | 0 | 3.3 |
The 2016 season has not gone as hoped for the Rays, but at the very least the offseason efforts to improve the offensive attack appear to have benefited Longoria. His .858 OPS would be his best mark since 2012, and he ranks among the AL leaders in doubles (29, sixth) and home runs (25, 10th).
57. 2B Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox
| .297/.366/.446 | 113 | 132 | 28 | 12 | 50 | 72 | 5 | 3.8 |
Another year, another solid performance across the board for Pedroia, who remains one of the game's elite second basemen on both sides of the ball. He's seen some of his pop return this year after dealing with some wrist injuries, and his .812 OPS would be his highest since 2011.
56. RP Dellin Betances, New York Yankees
| 55 | 55.1 | 2-4 | 27 | 2.28 | 1.012 | 2.8 | 16.1 | 1.6 |
The last man standing at the back of the Yankees bullpen now that the trade deadline has come and gone, Betances is more than capable of being a dominant closer in his own right. Since the start of the 2014 season, he's worked 229.1 innings over 199 appearances and posted a 1.65 ERA with a staggering 14.3 K/9.
55. RP Aroldis Chapman, Chicago Cubs
| 39 | 39.0 | 3-0 | 24/26 | 1.89 | 0.769 | 1.9 | 12.7 | 1.7 |
The Cubs coughed up top overall prospect Gleyber Torres for the opportunity to add the flame-throwing Chapman to the back of their bullpen, if only for a few months. Since serving his 30-game suspension at the beginning of the season, he's been his usual dominant self and with notably improved command. He entered the year with a 4.4 BB/9 career walk rate, but is at just 1.8 BB/9 here in 2016.
54. RP Andrew Miller, Cleveland Indians
| 48 | 49.0 | 6-1 | 10/12 | 1.65 | 0.776 | 1.3 | 15.2 | 2.2 |
The Indians also paid a steep price to improve their bullpen at the deadline, shipping a package of prospects headlined by outfielder Clint Frazier and left-hander Justus Sheffield to the Yankees in exchange for Miller. The 31-year-old has been absolutely dominant since the start of 2013, posting a 2.03 ERA, 0.899 WHIP and 14.8 K/9.
53. 1B Brandon Belt, San Francisco Giants
| .280/.397/.484 | 138 | 108 | 30 | 13 | 57 | 55 | 0 | 3.5 |
The Giants gave Belt a five-year, $72.8 million extension shortly after Opening Day, and he's rewarded that commitment with the best season of his career. He may not have prototypical power for the first base position, but his .882 OPS still ranks sixth at the position. He's also raised his walk rate substantially from 10.1 to 16.0 percent this year.
52. DH Edwin Encarnacion, Toronto Blue Jays
| .263/.354/.540 | 136 | 112 | 25 | 31 | 94 | 70 | 2 | 2.8 |
Encarnacion currently leads the majors with 94 RBI, and his 31 home runs are second only to Mark Trumbo (32). He's been asked to pick up the slack with Jose Bautista missing significant time to injury and others like Troy Tulowitzki and Russell Martin struggling through down seasons.
51. LF Starling Marte, Pittsburgh Pirates
| .315/.374/.462 | 123 | 124 | 27 | 7 | 39 | 60 | 39 | 4.0 |
Marte continues to do a little of everything for the Pirates, and he's on his way to new career bests in batting average (.315), on-base percentage (.374) and slugging (.462). He should also blow past his previous career high of 41 stolen bases, as he currently has 39 to rank third in the NL.
Nos. 50-41
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50. SP Aaron Sanchez, Toronto Blue Jays
| 22 | 145.1 | 11-2 | 2.85 | 148 | 1.156 | 2.6 | 7.5 | 3.5 |
One of the biggest storylines of the season has been if and when the Blue Jays would move Sanchez to the bullpen as they look to limit what is already a career-high inning total. Unable to justify bumping their ace to a relief role, they've instead opted for a six-man rotation in an effort to keep the 24-year-old fresh through October.
49. SP Danny Duffy, Kansas City Royals
| 32/16 | 124.1 | 9-1 | 2.82 | 157 | 1.005 | 1.8 | 10.0 | 3.7 |
With a complete-game effort on Thursday night, Duffy now qualifies for the AL ERA title, and he's currently tops in the league with a 2.82 ERA. The southpaw is 9-1 with a 2.79 ERA, 0.969 WHIP and 9.9 K/9 in 17 starts since moving into the rotation, and he's been far and away the Royals' best starter.
48. DH Nelson Cruz, Seattle Mariners
| .285/.368/.540 | 147 | 117 | 19 | 28 | 72 | 64 | 0 | 2.9 |
No one has hit more home runs since the start of the 2014 season than the 112 launched by Cruz. He has successfully put his PED suspension in the rearview. He's a liability defensively, and the 45 games he's played in right field this season actually hurt his overall value, but there's no ignoring the damage he's done with the bat.
47. SP Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers
| 24 | 160.1 | 12-6 | 3.42 | 121 | 1.060 | 2.4 | 9.5 | 4.2 |
He may not be the 2011 AL MVP version, but the 2016 version of Verlander has been awfully good in its own right. Since the beginning of July, he's gone 5-0 with a 1.78 ERA, 0.934 WHIP and 63 strikeouts in 55.2 innings, tallying seven quality starts in eight appearances.
46. 1B Wil Myers, San Diego Padres
| .278/.353/.498 | 130 | 119 | 24 | 22 | 69 | 75 | 21 | 3.3 |
Myers has finally managed to move past the wrist injuries that plagued him in past seasons, returning to the impact form he showed en route to AL Rookie of the Year honors in 2013. The Padres wisely opted to hold onto the 25-year-old at the deadline, and he'll be the centerpiece of their rebuilding efforts.
45. SS Brandon Crawford, San Francisco Giants
| .277/.342/.443 | 111 | 109 | 18 | 11 | 71 | 46 | 4 | 4.0 |
A few months before Brandon Belt signed his extension, the Giants locked up Crawford with a six-year, $75 million deal. He's hitting a career-best .277 right now while continuing to show a knack for driving in runs with 71 RBI. He also leads all shortstops with 19 DRS and a 24.7 UZR/150 as he eyes a second straight Gold Glove.
44. SP Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox
| 22 | 154.0 | 14-5 | 3.16 | 129 | 1.026 | 2.0 | 8.8 | 4.0 |
One awful start on July 8 (5.0 IP, 10 H, 8 ER) has left Sale with some inflated numbers, but he still ranks among the AL leaders in ERA (3.16, eighth) and WHIP (1.026, third). He's finished sixth or better in AL Cy Young voting each of the past four years, and a strong finish could net him the award for the first time in an open field.
43. SP Cole Hamels, Texas Rangers
| 23 | 146.1 | 12-3 | 2.89 | 156 | 1.251 | 3.4 | 8.9 | 4.4 |
Hamels has been exactly what the Rangers were hoping for when they acquired him from the Phillies at the deadline last year. With so many injuries to the Rangers rotation, his performance has been that much more important. He's been particularly good of late at 3-1 with a 1.83 ERA in his last five starts.
42. SS Carlos Correa, Houston Astros
| .273/.368/.482 | 132 | 115 | 28 | 18 | 78 | 58 | 10 | 4.8 |
Correa has not quite turned in the MVP-caliber season many were predicting after his huge debut, but he's been far from a disappointment. The 21-year-old leads all shortstops with 78 RBI, and his .850 OPS is good for fourth at the position. He's just scratching the surface, folks.
41. RP Zach Britton, Baltimore Orioles
| 50 | 48.0 | 2-1 | 35/35 | 0.56 | 0.813 | 2.8 | 10.5 | 2.9 |
The highest-ranked reliever on this list, Britton has been nothing short of dominant at the back of the Orioles bullpen this season. His 35 saves in 35 chances and minuscule 0.56 ERA are accompanied by a 79.6 percent ground-ball rate and nine total fly balls allowed on the year. That sinker is borderline unfair.
Nos. 40-31
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40. C Wilson Ramos, Washington Nationals
| .336/.384/.549 | 144 | 117 | 20 | 18 | 63 | 52 | 0 | 3.2 |
Staring down free agency this coming offseason, Ramos picked the perfect time to put together the best season of his career. The 29-year-old leads all catchers in batting average (.336), hits (117), home runs (18) and RBI (63) while throwing out 35 percent of base stealers.
39. LF Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers
| .325/.390/.545 | 147 | 115 | 17 | 19 | 58 | 56 | 13 | 4.0 |
Braun is the last veteran trade chip standing for the rebuilding Brewers, and moving him won't be easy with $76 million still coming his way through the 2020 season. His run production and power numbers don't quite stack up to his prime, but his .935 OPS is ninth in the majors, and his .325 average is good for fifth.
38. CF Jackie Bradley Jr., Boston Red Sox
| .286/.369/.511 | 129 | 113 | 26 | 17 | 62 | 66 | 7 | 4.6 |
A career .213/.290/.349 hitter in 785 plate appearances at the MLB level entering the season, Bradley Jr. has taken his game to another level in his age-26 season. Always a standout defender in center field, he's now a force offensively as well. His 29-game hitting streak has been one of the highlights of 2016.
37. 3B Kyle Seager, Seattle Mariners
| .285/.362/.511 | 138 | 121 | 29 | 21 | 72 | 64 | 1 | 4.8 |
Seager does not receive the same level of attention as his younger brother Corey, and part of that has to do with the fact that he's playing in Seattle. Already a stellar all-around player, he's made significant strides offensively this year, improving on his triple-slash numbers across the board after putting up a .266/.328/.451 line a year ago.
36. SP Johnny Cueto, San Francisco Giants
| 23 | 160.0 | 13-3 | 2.92 | 135 | 1.075 | 1.8 | 8.2 | 3.3 |
The NL starter in this year's All-Star Game, Cueto has proven to be a phenomenal consolation prize for the Giants after they missed out on signing Zack Greinke. The 30-year-old can opt out of his contract after the 2017 season, and he almost certainly will if he keeps pitching at this level and stays healthy.
35. C Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants
| .291/.364/.459 | 122 | 109 | 25 | 12 | 54 | 62 | 6 | 3.4 |
Posey remains the best all-around catcher in the game, even with Wilson Ramos having a superior offensive season. Even in a down year, his production at the plate is top-tier for the position and he's terrific defensively. The 29-year-old has thrown out 46 percent of base stealers and ranks as the best pitch-framer in the game, per StatCorner.
34. SP Jose Quintana, Chicago White Sox
| 23 | 151.2 | 9-8 | 2.85 | 142 | 1.095 | 2.1 | 7.9 | 4.5 |
While Quintana is finally starting to get some long overdue attention nationally, he remains one of the most underrated players in all of baseball. He's definitely a Cy Young candidate in a wide-open AL field and his 4.5 WAR currently leads all AL pitchers.
33. SP Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians
| 22 | 157.0 | 12-8 | 3.21 | 145 | 1.006 | 2.1 | 8.9 | 4.0 |
Kluber has once again been the ace of a terrific Indians staff, and he's actually thrown the ball better than his ERA might indicate; his 2.97 FIP is tops in the AL. He signed a five-year, $38.5 million extension that includes a pair of option years prior to last season in what already looks like one of the best moves in franchise history.
32. SS Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians
| .304/.355/.452 | 107 | 132 | 20 | 14 | 58 | 77 | 14 | 4.5 |
A standout pitching staff has helped make the Indians one of the favorites in the AL, but it's Lindor who has emerged as the face of the franchise. The 22-year-old surprised everyone with his offensive game as a rookie, and he's backing it up with a similarly impressive sophomore campaign.
31. 2B Ian Kinsler, Detroit Tigers
| .293/.348/.489 | 125 | 134 | 21 | 21 | 62 | 90 | 13 | 4.7 |
Kinsler led all second basemen with a 6.0 WAR a year ago, and he has a chance to do it again if he can finish strong and catch Robinson Cano (5.2). His unique combination of power, speed and defensive prowess makes him one of the most valuable players in the game and a largely underrated one as well.
Nos. 30-21
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30. SP Noah Syndergaard, New York Mets
| 22 | 134.1 | 9-7 | 2.75 | 147 | 1.185 | 1.9 | 10.9 | 3.7 |
Since starting the season 7-2 with a 1.91 ERA in his first 14 starts, Syndergaard has fallen off a bit with a 4.20 ERA and 1.561 WHIP over his last nine starts. That's enough to drop him out of the top 25, but he's still having a terrific all-around season with a phenomenal strikeout-to-walk ratio.
29. SP Julio Teheran, Atlanta Braves
| 21 | 134.2 | 3-9 | 2.81 | 145 | 0.965 | 1.9 | 8.0 | 3.8 |
Teheran is not getting much in the way of support, evidenced by his 3-9 record. The rest of his numbers all paint the picture of a bona fide ace, though. The 25-year-old has rebounded well from a disappointing 2015 season and in the process gone from a trade chip to a building block for the Braves.
28. SP Jake Arrieta, Chicago Cubs
| 22 | 142.1 | 13-5 | 2.59 | 152 | 1.033 | 3.2 | 9.0 | 3.2 |
Arrieta has dealt with some bumps in the road this season and fallen short of matching his historically good second-half performance from a year ago, but he's still one of the best pitchers in the game. His contract situation will be a big story for the Cubs this winter, with free agency looming after the 2017 season.
27. SS Xander Bogaerts, Boston Red Sox
| .314/.370/.459 | 117 | 145 | 25 | 14 | 69 | 81 | 13 | 2.6 |
Bogaerts would be comfortably inside the top 25 if not for his horrible defensive metrics (-12 DRS, -0.6 UZR/150) at shortstop. He's continued to progress at the plate, though, doubling his home run total from a year ago and improving his walk rate from 4.9 to 7.5 percent.
26. 3B Jake Lamb, Arizona Diamondbacks
| .277/.352/.573 | 138 | 103 | 22 | 24 | 72 | 58 | 4 | 2.5 |
Known more for his glove than his bat while making his way through the Diamondbacks system, Lamb hit a modest .263/.331/.386 with 26 extra-base hits in 390 plate appearances last season. He's found his power stroke this year, providing needed protection for Paul Goldschmidt and posting a .924 OPS that ranks 14th in the majors.
25. RF Carlos Gonzalez, Colorado Rockies
| .323/.372/.569 | 128 | 134 | 29 | 23 | 79 | 72 | 2 | 3.0 |
CarGo has always been one of the game's most dynamic offensive threats; it's simply been a matter of staying on the field. He posted an .864 OPS and 40 home runs in a healthy season last year, and he's been terrific once again in 2016. He has one year left on his contract at $20 million.
24. 2B Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners
| .297/.352/.524 | 138 | 136 | 27 | 25 | 71 | 74 | 0 | 5.2 |
After a disappointing first half last season, Cano hit .331/.387/.540 with 15 home runs and 49 RBI after the All-Star break. That performance has carried over to 2016, and he's once again been the game's premier offensive second baseman.
23. SP Michael Fulmer, Detroit Tigers
| 18 | 111.0 | 9-3 | 2.43 | 170 | 1.063 | 2.6 | 7.6 | 4.4 |
Fulmer is three innings shy of qualifying for the ERA title, so if he goes at least six innings in his next scheduled start Sunday, he'll officially jump into that conversation. The 23-year-old has to be considered the odds-on favorite for AL Rookie of the Year honors, and his 33.1-inning scoreless streak gives you an idea of what he's capable of at his best.
22. 3B Matt Carpenter, St. Louis Cardinals
| .294/.413/.563 | 160 | 91 | 26 | 15 | 56 | 58 | 0 | 3.5 |
Carpenter will never be the prototypical leadoff hitter for the Cardinals, but with a 16.1 percent walk rate, his on-base skills make him a great catalyst. He's also continued to hit for more power after launching a career-high 28 home runs last season, and his 160 OPS+ is tops in the NL.
21. SP Jacob deGrom, New York Mets
| 20 | 126.1 | 7-5 | 2.35 | 172 | 1.077 | 2.0 | 8.6 | 4.2 |
DeGrom has been the Mets' best pitcher this season, even if it's not showing up in the win-loss column. He finished seventh in NL Cy Young voting a year ago and has a chance for an even better showing this season if he can finish strong.
Nos. 20-11
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20. LF Christian Yelich, Miami Marlins
| .323/.393/.500 | 143 | 131 | 32 | 12 | 67 | 60 | 4 | 4.0 |
Yelich has thrived under the tutelage of new hitting coach Barry Bonds, improving his approach at the plate and raising his on-base percentage from .366 to .393. His 32 doubles and 12 home runs also already represent new personal bests as it's been an all-around breakout season offensively for the 24-year-old.
19. SP Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals
| 21 | 138.1 | 15-2 | 2.80 | 147 | 1.012 | 2.5 | 11.0 | 4.3 |
The Nationals made a significant commitment to Strasburg when they gave him a seven-year, $175 million extension in May, and he's rewarded them with the best season of his career. The 28-year-old has always been supremely talented, but between injuries and mechanical issues he's never quite put it together for a full season, until now.
18. SP Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals
| 24 | 163.2 | 12-7 | 2.80 | 147 | 0.910 | 2.1 | 11.4 | 4.7 |
Scherzer leads all pitchers with a 4.7 WAR and 208 strikeouts, and he's turned in 10 double-digit strikeout games so far this season, including a 20-strikeout effort on May 11. The one big knock on him is that he's allowed an NL-high 24 home runs on the year; otherwise he'd be pushing for a spot inside the top 10.
17. 1B Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks
| .299/.413/.501 | 140 | 123 | 25 | 18 | 74 | 67 | 16 | 3.4 |
His numbers are down a bit from the .321/.435/.570 line he put up a year ago, but Goldschmidt remains one of the most dangerous hitters in the sport. It's the depth of his overall game that makes him a superstar, like his 16 stolen bases and standout defense at first base.
16. SP Kyle Hendricks, Chicago Cubs
| 21 | 133.0 | 11-7 | 2.17 | 182 | 1.023 | 2.4 | 7.6 | 2.9 |
Hendricks wasn't bad last season by any means when he went 8-7 with a 3.95 ERA and 1.161 WHIP over 180 innings of work, but he's taken things to another level this year. He doesn't light up the radar gun with an 87.7 mph average fastball velocity, and his 7.6 K/9 ranks 45th among qualified starters. He simply knows how to pitch, and he's been phenomenal of late with a 1.06 ERA in his last 59.1 innings of work.
15. DH David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox
| .307/.401/.612 | 161 | 115 | 37 | 25 | 88 | 51 | 2 | 3.4 |
No one has ever put together a better final season than what Ortiz is in the middle of for the Red Sox. He leads MLB in doubles (37), slugging (.612) and OPS (1.013), while checking in second in the AL in RBI (88) and eighth in batting average (.307).
14. SP Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
| 16 | 121.0 | 11-2 | 1.79 | 217 | 0.727 | 0.7 | 10.8 | 4.6 |
Kershaw was enjoying arguably the best season of his phenomenal career when a back injury forced him to the disabled list. He hasn't pitched since June 26, so it's hard to rank him any higher than this, but he still claims the No. 3 spot among pitchers for his work over the season's first three months.
13. 1B Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers
| .308/.383/.547 | 150 | 132 | 22 | 26 | 76 | 65 | 0 | 3.7 |
Cabrera is a shell of the player who won the Triple Crown in 2012, and he might still be the best pure hitter on the planet. It speaks to how good he's been when his .929 OPS this season—which ranks 12th in the majors—represents the 10th-best mark of his 14-year career.
12. SS Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers
| .305/.360/.534 | 141 | 135 | 32 | 21 | 55 | 73 | 1 | 4.8 |
Forget calling him the best rookie; Seager is already the best shortstop in baseball, period. He's carried the offensive load for a Dodgers team that has struggled at times to provide him with support, and his power numbers go beyond even the loftiest of expectations. Throw in his terrific defense (4 DRS, 17.7 UZR/150), and you can make the case that he belongs in the top 10.
11. 1B Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs
| .290/.398/.572 | 158 | 117 | 34 | 24 | 82 | 70 | 3 | 4.6 |
Rizzo finished fourth in NL MVP voting a year ago when he posted an .899 OPS with 38 doubles, 31 home runs and 101 RBI. There's a good chance he'll blow past all four of those marks this season as he currently boasts a .970 OPS with an NL-best 34 doubles, 24 home runs and 82 RBI.
10. SP Jose Fernandez, Miami Marlins
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2016 Stats
| 22 | 137.2 | 12-6 | 2.81 | 141 | 1.090 | 2.7 | 12.9 | 3.2 |
A number of players were in the running for this No. 10 spot, but in the end the strikeout stuff of Jose Fernandez earn him the nod.
The 24-year-old has punched out 198 batters in 137.2 innings this year, good for a 12.9 K/9 mark. This is the best by a wide margin, with Max Scherzer (11.4 K/9) ranking second.
In fact, that 12.9 K/9 mark is 10th among all pitchers who have thrown at least 30 innings this season, as Fernandez is putting up closer-type strikeout numbers in a starting role.
A rough outing on July 2 (5.2 IP, 8 H, 6 ER) inflates his ERA, as he's pitched to a 2.52 ERA over his other 21 starts.
He'll be in the mix for NL Cy Young honors.
9. 3B Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies
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2016 Stats
| .287/.361/.569 | 125 | 125 | 27 | 30 | 92 | 85 | 2 | 4.7 |
Yes, Nolan Arenado benefits from playing half of his games at Coors Field.
He's hitting .321 with 18 home runs and a 1.073 OPS at home, compared to .252 with 12 home runs and a .787 OPS on the road.
The Coors Field effect is still tough to fully gauge, though, and often it can suppress a player's road numbers just as well as it inflates his home numbers.
Take a look at this piece by Eno Sarris of ESPN.com for more on that subject, but the point here is that it's unfair to punish Arenado because of the jersey he's wearing.
The 25-year-old already has 30 home runs and 92 RBI with a .930 OPS overall, and he remains one of the game's best defensive third basemen to boot.
8. SP Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco Giants
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2016 Stats
| 24 | 163.2 | 10-7 | 2.20 | 180 | 1.002 | 2.2 | 10.0 | 4.1 |
In terms of overall body of work, no pitcher is having a better season in 2016 than Madison Bumgarner, and he has to be considered the favorite for NL Cy Young honors.
The burly left-hander leads the NL with 163.2 innings of work, and he ranks among the league leaders in ERA (2.20, third), WHIP (1.002, fourth) and strikeouts (181, third) while posting a career-best 10.0 K/9 on the year.
He's tossed an MLB-best four complete games and one shutout, a one-hit, 14-strikeout gem against the Arizona Diamondbacks in his final start of the first half.
With the Giants bullpen taking a step back this season, Bumgarner's ability to pitch deep into games and occasionally give the relief corps the night off has become that much more valuable.
7. 2B Daniel Murphy, Washington Nationals
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2016 Stats
| .346/.385/.607 | 158 | 140 | 33 | 21 | 82 | 67 | 3 | 3.7 |
Was there a better free-agent signing than Daniel Murphy?
After making a serious run at signing Ben Zobrist and then trying to trade for Brandon Phillips who refused to waive his no-trade clause, the Washington Nationals turned to Plan C and agreed to a three-year, $37.5 million deal with Murphy.
The signing also cost the team a draft pick as he was a qualifying-offer recipient, but it's been well worth the price of business.
Murphy leads the NL in hits (140), batting average (.346), slugging (.607) and OPS (.992), and he has already established new career highs in home runs (21) and RBI (82).
6. 3B Manny Machado, Baltimore Orioles
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2016 Stats
| .306/.366/.558 | 140 | 135 | 33 | 26 | 69 | 79 | 0 | 5.3 |
For fantasy baseball players, watching Manny Machado go from 20 stolen bases a year ago to zero in three attempts this season has been a bit frustrating.
That's about the only negative thing you can say about the 24-year-old's performance in 2016.
He took his offensive game to a new level last year when he raised his OPS from .755 to .861 while slugging 30 doubles and 35 home runs.
That OPS has climbed even higher, to .923 this season, good for 15th in the majors.
Even more impressive is the fact that he's done it while shuttling between third base and shortstop, where he was filling in for the injured J.J. Hardy.
Machado is a special player on both sides of the ball, and there's still room for him to improve considering his age and trajectory the past three years.
5. 3B/OF Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs
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2016 Stats
| .285/.383/.544 | 147 | 121 | 26 | 28 | 70 | 86 | 7 | 5.3 |
Kris Bryant entered his rookie season with lofty expectations, and he lived up to his billing as baseball's top prospect.
Now he's emerging as a bona fide superstar for a Chicago Cubs team that is the hottest ticket in town.
By all accounts, his rookie season was a great one, as he posted an .858 OPS with 31 doubles, 26 home runs and 99 RBI to run away with NL Rookie of the Year honors.
If there was one complaint, it was his NL-leading 199 strikeouts, and that's the area he's improved on the most in season No. 2.
The 24-year-old has lowered his strikeout rate from 30.6 to 23.8 percent.
That improved contract rate, coupled with his tremendous power, willingness to work a walk and defensive versatility, earns him a spot inside the top five.
4. RF Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox
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2016 Stats
| .312/.353/.548 | 132 | 149 | 34 | 23 | 75 | 87 | 18 | 6.1 |
After a breakout season in 2015, Mookie Betts was slow out of the gates in 2016.
The 23-year-old was hitting .256/.298/.428 with seven doubles, six home runs and 27 RBI on May 18, a solid 40 games into the new season.
Since then, he's slashed .339/.378/.610 with 28 doubles, 19 home runs, 57 RBI and 63 runs scored in 78 games and once again established himself as one of the game's budding superstars.
He leads the AL with 262 total bases, and if not for his slow start he would likely be among the favorites for AL MVP honors.
As it stands, he's in the conversation.
3. 3B Josh Donaldson, Toronto Blue Jays
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2016 Stats
| .294/.405/.565 | 158 | 126 | 25 | 27 | 77 | 92 | 6 | 6.4 |
The reigning AL MVP just continues to rake.
Josh Donaldson took home the hardware last year with a .297/.371/.568 line that included 41 doubles, 41 home runs, 123 RBI and 122 runs scored.
Those are lofty numbers across the board, but he has a chance for even better stats when 2016 comes to a close.
His OPS is up from .939 to .979, and he's shown marked improvements in both his walk rate (10.3 to 14.5 percent) and his strikeout rate (18.7 to 17.1 percent), leaving him with a .405 on-base percentage that ranks sixth in the majors.
If the Blue Jays can make a push and capture the AL East title, Donaldson could be a serious candidate to repeat as AL MVP.
2. CF Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels
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2016 Stats
| .313/.424/.553 | 168 | 126 | 25 | 22 | 75 | 89 | 18 | 7.1 |
Another year, another terrific all-around performance by Mike Trout.
What makes this year's numbers even more impressive is the complete lack of a supporting cast, specifically in the cleanup spot in the lineup, which has put up a pedestrian .251/.315/.446 line hitting behind Trout and provided next to nothing in the way of protection.
His walk rate sits at a career-best 15.6 percent, and his strikeout rate is back down to 19.8 percent. The "free-swinging" Trout who led the AL in strikeouts in 2014 and gave detractors something to criticize appears to be gone.
Trout is a generational talent who has a chance to author one of the best careers of all time. However, the 2016 season belongs to someone else so far.
1. 2B Jose Altuve, Houston Astros
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2016 Stats
| .365/.431/.572 | 174 | 164 | 30 | 19 | 71 | 85 | 26 | 6.9 |
What's not to love about Jose Altuve?
A speedster who could slap a single and steal a base early in his career, he's transformed himself into a middle-of-the-order run producer and has sacrificed nothing in terms of batting average and contact rate.
In fact, his .365 average is a full 24 points higher than the .341 mark that won him the batting title in 2014, and the 26-year-old hit just seven home runs that season.
He's already launched a career-high 19 this year to go along with 30 doubles, and he leads the AL in hits (164), on-base percentage (.431) and OPS+ (174).
How many times has a three-time All-Star and former batting title winner suddenly raised his on-base percentage by nearly 80 points? Going out on a limb, we'll say zero.
Manny Machado, Mookie Betts, Josh Donaldson and Mike Trout are all having terrific years, but if the season ended today, Altuve should walk way with the AL MVP unanimously.
Standard statistics and WAR figures courtesy of Baseball-Reference. Defensive metrics such as DRS and UZR/150 via FanGraphs.
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