Ranking the Top 50 MLB Players at the Start of Spring Training Games
There are 750 players in Major League Baseball during the regular season. During spring training, many more vie for spots on 25-man rosters.
It's not easy to narrow a list of the best down to just 50 players. But go ahead and try to stop us.
There's no good way to do this objectively. The best we can do is make a subjective call by weighing the following factors:
- Track Record: The better a guy has played in the major leagues, the fairer it is to refer to him as one of the best players in the major leagues. If a player doesn't have a big league track record, he has no place on this list. Looking at you, Shohei Ohtani.
- Upside and Downside: However, players also rise and fall from year to year. Generally speaking, it's young, talented players who do the rising and older, more well-traveled players who do the falling.
- Health: This is sort of an addendum to the above point, but it's worth iterating that good health helps inspire confidence. Players who are currently injured or recovering from injuries or operations might deserve some doubt by default.
Now, it's on to the honorable mentions and then the top 50.
Honorable Mentions
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Relief Pitchers: Craig Kimbrel, Andrew Miller, Kenley Jansen
There are no relievers in the top 50, but these are the three with the best arguments for being there. Craig Kimbrel has the highest strikeout rate of any pitcher ever. Andrew Miller has been a dominant force since 2014. Kenley Jansen has been dominating consistently ever since 2010.
Robbie Ray, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks
2017 WAR: 5.0
Robbie Ray has used his electric stuff to strike out 30.3 percent of the batters he's faced over the last two years. That's fourth among starters. Now, if he could only limit walks and home runs and consistently pitch beyond the sixth inning.
Byron Buxton, CF, Minnesota Twins
2017 WAR: 5.1
Byron Buxton can claim to be baseball's fastest runner and one of the sport's best defensive center fielders. The only thing keeping him from greatness is consistency at the plate, as he's thus far only managed a couple of hot streaks here and there.
Alex Bregman, 3B, Houston Astros
2017 WAR: 4.1
Through 204 major league games, Alex Bregman owns an .818 OPS, 27 home runs, 19 stolen bases and 5.8 WAR. Throughout, he's shown a knack for adjusting to whatever challenges are put in his way. He's not elite yet, but all this bodes extremely well for the 23-year-old.
Willson Contreras, C, Chicago Cubs
2017 WAR: 3.9
Willson Contreras is a 25-year-old catcher who put up an .845 OPS as a rookie and an .855 OPS as a sophomore. The only things that stand between him and superstardom are better health and improved defensive consistency.
Kevin Kiermaier, CF, Tampa Bay Rays
2017 WAR: 5.1
If Buxton wants to be the best defensive center fielder in MLB, he needs to take the honor from this guy. Kevin Kiermaier's 89 defensive runs saved since 2015 are the most of anyone. He can also hit and run a bit, which leaves just one snag: Injuries have limited him to 203 games over the last two years.
50-41: Yu Darvish-Noah Syndergaard
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50. Yu Darvish, SP, Chicago Cubs
2017 WAR: 3.9
Yu Darvish was last seen giving up nearly as many runs (9) as he recorded outs (10) in the World Series. He otherwise put up a 3.86 ERA in 186.2 regular-season innings while carrying on as a well-above-average strikeout artist. The only thing that should be different in 2018 is his threads.
49. Tommy Pham, OF, St. Louis Cardinals
2017 WAR: 6.4
Tommy Pham broke out with a .931 OPS with 23 homers and 25 steals last year. The fact that he's knocking on 30 makes it hard to ignore his potential for regression. But as long as his eyesight behaves, he should continue to marry extraordinary plate discipline with his natural athleticism.
48. Brian Dozier, 2B, Minnesota Twins
2017 WAR: 4.4
The only second baseman with more WAR than Brian Dozier since 2016 is Jose Altuve. Although Dozier hasn't commanded as much attention, he's hit for a ton of power (76 homers and 150 extra-base hits) and compiled a .349 OBP while putting in solid work on the bases and mostly solid work on defense.
47. Nelson Cruz, OF/DH, Seattle Mariners
2017 WAR: 4.1
Nelson Cruz, 37, has taken a Benjamin Button route to his prime mainly by hitting absolute rockets whenever he makes contact. His average exit velocity of 93.2 mph since 2015 is the best of anyone who's put at least 1,000 balls in play. That's translated to a .925 OPS and 42 homers per year.
46. J.D. Martinez, OF/DH, Boston Red Sox
2017 WAR: 4.2
J.D. Martinez put up a 1.066 OPS and slugged 45 homers in only 119 games last year. Between that and his hitting excellence between 2014 and 2016, he has enough bat to downplay his poor glove. Not that he'll be needing that, of course, as he's destined to fill David Ortiz's designated hitter shoes in Boston. Per Jon Morosi of MLB.com, he agreed to join the Red Sox on a five-year, $110 million deal Monday.
45. Justin Upton, LF, Los Angeles Angels
2017 WAR: 5.7
Whether Justin Upton is an All-Star or just another guy depends on the season. He's undoubtedly an All-Star talent, however, and is going into 2018 off arguably the best season of his career. He set career highs in OPS (.901) and homers (35) while also stealing 14 bases and playing a good left field.
44. Marcell Ozuna, LF, St. Louis Cardinals
2017 WAR: 5.8
Sometime last year, a light went off in Marcell Ozuna's head and he said, "Ya know, I should swing at more strikes." So he did, and a .924 OPS and 37 homers ensued. He also won a well-deserved Gold Glove. This should mark just the beginning of the 27-year-old's prime.
43. Marcus Stroman, SP, Toronto Blue Jays
2017 WAR: 5.8
Marcus Stroman finally delivered the goods in 2017 with a 3.09 ERA over 201 innings. This was done mainly via the highest ground-ball rate in the league. Since his breakout actually started in the second half of 2016, it's a safe guess that it'll continue into 2018.
42. Gary Sanchez, C, New York Yankees
2017 WAR: 4.1
Gary Sanchez's defensive misadventures sure did rankle the Yankees last year. But he's too young (25) and too talented to be written off as a lost cause behind the plate. Meanwhile, the .923 OPS and 53 homers that he's compiled since 2016 reflect an offensive ceiling beyond all other catchers.
41. Noah Syndergaard, SP, New York Mets
2017 WAR: 0.6
The extra weight Noah Syndergaard added for 2017 didn't make him mighty enough to avoid a serious lat injury. However, "Thor" continued to throw lightning (98.3 mph fastball) and struck batters out (34) at 11 times the rate that he walked them (3). Health permitting, a huge bounceback is in order.
40-31: Jose Abreu-Zack Greinke
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40. Jose Abreu, 1B, Chicago White Sox
2017 WAR: 4.7
Jose Abreu didn't just reverse his offensive decline in 2017. He also had his best season on the bases and in the field. According to James Fegan of The Athletic, Abreu is now in better shape and looking forward to being even more of a well-rounded player in 2018. Sold.
39. Adrian Beltre, 3B, Texas Rangers
2017 WAR: 3.7
The bad: Adrian Beltre is pushing 39 and coming off a year in which injuries limited him to 94 games. The good: He's an all-time great third baseman whose skills are aging like the finest of wines. Even last year, he managed a .915 OPS and strong defensive metrics.
38. Lorenzo Cain, CF, Milwaukee Brewers
2017 WAR: 5.3
The list of outfielders with more WAR than Lorenzo Cain since 2014 has just three names on it. That's mostly had to do with how much value he's squeezed out of his legs and glove. He's also been an above-average hitter, however, and he's recently made more frequent hard contact while also drawing more walks.
37. Christian Yelich, OF, Milwaukee Brewers
2017 WAR: 3.9
Here's a 26-year-old who's a .290 career hitter and who has a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger to his name. The only thing Christian Yelich has been missing is a legitimate power breakout. Getting away from Marlins Park, where he hit only 18 home runs in five seasons, should help him achieve it.
36. Madison Bumgarner, SP, San Francisco Giants
2017 WAR: 2.9
It's a safe guess Madison Bumgarner won't go anywhere near a dirt bike this season. The 28-year-old should get back to what he was before 2017: the only pitcher good and durable enough to do better than a 3.00 ERA and 200 innings every year between 2013 and 2016.
35. Jacob deGrom, SP, New York Mets
2017 WAR: 4.4
Jacob deGrom is a Mets pitcher who made it through 2017 unscathed. That's remarkable in and of itself, and then you get to his pitching record. It includes a 2.98 ERA and a 4.2 strikeout-to-walk ratio over four seasons. Although he'll be 30 in June, he doesn't have as much mileage as many pitchers his age.
34. Carlos Carrasco, SP, Cleveland Indians
2017 WAR: 5.4
Carlos Carrasco transitioned from Cleveland's bullpen to its starting rotation on August 10, 2014. In 97 starts since then, he owns a 3.17 ERA and has struck out (670) five times as many batters as he's walked (134). It's not enough to escape Corey Kluber's shadow, but it's plenty good for recognition.
33. Charlie Blackmon, CF, Colorado Rockies
2017 WAR: 6.0
Charlie Blackmon's less-than-encouraging home/road splits must be taken into account. So must his less-than-awesome defense. And his 31 years of age. Still, it's hard to look at a guy who owns a .968 OPS with 66 homers and 31 steals over the last two seasons and shrug your shoulders.
32. Justin Turner, 3B, Los Angeles Dodgers
2017 WAR: 5.7
Four years later, it's probably safe to stop questioning whether Justin Turner's transformation from part-time utility player to star third baseman is legit. He's coming off his best year yet, which featured a .945 OPS and 21 homers as well as, if defensive runs saved is to be believed, his usual quality defense.
31. Zack Greinke, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks
2017 WAR: 6.0
Zack Greinke introduced himself to Arizona with a rough 2016 marred by both injuries and ineffectiveness. But in 2017, he bounced back with a 3.20 ERA over 202.1 innings. It's not the 1.66 ERA he managed in 2015, but it was plenty to re-establish him as one of MLB's premier aces.
30-21: Anthony Rizzo-Aaron Judge
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30. Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Chicago Cubs
2017 WAR: 4.4
Look, it's Anthony Rizzo. Everyone knows what that entails at this point. Based on the last four years, it's an OPS around .900, roughly 30 homers and Gold Glove-caliber defense. Since he's still only 28, he probably has at least four years just like it left in him.
29. George Springer, OF, Houston Astros
2017 WAR: 5.0
Remember the strikeout problem George Springer used to have? It's long gone now. When last anyone saw him, all that remained was a hitter with an .889 OPS and 34 homers who could also play center field and right field.
28. Andrelton Simmons, SS, Los Angeles Angels
2017 WAR: 7.1
Nobody should need any sort of spiel about what Andrelton Simmons can do at shortstop. The real question is whether he can carry over the strong offense he produced last year. As long as he maintains his newfound hard-contact habit and his improving speed, there's a chance.
27. Jose Ramirez, 3B, Cleveland Indians
2017 WAR: 6.9
Last year took care of the "too good to be true" element attached to Jose Ramirez's breakout in 2016. At the plate, he put up a .957 OPS and tied Giancarlo Stanton for the MLB lead in extra-base hits. In the field, he played capable defense at second base and third base. And he's still only 25.
26. Cody Bellinger, 1B, Los Angeles Dodgers
2017 WAR: 4.2
Cody Bellinger posted a .933 OPS and hit 39 homers, a National League rookie record, last year. In so doing, he proved to be remarkably slump-proof. He's also an excellent defender who can win a Gold Glove as soon as this year. In all likelihood, last year the 22-year-old was just getting started.
25. Luis Severino, SP, New York Yankees
2017 WAR: 5.3
Luis Severino went right at hitters in 2017, and his electric stuff (led by his MLB-best 97.6 mph fastball) did the rest. The result was a 2.98 ERA and a 4.5 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 193.1 innings. Knowing the 24-year-old was throwing harder at the end of the year, even better things may be in store for 2018.
24. Stephen Strasburg, SP, Washington Nationals
2017 WAR: 6.5
When, where and how badly Stephen Strasburg is going to break down are always good questions. But man, can the guy pitch. Never was this truer than in 2017. He finished the year with a 2.52 ERA over 175.1 innings and suppressed offense better than everyone except Corey Kluber and Max Scherzer.
23. Manny Machado, SS, Baltimore Orioles
2017 WAR: 3.5
Manny Machado had a down year in 2017. But don't worry. The 25-year-old still collected 33 dingers, and Statcast's xwOBA metric (based on quality of contact) claims he deserved better all-around results. And since he was more than a fine third baseman, he should be a fine shortstop.
22. Freddie Freeman, 1B, Atlanta Braves
2017 WAR: 4.5
Freddie Freeman caught fire in the second half of 2016 and kept it up early in 2017, ultimately accumulating a .329/.442/.673 slash line over 477 plate appearances. A broken left wrist suffered last May brought him down to earth, but he should now be healthy and ready to re-emerge as an elite hitter.
21. Aaron Judge, RF, New York Yankees
2017 WAR: 8.1
Between a bat that produced a 1.049 OPS and 52 homers and a glove that was sorely underrated, Aaron Judge was arguably the best two-way player of 2017. His left shoulder is worth worrying about, however. It contributed to a bad second-half slump and eventually needed surgery in November.
20-11: Anthony Rendon-Carlos Correa
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20. Anthony Rendon, 3B, Washington Nationals
2017 WAR: 5.9
Anthony Rendon was an MVP candidate in 2014 and quietly a 4.1 WAR player in 2016, but he really put it all together last year. He honed his approach to allow for more walks (84) than strikeouts (82) and hit a career-high 25 homers, all while playing an excellent third base. Exciting stuff for a guy who's only 27.
19. Mookie Betts, RF, Boston Red Sox
2017 WAR: 6.4
Mookie Betts lost 94 points off his OPS from 2016 to 2017 yet still maintained as an elite outfielder. There are arguments to be made for him as both the game's best baserunner and best defender. He also has everything he needs to put last year's "slump" to an .803 OPS behind him.
18. Buster Posey, C, San Francisco Giants
2017 WAR: 4.0
Even WAR doesn't do Buster Posey justice. He's an everyday catcher who can be counted on for something like a .300/.400/.450 slash line. That basically makes him a baseball unicorn. He also doesn't have any weaknesses on defense behind the dish. The only concern, really, is that he's pushing 31.
17. Bryce Harper, RF, Washington Nationals
2017 WAR: 4.7
Bryce Harper is among the most talented baseball players in the world. He proved as much with his MVP year in 2015 and once again with the 1.008 OPS and 29 homers he put up in 111 games last year. It's too bad the 25-year-old is as likely to be an injured wreck as he is to be a superstar.
16. Josh Donaldson, 3B, Toronto Blue Jays
2017 WAR: 4.8
Josh Donaldson is 32 years old, is coming off an injury-marred 2017 and has seemingly lost a step on defense. He's nonetheless been dominant since joining the Blue Jays in 2015. All told, he's averaged a .946 OPS, 37 homers and 7.0 WAR per year. Even a lesser version of him is an amazing player.
15: Justin Verlander, SP, Houston Astros
2017 WAR: 6.3
Now 35, Justin Verlander is well past the typical expiration date for ace starters. But he just keeps rolling along. Although his home run rate has spiked, he's managed a 3.20 ERA over 433.2 innings since 2016. This is in part thanks to fastball velocity that has steadily crept back since disappearing in 2014.
14. Chris Sale, SP, Boston Red Sox
2017 WAR: 6.0
Chris Sale has been a Cy Young contender every year since becoming a full-time starter in 2012. He did his best work yet in 2017, posting a 2.90 ERA and leading MLB with 214.1 innings and 308 strikeouts. All he has to do is avoid his usual late-season fade, and he might finally win a Cy Young in 2018.
13. Clayton Kershaw, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers
2017 WAR: 4.6
On performance alone, Clayton Kershaw has been his usual self since 2014. He's amassed a 1.99 ERA and struck out 800 more batters than he's walked. But knowing that he's had back trouble in three of these four seasons and will also be on the wrong side of 30 on March 19, there are a few reasons for pause.
12. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Arizona Diamondbacks
2017 WAR: 5.8
Only two position players have compiled more WAR than Paul Goldschmidt since 2013. He's typically good for over 150 games per year, as well as a .300/.400/.500 slash line with 30-odd homers and a few stolen bases on the side. He's also a heck of a defender.
11. Carlos Correa, SS, Houston Astros
2017 WAR: 6.3
There are nits to pick with Carlos Correa's defense and baserunning. He also played in just 109 games last year. But come on. He's 23 years old, a former Rookie of the Year and coming off a 2017 season that featured a .941 OPS and 24 homers. A shortstop like that is going places.
10-1: Corey Seager-Mike Trout
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10. Corey Seager, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers
2017 WAR: 5.6
Even if it wasn't up to par with his MVP-worthy 2016, Corey Seager's 2017 season was still excellent. Through 329 big league games, he's sitting on a .305/.374/.502 slash line and strong defensive metrics. At 23, he's young enough to have more tricks up his sleeve.
9. Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland Indians
2017 WAR: 5.5
With the help of an .842 OPS, 33 homers and 15 steals, Francisco Lindor's offense evolved from good to great in 2017. While the defensive metrics would argue that his glovework wasn't the same, he's young (24) and talented enough to prove that was a mere blip.
8. Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado Rockies
2017 WAR: 7.2
The big knock against Nolan Arenado is that his offensive numbers get a boost from Coors Field. Still, the .930 OPS and 120 homers he's amassed since 2015 are not so easily dismissed. His other big credit is being the best defensive third baseman in MLB. And he'll only be 27 in April.
7. Kris Bryant, 3B, Chicago Cubs
2017 WAR: 6.1
It says a lot that Kris Bryant could put up a .946 OPS, 29 homers and 6.1 WAR in 2017 and come off as a disappointment. There's nonetheless a ton to like about the 26-year-old's all-around skill set. Despite last year's offensive downturn, it bodes well that his walk and strikeout rates are trending in opposite directions.
6. Joey Votto, 1B, Cincinnati Reds
2017 WAR: 7.5
Joey Votto is the best pure hitter in baseball right now, as well as one of the best to ever play the game. As evidence, see his career .313/.428/.541 slash line. He's also coming off a year that featured 36 homers and rejuvenated defense. The fact that there's now more of him can only be a good thing.
5. Corey Kluber, SP, Cleveland Indians
2017 WAR: 8.0
Corey Kluber has averaged a 2.83 ERA over 219 innings and won two Cy Youngs over the last four years. Even a back injury that sidelined him for a month couldn't stop him last year, as he returned with a 1.62 ERA over his final 23 starts. Even at 31, it's easy to trust in his acehood.
4. Max Scherzer, SP, Washington Nationals
2017 WAR: 7.3
Max Scherzer won his first Cy Young in 2013 and his third in 2017. In between, he's averaged a 2.87 ERA over 218 innings and accumulated more WAR than any other pitcher. Because he's 33, it would be irresponsible not to wonder when he'll break down. But until his performance or stuff starts to waver, it's hard to do more than wonder.
3. Giancarlo Stanton, RF, New York Yankees
2017 WAR: 7.6
The question of "What if Giancarlo Stanton struck out less?" got an answer last year—and it was a doozy. A career-low strikeout rate helped him produce a 1.007 OPS and 59 homers. Now he gets to hit at a more hitter-friendly home ballpark. And lest anyone forget, the 28-year-old is also a great athlete.
2. Jose Altuve, 2B, Houston Astros
2017 WAR: 8.3
Jose Altuve isn't perfect because he's not a good defender and...well, that's it. He's always been able to run, proved he was an elite hitter in 2014 and 2015 and has since proved he can also hit for power by slugging 48 homers over the last two years. That's helped the 27-year-old collect more WAR since 2016 than all but one player.
1. Mike Trout, CF, Los Angeles Angels
2017 WAR: 6.7
And here's that one player. For that matter, Mike Trout is far ahead of everyone in WAR since 2012. His bat is now generally good for a 1.000 OPS and 30 homers. His legs are good for 20 stolen bases. His defense is more of a mixed bag, but he doesn't embarrass himself as an everyday center fielder. At just 26 years old, he's still very much in the middle of his prime.
Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference (including WAR), FanGraphs, Baseball Savant and Brooks Baseball.
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