MLB Power Rankings: Each Team's Projected Starting Outfield

Now under a month from the start of spring training, the opening day lineups of each team are beginning to take shape as he the majority of impact free-agents have been signed.

As far as outfielders are concerned, Cuban-import Yoenis Cespedes still needs to pick a home and he will likely start from the get-go wherever he winds up. Aside from him though, guys like Rick Ankiel, Kosuke Fukudome, Raul Ibanez and Magglio Ordonez are about all that remains on the market.

Knowing that the impending signings of those players could change things a bit, here are my power rankings of each team's projected starting outfield.

No. 30: Houston Astros

Left Field: J.D. Martinez (0.6 WAR)

One of the more promising pieces the Astros currently have, Martinez hit .274 BA, 6 HR, 35 RBI last season over 208 at bats. The 24-year-old will be counted on as a run producer in the middle of the team's lineup this coming season.

Center Field: Jordan Schafer (0.2 WAR)

Once viewed as the Braves center fielder of the future and one of the top prospects in baseball, Schafer was suspended in 2008 for using HGH. He then struggled to the point of demotion with a .204 average in 50 games in 2009 after being handed the starting job out of spring. Fallen out of favor in Atlanta, he gets a second chance in Houston after coming over in the Michael Bourn deal.

Right Field: Brian Bogusevic (1.5 WAR)

Originally drafted as a pitcher, Bogusevic made the full-time switch to the outfield in 2009, so his development has been slowed by the position change. Still, at 28 years old he looks to have a solid future as a corner outfielder. He'll have to hold off Jack Cust and Jason Bourgeois for at bats though, as the team has solid depth in the outfield.

No. 29: New York Mets

Left Field: Jason Bay (0.6 WAR)

A major flop with the Mets so far, Bay is still owed $35 million over the next two seasons. The team is reportedly looking for a platoon partner for him as he hit just .228 against right-handed pitching, compared to .300 against lefties in 2011.

Center Field: Andres Torres (1.3 WAR)

In a swap of under-performing outfielders, the Mets sent Angel Pagan to the Giants for Torres, hoping a chance of scenery would do them both good. Torres fits the lead-off hitter profile a little better than Pagan and it will be interesting to see if someone comes out the clear winner in this deal.

Right Field: Lucas Duda (0.8 WAR)

In his first extensive big league action, Duda was impressive in posting a .292 BA, 10 HR, 50 RBI over 301 at bats. Perhaps most impressive of all was his .370 on-base percentage, as the 26-year-old has the makings of a very productive big league hitter. He will be counted on to be a run producer in 2012.

No. 28: Seattle Mariners

Left Field: Mike Carp (1.0 WAR)

Carp impressed in a 79-game stint with the Mariners last season, as he hit .276 BA, 12 HR, 46 RBI in just 290 at bats. As of now, it looks as though he will be hitting cleanup to open the 2012 season. A converted first baseman, he struggled defensively in left last season and that could be an issue moving forward.

Center Field: Franklin Gutierrez (-0.4 WAR)

Following a .283 BA, 18 HR, 70 RBI season in 2009, Gutierrez looked destined to be a star. But he has seen his numbers drop each of the past two years down to .224 BA, 1 HR, 19 RBI in 322 at bats last season. He is still a great defensive center fielder but is a borderline offensive liability at this point.

Right Field: Ichiro Suzuki (-0.4 WAR)

Last season, Ichiro saw his 10-year streak of hitting at least .300 with at least 200 hits snapped as he batted just .272. He will be 38 years old this coming season and is in the final year of his contract, so it will be interesting to see what the future holds for one of the best hitters in recent memory.

No. 27: Cleveland Indians

Left Field: Michael Brantley (2.2 WAR)

A bright spot of sorts in a very poor outfield in Cleveland last year, Brantley hit .266 BA, 7 HR, 46 RBI, 13 SB while playing stellar defense. He will be just 25 this coming season, so there is still time for him to improve.

Center Field: Grady Sizemore (0.5 WAR)

Sizemore showed the form that once made him one of the most exciting players in baseball over the season's first month, as he was hitting .378 BA, 4 HR, 9 RBI heading into May. However, he fell off as injuries once again took their toll. While the Indians to decline their $9 million option on him for 2012, they did bring him back on a one-year, $5-million deal filled with incentives.

Right Field: Shin-Soo Choo (1.3 WAR)

Choo battled through an injury-plagued 2011 season. He appeared in just 13 games after June 24th and the Indians will hope he can stay healthy this coming season and return to his 2010 form when he hit .300 BA, 22 HR, 90 RBI, 22 SB.

No. 26: San Francisco Giants

Left Field: Aubrey Huff (-0.9 WAR)

During the team's 2010 World Series run, Huff was invaluable hitting .290 BA, 26 HR, 86 RBI as the veteran leader of the offense. That earned him a two-year, $22 million extension last offseason, but he fell off to .246 BA, 12 HR, 59 RBI last season and, at 35 years old, could be nearing the end.

Center Field: Angel Pagan (0.2 WAR)

After surprising in 2009 with good numbers as a fourth outfielder and carrying that success over with a terrific 2010 season as a starter, Pagan fell off considerably last season as his WAR went from 5.1 to 0.2. The Giants traded Andres Torres to the Mets to get him and are hoping a change of scenery will help turn things around.

Right Field: Melky Cabrera (2.9 WAR)

Many expected right field to be patrolled by Carlos Beltran again this season, but the team did not try to resign him and instead it will be Cabrera patrolling right field. Acquired from the Royals for starter Jonathan Sanchez, Cabrera had a great season last year hitting .305 BA, 18 HR, 87 RBI, 20 SB and similar numbers would be a huge addition to a team in need of all the offense they can get.

No. 25: Oakland Athletics

Left Field: Seth Smith (0.0 WAR)

Acquired from the Rockies for a pair of pitchers, Smith has been productive in a limited role over the past three seasons with an average line of .275 BA, 16 HR, 55 RBI in 390 at bats. In Oakland, he will not only be counted on to play everyday but will likely hit third or fourth and be one of the team's top RBI men.

Center Field: Coco Crisp (2.1 WAR)

After watching fellow 2011 outfielders Josh Willingham and David DeJesus depart in free agency, the Athletics opted to bring back Crisp on a two-year, $14-million deal. While his .314 on-base percentage is troubling for a leadoff hitter, he did tie for the AL lead with 49 steals and brings a veteran presence to a very young team.

Right Field: Josh Reddick (1.6 WAR)

Picked up from Boston in the deal that sent closer Andrew Bailey and outfielder Ryan Sweeney out of Oakland, Reddick was impressive in his first regular big league action last season hitting .280 BA, 7 HR, 28 RBI in 254 at bats. He will join Smith in the middle of the A's lineup as the 25-year-old will be relied on to drive in runs.

No. 24: Minnesota Twins

Left Field: Ben Revere (0.8 WAR)

One of the Twins top prospects entering last season, Revere had a .326 career average in five minor league seasons. While he struggled at times in his rookie season, there is a lot to like and he looks like a future leadoff hitter. He was a combined 42-of-53 on stolen base attempts in 2011 between Triple-A and Minnesota.

Center Field: Denard Span (2.6 WAR)

After seeing his average slip from .311 to .264 between 2009 and 2010, Span hit .264 once again in 2011 in just 70 games due to a concussion. Signed through 2014, Span could become trade bait if prospect Joe Benson can continue to impress in the minors.

Right Field: Josh Willingham (1.8 WAR)

The Twins lost both Michael Cuddyer and Jason Kubel in free agency this offseason but did manage to find a solid replacement in Willingham to play right field. Despite hitting in a terrible Athletics lineup and park, he managed 29 HR and 98 RBI and has a chance to improve on those numbers with a much improved supporting cast.

No. 23: Detroit Tigers

Left Field: Andy Dirks (-0.3 WAR)

A 25-year-old rookie last season, Dirks hit .251 BA, 7 HR, 28 RBI in 78 games. With Delmon Young moving to DH, Dirks will get the first shot at the left field job. Don Kelly could make a push for some playing time while the team could also start Ramon Santiago at second and move Ryan Raburn to the outfield.

Center Field: Austin Jackson (2.4 WAR)

Acquired from the Yankees in the Curtis Granderson trade, Jackson hit .293 and finished second in AL Rookie of the Year voting in 2010. However, he took a step back last season as his average fell to .249 while striking out a whopping 181 times. He would be better suited out of the leadoff spot in the lineup, but for now his speed and lack of a better option will likely keep him there.

Right Field: Brennan Boesch (1.4 WAR)

After splitting at bats each of the past two seasons and displaying good power, Boesch will likely get the bulk of the at bats in right field as Magglio Ordonez is no longer with the team. While he is not your prototypical two-hole hitter, that is likely where he will find himself in the Tigers lineup this coming season.

No. 22: Chicago Cubs

Left Field: Alfonso Soriano (1.3 WAR)

Soriano has three years and $54 million remaining on the eight-year, $136-million deal he signed back in November of 2006. He is a shell of the player he once was, but is still good for 20-some home runs and a decent amount of RBI. If the Cubs can find a taker, they would likely be willing to trade him and eat the majority of his remaining salary in the process.

Center Field: Marlon Byrd (1.7 WAR)

The Cubs lone All-Star in 2010, his first season with the team, Byrd was limited to just 119 games last season after being hit in the face with a pitch. He is in the final year of his contract and will likely end the season somewhere other than Chicago as the Cubs look to open up center field to get a look at top prospect Brett Jackson at some point in the second half.

Right Field: David DeJesus (0.6 WAR)

Officially the first signing of the Theo Epstein era in Chicago, DeJesus fills the right field void left by the departed Kosuke Fukudome. DeJesus could wind up being a steal at two years and $10 million. He will likely lead off for the team this coming season.

No. 21: Washington Nationals

Left Field: Michael Morse (3.0 WAR)

Perhaps the most shocking breakout players of 2011, Morse will move to left field this year as Adam LaRoche is back from injury and slides back in at first base. It will be tough to top his .303 BA, 31 HR, 95 RBI season, but his power is for real and he should once again be an impact bat.

Center Field: Roger Bernadina (0.8 WAR)

The search for a franchise center fielder continues in Washington and the 28-year-old Bernadina is a stopgap option—a below average one at that. He hit .243 with 17 steals last year as a fourth outfielder and the Nationals would be wise to not expect much from him.

Right Field: Jayson Werth (2.1 WAR)

He of the seven-year, $126 million contract, Werth fell impossibly short of expectations last season with a .232 BA, 20 HR, 58 RBI, 19 SB line. He is still a multi-tool player and should bounce back from his 2011 season, but he will never be worth what the Nationals are paying him.

No. 20: Boston Red Sox

Left Field: Ryan Sweeney (0.8 WAR)

Acquired in the trade that also brought Andrew Bailey to the Red Sox and Josh Reddick to the Athletics, Sweeney has done little in four season as an occasional starter in Oakland. However, he has solid on-base skills (.347 career OBP) and could benefit from hitting in such a potent lineup.

Center Field: Jacoby Ellsbury (7.2 WAR)

Ellsbury came into his own last season, turning in a phenomenal season of .321 BA, 32 HR, 105 RBI, 39 SB to finish second in AL MVP voting. It will be interesting to see if he is able to duplicate those numbers in 2012, but either way he will be among the top outfielders in the American League.

Right Field: Cody Ross (1.6 WAR)

Not so long ago, Ross was a postseason hero for the Giants during their World Series run after being selected off waivers from the Marlins. He was unable to sustain that success in a full season by the bay last year though, hitting .240 BA, 14 HR, 52 RBI and he will look to bounce back in Boston.

No. 19: Chicago White Sox

Left Field: Alejandro De Aza (2.1 WAR)

Impressive in a 152 at-bat sampling last season when he hit .329 and stole 12 bases, De Aza will take over for Juan Pierre as the team's table setter at the top of the lineup. While he is no longer a prospect at 28 years old, he does have some upside.

Center Field: Alex Rios (-1.5 WAR)

The White Sox surprised many when they claimed Rios and the $60.7 million over five years he had remaining on his contract, but looked brilliant when he hit .284 BA, 21 HR, 88 RBI, 34 SB in 2010. That all changed last year though, as he hit just .227 over 537 at bats and now the team is stuck with his immovable contract.

Right Field: Dayan Viciedo (0.0 WAR)

Following the trade of Carlos Quentin to the Padres, a starting spot is finally open for the 23-year-old Viciedo. The Cuban import has a ton of upside and could put up big numbers after tearing up minor league pitching the past two seasons.

No. 18: Kansas City Royals

Left Field: Alex Gordon (5.9 WAR)

After struggling to live up to the expectations that came with him being taken second overall in the 2005 draft, Gordon finally had a breakout season last year. With a .303 BA, 23 HR, 87 RBI, 17 SB line he settled nicely into the lead-off spot in the lineup while playing Gold Glove defense in left field.

Center Field: Lorenzo Cain (0.1 WAR)

Following the trade of Melky Cabrera to the Giants for Jonathan Sanchez, center field will belong to Cain for the upcoming season after he saw brief big league action each of the past two years. One of the players acquired from the Brewers in the Zack Greinke trade, Cain hit .312 BA, 16 HR, 81 RBI, 16 SB at Triple-A last season and should transition nicely to the majors.

Right Field: Jeff Francoeur (2.7 WAR)

The Royals took a chance on Francoeur last offseason on a one-year, $2.5 million contract and by August he had impressed enough to earn a two-year, $13.5 million extension. A solid bat in the middle of the lineup and a veteran presence on a very young team, Francoeur should continue to be as valuable as any player on the Royals.

No. 17: Los Angeles Angels

Left Field: Vernon Wells (-0.3 WAR)

For some baffling reason, the Angels decided to take on one of the worst contracts in baseball last season and traded Mike Napoli in the process. Now they are left with a 33-year-old outfielder coming off of a season in which he hit .218 and is due $63 million over the next three years.

Center Field: Peter Bourjos (5.0 WAR)

An exciting young player, Bourjos' biggest asset is his speed and it was on full display in 2011 as he swiped 22 bases and hit an AL-best 11 triples. He is a terrific defensive outfielder, and has decent pop to boot as he had 26 doubles and 12 home runs. His presence could push Mike Trout to a corner outfield spot once he's ready.

Right Field: Torii Hunter (2.2 WAR)

No longer the flashy fielder he once was, Hunter is still a solid offensive player coming off a 23 HR, 82 RBI season. He is in the final year of his contract and will likely be playing for a job elsewhere as right field will belong to Mike Trout in 2013.

No. 16: Baltimore Orioles

Left Field: Nolan Reimold (1.5 WAR)

With Luke Scott non-tendered and moved on to Tampa Bay, the Orioles signed Endy Chavez to split time with Reimold in left field. That said, Reimold had 13 HR and 45 RBI last season in just 267 at bats and has at least earned a look as an everyday starter.

Center Field: Adam Jones (1.7 WAR)

The 26-year-old Jones has come into his own over the past three seasons, posting an average line of .281 BA, 21 HR, 74 RBI, 10 SB. He is under team control through 2013 and the team could look to lock him up at some point this coming year.

Right Field: Nick Markakis (1.9 WAR)

The Orioles most consistent producer since breaking into the league in 2006, Markakis continues to put up above average numbers every year. Markakis also took home the first Gold Glove of his career last season. He could miss the start of the season after undergoing abdomen surgery.

No. 15: Pittsburgh Pirates

Left Field: Alex Presley (1.0 WAR)

Presley quietly had a very nice debut for the Pirates in 2011, as he hit .298 BA, 4 HR, 20 RBI, 9 SB over 52 games. The 26-year-old has good on-base skills and will likely open the season as the No. 2 hitter in the lineup between Jose Tabata and Andrew McCutchen.

Center Field: Andrew McCutchen (5.5 WAR)

While his average dropped from .286 to .259, everything else was up across the board for McCutchen as he hit 23 home runs and drove in 89 runs after moving from the lead-off spot to the middle of the order. He will be 25 this coming season, and he should continue to get better. A .300 BA, 30 HR, 100 RBI, 30 SB season is not out of the question sometime very soon.

Right Field: Jose Tabata (0.1 WAR)

Tabata lost much of the 2011 season to a hand injury, as he was limited to just 91 games. He showed plenty of potential in his rookie season of 2010 with a .299 average and 19 steals in 102 games. If he can come back 100 percent from the hand injury, he should emerge as one of the league's better leadoff hitters.

No. 14: Atlanta Braves

Left Field: Martin Prado (0.8 WAR)

After establishing himself as one of the best utility players in the game, Prado was handed the starting left field job last season and he saw his average fall to .260 after three straight seasons in which he topped .300. The team may very well look to deal him or at the very least acquire someone to start over him as the season progresses.

Center Field: Michael Bourn (5.0 WAR)

In need of a leadoff hitter and a starting center fielder to take the place of the under performing Nate McLouth, the Braves took advantage of the rebuilding Astros willingness to deal and acquired Bourn for four players. He has stolen 174 bases over the past three seasons and is among the top defensive center fielders in the league.

Right Field: Jason Heyward (2.0 WAR)

While he slumped to .227 BA, 14 HR, 42 RBI and was held to just 128 games due to injury, there is no reason to think Heyward is no longer destined for great things. He has all the tools to be a superstar and will be motivated to prove his doubters wrong in 2012.

No. 13: San Diego Padres

Left Field: Carlos Quentin (3.2 WAR)

Traded by the White Sox for a pair of pitching prospects, Quentin will provide the Padres with some much needed punch in the middle of their lineup. His average has been up-and-down and he has dealt with some injuries. But at the end of the day, he has hit 107 home runs over the past four years and is still in the prime of his career.

Center Field: Cameron Maybin (2.9 WAR)

The prize of the Miguel Cabrera-to-Detroit trade for the Marlins, Maybin never caught on in Florida and was traded to the Padres for two relievers last offseason, where he enjoyed a breakout season of sorts. His .264 BA, 9 HR, 40 RBI, 40 SB season is promising, but could only be scratching the surface of what he is capable of.

Right Field: Will Venable (1.7 WAR)

While he is not a prototypical leadoff hitter, Venable will once again fill that role for the Padres in 2012. He did go 26-of-29 on stolen base attempts, but with a .310 on-base percentage and a 31:92 K:BB ratio, he would be better suited hitting lower in the lineup.

No. 12: Milwaukee Brewers

Left Field: Ryan Braun (7.7 WAR)

The 2011 NL MVP is facing a 50-game suspension after his testosterone tested unusually high. He is appealing the ruling, so for now we will leave him on this list. But if he is out it would be a huge blow to a Brewers team that already lost Prince Fielder. Japanese player Norichika Aoki would likely get the bulk of the playing time in left field if the suspension is upheld.

Center Field: Nyjer Morgan (2.0 WAR)

For as much as his personality gets in the way, Morgan is a solid outfielder who brings a good average (.304 BA) and speed (14 SB) to the table. He will once again platoon with Carlos Gomez, who will see most of the at bats against left-handed pitching.

Right Field: Corey Hart (4.0 WAR)

Hart will be looked on to pick up some of the run production slack in the absence of Fielder and possibly Braun. After hitting leadoff last season, he will likely bat fifth in 2012. He has always had a good skill set, doing a little bit of everything, and the Brewers will need him to do a lot of everything if they want to contend in 2012.

No. 11: Miami Marlins

Left Field: Logan Morrison (0.2 WAR)

Despite a rocky 2011 season in which he was demoted to Triple-A, Morrison is still in Miami. The 23-year-old will be looking to build off a season in which he had 23 HR and 72 RBI in just 462 at bats. Chances are, he won't be headed for a demotion again any time soon.

Center Field: Emilio Bonifacio (2.4 WAR)

Bonifacio enjoyed the best season of his career last year in hitting .296 and stealing 40 bases while once again proving to be one of the more versatile players in the league and playing six different positions. As of now he is slated to start in center, but if the team can come to terms with Cuban outfielder Yoenis Cespedes he would no doubt return to a utility role, and this outfield would be boosted towards the top of this list.

Right Field: Mike Stanton (5.7 WAR)

An absolute beast at 6'5" and 235-pounds, Stanton hits the ball as hard and as far as anyone in the league. Still only 22, he already has 56 big league longballs under his belt and its only a matter of time before he is regularly launching 40 per season. He is also a solid fielder with one of the strongest arms in the league.

No. 10: Toronto Blue Jays

Left Field: Eric Thames (0.8 WAR)

Thames quietly enjoyed a productive rookie season last year, hitting .262 BA, 12 HR, 37 RBI over 362 at bats. If he can hold off Rajai Davis and Ben Francisco to keep the starting left field job, he could put up some very nice numbers over a full season. He is one to watch in 2012.

Center Field: Colby Rasmus (0.2 WAR)

After wearing out his welcome in St. Louis, Rasmus gets a fresh start in Toronto. He hit just .173 in 133 at bats following the trade last year, but the 25-year-old still has plenty of upside and should settle in as the starting center fielder for the next several seasons.

Right Field: Jose Bautista (8.5 WAR)

With Brett Lawrie settled in at third base, it looks like Bautista will be a full-time right fielder in 2012 and there is no reason to believe he won't continue his assault on every baseball within striking distance. Just to put it in number form, he has a .280/.412/.613, 97 HR, 227 RBI line over the past two seasons. Ridiculous.

No. 9: Cincinnati Reds

Left Field: Ryan Ludwick (0.1 WAR)

Ludwick began last season with the Padres and finished it out with the Pirates after being dealt at the deadline. He hit just .237 combined last season, but the Reds are hoping that is due in part to the fact that he was playing in spacious Petco Park. Chris Heisey will also get significant at bats in left field.

Center Field: Drew Stubbs (2.9 WAR)

Stubbs brings a nice mix of power and speed and is a very good defensive center fielder. But he strikes out a ton, leading the league in that category last season with 205 whiffs. He will likely never be a high-average guy, but he has the upside to be a 30-30 player with 20-20 should be no problem.

Right Field: Jay Bruce (1.2 WAR)

Signed to a six-year, $51-million extension last season to stay in Cincinnati through 2016, Bruce is on the verge of stardom after making his first All-Star appearance last season. He had career bests of 32 HR and 97 RBI last year and, if he can return his average to the .281 mark he posted in 2010, he will be one of the most dangerous outfielders in the league.

No. 8: Philadelphia Phillies

Left Field: John Mayberry (2.5 WAR)

With Raul Ibanez gone in free agency, the Phillies will hope that Domonic Brown steps forward and claims the left field job at some point in 2012. As it is though, Mayberry and Jayson Nix will keep the position warm for him. Mayberry has some upside himself after hitting .273 BA, 15 HR, 49 RBI in 267 at bats last season.

Center Field: Shane Victorino (5.1 WAR)

While the likes of Howard, Utley, Rollins and Polanco have all missed time with injuries over the past few seasons, Victorino has remained a constant in the Phillies lineup. He had a league-high 16 triples, and a line of .279 BA, 17 HR, 61 RBI. He is still only 31 and with Howard out to open the year, he could be slotted in the fifth spot in the order to drive in some runs.

Right Field: Hunter Pence (5.2 WAR)

Acquired at the deadline last season from the Astros, Pence hit .324 BA, 11 HR, 35 RBI in 54 games for the Phillies and he will be asked to put up similar numbers in the middle of the order this coming season. Look for the Phillies to try to lock up Pence as well, as he will be a free agent at the end of the 2013 season and the team gave up a ton to get him.

No. 7: Arizona Diamondbacks

Left Field: Jason Kubel (1.3 WAR)

Signed as a free-agent this offseason, Kubel spent his first seven seasons with the Twins. His signing to a two-year, $15-million deal pushes Gerardo Parra to the bench and give the team even more offensive depth.

Center Field: Chris Young (4.8 WAR)

Young is never going to hit for a high average, as he batted .236 last season and is a .240 hitter for his career. But he gets on base plenty and is a near lock for 20-20 with 30-30 upside.

Right Field: Justin Upton (4.1 WAR)

As hard as it is to believe, Upton will still be just 24 years old this coming season. It is only a matter of time before he has the superstar season everyone has been waiting for. As it was, .289 BA, 31 HR, 88 RBI, 21 SB last season wasn't too shabby.

No. 6: Texas Rangers

Left Field: David Murphy (-0.5 WAR)

Murphy has been one of the better utility outfielders in the league over the past few seasons. He is penciled in as the starting left fielder but could be forced back to a reserve role if Leonys Martin can seize a starting job this season. In his four full seasons with the Rangers, Murphy has averaged a .277 BA, 14 HR, 60 RBI line over 418 at bats.

Center Field: Josh Hamilton (3.6 WAR)

Hamilton was sidelined by injuries once again in 2011, but when he is on the field he is without question one of the most productive players in the game. He is entering the final year of his contract and if he can prove capable of staying healthy, that will only add to what it will cost the Rangers to bring him back.

Right Field: Nelson Cruz (1.4 WAR)

Cruz took over as the starting right fielder in 2009 as a 28-year-old, and he has not missed a beat since with a .278 BA, 28 HR, 80 RBI average line in that time. Like Hamilton, he has spent his fair share of time on the disabled list—but when healthy he has as much power as anyone in the league.

No. 5: Los Angeles Dodgers

Left Field: Jerry Sands (0.0 WAR)

Coming off of a .301 BA, 35 HR, 93 RBI season between Single-A and Double-A in 2010, Sands got a crack at the left field job to open last season. He struggled a bit and was eventually sent back down. But at just 24 he has a bright future and could be in line for a big breakout season in 2012.

Center Field: Matt Kemp (10.0 WAR)

The Dodgers locked their 27-year-old superstar up with an eight-year, $180 million extension this winter. Kemp is coming off of a season in which he made a run at the Triple Crown, hitting .324 BA, 39 HR, 126 RBI to go along with 40 steals. He is worth every penny.

Right Field: Andre Ethier (1.3 WAR)

Entering his final season before free agency, Ethier got a $10.95 million contract for 2012 to avoid arbitration. He is coming off a down season and has had injury problems each of the past two seasons. If the Dodgers are to resign him to a big deal, they will likely want to make sure he's 100 percent first.

No. 4: Colorado Rockies

Left Field: Carlos Gonzalez (2.6 WAR)

Despite the fact that he failed to match his stellar 2010 numbers, Gonzalez still had a nice season hitting .295 BA, 26 HR, 92 RBI, 20 SB. If he can stay healthy in 2012, there is no reason to think he won't return to peak production.

Center Field: Dexter Fowler (1.2 WAR)

An everyday player starting at the age of 23 in 2009, Fowler has tremendous speed and has established himself as a plus lead-off hitter and table setter as he hit just .266 last year but had a .363 OBP. He has 52 steals and 39 triples over the past three seasons.

Right Field: Michael Cuddyer (3.0 WAR)

Coming off of the first All-Star appearance of his career, Cuddyer cashed in signing a three-year, $31.5 million contract with the Rockies. The team had a hole in right field following the non-tender of Ryan Spilborghs and trade of Seth Smith.

No. 3: Tampa Bay Rays

Left Field: Desmond Jennings (2.3 WAR)

The heir to Carl Crawford, it took Jennings a little longer to seize the left field job than expected. But once he arrived, he was as good as advertised as he hit .259 BA, 10 HR, 25 RBI, 19 SB in just 63 games. Expect him to settle in and start putting up All-Star-caliber numbers this coming season, as the 25-year-old has a ton of upside.

Center Field: B.J. Upton (3.8 WAR)

Long-rumored to be on his way out of Tampa, Upton is now entering the final year of his contract and he will look to put up some big numbers to cash in on the free-agent market. He has never been able to live up to the .300 BA, 24 HR, 82 RBI season he had in 2007 as a 22-year-old, but he is a very productive player and a perennial 20-20 threat.

Right Field: Matt Joyce (3.0 WAR)

In his first season as a full-time player, Joyce made the All-Star team with a .290 BA, 12 HR, 41 RBI first half. While he fell off in the second half to finish with a .277 BA, 19 HR, 75 RBI line, he should be a staple in right field for years in Tampa. He is also an extension candidate, as he is arbitration-eligible for the first time next winter.

No. 2: St. Louis Cardinals

Left Field: Matt Holliday (4.1 WAR)

With Albert Pujols gone, Holliday is now the man in St. Louis as he is under contract through 2016 and will be counted on to step up as the leader of the offense. Injuries limited him to 124 games last season, but if he can stay healthy a .300 BA, 25 HR, 100 RBI season is a sure thing.

Center Field: John Jay (1.3 WAR)

The Cardinals dealt promising young center fielder Colby Rasmus to the Blue Jays at the deadline last year in part because they felt Jay was capable of being their everyday answer in center field. In two seasons in the majors now, he has a combined slash line of .298/.350/.423 and the Cardinals should do just fine with him as the everyday center fielder.

Right Field: Carlos Beltran (4.4 WAR)

The round-about replacement for Albert Pujols, as the team moved Lance Berkman in from right to first base, Beltran enjoyed a resurgent season last year and cashed in on it with a two-year, $26 million contract. He will hit second, and while his health is always a concern, he should prove to be a solid addition to the lineup. If he does go down with an injury, Allen Craig is more than capable of playing every day and putting up numbers.

No. 1: New York Yankees

Left Field: Brett Gardner (4.4 WAR)

Gardner is among the fastest players in all of baseball, as he led the AL with 49 steals. While he hit just .259 this past season, he more than makes up for any offensive shortcomings with his defense. Last season, he posted a defensive WAR of 3.4, the 13th highest single-season total of all-time at any position—yet still managed to get snubbed of the Gold Glove.

Center Field: Curtis Granderson (5.2 WAR)

Already one of the best power-speed players in all of baseball, Granderson took full advantage of the right field porch in 2011 as he hit 41 home runs and led the AL with 119 RBI. He also led the league with 136 runs scored and added 25 stolen bases. More so then some of his higher paid teammates, Granderson will be counted on to carry the offense in 2012 along with Robinson Cano.

Right Field: Nick Swisher (3.4 WAR)

A free-agent-to-be at the end of the season, Swisher has been as durable as anyone in the league playing in at least 150 games in each of the past six seasons and hitting at least 22 home runs each year. He is also an invaluable member of the Yankees clubhouse and, at 31 years old, still has plenty of good seasons in him.