MLB
HomeScoresRumorsHighlightsDraftPower Rankings
Featured Video
Mets Walk-Off Yankees 🍎
Scott Halleran/Getty Images

MLB Position-by-Position Player Power Rankings, 2016 Preseason Edition

Joel ReuterMar 4, 2016

With spring training games underway, now is as good a time as any to put together our preseason position-by-position power rankings for the 2016 season.

What follows will be a look at the 10 best players at each position, based simply on how they are expected to perform during the upcoming season.

That's an important distinction, as these rankings are not based on how guys played in 2015 but instead are a prediction of who will be the 10 best at each position this coming year.

All-around offensive abilities, defensive contributions and what a player means to the success of his team was all taken into account when ranking players.

To put this another way, think of it as though you were building a team to compete for just the 2016 season and this being a big board for assembling said team.

Catchers

1 of 13

Top 10 Catchers

1. Buster Posey, SF.318.84928199574296.1
2. Russell Martin, TOR.240.787232377764-23.3
3. Salvador Perez, KC.260.70625217052152.2
4. Brian McCann, NYY.232.75615269468002.8
5. Yadier Molina, STL.270.6602346134371.4
6. Jonathan Lucroy, MIL.264.71720743511-11.0
7. Travis d'Arnaud, NYM.268.825141241310-41.7
8. Francisco Cervelli, PIT.295.77117743561-33.2
9. Derek Norris, SD.250.70933146265442.5
10. Yasmani Grandal, LAD.234.756121647430-31.4

 

The gap between Buster Posey and the rest of the league's catchers may be the widest at any position, but how much longer he sits at the top of these rankings remains to be seen.

The 28-year-old played a career-high 42 games at first base last season, and with good, young backstops in Andrew Susac and Aramis Garcia waiting in the wings, a full-time switch could come soon.

Last winter saw a ton of quality backstops changing teams. For the most part, the likes of Russell Martin, Francisco Cervelli, Derek Norris and Yasmani Grandal impressed in their first go-around with their new clubs.

Meanwhile, Salvador Perez and Yadier Molina remain the gold standard at the position defensively and staples for their respective teams.

Perez still struggles to get on base at a respectable clip (.280 OBP in 2015), and Molina is working his way back from a pair of offseason thumb surgeries, but both guys are the clear leaders of teams expected to contend.

Brian McCann rebounded nicely in his second season with the Yankees, raising his OPS from .692 to .756 and setting a new career-high with 26 home runs while tying his previous best with 94 RBI.

Now Jonathan Lucroy will look to follow suit with a bounce-back season of his own after a toe injury and lingering concussion issues resulted in a significant drop-off from his 2014 numbers and limited him to just 103 games total and 86 behind the plate.

The one to watch here is Travis d'Arnaud, who has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career but flashed star potential when he was on the field last year. He recorded 14 doubles and 12 home runs in just 239 at-bats and could have the best power at the position.

 

Top 3 Rookies to Watch

1. Gary Sanchez, NYYAA/AAA.274.815231862507
2. Tom Murphy, COLAA/AAA.256.804262063555
3. Andrew Knapp, PHIA+/AA.308.876351384771

First Basemen

2 of 13

Top 10 First Basemen

1. Paul Goldschmidt, ARI.3211.005383311010321188.8
2. Anthony Rizzo, CHC.278.89938311019417106.2
3. Miguel Cabrera, DET.338.97428187664145.2
4. Joey Votto, CIN.3141.000332980951167.6
5. Chris Davis, BAL.262.9233147117100245.2
6. Jose Abreu, CWS.290.850343010188013.8
7. Adrian Gonzalez, LAD.275.830332890760104.0
8. Eric Hosmer, KC.297.82233189398713.6
9. Freddie Freeman, ATL.276.84127186662333.4
10. Brandon Belt, SF.280.83433186873983.9

 

You'd be in good shape building a franchise around Paul Goldschmidt or Anthony Rizzo, but a slight edge goes to Goldschmidt for the top spot among first basemen after he was better across the board in 2015.

Both are legitimate NL MVP candidates heading into the year as Rizzo remains the leader of a young Cubs team on the rise, and Goldschmidt may finally be playing for a contender after a busy offseason by the Diamondbacks.

Behind them is a pair of veterans in Miguel Cabrera and Joey Votto who are still capable of ranking among the most dangerous hitters in the game. Cabrera won his fourth AL batting title despite missing time with a calf strain, while Votto hit a ridiculous .362/.535/.617 in the second half.

Chris Davis rejoined the Orioles on a massive seven-year, $161 million deal, thanks to rebuilding his value after a disappointing 2014 campaign. He led the AL in home runs (47) and strikeouts (208) last year, and you can expect more of the same.

Jose Abreu was a steady producer in a bad White Sox's lineup, and he should benefit as much as anyone from the team's addition of Todd Frazier. On the other hand, Freddie Freeman has next to nothing in the way of protection in the Braves lineup.

Adrian Gonzalez is as steady as they come with at least 90 RBI in each of the past nine seasons, and there's no reason to expect anything less in 2016.

Eric Hosmer and Brandon Belt are two first basemen on the rise as they enter their respective primes, and Belt edges out Lucas Duda for the final spot.

 

Top 3 Rookies

1. A.J. Reed, HOUA+/AA.3401.04430341271130
2. Matt Olson, OAKAA.249.826371775825
3. Richie Shaffer, TBAA/AAA.267.897272672644

Second Basemen

3 of 13

Top 10 Second Basemen

1. Jose Altuve, HOU.313.812401566863834.5
2. Ian Kinsler, DET.296.7703511739410196.0
3. Robinson Cano, SEA.287.779342179822-93.4
4. Dee Gordon, MIA.333.776244468858134.9
5. Jason Kipnis, CLE.303.82343952861214.6
6. Brian Dozier, MIN.236.75139287710112-52.4
7. Rougned Odor, TEX.261.781211661546-71.9
8. Logan Forsythe, TB.281.80433176869985.0
9. Joe Panik, SF.312.8332783759323.3
10. Ben Zobrist, CHC.276.809361356763-71.9

 

Already one of the best contact hitters in baseball, Jose Altuve added some pop to his game last year with a career-high 15 home runs while once again leading the AL in with 38 steals.

He also improved defensively, tallying plus-three DRS after racking up a combined minus-28 DRS over the previous three seasons.

Altuve is on top for now, but Ian Kinsler and Robinson Cano are both capable of challenging for the top spot at the position.

Kinsler was an elite defender last year who brings an impressive mix of power and speed offensively, while Cano looked like the superstar of old in the second half when he posted a .926 OPS with 15 home runs and 49 RBI.

Speedy Dee Gordon could have a tough time duplicating his NL-best .333 average, as even with his wheels a .383 BABIP is not sustainable. There's no reason he can't once again push for a .300 average and 50-plus steals, though.

Brian Dozier led the position in home runs (28) and ranked second in total bases (279), while Jason Kipnis rebounded to finish 16th in AL MVP voting and make his second All-Star appearance.

Logan Forsythe, Joe Panik and Rougned Odor all enjoyed breakout seasons in 2015, and the 22-year-old Odor still has plenty of room to improve for the Rangers.

The versatile Ben Zobrist, who joins a stacked Cubs lineup, claims the final spot on the list, beating out a deep crop that includes veterans Daniel Murphy, Neil Walker, Howie Kendrick and DJ LeMahieu as well as up-and-comers Kolten Wong, Devon Travis and Jonathan Schoop.

 

Top 3 Rookies

1. Alen Hanson, PITAAA.263.701176436635
2. Darnell Sweeney, PHIAAA.271.741309496932
3. Jose Peraza, CINAAA.293.694134426333

TOP NEWS

Washington Nationals v Los Angeles Angels
New York Yankees v. Chicago Cubs

Third Basemen

4 of 13

Top 10 Third Basemen

1. Josh Donaldson, TOR.297.93941411231226118.8
2. Nolan Arenado, COL.287.8984342130972185.8
3. Manny Machado, BAL.286.86130358610220147.1
4. Kris Bryant, CHC.275.858312699871335.9
5. Adrian Beltre, TEX.287.788321883831185.8
6. Todd Frazier, CWS.255.806433589821364.0
7. Matt Carpenter, STL.272.8714428841014-103.9
8. Kyle Seager, SEA.266.77937267485604.3
9. Mike Moustakas, KC.284.81734228273144.4
10. Maikel Franco, PHI.280.840221450451-81.7

 

Josh Donaldson, Nolan Arenado and Manny Machado could all stake a reasonable claim to the top spot among third basemen, and don't be surprised if Kris Bryant joins that trio with a strong sophomore campaign.

For now, the reigning AL MVP Donaldson gets the No. 1 rank, but Arenado and Machado are the superior fielders, and Bryant has as much upside as any player in the game.

Veteran Adrian Beltre headlines the second tier at the position, as he looks to put the finishing touches on a Hall of Fame career. The 36-year-old played through a nagging thumb injury last season that sapped his power, so look for him to provide an uptick in production.

Todd Frazier joined the White Sox in a three-team trade, and he'll need to prove his mediocre second-half numbers (.220 BA, .664 OPS) were an aberration before ranking any higher.

Despite hitting primarily in the leadoff spot, Matt Carpenter led the Cardinals in home runs (28) and RBI (84) as well as doubles (44) and runs scored (101).

Kyle Seager and Mike Moustakas both provided a good mix of power and solid defense, and they are both entering their primes, so there could be more to come.

The Phillies' rebuilding cornerstone, Maikel Franco, grabs the final spot on the list, ahead of guys like Matt Duffy, Evan Longoria, Josh Harrison, Trevor Plouffe, Justin Turner and injury returnees Anthony Rendon, David Wright, Jung Ho Kang and Martin Prado at what may be the deepest position in baseball.

 

Top 3 Rookies

1. Joey Gallo, TEXAA/AAA.240.862192363412
2. Brandon Drury, ARIAA/AAA.303.75640561654
3. Kyle Kubitza, LAAAAA.271.79143750637

Shortstops

5 of 13
Carlos Correa
Carlos Correa

Top 10 Shortstops

1. Carlos Correa, HOU.279.857222268521404.1
2. Xander Bogaerts, BOS.320.77635781841004.6
3. Brandon Crawford, SF.256.782332184656205.6
4. Troy Tulowitzki, TOR.280.77727177077152.9
5. Francisco Lindor, CLE.313.8352212515012104.6
6. Corey Seager, LAD.337.986841717211.8
7. A. Simmons, LAA.265.66023444605254.0
8. Addison Russell, CHC.242.696291354604103.3
9. Ketel Marte, SEA.283.7531421725822.3
10. Jhonny Peralta, STL.275.745261771641-71.8

 

Carlos Correa did not debut with the Astros until June 8 last season, but that was still plenty of time for him to make his mark as one of the game's emerging superstars.

He's far from the only budding star at the shortstop position, though.

Francisco Lindor gave Correa a serious run for AL Rookie of the Year honors, Addison Russell looks like he'll anchor the position for the next decade with the Cubs and Ketel Marte quietly put together a strong debut with the Mariners.

There's more young talent on the way, too, headlined by Corey Seager, who has a clear path to an everyday job with the Dodgers and could be the best shortstop in the NL from the get-go.

Xander Bogaerts has two years of MLB experience under his belt, but he too has tremendous upside. After a disappointing rookie campaign, he made dramatic improvements to his batting average (.240 to .320) and OPS (.660 to .776), and a boost in power production would be the next big step.

Veteran Troy Tulowitzki is still capable of being the best offensive player at the position when healthy, but at this point, you almost have to bank on him missing time. Still, penciled into the No. 5 spot in a stacked Blue Jays lineup, he should produce.

The Giants rewarded a breakout offensive season from Brandon Crawford with a six-year, $75 million extension, and he'll continue to anchor their terrific homegrown infield.

Elite defender Andrelton Simmons has his place among the best at the position, despite his offensive shortcomings, and the Angels' pitching staff will welcome him with open arms.

Jhonny Peralta with his solid power numbers and steady defense takes the final spot, ahead of Adeiny Hechavarria, Didi Gregorius, Alcides Escobar and Jose Iglesias, who are all similar players and more or less interchangeable at No. 11.

Prospects Orlando Arcia (MIL), Trea Turner (WAS), Trevor Story (COL), Tim Anderson (CWS) and J.P. Crawford (PHI) could all arrive in 2016, so expect this list to look considerably different by season's end.

 

Top 3 Rookies

1. Corey Seager, LADAA/AAA.293.831371876814
2. Orlando Arcia, MILAA.307.800378697425
3. Trevor Story, COLAA/AAA.279.8634020808322

Left Fielders

6 of 13
Starling Marte
Starling Marte

Top 10 Left Fielders

1. Starling Marte, PIT.287.7803019818430245.4
2. Michael Brantley, CLE.310.8594515846815-23.4
3. Justin Upton, DET.251.790262681851984.4
4. Ryan Braun, MIL.285.8542725848724-13.8
5. Alex Gordon, KC.271.80918134840272.8
6. Kyle Schwarber, CHC.246.84261643523-31.2
7. Christian Yelich, MIA.300.78230744631683.5
8. Michael Conforto, NYM.270.8411492630092.1
9. Matt Holliday, STL.279.80416435242-40.8
10. Brett Gardner, NYY.259.742261666942013.3

 

Starling Marte may not get the same recognition as superstar teammate and outfield mate Andrew McCutchen, but the 27-year-old has quietly developed into one of the game's best all-around outfielders in his own right.

He was one of just three playersPaul Goldschmidt and Lorenzo Cain being the othersto tally 15 home runs, 15 stolen bases and 15 defensive runs saved, a nice mix of numbers that paints a picture of a well-rounded player.

Pushing him for the top spot is Michael Brantley, who battled through a number of injuries last season and still put up terrific numbers. He underwent offseason shoulder surgery and is expected to start the year on the shelf, but when all is said and done, he should again be among the best at the position.

Justin Upton and Ryan Braun were their usual productive selves last year, and Braun rejoins the left field ranks after spending last season playing right field.

A groin strain limited Alex Gordon to 104 games last year, but that may have been a best-case scenario for the Royals. He returned in time to help them to a World Series title, then re-signed for a discount on a four-year, $72 million deal.

Kyle Schwarber and Michael Conforto are the budding stars at the position, as both turned heads as rookies and are capable of pushing toward the top of these rankings in the near future.

Christian Yelich is not the prototypical power-hitting left fielder, but he's proven to be valuable for the Marlins with his mix of average, on-base skills and plus defense.

Rounding things out is a pair of veterans with something to prove in 2016.

Matt Holliday played just 73 games last season due to a quad injury, while Brett Gardner followed up his first All-Star nod with a dismal .206/.300/.292 line in the second half.

 

Top 3 Rookies

1. Jabari Blash, SDAA/AAA.271.946243281798
2. Hector Olivera, ATLA/AA/AAA.272.7025210180
3. Jesse Winker, CINAA.282.823241355698

Center Fielders

7 of 13
Mike Trout
Mike Trout

Top 10 Center Fielders

1. Mike Trout, LAA.299.9913241901041159.4
2. A. McCutchen, PIT.292.8893623969111-84.9
3. A.J. Pollock, ARI.315.86539207611139147.4
4. Yoenis Cespedes, NYM.291.87042351051017116.3
5. Lorenzo Cain, KC.307.83834167210128187.2
6. Kevin Kiermaier, TB.263.7182510406218427.3
7. Adam Jones, BAL.269.78225278274343.2
8. Kevin Pillar, TOR.278.7133112567625225.2
9. Charlie Blackmon, COL.287.7973117589343-72.4
10. Carlos Gomez, HOU.255.724291256611762.3

 

Mike Trout continued his transformation into a power hitter last season, setting new career highs in home runs (41), slugging percentage (.590) and OPS (.991) as he once again led the AL in WAR (9.4) and finished second in MVP voting for the third time in his career.

He's still the best player in baseball, end of story.

Meanwhile, A.J. Pollock emerged as a dynamic all-around player for the Diamondbacks. He was the only player in baseball with a .300 average, 20 home runs and 30 stolen bases.

However, the No. 2 spot still goes to Andrew McCutchen, who is the face of a Pirates team that has made the playoffs three years running after finally snapping a 20-year drought. 

Yoenis Cespedes will make the full-time move to center field after winning a Gold Glove in left field last year, and returning his power bat to the middle of the Mets lineup should make them NL East favorites once again.

Despite their recent run of success, the Royals lack a true superstar talent. Lorenzo Cain is on the cusp, though, as he took his offensive game to another level last year and remains an elite defender and base-runner to boot.

Speaking of elite defense, Kevin Kiermaier put together an historically good season with 42 defensive runs saved, while Kevin Pillar was also stellar with the glove. Both players were also pleasant surprises offensively.

Adam Jones remains a consistent contributor in the middle of the Orioles lineup, and Charlie Blackmon built off of his breakout 2014 season by running more, as he ranked second in the NL with 43 steals.

The final spot goes to Carlos Gomez, who is one of the biggest bounce-back candidates in the league after being slowed by a nagging hamstring injury last year. He narrowly edged out Adam Eaton and Ender Inciarte, among others.

 

Top 3 Rookies

1. Byron Buxton, MINAA/AAA.305.867107455522
2. Tyler Naquin, CLEAA/AAA.300.828257275013
3. Brett Phillips, MILA+/AA.309.90134167710417

Right Fielders

8 of 13
Bryce Harper
Bryce Harper

Top 10 Right Fielders

1. Bryce Harper, WAS.3301.1093842991186109.9
2. G. Stanton, MIA.265.95212276747493.7
3. Mookie Betts, BOS.291.8204218779221106.0
4. Jose Bautista, TOR.250.91329401141088-35.1
5. Jason Heyward, CHC.293.7973313607923246.5
6. J.D. Martinez, DET.282.879333810293345.0
7. George Springer, HOU.276.826191641591663.8
8. Carlos Gonzalez, COL.271.86425409787253.1
9. C. Granderson, NYM.259.8213326709811115.1
10. Miguel Sano, MIN.269.916171852461-2.1

 

Bryce Harper put together an historically good season at the plate last year, finally turning his tremendous potential into production and finally shaking the "overrated" tag.

A more disciplined approach at the plate made all the difference, as his walk rate increased from 9.6 to 19.0 percent, and he simply didn't miss when pitchers did challenge him.

The No. 2 spot goes to Giancarlo Stanton, who has yet to prove he can stay healthy for a full 162-game season. He has such prolific power that if he ever does tally 600 at-bats, a 50-homer season would be expected. He also has an absolute cannon in right field, where he's a solid all-around defender.

Mookie Betts delivered a terrific first full season in the majors as a five-tool threat, and alongside Xander Bogaerts, he appears to be the future face of the franchise for the Red Sox.

Slugger Jose Bautista topped 40 home runs for the first time since 2011, and he also led the AL with 110 walks to help off-set his mediocre batting average.

Jason Heyward rounds out the top five on the strength of his elite defense, solid on-base skills and plus wheels, and he now takes that skill set to the Cubs after signing an eight-year, $184 million deal.

J.D. Martinez and Carlos Gonzalez earn a spot for their impressive power production, while Curtis Granderson rebounded nicely with a strong second season in a Mets uniform.

George Springer appeared to be on the cusp of breaking out when he hit .321/.387/.518 in June, but a fractured wrist from a hit by a pitch sidelined him at the beginning of July. Now that breakout performance may be coming in 2016.

Miguel Sano posted a .916 OPS with 17 doubles and 18 home runs in 279 at-bats as a rookie serving primarily designated hitter, but now he'll move to right field after playing third base in the minors. The defense will be a question, but the bat plays anywhere.

This easily could have been a top-15 list, with Kole Calhoun, Shin-Soo Choo, Josh Reddick, Stephen Piscotty and Hunter Pence representing the next five.

 

Top 3 Rookies

1. Nomar Mazara, TEXAA/AAA.296.808261469682
2. Hunter Renfroe, SDAA/AAA.272.783272078655
3. Aaron Judge, NYYAA/AAA.255.777262072637

Designated Hitters

9 of 13
Edwin Encarnacion
Edwin Encarnacion

Top 5 Designated Hitters

1. Edwin Encarnacion, TOR.277.92931391119434.7
2. Nelson Cruz, SEA.302.9362244939035.2
3. Prince Fielder, TEX.305.8412823987801.9
4. David Ortiz, BOS.273.91337371087303.2
5. Kendrys Morales, KC.290.84741221068102.4

 

As two of the most feared sluggers in the game, Edwin Encarnacion and Nelson Cruz can be considered No. 1 and 1A for the sake of these rankings.

Over the past two seasons, they rank first (Cruz, 84) and fourth (Encarnacion, 73) in the majors in home runs, and they should both make a run at 40 dingers once again in 2016.

Prince Fielder may no longer be an elite power threat, but he bounced back better than anyone could have hoped after significant neck surgery to win AL Comeback Player of the Year honors.

Retirement awaits David Ortiz at the end of the 2016 campaign, and he'll be looking to add a 10th season with at least 30 home runs and 100 RBI to his resume before he calls it quits.

The final spot here goes to Kendrys Morales, who proved to be an absolute steal for the Royals on a two-year, $17 million deal last winter.

With Fielder and Encarnacion seeing time at first base and Cruz playing a decent amount of outfield, it was actually Morales who won Silver Slugger honors last season.

Victor Martinez will look to put an awful 2015 season (.245 BA, .667 OPS) behind him and return to the 2014 form that saw him finish second in AL MVP voting, so he's one to watch.

 

Top Rookie

Byung Ho Park, MINKBO.3431.150355314612910

Right-Handed Starting Pitchers

10 of 13
Jake Arrieta
Jake Arrieta

Top 10 Right-Handed Starting Pitchers

1. Jake Arrieta, CHC22-61.772.350.865.1852368.7
2. Max Scherzer, WAS14-122.792.770.918.2082767.1
3. Jose Fernandez, MIA6-12.922.241.160.249791.5
4. Gerrit Cole, PIT19-82.602.661.091.2392024.5
5. Jacob deGrom, NYM14-82.542.700.979.2152054.7
6. Sonny Gray, OAK14-72.733.451.082.2171695.8
7. Matt Harvey, NYM13-82.713.051.019.2221884.3
8. Felix Hernandez, SEA18-93.533.721.180.2401914.4
9. Zack Greinke, ARI19-31.662.760.844.1872009.3
10. Corey Kluber, CLE9-163.492.971.054.2312454.2

 

Narrowing the incredible crop of right-handed starting pitchers to a top 10 is borderline impossible.

There is no shortage of players on the outside looking in who could easily make their way into these rankings by season's end.

Chris Archer, Stephen Strasburg, Noah Syndergaard, Carlos Carrasco, Carlos Martinez, Marcus Stroman, Justin Verlander, Danny Salazar, Tyson Ross, Shelby Miller, Johnny Cueto and Adam Wainwright were all given consideration for a spot.

As for the pitchers who did earn a spot, Jake Arrieta has to be the choice for the No. 1 slot after going 12-1 with an 0.75 ERA, 0.727 WHIP and striking out 9.5 batters per nine innings in an historic second-half performance.

The other clear standout last year was Zack Greinke, but as he moves from the pitcher-friendly Dodger Stadium to the more hitter-friendly Chase Field as a member of the Diamondbacks, some regression is to be expected.

Somewhat lost in the shuffle of those great seasons by Arrieta and Greinke was a fine first year with the Nationals from Max Scherzer, and he should be right in the thick of the NL Cy Young race once again.

Jose Fernandez, Gerrit Cole and Sonny Gray have all emerged as the young aces of their respective teams and first-tier arms, while Jacob deGrom and Matt Harvey could be considered co-aces of a Mets rotation that is expected to be the best in baseball.

Felix Hernandez was not his usual dominant self at times in 2015, as his ERA and WHIP were both their highest since 2011, and he's already logged 2,262.1 innings heading into his age-30 season.

Still, he has to be considered among the game's elite, given his phenomenal track record.

The final spot goes to Corey Kluber, who provided further proof that wins are an awful gauge of a pitcher's effectiveness after he led the AL with 16 losses but registered strong peripherals across the board.

 

Top 3 Rookies

1. Kenta Maeda, LADJPN15-82.091.01341175
2. Jose Berrios, MINAA/AAA14-52.871.04638175
3. Tyler Glasnow, PITA-/AA/AAA7-52.391.09843136

Left-Handed Starting Pitchers

11 of 13
Clayton Kershaw
Clayton Kershaw

Top 10 Left-Handed Starting Pitchers

1. Clayton Kershaw, LAD16-72.131.990.881.1943017.5
2. Chris Sale, CWS13-113.412.731.088.2332743.3
3. Madison Bumgarner, SF18-92.932.871.008.2222344.8
4. David Price, BOS18-52.452.781.076.2302256.0
5. Dallas Keuchel, HOU20-82.482.911.017.2172167.2
6. Jon Lester, CHC11-123.342.921.122.2402073.1
7. Cole Hamels, TEX13-83.653.471.187.2382154.5
8. Francisco Liriano, PIT12-73.383.191.205.2232052.7
9. Jose Quintana, CWS9-103.363.181.270.2721774.0
10. Gio Gonzalez, WAS11-83.793.051.423.2691692.8

 

In almost any other season, Clayton Kershaw would have skated to Cy Young honors after going 16-7 with a 2.13 ERA, 0.881 WHIP and 301 strikeouts. Instead, he had to settle for third place in the voting behind Arrieta and Greinke.

Despite falling short of winning the award for the fourth time, Kershaw remains the consensus best pitcher in baseball and the odds-on favorite to take home that award again in 2016.

Chris Sale, Madison Bumgarner and David Price have all been top-tier pitchers for several years running, and all three are the unquestioned aces of their respective teams and absolute horses from a workload standpoint.

Looking to push his way into that group is Dallas Keuchel, who bested Price for AL Cy Young honors after proving his 2014 breakout was no fluke with an even better 2015 performance. With an elite ground-ball rate (61.7 percent) and uptick in strikeouts (6.6 to 8.4 K/9), there's no reason to think he'll regress.

Jon Lester, Cole Hamels and Francisco Liriano are three of the best No. 2 starters in the league, as they flank Arrieta, Yu Darvish and Gerrit Cole, respectively. All three are capable of pitching like aces and showed that at times last year.

The White Sox have not one but two lefties on this list as the perennially underrated Jose Quintana also earns a spot, and it wouldn't be a huge shock to see a third crack the list by season's end if Carlos Rodon can take a step forward.

Gio Gonzalez takes the No. 10 spot as one of the best positive regression candidates in the league. His .341 BABIP was the highest mark among qualified starters, and a 3.05 FIP is a good indication of better things to come.

Wei-Yin Chen, Carlos Rodon, Jaime Garcia, Patrick Corbin, Matt Moore, J.A. Happ, Jon Niese, Scott Kazmir and Derek Holland earn honorable mention.

 

Top 3 Rookies

1. Steven Matz, NYMA+/AA/AAA8-42.051.06334107
2. Blake Snell, TBA+/AA/AAA15-41.411.02253163
3. Sean Manaea, OAKA+/AA7-12.661.2512690

Non-Closer Relievers

12 of 13
Dellin Betances
Dellin Betances

Top 10 Non-Closer Relievers

1. Dellin Betances, NYY746-4281.501.01214.03.7
2. Andrew Miller, NYY603-202.040.85914.62.2
3. Darren O'Day, BAL686-2181.520.93411.32.8
4. Tony Watson, PIT774-1411.910.9567.42.5
5. Roberto Osuna, TOR681-672.580.9199.71.7
6. Carson Smith, BOS702-5222.311.01411.82.3
7. Kelvin Herrera, KC724-3212.711.1208.31.4
8. Joakim Soria, KC723-1112.531.0948.51.7
9. Keone Kela, TEX687-5222.391.16010.11.8
10. Kevin Siegrist, STL817-1282.171.16510.92.1

 

The Yankees boasted two of the three relievers last year who tallied at least 100 strikeouts in Dellin Betances (131, 14.0 K/9) and Andrew Miller (100, 14.6 K/9). By adding the third in Aroldis Chapman (116 K, 15.7 K/9), both of those pitchers will now be serving in a setup role.

According to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, Miller will be closing games to start the year while Chapman serves a 30-game suspension, but he'll be bumped back to the eighth inning once he returns.

Darren O'Day joined those two on the AL All-Star team last year, and his impressive performance over the past four years with the Orioles was rewarded with a new four-year, $31 million deal.

The Royals said goodbye to Greg Holland and Ryan Madson in free agency, but they brought back former closer Joakim Soria and still have another 2015 All-Star reliever in Kelvin Herrera so the setup role still seems to be in good hands.

Pirates setup man Tony Watson led the majors with 41 holds last season, and he too was an All-Star in 2014, as he's proven to be a reliable bridge to Mark Melancon.

Roberto Osuna is still in the mix for the Blue Jays closer job, but here's predicting that gig will go to Drew Storen, and the 21-year-old will wind up being one of the league's most effective setup relievers.

Carson Smith and Keone Kela were terrific as rookies, and the two hard-throwing right-handers will be relied upon even more heavily this season pitching in a setup role for a pair of teams expected to contend.

Kevin Siegrist struggled mightily in 2014 (37 G, 6.82 ERA) on the heels of a fantastic rookie season in 2013 (45 G, 0.45 ERA), but he rebounded nicely last year to once again rank as one of the game's elite southpaw relievers.

 

Top 3 Rookies

1. Mychal Givens, BALAA354-21.730.94212.4
2. Seung-hwan Oh, STLJPN632-32.731.1548.6
3. Tony Barnette, TEXJPN593-11.290.8948.0

Closers

13 of 13
Wade Davis
Wade Davis

Top 10 Closers

1. Wade Davis, KC698-117/180.940.78710.43.4
2. Kenley Jansen, LAD542-136/382.410.78313.81.4
3. Craig Kimbrel, BOS614-239/432.581.04513.21.3
4. Aroldis Chapman, NYY654-433/361.631.14615.72.7
5. Mark Melancon, PIT783-251/532.230.9267.31.9
6. Trevor Rosenthal, STL682-448/512.101.26710.92.7
7. Jeurys Familia, NYM762-243/481.851.0009.92.7
8. Zach Britton, BAL644-136/401.920.99010.82.5
9. Hector Rondon, CHC726-430/341.671.0008.92.2
10. Cody Allen, CLE702-534/382.991.16812.91.2

 

Despite the fact that he's entering his first full season in the closer's role, Wade Davis is an easy pick for the No. 1 spot here after another flat-out dominant season last year.

The 30-year-old took over for Greg Holland, when he was shelved with arm issues and went on to convert 17-of-18 save chances. The past two seasons, he's posted a 0.97 ERA, 0.818 WHIP and 12.1 K/9 over 140 appearances.

Kenley Jansen, Craig Kimbrel and Chapman are all lights-out ninth-inning options who put up video-game strikeout numbers, and Kimbrel and Chapman will now be going head-to-head in the AL East after being acquired via trade this offseason.

Mark Melancon and Trevor Rosenthal both set franchise records for saves last season, and they are joined by Cubs' closer Hector Rondon to give the NL Central an impressive trio of closers even with Chapman no longer a member of the division.

The Mets turned to Jeurys Familia after Jenrry Mejia was suspended last year, and aside from a rough patch in July (5 G, 5.1 IP, 6 ER, 3 blown saves), he was as reliable as any closer in the game.

Zach Britton has successfully gone from failed starter to All-Star closer thanks to an uncanny ability to keep the ball on the ground, as he posted a 79.1 percent ground-ball rate and allowed just 15 fly balls all season.

Indians closer Cody Allen claims the No. 10 spot after quietly dominating at the back of a terrific Cleveland pitching staff last season, ahead of guys like Jonathan Papelbon, Ken Giles, Francisco Rodriguez, Drew Storen, Brad Boxberger, A.J. Ramos Sean Doolittle, Santiago Casilla, Huston Street and Glen Perkins.

 

Top Rookie

Silvino Bracho, ARIA+/AA432-1191.600.88813.0

All standard statistics and WAR totals courtesy of Baseball-Reference, while defensive metrics such as DRS and UZR/150 and advanced offensive stats come from via FanGraphs.

Mets Walk-Off Yankees 🍎

TOP NEWS

Washington Nationals v Los Angeles Angels
New York Yankees v. Chicago Cubs
New York Yankees v Tampa Bay Rays
New York Mets v San Diego Padres

TRENDING ON B/R