Giancarlo Stanton might have thought he was in a fantasy when he signed a ten year deal that could be worth upwards of $ 300 million this winter. While fantasy baseball isn't quite as lucrative, there are times it can seem just as unreal. Joey Votto hits six home runs? Jose Altuve hits .341? Yet these stats are as real as the insane amount of money Giancarlo is now worth. Here now are the top 100 fantasy baseball players for the 5x5 format.
100. Yan Gomes
Yan Gomes Swing
100. Yan Gomes
Yan Gomes Swing
Gomes saw his average on base and slugging dip from 2013 to 2014, but still posted great numbers for the catcher spot, and played in 135 games. He strikes out a lot and doesn't walk much, meaning his batting average may dip further, but even if it does, there's enough talent, youth and playing time for Gomes to be an asset to your fantasy team.
99. Yadier Molina
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99. Yadier Molina
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Molina struggled with a hand injury last season, and at age 32, may begin to decline because of the heavy workload he's carried as an everyday catcher. Still, he hit .282 last season and was above .300 before that. Yadier's track record dictates he be given a year to prove last season was simply a down year and not the beginning of the end for his fantasy baseball relevance.
98. J.D. Martinez
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98. J.D. Martinez
Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports
Martinez had a breakout 2014, but precautions when drafting him need to be taken. His BABIP was an incredibly high .389, and the six stolen bases were his professional high for a full season. He is only 27, so we're not talking about eroding skills but unsustainable luck. He's clearly improved since he was in Houston, but exactly how much remains to be seen. Don't be caught holding the bill if the answer is "not much."
97. Jay Bruce
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97. Jay Bruce
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Bruce struggled through 2014, but there are signs 2015 should be better. He's only 28 come opening day, he hits in a terrific hitters park and has a track record, as he had hit 25 home runs or more for the last four seasons. He'll be an anchor on batting average, but in today's power-deficient climate, a proven slugger is an essential portion of a winning fantasy baseball lineup. He also stole 12 bases last year.
96. Alexei Ramirez
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96. Alexei Ramirez
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Ramirez posted the second highest wRC+ of his career while surpassing 20 steals for the third straight year. While he is 33 and decline could be coming for his quick bat, there were no extreme outliers in his peripherals compared to his previous seasons. A season about as productive as his 2014 is something fantasy players should feel confident investing in.
95. Dellin Betances
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95. Dellin Betances
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Betances should slide into the closer's role in New York, and he figures to excel right away. With 13.50 K/9 and a 1.64 FIP, Betances established himself as an elite option in the ever fickle relief pitcher role. While his 90 IP total will probably come down, lowering Ks with it, the added saves will more than make up the lost value. Some do struggle transitioning to the 9th inning, but Betances has all he needs to avoid a sophomore slump.
94. Gerrit Cole
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94. Gerrit Cole
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Cole posted a solid 2014 and could provide an elite 2015. Armed with a 95.3 MPH fastball, 9.00 K/9, and a solid club to pitch for, Cole is a moderate risk, high reward investment. Only 24 years old come opening day, Cole proved what he could do in his last 21 IP in 2014, with a 27/2 K/BB ratio and a 2.14 ERA. Invest expecting last season's numbers and hope for another step forward.
93. Anibal Sanchez
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93. Anibal Sanchez
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Inning for inning, Sanchez is an elite fantasy prospect. The issue for him is how many innings he'll throw. Now 30, he's yet to throw 200 innings in any MLB season, and only threw 126 last year because of a chest injury. Furthermore, his K/9 tumbled from 9.99 in 2013 to 7.29 in 2014. Still, his FIP remained a sterling 2.71 and his fastball topped 92 MPH, the second highest average of his career. 2015 is a pivot season for Sanchez.
92. Justin Verlander
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92. Justin Verlander
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Verlander suffers from being an MVP in that his demise has been somewhat overblown. Yes, he's worse than he was, but he still profiles as a very productive pitcher. His fastball averaged 93 MPH last year, or 18th in MLB among starters. He pitches for a great team in a quality pitcher's park. He suffered from a low 66.8 percent strand rate in 2014 that will go up, and The Tigers improved their defense for 2015. He's no ace, but he's not done.
91. Tyson Ross
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91. Tyson Ross
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Ross nearly duplicated his ratios from 2013 in 2014, but at 27, this may be the best we see from him. There's nothing wrong with that, as a 3.24 FIP is quite good, but there is a perception that he is part of the Padres young pitching and that is not entirely true. Granted, his arm has fewer innings on it than say Clayton Kershaw, but drafting and expecting another leap forward may not be a wise idea.
90. Jason Kipnis
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90. Jason Kipnis
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Kipnis did not have a good 2014, but playing at 2B certainly aids his value, as do his 20+ steals for three straight years. His batting numbers suffered from a drop in his BABIP from .345 in 2013 to .288 in 2014, but his ratios weren't too bad, as his strikeouts and walks both declined, indicating more swings early in counts. Still, a bounce back probably looks more like 2012 than 2013.
89. Brian Dozier
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89. Brian Dozier
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Dozier mirrored his 2013 in 2014, with the only exception being runs scored. Digging deeper, his walk rate did go up four percent, his strikeouts were down one percent, and his ISO was .004 points higher. At 27, more improvement may not be coming, but neither should dramatic regression. In an era where power can be hard to find, a guy who can hit between 15-20 home runs from second base is quite an asset.
88. David Robertson
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88. David Robertson
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Robertson filled in admirably following the retirement of Mariano, sporting 39 saves, a 2.68 FIP and 13.43 K/9 in 2014. Robertson now finds himself on the South Side of Chicago. He's thrown 60+ innings the last three years, demonstrating his durability, and while his ERA jumped up a point from 2013 to 2014, this can be attributed to a higher HR/FB ratio, which can be a notoriously fickle ratio. He should produce a similar stat line in 2015.
87. Gio Gonzalez
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87. Gio Gonzalez
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First things first, there is no truth to the idea that sliding down the rotation will help Gonzalez earn W's. That's been proven to be nothing more than a myth. What isn't a miss is that this left-hander has swing and miss stuff, and a fantastic club to provide run support. His 3.03 FIP was the second lowest of his career in 2014, and his K/9 held steady at around 9. His expectations are set, and you can expect quality production from Gio.
86. Carlos Santana
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86. Carlos Santana
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Position eligibility is useful in fantasy baseball, and Santana has plenty of that, with catcher and the corner infield spots to his name in 2014. At the plate, his low batting average is attributed to his BABIP falling over 50 points, despite raising his walks and only minimally raising his strikeout rate. His ISO went up from 2013, and he even stole five bases. Draft him expecting modest improvement in 2015.
85. Devin Mesoraco
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85. Devin Mesoraco
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Mesoraco had a break out 2014, despite only appearing in 114 games. He was a first round pick way back in 2007, and he will be only 26 come Opening Day, so the pedigree of a productive MLB hitter is there. He hits in a bandbox, and while he does strike out almost a fourth of the time, his nearly 10 percent walk rate helps to mitigate the damage to your batting average, should it dip too much lower than .273 in 2015.
84. Hishashi Iwakuma
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84. Hishashi Iwakuma
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Iwakuma made five fewer starts in 2014 than 2013, but proved when he was on the mound his 2013 that he was for real. He lowered his walk rate, increased his K rate and lowered his FIP 19 points. He may be 33, but he only lost 0.5 MPH on his fastball, from 89.5 in 2013 to 89.0 in 2014. Even if his velocity continues to gradually decline, he has plenty of other tools to continue to produce at or around this level.
83. Jorge Soler
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83. Jorge Soler
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Soler is an improving prospect who gave us a taste of what he's capable of, with a .281 ISO and a 146 wRC+ in 24 games. While his strikeout to walk ratio suggests the .292 average may not be something that sticks, there's no question about Soler's power. At 22, he still has a ways to go before he maximizes his abilities, and who knows, maybe he tightens up the K/BB ratio a bit. Even if he doesn't, he still has 30+ HR potential in 2015.
82. James Shields
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82. James Shields
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Shields will now be calling sunny San Diego home, which will certainly help his fantasy value. There is a minor red flag for fantasy purposes in that his K rate fell for the third straight year to a pedestrian 7.14, and anything lower could mean he becomes a liability in that category. However, a move to the NL may help alleviate that, and when it comes to FIP and IP, he's about as consistent as they come.
81. Matt Harvey
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81. Matt Harvey
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Harvey had Tommy John in October 2013, meaning his arrival in April 2015 will put it at 18 months since the operation. The long recovery time will be a godsend, but it doesn't ensure we'll see the same Harvey in 2015. The Harvey we saw in 2013 had a 2.00 FIP, 9.64 K/9, and a microscopic 1.56 BB/9. Harvey is probably the frontrunner for comeback player of the year going into 2015.
80. Jeff Samardzija
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80. Jeff Samardzija
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Samardzija made some nice strides forward in 2014, lowering his FIP 57 points, cutting his walk rate nearly in half and sacrificing less than a strikeout per 9 to do it. Headed to the Chicago White Sox, Samardzija will need to retain the improvements he's made if he is to avoid regressing to the 4.34 ERA he showcased with the Cubs in 2013.
79. Sonny Gray
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79. Sonny Gray
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Gray was quite a workhorse in 2014, making 33 starts and totaling 219 IP. His strikeout rate was 7.5 K/9, but his walk rate was a mediocre 3.04 per nine. At 25, he could still add some K's and reduce some walks, which would make him a quality number two fantasy starter. If you believe his 2013 minor league K rate of 8.97, he's ranked too low. If you believe his 2012 K rate of 5.90, he's ranked too high.
78. Chris Davis
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78. Chris Davis
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Davis had an awful year last season, but before we write him off forever, allow me to point out his BABIP fell 80 points. Some may point to the shifts he saw in 2014, but it wasn't like he didn't see shifts in 2013. That BABIP will come back a little bit, and with it, some batting average. The question is how much. I see no reason why a 70 R, 30 HR, 90 RBI, .250 BA season with a few steals isn't reasonable.
77. Nelson Cruz
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77. Nelson Cruz
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Cruz had the best year of his career in 2014, but there are reasons for concern heading in 2015. Firstly, he's 34, rarely any player's prime. Some regression from 2014 is likely. Second, he's moving to spacious Safeco after calling quality hitting parks Camden and Arlington home. Finally, injuries have been an issue at times throughout his career. Fans should expect 130 games played and be happy with anything extra.
76. Alex Gordon
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76. Alex Gordon
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Gordon performed well within expected norms in 2014 and there is no reason 2015 will be any different. While he never matured into the lineup anchor many expected, he's become an extremely well rounded offensive player who can run the bases, hit for power, hit for average and take walks well. There is little upside here at this point, but there is little risk either. Gordon is a sturdy fantasy outfielder.
75. Christian Yelich
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75. Christian Yelich
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Yelich did not match Gordon's production in 2014, but he sneaks ahead of the veteran because of the higher upside. Yelich stole as many as 32 bases in the minor leagues and hit as high as .330. We know the ship has likely sailed on Alex Gordon ever producing those kinds of numbers, the sky is the limit for Yelich.
74. Alex Cobb
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74. Alex Cobb
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Cobb had his second straight good season, and at 27, he should see no regression in 2014. It may be a challenge to earn wins with the new look Rays, though, some projections like PECOTA favor the Rays a lot. However, what Cobb can control, he controls well. He's yet to throw 200 innings, but he's trending in the right direction to cross that milestone this season.
73. Kole Calhoun
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73. Kole Calhoun
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Calhoun missed time with injury in 2014, but when he was in the lineup, he benefitted greatly from hitting leadoff for much of the season. He only poled in 127 games, but he still finished 17th in runs scored. Calhoun will be 27 come opening day, and very much in the heart of his prime.
72. Yoenis Cespedes
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72. Yoenis Cespedes
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A moderately divisive player in baseball, Cespedes will join his third team in about a year when he opens the season with the Detroit Tigers. While Cespedes broke into MLB with a splash highlighted by a 136 wRC+ in 2012, he has posted 102 and 109 tallies since, decidedly closer to the MLB average of 100. Much of his worth depends on V-Mart and Miggy driving him home. Their health could be an issue for Yoenis.
71. Matt Holliday
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71. Matt Holliday
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Holliday didn't produce the season we're used to seeing from him and he's closer to the end than the beginning of his career. Still, he's a very low-risk pick because of his track record. He was better in the second half than the first half, and his 2014 totals of 20 HRs/90 RBIs are nothing to sneeze at. He won't be the best hitter on your team, but he's a terrific supporting player at this stage of his illustrious career.
70. Starling Marte
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70. Starling Marte
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Marte had an impressive age 25 season, but there are reasons for concern. His K/BB ratio is not great, his BABIP was a very high .373 and he was caught stealing 11 times. Still, he's immensely talented and posted a .280 average or better for the second straight year. Perhaps he'll be able to mimic Adam Jones and keep his BA higher than his ratios would suggest.
69. Garrett Richards
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69. Garrett Richards
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A knee injury ended Richards' season early, but had he not gotten hurt, he may have finished within the top-five in Cy Young voting. His 2.61 ERA was nearly identical to his 2.60 FIP, he had an excellent K/9 of 8.75 and he had the fastest fastball of all qualified starting pitchers in MLB. If he's healthy, expect him to pick up where he left off.
68. Jason Heyward
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68. Jason Heyward
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Entering his sixth MLB season, Heyward is still a young player at 25 years young, and there is still upside here. Even if there isn't, he totaled 11 HRs and 20 SBs last season, which was his lowest total of his career. However, Heyward still has 30-30 potential, and this could be the year he finally puts it all together.
67. David Ortiz
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David Ortiz Swing
67. David Ortiz
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Age has reduced Ortiz to a two category player, but he does ever excel at those two categories. Ortiz posted 35 HRs and 104 RBIs last season, and even into his late thirties, he continues to maintain a nearly even strikeout to walk ratio. He won't produce like this forever, but if you've believed in hi the last few years, there's no reason to stop now.
66. Evan Longoria
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66. Evan Longoria
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Not many 3Bs are considered to have a down year with 22 HRs, 83 runs and 91 RBIs. That's how good Longoria is. Sure, he hit .253, but he actually lowered his K rate from 2013. If you can invest in his 2014 numbers, you're not likely to get less. You may, however, get a 30/90/90 season, something he fell two RBIs short of in 2013.
65. Charlie Blackmon
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65. Charlie Blackmon
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This ranking presumes Blackmon begins the year in Colorado, as his production is heavily dependent on that and facing as many right-handers as possible. Blackmon is probably best suited for attentive daily players who can sit him when he leaves Coors for extended periods of time, or faces left-handers. Against right handers at home, though, he will be an elite OF.
64. Kyle Seager
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64. Kyle Seager
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Seager may not have been a recognizable face in 2014, but that could easily change in 2015. With Seattle steadily getting better, and Seager now a $ 100 million man, you may find people in your draft zealously taking him too soon. While he is quite productive at the plate, the fantasy word is much lower on Longoria it seems, meaning you may be able to wait and snag Evan at a fairer price.
63. George Springer
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63. George Springer
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Springer represents one of the purest "true" hitters in the game today. In just 345 plate appearances last year, Springer hit 20 HRs. He also struck out 33 percent of the time and walked 11 percent of the time. A solid four category player in 2014, there is room for improvement in 2015 if he can lower his strikeout rate. That's really the only thing separating him from being much higher on this list.
62. Matt Kemp
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62. Matt Kemp
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The first half of 2014, Kemp looked like a shell of his former self. He was robbed of his ability to drive the ball out of the ballpark to right-center field. In the second half, he was near vintage at the plate. At just 30 years old, his skills shouldn't decline sharply yet. While he's unlikely to factor in stolen bases ever again, if he can adjust to cavernous Petco Park, there is plenty of value here. Nonetheless, tread lightly.
61. Kenley Jansen
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61. Kenley Jansen
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Jansen found an extra MPH on his fastballs from 2013, which contributed to 0.88 more K/9. At 27, he's an elite closer with tremendous strikeout abilities and an FIP under 2.00 three of the last four seasons. Invest in this reliever with confidence this spring.
60. Craig Kimbrel
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60. Craig Kimbrel
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The undisputed best closer in MLB the last few seasons, Kimbrel will cede that title this season. Kimbrel saw his BB/9 climb 1.10 and his xFIP rise 29 points in 2014 from 2013. Furthermore, the Braves figure to win fewer games this season, meaning fewer save chances. Having said that, Kimbrel is hardly undraftable. Kimbrel can still immensely help your team. Just be aware he isn't quite as safe as he was in previous years.
59. Greg Holland
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59. Greg Holland
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Holland was tremendous in 2014 and he enters 2015 as the top closer in the American League. He plays for a winning team, his strikeout numbers are elite and he's durable. He has pitched 60 or more innings in four straight years, which in this day and age, constitutes consistency. While in other situations, a setup man as good as Wade Davis would threaten someone in the closer's role, Holland is so good, competition won't be a concern for him.
58. Jonathan Lucroy
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58. Jonathan Lucroy
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In his age 27 season, Lucroy had another terrific season, batting .301 while raising his wRC+ from 117 to 133. His walk rate went up, while his strikeouts down. He even stole four bags. Lucroy has established himself as a valuable player at a thin position, and while his ISO did decline for the third straight year, there should be enough power left that he can be a valuable asset in all five categories as a catcher.
57. Victor Martinez
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57. Victor Martinez
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Martinez had an absurd 2014, with a 166 wRC+ and over twice as many home runs as he hit in 2013 (14 to 32). Don't draft him expecting the same production in 2015, however. His 2014 season has spike year written all over it, as his second highest wRC+ is a more pedestrian 130. He's also recovering from knee surgery, which could complicate his Opening Day status. If you draft him, expect something more like his 2013 production.
56. Carlos Gonzalez
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56. Carlos Gonzalez
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Car-Go comes with plenty of baggage in 2015. Trade rumors removing him from Coors field, a myriad of injuries that haven't allowed him to play more than 135 games since 2010, a declining walk rate and a disappearing stolen base total that dwindled to three in 2014. He's plenty talented, and if he stays at Coors, he can still hit the ball far, but those skills are coming with more and more instability. The upside is high, but so is the risk.
55. Aroldis Chapman
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55. Aroldis Chapman
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Chapman reached new levels of excellence in 2014, by establishing a new career high with 17.67 K/9, a 0.89 FIP. and a microscopic 0.17 HR/9. His average fastball last season was 100.2 MPH, the only player in MLB last year to average triple digits on the pitch. He's well on his way to establishing himself as a first ballot hall of famer, and you'd be wise to reap the rewards in 2015.
54. Dee Gordon
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54. Dee Gordon
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Gordon added muscle prior to 2014, and it paid off with the highest ISO of his MLB career. However, there were givebacks as well, specifically his walk rate. He took only four walks in the ENTIRE second half of 2014 after 27 in the first half. For a player who butters his bread by stealing bases, this is extremely concerning. Still, if he can reproduce the first half of his 2014 for a full season, he could surpass 70 steals.
53. Nolan Arenado
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53. Nolan Arenado
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Arenado only played in 111 games in 2014, but he still posted a .287 batting average with 18 HRs. While the power appears to be a bit more than his minor league performance would suggest he's capable of, his K/BB ratio suggests at the very least, a gap to gap hitter who can put the ball in play and drive in runs. Third base is not deep this year, and Arenado is an established young player who could develop into a stud.
52. Joey Votto
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52. Joey Votto
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Votto was hampered by a quad injury in 2014 that sapped his power and cut his season short. Still, there is hope for a bounce back if he's healthy. His wRC+ was still a terrific 128 without the power, and if he's healthy, his home ballpark will likely gobble up a few fly balls that would die on the warning track in other parks. Reports out of Cincy are all positive right now, so rolling the dice on Votto would be a wise decision this spring.
51. Ian Kinsler
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51. Ian Kinsler
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Kinsler's first season in Detroit was outstanding, as he played in 161 games and was top 10 among all 2Bs in HRs, Runs, RBIs and SBs. His .275 average was hardly awful either. Still, his walk rate was cut in half from 2013, and his wRC+ hovered around 100 for the third straight year. Nonetheless, he profiles as someone who will continue to accumulate stats, which is all most 5X5 leagues care about.
50. Jose Reyes
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50. Jose Reyes
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Reyes will be 31 come Opening Day, which is a concern given his previous issues with leg injuries. Still, he produced a good enough 2014, with 143 games, 30 steals, 94 runs and a .287 average. The difficult with Reyes is forgetting how electric he once was, because he's still a great fantasy SS when on the field. While the steals may start to decline, he is a former batting champion, meaning he should continue to provide value.
49. Jordan Zimmermann
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49. Jordan Zimmermann
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The underrated Zimmermann had a stupendous 2014, with a 2.68 FIP, 2.66 ERA and minuscule 1.30 BB/9. He also increased his K's from 6.79 per nine innings to 8.20 per nine innings. If Zimmermann can retain his K rate and secure more wins in 2015, he could move toward the top tier of fantasy starters.
48. Adam Wainwright
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48. Adam Wainwright
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Wainwright was a workhorse yet again, but he paid for it down the stretch, as he struggled in the playoffs and had elbow surgery this offseason. This is concerning considering he's going into his age 33 season and he has already had Tommy John. His K rate fell to 7.10 after being above 8 for the previous four seasons, which is another red flag. Yet with a FIP of 2.88, he's hardly done producing as a number one fantasy starter.
47. Jon Lester
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47. Jon Lester
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Lester threw over 200 innings for the third straight year, as well as extending his streak of making over 30 starts a year, which started back in 2008. He set a career low in FIP at 2.80 and he is now moving to the National League for the first time in his career. Even if, at 31, his stuff starts to decline, moving to the NL should allow him to offset those losses.
46. Corey Dickerson
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46. Corey Dickerson
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Dickerson hit .363 at home, .252 on the road, as well as .328 versus righties, but he hit only .253 versus lefties. What's frustrating about these splits is not that .250 is a deal breaker when the home splits, but the production it feels like Dickerson is leaving on the table. If he can consistency hit on the road and against lefties, he won't be drafted this late again next year.
45. Prince Fielder
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45. Prince Fielder
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Baseball cowered at the idea of Prince hitting in Arlington, but the AL West was spared when a neck injury forced Prince to miss the rest of the season after 42 games. His power had started to wain in Detroit, so there are concerns about Prince's power in 2015, which is absurd. His batting eye is still excellent, and if Prince's biggest problem is hitting the ball far, he'll be fine.
44. Todd Frazier
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44. Todd Frazier
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Frazier was a four category contributor in 2014, with his average being his only mediocre stat. It may be steals that decline in 2015, as he had only 12 steals in 2012 and 2013, followed by 20 in 2014. His ISO was only 13 points higher than his 2013 total, so perhaps the 29 home runs are here to stay. Even if he does see a small drop in production, though, because this was a career year, he's still a handy player to own.
43. Albert Pujols
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43. Albert Pujols
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Pujols fought back against claims that he was no longer able to produce at a high level in 2014, driving in 100 runs for the 12th season of his career (he had 99 RBI in 2011, FYI). He even found a way to steal five bases while running like he was wearing Timberlands. You probably will never see him repeat those 2014 numbers, but some draft picks are valuable because of their high floor, and baring injury, that describes Pujols' appeal in 2015.
42. Billy Hamilton
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42. Billy Hamilton
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After stealing 155 bases in the minors in 2012, many may be disappointed with Hamilton's 56 SBs in 2014. However, considering his low walk total, low average, high strikeout rate and the fact every team in MLB knew he was looking to run any time he was on base, 56 SBs could be seen as an impressive total. If he finds his way on base at a higher clip than .292, he'll shoot up these rankings.
41. Cole Hamels
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41. Cole Hamels
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Hamels has been subject to trade rumors all winter, so his ranking could be adjusted accordingly should he be dealt to a contending team that has a more pitcher friendly ballpark. As it stands now, Hamels posted his 4th straight FIP under 3.30 (3.07) and his fourth straight season over 200 innings pitched. He's left-handed and armed with a tremendous changeup, meaning he has the tools necessary to age gracefully.
40. Johnny Cueto
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40. Johnny Cueto
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Cueto had an amazing season hidden and obscured nationally by some Kershaw guy. Cuteo posted a 2.25 ERA, 8.94 K/9 and an astonishing 243.2 innings pitched. He will be 29 come Opening Day and Cueto will look to sustain his newfound excellence. He's also been mentioned in trade rumors that would likely increase his value by removing roughly half his starts from Cincinnati. For now, he is a bonafide fantasy ace.
39. Hunter Pence
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39. Hunter Pence
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The quirkest player in baseball, Pence played a full 162 for the second straight year, accumulating 20 HRs, 106 Runs, 74 RBIs, 13 SBs and a .277 average. Going into his age 32 season, Pence may begin to decline now or shortly in the future, but don't let that scare you off. He's as consistent a performer as there is in the outfield.
38. Bryce Harper
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38. Bryce Harper
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His potential here is immense. We all know that. Let's discuss the red flags. Tumbling steal stats, down to 2 in 2014 from 18 in 2012. A 26.3 percent K rate. A 115 wRC+ after a 137 mark in 2013. A 9.6% BB rate after a 12.3 2013 mark. A .151 ISO after a .212 mark. He's trending in the wrong direction, but at just 22 years old, most players his age wouldn't even be in the majors yet. Growing pains, or declining potential? You decide.
37. Corey Kluber
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37. Corey Kluber
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Many thought Kluber came out of nowhere to win the Cy Young award in 2014, but that may not be true. While many cite his ability to miss bats as being key to his success, he had that throughout his minor league career. What he didn't have that he discovered in 2014 was the ability to limit walks as well. If his 1.95 BB/9 is legit, he'll be elite once again. Best case scenario, Kluber is perennial ace. Worst case, he mirrors his 2013 season.
36. Adrian Gonzalez
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36. Adrian Gonzalez
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The Dodgers butter and egg man, as Vin Scully loves to say, Gonzalez rebounded from two seasons with ISO's under .170 to post a .206 mark. His .276 average may be lower than we're used to, and these two stats may be linked, but his walk rate climbed for the third straight year, which may foretell of a return to a .300 average in 2015. Steady as she goes, A-Gone.
35. Ryan Braun
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35. Ryan Braun
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Braun battled a thumb injury and the loss of his beloved PED's, which led to the lowest wRC+ of his career. At 31, perhaps an improved appendage will increase his production, but unlike Nelson Cruz and Johnny Peralta, he's yet to show he can perform clean. I'm not suggesting Braun isn't worth drafting without the use of PED's. I'm simply suggesting he's no longer elite without them.
34. Stephen Strasburg
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34. Stephen Strasburg
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The most heralded prospect of the 21st century, Strasburg has settled in as an ace, but hardly the sure thing first ballot hall of famer kind we expected when he broke in. Still able to throw about 95 MPH and still only 26 years old, he posted a tremendous K/BB ratio that yielded a terrific 2.94 FIP. He also surpassed 200 innings for the first time in his career. There's some potential here, but don't pay too much for it.
33. Justin Upton
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33. Justin Upton
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Upton moves to the third team of his career, this time to sunny San Diego. While Petco will do no favors for his power numbers, Upton has the kind of power that modern ballparks simply can't constrain, and he should suffer minimally from the switch. While his K's went up and BB's went down from 2013 to 2014, meaning his .270 average may be in jeopardy, he's young enough at 27 it could simply be an aberration.
32. Josh Donaldson
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32. Josh Donaldson
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In perhaps the most surprising move of the offseason, Donaldson finds himself in Toronto after a quality season in Oakland. He's averaged a 138 wRC+ the last two years and Toronto should offer a terrific opportunity to surpass 30 home runs for the first time in his career. He swiped 13 bases in AAA in 2011, so perhaps he could surpass the eight he stole in 2014. If you don't expect the .301 average from 2013, you'll be quite pleased.
31. Yu Darvish
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31. Yu Darvish
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The 28-year-old befuddled MLB hitters again in 2014, maintaing a K/9 over 11 for the second straight year. He posted the lowest FIP of his career at 2.84, and with the Rangers hoping to improve after an awful season, he may be able to come across some more wins. Elbow inflammation shut him down in August, but he appears to be ready to go for 2015.
30. Madison Bumgarner
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30. Madison Bumgarner
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Bumgarner had an incredible postseason run, but don't let that influence you to overpay for his regular season services. He is just 25, but from 2011 to 2014, his full season numbers are mostly interchangeable. K/9 between 8.25 and last year's high of 9.07. xFIP's of last year's low 2.99 to 3.45. BB/9's of last year's low of 1.78 to 2.77. It was clearly a career season, just don't be the guy who takes him before Felix or Sale.
29. Zack Greinke
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29. Zack Greinke
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Greinke is heading towards what looks to be more and more like a contract season, if that means anything to you. His 2014 was what we've come to expect from him, with an elite K/BB ratio, nearly 50 percent GB rate and 17 wins. He's durable, excluding a broken collarbone in 2013 courtesy of Carlos Quentin, and pitches in a terrific pitcher's park, especially at night. The 2009 Cy Young winner will once again be a surefire ace this spring.
28. Michael Brantley
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28. Michael Brantley
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Brantley exploded onto the scene in 2014 with a season that would have won him an MVP in a fair amount of seasons. He posted a 155 wRC+, 94 runs, 23 SBs, 20 HRs and 52 Walks. Unfortunately, Brantley is in the OF, and his lack of a track record keeps him from being considered a higher draft pick. If that doesn't bother you, invest away.
27. Ian Desmond
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27. Ian Desmond
Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Desmond had a terrific 2014, but his over 28 percent strikeout rate is concerning. It was the third straight year his K rate had gone up, and at 29, it may be the result of declining skills more so than changing approach. Stranger things have been true. Nonetheless, he's a veteran SS, and three straight 20-20 seasons at the short don't come along very often at the position. Are ya feeling lucky?
26. David Price
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26. David Price
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Price had an interesting 2014. An elite K/BB rate foretold of a lower 3.26 ERA. 2.78 to be exact, according to FIP, in 248.1 innings. When one digs deeper, the problem was his porous starts, including the game he allowed nine straight hits to the Yankees in August. Having said that, don't put too much stock into his propensity to lose it for a start or two. These types of performances are more fluke than anything else.
25. Buster Posey
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25. Buster Posey
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
MVPosey as he's called in the Bay Area, posted a 144 wRC+ in 2014, marking the third straight year he bested 130. It's a shame he hits in San Fran, because he could be Mike Piazza just about anywhere else. Nonetheless, he's still the best fantasy catcher by far, and the best since the aforementioned Piazza. He's good enough to play at 1B, even though wasting his C eligibility violates the U.S. Constitution. Point being, he's good.
24. Freddie Freeman
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24. Freddie Freeman
Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
At just 25, let's hope his power isn't done developing, because if it is, we're looking at an improved version of Lyle Overbay, and not much more. His ISO fell for the third straight year, and he hit five fewer home runs in 79 more plate appearances. I personally think the power is still there, evidenced by his .200 ISO in AAA, and we know he can drive the ball to all fields protecting his power. A 30 HR/.300 season is within reach.
23. Jacoby Ellsbury
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23. Jacoby Ellsbury
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Ellsbury had a nice debut in the Bronx, playing in 149 games, stealing 39 bases and posting a 107 wRC+ that is right in line with his 109 career average. The .271 average shouldn't scare you off, as his BABIP fell 25 points while his K and BB rates remained nearly identical, suggesting it was more bad luck than declining skill that lowered the average. Power/speed threats are hard to find and Ellsbury's one of the best in the business.
22. Anthony Rizzo
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22. Anthony Rizzo
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Rizzo missed 20 games in September with a mild back strain, which doesn't figure into his 2015 projections. Even in 20 fewer games, he set career highs in HRs and Runs. Be careful projecting too much in the average department though. His BABIP in 2013, when he hit .233, was .255. In 2014, when he hit .286, BABIP was .311. His K/BB rates were about the same in both years. He'll contribute in four categories, but needs to do more to move up.
21. Hanley Ramirez
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21. Hanley Ramirez
Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports
Many remember his 2013, but Hanley had a respectable 2014 at the plate too. Battling nagging injuries all season, Hanley increased his walk rate, lowered his strikeout rate and posted a wRC+ of 135, right around his 133 career average. Moving to Boston will allow him to play pepper with the monster much like Manny once did, where Hanley will also play LF like Manny. He also has SS eligibility for one more year, so don't let him slip far.
20. Anthony Rendon
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20. Anthony Rendon
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Rendon had a break out 2014 season, contributing in all five categories, highlighted by scoring 111 runs. The peculiar portion of his season was that he stole 17 bases, which bested his minor league high of seven. While this could cast some doubts on how many steals he'll retain in 2015, he showed a terrific batting eye in the minors, never letting his BB rate fall below 12.5. Stolen bases aside, he should be expected to sustain or improve.
19. Jose Altuve
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19. Jose Altuve
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Altuve shocked MLB by winning a battle title with a .341 average. He was able to do this in large part by cutting his strikeout rate nearly in half, which figures to be a skill he retains given his small strikezone. Even if he never hits .341 again, he should have no problem producing as an elite 2B for an improving Astro lineup in 2015.
18. Adrian Beltre
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18. Adrian Beltre
Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports
The standard at 3B since he arrived in Texas, Beltre had another productive season, but did begin to show small signs of decline. His ISO of .168 was his lowest total since his days in Seattle, which marked the fourth straight season his ISO has dropped. Still, his K/BB ratio improved and he played 148 or more games for the third straight year, indicating he's either learned to manage his injuries or overcome them.
17. Robinson Cano
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17. Robinson Cano
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Cano lost home runs after switching from the Bronx to Seattle, but don't let that deter you from drafting him in the second round of your draft. While the home runs are unlikely to return, his approach and skills remain intact, meaning you can just about etch in stone a .300 average, 80 RBIs, and 80 Runs as a baseline minimum. The clear cut best bet at a weak 2B position, Cano can still rake with the best hitters in baseball.
16. Yasiel Puig
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16. Yasiel Puig
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Baseball's most divisive player, Puig didn't quite match his immense 2013 production, but came close enough. A 147 wRC+, .185 ISO and 92 runs scored highlight his sophomore season. Plus, there is hope he will take another step forward in 2015, especially because his walks went up and his strikeouts went down. With his blazing speed, 11 steals should be an easy number to match, and 20+ steasl could be possible with a little more efficiency.
15. Edwin Encarnacion
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15. Edwin Encarnacion
John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Encarnacion is a rare slugger who walks just about as much as he strikes out, if not more, and that diminishes his bust potential a great deal. In a low run scoring environment, home runs are not as abundant as you may remember, and Encarnacion is one of the best sluggers in the game. His only concern is a declining number of games played, but when he's on the field, he's elite.
14. Adam Jones
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14. Adam Jones
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Despite a terrifying low number of walks that culminated in a 2.8 percent walk rate that represented the third year it's declined, Jones has been able to consistently contribute to the average department. The last five years, his average has remained between .281 and .287, which is remarkably consistent for any MLB hitter. His track record suggests he is this valuable, but at some point, those ratios will hurt him.
13. Carlos Gomez
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13. Carlos Gomez
Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Gomez is one of the premier power/speed threats in the game today, and he proved it again in 2014. He raised his wRC+ for the third straight year, to an elite 132, while swiping 34 more bases. He also raised his walks and lowered his strikeouts. There's a lot to like here, and while he's not quite a first round talent, he's close.
12. Troy Tulowitzki
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12. Troy Tulowitzki
Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
When Tulo is on the field, there is an argument to be made he's the best player in baseball. He posted a 171 wRC+ last season, tops for anyone with over 350 plate appearances. The issue is how often he's on the field. For my money, I believe 90 games of Tulo and a replacement level SS offer the most production possible from SS. If he can play 150 games, he'll win an MVP.
11. Max Scherzer
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11. Max Scherzer
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A man who took a gamble declining a $ 144 deal from Detroit, Scherzer is headed to DC now with about $ 60 million extra on his deal. He is one of the best strikeout pitchers in the game and moving to the National League should only add to his totals. His stuff is still elite and shows no signs of declining in 2015. Scherzer is a true fantasy ace.
10. Chris Sale
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10. Chris Sale
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Like Tulo, Sale is a first ballot hall of fame talent when he's healthy. The issue is how often can he be healthy, specifically with his mechanics as intense as they are. He's thrown over 200 innings only once, and threw 174 last year, so he's not busting by any means. However, to be drafted this high, he'll need to provide more innings. I believe he will.
9. Felix Hernandez
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9. Felix Hernandez
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
It may look like Felix had a bit of a bounceback year after ERA's in the 3's from 2011-2013, but his FIP reveals he should have had more success than he did. That makes his 2014 less of a bounce back year and more of a return to normalcy year. His 2.56 FIP was a career low and his 1.75 BB/9 was a career low as well. Great pitcher in a great park with an improving lineup. The King's Court will certainly enjoy his 2015 fantasy numbers.
8. Jose Bautista
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8. Jose Bautista
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After a criminally unlucky .215 BABIP in 2012, Bautista had much better luck in 2014, posting a .287 BABIP that led to a .286 average. Average is the only hitting category one has to worry about with Bautista, as he's hit over 25 home runs in every season since 2010. Age is creeping on Joey Batts, but it hasn't taken away much to this point. Look for him to once again finish as a top-10 OF in 2015.
7. Jose Abreu
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7. Jose Abreu
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Abreu had one of the best "rookie" seasons in recent memory, which led to his unanimous selection as Rookie of the Year. Already an established Cuban superstar, Abreu came to MLB at age 27 and showed a polished approach that allowed him to adjust on the fly. He hit 29 HRs in the first half of last season and he posted a .350 average in the second half. If he can do those two things at once, he'll win the Triple Crown.
6. Giancarlo Stanton
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6. Giancarlo Stanton
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Stanton rebounded from a mediocre 2013 season to post insane numbers in 2014 that had him in the MVP discussion before a pitch to the face ended his season early. If he's mentally ready to go following the incident, there should be nothing holding him back from chasing a 50 HRs season in Miami. Stanton is a dynamic superstar.
5. Andrew McCutchen
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5. Andrew McCutchen
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McCutchen doesn't post the eye-popping numbers of some of the other names on this list in any one category, but what he does to is contribute greatly to all five categories. At just 28 years of age, there's no sign of any sort of decline here, and his respectable 146 games played represented a low since his rookie season, demonstrating his durability.
4. Miguel Cabrera
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4. Miguel Cabrera
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The toughest hitter to rank this season, I fear I have Cabrera ranked too high. Still, I couldn't drop him down any further because as the only active Triple Crown winner on offense, the potential for amazing production is too great to ignore. Health will be the issue this season, as his status for Opening Day is still in question. When he's ready to go, though, hop on his broad back and enjoy the ride.
3. Paul Goldschmidt
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3. Paul Goldschmidt
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Goldy would also have been in the MVP discussion last season if not for a pitch that hit him on the hand and ended his season. He posted a 155 wRC+ when on the field last season, a nearly identical mark to his 2013 number of 156. He plays in a hitter-freidnly park, plays about 10 games at Coors field and probably would have had double digit steals for the third straight year if he'd finished the 2014 season.
2. Clayton Kershaw
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2. Clayton Kershaw
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Ahh yes, a pitcher second overall. I'm sure a number of you are not happy about this. Calm down. Kershaw is the best pitcher alive, no question, and the most accomplished too. He's in the prime of his career, hasn't had any major arm or shoulder issues to this point (back and hip injuries mostly) and has a much improved defense to support him. He'll continue building his case as the best pitcher of the modern era in 2015.
1. Mike Trout
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1. Mike Trout
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How good do you have to be to have a down year, and still win your first MVP? Yes, Trout's strikeouts were up and his stolen bases were down. Big deal. He's proven he can steal bases whenever he wants, and his 26 percent strikeout rate wasn't all that bad in the modern era, specifically when you also hit .287 and jack 36 out of the park. If he wanted to, he could make a run at the 40-40 club. Why not 2015? He is clearly the top pick this year.
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