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Top 200 Fantasy Baseball Rankings for 2017

Troy Taormina / Reuters

The following is the first set of rankings as we head into the Major League Baseball offseason. Those of you like me who have keeper leagues are always looking toward the next season, making plans on how to approach the following season as early as July, whether or not a title is on the horizon.

Now we all have to wait several painful months without baseball, so it's time to dive in and rank players with an eye toward opening day. These will change throughout the offseason as players sign new contracts and other storylines develop. Here is the first edition of our top 200 rankings (based on standard 5x5 scoring categories):

Tier 1

Rank PLAYER TEAM POSITION
1 Mike Trout LAA OF1
2 Paul Goldschmidt ARI 1B1
3 Mookie Betts BOS OF2
4 Jose Altuve HOU 2B1
5 Clayton Kershaw LAD SP1
6 Nolan Arenado COL 3B1
7 Kris Bryant CHC 3B2/OF3
8 Anthony Rizzo CHC 1B2
9 Max Scherzer WAS SP2
10 Josh Donaldson TOR 3B3
11 Manny Machado BAL SS1/3B4
12 Corey Seager LAD SS2
13 Starling Marte PIT OF4
14 Carlos Correa HOU SS3
15 Bryce Harper WAS OF5
16 Trea Turner WAS 2B2/OF6
17 Miguel Cabrera DET 1B3
18 Edwin Encarnacion FA 1B4
19 Charlie Blackmon COL OF7
20 Madison Bumgarner SF SP3

Mike Trout is, and will continue to be, the best baseball player on the planet.

Goldschmidt may fall in the eyes of many, but he shouldn't. He's the rare breed of 1B who will hit for average and power while also stealing more bases than he looks like he should be able to. Expect a slight dip in steals with an uptick in home runs. He's as reliable as they come.

Cabrera is somehow underrated. My first instinct was to put Encarnacion above him, but while the power and production is comparable, Cabrera has hit below .300 only twice over a full season and never worse than .292. Cabrera has also remained fairly durable and saw his home runs sniff 40 again after seemingly losing some of his pop.

Tier 2

Rank Name Team Position
21 Xander Bogaerts BOS SS5
22 Noah Syndergaard NYM SP4
23 Corey Kluber CLE SP5
24 Robinson Cano SEA 2B3
25 George Springer HOU OF8
26 Joey Votto CIN 1B4
27 Chris Sale BOS SP6
28 Freddie Freeman ATL 1B5
29 Wil Myers SD 1B6
30 Giancarlo Stanton MIA OF9
31 Francisco Lindor CLE SS6
32 Jake Arrieta CHC SP7
33 Kyle Seager SEA 3B5
34 Brian Dozier MIN 2B4
35 Carlos Gonzalez COL OF10
36 Christian Yelich MIA OF11
37 Jacob deGrom NYM SP8
38 Ryan Braun MIL OF12
39 Daniel Murphy WAS 1B7/2B5/3B5
40 Stephen Strasburg WAS SP9

You can make an argument that, at 30, Stanton is ranked too low or too high. At some point, the regularity of his injuries have to impact where he is drafted. Those who burned a first-round pick on him in 2016 wound up trying to fill the void all season. His power profile is tantalizing - he has hit 54 home runs over his last 193 games - but if he's not on the field, he can't help you win.

Tier 3

Rank Name Team Position
41 Jon Lester CHC SP10
42 Yoenis Cespedes NYM OF13
43 Nelson Cruz SEA OF14
44 Adrian Beltre TEX 3B6
45 Jonathan Villar MIL 2B6/SS7
46 J.D. Martinez DET OF15
47 David Price BOS SP11
48 Johnny Cueto SF SP12
49 Jose Abreu CWS 1B8
50 Dee Gordon MIA 2B7
51 Andrew McCutchen PIT OF16
52 Chris Davis BAL 1B9
53 Chris Archer TB SP13
54 Gregory Polanco PIT OF17
55 Justin Verlander DET SP14
56 Carlos Carrasco CLE SP15
57 Hanley Ramirez BOS 1B10
58 Trevor Story COL SS8
59 Jason Kipnis CLE 2B8
60 A.J. Pollock ARI OF17

Price's playoff woes notwithstanding, his 2016 campaign wasn't so much bad as it was disappointing relative to expectations. He still threw 230 innings, topping 200 for the sixth time in seven seasons. Price will offer a healthy dose of strikeouts and his durability is a godsend when few SPs can last as long as him. Even if his ERA doesn't return to normal, he's a borderline top-10 SP.

Archer will rebound. His 9-19 record was exacerbated by poor run support and a dreadful start to the season. After the All-Star Game, Archer was a more reasonable 5-7 with a 3.25 ERA. One thing that stayed consistent was his K/9, which finished at 10.42 over 201.1 innings.

Tier 4

Rank Name Team Position
61 Adam Jones BAL OF18
62 Billy Hamilton CIN OF19
63 Jose Bautista FA OF20
64 Yu Darvish TEX SP16
65 Ian Kinsler DET 2B9
66 Buster Posey SF C1
67 Kenley Jansen FA RP1
68 Evan Longoria TB 3B7
69 Todd Frazier CWS 1B11/3B8
70 DJ LeMahieu COL 2B10
71 Dellin Betances NYY RP2
72 Rougned Odor TEX 2B11
73 Eric Hosmer KC 1B12
74 Troy Tulowitzki TOR SS9
75 Zack Greinke ARI SP17
76 Carlos Martinez STL SP18
77 Aroldis Chapman FA RP3
78 Zach Britton BAL RP4
79 Masahiro Tanaka NYY SP19
80 Albert Pujols LAA 1B13

Bautista has been a consensus early-round selection for several years now, but his injury-plagued and inconsistent 2016 will have buyers cautious. He still had an OBP within the top 30 and he hit 22 home runs despite being hobbled. The injuries seemed to be more in line with bad luck than with his body decomposing, so a rebound could be in the cards.

Hamilton is one-dimensional, but he will win you steals all by himself as long as he stays on the field. That kind of market dominance is worth this early an investment. I'm hesitant to list four RPs this early, but these are the cream of the crop. Assuming Jansen and Chapman re-sign or go to different winning teams, their value should stay around here. There is room for a drop, though.

Tier 5

Rank Name Team Position
81 Kyle Hendricks CHC SP20
82 Matt Carpenter STL 1B14/2B12/3B9
83 Stephen Piscotty STL 1B15/OF21
84 Aaron Sanchez TOR SP21
85 Justin Upton DET OF22
86 Dustin Pedroia BOS 2B13
87 Matt Harvey NYM SP22
88 Jean Segura ARI 2B14/SS10
89 Craig Kimbrel BOS RP5
90 Jackie Bradley Jr. BOS OF23
91 Jose Quintana CWS SP23
92 Jose Ramirez CLE 3B10/OF24
93 Jonathan Lucroy TEX C2
94 Roberto Osuna TOR RP6
95 Cole Hamels TEX SP24
96 Adam Eaton CWS OF25
97 Gary Sanchez NYY C3
98 Matt Kemp ATL OF26
99 Danny Salazar CLE SP25
100 Kyle Schwarber CHC OF27

It's fair to be skeptical of Ramirez, but if he can show growth or even simply repeat what he did in 2016, he'll earn his top-100 designation. He has speed and showed he can hit for a great average while hitting a few long balls in the process. He's also a candidate for regression, which is why he isn't higher.

Upton hit 22 of his 31 home runs in the second half of the season. He was one of the best buy-low candidates of 2015. He could be higher, but he's so maddeningly inconsistent. Half the season he's a top-20 player while the other half he's fantasy irrelevant. He could rise up these standings, but it's best to remember not to trust the most recent numbers without scrutiny.

Tier 6

Rank Name Team Position
101 Khris Davis OAK OF28
102 Kenta Maeda LAD SP26
103 Mark Trumbo FA 1B16/OF29
104 Carlos Santana CLE 1B17
105 Rick Porcello BOS SP27
106 Marcell Ozuna MIA OF30
107 Ian Desmond FA OF31
108 Jeurys Familia NYM RP7
109 Felix Hernandez SEA SP28
110 Kevin Gausman BAL SP29
111 Mark Melancon SF RP8
112 Gerrit Cole PIT SP30
113 Edwin Diaz SEA RP9
114 Adrian Gonzalez LAD 1B18
115 Michael Brantley CLE OF31
116 Ken Giles HOU RP10
117 Alex Bregman HOU 3B11/SS11
118 Anthony Rendon WAS 3B12
119 Lorenzo Cain KC OF32
120 Seung Hwan Oh STL RP11

Trumbo's value will depend on too many factors to endorse him as a top-100 player. He strikes out too much, he hits for a low batting average on the whole, and if he signs with a team that doesn't have a ballpark that plays to his strengths, he might be in trouble. The 47 home runs might be a mirage.

Bregman will be multi-position-eligible and could continue to build on his rise after a horrendous debut. He's on the fast track to the top.

Brantley's skills should have him higher than teammate Jose Ramirez, but his injury-plagued 2016 is too worrisome. Cain is another post-injury sleeper who still managed to steal 14 bases and hit .287 in 103 games this past season. His ceiling is lower than Brantley's, but he has missed less time.

Tier 7

RANK NAME TEAM POSITION
121 Hunter Pence SF OF33
122 Marcus Stroman TOR SP31
123 Chris Carter MIL 1B19
124 Miguel Sano MIN 3B13/OF34
125 Michael Fulmer DET SP32
126 Elvis Andrus TEX SS12
127 Julio Teheran ATL SP33
128 Andrew Miller CLE RP12
129 Danny Duffy KC SP34
130 Wade Davis KC RP13
131 Andrew Benintendi BOS OF35
132 Brandon Belt SF 1B20
133 Addison Russell CHC SS13
134 Drew Pomeranz BOS SP35
135 Anthony DeSclafani CIN SP36
136 Mike Napoli FA 1B21
137 Aledmys Diaz STL 2B15/SS14
138 David Robertson CWS RP14
139 Jon Gray COL SP37
140 Odubel Herrera PHI OF36

If Gray pitched for any other team, he'd be ranked higher. He finished 2016 with a 4.61 ERA, but his 3.60 FIP suggests he was much better. He will register a ton of strikeouts (9.91 K/9) and be a fine matchups option. It's unlikely Napoli repeats his 2016 numbers, but depending on where he lands he'll offer solid power with a middling-to-poor batting average.

Whether it was only a lingering injury or also his move to the American League, Pomeranz was a completely different pitcher after leaving San Diego. He has upside, but he's far from a guarantee. Miller is the only non-closer in the rankings. That designation may only be temporary or we're finally entering a post-closer world. Unlikely, but Miller is elite and will help buoy several stats.

Tier 8

Ranking Name Team Position
141 Brad Miller TB 1B22/2B16/SS15/OF37
142 Maikel Franco PHI 3B14
143 Willson Contreras CHC C4
144 Jake Lamb ARI 3B15
145 Justin Turner FA 1B23/3B16
146 Ben Zobrist CHC 2B17/OF38
147 David Dahl COL OF39
148 Evan Gattis HOU C5
149 Eduardo Nunez SF 3B17/OF40
150 Brandon Crawford SF SS16
151 Kendrys Morales TOR 1B24/OF41
152 Joc Pederson LAD OF42
153 J.T. Realmuto MIA C6
154 Salvador Perez KC C7
155 Kole Calhoun LAA OF43
156 Matt Moore SF SP38
157 Rich Hill LAD SP39
158 Dansby Swanson ATL SS17
159 Tanner Roark WAS SP40
160 Dexter Fowler CHC OF44

Miller's position eligibility will make your head spin. That versatility combined with his power and increased playing time means he needs to be drafted. Franco's stock has fallen, but he's a depth 3B option with serious power. If he bounces back, he will make a solid trade candidate or make it easier to part with your first choice.

Pederson is a breakout candidate after making some nice adjustments in his game. He still needs to cut down on the strikeouts and get a little more patient, but he's not going to be a complete black hole in batting average. The catcher pool is dire, and if you missed out on Posey, Sanchez and Lucroy, this is the time to jump, but each has his weaknesses.

Tier 9

Rank Name Team Position
161 Yasmani Grandal LAD C8
162 Sonny Gray OAK SP41
163 Dallas Keuchel HOU SP42
164 Jake Odorizzi TB SP43
165 Victor Martinez DET 1B25
166 Adam Duvall CIN OF45
167 John Lackey CHC SP44
168 Jay Bruce NYM OF46
169 Carlos Beltran HOU OF47
170 Jonathan Schoop BAL 2B18
171 Hisashi Iwakuma SEA SP45
172 Tony Watson PIT RP15
173 Curtis Granderson NYM OF48
174 Logan Forsythe TB 2B19/3B18
175 Marco Estrada TOR SP48
176 Ryon Healy OAK 3B19/OF49
177 Jeff Samardzija SF SP49
178 Adam Wainwright STL SP50
179 Drew Smyly TB SP51
180 Nomar Mazara TEX OF50

Gray and Keuchel are both bounce-back candidates after mostly forgettable seasons. They're worth speculative looks, as are Samardzija and Wainwright, but there is considerable risk. Keuchel was steadily touted as a regression candidate after his breakout and Gray was ineffective any time he was healthy enough to toe the rubber.

The jury is still out on Healy, but the 13 home runs he swatted in 72 games, eight of which came in Oakland, will be enough to warrant a late-round selection. He made adjustments to his swing before 2016, and the power could be the real deal.

Tier 10

Rank Name Team Position
181 Alex Colome TB RP16
182 Melky Cabrera CWS OF51
183 Starlin Castro NYY 2B20
184 J.A. Happ TOR SP52
185 Brian McCann HOU C9
186 Javier Baez CHC 2B21/3B20/OF52
187 Asdrubal Cabrera NYM SS18
188 Brett Gardner NYY OF53
189 Steven Matz NYM SP53
190 Russell Martin TOR C10
191 Jung Ho Kang PIT 3B21/SS19
192 Greg Bird NYY 1B26
193 Carlos Rodon CWS SP54
194 Raisel Iglesias CIN SP55/RP16
195 Garrett Richards LAA SP56
196 Matt Shoemaker LAA SP57
197 Michael Conforto NYM OF54
198 Cody Allen CLE RP17
199 Aaron Nola PHI SP58
200 Yasiel Puig LAD OF55

Remember Bird? He hit 11 home runs in 178 PAs in 2015 and promptly got injured in spring training, forcing him to miss the entire 2016 campaign. He's a great final-round sleeper in deep leagues and keepers. Iglesias' value will rise if he gets stretched out to start again. The Reds won't be in the position to win many games, so if he's a reliever, he should not be drafted.

Puig is the personification of unfulfilled potential. He's only 25. If the Dodgers have given up on him, and he gets a chance to start somewhere else, he could return top value.

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