1. Felix Hernandez (24) – Coming off a 19 win season in 2009 where he finished second in the AL Cy Young voting. Already an elite pitcher with his best years to come. The clear cut No. 1 pitcher on this list.

2. Tommy Hanson (23) -The top pitching prospect in all of baseball failed to disappoint last season after receiving the call to the big leagues in June. He finished with 11 wins and a 2.89 ERA in 21 games and is off to a good start this year. An ace-in-the-making who should contend for the NL Cy Young in the near future.

3. Yovani Gallardo (24) – The ace of the Brewers staff posted the second best K/9 in the NL last year at 9.89 to go along with 13 wins and a sub-4.00 ERA. Off to a 3-2, 3.00 ERA, 10.00 K/9 start in 36 IP this season. Needs to cut down on his career 3.92 BB/9 ratio to become an elite pitcher.

4. Clayton Kershaw (22) – Despite winning only 8 games last season on a first-place team, Kershaw has all the makings of a future ace. He finished in the Top 5 in ERA (2.79) , K/9 (9.74), and H/9 (6.3) last season, while leading the league in opponents AVG (.200). While his control needs to improve as his career 4.82 BB/9 suggests, he has the ability to overpower hitters and dominant on any given night.

5. Jair Jurrjens (24) – Had the 5th-lowest ERA in baseball last year (2.60) and held hitters to a .274 AVG on balls hit in play. Knows how to change speeds and mix his pitches effectively to get batters out. In line to be a top of the rotation starter for many years despite his early ineffectiveness this season, mostly due to injury.

6. David Price (24) – The No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft took the league by storm with a great showing in the Rays’ 2008 postseason run to the World Series. Price possesses overpowering stuff with a mid-90s fastball and a hard breaking slider that can lead to plenty of strikeouts. Like many young pitchers, he has had command issues but also isn’t afraid to challenge hitters. Off to a great start this season and looks to be coming into his own as a pitcher.

7. Phil Hughes (23) – After struggling with injuries his first 2 seasons, Hughes pitched mostly out of the bullpen in 2009 and finished with a 1.40 ERA along with showing good command (5:1 K/BB ratio). After winning the 5th spot in the Yankees rotation this spring, he has proven to be one of the teams best starters as he has gone 3-0 with a 1.44 ERA in 4 starts, including a near no-hitter. Hughes looks to be realizing his immense potential under the bright lights of New York.

8. Rick Porcello (21) – The youngest player in the big leagues last season had a successful rookie campaign for the Tigers. The former 1st round pick went 14-9 with a 3.96 ERA and finished 3rd in the AL Rookie of the Year voting last season. He has good control and a sinker that is conducive for plenty of groundball outs. While he may not be a big strikeout pitcher, his control and quality stuff will make him a tough pitcher to face every time he takes the mound.

9. Brian Matusz (23) – The 4th overall pick in 2008 impressed many in his brief stint in the majors last season with the Orioles by displaying a good command and presence on the mound. His strikeout and walk totals in his 13 career big league starts show his top-of-the-rotation potential. The future is bright for this southpaw and his outlook for 2010 and beyond is sure to catch the eye of plenty of baseball fans.

10. Brett Anderson (22) – Acquired in the trade that sent Dan Haren from Oakland to Arizona, the A’s are ecstatic from what they see in Anderson so far in his brief career. Baseball America’s No. 7 prospect entering the 2009 season posted solid numbers in his rookie season. He finished with a team-leading 11 wins and 150 strikeouts to go along with a respectable 4.06 ERA (3.48 ERA after the All-Star break). Anderson started 2010 on a good note by posting a 2.35 ERA in 4 starts before going on the DL with a forearm strain. Despite this injury, Anderson should be a good starter for many years with his command and ability to strike batters out.

11. Neftali Feliz (21) – Perhaps no one on this list possesses more overpowering stuff than Feliz. Currently serving as the Rangers closer, Feliz has shown the ability to dominant opposing hitters with his upper 90s fastball that has reached triple digits at times. He pitched out of the bullpen after his call-up to the big league club in August and finished with a 1.74 ERA in 31 IP along with 39 K and impressive 0.68 WHIP. The Rangers have bounced around the idea of moving Feliz to the rotation, but feel he is best serve as their closer right now. Whatever role he is in, Feliz is sure to make opposing hitters cringe at the sight of facing him.

12. Wade Davis (24) – Davis joined an impressive young Rays rotation at the end of 2009 and posted good numbers in 6 starts. In those starts, Davis went 2-2 with a 3.72 ERA to go along with 36 strikeouts and a 1.27 WHIP in 36.1 IP. He has picked up where he left off in ’09 to start 3-1 with a 2.79 ERA in 5 starts this season. Despite pitching in a tough AL East, Davis looks to be a good option to post a sub-4.00 ERA with good strikeout numbers this season.

13. Mat Latos (22) -Latos started his rookie campaign in 2009 by allowing no more than 2 earned runs in his first 5 starts. Despite struggling in his last 5 starts, Latos has shown good upside especially pitching in a pitcher friendly PETCO Park. The Padres thought enough of Latos to promote him straight from Double-A and bypass Triple-A altogether. Overall in his minor league career, Latos went 12-8, 2.49 ERA, with a 216:47 K/BB ratio in 185 IP, allowing only 149 hits. If he can translate those impressive numbers to the big leagues, the Padres have a future ace on their hands.

14. Johnny Cueto (24) – Cueto has been plagued my inconsistency since entering the big leagues in 2008. He has shown to be a very good pitcher in the first half of the season, as his 7-4 record with a 2.86 ERA through June in ’09 would suggest. However, Cueto has worn down in the second half and posted an 8.00 ERA in July and August of last season before a DL stint for shoulder inflammation. He possesses a live arm despite his small frame and still has too much upside to be deemed a failure at this point in his career. If Cueto can find some consistency he is arguably one of the best pitchers on this list.

15. Jaime Garcia (23) – After originally making his debut in relief during the 2008 season for the Cardinals, Garcia had to undergo Tommy John surgery in the offseason and miss most of the 2009 season. After winning the 5th spot in rotation this spring, Garcia has been a pleasant surprise for the Cardinals so far this season. In 4 starts, he has been dominating opposing hitters with a 1.04 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP in 26 IP. With a career 9.8 K/9 in the minors and the tutelage of pitching coach Dave Duncan, look for Garcia to maintain his success in the big leagues.

16. Joba Chamberlain (24) – After a great year in 2008 where he appeared in 42 games (12 starts) where he posted an impressive 2.60 ERA and 10.58 K/9, the future looked extremely promising for Joba. However, last year wasn’t as friendly as his first 2 years in the big leagues as his ERA and WHIP numbers increased as a full-time starter. This year, Joba was beat out by Phil Hughes for the 5th spot in the Yankees rotation and is back to the bullpen where his career as a starter is now in question again. Despite this role uncertainty, he is still a quality pitcher and should still provide good value in the bullpen.

17. Mike Leake (22) – The 8th pick in the 2009 draft is the first player since Xavier Nady in 2000 to go straight from the draft to the major leagues. Despite some control issues, Leake has been solid in his first 4 big league starts as he has gone 2-0 with a 3.25 ERA in 27.2 IP. While Leake is sure to run into some rookie struggles this year due to not pitching in the minor leagues, he has shown so far that his more than capable of being an effective big league pitcher.

18. Daniel Bard (24) – The man nicknamed “The Heat” consistently throws a fastball in the 98-99 range and even reached 101 MPH on the radar gun last July against the A’s. The 2006 1st round pick has all the makings of a dominant big league closer as his 11.5 K/9 and 3:1 K/BB ratio with the Red Sox last season would attest. Look for Bard to become a closer somewhere in the near future.

19. Chris Perez – Perez is another hard-throwing right hander who possesses an upper 90s fastball. Perez was acquired by the Indians last season in the trade of Mark DeRosa to the Cardinals and is currently serving as the teams’ closer for the injured Kerry Wood. He was originally selected in the 1st round by the Cardinals in 2006 and served as a closer throughout his minor league career. Look for Perez to stay the Indians closer in the coming years and produce high strikeout totals.

20. Jhoulys Chacin (22) – MLB.com’s No. 44 prospect for 2010 is a current hot topic in baseball discussion after his impressive first start of the 2010 season yesterday. In that start, Chacin only gave up one hit in 7 scoreless IP along with 7 K. While Chacin has moved from starting to the bullpen, his best value is seen in the rotation where he has the potential to be a very good starter. The Rockies are hoping for more outings like yesterday’s from Chacin.

21. Jenrry Mejia (20) – The youngest player on this list has been solid in his first 11 IP out of the Mets bullpen this season by posting a 1.64 ERA. The Mets top pitching prospect sports a fastball with good velocity and movement along with a slider that tends to sweep across the plate. The key for Mejia is find command of his pitches due to his great movement. The jury is out on how good he can be since he is so young, however, he has managed to adjust to the big leagues fairly well so far.

22. Chris Volstad (23) – After an impressive rookie campaign in 2008, Volstad followed it up with the dreaded sophomore slump last season. He finished his sophomore campaign with a 9-13 record and a 5.21 ERA in 159 IP. He also struggled with the long ball as he had an alarming 1.64 HR/9 ratio. The Marlins are hoping the former 1st rounder, who has drawn comparisons to Roy Halladay, recaptures the promise he showed in his rookie season to provide a solid 1-2 punch with Josh Johnson in the future.

23. Homer Bailey (23) – The former highly-touted pitching prospect has had his share of struggles in his big league career. Bailey hasn’t fooled too many hitters as they have hit .287 against him in his career. He has also been plagued by walks (4.43 BB/9) and home runs (1.09 HR/9) in his brief career which has been the main reason for his career 5.52 ERA. However, Bailey showed glimpses of his potential as he allowed 3 runs or less in his last 9 starts last season. The Reds are hoping Bailey can figure things out and live up to his success in the minors.

24. Ryan Perry (23) – Similar to Daniel Bard, Perry projects as a future closer, but currently serves as a middle reliever for the Tigers. While Perry struggled with his command last season, he did strike out 60 batters in 61.2 IP in his rookie season. The 2008 1st round pick should be a good closer in the future, but needs to harness his wildness before becoming a true option to close out games.

25. Franklin Morales (24) – The hard-throwing lefty made his debut with the Rockies back in 2007, where he made 8 starts. After a disappointing 2008 season between the majors and minors, Morales pitched 38 games in relief for the Rockies last season and showed some promise. He currently is filling in for injured closer Huston Street and is 3 for 5 in save chances. While Morales has had his share of struggles in the big leagues, he still possesses decent upside as a back-of-the-rotation starter or lefty specialist out of the bullpen.

1. Evan Longoria (24) – 60 HR and 198 RBI in first 2 seasons. Off to a great start in 2010 and should add an MVP to his collection soon.

2. Justin Upton (22) – 20 HR-20 SB guy last year. Arguably the best athlete in baseball who should reach 30 HR-30 SB in the near future.

3. Pablo Sandoval (23) – .300 hitter with 25-30 HR and 90-100 RBI ability. “Kung Fu Panda” is already a fan favorite and feared hitter.

4. Jason Heyward (20) – 2010 No. 1 prospect has gotten off to a .302, 3 HR, 15 RBI start in 43 big league at-bats at the age of 20. Looks to be the leader of the newest crop of talent from the minor leagues.

5. Matt Wieters (23) – The most-hyped prospect of 2009 has uncanny power and hitting ability from both sides of the plate. Look for Wieters to make huge strides this season and become one of the premier catchers in the near future.

6. Billy Butler (24) – .301 AVG, 21 HR, and 93 RBI in first full season. Set to become a premier slugger with 30 HR-100 RBI not out of the question.

7. Carlos Gonzalez (24) – 5-tool talent that started to showcase those tools last season. Should be a mainstay in the Rockies outfield and top of the order for years to come.

8. Adam Jones (24) – One of the best athletes on this list. Great arm and 20 HR-20 SB talent.

9. Andrew McCutchen (23) – Another 5-tool talent from the leadoff spot. Outstanding speed and developing power. Set to become premier leadoff hitter in the majors.

10. Gordon Beckham (23) – Future All-Star 2B. Made the leap from Double-A to the majors last season and displayed a good hitting prowess. The future of the White Sox.

11. Jay Bruce (23) – Has struggled to hit consistently at the big league level. The former No. 1 overall prospect has arguably the most upside of any hitter on this list and has the potential to become a big run-producer.

12. Delmon Young (24) – Like Bruce, has failed to hit consistently enough to live up to his enormous potential. Still a great talent with good upside who has hit a solid .289 for his career. Entering a make or break year in the big leagues.

13. Chris Coghlan (24) – 2009 NL Rookie of the Year is a scrappy top of the order hitter. Shows good plate discipline and should hit for a high average in his career.

14. Colby Rasmus (23) – Has above-average power and speed from the left side who hit 16 HR for the Cardinals in his rookie campaign last season. Solid defender who should be a premier center fielder within the next few years.

15. Elvis Andrus (21) – Biggest assets are his speed and defense. A future Gold Glover who projects as a leadoff hitter and threat on the basepaths.

16. Cameron Maybin (23) – One of the most talented players on this list. Currently hitting near the top of the Marlins lineup with his great speed, but has the ability to become a middle of the order hitter as he continues to grow into his frame. Looking to put it together in his first full season this year.

17. Dexter Fowler (24) – Had an up and down season at the plate last season with the Rockies as he needs to hit for a higher average. An elite defender and base-stealer (27 SB in ’09) who should be a top of the order threat with Gonzalez in the Rockies outfield.

18. Kyle Blanks (23) – After hitting 10 HR in only 148 AB last season for the Padres, the 6-6/285 lb big man projects as a huge power threat in the near future. Despite his large frame, reminiscent of the “Big Hurt” Frank Thomas, he is athletic enough to play in the outfield, though his natural position is at first base.

19. Austin Jackson (23) – The newest Tiger has gotten off to a solid start (.333 AVG, 5 RBI, 2 SB from the leadoff spot) in his first big league season. Jackson ironically projects similarly to the man he was traded for in Curtis Granderson. Look for him to rise up this list next season.

20. Alcides Escobar (23) – In his first season as the Brewers everyday shortstop. A potential game-changer with both his glove and speed.  Hit .304 in 125 AB with the Brewers last year.

21. Ike Davis (23) – The Mets top prospect made his major league debut last night against the Cubs and didn’t disappoint by going 2 for 4 with an RBI. The 18th overall selection in the 2008 draft hit 20 HR in the minors last year along with a .298 AVG. He projects as a middle of the order threat from the left side of the plate.

22. Ian Desmond (24) – The former 3rd round pick of the Nationals in 2004 is finally starting to put it together. Desmond is a late-bloomer who is starting to hit for contact consistently. He earned the starting nod at short over Cristian Guzman and looks to be the Nationals shortstop of the future.

23. Tyler Colvin (24) – After hitting .468 with 2 HR and 18 RBI in 25 Spring Training games this year, Colvin earned a spot on the Cubs 25 man roster. Currently a part of a 5 man outfield rotation in Chicago, Colvin doesn’t project to provide off the chart numbers this year. However, the former first round pick can swing the bat and also provides above average speed. Look for his name in the coming years.

24. Everth Cabrera (23) – A Rule 5 pick of the Padres last season, Cabrera took the shortstop position as his own by displaying great work with the glove and providing 25 SB in 103 games. Cabrera must hit for a higher average to become an even bigger threat on the basepaths.

25. Asdrubal Cabrera (24) – Has proven to be a solid major league infielder as his bat as caught up to his great defense. In 2009, he hit .308 and provided 68 RBI and 17 SB for the Indians. While he might not reach star status, he should have a long and productive big league career.

Honorable Mention: Julio Borbon (24), Sean Rodriguez (24), Chris Davis (24), Reid Brignac (24)

Philadelphia Phillies: Historically the Phillies are one of the least successful organizations in baseball with dubious honor of being the first to reach 10000 losses. Yet in recent years they have been a force to be reckoned with. They seem to have taken on an American League style offensive attack matched with solid starting pitching. They have reached the World Series in back to back years and successfully won in 2008. They currently are spending $36.35 million on their starting rotation.

• Roy Halladay: He is arguably the best pitcher in baseball. He has been a consistent performer on teams that have not performed well. In 2009 Halladay had 2.79 ERA, 208 K’s, 239 IP and 35 walks. He is earning $15.75 million in 2010
• Cole Hamels: Hamels is a solid young pitcher with A+ stuff. He has had some injury issues that inflated his numbers slightly but their isn’t too much to worry about here. He won’t have the pressure of being the ace on the staff so he should blossom. He posted a 4.32 ERA, 168 K’s, 193.2 IP and 43 BB’s. He will earn $6.65 million in 2010.
• J.A. Happ: Happ exploded onto the scene in Philadelphia this past season. He threw for a 2.93 ERA, 119 K’s, 166 IP and 56 walks. He will make near the minimum for 2010.
• Joe Blanton: Blanton has continued to serve as a solid middle of the rotation pitcher. He threw for a 4.05 ERA, 163 K’s, 195.1 IP and 59 BB. He will earn $7 million in ’10.
• Jamie Moyer: At age 47 Moyer is getting to the point where he is old enough of to be some of his teammates father. Yet, he has been been a serviceable pitcher who will eat up quite a few innings and give you team a chance to win even if he is only topping out at 86 mph on his fastball. He threw for 4.94 ERA, 94 K’s, 162 IP and 43 walks. He will make $6.5 million in 2010.

Florida Marlins: The Marlins are an anomaly is the world of Major League Baseball. They consistently have one of the lowest payrolls year in and year out. Yet, they always find a way to stay competitive and have even won a couple of World Series championships. With the knack of developing good young pitchers that have success at the major league level other small market teams should look at their player development and take notes. The Marlins rotation is costing them $9.7 million.

• Josh Johnson: This young hurler is the aces of the Marlins staff. 2009 was the first season he was injury free and the dividends paid off. He threw for a 3.23 ERA, 191 K’s, 209 IP and 58 walks. Johnson earns $3.75 million in 2010
• Ricky Nolasco: Nolasco had a lot of buzz surrounding him entering the 2009 season but got off to a horrendous start and was options down to the minors. He regain his composure, was called back up and found success. He numbers for 2009 were 5.06 ERA, 195 K’s, 185 IP and 44 BB. He earns $3.8 million in 2010
• Anibal Sanchez: Sanchez has had injuries that has limited him to 49 starts and one relief appearance over the past four seasons but when healthy he has definitely has the stuff to be a success starter. He pitched for a 3.87 ERA, 71 K’s, 86 IP and 46 walks. He makes $1.25 million this season.
• Sean West: West showed a lot of promise in his rookie season. He is sure to have some growing pains having only thrown 167 inning above the Class A level. He posted a 4.79 ERA, 70 K’s, 103.1 IP and 44 walks. West will earn near the minimum in 2010.
• Chris Volstad: Volstad will be looking to rebound after going through a bad sophomore slump. He threw for a 5.21 ERA, 107 K’s, 159 IP and 59 BB. He will earn the minimum this season.

Atlanta Braves: The Braves have always been a team that has been known for pitching. With guys like Warren Spahn, Phil Neikro, Greg Maddux and company the Braves have come to expect a solid rotation year in and year out. This year will be no exception. They are paying $31.467 million in 2010 for these arms.

• Jair Jurrjens: Jurrjens is a work horse that has improved with each year he has been in the majors. He had a little scare with some shoulder soreness but there is nothing serious and he looks to be a leading candidate for the ace position. In 2009 he threw for a 2.60 ERA, 152 K’s, 215 IP and 75 BB’s. He is a steal at near the league minimum for 2010.
• Derek Lowe: Lowe signed a 4 year $60 million deal in 2009 to be the ace of the Braves staff. He did not perform up to their expectation and they subsequently were looking to trade him this off season. He posted a 4.67 ERA, 111 K’s, 194.2 IP and 63 walks. He will earn $15 million this year.
• Tommy Hanson: Hanson wasted no time in dominating the opposition in his rookie season. Look for Hanson to be not only the ace of the Braves staff for years to come but one of the top pitchers in all of baseball. He threw for a 2.89 ERA, 116 K’s, 127.2 IP and 46 walks. He will make near the minimum.
• Tim Hudson: Returning from Tommy John surgery last season Hudson proved that he is still capable of putting up great numbers. He will be a consistent veteran presence on the mound. He pitche for a 3.61 ERA, 30 K’s, 42.1 IP and 13 walks. He earns $9 million in 2010.
• Kenshin Kawakami: Kawakami rounds out the rotation for the Braves in 2010. He put up good numbers in his rookie season and makes for an excellent 5th starter. He threw for a 3.86 ERA, 105 K’s, 156.1 IP and 57 walks. He makes $6.667 million this season.

New York Mets: To say the Mets had a bad season last year is putting it mildly. The wheels feel off due to injuries and a new ball park seemed to effect the power numbers for the hitters. The Mets are biggest spenders in the NL East so are they getting their money’s worth at approximately $38 million for their starting rotation?

• Johan Santana: A perennial Cy Young contender Johan Santana is great arm to have at the top of your rotation. He was one of the many injuries the Mets sustained last year. He is expected to be back at full strength for 2010. He threw for a 3.13 ERA, 146 K’s, 166.2 IP and 46 walks. He earn a whopping $21 million in 2010.
• Mike Pelfrey: Pelfrey was a highly touted prospect in the Mets system. He showed promise in his first full season in ’08 but regressed in his sophomore campaign with a 5.03 ERA, 107 K’s 184.1 IP and 66 BB. He will earn $500 thousand in 2010.
• John Maine: Maine has struggles with the injury bug the past two season. When healthy he is tough to hit even though he can be wild. He threw for a 4.43 ERA 55 K’s, 81.1 IP and 38 BB. He will earn $3.3 million in 2010.
• Oliver Perez: Perez has been a thorn in the side of Omar Minaya and the Mets for quite some time. Notoriously wild with flashes of brilliance just doesn’t seem to be able to put it all together. Last season he threw for a 6.82 ERA, 62 K’s, 66 IP and 58 BB’s. He will make a painful $12 million in 2010.
• Fernando Nieve: Nieve was an effective pitcher for about a month until he went down with a torn right quad. He will be giving a chance at earning a rotation spot in 2010 and Jerry Manuel has indicated he is the favorite. He threw for 2.95 ERA, 23 K’s, 36.2 IP and 19 walks. He earns the minimum for 2010.
• Jon Niese: Niese tore a hamstring in 2009 but performed admirably when he was healthy. He will also compete for a rotation spot. He threw for 4.21 ERA, 18 K’s, 25.2 IP and 17 BB. He will earn the minimum in 2010.
• Hisanori Takahashi: A late comer to the competition Takahashi was signed from Japan where he threw for a 2.94 ERA. He will earn $1 million if he makes the Major League club.

Washington Nationals: While the Nationals are the cellar dwellers in the NL East they have take significant steps in improving their ball club. They have drafted top tier talent and have improved their offense as well. They still have a ways to go but they are by no means complete push over anymore. Their rotation will earn as much as $16 million in 2010.

• Jason Marquis: The Nationals made a splash (albeit small) in the free agent marketing this year by signing Marquis as the ace of their staff. Most places he would be a bottom of the rotation starter but he does provide some stability in a volatile rotation. He threw for 4.04 ERA, 115 K’s, 216 IP and 80 BB last year. He will earn $7.5 million this season.
• Chien-Ming Wang: Wang is just what the Nationals need. He is a consistent pitcher who will keep the ball in the ball park. He has struggled with an injury last season but he as an anchor in the Yankees rotation for years. He threw for 9.64 ERA, 29 K’s, 42 IP and 19 walks. He can earn up to $5 million in performance bonuses in 2010.
• John Lannan: As the aces for the staff last season Lannan performed quite well. He is young and has improved over the last two season. He eats innings and gets outs even if his strike out numbers aren’t stellar. He threw for a 3.88 ERA, 89 K’s, 206.1 IP and 68 BB. He makes near the minimum for this season.
• Scott Olsen: Olsen was once one of the most promising young starters in baseball but his career has been derailed by injury and ineffectiveness. He should be completely recovered from shoulder surgery. He threw for a 6.03 ERA, 42 K’s, 62.2 IP and 25 BB. He will earn $1 million in 2010.
• J.D. Martin: Martin was a serviceable starter for the Nationals last season. He will compete for a rotation spot again this season. He threw for a 4.44 ERA, 37 K’s, 77 IP and 24 walks. Martin makes the minimum.
• Garrett Mock: Mock is a servicable back of the rotation guy for the Nationals. His numbers are expected to improve this season but don’t hold your breath. He threw for a 5.62 ERA, 72 K’s, 91.1 IP and 44 walks. He earns near the minimum.
• Jordan Zimmermann: Zimmermann is one of the brightest prospects the Nationals have. He had to under go Tommy John Surgery in 2009 and doesn’t seem to factor into the rotation until mid season at the absolute earliest. He threw for a 4.63 ERA, 92 K’s, 91.1 IP and 29 BB. He earns near the minimum as well.
• Steven Strasburg: The crown jewel in the Nationals system at the moment Strasburg is a huge question mark. He performed well in the Arizona fall league but who knows how he will stack up against major league talent. He has 100 mph fastball but those can have a tendency to go a long ways if you aren’t fooling anyone. He will earn $2 million in 2010.

There is a lot of talented pitching in the NL East. It is a tough call for me on who is the best. Obviously the Marlins have a lot of talent for cheap but that talent is raw and injury prone. The Phillies and the Braves seem to be in the same ballpark talent wise and payroll wise. I would have to give the edge to the Braves. The have the potential to have 4 aces on their staff with Jurrjens, Hanson, Hudson and Lowe. Plus Kawakami has put up great numbers compared to the 5th starter on any of the other teams. At $31.467 million the Brave get my vote for best rotation in the NL East for 2010.

• Joey Votto (1B) Cincinnati Reds – The player who has arguably had the most success of any player on this list is the most likely candidate to have a breakthrough performance this season. Despite missing a month on the DL last season and battling a bout with depression, Votto finished in the top 5 in the NL in AVG, OBP, and Slugging %. He had only one month last season where he didn’t hit at least .320. Votto also hits in a very hitter friendly ballpark in Cincinnati, which should help his power numbers increase with a full season of at-bats. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Votto’s name in the top 5 rankings of all first basemen next season, as a 30 HR-100 RBI season could be in his sights.

Bill James Projection: .311 AVG, 27 HR, 90 RBI, 80 Runs, .947 OPS

MLB.com Projection: .313 AVG, 28 HR, 102 RBI, 92 Runs, .936 OPS

• Jay Bruce (OF) Cincinnati Reds – Another Reds player has a great chance of breaking out this season. The former No. 1 overall prospect in all of baseball has struggled living up to the hype since entering the league during the 2008 season. Last season was a nightmare for Bruce as he struggled to a .223 AVG and missed two months on the DL with a broken wrist. However, after returning from the DL, Bruce had a .326 AVG, 4 HR, and 17 RBI in only 46 at-bats. The 22 year-old right fielder is still very raw at the plate, but it’s no secret that Bruce possesses a great ability to knock the ball out of the ballpark. The Reds are banking on Bruce being completely healed from his wrist injury and building off his improvement at the plate after his return from the DL. Could this be the year Bruce quiets the critics and lives up to his hype?

Bill James Projection: .274 AVG, 38 HR, 95 RBI, 92 Runs, .877 OPS

MLB.com Projection: .268 AVG, 29 HR, 88 RBI, 79 Runs, .844 OPS

• Carlos Gonzalez (OF) Colorado Rockies – Gonzalez was originally a highly-touted prospect in the Diamondbacks organization before being traded to the Oakland A’s in the Dan Haren trade. Gonzalez made it to the big leagues with the A’s in 2008, but didn’t overly impress during his time with the club. The 24 year-old outfielder entered his third organization last off season when he was traded to the Rockies in the Matt Holliday trade to the A’s. Gonzalez excelled in Triple-A before receiving a promotion to the big league club in June. Gonzalez started to show flashes of his ability as he had a .320 AVG, 12 HR, and 11 SB in the second-half last season. The Rockies are expected to plug Gonzalez at the top of their lineup this season, possibly as the leadoff hitter where he hit .300 in that role. He possesses a solid power-speed combination and with regular at-bats in Coors Field could be a good option for 20 HR-20 SB this season.

Bill James Projection: .280 AVG, 19 HR, 73 RBI, 18 SB, 78 Runs, .819 OPS

MLB.com Projection: .277 AVG, 22 HR, 83 RBI, 20 SB, 80 Runs, .820 OPS

• Andrew McCutchen (OF) Pittsburgh Pirates – While not much has gone right on the field for the Pirates in over 15 years, the team has to be excited about McCutchen and the possibility that they have found a cornerstone player to build around. Between Triple-A and the majors, McCutchen hit 16 HR and stole 32 bases from the leadoff spot last season. In 108 games in the majors, he led all rookies in extra-base hits with 47 and improved his OBP and run totals every month. McCutchen displayed a great knack for getting on base and has impressive speed from the leadoff spot. While he possesses 20 HR-40 SB potential don’t expect that from McCutchen yet. However, McCutchen displays a skill set similar to Grady Sizemore and has the chance to become one of the premier leadoff hitters in the game this season.

Bill James Projection: .281 AVG, 13 HR, 61 RBI, 31 SB, 90 Runs, .783 OPS

MLB.com Projection: .288 AVG, 16 HR, 69 RBI, 29 SB, 93 Runs, .827 OPS

• Clayton Kershaw (LHP) Los Angeles Dodgers – The 21 year-old southpaw had a pretty impressive 2009 despite finishing with .500 record (8-8). In 171 IP, Kershaw finished in the Top 5 in ERA (2.79) , K/9 (9.74), and H/9 (6.3). He also posted an impressive 2.27 ERA after the All-Star break last season. While it didn’t translate to many wins last season, Kershaw’s numbers show his ability to dominate on any given night. Expect his win total to nearly double this season as he establishes himself as a legit ace in this league. A few Cy Young votes could be in the offering as well. All of this coming from a 21 year-old pitcher is quite encouraging to potential fantasy owners.

Bill James Projection: 13-7, 3.25 ERA, 180 IP, 188 K (9.40 K/9), 1.28 WHIP

MLB.com Projection: 14-8, 3.22 ERA, 192 IP, 201 K (9.42 K/9), 1.23 WHIP

• Yovani Gallardo (RHP) Milwaukee Brewers – Another young arm has the chance to establish himself as an elite ace in this league. After missing most of the 2008 season with a torn ACL, Gallardo came back last season and posted 13 wins along with a sub-4.00 ERA and the second-best K/9 in the NL at 9.89. Despite having an awful 4.6 BB/9 ratio last season, his previous track record in the minors and majors has shown this should not be a trend. The Brewers have been envisioning Gallardo as their ace of the future and 2010 might be the year he reaches that potential. If Gallardo cuts down on his walks, a 15 win season, sub 4.00 ERA, and high K/9 should make him a solid fantasy option as your No. 2 starter.

Bill James Projection: 12-8, 3.53 ERA, 186 IP, 205 K (9.92 K/9), 1.30 WHIP

MLB.com Projection: 16-8, 3.37 ERA, 197 IP, 213 K (9.73 K/9), 1.22 WHIP

• Tommy Hanson (RHP) Atlanta Braves – The third pitcher under the age of 24 to find their name on this list might have the most upside of any of the pitchers. Hanson came to the majors last June as the top pitching prospect in baseball and he failed to disappoint. In 127.2 IP, Hanson went 11-4 with a 2.89 ERA and started posting dominating strikeout numbers as he had over a 10 K/9 in August and September. Hanson is a legit future ace who comes from an organization known for developing quality arms. The future is bright for Hanson as he will be an enticing mid-round pickup for fantasy owners.

Bill James Projection: 14-7, 3.30 ERA, 191 IP, 206 K (9.71 K/9), 1.15 WHIP

MLB.com Projection: 15-7, 3.39 ERA, 190 IP, 201 K (9.52 K/9), 1.24 WHIP

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Up Next: AL Bounceback Candidates

ESPN.com’s 2010 Top 10 Prospects

1. Jason Heyward (OF) Atlanta Braves (1) – The consensus overall No.1 prospect on both lists. Braves fans should be excited for the arrival of this 5 tool talent in the near future.

2. Stephen Strasburg (RHP) Washington Nationals (2) – The consensus top pitching prospect on both lists. The Nationals hope Strasburg lives up to all the hype and brings home a Cy Young Award in the future.

3. Carlos Santana (C) Cleveland Indians (11) – Santana just missed cracking the top 10 on Mayo’s list, but safely finds his name on this list. Santana is a switch-hitting catcher who has left scouts raving about his ability to change the game with both his arm and bat. He has drawn comparisons to the player he is expecting to replace in Cleveland, Victor Martinez. The Indians are expected to give Santana one more year of seasoning in the minors before making him their everyday backstop in 2011.

4. Buster Posey (C) San Francisco Giants (4) – The battle for the title of the top catching prospect in the game between Santana and Posey was won by Santana on this list. However, Posey safely finds his name at No. 4 on both lists and is looking like a potential cornerstone behind the plate for many years.

5. Mike Stanton (OF) Florida Marlins (3) – Stanton takes a little step back on this list, but finds his name in the top 5 on both lists. Many scouts are in unison of their praise of Stanton and his ability to drive in runs and hit the long ball better than anyone in the minors. Marlins fans should see him patrolling right field very soon.

6. Desmond Jennings (OF) Tampa Bay Rays (6) – Jennings anchors the 6th spot on both lists. The question in Tampa is can they make an outfield with Carl Crawford in LF, Jennings in CF, and B.J. Upton in RF happen. Crawford is a free agent after the season and is questionable to return. However unlikely the possibility of all three players in the outfield together, Rays fans can dream of such a scenario which would be the fastest and most exciting outfield in all of baseball.

7. Martin Perez (LHP) Texas Rangers (18) – The Rangers find another pitching prospect in the top 10 in Perez. The 19-year old lefty has drawn comparisons to fellow lefty Johan Santana with his size and stuff. The Rangers will be cautious with Perez as he is still extremely young. He isn’t expected to reach the majors until 2012 at the earliest, but Perez’s progress could speed up the process sooner. The Rangers organization is ecstatic about their young arms and Perez could be the best.

8. Dustin Ackley (2B) Seattle Mariners (15) – The 2nd overall pick of the 2009 draft is making the switch from CF to 2B this season. How well Ackley adjusts to the position change will determine how fast he reaches the majors. He was considered the most advanced hitter in last year’s draft as he provides a high average with a great knack for getting on base. The only knock on Ackley is that his power has yet to develop and is still a work in progress. Currently, the Mariners have him penciled him for a trip to the majors at some point in 2011, but could be be later than that due to the position change.

9. Justin Smoak (1B) Texas Rangers (9) – Another name to find his name on both lists and at the same spot as well. Smoak would be penciled into most starting lineups this season, however, the Rangers don’t have room for his services this season with Chris Davis at first and Vladimir Guerrero as the primary DH. As mentioned before, Smoak has drawn comparisons to Mark Teixeira and should be a big-time run producer in the majors.

10. Jesus Montero (C) New York Yankees (19) – Another catching prospect cracks the top 10 as the Yankees hope they have find their successor to Jorge Posada behind the plate. Montero’s defense has been questioned, but he was reported to make progress behind the plate last season. There is no question about Montero’s ability to swing the bat as he has immense power and plate discipline. The Yankees have kept Montero’s name out of trade discussions and that says a lot. The team should have no problem behind the plate after Posada departs.

It is interesting to see the different top prospects list that come out every year. You often hear the term “can’t-miss prospect” loosely in baseball, which is true sometimes. The developmental process in baseball is crucial for sustained success in the league. The Braves of the 90s and the Twins are two organizations that seemingly always have a knack for producing quality home-grown talent. The Rays are a team that I see starting to follow that mold as they are starting to produce some exciting young arms and hitters. For a complete list of Law’s rankings please visit the link above.

]]> http://www.amateurgm.com/top-prospects-analysis-part-two/feed 0 http://www.amateurgm.com/2010-top-prospects-analysis http://www.amateurgm.com/2010-top-prospects-analysis#comments Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:23:58 +0000 Ryan Oleniczak http://www.amateurgm.com/?p=944 As the Hot Stove season starts to come to an end with pitchers and catchers due to report to camp within a few weeks, it is now time to start taking a look at the 2010 season. Last week, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com and Keith Law of ESPN.com released their top prospects list for the 2010 season. Both Mayo and Law do a great job of talking to scouts and team personnel to compile their lists. Many prospects find their names on both lists, however, Mayo and Law present contrasting analysis of their top 10 prospects. Here is a breakdown of Mayo’s list.

MLB.com’s 2010 Top 10 Prospects

1. Jason Heyward (OF) Atlanta Braves - The 20-year old outfielder is a rare 5-tool talent who possesses power, average, speed, and a plus arm all from the left-hand side of the plate. Heyward was the 14th overall pick in the 2007 draft and was ranked as the No. 3 overall prospect in 2009. Heyward is expected to reach the majors in 2010 and is a possibility to break camp with the team. The future is bright for this prospect.

2. Stephen Strasburg (RHP) Washington Nationals – The No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft is arguably the most heralded pitching prospect since Mark Prior. In three years at San Diego St., Strasburg only allowed 144 hits in 243.1 IP along with 375 K and 50 BB (.797 WHIP). His fastball tops out in the triple digits and has a slider/curve breaking ball that is devastating on hitters. The Nationals are expected to take a cautious approach with Strasburg as he is deemed the future face of the franchise. Despite this cautious approach, it will be hard for the Nationals not to bring Strasburg to the majors at some point in 2010.

3. Mike Stanton (OF) Florida Marlins – Stanton was the 2nd round pick (76th overall) of the Marlins in 2007. The 20-year outfielder is considered to have the best power of any hitter in the minor leagues as his 67 HR in two minor league seasons will attest to that. Stanton is expected to patrol right field for the Marlins, possibly as soon as 2011. He is expected to play in Triple-A for 2010 with a September call-up to the big leagues a possibility.

4. Buster Posey (C) San Francisco Giants – The 5th overall pick of the 2008 draft made huge strides in 2009 as he made the jump from Class A all the way to a September call-up with the big league team. Posey threw out 46 % of potential basestealers in 2009 and has 20 HR potential at the plate. Posey is expected to get one more year of seasoning behind the plate with the return of Bengie Molina to San Francisco. His eye is on 2011 when he should be a cornerstone behind the plate for many years to come.

5. Brian Matusz (LHP) Baltimore Orioles – The No. 4 overall pick of the 2008 draft made his major league debut in 2009 as he made 8 starts with the Orioles last season. In those starts, Matusz went 5-2 with a 4.63 ERA in 44.2 IP. Matusz has drawn comparisons to fellow lefty Cliff Lee of the Seattle Mariners. He is expected to break camp with the Orioles as a member of their starting rotation and is considered a top-of-the-rotation starter in the future.

6. Desmond Jennings (OF) Tampa Bay Rays – The 10th round pick (289th overall) of the Rays in 2006 made arguably the biggest strides of any minor leaguer in 2009. Jennings didn’t find his name among the top prospects last season, but had an impressive ’09 season where he swiped 52 bases and had his first injury-free season of his minor league career. Jennings is projected to be a leadoff hitter in the majors and is expected to patrol center field in 2011 for the Rays.

7. Neftali Feliz (RHP) Texas Rangers – Acquired from the Braves in the Mark Teixeira trade in 2007, Feliz made some noise in 2009. In 31 IP out of the pen for the Rangers, Feliz had an impressive 1.74 ERA with 39 K and only 13 hits allowed. Feliz sports a fastball that reaches the triple digits and is simply overpowering at times. He is expected to be a setup man to closer Frank Francisco in 2010. Feliz projects as either a top-of-the-rotation starter or shutdown closer in his career. The difficulty for the Rangers is deciding which role suits him best.

8. Pedro Alvarez (3B) Pittsburgh Pirates – The 2nd overall pick in the 2008 draft had an impressive 27 HR last season in the minors. Alvarez is expected to be a middle-of-the order power threat in Pittsburgh who is known for his great plate discipline. The challenge for the Pirates is whether Alvarez has enough range to play third base in the majors or if he is better suited at first base. Either way, Alvarez is the top prospect in the Pirates organization and should arrive to the majors in 2011.

9. Justin Smoak (1B) Texas Rangers – The 11th overall pick of 2008 draft is the second Rangers prospect in the top 10. Smoak has scouts drooling with his power and average from both sides of the plates. The switch-hitter has drawn comparisons to former Rangers farmhand Mark Teixeira (1B) of the New York Yankees. He projects to be a middle-of-the-order threat from either first base or as a DH. The Rangers will be tempted to find Smoak a spot in 2010, but 2011 seems more likely for Smoak to find an everyday spot in the Rangers lineup.

10. Madison Bumgarner (LHP) San Francisco Giants – The 10th overall pick of the 2007 draft is the second Giant to find his name in the top 10. Bumgarner made his Major League debut in 2009 as he appeared in 4 games (1 start) and produced a 1.80 ERA in 10 IP along with 10 K. Bumgarner will compete for a spot in the starting rotation in camp and is expected to be a rotation staple with Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain for years to come in San Francisco.

Tomorrow I will take a look at Keith Law’s Top 10 prospects and see how it stacks up to Mayo’s list. For a complete list of the top 50 prospects according to Mayo, please check out the link above.

Jason Bay to the Mets – The former Pittsburgh Pirate and Boston Red Sox takes his game back to the NL with his recent signing with the New York Mets. Bay will anchor left field at Citi Field for at least the next four seasons and is expected to provide some much needed pop in the middle of the Mets lineup. The Mets lineup should be pretty good next season barring injury with Jose Reyes, David Wright, Carlos Beltran, and Bay as the main contributors. Last season, Bay hit .267 and hit a career-high 36 HR and 119 RBI with the Red Sox. The Mets are hoping that Bay continues his success in spacious Citi Field, where the new park proved to be pitcher friendly. It is a good signing by the Mets as they needed some power in their lineup. Bay has been a consistent performer in his career and has proved he can play in a big market as his success in Boston will attest to that.

Adrian Beltre to Boston – To combat the loss of Bay, the Red Sox signed free agent 3B Adrian Beltre to a one-year deal with a player option for 2011. The deal is worth $9 million for next season with a $5 million player option for 2011. This is a good deal for Beltre as he looks to have a bounce back year at the plate which would give him the option to get a long-term deal in next season’s free agent market. Beltre is already a premier defensive 3B as he won Gold Gloves in 2007 and 2008. However, he hit only 8 HR and 44 RBI with the Seattle Mariners last season. The hitter friendly Fenway Park should be good for Beltre as the Green Monster can be very forgiving at times. The question for the Red Sox is what to do with Mike Lowell after his trade to Texas was called off earlier in the off season. While I feel $9 million is a lot to pay Beltre for next season, he is a great candidate to have a bounce back season and will provide excellent defense from the hot corner.

Marlon Byrd to the Cubs – The Cubs have filled their hole in center field with the recent signing of Marlon Byrd to a 3-year deal worth $15 million. The deal is light on the Cubs’ tight budget for next season as the deal is back loaded. Byrd is set to make $3 million next season, $5.5 million in 2011, and $6.5 million in 2012. The Cubs are hoping that Byrd builds off his career year last season with the Texas Rangers, where he was an everyday player for the first time in his career. New Cubs hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo was the biggest factor in Byrd coming to Chicago as he attributes his new found success as a hitter because of Jaramillo’s tutelage in Texas. This is the second consecutive off season the Cubs have signed a former Texas Rangers outfielder to a 3 year deal and the Cubs are hoping Byrd has a better time in Chicago then the recently traded Milton Bradley did. As a Cubs fan, I am not a fan of the signing, but Byrd if nothing else will provide a much better clubhouse atmosphere for the team. If he can provide anything close to his numbers from last season, he will definately live up to the terms of his contract.

Mark DeRosa to the Giants – The San Francisco Giants added a great piece to their team with the signing of super-utilityman Mark DeRosa to a two-year deal worth $12 million. DeRosa can play anywhere in the infield and both corner outfield spots, but is expected to become the primary 3B in San Francisco, which allows the team to move Pablo Sandoval to 1B. DeRosa has become a solid contributor at the plate since his last season in Texas in 2006. His versatility is a plus as he can play numerous positions well and help the team in case of injury at other positions. DeRosa has been both a fan and player favorite over his career as he is a true professional who understands how to play the game the right way. His career took off as a member of the Chicago Cubs as he became a team leader and provided plenty of clutch hits. I know if I was building a team I would do all I could to have a player like DeRosa on my team as his versatility and leadership are vital to a teams success.

Kelly Johnson to the D-Backs - One of best under the radar signings of the off season goes to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The D-Backs signed 2B Kelly Johnson to a one-year deal worth $2.35 million. Johnson was not offered arbitration earlier in the off season by the Atlanta Braves, which made him a free agent. Last season, Johnson struggled at the plate after a wrist injury in July and lost his everyday spot in the lineup towards the end of the year. However, Johnson was a solid contributor for the Braves the previous two years and is a good candidate for a bounce back season. I like this signing for the D-Backs as Johnson should provide solid numbers for the team and is an upgrade to their other options at 2B. Sometimes it’s the under the radar signings that benefit a team rather than a big name signing and this could be one of those cases.

It will be interesting to see where the market goes in the next month. There are still plenty of quality names on the market as we are starting to see a new trend with teams waiting it out until later in the off season to fill some holes.

9. Johnny Damon – Damon made a name for himself this decade as a member of the Boston Red Sox with his caveman-like appearance. For the decade, Damon had a .291 AVG, 158 HR, 732 RBI, 1,115 Runs, and 264 SB with 4 teams. While average at best on the defensive side, Damon was a solid contributor over the decade with a steady average, good speed, and power. He currently finds himself on the free agent market hoping to re-sign with the New York Yankees, but ultimately might have to look elsewhere.

8. Andruw Jones – From 2000-2007, Jones was one of the premier outfielders in the game as he won 8 consecutive NL Gold Gloves as a CF with the Atlanta Braves. During that span, Jones was a 5-time All Star and hit 288 HR and 860 RBI with his best season coming in 2005 when he hit 51 HR and 128 RBI. However, his skills have rapidly declined over the past two seasons as he has become a part-time player due to injury, weight issues, and poor production when healthy. Jones recently signed a one year deal this off season with the Chicago White Sox as a part-time DH and centerfielder where he hopes to restart his career.

7. Torii Hunter – The man they call “Spider-Man” is on this list mostly due to his defense. Hunter is arguably the best defensive CF in the game today as he has won 9 consecutive AL Gold Gloves. His career has been marked by home run robbing catches at the wall and hard-nosed play. Hunter also was a solid contributor at the plate for the decade with a .276 AVG, 226 HR, 842 RBI, and 153 SB. He is a good pick for this list due to his incredible defense, solid hitting, and intangibles.

6. Carlos Beltran – Beltran is a 5 tool player in today’s game who possesses great power, solid average, good speed, and an excellent arm and overall defense. He was a 5-time All Star this decade and won 3 consecutive NL Gold Gloves in CF from 2006-2008. For the decade, he had a .282 AVG, 251 HR, 920 RBI, 961 Runs, and 256 SB. Beltran was also a prime time performer under the bright lights of the postseason. In 22 postseason games with the Houston Astros (2004) and New York Mets (2006), Beltran has a .366 AVG, 11 HR, and 19 RBI, and 8 SB. It’s rare to find someone with Beltran’s talent and production from both sides of the game. He is a great choice for this list.

5. Bobby Abreu – In my opinion, Abreu is one of the most underrated players in the game and is a true mark of consistency. He proved to be extremely durable as he averaged 158 games played a season this decade. His plate discipline was one of the best in the game as he had 7 seasons of at least 100 BB. Abreu also had 7 seasons of at least 20 HR-20 SB with two of those being 30 HR-30 SB seasons. He hit at least 100 RBI in every season except for 2000 and 2002. For the decade, Abreu had a .297 AVG, 216 HR, 993 RBI, 1,061 Runs, and 295 SB. The numbers speak for themselves, Abreu deserves to be on this list and is often overlooked despite his consistency every year.

4. Vladimir Guerrero – Before becoming a DH due to knee problems, Vlad was an excellent outfielder with arguably the best arm of any outfielder. Vlad was the face of the former Montreal Expos and Los Angeles Angels in the decade and was an exciting player to watch swing the bat. The man with no pitch out of reach had a .323 AVG, 315 HR, 1,037 RBI, and 929 Runs. Vlad also had excellent speed before his knee problems as he had two 30 HR-30 SB seasons with the Expos in 2001 and 2002. His best season was in 2004, when he was named the AL MVP with a .337 AVG, 39 HR, 126 RBI, 124 Runs, and 19 SB. Vlad is currently a free agent seeking a two year deal who should be a solid addition to an AL team in need of a DH.

3. Ichiro Suzuki – Since coming over from Japan in 2001, Ichiro has built a resume that might make him a Hall of Fame candidate when he retires. In his first season, Ichiro won both the AL Rookie of the Year Award and AL MVP with the Seattle Mariners as he won the first of 2 AL batting titles in his career. He has been both an AL All Star and Gold Glove Award winner in every season in his career. He also has had at least a .300 AVG and 200 hits in every season, which is an MLB record. In 2004, he became the all-time single season hits leader with 262 hits that season. Last season, he became the 2nd fastest player in MLB history to reach 2,000 hits in his career. Ichiro also is known for his speed at the top of the lineup as his 341 career SB will prove. Like Vlad, Ichiro possesses a cannon of an arm from the outfield and there are few runners that take a chance on his arm. For his career, he has a .333 AVG, 84 HR, 515 RBI, 973 Runs, 341 SB, and 2,030 hits. Ichiro is a no-brainer for this list and one of the best pure hitters the game has ever seen.

2. Manny Ramirez - Manny has built an impressive resume over the decade despite his 50 game suspension last season for a failed drug test and his times with the Red Sox that were often characterized simply as “Manny being Manny”. In 2008, Manny became the 24th player in MLB history to become a member of the 500 HR club. For the decade, he was one of the most feared hitters in the game as he averaged 35 HR and 111 RBI a season. His final numbers for the decade were pretty impressive as he had a .317 AVG, 348 HR, 1,106 RBI, 933 Runs, and an outstanding 1.018 OPS. You either love him or hate him, but there is no doubt Manny is one of the best hitters in the game over his career, especially this decade.

1. Barry Bonds – The most scrutinized player in the game this past decade finds himself No. 1 on this list. The leader of the steroids controversy has been out of baseball since 2007 due to the game’s desire to rid itself of the steroids era and teams not willing to embrace the publicity of Bonds. This decade, Bonds broke both the single season (73) and all-time (762) home run records with the San Francisco Giants. He became the most feared hitter in the game as his 390 intentional walks for the decade would provide proof of that. For the decade, Bonds had a .322 AVG, 317 HR, 697 RBI, 772 Runs, and an impressive 1.241 OPS. Bonds has left an impression on the game of baseball both good and bad that will never be forgotten. It will be interesting to see how the Hall of Fame voters look at Bonds when it comes time for his induction.

Here is a rundown of the MLB Network’s Top 9 at each position for the decade:

SP- Randy Johnson

Closer- Mariano Rivera

C- Pudge Rodriguez

1B- Albert Pujols

2B- Jeff Kent

SS- Derek Jeter

3B- Alex Rodriguez

OF- Barry Bonds

How do you think the MLB Network did in their rankings? Who do you think is the best player overall from the decade?

9. Ryan Zimmerman – The current face of the Washington Nationals starts off our list at No. 9. In 4 full seasons in the majors, Zimmerman has averaged 23 HR and 90 RBI a season. Last season was his best season in his early career as he was selected to his 1st All Star Game and won his 1st Gold Glove Award. In his career, Zimmerman has a .284 AVG, 91 HR,  and 364 RBI. While a good young player with a bright future, I question whether he has done enough in his career to warrant a spot on this list.

8. Mike Lowell – This decade Lowell established himself as one of the better third basemen in the game despite not being particularly flashy. For the decade, he had a .282 AVG, 206 HR, and 879 RBI with the Florida Marlins and Boston Red Sox. Lowell also added his lone Gold Glove Award to his credit back in 2005. In 2007, he was named the World Series MVP as he hit nearly .400 in the series and was a vital piece for the Red Sox 2nd Championship of the decade. Lowell was also a 4-time All Star in the decade. While it is easy to overlook Lowell in today’s game, he was a solid performer over the decade despite battling some nagging injuries.

7. Eric Chavez – For the first part of the decade, Chavez was one of the premier third basemen in the game. From 2000-2006, Chavez won 6 AL Gold Glove Awards with the Oakland A’s and averaged 28 HR and 94 RBI a season. During that period, he produced two 30 HR seasons and four 100 RBI seasons. However, over the past 3 seasons, Chavez has failed to play more than 90  games in a season and faces the possibility of early retirement due to chronic back problems. For the decade, he had a .269 AVG, 216 HR, and 721 RBI. It’s a shame that injuries have taken over his career, as he was truly both a great hitter and defender when healthy.

6. Aramis Ramirez – The former Pittsburgh Pirate has become one of the best hitting third basemen in the game since his trade to the Chicago Cubs in 2003. As a member of the Cubs, Ramirez has been a constant run producer with three 30 HR seasons and four 100 RBI seasons. At his best, Ramirez is a very clutch hitter who has a knack for driving in the big runs. For the decade, Ramirez had a .289 AVG, 258 HR, and 915 RBI. The Cubs are definately not the same team without his bat in the lineup as last season’s injury-plagued season for Ramirez will attest.

5. Scott Rolen – Rolen was arguably the best defensive third basemen of the decade as he was a 6-time NL Gold Glove Award winner. He wasn’t too shabby with the bat as well as he had a .285 AVG, 201 HR, and 832 RBI for the decade. Like Chavez, Rolen has been plagued by injuries since 2007 and is looking to revert back to old form with the Cincinnati Reds next season. Barring injury, Rolen would have found his name higher on this list due to being a consistent 20+ HR and 90+ RBI threat every season along with his excellent defense.

4. David Wright – In just 5 full seasons in the big leagues, Wright has established himself as an elite third basemen. From 2005-2009, Wright averaged 29 HR and 112 RBI a season and was selected to 4 All-Star games. In 2007, Wright became a member of the 30-30 club when he hit 30 HR and stole 34 bases. He also provided excellent defense as he won back to back NL Gold Glove Awards in 2007 and 2008. For his career, Wright has a .309 AVG, 140 HR, 561 RBI, and 119 SB. While last season was a down year for Wright, the future is bright for him and the New York Mets at third base.

3. Troy Glaus – A questionable choice for the No. 3 spot on this list goes to Glaus. From 2000-2002, Glaus averaged 39 HR and 107 RBI a season. In 2002, Glaus was named the World Series MVP for the formerly named Anaheim Angels. Glaus saw his Angels career end after two injury plagued seasons in 2003 and 2004. He would go on to have another impressive run from 2005-2008, where he averaged 31 HR and 91 RBI a season with 3 teams. Glaus was nonexistent last season as he only appeared in 14 games with the St. Louis Cardinals due to injury. For the decade, he had a .259 AVG, 274 HR, and 777 RBI. When healthy, Glaus was an excellent home run hitter, however, I feel he is ranked a little too high on this list as he had 3 seasons where he was virtually non-existent in the league. Glaus recently signed a one year deal with the Atlanta Braves to play first base.

2. Chipper Jones – Chipper was the premier third basemen in the NL this decade with the Atlanta Braves. He hit .311 for the decade and won a batting title in 2008 with a .364 AVG. Chipper is one of the best switch hitters of all-time as he trails only Mickey Mantle and Eddie Murray for most home runs for a switch hitter with 426 HR in his career. Like many of the players on this list, Chipper has had his fair share of nagging injuries of late, but is still a dangerous hitter when healthy. For the decade, he had a .311 AVG (as noted above), 273 HR, and 921 RBI. Chipper is considering retirement after next season as he feels his days as a premier third basemen are behind him.

1. Alex Rodriguez – The only player to find his name on the list at two different positions is none other than “ARod”.  Since becoming a full-time third basemen in 2004, ARod has done nothing to hurt his legacy as one of the best in the game. He would add 2 more AL MVP Awards to his credit in 2005 and 2007 with the New York  Yankees. In 2007, he became the 22nd player in MLB history to join the 500 HR club for his career. For the decade, ARod had a .304 AVG, 435 HR, 1,243 RBI, and 179 SB. Next season, ARod is expected to become the newest member of the 600 HR club as he needs only 17 HR to reach that number. Despite the much talked about steroids issue from last season, ARod should still find his name in Cooperstown someday as he has put up numbers very few players have ever accomplished.

The first word that comes to mind after looking at this list is injuries. The majority of the players on this list have battled injuries over multiple seasons which has hurt their overall production for the decade. I felt a few guys on this list were ranked a little high and I feel if Ryan Zimmerman is on the list, you might as well put Evan Longoria’s name on there even though he has only played 2 seasons. It will be interesting to see where the position goes from here. I expect David Wright to carry the torch for the next decade.

Up Next: Top 9 Outfielders of the Decade

Major League Baseball uses the average annual values of contracts plus benefits for players on the 40 man roster to determine the $162 million cut off for the luxury tax. The Yankees payroll in 2009 including signing bonuses and prorated contracts finished at $220 million. That was $77.8 million more then any other team in the league. The difference is also higher than payroll for each of the bottom 11 teams. Boston was next at $140.5 million followed by the Detroit Tigers at $139.4 million and the Phillies at $138.3 million. Florida again was last in the majors, even though the Marlins raised their payroll by $10.5 million to $37.5 million.

Many people think that the luxury tax system is not achieving the level playing field it set out to make.  Only two teams outside the top 11 by payroll made the postseason in 2009: Colorado (16th at $84.5 million) and Minnesota (23rd at $73.1 million). Some like the idea of setting a payroll floor in order to guarantee the revenue that teams receive is used for improving the competitiveness of the big league clubs as opposed to going directly into the profit column for the owners. In essence this luxury tax has the possibility of subsidizing owners that have no desire to “win” in the first place and simply pocket the money.

Just for fun take a look at this. Listed below are the names of the owners currently worth more than Steinbrenner and the teams they are currently in charge of:

• Seattle Mariners: Nintendo Corporation: $257.4 billion
• Minnesota Twins: Carl Pohlad: $3.6 billion
• Washington Nationals: Theodore N. Lerner: $3.5 billion
• Cleveland Indians: Larry Dolan: $3.3 billion
• Atlanta Braves: Liberty Media: $2.3 billion
• Houston Astros: Drayton McLane, Jr.: $1.6 billion
• Detroit Tigers: Mike Illitch: $1.6 billion
• Texas Rangers: Thomas O. Hicks: $1.4 billion
• Chicago Cubs: Thomas S. Rickets: $1.3 billion

Granted MLB is a for profit business and each team is individually owned and operated. They are entitled to their revenue and should be able to spend it as they see fit. However, should they be allowed to profit from teams like the Yankees who do invest heavily in payroll? It will be interesting to see how things are handled with the new collective bargaining agreement that needs to be negotiated in 2011.

How would you handle this situation? Do you share revenue equally across the board or do you cut off the “free” money and let the market decide?