Roy Oswalt has made it know publicly that he would prefer to go to a winning team. He is making a lot of money with 2 years left on a $73 million deal. He also has a club option for $16 million in 2012, so he could be worth the investment for a team looking to solidify their rotation for the next few seasons. He is 32 years old this season, so his age could be a factor in any deal. The Texas Rangers seem to be the most logical place for Oswalt. They are currently in first place in a fairly weak AL West. They also are in dire need of a top-of-the-rotation starter to anchor them. Nolan Ryan has approached the Astros as to Oswalt’s availability. I could see the Rangers offering Chris Davis with a minor league pitcher or two thrown in.

Lance Berkman has also mentioned that he would be open to moving on if the right opportunity presented itself. Berkman, a switch-hitting power bat, could provide any lineup a major boost in run production. The most glaring fit, at least talent-wise, is the San Francisco Giants. The Giants anemic offense has been floundering all season yet they are still very much in the race in the NL West. Berkman could easily slide into the 1st base role and they could move Aubrey Huff to the outfield. The Giants have a lot of pitching talent so I would only assume that they could offer top pitching prospect Madison Bumgarner.

Carlos Lee is also another potential trading piece. Lee’s numbers this year are horrible and he tends to be a hack in the field. He is also owed $18.5 million a year through 2012 so if the Astros want to move him they would have to eat a ton of his contract.

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)

Lincecum is arguably the most talented pitcher in the major league’s at the moment. He has a career record of 40-17 with a 2.90 career ERA. He has won the Cy Young in both of his first 2 years in the league.  The Giants really need to consider locking him up for longer then 2 years. With Felix Hernandez, Zach Greinke and Justin Verlander receiving lucrative multi-year deals this off season the Giants would be smart to do the same. However it looks as though Lincecum is content to go with short term contracts. He definitely stands to earn more money this way but it also is a risk for him with the possibility of having a long term injury. However this plays out in the future I see Lincecum being the cornerstone of the Giants rotation for years to come.

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.

Cabrera has bounced around a lot as of late playing for the Expos, Red Sox, Angels, A’s, White Sox and Twins which makes you wonder if there isn’t a slight attitude problem with him because his numbers are good. He had a run in with the White Sox managerial staff when he allegedly called the official scorer during a game to have an error he committed changed to a hit.  That doesn’t sound like much of a team player but he will be playing for Dusty Baker who is one of the best known players managers in the game. Baker definitely know how to stroke a players ego and douse fires when the erupt in the clubhouse having dealt with Barry Bonds all those years in San Francisco.

This signing is another positive step in the right direction for the Reds. Walt Jockety is putting together a very competitive team in the Queen City and I would not be surprised to see the Reds stick with pack in the National League Central this season. Cabrera by no mean puts them over the top but he does add an upgrade to the offensive without hurting the defense up the middle.

A players eligibility for arbitration can get quite confusing at times with the implementation of Super Two’s, which is when a player has between 2 years, 128 days and 2 years, 140 days of MLB service time. However, it is basically assumed that a player receives eligibility after 3 to 5 years of MLB service time. Ryan Howard (1B) of the Philadelphia Phillies set a first-time salary arbitration eligible player record when he was awarded $10 million in 2008 as a Super Two. Tim Lincecum (RHP) of the San Francisco Giants is currently listed as a Super Two, who is asking for a whopping $13 million for 2010 as opposed to the Giants offer of $8 million. If Lincecum successfully gets $13 million he would see a pay increase from $650,000 (1,900 % increase) in 2009. It’s instances like these that leave GM’s cringing at the arbitration process.

In short, salary arbitration can get quite interesting as both the team and player try to come to an agreement before each party has to exchange salary figures before a judge who then determines the players salary fate for the season. For example, Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers currently have a $2.6 million gap on his salary for 2010 as he has asked for $9.5 million, while the Tigers have only offered $6.9 million. If Verlander and the Tigers fail to reach an agreement on his salary for 2010 before next month, they will be forced to go to an arbitrator who will then determine Verlander’s salary for 2010, which could create a deal unappealing to both parties.

Is arbitration good for baseball? On the positive side, teams can go to year to year if they want with their young talent and stay away from committing big money long-term, which allows them to focus on other team needs. From a players standpoint, such as Verlander’s, he can continue to create value on a yearly basis and set himself up for a more lucrative long-term deal in the future, which could be more than he would get if he signed a long-term deal now. However, in cases like Howard and Lincecum, you can see where teams are caught in a predicament and can get stuck in a situation where the player can be overvaluing their worth and might be paying that player more than they would like to. It’s interesting to see to how salary arbitration has evolved over the years as the salary gaps are getting increasingly higher every off season.

So to answer the question, “Is arbitration good for baseball?” My answer is that the negatives outweigh the positives. It’s another case of contracts getting out of hand and players overvaluing their worth. I am encouraged to see the free agent market start to change its ways the past few off seasons and become almost like a take-it-or-leave-it stance. I hope that the arbitration process can get back to how it was when it was first implemented or done away with altogether.

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. Robinson Cano – Cano started his career in 2005 with the New York Yankees and has been a solid performer for the team since his debut. He has done a respectable job playing a supporting cast role in the Yankees lineup, as most of his skills go unnoticed with names such as ARod and Jeter garnering much of the attention. For his career, Cano has a .306 AVG, 87 HR, and 394 RBI. He has done a great job of getting on base as he has scored 406 runs in his career, along with an OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging %) of .818. The 27 year old second basemen is about to hit the prime of his career with the hope of moving into the upper echelon of today’s second basemen.

8. Craig Biggio – Biggio is a no-brainer choice for this list despite his rather low ranking on the list. Biggio is most recognized for his play at second base, however, he originally came into the majors as a catcher back in 1988 and also had two seasons this decade as the everyday center fielder for the Houston Astros back in 2003 and 2004. For the decade, he finished with a .266 AVG, 139 HR, 469 RBI, 724 Runs, and a .766 OPS mostly from the leadoff spot in the lineup. Before retiring after the 2007 season, Biggio punched his ticket to Cooperstown when he became the 27th player in MLB history to log 3,000 hits in his career. He was truly a throwback player with his gritty play both on the offensive and defensive sides of the game and is possibly one of the last players we will ever see that starts and finishes his career with the same team.

7. Luis Castillo – Castillo had most of his success in the first part of the decade as a member of the Florida Marlins. He was a constant headache for opposing teams as he led the NL in stolen bases in 2000 (62 SB) and 2002 (48 SB). Castillo was also one of the premier defenders in the game in the early part of the decade.From 2003-2005, Castillo was the NL Gold Glove Award winner at second base for 3 consecutive seasons.  However, after leaving the Marlins after the 2005 season, Castillo saw his production start to decline as he seemed to get on base less frequently and became less of a threat on the base paths. For the decade, Castillo finished with a .298 AVG, 276 SB, 823 Runs, and a .735 OPS.

6. Jose Vidro – This is by far one of the most questionable picks at any position by the MLB Network. Vidro is currently out of baseball due to poor production and was a mediocre hitter at best in the second part of the decade despite finishing with a good average. Vidro was one of the last good players the Montreal Expos franchise saw before they eventually became the Washington Nationals. From 2000-2005, Vidro was a 3-time All Star selection (mostly due to the Expos needing a representative) with his best season coming in 2000 when he finished with a .330 AVG, 24 HR, and 97 RBI. Vidro played at a time when the second base position was one of the weakest in quite some time. He would finish the decade with a .303 AVG, but doesn’t really deserve a mention on this list, especially ahead of a future Hall of Famer in Craig Biggio.

5. Brian Roberts – “BRob” is a doubles machine who became the all time single season leader in doubles for a switch hitter with 56. He has also led the AL twice this decade in that category and has 318 for his career. “BRob” is also a dangerous leadoff hitter as he is a consistent threat on the basepaths. For the decade, he finished with 256 SB with the most coming in 2007 (50 SB). Like many players this decade, “BRob” was not immune to the steroids controversy as he was listed on the famed Mitchell Report. After his steroid admission, Roberts has proven he is not a fluke as he is currently both one of the best leadoff and second basemen in all of baseball. For the decade, he finished with a .284 AVG, 77 HR, 443 RBI, 729 Runs, and a .776 OPS.

4. Dustin Pedroia – Pedroia finds himself on this list despite only playing 3 seasons this decade. He has built quite a resume in his short career as he started with a AL Rookie of the Year Award in 2007 with the Boston Red Sox. Not to be outdone, Pedroia would go on to win both the AL MVP and Gold Glove Award in only his second season in the league. That season he established himself as an elite second basemen with a .326 AVG, 17 HR, 83 RBI, 118 Runs, 54 doubles, and stellar defense. Pedroia scores one for the little guys as he stands at only 5’9″ tall, but puts up big time numbers with his hard-nosed play. The future is bright for this second basemen.

3. Alfonso Soriano – Before moving to the outfield in 2006 with the Nationals, Soriano was one of the premier hitting second basemen this decade. 157 of his 289 HR this decade came as a second basemen. The free-swinging Soriano possessed the rare combination of power and speed before becoming a member of the Chicago Cubs in 2007. He had 4 seasons of at least 30 HR and 30 SB and even became an exclusive member of the 40-40 club in 2006. Soriano put up these type of power numbers from the leadoff spot, which is generally meant for high OBP and singles type hitters. However, since becoming a member of the Cubs, Soriano has seen his skills decline progressively each year as he is no longer a speed threat and his defense has remained adventurous to say the least. Despite his disappointing tenure with the Cubs, Soriano is worthy of a spot on this list as he put on quite a show offensively as a second basemen.

2. Chase Utley – Utley is currently considered the best second basemen in all of baseball and is an excellent choice for the No. 2 spot on this list. Utley started his career in 2003, but didn’t truly establish himself until the 2005 season. Starting with the 2005 season, Utley has averaged 29 HR, 101 RBI, and 111 Runs a year. In addition to his consistent power numbers, he also provides a steady career AVG of .295. Over his career, Utley has provided solid defense at second for the Philadelphia Phillies and has built quite a double play combo with shortstop Jimmy Rollins. Utley added to his legacy in Philadelphia by having 2 multi-homer games in last seasons’ World Series against the New York Yankees. You can’t find much better in today’s game than Chase Utley, who will lead the current crop of second basemen into the next decade.

1. Jeff Kent – Kent would retire from the game of baseball after the 2008 season as the all-time home run leader for second basemen with 377 career HR. He was the first MVP (2000) hailing from the second base position since Ryne Sandberg won the NL MVP in 1984. For the decade, Kent hit at a .300 clip with 216 HR and 850 RBI, which are impressive numbers at any position. Kent is best remembered for his time with the San Francisco Giants where he was Barry Bonds protection in the Giants lineup. While not known as a flashy player by any means, Kent was a consistent run producer over the decade which helped him finish his career with some impressive numbers.

After going through this list, the type of players representing this position is quite diverse. You have power hitters such as Kent and Utley and you also have your leadoff hitters in Castillo and Roberts. The second base position isn’t known primarily as a big run producing spot on the diamond, which is why it is rare to find a player such as Chase Utley as the most recognized name at the position currently. It is great to see how the game of baseball continues to evolve and stay fresh over time and it will be interesting to see how we will look at the second base position in the next decade.

Up Next: Top 9 Shortstops of the Decade