Post by Bro Namath on Dec 14, 2013 2:25:40 GMT -5
With this article, I factor in production, talent ratings, contract, and age for the true outcome of their value…I weigh talent ratings along with age more, and this could be a good guide to see who truly the best valuable Second Baseman on the market is. Here we go:
Top 10 MLB 2B
1. Ray Durham - CHW - Age 32 - This one was tough its hard to put a 32 year old first on a list that factors in age, but production wise it really isn't even close between him and the other second basemen right now. Also he just got an extension of 7.5 million per year for 4 years. Really cheap for what should be an MVP candidate for the span on that contract. It seems Durham was always a good 2B but it looks like he had a good PD and has taken off these past few seasons. He's coming off the best season of his career at age 32. He hit .297 with 38 homers, 117 RBIs, 122 runs scored and 46 stolen bases. He also plays good defense to boot. With those numbers he is definitely in the running for MVP this year in the AL and with the White Sox winning the Central in a close race he just might win it.
2. Chase Utley - PIT - Age 25 - Utley had a breakout season and I almost put him #1 but a bad Sept/Oct hurt his numbers. Without the batting avg. being .350 its hard to justify him over Durham at this point in their careers. And also considering Utley has been camped out already basically that hurts his value as well. Though it is close factoring in age and contract. Utley doesn't have the power but he's going to be a singles machine. And also rack up a ton of doubles as well. He would be perfect for my park tbh. His numbers on the year were .331 avg, 11 homers, 87 rbis, 97 runs and 53 stolen bases.
3. Brian Roberts - DET - Age 26 - Considered Hudson here because he has the homerun talent and hasn't had his reversal yet, but other than that I like Roberts a lot more. Its close, but I love the Brilliant hits and doubles he would be a great fit on my team. Roberts does have a big advantage in the stolen bases department as well. Roberts is also a great defensive second baseman and unlike Hudson in his first few years, Brian has actually produced for Detroit. He has hit over .300 every year in the majors and had his best season this year hitting .325. The lack of power is really what hurts his value, if you don't mind 5 homeruns then Roberts is the perfect 2B for you.
4. Orlando Hudson - FLA - Age 26 - Didn't really notice how nice Hudson was before I started doing this article. Good in hits, doubles, triples, homeruns, walks and Brilliant in strikeouts. Pretty sexy. One of the best defensive 2B in the league as well. Ashes should TIB both his running speed and stealing ability. That will help his value a good bit. He has been in the league awhile though and his production has actually gotten worse every year since coming into the league until this year when he picked it up a bit. Ashes should be ready to start winning next year and not sure if he plans on keeping Hudson or not but if so I think with his 3 iri's he has left and TIB to speed and stealing he could have a breakout year finally.
5. Alfonso Soriano - OAK - Age 29 - I think Broph had been playing him at SS, but he has played 2nd most of his career and was playing 2B again to end the season after Fugate went down. Also since the field is getting thin I'll put him here. The homerun numbers were way down this year, but other than that he had a typical Soriano year. Hits tons of doubles and gets lots of steals. Production wise he is still up there, but gets knocked down a few slots because of the age and he's about to be making a good bit more than all of the young guys.
6. Benedict Fugate - OAK - Age 24 - This guy could be higher on some lists and lower on others. Depends on if you have a triples park or not tbh. If so this guy would be amazing. He is super talented and can do a lot of things. Besides being a good hitter he also plays great defense and is one of the fastest guys in the league. Still gets caught stealing to much but that will improve. He has all the talents to be a great player really. Should hit for average, get on base, tons of steals, great defense, and if you have the right park he could really flourish. Though if you don't have a triples park this guy's value drops a good bit for you probably.
7. Khalil Greene - KC - Age 24 - Greene has flown under the radar in his rookie year with all the great rookies but he put together a solid rookie campaign himself. What makes him really nice is that he hasn't been touched camp wise. He hit .308 with 43 doubles and like the guys above he plays really good defense at second. Not speedy but that's not a big deal he should become an awesome hitter. Not going to hit homers, but he will hit for average. Like I said all of his camps left, he could use his iri's that would really give him a jump start into stardom. Well the lack of power and speed may hold him back from becoming a true star, but he does everything else really well.
8. Mark Ellis - SD - Age 27 - I like Ellis a lot and if his production matched his ratings he might be a little higher on this list. Hasn't quite played up to his ratings yet but he should and once he does he will be very nice. He still has all of his iri's left not sure why habes hasn't used them on him yet. He would look almost like Giles with iri's to his hits and strikeouts. And Im sure that would help the old batting average out a ton as well. Also plays great defense. The negatives are no stealing ability and no power. Those are the only holes in his game he should have a breakout year any year now. I would bet whenever habes decides to iri him.
9. Robinson Cano - SEA - Age 21 - This one was tough as well, but Cano might be the most valuable guy on this list trade wise because he's so young. Roberts is better production wise currently but Cano is 5 years younger and I think will be the better player by the time he's 26 so he gets the nod. Sucks he's already had his TIA and PD reversal, but he has everything else left so that is a plus. The negatives are Cano doesn't have the speed you would like but he still has a chance to get better there and with TIB's could one day be a good base stealer. And you would like good in homeruns, but as long as he gets up to a 6 with average then that would be fine. Because he is going to be a hitting machine similar to Utley. Going to have to watch his PD's as well he could still have another good one and turn into a complete stud.
10. Ronnie Belliard - CHC - Age 29 - Not so sure that Belliard belongs here, but he is coming off a breakout year so Ill give him some love. He was probably the best offensive player on a 110 win team so he deserves it. The trade value and long term great production might not be there but he has shown flashes his whole career this is just the first year he put it all together. He hit .324 with 16 homeruns, 86 rbis, 101 runs, and 58 steals. The homers, rbis and steals being career highs. He had an amazing year, he won't keep that up but anything close would be great.
Honorable Mentions: Jose Vidro (NYY/30), Alex Cora (SF/28), Edgardo Alfonzo (COL/30), Marlon Anderson (CIN/29), Michael Young (DET/27), Adam Piatt (ANA/28) , D'Angelo Jimenez (CLE/26)
Top 3 2B Prospects
1. Jorge Cantu - TAM - Age 22 - It looks like Cantu is more than ready to be called up and I think that is greeme's plan for next year. Cantu is a stud and if he develops correctly he should be top 5 on this list in no time. Only negative is he isn't going to give you steals and doesn't have much range defensively, but those are no big deals really. Especially considering the hitter that Cantu should grow into.
2. Drew Meyer - MIL - Age 23 - Just noticed this guy he looks like a stud! The game has Weeks ranked above him for some reason but Meyer>>. Steve needs to TIA his homers ASAP. Brill in hits and strikeouts and good in homers he would elevate to one of the best prospects out there. No range on defense but the fielding % is very high.
3. Rickie Weeks - MIN - Age 23 - Weeks isn't anything special like Cantu or Meyer are, but he is really solid. Good in hits and homers is always good. Also good in walks and average everywhere else. Defensively he actually might be better suited at SS with those fielding %s. Rickie should grow into a very good starter and be able to play both 2B and SS which is very valuable.
Top 10 MLB 2B
1. Ray Durham - CHW - Age 32 - This one was tough its hard to put a 32 year old first on a list that factors in age, but production wise it really isn't even close between him and the other second basemen right now. Also he just got an extension of 7.5 million per year for 4 years. Really cheap for what should be an MVP candidate for the span on that contract. It seems Durham was always a good 2B but it looks like he had a good PD and has taken off these past few seasons. He's coming off the best season of his career at age 32. He hit .297 with 38 homers, 117 RBIs, 122 runs scored and 46 stolen bases. He also plays good defense to boot. With those numbers he is definitely in the running for MVP this year in the AL and with the White Sox winning the Central in a close race he just might win it.
2. Chase Utley - PIT - Age 25 - Utley had a breakout season and I almost put him #1 but a bad Sept/Oct hurt his numbers. Without the batting avg. being .350 its hard to justify him over Durham at this point in their careers. And also considering Utley has been camped out already basically that hurts his value as well. Though it is close factoring in age and contract. Utley doesn't have the power but he's going to be a singles machine. And also rack up a ton of doubles as well. He would be perfect for my park tbh. His numbers on the year were .331 avg, 11 homers, 87 rbis, 97 runs and 53 stolen bases.
3. Brian Roberts - DET - Age 26 - Considered Hudson here because he has the homerun talent and hasn't had his reversal yet, but other than that I like Roberts a lot more. Its close, but I love the Brilliant hits and doubles he would be a great fit on my team. Roberts does have a big advantage in the stolen bases department as well. Roberts is also a great defensive second baseman and unlike Hudson in his first few years, Brian has actually produced for Detroit. He has hit over .300 every year in the majors and had his best season this year hitting .325. The lack of power is really what hurts his value, if you don't mind 5 homeruns then Roberts is the perfect 2B for you.
4. Orlando Hudson - FLA - Age 26 - Didn't really notice how nice Hudson was before I started doing this article. Good in hits, doubles, triples, homeruns, walks and Brilliant in strikeouts. Pretty sexy. One of the best defensive 2B in the league as well. Ashes should TIB both his running speed and stealing ability. That will help his value a good bit. He has been in the league awhile though and his production has actually gotten worse every year since coming into the league until this year when he picked it up a bit. Ashes should be ready to start winning next year and not sure if he plans on keeping Hudson or not but if so I think with his 3 iri's he has left and TIB to speed and stealing he could have a breakout year finally.
5. Alfonso Soriano - OAK - Age 29 - I think Broph had been playing him at SS, but he has played 2nd most of his career and was playing 2B again to end the season after Fugate went down. Also since the field is getting thin I'll put him here. The homerun numbers were way down this year, but other than that he had a typical Soriano year. Hits tons of doubles and gets lots of steals. Production wise he is still up there, but gets knocked down a few slots because of the age and he's about to be making a good bit more than all of the young guys.
6. Benedict Fugate - OAK - Age 24 - This guy could be higher on some lists and lower on others. Depends on if you have a triples park or not tbh. If so this guy would be amazing. He is super talented and can do a lot of things. Besides being a good hitter he also plays great defense and is one of the fastest guys in the league. Still gets caught stealing to much but that will improve. He has all the talents to be a great player really. Should hit for average, get on base, tons of steals, great defense, and if you have the right park he could really flourish. Though if you don't have a triples park this guy's value drops a good bit for you probably.
7. Khalil Greene - KC - Age 24 - Greene has flown under the radar in his rookie year with all the great rookies but he put together a solid rookie campaign himself. What makes him really nice is that he hasn't been touched camp wise. He hit .308 with 43 doubles and like the guys above he plays really good defense at second. Not speedy but that's not a big deal he should become an awesome hitter. Not going to hit homers, but he will hit for average. Like I said all of his camps left, he could use his iri's that would really give him a jump start into stardom. Well the lack of power and speed may hold him back from becoming a true star, but he does everything else really well.
8. Mark Ellis - SD - Age 27 - I like Ellis a lot and if his production matched his ratings he might be a little higher on this list. Hasn't quite played up to his ratings yet but he should and once he does he will be very nice. He still has all of his iri's left not sure why habes hasn't used them on him yet. He would look almost like Giles with iri's to his hits and strikeouts. And Im sure that would help the old batting average out a ton as well. Also plays great defense. The negatives are no stealing ability and no power. Those are the only holes in his game he should have a breakout year any year now. I would bet whenever habes decides to iri him.
9. Robinson Cano - SEA - Age 21 - This one was tough as well, but Cano might be the most valuable guy on this list trade wise because he's so young. Roberts is better production wise currently but Cano is 5 years younger and I think will be the better player by the time he's 26 so he gets the nod. Sucks he's already had his TIA and PD reversal, but he has everything else left so that is a plus. The negatives are Cano doesn't have the speed you would like but he still has a chance to get better there and with TIB's could one day be a good base stealer. And you would like good in homeruns, but as long as he gets up to a 6 with average then that would be fine. Because he is going to be a hitting machine similar to Utley. Going to have to watch his PD's as well he could still have another good one and turn into a complete stud.
10. Ronnie Belliard - CHC - Age 29 - Not so sure that Belliard belongs here, but he is coming off a breakout year so Ill give him some love. He was probably the best offensive player on a 110 win team so he deserves it. The trade value and long term great production might not be there but he has shown flashes his whole career this is just the first year he put it all together. He hit .324 with 16 homeruns, 86 rbis, 101 runs, and 58 steals. The homers, rbis and steals being career highs. He had an amazing year, he won't keep that up but anything close would be great.
Honorable Mentions: Jose Vidro (NYY/30), Alex Cora (SF/28), Edgardo Alfonzo (COL/30), Marlon Anderson (CIN/29), Michael Young (DET/27), Adam Piatt (ANA/28) , D'Angelo Jimenez (CLE/26)
Top 3 2B Prospects
1. Jorge Cantu - TAM - Age 22 - It looks like Cantu is more than ready to be called up and I think that is greeme's plan for next year. Cantu is a stud and if he develops correctly he should be top 5 on this list in no time. Only negative is he isn't going to give you steals and doesn't have much range defensively, but those are no big deals really. Especially considering the hitter that Cantu should grow into.
2. Drew Meyer - MIL - Age 23 - Just noticed this guy he looks like a stud! The game has Weeks ranked above him for some reason but Meyer>>. Steve needs to TIA his homers ASAP. Brill in hits and strikeouts and good in homers he would elevate to one of the best prospects out there. No range on defense but the fielding % is very high.
3. Rickie Weeks - MIN - Age 23 - Weeks isn't anything special like Cantu or Meyer are, but he is really solid. Good in hits and homers is always good. Also good in walks and average everywhere else. Defensively he actually might be better suited at SS with those fielding %s. Rickie should grow into a very good starter and be able to play both 2B and SS which is very valuable.