By Peyton Schultze

Nolan Arenado remains one of the best players in all of baseball with a unique skillset on both sides of the diamond (via Denver7).

There’s not a clear answer as to when baseball will officially start, but there appears to be some rumblings about when we could soon see some of the best in the world suit up again. Whether the season starts in two weeks, next month, or in mid-summer, it is certain that sports fans are hungry for the return of Major League Baseball very soon. While it is uncertain where exactly games will be played in the near future, it seems to be a strong possibility that teams will play at some point. With that being said, why not rank some of the best in the league and their projections for the 2020 season? With hope on the horizon, here’s our ranking of the top ten at every position in the MLB.

Third Baseman

Manny Machado and the Padres should be able to produce bigger numbers on offense in the 2020 season (via KGTV).

1. Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies

Maybe it’s the prior Coors Field effect, or maybe it’s his ridiculous ability on both sides of the diamond, but Arenado reigns supreme as the best third baseman in the game. A Gold Glover and MVP candidate yearly, Arenado is one of the premier players in all of baseball and will surely put up another awesome year if he can stay healthy. But watch out: he also looms as a real trade target that could be moved if Colorado once again sinks near the bottom of the NL West.

2. Anthony Rendon, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

3. Alex Bregman, Houston Astros

4. Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox

Devers took off a season ago, and now looks like the best overall player in the middle of the solid Red Sox order. With an elite .311 average and 115 RBIs last season, the young third baseman jumped onto the scene and helped to carry some of the load for Boston last year, even in a lineup surrounded with other elite hitters. With Mookie Betts now out in Los Angeles, 2020 could be the year where Devers truly becomes the franchise’s next face of the franchise for the next decade or so.

5. Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Indians

6. Matt Chapman, Oakland Athletics

7. Manny Machado, San Diego Padres

Simply put, Manny Machado was not himself in his first year in San Diego. As the Padres’ newest star under the expectations of a massive contract, Machado had a down year and only hit .256 on the season. However, don’t expect those same type of numbers in back-to-back years. After being in a similar position following the 2017 regular season with Baltimore, Machado bounced back in a major way in 2018 with 37 home runs, 107 RBIs, and typically stellar defense. Although he may not hit the highs that he had that season, expect a resurgent campaign from the former All-Star third baseman.

8. Eugenio Suarez, Cincinnati Reds

9. Josh Donaldson, Minnesota Twins

10. Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs

Bryant had somewhat of a down season in 2019, but it would be foolish to rule out a bounce back performance from the former NL MVP. Even though he only hit .282 with 77 RBIs in 2019, he did smack 31 home runs on the season and was able to stay more healthy than he was in 2018. Bryant’s key to having a better season in 2020? Cutting down on his 145 strikeouts, the most of his career since 2016. Doing so could send Bryant near the top of these rankings once again and propel Chicago back into contention in David Ross’ first year as the manager of the Cubbies.

Shortstop

1. Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians

2. Javier Baez, Chicago Cubs

Baez can be one of the most frustrating players in all of baseball when he is not clicking, but he can also be one of the truly elite players when he’s locked in and ready to go. Baez really has every tool that anyone could want in a player at shortstop for the Cubs: contact, power, speed, and some of the best defensive hands that the game has seen in recent memory. But he also has some of the worst habits in the sport, such as overly aggressive swings and a lack of great plate discipline. Whatever the case may be, he still churns out great numbers every single year inside the friendly confines of Wrigley Field, and 2020 should not be any different. He may be a bit overrated, but expect another monster year from the superstar infielder.

3. Xander Bogaerts, Boston Red Sox

4. Fernando Tatis, Jr., San Diego Padres

Tatis is one of the most exciting young players in all of baseball, and 2020 could be the year where he officially arrives and becomes a star. With pure speed, great power, and rare talents in the batter’s box in a deep San Diego lineup, Tatis looks like he is a prime candidate to burst onto the scene and earn his first All-Star selection if he can avoid the injury bug that sent him into the offseason in 2019. Like the common trend around baseball, Tatis will have to really cut down on his strikeouts and stay healthy in order to truly take off, but expect some surprisingly great numbers from the Padres’ shortstop in 2020.

5. Marcus Semien, Oakland Athletics

6. Gleyber Torres, New York Yankees

7. Trevor Story, Colorado Rockies

Probably the most controversial pick of the bunch, Story may face the “Colorado Effect” in the batter’s box more than anyone else in the league. But what is the difference between him and Arenado, the top third baseman in the league? Other than not being nearly as good defensively, strikeouts and stretches of cold hitting have plagued Story for decent stretches of his career. Especially considering the fact that teams might have to spend some time playing games in Arizona instead of in their home ballparks, don’t expect as bloated numbers on the offensive end from Story this season.

8. Tim Anderson, Chicago White Sox

9. Trea Turner, Washington Nationals

Turner is one of the most enjoyable players to watch in all of baseball, and he was really able to show why in the Nationals’ shocking run toward the 2019 World Series. With Rendon now in Anaheim and with a big hole in the middle of the Nats’ lineup, Turner should be expected to carry a lit bit more of the load if he can stay on the field once again. With unreal speed and his true knack for getting on base at a consistent level, expect Turner to once again improve his game and take his talents even further in 2020.

10. Bo Bichette, Toronto Blue Jays

Second Baseman

DJ LeMahieu put up shocking numbers for the Yankees in 2020, and he’ll look to once again enter the MVP discussion in the American League (via Newsday).

1. Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks

2. Jose Altuve, Houston Astros

Although the idea of playing games without any fans in attendance is a troubling image, there’s probably not a single player in baseball who would welcome this idea more than Jose Altuve. There’s no denying how great Altuve is and has been over the past few years, but there are now some serious questions as to how good the infielder really has been without some kind of assistance. Altuve will probably face more inside fastballs and criticism in the media than any other player in the league, so it will be interesting to see how his performance responds on the field.

3. DJ LeMahieu, New York Yankees

LeMahieu once again proved that he is one of the best pure hitters in all of baseball in his first season with the Yankees in 2019, finishing the season by hitting .327 with 102 RBIs at the top of the New York lineup. Now, after finishing fourth in last year’s competitive AL MVP discussion, the All-Star second baseman will once again look to produce great numbers for a loaded Yankee lineup in 2020. There’s certainly more expectations on his plate now that he has already produced an excellent season for the notorious Bronx Bombers, but that shouldn’t halt his elite production in any way with some many great hitters around him on a nightly basis.

4. Ozzie Albies, Atlanta Braves

5. Mike Moustakas, Cincinnati Reds

Every year that is seems like Moustakas is about to take off in a sudden decline, he produces another solid season for a team on the verge of contention. Now, after hitting 35 home runs a season ago for the Brewers, Moustakas joins a Reds’ lineup that has a real chance at being one of the best in all of baseball. Great American Ballpark is a launchpad for bombs during the summer, and there’s a good chance that the valuable second baseman could produce big numbers once again if teams are allowed to return to normalcy inside of their home parks.

6. Brandon Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays

7. Keston Hiura, Milwaukee Brewers

8. Jonathan Villar, Miami Marlins

9. Gavin Lux, Los Angeles Dodgers

The number nine spot goes to the new #9 of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Lux is virtually an unknown at this point in his career, but his minor league production and sudden ascension into the majors has many people thinking he is the Dodgers’ next young talent to rise up. With unique contact and power from the left side of the plate, Lux should be a welcome addition to the Dodgers’ lineup if he ends up taking over as the full-time starter. Even if he’s not playing his natural position at short, don’t be shocked if Lux takes home the NL Rookie of the Year in 2020.

10. Kolten Wong, St. Louis Cardinals

First Baseman

Freddie Freeman is the centerpiece of the Braves’ lineup and one of the best players in all of baseball (via MLB-NBC Sports).

1. Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves

Even with so many great first baseman around, there is no denying that Freeman is the best first baseman in all of baseball. Elite contact and power has made Freeman one of the better players in the past several seasons, and he will once again be expected to contribute in a major way for a Braves’ team with World Series aspirations. Freeman’s recent injury history has to be somewhat of a concern when it comes to a lingering elbow, but that doesn’t take away from how great he is when on the field. Expect another MVP-type season for the Atlanta All-Star.

2. Pete Alonso, New York Mets

3. Max Muncy, Los Angeles Dodgers

After bursting onto the scene in 2018, Max Muncy has put together two spectacular seasons in a row in the middle of the Dodgers’ elite lineup, including some big time playoff moments. With ridiculous power, nice versatility in the field, and some of the best plate vision for any player in the majors, Muncy has emerged as a star in the MLB with 70 total home runs combined in his first two years in LA. Muncy still needs to take another step forward on the defensive end in order to shoot even higher on these rankings, but one thing is clear: the Dodger All-Star is here to stay.

4. Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs

5. Paul Goldschmidt, St. Louis Cardinals

6. Matt Olsen, Oakland Athletics

7. Jose Abreu, Chicago White Sox

The White Sox first baseman has played at an elite level for years now, but he has done so on a typically poor Chicago team. Now, in a wide open race for the AL Central crown, Abreu has a chance to take this White Sox team to the playoffs for the first time in years. With a lineup full of emerging players such as Yoan Moncada and Tim Anderson, there’s a chance that Abreu could end up creating one of his better run-producing years to date. Expect the first baseman to smack even more than his 33 home runs in 2020 and play at a high level once again.

8. Josh Bell, Pittsburgh Pirates

9. Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds

Votto is about two years removed from his days as an elite hitter at first base, but that doesn’t mean he is not due for somewhat of a comeback season after a disappointing 2019. With plenty of stud players surrounding him in the Reds’ lineup, Votto should have plenty of opportunities to drive in runs this season and put together a better average than the .261 he had last year. Votto’s return to greatness at first base seems to be a big “what if” at this point in his career, but there’s no denying the potential a pure hitter like Votto still has in the latter stages of his career.

10. Miguel Sano, Minnesota Twins

Catcher

1. J.T. Realmuto, Philadelphia Phillies

J.T. Realmuto’s first season in Philadelphia did not go quite according to plan, but his individual stats were still very nice. Hitting .275 with 25 home runs and 83 RBIs will give any catcher a shot at ranking near the top of the list, especially considering Realmuto’s solid abilities behind the plate. Now, as he and the Phillies enter a crucial year where they’ll need to step up and make the playoffs on a team that has been spending a ton of money, Realmuto figures to be a key contributor for the Phils on both sides of the diamond. It’s not always a bright picture for Phillie fans, but they should be able to find comfort in knowing that an elite catcher like Realmuto is behind the plate.

2. Yasmani Grandal, Chicago White Sox

3. Gary Sanchez, New York Yankees

Sanchez is one of the most confusing players in all of baseball, largely due to how poor his defensive efforts can be behind the plate at times. However, even with his struggles that could easily place him in a position as the worst defensive catcher in the league, he has an explosive bat that has made him a true threat to be reckoned with in the New York lineup. With rare power numbers that have not been seen very often from the catching position, Sanchez has a chance to hit 30 or more home runs every season if he can stay healthy. He needs to make plenty of improvements all around, but his lethal potential simply can’t be ignored for the time being.

4. Willson Contreras, Chicago Cubs

5. Wilson Ramos, New York Mets

6. Will Smith, Los Angeles Dodgers

The so-called Fresh Prince of LA burst onto the scene last season for the Dodgers, and he’ll look to once again produce some very good numbers on offense for Los Angeles. After taking the job from Austin Barnes halfway through the 2019 season, Smith put together a stunning season featuring some big time home runs in clutch moments. The young catcher certainly benefits from being surrounded by a lineup full of elite players such as Max Muncy and Cody Bellinger, but there’s no denying his talent and instant adjustment he made at the big league level. It’s hard to exactly predict how his second year will turn out due to how young he is, but expect another step forward at the very least.

7. Christian Vasquez, Boston Red Sox

8. Mitch Garver, Minnesota Twins

9. Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals

Molina missed a fair part of 2019 with a thumb injury, but there is no denying he is still a game changer and one of the best catchers in baseball when he’s on the field. Since there’s still not many better than Molina behind the plate and he still has his knack for stepping up in big moments for the Cardinals, his ranking seems appropriate and fitting heading into his age 37 season where he soon may have to deal with the overlying fate of Father Time. The ultimate Cardinal over the past two decades, expect nothing else other than consistency from Molina once again in 2020.

10. Carson Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks

Left Fielders

One of last year’s World Series heroes, Juan Soto, has a chance to put together an even better season in 2020 (via NBC Sports).

1. Juan Soto, Washington Nationals

Juan Soto may only be 21 years old, but there is no doubt that he is quickly on his way toward becoming one of the best players in baseball. Despite not making an All-Star appearance last season, Soto found his footing in the league in the playoffs, helping to propel the Nationals’ offense to their first World Series in franchise history. With only room to grow for Soto at his young age, there is no limit for how great he can become. Expect an even bigger year from the young outfielder in 2020, including a top three finish in the extremely tight NL MVP race.

2. Michael Brantley, Houston Astros

3. Tommy Pham, San Diego Padres

After a very nice season in Tampa Bay, Pham should be happy to be surrounded by plenty of good hitters in the San Diego lineup. After a very nice season with the Rays in 2019, Pham was quickly traded to the Padres in a blindsiding move. Now, in a group filled with sluggers such as Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr., Pham should benefit from more RBI opportunities that could see him reach a range in the upper 80s or low 90s. Pham is not one of the most recognizable outfielders in the league yet, but he could be due for his breakout moment in the league with an excellent 2020 season.

4. Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros

5. Austin Meadows, Tampa Bay Rays

6. Andrew Benintendi, Boston Red Sox

The former World Series champion did not have as great of a year in 2019, but he should find recover nicely in 2020 as one of the centerpieces of the Red Sox lineup. Simply put, Benintendi is one of the most complete outfielders in all of baseball, especially in his ability to already have mastered the tricky concept of playing left field next to the Green Monster. But if Benintendi really wants to shoot even higher up these rankings this season, he may need to return to his 2018 form that saw him become a solid base stealer and contact man near the top of the Red Sox lineup.

7. Eloy Jimenez, Chicago White Sox

8. Giancarlo Stanton, New York Yankees

Despite plenty of nagging injuries that have derailed his seasons thus far with the Yankees, Stanton remains one of the greatest power hitters in recent baseball history. When on the field, Stanton is a real threat to hit 40 or more home runs each season, especially with the short porches inside of Yankee Stadium. But Stanton’s injury history and lack of great play defensively in the outfield has opened up major question marks about his time so far in the Big Apple, which is an interesting storyline heading into the season. One of the bigger risk-to-reward players in all of baseball, keep a close eye on the right-handed slugger this year.

9. Bryan Reynolds, Pittsburgh Pirates

10. Joc Pederson, Los Angeles Dodgers

Center Fielders

George Springer is going to need to have a huge year in 2020 in order to silence his critics (via Sporting News).

1. Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Another year and more pure magnificence from the game’s best player. Trout, the winner of last year’s AL MVP, took his game a step further in the power column last season, smacking 45 home runs for the Halos on the year. The elite center fielder also led Major League Baseball in on-base-percentage, while also taking home the seventh Silver Slugger award of his career. There’s not really many superlatives left that have not been used to describe Trout, so only one question remains: what will he do for an encore performance once again this season?

2. Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers

Bellinger’s phenomenal start to his career already has him quickly recognized as the new face of the Dodgers and a top five player in the league for the near future. Although his numbers took somewhat of a dip in the second half of 2019, there’s no denying how lethal Bellinger was all season long on both sides of the diamond in the confines of Chavez Ravine. The versatile infielder/outfielder has all the tools needed to become of the game’s next greats, so expect some great performances on the field once again for the 2019 NL MVP.

3. George Springer, Houston Astros

4. Whit Merrifield, Kansas City Royals

5. Starling Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks

Marte had a quietly good year in 2020, and now joins a Diamondback squad that is looking to make a run in 2020. By hitting .295 with 23 home runs and 25 stolen bases last season, Marte suddenly emerged as a very reliable center fielder worthy of recognition. It’s somewhat of a mystery if his good offensive numbers from last year will return after several season of inconsistencies in Pittsburgh, but give Marte the benefit of the doubt for flipping his career upside down and making a run as one of the better all-around center fielders in baseball.

6. Charlie Blackmon, Colorado Rockies

7. Lorenzo Cain, Milwaukee Brewers

8. Brandon Nimmo, New York Mets

9. Ramón Laureano, Oakland Athletics

10. Andrew McCutchen, Philadelphia Phillies

Ever since he left his beloved Pittsburgh Pirates, McCutchen’s numbers have taken a significant dip. However, after missing most of last season with a knee injury, the center fielder seems like a possible candidate for Comeback Player of the Year in a Phillies’ lineup that has plenty of weapons around it. In the twilight moments of his career, McCutchen is facing a now or never situation that could see him become a reliable veteran for the Phillies in the future, or quickly out of the league in a moment’s notice.

Right Fielders

Christian Yelich remains one of the best hitters in all of baseball when healthy in the Milwaukee lineup (via Today’s TMJ4).

1. Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers

2. Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers

It’s a major question mark if we’ll ever see Mookie Betts suit up for the Boys in Blue inside of Dodger Stadium, but there’s no denying what he’ll bring to the table if he does. As one of the game’s great players with a rare blend of contact, power, speed, and athleticism on the field, Betts is a unique talent who will bring new energy to the Dodgers’ clubhouse this season. Throwing the right fielder into a lineup full of sluggers such as Cody Bellinger and Max Muncy should only make Los Angeles even better, so expect a huge year on the verge of a NL MVP award for Betts.

3. Ronald Acuña Jr., Atlanta Braves

4. J.D. Martinez, Boston Red Sox

Martinez may not be a full-time right fielder like the others on this list, but there’s a fair argument that can be made that the Boston superstar is one of the best pure hitters in all of baseball. A consistent .300 hitter with 30+ home run power each and every season, Martinez has suddenly become the best hitter in the Red Sox lineup now that Mookie Betts has packed his bags for Hollywood. Especially if baseball returns to home ballparks and the right-handed slugger can return to a hitter-friendly park like Fenway, expect nothing less than bloated numbers from Martinez.

5. Aaron Judge, New York Yankees

6. Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies

Bryce Harper is typically one of the most polarizing players in the sport, which is why it was somewhat of a surprise to see his disappointing performance in his first year with Phillies. However, the former NL MVP is too talented to have two down years in a row, so he should not see many of the same struggles this season that ended up plaguing him in the 2019 campaign. The right fielder did show some significant signs of improvement late in the season, such as increasingly cutting down on strikeouts, and it would not be a surprise to see him ride that momentum into further success in 2020. Even if it’s not a major statistical leap forward, look for a bounce back season from Harper and the Phils.

7. Joey Gallo, Texas Rangers

Gallo was a surprising success story in the early parts of 2019 until his season was ended to injury, so it will be exciting to see what steps he takes in a new home ballpark in 2020. With some of the best pure power of any player in the league, Gallo has a chance to hit a 450 foot bomb every time he steps up to the plate with the further plate vision he had added to his collection of talents. Gallo still needs to cut down on his strikeouts and his ability in the field, but expect even better numbers from Texas’ 2019 All-Star in 2020.

8. Nick Castellanos, Cincinnati Reds

9. Jorge Soler, Kansas City Royals

10. Eddie Rosario, Minnesota Twins

Starting Pitchers

Walker Buehler’s utter dominance on the mound could hit a new level in 2020 (via USA Today).

1. Jacob deGrom, New York Mets

There’s not really any kind of way to describe Jacob deGrom at the moment without using one word: dominant. Despite a lack of help in the past several seasons from the always-clumsy Mets, deGrom has joined the ranks of some of the greatest pitchers of the past two decades with back-to-back NL Cy Young awards. If deGrom walks home with the three-peat this season, there won’t be much left for him to prove for his Hall of Fame case toward Cooperstown. Even with other young aces and legendary veterans in the mix for the title of the best pitcher in the world, deGrom is the best starter in the league right now.

2. Gerrit Cole, New York Yankees

Even though he did have better numbers than deGrom on paper last season, Gerrit Cole doesn’t get quite as much recognition for being the best in the league due to previously being on an elite team (maybe?) with so much talent (and question marks) around him. With that being said, there is not a single valid argument right now that says that Cole is not an elite pitcher at the top of his game. And after signing a massive contract with the Yankees to become the next right-handed ace to don the pinstripes, Cole is in a great position to become a legendary pitcher in New York City in the midst of his prime. Cole could easily struggle to adjust to the hitter-friendly parks in the AL East at first, but he should ultimately have another great season.

3. Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals

4. Walker Buehler, Los Angeles Dodgers

5. Jack Flaherty, St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals have had their fair share of dominant, big game pitchers in the past, and Flaherty looks like the next in line who will take the mantle. Despite a strange 11-8 record in 2019, the right-handed flamethrower finished with a 2.75 ERA and 231 strikeouts on the season and quickly emerged as one of the best young pitchers in the game. If Flaherty continues to trend upward in 2020, don’t be surprised to see the Cardinals’ ace in the conversation for the 2020 NL Cy Young award.

6. Justin Verlander, Houston Astros

7. Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals

8. Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers

Kershaw was pretty good last season, but he was never really that same left-handed pitcher that took the 2010s by storm. As highlighted in another postseason failure, this time at the hands of the Washington Nationals, Kershaw’s fastball velocity took a severe dip and his home run rate continued on its concerning spike. But the former MVP says that he feels great right now and felt healthy in Spring Training for the first time in several seasons. There’s plenty of factors such as velocity and health that could play into how successful Kershaw’s season ends up being, but it would not surprise anyone whatsoever to see the future Hall of Famer return to a version of his former glory.

9. Shane Bieber, Cleveland Indians

10. Blake Snell, Tampa Bay Rays

Relief Pitchers

Cleveland’s Brad Hand remains one of the best options out of the bullpen in all of baseball (via The Morning Journal).

1. Kirby Yates, San Diego Padres

Yates is as good as there is in the league right now when it comes to a hand out of the bullpen. With a league-leading 41 saves in 2019, Yates became arguably the game’s best closer with a stunning 1.19 ERA, 101 strikeouts, and a ninth place finish in the NL Cy Young award race. With plenty of help alongside him in the lethal Padres’ bullpen, there’s no reason to think that Yates should not have the exact same type of success this year for San Diego if he stays healthy.

2. Aroldis Chapman, New York Yankees

3. Josh Hader, Milwaukee Brewers

Hader became one of the more recognizable bullpen figures in 2018 for more seasons than one, but his numbers did take somewhat of a dip in 2019. Nevertheless, Hader’s herky-jerky motion is as difficult to hit as anyone in the league, which makes him a dangerous weapon when coming out of Craig Counsell’s bullpen. Hader is the backbone of the Brewers’ pitchers, and it would not be a stunner if he improves upon his 2019 performance with wipeout stuff.

4. Liam Hendriks, Oakland Athletics

5. Roberto Osuna, Houston Astros

6. Will Smith, Atlanta Braves

Smith was arguably the best player on the Giants last season, especially with an All-Star appearance, a 2.76 ERA, and 34 saves on the year. Now, as he heads toward Atlanta to take upon a similar role, the lefty reliever should find plenty of success in big moments with the Braves being projected as a contender for a World Series title. The left-handed reliever may be overshadowed by his peers in the class of elite bullpen arms, but he is truly a special talent that should contribute in a big way in 2020.

7. Brad Hand, Cleveland Indians

8. Craig Kimbrel, Chicago Cubs

Do you really think one of the best closers in recent history is going to have back-to-back years of poor production? There’s no denying how terrible Kimbrel’s first season with the Cubs was in the 23 games he appeared in, but he should bounce back this season with better health heading into the regular season. With his questionable 6.53 ERA, Kimbrel never really seemed to gain any type of confidence in any of his pitches and uncharacteristically labored in many of his appearances. Don’t expect that same type of performance in 2020, especially considering his past success as a seven-time All-Star and World Series champion in the league

Terrific Ten