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It should come as no shock for anyone on this list. Notice how I did not mention the MVP word anywhere in the Title.
This is solely for the purpose of pushing Mike Trout on the list.
In terms of all around play, there is no doubt in most experts minds, that the 22 Year Old is best overall player in the game of baseball.
If you are picking it just solely on a hitter, I am still giving the nod to Miguel Cabrera.
For pitching, it is hard to judge a guy other than his results on the mound. It is tough for the top hurlers to join the conversation of the MVP chats or a top 5 player in baseball, but we do have one guy.
Omitted from this list are great players that just fall short of the top 5.
I am talking about Joey Votto, 3 time AL Batting Champ Joe Mauer, and former AL Cy Young Winners of David Price and Felix Hernandez.
Also, I am placing Justin Verlander outside the top 5 now, because he didn’t have the best of campaigns in 2013, compared to what he has done in recent campaigns.
These guys are in the next tier of best players. These guys could be 6th – 10th.
On the outside mostly because of injuries are also Rockies players Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez. If these guys can stay on the field, they are among the elite of the game.
Ryan Braun was definitely on this list before his 1st PED’ failed test. Now under a cloud of suspicion for his whole career, he will have to prove he can do it clean.
“The Hebrew Hammer” never had a bad month (41 of 42 months were incredible, before last year’s subpar numbers for him.
I am not digging on Robinson Cano – to even make the top 10 players in the MLB for 2014, with his move to Seattle. I would be impressed for a 25 HR and 100 RBI season in the PAC NW, hitting .300.
Paul Goldschmidt, Jose Fernandez, Zack Greinke and Yasiel Puig could climb up to this stratosphere pretty soon if they can duplicate what they did in 2013.
Another guy who never receives the accolades, but is filthy dominant as anybody ever has been in the Closers role. Craig Kimbrel may also make the move to the upper tier of this group.
Guys that used to be up here are: Josh Hamilton. Albert Pujols, Jose Bautista (2010 and 2011) – and about 5 years ago, Ichiro Suzuki and Derek Jeter would have been nearby.
Then there are guys like Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz, Jon Lester, Adam Wainwright, Matt Cain and Matt Hollday, who just seem to win all of the time.
The Yankees and Red Sox don’t have players in the top 10 players of the world for a change.
Whether it was Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Robinson Cano, Mariano Rivera, CC Sabathia in recent years.
Boston had Manny Ramirez and Pedro Martinez at the start of their World Series Movement, but now don’t have so many heads above the rest of the guy players anymore.
Even Curt Schilling was a playoff assassin for them back in the 2007 World Series run.
#5 CF – Andrew McCutchen, PIT
In 2012, McCutchen hit for a 3 Slash Line of .327/.400/.953 – with a NL leading 194 Hits, 31 HRs and 96 RBI. He enjoyed his 1st 100 Runs Scored Season (107) and finished 3rd in NL MVP Voting, while snagging himself a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger Award. In 2013, Cutch topped that performance with an NL MVP Season, leaving his best production for the 2nd half of the year. Another Silver Slugger Award was won, and the 5 tool player established himself as a leader, leading the Bucs to their 1st playoff birth since 1992. last year he went .317/.404/.911 with 21 HRs, 84 RBI and 27 SB. The 27 Year Old cranked out a 1.001 OPS after the ALL – Star Break, McCutchen will do noting but improve in the next few years. A worthy recipient of our top 5 list for sure..
#4 C – Buster Posey, SF
Buster Posey is hands down the face of the San Francisco Giants. Having only played 2 full years in the Majors he already has 2 World Series rings, A Rookie Of the year and a MVP trophy. Posey has put together a Career 3 Slash of .308/.377/.864 – even though half of his games reside in pitcher friendly AT & T Park. Posey is about to turn 27, and I think he will become better across the board at everything. He already has 1 Batting Title. With Joe Mauer now leaving for 1st Base, Posey is the premiere hitting catcher in the MLB.
#3 CL – Clayton Kershaw, LAD
Clayton Kershaw has been the best Starting Pitcher in the last 3 years. He has netted 3 straight NL ERA titles, and has compiled a record of 51 – 23 (.716). Kershaw established a career best ERA in 2013, with a mark of 1.83. The 25 Year Old has also lugged 697 IP in that time frame. The man has a lifetime record of 77 – 46 (.626) with an ERA of 2.60. Kershaw has won 2 out of the last 3 NL Cy Young wins, and was the runner-up the other year. The 6 year Veteran should have lots of opportunities to improve his Post Season Record, but nobody doubts that this guy is the best pitcher in baseball right now.
#2 1B - Miguel Cabrera, DET
Cabrera has had back to back AL MVP seasons in 2012 and 2013. He has also won 3 straight AL Batting Titles. Cabrera is the best player offensively in the universe. He has put up 10 straight 100+ RBI campaigns, but he has racked in 276 RBI, and also 88 HRs in the last 2 years. The 11 Year Veterans totals would have even been higher in 2013, but he fought a torn groin for the last half of the year. He still put up 44 HRs despite being injured for the last half of the season in 2013. This man continues to put up new Career highs, showing improvement – and a maturation as a hitter.
#1 OF – MIke Trout.
Mike Trout is the best player in the game of baseball today. The outfielder plays great defense by using his tremendous speed to track down fly balls. He is also a great hitter that can hit for both power and a high average. He should challenge 40 HRs/40 SB – and also I wouldn’t be surprised if he was the 1st player since Jeff Bagwell in 2000, to notch over 150 runs in one year. Trout led the AL in Walks for 2013, demonstrating more knowledge at the plate – aiding a .323/.432/.988 Slash. He has back to back runnerup MVP’s in the AL, and will win one in the next few years. At age 22, how much more can this guy improve? Trout should take over as the face of baseball, and should have a Hall Of Fame Career in going forward. He is the best all around player in the game – since the likes of Barry Bonds and Ken Griffey Jr.
*** The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of mlbreports.com ***
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A big thank-you goes out to Our ‘Chief Writer‘ Hunter Stokes for preparing today’s featured article. Hunter is a Baseball Writer for MLB reports.
Hunter grew up in Lynchburg, Virginia and played baseball with Sheldon Bream (Sid Bream‘s son) at Liberty University in the NCAA.
His favorite player is Brian Wilson (how could you guess?), and he hates when people can’t think outside the box!
His favorite expression – is ‘ this At Bat is about ten seconds away from a Toe – Tag!
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