Time for some post-All-Star break fun: here are my very, very preliminary 2018 player rankings. I’ve done my best to list players where they’ll be eligible next year, and the free agents-to-be are listed without teams. Players with options for next year are still listed with their current teams if those options are likely to be exercised.
Along with the position rankings is a top 300 list for 2018. Click to see other preliminary 2018 rankings:
Top 300 | SP | RP | OF | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | C | DH
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2018 First Baseman and Designated Hitter Rankings
| 2018 | First Base | Team | 2017 | July |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paul Goldschmidt | Diamondbacks | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Cody Bellinger | Dodgers | 43 | 5 |
| 3 | Anthony Rizzo | Cubs | 4 | 2 2B |
| 4 | Edwin Encarnacion | Indians | 5 | 2 |
| 5 | Joey Votto | Reds | 6 | 3 |
| 6 | Miguel Cabrera | Tigers | 3 | 6 |
| 1 DH | Nelson Cruz | Mariners | 4 OF | 8 OF |
| 7 | Jose Abreu | White Sox | 7 | 8 |
| 8 | Eric Thames | Brewers | 12 | 7 |
| 9 | Wil Myers | Padres | 10 | 10 |
| 10 | Hanley Ramirez | Red Sox | 8 | 9 |
| 11 | Eric Hosmer | 11 | 11 | |
| 12 | Chris Davis | Orioles | 9 | 13 |
| 13 | Logan Morrison | 26 | 19 | |
| 14 | Justin Bour | Marlins | 20 | 18 |
| 15 | Matt Carpenter | Cardinals | 10 2B | 12 2B |
| 16 | Brandon Belt | Giants | 15 | 12 |
| 2 DH | Kendrys Morales | Blue Jays | 1 DH | 16 |
| 17 | Carlos Santana | 13 | 17 | |
| 18 | Justin Smoak | Blue Jays | 34 | 14 |
| 19 | Ryan Zimmerman | Nationals | 24 | 15 |
| 20 | Greg Bird | Yankees | 17 | 31 |
| 21 | Yulieski Gurriel | Astros | 19 3B | 19 3B |
| 3 DH | Albert Pujols | Angels | 14 | 22 |
| 22 | Rhys Hoskins | Phillies | 70 | 38 |
| 23 | Lucas Duda | 21 | 23 | |
| 24 | Josh Bell | Pirates | 27 | 25 |
| 25 | Yonder Alonso | 37 | 21 | |
| 26 | Mike Napoli | 19 | 20 | |
| 27 | Matt Adams | Braves | 33 | 27 |
| 4 DH | Victor Martinez | Tigers | 2 DH | 1 DH |
| 28 | Dominic Smith | Mets | 64 | NR |
| 29 | Tommy Joseph | Phillies | 18 | 28 |
| 30 | C.J. Cron | Angels | 16 | 40 |
| 31 | Mitch Moreland | 29 | 26 | |
| 5 DH | Pedro Alvarez | 3 DH | 2 DH | |
| 32 | Ronald Guzman | Rangers | 72 | NR |
| 33 | Sam Travis | Red Sox | 40 | 34 |
| 34 | Joe Mauer | Twins | 25 | 30 |
| 35 | Adrian Gonzalez | Dodgers | 22 | 35 |
| 36 | Chris Carter | 30 | 33 | |
| 37 | A.J. Reed | Astros | 31 | NR |
| 38 | Danny Valencia | 25 3B | 21 3B | |
| 39 | Mark Reynolds | 35 | 24 | |
| 40 | Jesus Aguilar | Brewers | 45 | 36 |
- I don’t feel great about Cody Bellinger as my No. 2 first baseman, but my actual No. 2 first baseman, Freddie Freeman, is listed at third. I’m thinking of Bellinger and Anthony Rizzo as third-rounders in mixed leagues next year and then the next three as fourth-rounders.
- Most of the free agents-to-be here come in a little lower for 2018 than they did in the July rankings, but Logan Morrison is an exception. I would have been higher on him this spring if he had left Tampa Bay last winter. Obviously, it’s working out well for him now, but he could find himself in a better situation next year.
- It’s hard to say which first base prospects might have starting jobs on Opening Day. I have the Phillies’ Rhys Hoskins highest, since I think he’ll get a chance to overtake Tommy Joseph in the second half of this year. Next up is the Mets’ Dominic Smith, who has made a nice case for replacing Lucas Duda next spring by hitting .330/.382/.500 at Triple-A Las Vegas. Still, it would be nice to see some additional power from him; he has just four homers in 50 games away from his paradise in Vegas (though to be fair, his average and OBP have held steady). He’s still going to be 22 on Opening Day next year, and since the Mets will want to contend, bringing in a one-year option for first base would make some sense.
- Rangers prospect Ronald Guzman is another 22-year-old with an impressive average in Triple-A (.319/.385/.477 for Round Rock). He might be a better player than Mike Napoli right now. Sam Travis is up in Boston and holding his own (.275/.341/.375 in 40 AB) against left-handers, but it doesn’t seem likely that the Red Sox will settle for him as an Opening Day starter when so many modestly priced veterans will be available; they might even bring back Mitch Moreland.
- Failing to make the cut were the Jays’ Rowdy Tellez, the Cardinals’ Luke Voit, the Yankee’ Garrett Cooper and the Indians’ Bobby Bradley. I thought Tellez might overtake Justin Smoak this summer, but he’s been a massive disappointment in his first go at Triple-A, hitting .204/.274/.327. I still think he’ll bounce back, but Smoak doesn’t seem as vulnerable at the moment. Voit’s upside is limited, but he could put up an .800ish OPS given the chance. Cooper, who was just acquired from the Brewers, is in a similar boat, but I don’t think his bat is quite as solid as Voit’s. Bradley is probably more of a 2019 guy, though he would have a path to the majors with Carlos Santana eligible for free agency this winter. He’s hitting .258/.346/.487 as a 21-year-old in Double-A.
