MLB Position Rankings: First Base

2014 looks to be a deep year for many positions, but 1B is not one of them. Traditionally a position filled with elite hitters, the quality of talent at first base drops off alarmingly quickly. That being said, there is some good value to be found in the talent pool. Here are the top 10 rankings for first base in 2014. Make sure to check back soon for second base rankings!

Sleeper Picks- Jose Abreu, Ryan Howard, Logan Morrison, Brandon Moss

10- Eric Hosmer

After Hosmer's 2011 rookie campaign, scouts and owners alike were salivating over Hosmer's talent and potential as a hitter. Fast forward 3 years and Hosmer has been unable to replicate the power he showed at the plate during his first season. 2014 will be a pivotal year for Hosmer but we predict that he will continue to put up the mediocre numbers that he did last year.

9- Adrian Gonzalez

Gonzalez is perhaps one of the safest picks in the top 10 for first baseman but he also has one of the lowest upsides. Gonzalez has most likely seen his best years pass, but that doesn't mean he can't still contribute at the plate. He won't hit 40 homers like he did in 2009 but hitting in the cleanup spot for the stacked Dodgers will ensure another solid season for Gonzo.

8- Buster Posey

Yes, Posey plays predominantly as a catcher, but he has 1B eligibility in ESPN fantasy so for the sake of this blog, we will include him in the 1b rankings. Posey had a solid 2013 season in which he hit .294 with 15 home runs and we think he will only improve upon those numbers in 2014.

7- Edwin Encarnacion

Encarnacion is a very interesting player to watch in 2014 and beyond. He seemingly broke out in 2012 out of nowhere and continued his success in 2013 with 36 homers. A closer look at his peripherals, however, suggest that Encarnacion's elite numbers have been the result of luck (and maybe some banned substances?) Be careful with Encarnacion in 2014. 

6- Chris Davis

Davis hit more home runs in 2013 than he had hit in his 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons combined. He's a good first baseman and power hitter, but he's not as good as his 2013 numbers looked. Look for Davis to be a major regression candidate this season.

5- Freddie Freeman

Freeman has a very good 2013 year for the Braves at first base. He finally showed the patience at the plate that scouts had been looking for which helped boost his average to a very impressive .319. What should benefit Freeman most in 2014, however, is the resurgence of the Braves lineup. The Upton brothers both have a lot of room to grow from last season and if they finally start producing like they can, Freeman will benefit greatly in the form of increased runs and RBIs.

4- Prince Fielder

Fielder is another player who has already seen his prime pass but will still contribute in 2014. Something around .280 with 25 homers and 95 RBIs seems realistic for the first baseman's first season with the Rangers.

3- Joey Votto

Votto is about a safe of a pick as you can get in the first round and should be top 5 pick in every league this season. While owners might get slightly frustrated by his lack of RBIs, Votto should continue to hit for power while scoring runs and maintaining a batting average over .300. What else can you ask from your first baseman?

2- Paul Goldschmidt

Goldschmidt had a great 2013 season and finished in the top 5 for ESPN's player rater. He's still only 26 years old and is one of the only first baseman who can contribute in the steals category as well as the power category. Goldschmidt should be a top 5 pick in every league in 2014.

1- Miguel Cabrera

After the departure of Prince Fielder, Cabrera should regain his 1B eligibility just a few weeks into the 2014 season. When he does, he will be far and away the best first baseman in the league. 

2014 Fantasy Baseball Player Rankings- 1-10

Baseball may have just ended but that can only mean one thing, fantasy baseball season is just beginning! Below is our current rankings for the top 10 players. Make sure to check back for more rankings, advice and tips that will help you win your 2014 Fantasy Baseball league!

1. Miguel Cabrera
While in years past Cabrera has been a lock for the first pick, this year is different. Cabrera's numbers certainly make him worthy of the pick but it will be interesting to see how his injuries are addressed this off season. If he doesn't progress at a reasonable pace, Mike Trout will most likely slip into this spot.

2. Mike Trout
Trout is the definition of a 5 tool player. He also contributes in a major way in nearly every statistical category in fantasy baseball. In 2013 Trout finished 2nd on ESPN's player rater and the 2014 season might be the year in which he overtakes Cabrera.

3. Andrew McCutchen
After 1 and 2, things start to get tricky. In his MVP 2013 season, McCutchen hit .317 while hitting 21 homers with 27 SB, putting him 6th on ESPN's player rater. While other players are certainly worthy of the 3rd spot, we feel that McCutchen should improve upon his numbers in 2014, making him a solid choice for 3rd overall.

4. Clayton Kershaw
Every year people advise not to take pitchers in the first round and every year they are proven wrong. Kershaw is as good as it gets; he won 16 games in 2013, striking out 232 batters while maintaining a sub-2 ERA. Kershaw should put up similar numbers this season, making him a solid top-5 choice.

5. Paul Goldschmidt
Goldschmidt's breakout 2013 season was not a surprise for those who have followed his ascent. Goldschmidt has incredible power and he showed it off during 2013, smashing 36 home runs, most in the NL while driving in 125 RBI's, best in the MLB. His 300+ batting average and Gold-Glove caliber defense certainly don't hurt either. Goldschmidt makes a strong case for a top-5 pick.

6. Robinson Cano
It will be interesting how Cano's fantasy value is affected after he signs a new contract this weekend. If he remains a Yankee, expect to see similar numbers as he has put up in past years- 300+ batting average, 30 homers and 100 RBIs. If he signs with a new team, however, his stock could rise or decline slightly depending on the caliber of the lineup he will play with, the division he will play against and the park he is in. Either way, Cano is a surefire first round pick.

7. Carlos Gonzalez
Gonzalez poses the biggest risk in the 1st round for fantasy owners, yet he also has as much potential as any other player being taken in the 1st round. Injuries have plagued Cargo during his career but if he can finally finish a season without a trip to the DL, he has top-3 potential. Despite only playing 110 games in 2013, Cargo hit 26 homers along with 21 steals. In a full season, Cargo could be a true 40-40 threat with a high batting average and 100 RBIs. If you're looking for a high-risk high-reward player, Cargo is your guy.

8. Hanley Ramirez
Another high-risk high-reward player is Hanley Ramirez. Much like Carlos Gonzalez, Hanley has been plagued by injuries for his whole career, though he has proven that he has the talent to put up top-5 caliber numbers. In 2013, Hanley only played 86 games but if you project his numbers (.345 BA, 20 HR, 10 steals, 57 RBI) over a full season, you're looking at MVP caliber numbers at a valuable position. Though Ramirez might not be a good pick in the top 5, he has the ability to produce those kinds of numbers.

9. Troy Tulowitzki
Tulowitzki makes a good case for the title of best SS in the league. With an 162 game average during his career of .295/29/103, Tulowitzki clearly has first round talent. Despite this, he has only managed to put together 2 seasons of over 150 games. Anything above a late first round pick for Tulowitzki is too high.

10. Jacoby Ellsbury
Much like Robinson Cano, Ellsbury's value will depend on where he ends up after this offseason. Although it remains to be seen whether his 2011 campaign, in which he hit 32 home runs, was a fluke, Ellsbury has shown the signs of being a true 5 tool player. Should he end up in weak division with a solid lineup around him, Ellsbury could be in for a huge 2014 season.

Check back in over the next few days for our 11-20 rankings!

2013 MLB Award Results

The MLB has announced it's 2013 award winners and we correctly predicted the winner of each award! Congrats to the winners!

AL MVP- Miguel Cabrera
2013 Stats: 44 home runs, 137 RBI's, .348 BA
NL MVP- Andrew McCutchen
2013 Stats: 21 home runs, 84 RBI's, .317 BA

AL Cy Young- Max Scherzer
2013 Stats: 21-3, 240 strikeouts, 2.90 ERA
NL Cy Young- Clayton Kershaw
2013 Stats: 16-9, 232 strikeouts, 1.83 ERA

AL Rookie of the Year- Wil Myers
2013 Stats: 13 home runs, 53 RBI's, .293 BA
NL Rookie of the Year- Jose Fernandez
2013 Stats: 12-6, 187 strikeouts, 2.19 ERA

MLB Award Predictions

As the season comes to a close it's time for baseball experts around the country to make their decisions for awards. Here are our predictions for who will take home the hardware.

Rookie of the Year:

AL
Who will win? Wil Myers
Who should win? Wil Myers
Runner-up? Jose Iglesias
Top 5? Myers, Iglesias, Chris Archer, Dan Straily, Cody Allen

Despite joining the Rays in mid-June, Myers led all rookies with 53 RBI to accompany his 13 homers. Jose Iglesias is the only other rookie that stands out in the American League but a lack of offensive prowess will hurt Iglesias in the vote department. Chris Archer, Dan Straily and Cody Allen round out the top 5.

NL
Who will win? Jose Fernandez
Who should win? Jose Fernandez
Runner-up? Yasiel Puig
Top 5? Fernandez, Puig, Ryu, Shelby Miller, Julio Teheran

The biggest name in this category is rookie sensation Yasiel Puig. After joining the Dodgers in early June, Puig went on a 4 month tear that the Dodgers rode right into the playoffs. Puig annihilated NL pitching, batting .319 with 19 homers and 11 SB in just 104 games. The most deserving rookie, however, is clearly Marlins starter Jose Fernandez. Fernandez was one of the best pitchers in baseball over the past few months of the season and finished with a 2.19 ERA with 12 wins on an atrocious Marlins squad. He had 187 K's in just 172 IP as well. While the argument for both candidates is strong, Fernandez will win the ROY.

Cy Young:

AL
Who will win? Max Scherzer
Who should win? Max Scherzer
Runner up? Koji Uehara
Top 5? Scherzer, Uehara, Darvish, Felix Hernandez, Anibal Sanchez

The AL Cy Young race will be one of the most interesting races to watch. Max Scherzer is the favorite to win the award and he certainly deserves it, going 21-3 with 240 K's for the Tigers. The race gets interesting after that. With no clear favorite for runner up, we predict Koji Uehara will sneak his way into the spot. Uehara had the single best season from a reliever ever and his stats reflect it. From the time he took over the closer role in June until the end of the season, Uehara let up just 3 earned runs. 3. At one point during the stretch, Uehara retired 37 straight batters, shattering the previous record.

NL
Who will win? Clayton Kershaw
Who should win? Clayton Kershaw
Runner-up? Matt Harvey
Top 5? Kershaw, Harvey, Fernandez, Adam Wainwright, Zack Greinke

Kershaw is the clear candidate for Cy Young this year. He was undoubtedly the best pitcher in the MLB this season, throwing 236 innings while maintaining a measly 1.83 ERA along with his 16 wins. Kershaw will look to win the award for the second time in 3 years. As for runner up, Matt Harvey seems to be the most logical choice. Harvey was dominant this season before injuring himself in September, holding opposing hitters to a 2.35 ERA while winning 9 games with little run support. ROY candidate Jose Fernandez, Adam Wainwright and Zack Greinke close out the contenders.

Most Valuable Player:

AL
Who will win? Miguel Cabrera
Who should win? Miguel Cabrera
Runner-up? Chris Davis
Top 5? Cabrera, Davis, Mike Trout, Josh Donaldson, Koji Uehara

After his historic 2012 campaign, Cabrera put up nearly identical numbers in 2013. Chris Davis broke out this season, hitting 53 home runs with 138 RBI, and we predict that he will be the runner up for the MVP. After that the race is a toss-up but we predict that Mike Trout, Josh Donaldson and Koji Uehara will round out the top 5. Max Scherzer and Robinson Cano could also be in the mix.

NL
Who will win? Andrew McCutchen
Who should win? Clayton Kershaw
Runner-up? ClaytonKershaw
Top 5? McCutchen, Kershaw, Carlos Gomez, Paul Goldschmidt, Freddie Freeman

The NL MVP is truly a toss-up between McCutchen and Kershaw. While both put up worthy numbers, we feel that Kershaw was more valuable to his team and should win the award over McCutchen. We predict, however, that the voters will give the title to McCutchen. Part of this is due to the Pirates historic season but McCutchen's numbers certainly help as well. He hit .317 with 21 homers during the season along with 27 SB and 84 RBI. After McCutchen and Kershaw, we predict that Carlos Gomez, Paul Goldschmidt and Freddie Freeman will round out the top 5.