Perhaps the toughest (and deepest) position to sort through on the offensive of things is the outfield. The sheer number of options that bring you across-the-board production must be balanced with the category dominators who may not posses five-category tools, but can certainly push you to the top in power or speed.
We’ve split the top-70 outfielders in the game into five tiers here and there has been an awful lot of shuffling amongst the top-20. Many of the names are the same, but the order has clearly shifted. Adam Jones is one of the biggest movers, establishing himself as a consistent power threat while also bringing some nice speed to the table.
Tier Two is filled with high-upside options and there is little question that any one of these players could give elite-level production. A few of the most difficult players to rank reside in tier two with Ryan Braun‘s injury issues leaving his value in flux while Dodger teammates Yasiel Puig (mashing but unproven) and Matt Kemp (talented but slumping) could very easily be flip-flopped in these ranks.
Tiers 3 and 4 could likely be combined, but the players in the latter group just a have a few more question marks surrounding their value moving forward.
All told, there is a lot of flux at this positions just based on the variety of skills that these players bring to the table. If you are in need some speed, the widely available Rajai Davis can slide way up in your ranks, while power-hungry owners may target guys like Jason Kubel or Carlos Quentin who are both heading in the right direction.
Tier 1
1. Mike Trout – LAA
Beastly pace for 26 homer and 39 steals, there’s really not much analysis here.
2. Carlos Gonzalez – Col
CarGo is on pace for his first 30/30 season adn it’s a bit surpising that he’s never done that before. If he can stay on the field (knock on wood!) we have little doubt he’ll get there while taking his home hacks at Coors field.
3. Adam Jones – Bal
4. Andrew McCutchen – Pit
Tier 2
5. Justin Upton – Atl
We highlighted Upton in a recent piece at Dynasty Sports Empire and appreciate his warming trend: .314/.429/.400 in his last nine games with 7 runs and 5 RBI. It’s a start and we still believe.
6. Bryce Harper – Was
Returned with a bang, smacking a homer in his first at-bat back from the DL. He’s easily in the top tier if we saw that 2012-level speed again.
7. Chris Davis – Bal
Unreal first half with an improved walk (10.3 BB%) and strikeout (26.3 K%) rates.
8. Matt Kemp – LAD
Could Wednesday’s home run be a sign of things to come? The hammy is looking healthy and the tools remain for Kemp to be the best player in baseball.
9. Ryan Braun – Mil
We’re just throwing a dart here as his ability to bounce-back from the thumb injury is a complete question mark.
10. Yoenis Cespedes – Oak
Despite the strikeouts, missed time and poor average Yoenis is on pace for 90 runs, 30 home runs and 84 RBI.
11. Jose Bautista – Tor
12. Matt Holliday – StL
13. Giancarlo Stanton – Mia
Since returning from the DL, Stanton has put up an elite .288/.367/.538 slash line in 21 games and remains capable of leasing the world in home runs.
14. Adrian Gonzalez – LAD
Has very quietly giving you a steady .296 average with 12 home runs and 51 RBI. He’s a rock and there is still some upside in the power numbers.
15. Jacoby Ellsbury – Bos
Leading the majors in steals and while the power is likely never coming back a healthy Ellsbury can win you a category on his own.
16. Austin Jackson – Det
17. Yasiel Puig – LAD
We have no problem with you pushing Puig to the top of this tier, but more likely than not, an adjustment period is coming.
18. Shin-Soo Choo – Cin
Can’t hit lefties (.163 BA vs. LHP), but who cares! Choo’s .419 OBP leads the position and trails only teammate Joey Votto and the incomparable Miguel Cabrera in that category. Add in a 20/20 power-speed pace and you have yourself a stud.
19. Carlos Gomez – Mil
21. Jay Bruce – Cin
Warming trend – HR’s by month: April (1), May (7), June (10).
21. Allen Craig – StL
22. Jason Heyward – Atl
Solid .307/.368/.482 slash line since June 3 (28 games) has us buying low on Heyward despite his underwhelming YTD production.
Tier 3
23. Ben Zobrist – TB
24. Hunter Pence – SF
25. Nelson Cruz – Tex
26. Alex Rios – CWS
We recently outlined his recent slump, but a 11 homers and 14 steals in the first half keeps Rios in the top-30.
27. Domonic Brown – Phi
Perhaps it’s the cynical Philly fan in me that is keeping Dom Brown down in the ranks, but certainly glad to see him drawing some walks and stealing some bases in June.
Tier 4
28. Shane Victorino – Bos
Though nagging injury issues have further suppressed the perennially underrated Victorino’s value, he’s been a five-category gem of late: .287-12-1-11-5 over his past 22 games.
29. Desmond Jennings – TB
30. Jayson Werth – Was
31. B.J. Upton – Atl
Signs of life! Four homer and four steals with a .790 OPS since the start of June. Only need to look back to B.J.’s 21-homer, 16-steal second half in ’12 to realize the type of hot-streak he’s capable of.
32. Michael Bourn – Cle
33. Carlos Beltran – StL
It’s not hard to imagine a 36-year-old with chronic knee issues slumping down the stretch as he did in 2012.
34. Nate McLouth – Bal
35. Mark Trumbo – LAA
36. Alex Gordon – KC
37. Carl Crawford – LAD
Clearly has the skills to be in tier two. Clearly has the injury history to be a non-factor.
38. Matt Carpenter – StL
39. Martin Prado – Ari
40. Alejandro De Aza – CWS
Steady production across the board. May be the quietest 20/20 bat in baseball.
41. Brett Gardner – NYY
Tier 5
42. Brandon Moss – Oak
Never expected the average to match last year’s .291 mark, but the power stroke plays (15 HR).
43. Kelly Johnson – TB
44. Starling Marte – Pit
45. Trevor Plouffe – Min
Fun with small sample size! If we project Plouffe’s 53 game production over a full 162-game season we are looking at a tasty .269-71-22-92-4 5×5 line.
46. Michael Cuddyer – Col
Unbelievable streak going right now but he’s been to often injured and mediocre for us not to scream SELL HIGH!
47. Josh Hamilton – LAA
48. Curtis Granderson – NYY
49. Nick Swisher – Cle
50. Jason Kubel – Ari
51. Dexter Fowler – Col
52. Leonys Martin – Tex
53. Lorenzo Cain – KC
54. Norichika Aoki – Mil
55. Melky Cabrera – Tor
56. Wil Myers – TB
57. Gerardo Parra – Ari
58. Adam Dunn – CWS
H0w badly do you want those 40 home runs?
59. Carlos Quentin – SD
Red-hot June has CQ rocking a respectable .276/.375/.485 triple slash for the season.
60. Kyle Blanks – SD
61. Rajai Davis – Tor
He’s playing pretty much every day with Melky on the DL and bringing massive speed to the table: 7 SB in his last 9 games.
62. Chris Young – Oak
63. Nick Markakis – Bal
64. Ryan Doumit – Min
65. Justin Ruggiano – Mia
Stuck in a platoon with Juan Piere, Ruggiano is bringing the power (12 HR) and speed (9 steals) for fantasy owners that have kept the faith.