This week marked the beginning of spring training in both Florida and Arizona as Grapefruit League games started on Tuesday. The start of a new season is always exciting as anticipation becomes fruition and all of a sudden we are knee deep in baseball games. Before we fantasy owners can be in mid-season form, preseason rankings will turn into mock drafts, which then become our fantasy team’s reality. Here are the 2014 MLB fantasy baseball rankings which can be viewed by position or overall rankings.
Unquestioned atop these rankings is Angels’ superstar Mike Trout, who at 22-years-old is an elite producer in almost every offensive category including stolen bases. He was second to Miguel Cabrera, who ranks right behind Trout in these rankings, in the American League MVP in each of the past two seasons. Speaking of Miggy, the right-handed hitting slugger led the AL in batting average the past three seasons. He also smashed 44 homeruns and knocked in over 130 runs in each of the past two campaigns on his way to those two MVP awards. The bottom line is if Cabrera could steal more bases (18 over the last five years), he would certainly warrant the top spot.
The highest rated pitcher is without a doubt the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw. Coming off his second National League Cy Young Award in 2013, the southpaw has led the senior circuit in earned run average for three years running. He is the game’s most dominant pitcher in his prime, so expect another excellent season in 2014.
There is value to be had all throughout the rankings and they are subject to change. They aren’t specific to category, rotisserie or roto (points) leagues and pertain to single-season projections. Cheat sheets by round will be coming soon along with more in-depth articles about fantasy baseball sleepers, busts, top prospects and more.
