MLB Top 100: #80-71
Welcome back to to the countdown of my top 100 players in Major League Baseball! To find #90-81, click here or at the link at the bottom of the page.
80. Dansby Swanson (31), 2024 rank: #63
2024: 593 PA, 16 HR, 66 RBI, 19 SB, .242/.312/.390, 99 wRC+, 7 DRS, 18 OAA, 4.3 fWAR
If you’ve seen the last two rankings, you know that speed/defense specialists took a hit this year, and Dansby Swanson is the latest player to fall victim to the shift. While his ranking was naturally going to drop, his production at the plate was worthy of a drop as well. 2024 was the first time in four years that Swanson didn't hit 20+ home runs, and it was the first time since 2018 in which he posted a sub-.400 SLG. However, Swanson is still at the top of his class defensively as he led all shortstops and finished fourth among all defenders with his 18 OAA. Since 2022, there is no other shorstop with more DRS, OAA, or a higher DEF. He’s coming off of his third straight year with at least 4.0 fWAR and peaked as high as 6.6 in 2022, so Swanson is still certainly worthy of a spot on here.
79. Anthony Santander (30), 2024 rank: N/A
2024: 665 PA, 44 HR, 102 RBI, 2 SB, .235/.308/.506, 129 wRC+, -7 DRS, -2 OAA, 3.3 fWAR
Anthony Santander is coming off of a career year that followed two above average offensive campaigns. The newest member of the Toronto Blue Jays hit the third most home runs in baseball last year and owns the sixth most since the start of 2022 when he first broke out. Santander saw an increase in BB% and decrease in K% from 2023 to to 2024 along with the increase in power that came from a career high barrel% (11.7). He’s a switch hitter as well which automatically boosts his profile and there is minimal discrepancy between his splits, so there are no glaring weaknesses from either side of the plate. The knocks on his profile are his below average outfield defense and base running, so he really has to hit in order to remain relevant, which he has proven he can and will do.
78. Jazz Chisholm Jr (27), 2024 rank: N/A
2024: 621 PA, 24 HR, 73 RBI, 40 SB, .256/.324/.436, 110 wRC+, -6 DRS, 7 OAA, 4.0 fWAR
Jazz Chisholm Jr is another player coming off of a career year. 2024 was his first season with 20+ home runs and was also his first 40+ stolen base season. 2024 was really what we have been waiting on from Jazz. He was one of just four hitters with a 20 HR/40 SB season which led to a career best 4.0 fWAR. While the 20/40 mark is no feat to downplay, he’s still far from being an elite hitter on a rate basis. It’s really his defensive versatility and elite baserunning that completes him as a player. There certainly is still upside with the bat, but because he has struggled with injury for nearly his entire career, 2024 was his first full season, and for that reason, his offensive ceiling is tough to forecast. However, I don’t have any doubts that he can at least repeat his 2024 performance.
77. Seiya Suzuki (30), 2024 rank: #95
2024: 585 PA, 21 HR, 73 RBI, 16 SB, .283/.366/.482, 138 wRC+, 2 DRS, -3 OAA, 3.6 fWAR
Seiya Suzuki’s numbers have only improved year to year since he came over from Japan in 2022. Suzuki saw career highs in home runs, stolen bases, OBP, OPS, wOBA, wRC+, and fWAR in 2024. Among right fielders last year, Suzuki ranked within the top three in AVG, OBP, OPS, wOBA, and wRC+, which established Suzuki as one of the top right fielders in the game. There isn’t too much that is unique about Suzuki’s profile. He’s a disciplined hitter with above average power, but also strikes out at an above average rate. His defense in right field is fairly average and has also flashed some sneaky speed with the 16 stolen bases. I think I like for Suzuki to take another step forward, specifically in the power department, but I think overall, he’ll stick here in the 70s.
76. Riley Greene (25), 2024 rank: N/A
2024: 584 PA, 24 HR, 74 RBI, 4 SB, .262/.348/.479, 135 wRC+, 14 DRS, 2 OAA, 4.0 fWAR
Riley Greene seems to be the consensus dark horse candidate for the 2025 American League MVP award, and for good reason. The young outfielder just posted a career year and established himself as one of the top left fielders in the game. Among left fielders, Greene ranked within the top five in OBP, SLG, OPS, wOBA, wRC+, and fWAR. On top of the offensive success, Greene was one of the top defensive outfielders in the game, ranking fifth among all outfielders in DRS. Even though left field is his defensive home in Detroit, Greene is capable of playing all three outfield positions at an above average level. While his 2024 numbers are likely more deserving of a top 50 spot, I’d like to see Greene do it again for another season as he doesn’t have an extensive track record which is very important in these rankings.
75. Trea Turner (32), 2024 rank: #57
2024: 539 PA, 21 HR, 62 RBI, 19 SB, .295/.338/.469, 124 wRC+, -14 DRS, -3 OAA, 3.9 fWAR
While Trea Turner is no longer apart of the elite group of shortstops like he once was, Turner is still a quality ballplayer with a lot to offer. If he wasn’t so inconsistent over the last two seasons, perhaps he would come in a bit higher. However, this is still a hitter that has hit the sixth most home runs from the shortstop position since the start of 2022 and ranks fifth in fWAR at the position over the same time frame. While his 19 steals was the lowest mark of his career since the shortened 2020 season, Turner still should be able to comfortably steal 30 bags in a season. His defense continues to regress, but he is still playing shortstop which of course gives him a bump over another player with the same numbers at a different position. In back to back seasons that were considered down years for Turner, he’s still posting 4.8 fWAR/162.
74. Ryan Helsley (31), 2024 rank: N/A
2024: 66.1 IP, 2.04 ERA, 2.41 FIP, 1.10 WHIP, 21.1 K-BB%, 49 SV, 2.3 fWAR
Ryan Helsley has established himself as one of the top closers in baseball since the start of 2022. In that time frame among qualified relievers, the right hander ranks sixth in saves, third in ERA, fourth in FIP, ninth in WHIP, seventh in K-BB%, and second in fWAR. 2024 was arguably his best season as he led the league in saves and ranked fourth among relievers with a career-high 2.3 fWAR. Helsley has one of the top arsenals among relievers as both his slider and curveball rank within the top six in stuff+ while his fastball ranks 13th. Entering his age 31 season without much injury history, I like for Helsley to continue his current run of success.
73. Christian Walker (33), 2024 rank: #73
2024: 552 PA, 26 HR, 84 RBI, 2 SB, .251/.335/.468, 119 wRC+, 7 DRS, 13 OAA, 3.0 fWAR
Christian Walker has very quietly become one of the top first baseman in baseball, and not because of his bat, but because of his elite defense. Walker is undoubtedly the top defender at the position as he leads all first baseman in DRS, OAA, and UZR since the start of 2022, and no one else comes particularly close. On top of the defense, his bat is good enough to stick at the position whether or not he’s playing good defense. It has been very consistent too as you can pretty much pencil Walker in for a 120 wRC+ season with 25+ home runs. While his 26 home runs was down from his 36 in 2022 and 33 in 2023, Walker saw an increase in his power metrics, posting a 91.3 average EV, 13.3 barrel%, and a 48.0 hardhit%, all of which were the highest marks of his careers since 2018-2019.
72. Framber Valdez (31), 2024 rank: #45
2024: 176.1 IP, 2.91 ERA, 3.25 FIP, 1.11 WHIP, 16.2 K-BB%, 3.6 fWAR
Framber Valdez has simply been one of the most consistent starting pitchers in baseball over the last couple of seasons, and the only reason why his ranking took such a hit is because of the influx of starting pitchers on this list this year. Since the start of 2022, Valdez ranks within the top ten among all qualified starters in ERA, xFIP, and fWAR. 2024 was his third season in a row with a sub 3.50 ERA and FIP with 3.5+ fWAR. While the postseason numbers aren’t elite by any means, Valdez also has the second most postseason innings among American League pitchers since the start of 2022, trailing only Gerrit Cole. Valdez also yields some of the best curveball success in the league, something that isn’t so common anymore, as he was 99th percentile in breaking ball run value in 2024. Heading into his age 31 season, there isn’t much reason to believe Valdez is in for a down year.
71. Carlos Correa (30), 2024 rank: #92
2024: 367 PA, 14 HR, 54 RBI, 0 SB, .310/.388/.517, 155 wRC+, -3 DRS, 5 OAA, 4.3 fWAR
Carlos Correa managed to jump 21 spots this year despite missing nearly half of the season because he was elite when he was on the field. Minimum 300 plate appearances, Correa’s 155 wRC+ was tied for second along with Gunnar Henderson among shortstops which is the most loaded position in baseball at the moment. His 4.3 fWAR over 86 games would have been worth over 8.0 fWAR over a 162 game season. The offensive explosion from Correa is very encouraging for the Twins considering the down year he had in 2023 which dropped him as low as #92 on last year’s list. He’s still playing the position at an average level and should continue to do so barring injury. Correa comes in ranked seventh among shortstops, but he can certainly move up next year with another big season.
