Best player on every MLB team
Colorado Rockies—Nolan Arenado
With the long-time face of the Rockies and then-newly minted member of the Rockies’ ‘Franchise Four’ group at last year’s All-Star Game, Troy Tulowitzki, traded off to the Toronto Blue Jays, Colorado was in need of a new frontline talent and face. And it found one in-house already, immediately to Tulo’s right in Nolan Arenado.
Firmly entrenched as the best defensive third baseman in the National League (and it is a rather fun debate about whether him or Machado’s glove reigns supreme in all of baseball), Arenado went about the business of putting to bed any doubts about who is the best overall NL third baseman as well a year ago too.
Arenado launched 42 home runs a year ago, tying with MVP Bryce Harper for the league lead. He also drove in 130 runs, which was far and away the best total in the NL (by 20 over Paul Goldschmidt) and was good for the top total in all of the game as well. Of his 177 hits, 89 went for extra base hits and he totaled 354 bases overall. As a three-time Gold Glover, Silver Slugger and All-Star, Arenado stands to be among the elite overall talents in the game for years to come.
Next: Detroit Tigers: Miguel Cabrera