Fantasy Baseball 2017 Tier Rankings: Second Base
By Bill Pivetz
Other Positions: Catcher, First Base
The talent for the second base position is evenly spread across multiple tiers. You can draft a great one early or wait for just as good of a player.
The second base talent pool has certainly grown over the last couple of years. The top options are obviously there for a reason, but settling for one of the middle guys is not going to hurt your team either. The depth of starting second basemen goes about 15 or 16 deep, so if you wait, you won’t be left with a bad player.
In standard leagues, you have one starting second baseman and a middle infielder. Shortstop also has a deeper pool, but I’ll talk about them in a couple of days. If you want to draft two second basemen, I don’t see anything wrong with that.
Drafting a second baseman should not be a priority. There is only one ranked inside the top 10. There is a total of 11 second basemen ranked inside my top 90. If you miss out on one of the tier 1 players, you will have a chance to make up for it a few rounds later.
After those 11 players, you are seriously risking your chances at winning. My No. 14 second baseman is not ranked until the 15th round. I’ll mention him in his tier, but you don’t want to wait that long. The production is there but it’s a big drop-off from the top 11 players.
I will be doing one post for each position. It doesn’t help the readers to reference four or five different posts when trying to develop their own rankings. This year, I will be doing tier rankings for the positions.
Each tier for each position will be different. Depending on the position, you may have one or two guys or five or six guys in tier 1. The lower tiers will be grouped with multiple levels of talent, but they have one thing in common, they have little value in most leagues.
I have 20 second basemen broken up into five tiers. They are more evenly spread out that catcher and first basemen. No tier has more than five or fewer than three. Looking at the names, it makes sense why they are broken up this way.
Similar to first basemen, this list does not feature players that second base is not their primary position. Those players will be drafted elsewhere and you could slot them at second base or your middle infield spot.
Honorable Mention: Joe Panik (SF), Cesar Hernandez (PHI), Kolten Wong (STL)
These five players are a mixed bag. They are either looking for their breakout season or rebounding from a poor 2016 season. There are two options looking for a starting job. If they can carve out a role, they will have great success.
Josh Harrison (PIT) – Harrison is more of a contact batter. He hit .283 with four home runs and 59 RBI. The Pirates offense has some young and talented options that Harrison will have his opportunity to drive in runs. Not to mention, he stole 19 bases, a career-high.
Devon Travis (TOR) – My co-expert Brad Kelly talked about Travis being worth a gamble this season. If you want a solid backup second baseman, Travis is the perfect option. He hasn’t put up the numbers to be in your starting lineup. Travis may move up to middle infield at the most in standard leagues.
Javier Baez (CHC) – Kelly and another colleague Adam McGinnis, talked about Baez this season. Kelly sees Baez as a super-utility player, playing all over the infield. McGinnis is in the same boat and thinks Baez will be playing more often than not this season. I can see him splitting time at second base and maybe shortstop. Baez is worth stashing as an off-day fill in.
Brandon Phillips (ATL) – Kelly wrote about Phillips moving down south to Atlanta. I am not a fan of Phillips after this move. His level of production will be below position standards. Granted, he wasn’t in the best situation in Cincinnati, but Atlanta is rebuilding and starting a bunch of young players. He is a good replacement option or middle infielder in deeper leagues.
Jedd Gyorko (STL) – Gyorko is one of the multi-position eligible players. He can also play third base and shortstop. Yet, I think Gyorko will be splitting time with Wong at second base. The Cardinals have Johnny at third and Aledmys Diaz at shortstop. After the season he had last year, 30 HR/59 RBI/.243, you want that power on your team. Drafting Gyorko in the 24th round is a steal.
These four second basemen have been around for a while and continue to have success. In deeper leagues, they are guaranteed a starting job. In standard 10-team leagues, they fit better as a middle infielder.
Neil Walker (NYM) – Walker hit very well in his first season with the New York Mets. He hit 23 home runs and 55 RBI with a .282 average. The downside is that he only played in 113 games. If he can play a full season, he can hit 25 home runs, 70 RBI, and .272. Here is an in-depth piece on Walker for 2017.
Ben Zobrist (CHC) – Zobrist had his best season in a couple of years, hitting 18 home runs, 76 RBI, and .272. He also had 96 walks to just 82 strikeouts. We know how good the Cubs offense is, and Zobrist will be an important piece. If Baez is going to get any playing time, it will be at Zobrist’s expense, though.
Logan Forsythe (LAD) – After trading Howie Kendrick, the Dodgers added Forsythe to the fold. He hit a career-high 20 home runs, but with the lack of a supporting cast in Tampa Bay, drove in only 52 RBI with a .264 average. I think the move to Los Angeles will help his other statistics.
Dustin Pedroia (BOS) – Pedroia played in the most games in the last three seasons. He had his best offensive production since 2012. Pedroia hit 15 HR/74 HR/.318 in 154 games. With Father Time creeping up, Pedroia needs to have another season like last year to remain fantasy relevant. I think he’ll be drafted before the 10th round, just a round or two too early for me.
Two of the options here opened a lot of eyes last season. Fantasy owners are looking for that to continue in 2017.
Starlin Castro (NYY) – Moving to Yankee Stadium helped Castro, even as a right-handed hitter. He hit 21 home runs, 70 RBI, and .270 in 151 games. As my No. 11 second baseman, Castro is a great pick. The “Baby Bombers” have been crushing the ball in Spring Training. If they can carry that into the regular season, then Castro will have a nice supporting cast.
Jonathan Schoop (BAL) – We’ve had some controversy around Schoop’s value for 2017. I believe he will get close to the top five while contributor Ryan Cook thinks his strikeout rate is too high to draft. With the Orioles bringing back Mark Trumbo along with the current power hitters in Adam Jones and Chris Davis, Schoop will benefit greatly.
Jason Kipnis (CLE) – It seems like power numbers are up all across the league. Kipnis is no exception. He hit a career-high 23 home runs with 82 RBI and a .275 average. Kipnis also stole 15 bases. I think the power will drop off a little, more around 20 with a .278 average and 13 steals.
DJ LeMahieu (COL) – Hitting in Colorado benefits even the worst of hitters. LeMahieu hit 11 home runs, almost double his career high. He added 66 RBI, 11 steals and a league-leading .348 average. LeMahieu has true power, evident by his 32 doubles and eight triples. If anyone can find his way into the top-five by season’s end, it’s LeMahieu.
Dee Gordon (MIA) – Gordon didn’t play a full season last year as he was suspended for 80 games due to PED use. As a result, his 2016 stats are a little skewed. He hit one home run, 14 RBI, and .268. He has a full season ahead of him, withholding a second suspension. Like Billy Hamilton, Gordon is good for steals and not much else. He does hit a lot more than Hamilton, 205 hits in 2015. I expect him to get close to that with 55 steals this season. I’m just not keen to drafting him in the sixth round.
Rougned Odor (TEX) – Odor had his best season in his first full year with the Rangers. He hit 33 homers, 88 RBI, and .271 with 14 steals. The downside to Odor is his lack of plate discipline. He walked just 19 times while striking out 135 times. If you play in a league with average instead of OBP, then Odor is a top-six pick. If not, his value drops a little.
Ian Kinsler (DET) – Kelly questioned him Kinsler’s power is legit. He hit over 25 home runs for the first time since 2011. Kinsler drove in 83 RBI and hit .288 in 153 games. He also stole 14 bases in 20 attempts. At 35 years old, Kinsler will need to take care of himself in order to play another 150 games. I think 26 HR/15 SB/.285 is likely.
These four players are as consistent as they come. High home run totals paired with good batting averages makes for good overall hitters. These four can do that.
Robinson Cano (SEA) – Even at 34 years old, Cano is still crushing balls. After his first two poor seasons with Seattle, Cano showed why he is a top second baseman. He hit 39 homers, 103 RBI, and .298 in 161 games. With the Mariners bringing in Jarrod Dyson and Jean Segura, they are in a “win now” mode which can only help Cano. I project 36 home runs and a .295 average.
Brian Dozier (MIN) – Cook is high on Dozier this season. He is another one that posted a ridiculous home run total compared to his career average. Dozier hit 42 homers, 99 RBI, and .268. He walked 61 times while striking out 10 fewer times. Dozier also stole 18 times. I’m a little skeptical that he will not repeat his 2016 performance. I like him as a fourth round pick.
Daniel Murphy (WSH) – Murphy hit well in his first season with Washington. He posted a 25 HR/104 RBI/.347 line in 142 games. If he can get up to 150 games, then a 28 HR/110 RBI/.340 line could happen. The NL East features some poor pitching and Murphy and company can have great seasons.
Jose Altuve (HOU) – Kelly thinks Altuve is fantasy’s new No. 1 player. He’s not there just yet, but he’s pretty darn close. Hitting 24 homers, 96 RBI, and .338 with 30 steals is a good enough case to make him the top pick. I don’t think 25 HR/100 RBI/.335/.34 steals is out of the question. Looking at who the No. 1 pick will be, you may get more from Altuve.
As you can see, second base is very well-rounded. There are those you can draft early and have great success. Then, there are those who you can draft in the middle rounds and still get great production.
Don’t wait too long because you don’t want to be stuck with Travis or Harrison as your only second baseman. They are better off as bench players or middle infielders in deeper leagues.