Fansided

MLB power rankings: Best player on each team

By Brad Berreman

Apr 17, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) during the game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 17, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) during the game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports /

Milwaukee Brewers: OF Ryan Braun

As he gets further from a performance-enhancing drug suspension, and his embarrassing attempt to point a finger at the collection process surrounding the specimen that yielded a positive test, Braun has remained a productive player for the Brewers. In 2016, he hit .305 with 30 home runs, 91 RBI and 16 stolen bases over 135 games.

Braun’s 2011 National League MVP campaign (.332, 33 home runs, 111 RBI, 33 stolen bases) and his more than worthy 2012 follow-up (.319, 41 home runs, 112 RBI, 30 stolen bases) are distant memories now, but the Brewers don’t have someone currently set to unseat him as the best player on the team.

Braun has been the subject of trade rumors off and on in recent months, with the Los Angeles Dodgers seemingly moving to the front of the line as he approaches 10 years of major league service time (as well as five with the same team) and the resulting full ability to nix a trade. The Brewers could get a nice haul in a trade for Braun to accelerate a rebuild, or with the minimum four years and $78 million left on his contract he could be considered a veteran leader to be kept around for said rebuild.

It’s hard to be a star on a national scale while playing in Wisconsin, this side of Aaron Rodgers or Brett Favre anyway, especially as a baseball player. Braun was a rare guy to accomplish that, and even though the shine is off his star now he is still the Brewers’ best player.

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