Spring training is officially underway, as all 30 MLB teams have reported to their respective spring homes and full-squad workouts have already begun.
The first games of the spring will kick off next Wednesday, when fans will get their first chance to see their favorite team in action in 2014.
There is still a lot to be done before the start of the season, but we already have a good idea of who each team’s star players are and who will make a run at leading the league in various categories and filling out the MLB All-Star Game rosters.
So with that in mind, what follows is my take on the top 100 players in the MLB right now. The following was taken into account when compiling the list:
- 2013 Performance: How a player performed last season carried the most weight, but this was not simply a list of the best players in 2013.
- Track Record: While recent performance carried the most weight, a player’s track record was also taken into account as well. As such, guys like Albert Pujols and Justin Verlander still rank in the top 50 despite down seasons in 2013.
- Age/Injury History: The rankings were largely based on past performance, but young players on the rise did get the nod over aging players on the decline in most cases. Also, players with a lengthy injury history or with minor injury concerns entering the season had their ranking adjusted accordingly.
- My Opinion: At the end of the day, a certain amount of subjectivity goes into a list like this. I don’t expect everyone—or anyone, for that matter—to completely agree with me, and I look forward to defending my selections.
With that, let’s kick things off with some notable omissions before jumping right into the list. Also worth noting, after the No. 1 player, you’ll find team-by-team and position-by-position breakdowns of the Top 100.
*All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference unless otherwise noted.