Second Half National League Outfielder Rankings
Time to update the ranks! As always, this ranking is more about performance the rest of the way than performance in the bank. On the other hand, this is not just a ZiPs RoS ranking. Human opinion introduces human error, but our minds are plastic and there’s at least the chance we can get ahead of the trends. So let’s try. Oh, and arrows denote a change in tier, not a change in rank.
Everyone’s All-Stars
Ryan Braun
Matt Kemp
Matt Holliday
Andrew McCutchen
Carlos Gonzalez
Justin Upton
Yes, Carlos Gonzalez is hurt right now and if his injured wrist turns out to be a big deal, he won’t earn this ranking. He also won’t hit 30 home runs this year, most likely. But in this group of players that can all help in all five categories, he’s probably the middle guy each time. More power than some, less power than others. More speed that some, less than others. Andrew McCutchen is the big story. He’s two home runs short of his career high and has really surpassed expectations in that department. Even with a slight step back with the heavy lumber, he’ll be a great return on investment. A career high in fly ball rate suggests that his approach is more power-friendly right now.
All-League Stars
Hunter Pence
Jay Bruce
Shane Victorino
Jason Heyward
Jay Bruce has had an up-and-down kind of year. The streaks have been difficult at times, but they’ve left him on the way to a career power year at the very least. And his batting average won’t be as bad as Mike Stanton’s since he strikes out much less frequently. This is the group that might have some defenders, but they’ve also got flaws that keep them from being fantasy All-Stars. Hunter Pence has an insane BABIP that is hiding his career-worst ISO. Bruce still has those streaks. Shane Victorino isn’t really elite in any category. Jason Heyward won’t show the power we are waiting for until he stops hitting 55% of his balls on the ground.
Useful in Any League
Michael Bourn
Lance Berkman
Mike Stanton
Mike Morse
Corey Hart
Drew Stubbs
Andre Ethier
Jayson Werth
Chris Young
Colby Rasmus
There are a lot of bad batting averages in this group. At least the bad batting averages offer you great power (Stanton), speed (Bourn) or a little bit of everything (the rest). Oh, and then there’s Andre Ethier, who is showing a career low in fly ball rate right now. That won’t help him find his lost power. And Lance Berkman deserves a shout out. His batting average should regress to the level he’s shown over the last three years, and there’s still a high likelihood that he injures himself running around in the outfield. But his owners aren’t complaining because they got him for so cheap. Even if you’re a little bearish on Morse and think the batting average will fall a little in the second half, the power looks legit and he deserves this ranking.
Playable In Most Leagues
Martin Prado
Seth Smith
Logan Morrison
Carlos Beltran
Alfonso Soriano
Nyjer Morgan
Angel Pagan
Jose Tabata
Domonic Brown
Carlos Beltran deserves some love. He’s got his power back to 2008 levels and there’s nothing particularly lucky about his line. Then again, he’s not known for great batting averages and his speed is gone for good. Seth Smith has better upside, but doesn’t play against most lefties, so he’s best used as a bench outfielder. Angel Pagan and Jose Tabata are somewhat similar players statistically – some power, some speed, and right now, bad batting averages – and though it might be hard to see it, they’ll both be valuable players again soon. On the flip side of that coin, Logan Morrison is showing great power right now, but that isn’t backed by his minor league work. A little less power will make him a fringe mixed leaguer going forward. Domonic Brown has finally figured out major league pitching to the extent that he’s not striking out in a third of his at-bats. He’s also showing power and speed and has the best potential of anyone in this tier, even over the course of this season.
Deep League Regulars
Marlon Byrd
Gerardo Parra
Chris Coghlan
Cody Ross
Andres Torres
Jason Bay
Carlos Lee
Cameron Maybin
Will Venable
Ryan Ludwick
Raul Ibanez
There are probably some better hitters in the group below, but this collection of veterans and flawed younger players have every day jobs now. We’ll probably write more about each of these players, so let’s not spend too many words here. I would say this: if I had to pick from this tier, I’d rather take the younger dudes. Even if they are striking out too much or don’t have much power or speed.
Fringe Deep Leaguers
Nate Schierholtz
Roger Bernadina
Chris Heisey
Charlie Blackmon
Kosuke Fukudome
Allen Craig
Daniel Murphy
Jon Jay
Aubrey Huff
Garrett Jones
Alex Presley
Ben Francisco
There are some decent hitters here. Jon Jay can put up a good batting average with little else, Allen Craig has a little pop, and Daniel Murphy can do okay across the board. But most of these guys also have playing time issues. That makes them okay bench pieces in deep leagues, where you can slot them in when they actually get playing time.
PIck ‘Em
Jordan Schafer
Tony Campana
Mike Cameron
Jason Bourgeois
Tony Gwynn, Jr.
John Mayberry
Dexter Fowler
Tyler Colvin
Jonny Gomes
Willie Harris
Nate McLouth
Rick Ankiel
Carlos Gomez
Scott Hairston
Pat Burrell
Ryan Spilborghs
Aaron Rowand
Brad Hawpe
Kyle Blanks
Marcus Thames
You have looked at Berkman’s numbers this year right?
35 year old showing the best power of his career? Yeah, I think he’ll miss time with a calf/leg injury and hit about .270 with 10ish home runs the rest of the way.
Didn’t see this comment earlier, but, yeah, what Eno said.
ZIPS says 11 HR, 36 RBI and a .505 SLG for Berkman going forward. Those are more 2nd tier numbers, to me, rather than 3rd, but I’m comfortable with that projection of decent drop-off in production for him.
Not sure why Schafer is so low. No power and lousy AVG, but AVG should come up and leading off for ATL should continue run pace and high SB #s.
If that job was his for the rest of the year, guaranteed, I might move him up yes. There’s enough doubt in my mind about that fact though.
no michael brantley? Also nyjer morgan seems overrated
I have banned Michael Brantley for all time. Also, National League rankings.
I dunno, I like Morgan as much as you can like a speedster. He’s not playing against lefties, but even when his BABIP changes he’ll be worthwhile.
Uh, you’d trade Young for Werth, Morse, or Hart? I wouldn’t even take Heyward over him ROS
Chris Young, right?
“As always, this ranking is more about performance the rest of the way than performance in the bank.”
You should tell that to the guys doing the other positional rankings.
ik, r?
It needed to be said.
Carl Crawford is not on this list.
Breaking news from Eddie: Crawford has apparently been traded to some NL team!
/Facepalm.
My bad.
I thought it was a joke.
No Markakis or Gordon on list either
No Ellsbury?!?! Wow, a ton of research went into this!
Please look at the title of the piece
Also – Bautista, Granderson, Quentin, etc.
Eno – maybe put it in bold, caps, underlined, in italics?
I can’t believe you left Dwyane Wade and Stephen Curry off this list! Way to slack, Eno!
I’m a bit suprised at Werth. As a Werth owner, I can say he’s been craptastic.
More Marcus Thames love. Less Ben Francisco.
Great otherwise.
God did you put any research into this? You’re missing Nick Swisher too. He should be around tier 4. Also you’re missing Nick Swisher’s hair, which would probably fit in nicely between McCutchen and CarGo.
Think Carlos Lee is to low, still hits #4, Domonic Brown is too high, still hits #7 and platoons, Huff also hits #4 so too low, but Bonifacio is coming on. What do you think of him?
I think you’re putting a little too much stock in where they hit in the lineup. Huff is #4 in one of the worst lineups in the league right now. Brown is #7 in a better one. Also, Brown gets the healthy part of the platoon and has power and speed… Not sure Huff even has power right now.
Emilio.. could have put him on here. Would have been a fringe deep leaguer. He has speed, but strikes out too much and doesn’t walk. I think he’s like a .270 hitter true talent, with no home runs, and a good amount of steals.
Nelson Cruz?
NM
What is it about Bourn’s .287 average that’s bad?
More that his career average is .267 in five times as many PAs and that he’s much more likely to hit under .270 going forward than over .285.
Seriously though, where’s Nix?
Jayson, I mean.
No Mickey Mantle?!?!?
Oh, nevermind, NL only.
LOL WHEREZ TY COBB BARRYBONDS BABE RUTH MEL OTT LOL WHAT JOKE RANKINGZ CUMON ENO YOU SUX
Carlos Beltran doesn’t want to be on this list. He rather be on the AL list. That’s a no brainer!
Note to Fangraphs: Your audience mostly plays in mixed leagues so it is unnatural to divide the players into NL vs. AL. That’s why everytime you post one of these list a bunch of talkbackers keep asking about players from the other league. Give us something like the top 60 outfielders in BOTH leagues divided into ten tiers.
What makes you think that?
I play in a mixed league and I am the center of the universe :-) so it must be true.
Seriously though, I understand the need for deep waiver wire advice in NL only or AL only leagues, just not sure if this is the best format for it. Something like the top 10 NL outfielders with ownership levels less than 50% might have more utility for NL only managers looking for help finding a diamond in the rough the next time Carlos Beltran goes down…
None of it is really helping me evaluate the pros/cons of a Josh Hamilton for Cano or Pedroia trade right now…
I think most of the comments were jokes.
Also, Jason Heyward 2011 = B. J. Upton 2009
A combined 80% of Heyward’s batted balls go for grounders or infield pop-ups. I hate my life.
Melky!
Carlos Beltran deserves to be higher….this is an ALL-DECADE type talent and a PROVEN fantasy stud. Every year he’s played a full season in the big leagues he’s produced first round type numbers.
no he hasn’t
Adam Lind qualifies at OF in my league. Presumably he’s between Jay Bruce and Michael Bourne. 2nd Tier or 3rd?