Top 10 Players at Each Position in MLB The Show 17

Feature Article

Submitted on: 03/16/2017 by Steve Noah

Top 10 Starting Pitchers

Clayton Kershaw – Overall 99
Max Scherzer – Overall 93
Chris Sale – Overall 93
Noah Syndergaard – Overall 92
Corey Kluber – Overall 92
Jake Arrieta – Overall 92
Madison Bumgarner – Overall 92
Stephen Strasburg – Overall 90
Jon Lester – Overall 90
Johnny Cueto – Overall 90

Top 10 Relievers

Andrew Miller – Overall 96
Dellin Betances – Overall 90
Nate Jones – Overall 85
Sean Doolittle – Overall 84
Addison Reed – Overall 84
Hector Rondon – Overall 84
Pedro Strop – Overall 84
Will Harris – Overall 84
Carson Smith – Overall 84
Kyle Barraclough – Overall 84

Top 10 Closers

Kenley Jansen – Overall 95
Zach Britton – Overall 92
Aroldis Chapman – Overall 92
Wade Davis – Overall 91
Mark Melancon – Overall 89
Seung Hwan Oh – Overall 87
Cody Allen – Overall 87
Roberto Osuna – Overall 86
Craig Kimbrel – Overall 86
Jeurys Familia – Overall 85

Top 10 Catchers

Buster Posey – Overall 92
Jonathan Lucroy – Overall 87
Wilson Ramos – Overall 84
Yadier Molina – Overall 84
Salvador Perez – Overall 84
Gary Sanchez – Overall 84
Russell Martin – Overall 83
Yasmani Grandal – Overall 82
Devin Mesoraco – Overall 82
Matt Wieters – Overall 81

Top 10 First Basemen

Miguel Cabrera – Overall 92
Paul Goldschmidt – Overall 91
Joey Votto – Overall 91
Anthony Rizzo – Overall 89
Freddie Freeman – Overall 88
Edwin Encarnacion – Overall 86
Matt Carpenter – Overall 85
Will Myers – Overall 84
Brandon Belt – Overall 84
Albert Pujols – Overall 83

Top 10 Second Basemen

Jose Altuve – Overall 97
Robinson Cano – Overall 91
Ian Kinsler – Overall 89
Daniel Murphy – Overall 88
Dustin Pedroia – Overall 88
Jason Kipnis – Overall 87
Brian Dozier – Overall 87
DJ LeMahieu – Overall 85
Ben Zobrist – Overall 85
Rougned Odor – Overall 84

Top 10 Third Basemen

Josh Donaldson – Overall 94
Kris Bryant – Overall 94
Nolan Arenado – Overall 93
Manny Machado – Overall 93
Adrian Beltre – Overall 89
Kyle Seager – Overall 88
Justin Turner – Overall 87
Evan Longoria – Overall 87
Anthoy Rendon – Overall 83
Todd Frazier – Overall 83

Top 10 Shortstops

Francisco Lindor – Overall 90
Corey Seager – Overall 90
Trea Turner – Overall 88
Brandon Crawford – Overall 88
Carlos Correa – Overall 85
Xander Bogaerts – Overall 85
Jonathan Villar – Overall 85
Troy Tulowitzki – Overall 83
Jean Segura – Overall 83
Jose Iglesias – Overall 83

Top 10 Left Fielders

Yoenis Cespedes – Overall 90
Ryan Braun – Overall 87
Michael Brantley – Overall 86
Alex Gordon – Overall 83
Gregory Polanco – Overall 83
Justin Upton – Overall 82
Khris Davis – Overall 81
Brett Gardner – Overall 81
Marcell Ozuna – Overall 81
Jayson Werth – Overall 80

Top 10 Center Fielders

Mike Trout – Overall 99
Starling Marte – Overall 87
AJ Pollack – Overall 86
Lorenzo Cain – Overall 85
Christian Yelich – Overall 85
Charlie Blackmon – Overall 84
George Springer – Overall 84
Kevin Kiermaier – Overall 84
Odubel Herrera – Overall 82
Carlos Gomez – Overall 82

Top 10 Right Fielders

Mookie Betts – Overall 93
Bryce Harper – Overall 90
Nelson Cruz – Overall 88
Giancarlo Stanton – Overall 88
Andew McCutchen – Overall 85
Carlos Gonzalez – Overall 84
JD Martinez – Overall 84
Jose Bautista – Overall 83
Mark Trumbo – Overall 81
Hunter Pence – Overall 81

Top Overall Players

Mike Trout – Overall 99
Clayton Kershaw – Overall 99
Jose Altuve – Overall 97
Andrew Miller – Overall 96
Kenley Jansen – Overall 95
Josh Donaldson – Overall 94
Kris Bryant – Overall 94
Max Scherzer – Overall 93
Nolan Arenado – Overall 93
Manny Machado – Overall 93
Chris Sale – Overall 93
Mookie Betts – Overall 93
Noah Syndergaard – Overall 92
Corey Kluber – Overall 92
Jake Arrieta – Overall 92
Zach Britton – Overall 92
Miguel Cabrera – Overall 92
Madison Bumgarner – Overall 92

Member Comments

# 61 Chad0034 @ 03/17/17 05:19 PM

Way better than in years past where you'd see everyone and their mother as an 80+

Good to see MLB taking the approach similar to NBA 2K

# 62 underdog13 @ 03/17/17 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by estee1977


	Arenado won the Silver Slugger award in 2015 and 2016 which goes to the best offensive player and is determined by coaches and managers in MLB. So that tells me how coaches and managers view his offensive skill. Couple that with the fact that he's won 4 straight Gold Gloves and was the Wilson Defensive Player of the Year in 2015 and 2016 as well. I don't know how you can't call him the best pure 3B in Baseball. Also, if you're going to use the Coors Field as a handicap, then any Rockies pitcher who wins 20 games should automatically win the Cy Young award, yes? Love this debate!

And Bryant won the MVP so by default he is better.

And wins should never be used for cy young voting.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

# 63 Caulfield @ 03/17/17 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burge88


	I'd take Bryant, Arenado, or machado over him any day.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaysguy44


	Donaldson ...... rapes and pillage pitchers.

In that case, I'm SURE I'd rather have Arenado or Machado

Not that theres anything wrong with that.

# 64 CaseIH @ 03/17/17 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cj1616


	Donaldson over Arenado??? Not a chance

Yeah I would take Arennado too over Donaldson. I suppose they are taking the MVP Donaldson into account, but if you switched those 2 players out and put Donaldson on Rockies and Arenado on a team like the Jays who have been good, then Arenado probably has a MVP and Donaldson wouldnt. Both are very good players, but Id take Arenado over Donaldson any day, again both are great players.

Im curious to see what some others top players are rated at, I could probably argue for a couple others being in that list, but thats more on opinion than the list being wrong.

# 65 Caulfield @ 03/17/17 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaysguy44


	Donaldson for King of Canada.

fixxed
The only thing I dislike about Donaldson is where he chose to spend his college days.
RTR

# 66 HypoLuxa13 @ 03/17/17 09:33 PM

I'm a Cubs fan for life, for 35 years and counting. I am forever going to be a Kris Bryant fan, just like I'll forever be a fan of every single player that was a part of the Cubs roster in 2016. I would totally take Arenado or Machado as easily as Bryant if I was a GM. Donaldson not as much, but just due to his age. (he was a Cub prospect at one point, by the way)

# 67 enyc718 @ 03/17/17 10:33 PM

Did not want to start a new thread for this but will Jose Fernandez be in the game this year?

I haven't seen an answer to this unless i missed it elsewhere.

# 68 ShowTyme15 @ 03/17/17 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by enyc718


	Did not want to start a new thread for this but will Jose Fernandez be in the game this year? I haven't seen an answer to this unless i missed it elsewhere.

No, he will not be in the game.

# 69 legacyme3 @ 03/17/17 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by enyc718


	Did not want to start a new thread for this but will Jose Fernandez be in the game this year? I haven't seen an answer to this unless i missed it elsewhere.

A "tad" off-topic, but this question was asked about 20 times in the stream, and I could feel part of Ramone dying inside every time he said "no, he is not in the game".

# 70 SilverBullet1929 @ 03/17/17 11:41 PM

Why would people even ask that question? He won't be in MLB in 2017 obviously. They take out guys who retire why wouldn't they take out someone who literally died?

# 71 ShowTyme15 @ 03/17/17 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverBullet1929


	Why would people even ask that question? He won't be in MLB in 2017 obviously. They take out guys who retire why wouldn't they take out someone who literally died?

Some people aren't aware of how the process works. It was a harmless question. Yeah, you could say he literally died, but some people were curious if he would still be in using the year to year saves feature which I think may have been the poster's intent here.

# 72 zman2392 @ 03/18/17 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dolenz


	3 year average man. He was great last year but the year before he was 9-15 with an era of 4.92 and the year before that he was 15-13 with a 3.43 Those years account for 50% of his rating.

This.

The one thing I am curious about is how they figure it out for guys like Aaron Sanchez. Last year was his first time starting all year and he led the AL in ERA (3.00). The two years before that he was primarily used as a reliever (92 and 33 IP) but still had very good stats (3.22 and 1.09 ERA). Not saying they got it wrong, will just be curious as to what is affecting his overall to not have him in the top. Maybe stamina? Or maybe his BB/9 rate. Will be interesting nonetheless!

# 73 Godgers12 @ 03/19/17 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cj1616


	Donaldson over Arenado??? Not a chance

Lets see him do something outside Coors then we can talk.

# 74 Godgers12 @ 03/19/17 12:19 PM

And no Edwin Diaz? Definitely a top 10 closer based on last season.

# 75 RLB @ 03/19/17 01:10 PM

And the rating wars begin.
I just don't put that much emphasis into the overall rating. I look at the attributes more than the overall plus you can usually pick up some decent talent during the season on a C or D potential player as well by looking at their attributes and save some budget along the way. Donaldson over Arenado, Arenado over Donaldson.......it's one point......I would gladly take either of them.

# 76 Dolenz @ 03/19/17 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Godgers12


	Lets see him do something outside Coors then we can talk.

Just FYI. Arenado Hit for higher average, had more RBIS and the same number of Homeruns in away games when compared to Donaldson in his away games. This stuff is easy to look up by the way.

Maybe you want to come up with a better argument.

That said, it is a 1 point difference. Who knows what minor rating diference made one come out ahead of the other

# 77 Dolenz @ 03/19/17 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Godgers12


	And no Edwin Diaz? Definitely a top 10 closer based on last season.

Limited sample size. I don't know what adjustments they make for players with less than three years but I understand that they can't have most players 2014 and 2015 stats account for 50% of their overall rating and have another guy leapfrog them based on one year.

If he continues then his rating will rise.

# 78 Caulfield @ 03/19/17 02:16 PM

These are Donaldson and Arenado numbers away from home in 2016 adjusted to a 162 game season, courtesy Baseball Reference

Donaldson/Arenado
plate appearances-724/688 (this will be key later)

batting ave.-.272/.277
HR-33/32
doubles-24/24
basically a wash

where Donaldson separates himself from Arenado in road games
walks-116/60
obp-.394/.340
ops-.902/.832

but the bottom line of total bases is:
Donaldson-303
Arenado-302
all those walks and he still only outbases Arenado by one base and thats only in Donaldson favor because of the additional 36 plate appearances.
I submit that the reason Donaldson has better numbers than Arenado lies within their repective teammates; Donaldson sees better pitches on the Blue Jays because of his supporting cast as opposed to Arenado and his. Evidence IBB on the road in the aforementioned pro-rated stats:
Donaldson 2 IBB
Arenado 8 IBB
pitchers would rather face anybody but Arenado among him and his teammates, when Arenado come to town.
pitchers might as well just face Donaldson. And they do.

Toronto would be wise to pray the Yankees dont go after Arenado in 2020 if only because Yankee Stadium seems tailor made for Arenado. At which point Donaldson will be 34 in 2020 and his best days in his rearview mirror.
And while I'm on age, Arenado has been an every day player since he was 22. Donaldson was a late bloomer not becoming an everyday starter til he was 27. I believe its far more likely we see Arenado in Cooperstown over Donaldson.

All that said, I actually prefer Machado (though I'm biased because Machado a personal favorite of mine) over both Donaldson and Arenado.

But I would take still take Arenados defense play over Donaldson, Coors field or no, and its not even close.
maybe Donaldson should become a fulltime DH or maybe move to firstbase now that he's settling into his old age.

# 79 D13 @ 03/19/17 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by extremeskins04


	Arenado is the best 3B in baseball right now. What a joke. Also, why is Rick Porcello not on this list? See this is why I can't take the list seriously.

Porcello hasn't produced worthy numbers the last 3 years. That's why.

Quote:

Originally Posted by underdog13


	That's very debatable and he is only 1 ovr back from the top. Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

Its not even close to debatable. KB is the reigning MVP and is farther up on the WAR board. KB is the best 3b in the game. No questions.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BDrizz


	Bryant isnt even the best 3B on his team. If he was, he wouldn't be splitting his time in the outfield.

Plz stop, lmao

Quote:

Originally Posted by BDrizz


	With Dahl hurt you don't see Arenado shagging balls in left...

Smh

Quote:

Originally Posted by underdog13


	Bryant is a better hitter and baserunner, Arenado is a better fielder. Bryant has accumulated more war over the past 2 seasons. He won mvp last year. How is he not a better 3B? Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

Agreed 100%

# 80 grgmths1433 @ 03/19/17 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jaysguy44


	Dude you made a good argument but you fail in choose who's better which is obviously Donalson . Machado is a little vagina and did you watch the WBC game where Arenado blew it for the US with his bonehead throw to first?..no thank you..can't handle pressure...so yeah Donalson wins again as usual go Jays!!

That was a bad hop. He should've just held the ball.

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