Top 20 Second Baseman for 2018

Updated: 3/11/2018 by Max Freeze

I don’t love Cano this year, he’s hit less than 24 HR in three of the last four years, his BA and BABIP are declining along with his advanced age (35). I go into more detail in a bust post I wrote late in 2017. Another guy I don’t love is Jonathan Schoop. It’s funny, he’s been under-rated for the past couple of seasons and now coming off a career year in 2017 and I think he’s being over hyped. He’s going around 50th overall in early ADPs and to me, he hit his ceiling in 2017 going .293-32-105. That’s most likely the last time he hits .290 with below average contact, SwStr, and chase rates. xStats had him at .277-25.6 HR. I’m projecting around 25 HR but an even lower BA, and the very low walk rate can create prolonged slumps.Of course the AL MVP is number one and I have him second overall or 2018. There’s a lot of crossover with other positions and now that I’ve done much of my rankings, I can see how they all translate. For instance Jose Ramirez is #2 for 2B and #4 for 3B, still a solid pick for 3B, but if you have him, you want him at 2B.
I was presently surprised to see decent depth at second base for 2018. I still think it’s the shallowest position outside of Catcher but I don’t place much of a scarcity bump like many other sites will do. I left Rizzo off the 2B ranks because he qualified for 10 games played at 2B, and zero starts. I am only showing qualified players with 10 starts or more at a single  position. I think it’s ridiculous that places like Yahoo will have him eligible at 2B. If he was ranked however he’d be right near Ramirez in the #2 or #3 spot. On to the ranks!

Some guys I love going into 2018 include of course Ozzie Albies, he was one of the first players I wrote a sleeper post about. I also like a bounce-back from Odor, think similar numbers to Schoop with a few more HR and a lower BA but the difference is double digit steals compared to next to nothing from Schoop. If Happ can get 600 PA (he won’t, thanks Maddon) he’s a top 10 2B and maybe higher. Kinsler got BABIP’d to death last year, he should hit closer to .260-.270 with 20 HR and 10 steals; oh and he gets to hit in front of Trout. I might be moving him up if he looks healthy in spring training. I’m starting to like Jose Peraza again. Everyone’s favorite 2017 speedster sleeper is now being forgotten except now he has a full time roll and could steal 30 bases with a decent batting average and solid runs. Take a chance on him late if you need speed.

If Scott Kingery can get the call up early, he’s a top 15 2B with 12-15 HR power and 20-25 steals. A veteran with a chance for a bounce-back is Logan Forsythe. I included him on my fly ball escalator piece that was published at fangraphs community because as the everyday 2B for the Dodgers, he could post a 20-10 season with solid counting stats and clearly he’s forgotten on draft day. Last year, he was considered the poor man’s Dozier and now he’s not drafted except in NL only.