2015 Dynasty / Keeper Fantasy Baseball Rankings: Outfield (Part 2)

February 10, 2015

Rek continues his fantasy baseball dynasty rankings with part two of the best MLB outfield targets for the 2015 season including sleepers and busts.

This is part 2 of my dynasty rankings for fantasy baseball. We looked at part 1 last week, and before that we analyzed dynasty rankings at Third Base, Catcher, Shortstop, First Base, and Second Base. 

These rankings are for a fresh dynasty draft where you are primarily drafting to win but also strongly considering the future upside and downside of all these outfielders. There's a decent drop off after the top 30 outfielders, but there are still some diamonds in the rough. Let's try to find them.

Editor's Note: Be sure to check out all of RotoBaller's 2015 fantasy baseball rankings articles to prepare for your fantasy baseball drafts. Let's win some leagues!
 

Tier 7 - Dynasty / Keeper Outfield Rankings

31) Rusney Castillo, 27, BOS

32) Kole Calhoun, 27, LAA

33) Joc Pederson, 22, LAD

34) Mookie Betts, 22, BOS

35) Nelson Cruz, 34, SEA

It's hard to know what we will get from Castillo. There's really just no sample size to work with.  I think he should be at least a .250 hitter who can hit 10 home runs and steal 20 bags.

Calhoun is a mini Trout. He does a bit of everything besides hit lefties well. With more regular at-bats, I could see Calhoun hitting about .275 with 20 HR and 10 SB.

Pederson destroyed Triple-A pitching last year to the tune of .303/.485/.582 with 33 HR, 106 R, 78 RBI, and 30 SB. He should be the starting center fielder for the Dodgers. Just expect the usual ups and downs from the rookie.

Betts has had success at every level of the minors and had a nice stint in the majors. He should find himself in the outfield since Pedroia is currently blocking him at second base. Power is not his game, but he'll provide steals while hitting for average.

Cruz is coming off a season in which he hit 40 home runs. He's generally a great contributor in power numbers. Now for the bad news. He's moving to the very spacious Safeco field. His value will take a major hit as a result.

Tier 8 - Dynasty / Keeper Outfield Rankings

36) Jayson Werth, 35, WAS

37) Mark Trumbo, 28, ARI

38) Marcell Ozuna, 24, MIA

39) Arismendy Alcantara, 23, CHC

40) Matt Holliday, 34, STL

With the exception of 2012, Werth has been one of the most consistent producers in the game since 2008. However, he is 35 and just had surgery to repair his shoulder. He may have some productive seasons left, but I'm not sure I'd be taking that bet.

Trumbo is capable of 30 home runs a year. Power is scarce in today's game, and Arizona is a great place to hit bombs. Look for him to rebound in a big way this year.

Ozuna has a similar batted ball distance to Trout. Unlike Trout, he won't contribute much else. Still, he's a cheap source of power in an improving lineup.

Alcantara impressed me by hitting 10 home runs and swiping eight bags in limited at-bats last season. What didn't impress me was the 31 % strikeout rate. A 20-20 season may be in his future, but it's too early to tell.

Holliday has declined from his heyday. However, over the past three seasons, he's provided 20 home runs and 90 runs batted in. He's a solid win-now piece.

Tier 9 - Dynasty / Keeper Outfield Rankings

41) J.D. Martinez, 27, DET

42) Charlie Blackmon, 28, COL

43) Brett Gardner, 31, NYY

44) Oswaldo Arcia,23, MIN

45) Shin-Soo Choo, 32, TEX

Do I buy into the J.D. Martinez breakout? Yes. His power in the Tigers lineup will provide a lot of juicy counting stats. Just don't expect him to hit for a .300 average like he did last year.

Blackmon had a great year last year. But, when he slumped, he really slumped. With rumors that he may move away from the hitters paradise that is Coors Field, I'm not totally sold on him.

Gardner had a career year in homers when he hit 17. I don't believe that power is here to stay, but I could easily see a 10 home run, 20 steal season in the works again. He'll have even more opportunity to score runs now that a move up in the lineup is imminent.

Arcia hit 20 home runs in limited at-bats last year with the Twins. In a full season of at-bats it's possible he could reach 30. Playing his home games at Target Field does not help his case. Neither does dealing with a tendon issue in his right hand.

Choo probably deserves a higher ranking. He's a beast in OBP leagues. I just have a hard time buying that he'll ever steal 20 bags again. I also don't see the Rangers lineup as a particularly potent place to be at the moment.

Tier 10 - Dynasty / Keeper Outfield Rankings

46) Ben Revere, 26, PHI

47) Denard Span, 30, WAS

48) A.J. Pollock, 27, ARI

49) Leonys Martin, 26, TEX

50) Alex Rios, 33, KC

Revere stole 49 bags last year while hitting .306. In fact, the last three years he's hit right around .300 while stealing at least 20 bags a year. The Phillies are in the middle of a rebuild, but Revere still has a lot of value despite that.

Span is coming off a huge 2015 season. Too bad I don't quite believe he'll keep it up for the next few years. Still, Span will provide your team with someone who can steal 20 bags and score 70 runs a year.

Pollock seemed well on his way to a breakout season before getting injured. Seven home runs and 14 steals in 287 at-bats is no joke. I'd like to see what he could do over a full season before he gets my full endorsement, but I could see him moving up as high as tier seven.

Martin is the poor man's Revere. He'll steal you 30 bags but lacks the ability to hit for as high an average. He's still young enough that he can adapt his game to improve over time.

Rios finds himself leaving Texas, and if you couldn't tell by now that's a positive for me. I think he will rebound this year with 10 homers, 15 steals, and hit around .275. If he can do that for another couple of years he's worth rostering as a third outfielder.

Tier 11 - Dynasty / Keeper Outfield Rankings

51) Dexter Fowler, 28, CHC

52) Lorenzo Cain, 28, KC

53) Khris Davis,27, MIL

54) Adam Eaton,26, CWS

55) Avisail Garcia, 23, CWS

I really like what Fowler can do. The Cubs are a young exciting team. I think if he can stay healthy Fowler can be a big contributor.

Last year, Cain hit .301/.339/.412 with 5 HR, 55 R, 53 RBI, and 28 SB. His luck factor on his BABIP was an insane .380 compared to a career rate of .330. However, regression may not be coming as hard as some people think. Cain has the speed to make up for some of that luck, and he showed signs of progressing as a hitter.

If you look up all or nothing in the dictionary, you'll see a picture of Davis. He'll provide some power to your team, just don't expect anything else. You'll also have to hope the regression we saw in the second half of last season isn't here to stay.

I'm a big fan of Eaton. He does all the little things right. Well, maybe besides staying healthy. Last year he hit .300/.362/.401 with 1 HR, 76 R, 36 RBI, and 15 SB line. The White Sox are improved and should drive Eaton in even more. If he can stay healthy, you're looking at a 90 runs/ 20 steals guy.

Garcia showed both pop and speed in the minors. We've yet to see what he can do in a full season in the majors. He has a much better chance at being a 20-20 guy than Eaton does.
 

Tier 12 - Dynasty / Keeper Outfield Rankings

56) Marlon Byrd, 37, PHI

57) Josh Hamilton, 33, LAA

58) Allen Craig, 30, BOS

59) Desmond Jennings, 28, TB

60) Austin Jackson, 27, SEA

Byrd has turned himself into a valuable commodity the past two years. At age 37, I don't think he has many useful years left. However, hitting in the Reds lineup should boost his runs batted in total. He's a great win-now piece while you wait for a younger guy to develop.

Oh how the mighty have fallen. In fact, I've seen quite a few lists where Hamilton didn't even make the top 60. That was inconceivable a few years ago. You can take the bet that he'll return to the player he once was, but it's a pretty sizable risk.

Before coming to the Red Sox, Craig was a productive player who hit .300 with double digits in home runs. He absolutely tanked after being traded to the Red Sox last year. It's not apparent where Craig will play if he stays in Boston, but I believe he can turn into a productive player again.

Jennings has been a disappointment to fantasy owners ever since flashing unrealized potential in 2011. There is something to be said for Jennings though. He does a bit of everything except hit for average. That said, the proposition of hoping a player on the Rays turns their career around is a scary one right now.

I really liked Jackson as a Tiger. I feel he loses a lot of his value as a Mariner. His power numbers will be depressed, and his speed isn't enough to really set him apart.

That's all for outfielders folks. I know a lot of the rankings are up for debate. Outfielder seems to be one of the areas with the most disagreement.

Look out for our dynasty starting pitcher rankings soon. Until next time RotoBallers...

-Rek