2020 Offseason Outfield Rankings (Part 1) - Fantasy Baseball Mixed Leagues

It's never too early to start looking ahead to the next baseball season, so here we deliver our 2020 fantasy baseball rankings to those of you looking to scratch your fantasy itch. Whether you're already eliminated from fantasy football contention, or you're getting a head start on next year's keeper selections, RotoBaller has got you covered. We've assembled a collection of stout minds, including the #1 ranked expert from 2018, Nick Mariano, to help you get a jump start on your competition for the upcoming season.

With the Winter Meetings approaching and free-agency starting to materialize, there will be plenty of movement with these rankings before the draft season gets into full swing. Be sure to check in frequently during the offseason as we'll have updated rankings as soon as big names begin to change places.

Today we'll analyze the top tiers of the outfield position. You can check out part two of our outfield rankings and analysis for tiers 6-13 as well. This position has the broadest range of talent and contains the top-four names on our overall list. Several players from past seasons have maintained their value, but with another influx of young players emerging in 2019, some new names may surprise you on the list. There's nothing like a clean slate, and we begin to paint your fantasy picture with some analysis of our 2020 rankings.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups and weekly lineup resources:

• Nick Mariano's fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups (Premium)
• Start/Sit recommendations - All Pitcher Matchups for Week Ahead
• Fantasy baseball waiver wire rankings (top 80 players)
• FAAB fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups
• Starting pitcher fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups
• Outfield fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups
• 1B/3B fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups
• 2B/SS fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups
• Catcher fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups
• Hitter streamers - fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups
• Two-start pitcher streamers - fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups
• Cut List - Players To Consider Dropping

 

Outfield Tiered Ranks - 5x5 Mixed Leagues (December)

In case you missed it, our very own "Big Pick Nick" Mariano was named the #1 overall most accurate industry expert ranker for the 2018 season.

Rank	Tier	Player	Position	Nick	Nick G	Riley
1	1	Ronald Acuna Jr.	OF	2	1	1
2	1	Mike Trout	OF	1	3	2
3	1	Christian Yelich	OF	3	2	3
4	1	Mookie Betts	OF	4	4	6
5	1	Cody Bellinger	1B/OF	5	6	4
6	2	Juan Soto	OF	13	12	13
7	2	J.D. Martinez	OF	21	22	16
8	2	Bryce Harper	OF	18	20	26
9	2	Aaron Judge	OF	19	29	21
10	3	Charlie Blackmon	OF	32	23	27
11	3	Starling Marte	OF	22	28	35
12	3	Yordan Alvarez	OF	36	37	25
13	3	George Springer	OF	35	34	30
14	3	Giancarlo Stanton	OF	41	44	47
15	3	Whit Merrifield	2B/OF	42	43	55
16	3	Kris Bryant	3B/OF	48	47	48
17	4	Ketel Marte	2B/SS/OF	52	56	40
18	4	Joey Gallo	OF	49	54	53
19	4	Austin Meadows	OF	60	50	63
20	4	Eddie Rosario	OF	67	55	56
21	4	Eloy Jimenez	OF	54	52	81
22	5	Jorge Soler	OF	85	81	85
23	5	Michael Brantley	OF	88	90	76
24	5	Michael Conforto	OF	87	98	71
25	5	Tommy Pham	OF	77	84	105
26	5	Marcell Ozuna	OF	98	86	93
27	5	Nicholas Castellanos	OF	92	105	84
28	5	Victor Robles	OF	100	66	125
29	5	Andrew Benintendi	OF	96	87	111
30	5	Trey Mancini	1B/OF	103	109	101
31	5	Max Kepler	OF	120	89	106
32	5	Jeff McNeil	2B/3B/OF	115	93	113
33	5	Yasiel Puig	OF	93	107	124
34	5	Ramon Laureano	OF	104	122	109
35	6	Danny Santana	1B/2B/3B/SS/OF	113	113	161
36	6	Mitch Haniger	OF	143	139	108
37	6	Kyle Tucker	OF	99	115	181
38	6	Oscar Mercado	OF	135	141	128
39	6	Aristides Aquino	OF	146	158	117
40	6	Kyle Schwarber	OF	149	129	149
41	6	Franmil Reyes	OF	140	137	152
42	6	Luis Robert	OF	114	120	200
43	6	Willie Calhoun	OF	174	135	126
44	6	Lourdes Gurriel Jr.	2B/OF	170	127	141
45	6	Khris Davis	OF	109	151	182
46	7	Andrew McCutchen	OF	151	#N/A	153
47	7	David Dahl	OF	153	179	142
48	7	Hunter Dozier	1B/3B/OF	164	166	154
49	7	Lorenzo Cain	OF	182	148	155
50	7	Justin Upton	OF	160	177	151
51	7	Byron Buxton	OF	180	156	180
52	7	Joc Pederson	1B/OF	186	161	172
53	7	Nick Senzel	OF	156	168	209
54	7	Mallex Smith	OF	148	183	208
55	7	Garrett Hampson	2B/SS/OF	197	186	171
56	7	Shin-Soo Choo	OF	202	169	216
57	7	Ryan Braun	OF	203	174	220
58	8	Bryan Reynolds	OF	234	150	238
59	8	J.D. Davis	3B/OF	198	228	203
60	8	Tommy Edman	2B/3B/OF	181	245	205
61	8	Domingo Santana	OF	220	222	193
62	8	Mike Yastrzemski	OF	216	207	215
63	8	Adam Eaton	OF	194	192	277
64	8	Jo Adell	OF	225	185	257
65	8	A.J. Pollock	OF	212	210	248
66	8	Scott Kingery	SS/3B/OF	224	214	236
67	8	Brett Gardner	OF	215	205	266
68	8	Hunter Renfroe	OF	238	265	192
69	8	Avisail Garcia	OF	242	220	234
70	8	Jon Berti	2B/3B/SS/OF	227	#N/A	245
71	9	Randal Grichuk	OF	250	281	191
72	9	Trent Grisham	OF	244	237	244
73	9	Ian Desmond	OF	218	263	267
74	9	Hunter Pence	OF	209	215	325
75	9	Jose Martinez	OF	267	253	233
76	9	Kyle Lewis	OF	273	225	273
77	9	Kevin Pillar	OF	279	248	246
78	9	David Peralta	OF	313	261	211
79	9	Leury Garcia	SS/OF	261	244	293
80	9	Austin Riley	OF	315	#N/A	218
81	9	Brian Anderson	3B/OF	271	259	288
82	9	Stephen Piscotty	OF	248	255	316
83	9	Alex Verdugo	OF	363	#N/A	187
84	10	Wil Myers	1B/OF	222	258	357
85	10	Jesse Winker	OF	286	#N/A	276
86	10	Corey Dickerson	OF	270	268	306
87	10	Gregory Polanco	OF	280	287	#N/A
88	10	Raimel Tapia	OF	284	#N/A	#N/A
89	10	Anthony Santander	OF	289	#N/A	280
90	10	Alex Dickerson	OF	266	251	349
91	10	Kole Calhoun	OF	321	270	307
92	10	Eric Thames	1B/OF	359	#N/A	241
93	10	Nomar Mazara	OF	344	295	274
94	10	Alex Gordon	OF	264	272	380
95	10	Ian Happ	2B/3B/OF	306	#N/A	#N/A
96	10	Manuel Margot	OF	291	274	354
97	11	Jurickson Profar	2B/OF	309	#N/A	#N/A
98	11	Brandon Nimmo	OF	416	209	#N/A
99	11	Nick Markakis	OF	314	#N/A	#N/A
100	11	Clint Frazier	OF	305	#N/A	326
101	11	Austin Hays	OF	316	#N/A	#N/A
102	11	Jason Heyward	OF	336	#N/A	317
103	11	Steven Souza Jr.	OF	341	#N/A	#N/A
104	11	Matt Beaty	1B/3B/OF	342	#N/A	#N/A
105	11	Tyler O'Neill	OF	348	#N/A	#N/A
106	11	Kevin Kiermaier	OF	378	#N/A	319
107	11	Jackie Bradley Jr.	OF	339	#N/A	362
108	11	Brandon Belt	1B/OF	351	#N/A	#N/A
109	11	Teoscar Hernandez	OF	408	#N/A	301
110	11	Josh VanMeter	1B/2B/OF	366	#N/A	345
111	11	Dylan Carlson	OF	364	#N/A	#N/A
112	12	Mike Tauchman	OF	404	#N/A	359
113	12	Marwin Gonzalez	1B/3B/OF	382	#N/A	#N/A
114	12	Josh Reddick	OF	386	#N/A	#N/A
115	12	Adam Jones	OF	419	#N/A	355
116	12	Sam Hilliard	OF	388	#N/A	#N/A
117	12	Yoshitomo Tsutsugo	OF	450	#N/A	334
118	12	Josh Rojas	2B/3B/OF	394	#N/A	#N/A
119	12	Harrison Bader	OF	395	#N/A	#N/A
120	12	Yoenis Cespedes	OF	396	#N/A	#N/A
121	12	Josh Naylor	OF	397	#N/A	#N/A
122	13	Harold Ramirez	OF	414	#N/A	#N/A
123	13	Jarrod Dyson	OF	532	#N/A	297
124	13	Ender Inciarte	OF	417	#N/A	#N/A
125	13	Shogo Akiyama	OF	475	#N/A	365
126	13	Cameron Maybin	OF	422	#N/A	#N/A
127	13	Alex Kirilloff	OF	426	#N/A	#N/A
128	13	Dwight Smith Jr.	OF	431	#N/A	#N/A
129	13	Derek Fisher	OF	432	#N/A	#N/A
130	13	Aaron Hicks	OF	528	#N/A	339
131	13	Drew Waters	OF	442	#N/A	#N/A
132	13	Travis Demeritte	OF	446	#N/A	#N/A
133	13	Delino DeShields	OF	448	#N/A	#N/A
134	13	Bradley Zimmer	OF	451	#N/A	#N/A
135	13	Adam Duvall	OF	527	#N/A	377
136	13	Greg Allen	OF	462	#N/A	#N/A
137	13	Nick Martini	OF	465	#N/A	#N/A
138	13	Christian Pache	OF	469	#N/A	#N/A
139	13	Brian Goodwin	OF	474	#N/A	#N/A
140	13	Victor Reyes	OF	479	#N/A	#N/A
141	13	Dexter Fowler	OF	488	#N/A	#N/A
142	13	Brandon Dixon	1B/OF	497	#N/A	#N/A
143	13	Randy Arozarena	OF	501	#N/A	#N/A
144	13	Odubel Herrera	OF	512	#N/A	#N/A
145	13	Roman Quinn	OF	523	#N/A	#N/A
146	13	Gerardo Parra	OF	524	#N/A	#N/A
147	13	Christin Stewart	OF	526	#N/A	#N/A
148	13	Phillip Ervin	OF	531	#N/A	#N/A

 

Tier One

Be sure to also read part two of our outfield rankings analysis, tiers 6-13.

After years of sitting in a tier of his own, Mike Trout finally has someone to challenge him as the undisputed number one player for fantasy baseball. It's a neck and neck race for me personally between the reigning AL MVP and Ronald Acuna Jr., but I give the edge to the latter for a couple of reasons.

If it wasn't for a small groin strain in the final week of the regular season, we may be talking about Acuna Jr. being the first 40/40 player since 2006. He finished three steals shy of this prestigious club after clubbing 41 homers in 156 games, and he would have been the youngest player ever to join at age-21. It's also easy to believe that Acuna Jr.'s 127 R, 101 RBI, and .280 BA have potential for more with natural progression in the league and an excellent lineup around him.

Despite winning the AL MVP for the third time in 2019, Trout is coming off his third consecutive injury-shortened season. He's proven he doesn't need to play a full 162 games for owners to benefit, but the fact that he's averaged 129 games played since 2016 is a bit concerning. Trout's 11 thefts in 2019 also tied a career-low, and I wouldn't be surprised if he finished in single digits in 2020 to help limit the injury risk. We're splitting hairs at the top of the rankings board, but give me Acuna Jr. for the upside 5x5 production.

Mookie Betts' slow start to the 2019 season left owners disgruntled, but his year-end numbers ended up surprisingly comparable to his 2018 MVP campaign. He led the league in runs for the second consecutive year (135), which was six more than the year previous. Betts also matched his RBI output (80) last season while finishing three homers shy of his 2018 mark with 29 HR. His .295 BA and 16 steals lagged, but if these numbers resemble a floor for the recently turned 27-year-old, he's a safe first-round selection no matter who he plays for in 2020.

 

Tier Two

Tier two is a small drop off in fantasy talent, mainly because of the lack of elite speed for these power bats. Juan Soto has the youngest legs of the bunch, and has arguably the most potential heading into the new decade. His 34/110/110/12/.282 roto line is salivating for a player who just turned 21-years-old during the World Series, and there's still room for growth. His 20.0% K-rate and 16.4% walk rate are also commendable for such a young bat, making the ceiling sky-high for "Childish Bambino."

J.D. Martinez is a player I'm a bit higher on than my fellow rankers. It's clear he had a step back from his remarkable 2018 season, but a 36/98/105/2/.304 season is nothing to scoff at either. His BABIP was unusually high in his first year in Beantown (.375), so his BA dropped .026 points last season when his more genuine .342 BABIP fell near his lifetime mark (.346). Martinez also had an expected batting average (xBA) of .309, which was ninth-best in the majors, and he set a career-high in K-rate with a 21.0% K%. Batting in a hitter-friendly division and as a part of the potent Red Sox lineup, I'll gladly take Martinez' mix of reliable power and average.

On the flip side, Bryce Harper is a player that is lower on my list. While he nearly put together his second straight 100 R and 100 RBI season, his lack of production in the BA category downgrades him from the rest of the outfielders in this group. After hitting .260 last season, the $300 million man has eclipsed this mark just once since 2015, and his plate discipline metrics keep trending in the wrong way. Harper's K-rate dropped for the fourth consecutive season to 26.1%, the lowest mark since his rookie campaign, while his 68.3% contact rate and 15.1% SwStr% finished at bottom-seven levels league-wide. I'm more bearish than most on Harper, even with his improvement in the second half.

 

Tier Three

Charlie Blackmon continues to put up sterling fantasy numbers aided by his favorable home ballpark. In 2019 he slashed .379/.435/.739 at home compared to .256/.299/.432 away from Coors Field, and for his career, the results aren't much different. These vast splits are something I tend to stay away from when drafting a player, but after Blackmon's longevity at producing at a high rate, he's hard to ignore. He did, however, steal just two bases last year, so it appears he's becoming a four-category contributor.

Starling Marte quietly had his best all-around season in 2019 despite playing just 132 games. He set career-bests in HR (23), R (97), and RBI (82), while posting an admirable .295 BA with 25 SB. Good health has always eluded Marte, but he's a reliable 5x5 contributor when he's on the field.

Yordan Alvarez is an impressive hitter that I'm more bullish on, and one who could catapult himself into a first-round value after the 2020 season. The AL Rookie of the Year had a phenomenal 87 games clubbing 27 dingers and 78 RBI while slashing .313/.412/.655 as the primary fourth or fifth batter for the Astros. Alvarez notably struggled in the postseason after seeing a heavy dosage of breaking balls, but he started to adjust in the World Series with a more disciplined approach. In the regular season, however, the 22-year-old's top-10 Barrel% (17.2%) was no fluke as he's mashed at every level of ball coming through the farm system. "Air Yordan's" talent is for real, and his teammates don't need to bang on a garbage can for him to prove it.

After stealing 45 bases in 2018, Whit Merrifield's 20-SB total last season was dissatisfying to say the least. His 2020 outlook doesn't appeal to me either as he enters his age-31 season with new manager Mike Matheny, whose Cardinals teams from 2012-17 finished 29th overall in thefts.

 

Tier Four

An injury-shortened season capped what could have been a career year across the board for Joey Gallo in 2019. His elite 52.3% Hard Hit%, 26.4% Barrel%, and 150-game pace (47/116/105/9/.253) would have all finished as career-highs, making the 26-year-old a potential draft-day steal with his stock currently underpriced.

After years of getting stashed away in the Pirates system, Austin Meadows emerged into the fantasy limelight with the Rays in 2019. Swiping 12 bases with 83 runs and 89 RBI in 138 games, the All-Star surprised the most by swatting 33 big flies. Meadows never hit more than 12 home runs in any minor league year, but his 17 round-trippers over the final two months of the season suggests he's figured out his power stroke. He achieved this feat by pulling nearly 14% more of his fly balls in the second half, a recipe for tremendous home run success. Look for Meadows to put up huge numbers in 2020 with a full healthy season.

Eloy Jimenez had a productive debut campaign in the majors with a 31/69/79/0/.267 roto line in 122 games for the White Sox this past season. Despite his tremendous success, his inclination to hit the ball on the ground makes me more bearish on the former Cubs prospect. His 47.9% GB% was over 5% higher than the league average, and only one other player with this many worm-killers was able to hit more than 30 homers last season (Jose Altuve). Jimenez also struggled to hit breaking balls and off-speed pitches with an xBA of .220 and .226, respectively. The 22-year-old has a bright future ahead of him, but I won't be paying for his name at face value in 2020 drafts.

 

Tier Five

Fantasy players have waited years for Jorge Soler to develop a premium big-league bat, and 2019 was finally the year he stayed healthy and put it all together. His full 162 game season helped him lead the AL in homers (48) while finishing tied for second in RBI (117) and fifth in SLG (.569). Like Jimenez, Soler struggled to hit anything other than a fastball, which aided his 26.2% K% to fall in the AL's bottom-10. Although when he did make contact, it was to a top-10 finish in Hard Hit% (49.9%). It almost seems ludicrous to have this kind of power bat ranked so low, but Soler needs to put together another healthy and productive campaign before he can climb the board.

Once Nicholas Castellanos got some lineup protection with the Chicago Cubs, he transformed into a second-half MVP candidate. His 37 extra-base hits led baseball in the final two months while he finished second among outfielders with 43 runs. As long as Castellanos doesn't land in Miami this offseason, he'll produce 25-30 HR and 180 R+RBI with ease.

Many analysts, including myself, believed Andrew Benintendi would produce a profitable 5x5 roto line in 2019, but his results were nothing short of disappointing. The 25-year-old took a step backward in his third major league season, hitting .266 with 13 HR, 72 R, 68 RBI, and 10 steals. All of these numbers were career lows after he began the year as the team's leadoff hitter before getting ultimately moved down as the Red Sox fifth hitter in the second half. His second straight 40-double season was laudable, but it appears that's more his niche, and we shouldn't expect a ceiling higher than 20 HR.

Yasiel Puig continues to put up middling numbers, but yet his draft value seems to elevate every season. He's averaged 25/69/74/16/.265 over the past three campaigns, which doesn't equate to a top-100 pick for me. Puig's potential landing spot this offseason could bump him up a few ticks, but he failed to produce at a higher rate in 2019 even with an improved home ballpark.

More 2020 Fantasy Baseball Advice