Best Players in MLB #25-11

BASEBALLS TOP 25 PLAYERS: RIGHT NOW

UPDATED POWER RANKINGS
PLAYERS 25-11 

courtesy of cbssports.com

"right now" does not mean who has the best stats through 30 games. No you won't see Bryan LaHair on this list. I am talking about the players who are the 25 best players in the game with a track record. With that said you will not see any players out for significant time on the DL. Sorry Jacoby Ellsbury and Evan Longoria.

Rankings are based on this matrix
- overall stats over last 3 seasons
- Awards won ( sliver sluggers. gold gloves. Mvp. Allstar) 
- Position primer 
- value to team winning games
- Age (hurts Derek Jeter )
-  Mr. Resentments bias.


25B.  JONATHAN PAPELBON CLOSER  Philadelphia Phillies. Yeah I went there. With Mariano out Papelbon has the most playoff experience and now takes over as the games best stopper in the game. If the Phillies can ever figure out how to score some runs again with the staff they have and Pap in the 9th they could come roaring back into the playoff picture. Almost all World Series Champions have had a dominant closer and the Phillies have a playoff warrior. 


25A. COLE HAMELS P Philadelphia Phillies.  Although I would consider him a dousche he was 14-9, 2.79 ERA, 194 Ks last season. Will be in line for a huge contract for someone willing to put up with this tool.  


24.  DAVID PRICE P Tampa Bay Rays. 2nd in the Cy Young in 2010 and back on track this year David Price is a premier lefthander.  


23. YADIER MOLINA  C St. Louis Cardinals. The Best catcher in the game by far. Factor in his glove, arm and now his bat he earned it.  a .305 BA, 14 HR, 65 RBI season last year a long with the fact he won another ring last year I see no problem calling him the games best receiver. Molina is probably the most surprising name to crack my list. 


22. ADRIAN GONZALEZ  1B. Boston Red Sox. First overall pick in 2000 and he hasn't disappointed.  4 time all star a couple gold gloves and silver slugger awards to go with it. One of the sweetest swings in baseball. Last year he hit .338 BA, 27 HR, 117 RBI. 


21. MATT CAIN. P SF Giants. The Giants made him the highest-paid right-hander in baseball history this offseason, with a six-year, $127.5 million extension. With Lincecum up and down and Cain just as steady as they come the Giants could be seeing a new "Ace" emerge from the rotation. 


20. JOEY VOTTO  1B. Cincinnati Reds.   signed a 12-year, $251.5 million extension what hurts him is that you would not consider him an elite power bat at the 1B position. Often gets lost in the talk of great players because so there are so many good first base men but I didn't forget about him. 


19. JUSTIN UPTON  OF Arizona Diamondbacks. Upton is still only 24 years old he is already a 2 time All Star and last year was a break out season for the young free swinger.  


18. CURTIS GRANDERSON CF NY Yankees. Last season was a breakout year offensively for the Grandy Man hitting 41 big fly's finishing 4th in AL MVP voting.  Off to a hot start again this year with a line up that includes a ton of power this little guy has taken over as the premier slugger for the Yanks.  


17.  JOSH HAMILTON OF Texas Rangers.  fresh off a 4 home run game puts him right back into the heart of this list. Should be higher, but the guy is to injury prone for my liking. Playing OF doesn't help his ranking either, plenty of great offensive outfielders in the game.  currently hitting .376 with 10 HR 28 RBI and 21 RBI which would rank him 2nd in fantasy value. 


16. C.C. SABATHIA  P NY Yankees.  with the Yankees Sabathia has gone 59-23 with a 3.18 ERA logging over 230 innings every single year. A true work horse. currently 4-0 with a 4.15 era and 43 k's. 


15. PRINCE FIELDER  1B Detroit Tigers. has averaged 38 HR and 108 RBI over his six full big-league seasons. Not to many hitters that can boast they have 40 homerun potential power anymore these days. Certainly not ones that make consistent contact the way Prince does. 


14. DUSTIN PEDROIA  2B Boston Red Sox. Former MVP and current gold glove winner. a hit machine. The heart and soul of the Boston Red Sox a real leader gives him bonus points. Pound for pound he might be the best player in the game. 


13. JERED WEAVER P Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. went 18-8 with a 2.41 ERA and 198 Ks last season and that would be good enough to take down the Cy Young almost any other season. Off to another great start this season. The Angels ace is one of the top righthanders in the game. 

12. CLIFF LEE  P Philadelphia Phillies. His postseason track record is pretty spectacular. Has a Cy Young under his belt and also a 3 time all star. An ace lefthander on any team other than the Dodgers makes his value even higher. Currently has an ERA under 2 for the crappy Phillies. 


11. ROBINSON CANO  2B. NY Yankees. A career average of .307 he often gets overshadowed by Jeter and A-Rod in his own infield. The best player on the Yankees is always an honor that is pretty cool to have. The best 2B in the game raises his value in my book. Great with the glove and seems to be a contender for the Batting Crown every year.