MLB Fantasy Rankings 2017: Firstbase

A fine, powdery coating of snow has covered the New England region in the past couple of days, and NFL playoff games continue to dominate television viewership; this is all just a reminder that baseball is still a few weeks away. The crack of the bat, the blistering rays of the summer sun, and a bag of cracker jacks while singing Take Me Out to the Ballgame represent a mere split second of what is to come in the exciting 2017 season ahead. Still being in the midst of the hot stove offseason, there are still free agents ironing out the kinks in agreements with their respective clubs, and players slowly easing back into the routine of preparing for a 162-game schedule. As discussed in the last MLB Fantasy Ranking for catchers, San Fransisco Giant Buster Posey and Texas Ranger Jonathan Lucroy headlined a list of intriguing talent that looks to offer plenty of upside for fantasy owners this year. A position of much more depth, and certainly eye-popping numbers is first base, which offers nothing short of a surplus and glut of talent that is sure to help your teams power numbers. Historically known for either being below-average with the glove, or slow as molasses on the base paths, first basemen are routinely pegged for gaudy homerun numbers well providing an intimidating middle-of-the-order presence. This years crop of players falls nothing short of those expectations, with headliners like Arizona Diamondback Paul Goldschmidt and Atlanta Brave Freddie Freeman paving the way for excellence, aided by bounce-back options like Yankee Greg Bird and National Ryan Zimmerman.

We'll be hitting on the top-ten best first basemen for this upcoming season, while also focusing on some dark horse candidates that look primed to come into their own and capture a bit of stardom.

These rankings are purely based off of offensive capability and talent, while defensive prowess is not taken into consideration due to the fact that most if not all fantasy leagues purely include offensive numbers only in a scale to award points for performances.

1. Paul Goldschmidt ARZ
2016 Stats: .297/.411/.489, 24 HR, 95 RBI, 106 R, 110 BB
2017 Projections: .298/.420/.555, 35 HR, 112 RBI, 108 R, 115 BB

Hands down one of the most elite bats not only at the position, but in general in the sport of baseball for the upcoming season. Prolific hand-to-eye coordination that has helped his pitch selection become so refined and on point that he mirrors a right-handed version of the Canadian Joey Votto. Swings a quick stick, evidenced by never having registered a slugging percentage below .489 in a full season, and has never hit less than 33 doubles. Perhaps the most jaw-dropping stat in his game, Goldschmidt swiped 32 bags last year, which registered ahead of speed demons like Dee Gordon, Mike Trout, and Mookie Betts! Not only is he one of the best hitters at the position, but he's won two gold gloves, and has 99 career steals over six seasons. Plain and simple, he knows how to hit for average, knock runners in, and swat bombs out into the stands, making him the best fantasy bet at the position for this upcoming season; the smart money is on Goldschmidt having a career year at 29-years old.

2. Joey Votto CIN
2016 Stats: .326/.434/.550, 29 HR, 97 RBI, 101 R, 108 BB
2017 Projections: .320/.440/.536, 27 HR, 89 RBI, 97 R, 121 BB

Arguably has the best eye in the sport besides Goldschmidt and Longoria, really knows how to pick pitches to barrel up and put in play, while limiting his swings at pitches outside of the strike zone. Topped out at 37 homeruns in probably his best season back in 2010, while knocking in a career high 113 runs and stealing 16 bags during that year. He has consistently posted well above-average isolated power numbers for his career (.223 ISO career vs. league average .140). Votto won't be swiping double digits bags anytime soon, and most likely peaked back in 2010, but look for him to continue his mastery of the strike zone, and punishing pitchers at the plate. Along with gold glove defense, Votto really is one of the best well-rounded players in the sport, and certainly can anchor any fantasy team to a league championship just based off his ability to make contact and put balls in play at premium velocity; his power levels are just an added benefit and remind fantasy owners just how much of a luxury it is to have someone hit for a league leading average, while delivering consistently in the power department.

3. Miguel Cabrera DET
2016 Stats: .316/.393/.563, 38 HR, 108 RBI, 92 R, 75 BB
2017 Projections: .331/.402/.558, 36 HR, 110 RBI, 101 R, 83 BB

Cabrera hasn't hit below .313 in any season since 2009, which reiterates just how dominant Cabrera has been at a position that has had a lot of turnover in the past decade. One of the few hitters that has figured out the art of hitting, and will be one of the greatest hitters of the modern era. Consistently ranking among the league leaders in most offensive categories, at 33 years of age, Cabrera doesn't seem to be slowing down. Thankfully, Cabrera plays one of the less demanding positions on the diamond at first base, and due to that, he has the ability to really hone in focusing his concentration towards refining his approach at the plate. Cabrera has been attacked away at the plate, only to see him push balls over the firstbasemen's head into right field, while also being jammed inside, to which Cabrera shortens his swings and fights off pitches that travel straight into shallow centerfield. Truly one of the best hitters, and as he ages, as a 13 year veteran, he knows how to work pitchers and look for the pitch he wants. With J.D. Martinez, Victor Martinez, and Nick Castellanos, Miguel should have another superior year as he looks to add to his growing total of 446 career homeruns and a lifetime .321 batting average.

4. Anthony Rizzo CHC
2016 Stats: .292/.385/.544, 32 HR, 109 RBI, 94 R, 74 BB
2017 Projections: .288/.400/.592, 40 HR, 125 RBI, 105 R, 79 BB

Rizzo definitely has some of the best raw talent at the position, and the potential that still lies in his bit is eye-popping considering he's still only 27-years old. The contract that he'll demand from the Cubs will be one for the ages when it comes to first basemen, and his numbers have proved that he's one of the elite performers over the past couple seasons at the position. Having been drafted by the Boston Red Sox, and traded to the San Diego Padres in the Adrian Gonzalez deal, Rizzo was reacquired by Jed Hoyer to lead a star-studded crop of Chicago Cub players finally this past season. Always known for his huge bat, Rizzo has delivered a substantial amount of value with his glove as well, which was duly noted by baseball officials, as Rizzo was officially awarded the 2016 NL Gold Glove at first base. Rizzo delivered on the other side of things with the bat, slugging to the tune of 32 homeruns in 155 games, good for a 18.2 AB/HR, which was a personal best for Rizzo. He added 43 doubles and four triples for a gaudy total of 79 extra base hits, which ranked sixth in all of Major League Baseball this past season. Anthony Rizzo has already put up all-star numbers, but the sky is the limit, especially in a lineup that is led by 2016 NL MVP Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Ben Zobrist, and an exciting core of young talent assembled by otherworldly President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein.

5. Freddie Freeman ATL
2016 Stats: .302/.400/.569, 34 HR, 91 RBI, 102 R, 89 BB
2017 Projections: .291/.389/.551, 32 HR, 100 RBI, 98 R, 85 BB

Despite playing for one of the worst teams in baseball in 2016, Freeman still delivered his year-in and year-out fantastic stats, cranking a career high 34 big fly's and recording a 6.5 WAR. A lean, mean machine at 6'5", and 225 lbs, Freeman teed off on pitchers last season, although having played for Braves team that scored the second fewest runs in the MLB, only ahead of the inter-divison rival Phillies. Freeman put up really intriguing power numbers this past year, really locking in at a career low 17.3 AB/HR, with a .267 ISO that was 71 points higher than his previous career best. It can be assumed that some regression may potentially follow this season after a career year last year, and Freeman may even want to save the best for last as the Braves have one of the best up-and-coming teams in baseball, thanks to their jaded crop of minor league talent that ranks as some of the best in the game, led by Dansby Swanson, Ender Inciarte, and Ozzie Albies. Look for Freddie Freeman to put up more gaudy numbers, especially considering Atlanta's lineup won't be as dreadful as last year, and their new stadium they'll be debuting in this year.

6. Jose Abreu CHW
2016 Stats: .293/.353/.468, 25 HR, 100 RBI, 67 R, 47 BB
2017 Projections: .283/.339/.491, 27 HR, 92 RBI, 61 R, 39 BB

Openly known as a free swinger since coming over from Cuba, Abreu had a great deal of hype following him over to the states. He came with a lightning quick stick that produced globs of power, but he undoubtedly had some swing-and-miss questions arise about his game, and in his three years in the MLB, the stats have spoken for themselves. Abreu has certainly put up above-average offensive numbers in pretty much category, and would be higher on the list if he replicated his first years results over the past two seasons, but with more exposure to pitchers, and scouting reports, teams have learned how to effectively pitch Abreu to limit the damage he does against pitchers. Over the past three seasons, Abreu's batting averages, homeruns, ISO, AB/HR, XBH, and total bases have all trended in the wrong direction, suggesting that the league is doing more adjusting than Abreu is. Only 29-years old, Abreu still has time on his side to right the ship, and to show the White Sox he is a long term cog, and that he shouldn't be sold off like Chris Sale and Adam Eaton. He should minimally be able to improve on his numbers from 2016 due to the fact that the league will be pitching him in very hard, while throwing off-speed garbage pitches on 0-2 and 1-2 counts, if Abreu can be more selective and barrel up more pitches, he'll have an easy time launching pitches into orbit.

7. Chris Davis BAL
2016 Stats: .221/.332/.459, 38 HR, 84 RBI, 99 R, 88 BB
2017 Projections: .245/.359/.548, 42 HR, 101 RBI, 98 R, 90 BB

Muscle, muscle, and more muscle; he ate his green beans when his mother told him to. Davis, since breaking in as a full time starter has delivered nothing short of glory in the power department. He can 100% be relied upon for racking up the HR numbers on your fantasy team, but at the expense of a low batting average, thanks to sky high strikeout totals. Davis is your prototypical strikeout or homerun hitter, which screams high-risk, high-reward all over him. His swing can be very long at times, and has a hard time laying off movement pitches, but certainly takes advantage of flat pitches, and can hit them just as hard as about anyone in the sport not named Giancarlo Stanton. He's surrounded by franchise cornerstone Manny Machado, and all-star centerfielder Adam Jones, and will look to break a trend of rising strikeout totals and a falling batting average. Extremely risky, and probably best suited for a utility role rather than being relied upon as starting first basemen on a fantasy team, but if he's on, he's on, and the power numbers could be scary good. Cranked 53 taters in 2013, and he could look to mash pitches close to that total if the Baltimore offense is running at its peak.

8. Brandon Belt SFG
2016 Stats: .275/.394/.474, 17 HR, 82 RBI, 77 R, 104 BB
2017 Projections: .285/.385/.487, 20 HR, 85 RBI, 81 R, 93 BB

Belt might be a surprise pick for many people this high up the list, but he's really settled into a quality everyday player. He doesn't really excel at any one area, but rather provides above-average production across the board in pretty much every category. Belt delivers solid power (41 doubles, 17 HR's last season), while being selective enough at the plate (104 walks to 148 strikeouts) that he won't completely dismantle his offensive profile. Considering he plays in the abnormally large AT&T Park, is countered by the never-prevailing winds from McCovey Cove in right field, Belt is a good bet to post great doubles and walk totals, while seeing average homerun and RBI totals. He is surrounded by a reasonably gifted offense, headlined by Hunter Pence, Brandon Crawford, and Joe Panik, all of which are looking to deliver a fourth World Series to the Giants in a seven year window. Belt doesn't have the most exciting fantasy numbers, but if you're looking for a moderately late round pick the posts consistent numbers and totals, look no further than the University of Texas product.

9. Eric Hosmer KC
2016 Stats: .266/.328/.433, 25 HR, 104 RBI, 80 R, 57 BB
2017 Projections: .281/.360/.458, 27 HR, 98 RBI, 83 R, 60 BB

One of the more interesting players at the position, Hosmer had a bittersweet campaign last year, posting a career high in homeruns, runs batted in, and at bats per homerun, while on the flip side setting a career high in strikeouts for a season, and looking at near career lows in runs scored, doubles, batting average, on base percentage, and WAR. He's an interesting "bounce-back" candidate so to say; his season wasn't horrible, the tick up in homeruns is an encouraging sign that at the age of 27, Hosmer is finally learning to use his power to jump some pitches and pull them over the fence. He had nine less doubles in 2016 than he did in 2015, but that scale back could be an answer for the seven more homeruns he hit in 2016 as opposed to 2015; some of the doubles Hosmer was hitting out to the warning track early in his career are finally carrying a little bit more to the point of maturing into real game power. He has been a gold glove first basemen for the majority of his career, so that will not change much, but he is going into his contract year, so look for him to really spray the ball and incorporate more power into his game, and of course, without sacrificing 31 points in batting average like he did last year. Really well-rounded player, can even swipe a few bags for fantasy owners, at 27-years old he's starting to hit his peak years; he may not have had "Start Me" written on him the past couple years, but the potential numbers he can put up are quite enticing enough to earn him a starting first base or utility gig on someones team.

10. Hanley Ramirez BOS
2016 Stats: .286/.361/.505, 30 HR, 111 RBI, 81 R, 60 BB
2017 Projections: .308/.376/.520, 28 HR, 104 RBI, 78 R, 58 BB

Written off early by many experts, Ramirez really excelled in his second year in Boston, and not only at the plate, but as a leader in the clubhouse and as a solid defender at first base. He'll most likely be looking at a full time transition to designated hitter now that future Hall of Famer David Ortiz hung up his cleats, but that should breath optimism for fantasy owners as Ramirez will be able to focus much more time on his strong stroke swatting pitches all over the diamond. It is fair to argue that Ramirez's numbers last year were inflated due to the fact that Ortiz hit in the three hole right in front of him, and with Ortiz no longer being their, pitchers will now likely attack Ramirez less and pitch to whomever bats behind him. This could intriguingly introduce a higher OBP for Ramirez, and earn him a few more intentional walks, but the full time move to DH, and the larger offensive role that will be demanded of Ramirez makes him a good candidate to have high expectations on. Always known for his gifted bat, Ramirez really put it together last year and mashed 59 extra base hits, and walked away from the season having accumulated a 3.3 offensive WAR with the bat. Much is to be expected and demanded of Ramirez this year, especially after a renaissance year like last, and look for him to step up in prime time and deliver greater overall results in the average department, while really demonstrating his knack of barreling up balls and sending them into the gaps.

That'll conclude this segments thoughts on the top-ten first basemen in the sport today, and the projections and expectations for this season. Check back soon as we look to release the top-ten second basemen in the game today as we get you ready to get a rolling start on the upcoming 2017 fantasy baseball season.