2013 Fantasy Baseball Rankings Top 100 are based on a single season outlook for the 2013 fantasy baseball season. Top 100 rankings are established for a standard fantasy baseball scoring system in mixed AL/NL leagues. A *RISING* or *FALLING* status is included after specific players based on their potential rising or falling ranking heading into the 2013 fantasy baseball season.
2013 Rankings: C – 1B – 2B – 3B – SS – OF – SP – RP – Top 100
2013 Sleepers: C – 1B – 2B – 3B – SS – OF – SP – RP
2013 Deep Sleepers: Top 10 – Hitters – Pitchers
Rankings Updated: March 3, 2013
1. Ryan Braun – mil
Toss up between Braun and Mike Trout for the #1 spot, but I’ll take the proven and reliable veteran in the prime of his career right now.
2. Mike Trout – laa
Even though a regression in stats is possible for Trout this season, he still offers too much potential, and therefore is an easy choice at #2 in these rankings.
3. Miguel Cabrera – det
Given position eligibility at 1B and 3B, and proven reliability, Cabrera is basically play candy at #3.
4. Robinson Cano – nyy
A second baseman who is in the prime of his career and is a proven 30 homerun and .300 hitter. Can’t go wrong with Cano at this point in the rankings.
5. Matt Kemp – lad
A step below Braun and Trout, but barely. No reason to believe anything less than 30 homerun and 30 stolen base potential for Kemp in 2013.
6. Andrew McCutchen – pit
At just 26 years old, McCutchen is a goldmine pick in fantasy baseball drafts at this point in the rankings. His near obscurity in Pittsburgh makes his 31 homeruns, 20 stolen bases, 107 runs scored, 96 RBI, and .327 batting average from last season go almost unnoticed.
7. Albert Pujols – laa
The move to Los Angeles did not exactly go smoothly for Pujols last season, but with offensive talent galore surrounding him in the Angels lineup, I can easily picture a huge bounce back season for Pujols in 2013.
8. Carlos Gonzalez – col
A Coors field beast, Gonzalez should challenge for 30 homeruns and 30 stolen bases in 2013.
9. Troy Tulowitzki – col
The oft injured shortstop is always hard to rank in fantasy baseball, but given his position eligibility, prime of career age, and hitter friendly park, I feel it is worth the risk ranking Tulowitzki here.
10. Clayton Kershaw – lad
Across the board, Kershaw is the easy the #1 starting pitcher in my book. A 20 win season is calling his name in 2013.
11. Justin Verlander – det
Seemingly a sure bet, but I’m a bit more worried than other fantasy baseball managers might be about Verlander’s high amount of innings pitched the last few seasons.
12. Stephen Strasburg – was
Many might believe that Strasburg’s injury potential lowers his fantasy baseball value, but I don’t place as much stock into those worries considering we are dealing with so much potential here.
13. Evan Longoria – tb
After enduring an injury plagued season last year, I fully expect Longoria to be a top 3 fantasy baseball 3B in 2013.
14. Joey Votto – cin
With health back on his side, I would expect a per usual rock steady and knowing what you are going to get with Votto, type of stat line in 2013.
15. Buster Posey – sf
Many say not to reach for a catcher because of position scarcity, but when the guy’s name is Buster Posey and he is 25 years old coming off of a 24 homerun, 103 RBI, and .336 batting average season in 2012, I’m willing to reach a couple of picks higher for him.
16. Prince Fielder – det
Even though Fielder only hit 30 homeruns and drove in 108 RBI, he did manage to tally a career high batting average at .313 while also racking up a career low in strikeouts during the 2012. At age 28, things are definitely looking bright for Fielder in 2013.
17. Josh Hamilton – laa
Seemingly any way you crack it, if Hamilton can stay healthy and in the lineup, he should be good for anything between 30-40 homeruns and 100-130 RBI with a batting average around .290.
18. Jose Bautista – tor
Coming off of an injury plagued 2012 season and offseason wrist surgery, Bautista might be one of the bigger fantasy baseball question marks entering the 2013 season. He could post stats to warrant 1st round pick status, or at age 32 he could simply be a very good fantasy baseball outfielder but not great like he used to be.
19. Giancarlo Stanton – mia
Very tempted to rank Stanton higher given his 37 homerun and .290 batting average performance from last season, but the Miami offense surrounding him in the lineup poses a definite concern to his overall run producing numbers in 2013.
20. Hanley Ramirez – lad
The shine has worn off of the Hanley fantasy baseball name, but when a duel third base and shortstop eligible player racks ups 24 homeruns, 21 stolen bases, and 92 RBI during the 2012 season, entering the prime of his career at age 29, I’m willing to gamble on a third base and shortstop eligible 30 homerun 30 stolen base threat.
21. Jose Reyes – tor
The typical dome injury issues for a speed guy like Reyes could be a problem, but Reyes leading that potent Blue Jays lineup and hitting in a hitter friendly park, I could see a career year in home runs and RBI with a slight decrease in stolen bases. Given the shallow shortstop position in fantasy baseball leagues, I’m willing to gamble fairly high on the Reyes stock in 2013.
22. David Price – tb
Posting a breakout career year in 2012 with 20 wins, 205 strikeouts, and a 2.56 ERA, Price at just age 27 is poised for a similar performance in 2013.
23. Dustin Pedroia – bos
With question marks in the Boston lineup, ranking Pedroia could vary greatly entering the 2013 season. However I do think that one thing is certain, if Jacoby Ellsbury comes back fully healthy and returns to his dominance at the plate, then Pedroia’s stat line will benefit significantly.
24. Ryan Zimmerman – was
The Nationals lineup is young and offers plenty of offensive scoring potential. With a full healthy season from Zimmerman, he could easily lead the charge with 30 homeruns and 100 RBI.
25. Adrian Beltre – tex
Racking up a career high 36 homeruns and .321 batting average last aseason, Beltre could easily deserve a higher ranking here, but he will be 34 years old for the 2013 season and Josh Hamilton is gone and Nelson Cruz has steroid suspension questions surrounding him entering the season.
26. David Wright – nym
Entering his age 30 season, the odds of Wright posting more than 10 stolen bases during the 2013 is becoming more and more unlikely in my mind. However given his proven ability to be a consistent .300 hitter, I still feel his 20 plus homerun and 100 RBI potential make him a quality 3B on fantasy baseball teams in 2013.
27. Bryce Harper – was
After tallying 22 homeruns and 18 stolen bases as a 19 year old rookie last season, Harper enters the 2013 as one of the more widely varying rankings among fantasy baseball rankings. On the upside he offers 30 homerun and 20 stolen base ability, but on the downside he is still just 20 years old and a sophomore slump is possible.
28. Justin Upton – atl
The move to Atlanta could be the match that finally sparks Upton to premiere fantasy baseball status. I’m thinking 30 homeruns and 20 stolen bases sounds about right for Upton in 2013.
29. Adam Jones – bal
Finally living up to his potential, Jones had a breakout career year last season as he racked up 32 homeruns, 16 stolen bases, 103 runs scored, 82 RBI, and a .287 batting average. Anything around the 30 homerun and 20 stolen base range is easily within reach for this entering prime of career 27 year old.
30. Jason Heyward – atl
After 3 seasons in the majors, and still only 23 years old, Heyward is coming off of a 27 homerun and 21 stolen base season in 2012. The ceiling is very high for Heyward in 2013, and a 35 homerun and 30 stolen base campaign could be in store.
31. Adrian Gonzalez – lad
A rebound season is easily within reach for Gonzalez in 2013, so if you can draft him in the 4th round in your fantasy baseball draft, you should be getting an excellent deal.
32. Ian Kinsler – tex
A down season last year for Kinsler brings many questions surrounding his once elite fantasy baseball status entering the 2013 season. With his age 31 season this year, it is very possible the stolen base speed is a thing of the past for Kinsler. With that said, I would still expect numbers in the 20 homerun and 20 stolen base range.
33. Paul Goldschmidt – ari
Tallying a complete stat lineup across the board in his first full season in the majors with 20 homeruns, 18 stolen bases, 82 RBI, 82 runs scored, and a .286 batting average, the 25 year old slugging Goldschmidt is a 30 homerun, 20 stolen base, 100 RBI threat with All-Star potential in 2013.
34. Jered Weaver – laa
Coming off a 20 win season to go along with a 2.81 ERA and 1.02 WHIP, there really is no reason to believe that Weaver cannot post another 20 wins in 2013. Add in the fact that he only pitched 188 innings to tally those 20 wins, and there should be no innings workload concerns for Weaver.
35. Zack Greinke – lad
Back in the National League, Greinke could easily excel in a Dodgers uniform. Entering the prime of his career at age 29, expecting a stat line that includes a strikeout per inning combined with 20 win potential, Greinke could push for a top 5 SP ranking in 2013.
36. Cole Hamels – phi
Entrenched in the prime of his career at age 29, there is no reason to believe Hamels will not tally something close to his past 3 seasons averages of a 2.95 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, and 207 strikeouts.
Excelling as a 26 year old with the Nationals last season, Gonzalez posted an outstanding 21 wins, 207 strikeouts, and a 2.89 ERA over 199 innings pitched. Unfortunately steroid questions will follow him as the 2013 season approaches, but if his name is cleared, Gonzalez is an easy top 10 SP for fantasy baseball teams entering the 2013 season.
38. Felix Hernandez – sea
Some might say this is too high, some might say it’s too low. Based solely on Hernandez as a major league pitcher, this ranking is probably too low. Based on Hernandez pitching for the Seattle Mariners, this ranking is probably too high by fantasy baseball stat standards given the likelihood of low win numbers.
39. Starlin Castro – chc
Find me a 22 year old shortstop who tallied 14 homeruns, 25 stolen bases, 78 RBI, 78 runs scored, 12 triples, and a .283 batting average last season, and I’ll say make sure you draft him in the top 35 of your fantasy baseball draft in 2013.
40. Matt Cain – sf
A 28 year old in the prime of his career, and coming of off back to back seasons of tallying a 2.88 ERA and 2.79 ERA, Cain should find no problem coming close to those stats once again in 2013.
41. Cliff Lee – phi
I know many will clamor for Lee to get a top 30 overall ranking, but at age 34 and a not so potent anymore Phillies lineup backing him, I just don’t see the huge win total potential for Lee, that premiere fantasy baseball starting pitchers need to justify their ranking. Still an ERA around 3.00 and a strikeout per inning pitched is definitely within reach for this veteran.
42. Yoenis Cespedes – oak
As a 26 year old Cuban defector entering the 2012 season, Cespedes was even better and more advanced as a hitter than many expected of him. After tallying 23 homeruns and 16 stolen bases to go along with a rock solid .292 batting average as a rookie last season, Cespedes should definitely be considered a potential top 10 fantasy baseball outfielder heading into the 2013 season.
43. Edwin Encarnacion – tor
I realize his 42 homeruns, 110 RBI, 13 stolen bases, and .280 batting average stat line from last season deserves more love, but I am one of the Encarnacion skeptics entering the 2013 season. I would expect something in the range of 25-30 homeruns, 80-100 RBI and a .270 batting average in 2013.
44. Matt Holliday – stl
A top 50 overall ranking could be a stretch for the aging 33 year old Holliday, but he is a proven 25-30 homerun, 90-100 RBI, 90 runs scored, and .300 hitter. I’m willing to play it safe here and plug that into one of my starting outfield spots.
45. Jacoby Ellsbury – bos
After an injury plagued season last year, the 29 year old Ellsbury should make a run at reclaiming his elite fantasy baseball status in 2013. All in all, Ellsbury offers one of the more boom or bust outlooks in fantasy baseball rankings entering the 2013 season.
46. Curtis Granderson – nyy — injury ?
The .232 batting average in the 2012 season hurts, but back to back 40 plus homerun and 100 RBI seasons from Granderson is hard to overlook. At this point, anything over 30 homeruns and 90 RBI seems like a given in 2013, with plenty of upside to tally more.
47. Chris Sale – cws
With his first full season in the majors under his belt from last year, Sale is one young and potentially elite fantasy baseball starting pitcher, who I am willing to draft a bit earlier than others might think he should be drafted. I’m willing to bank on potential with this 24 year old lefty arm.
48. Madison Bumgarner – sf
After a scorching start to the 2012 season, the riggers of a full season started to wear down the just 22 year old Bumgarner a bit during the second half of the season last year. At age 23 for the 2013 season, a run at 20 wins and a sub 3.00 ERA is within reach for this budding All-Star.
49. Chase Headley – sd
A true breakout season from Headley last year resulted in career highs of 31 homeruns, 115 RBI, and 17 stolen bases. Add in his .286 batting average, and you have a top 20 overall fantasy baseball player on your hands. However the proven reliability of this stat production is lacking, and thus I wouldn’t trust ranking Headley in the top 30 just yet.
50. Johnny Cueto – cin
A Cy Young Award candidate last season, Cueto will be a 27 year old who is coming off of back to back seasons of posting a 2.31 ERA and 2.78 ERA. With a potent offense backing him in Cincinnati, Cueto should push for 20 wins, while also tallying another sub 3.00 ERA in 2013.
