Spring training is here, so it’s officially fantasy baseball season and time to find the best players to put on a roster during a draft or auction.
Following my 10 best fantasy options in the American League Central, here are the top 10 fantasy options in the American League West for 2016.
10. Texas Rangers 3B Adrian Beltre
Ronald Martinez - Getty ImagesI'm generally down on Beltre this year, but he remains a top-tier fantasy third baseman as long as he can remain in the lineup for his customary 550-plus at-bats. Just be ready to embrace some risk that has not been there before if you draft him.
9. Seattle Mariners SP Felix Hernandez
Jim McIsaac Getty ImagesThere are chinks in King Felix's armor, with K/9 and BB/9 rates that were worse in 2015 and over 2,200 innings pitched in his career. But if his HR/fly ball rate (15% in 2015) normalizes and takes his ERA down with it, this is still a fantasy stud.
8. Oakland Athletics SP Sonny Gray
Brian Blanco Getty ImagesGray had a nice 2015 season (2.73 ERA with good peripheral rates across the board), and if not for a bad final five starts (6.84 ERA) things would have been even better. Back and hip issues were probably a factor, so Gray is a budding fantasy ace.
7. Seattle Mariners 3B Kyle Seager
Otto Greule Jr. Getty ImagesThere's comfort in boredom, and Seager is the only third baseman with a .260 batting average and 20-plus home runs in each of the last three seasons. There is some untapped upside based on fly ball rate, so 30 home runs are possible in 2016.
6. Texas Rangers SP Cole Hamels
Vaughn Ridley Getty ImagesHamels had a rough first two starts for the Rangers last year (5.93 ERA), but he allowed three earned runs or less in eight of his final 10 starts to assuage any concerns over the league switch. An ace at a discount is an ace to buy in fantasy.
5. Houston Astros OF George Springer
Bob Levey Getty ImagesA right wrist injury derailed Springer's 2015 season, and he finished with 16 home runs and 16 stolen bases over 388 at-bats. A 20-20 season can be penciled in, assuming full health, and Springer has 30-30 upside at what could be a draft discount.
4. Seattle Mariners 2B Robinson Cano
Leon Halip Getty Images2015 was a tale of two halves for Cano (.251 average, six home runs before the All-Star break, .331 and 15 home runs after the All-Star break). A run at 30 home runs or 100 RBI is not coming, but Cano is still a top fantasy second baseman.
3. Houston Astros SS Carlos Correa
Sarah Crabill Getty ImagesCorrea made an immediate impact as a rookie last year, with 22 home runs and 68 RBI in 99 games (387 at-bats). There's some risk of a sophomore slump, but Correa has a strong case to be the first shortstop drafted in fantasy leagues this year.
2. Houston Astros 2B Jose Altuve
Christian Petersen Getty ImagesAltuve's relative power surge last year (15 home runs) was driven by a slightly more fortunate home run/fly ball rate. Across the board the board production makes him an elite fantasy option though, and arguably the No. 1 second baseman for 2016.
1. Los Angeles Angels OF Mike Trout
Jonathan Moore Getty ImagesSpeed is a declining part of Trout's game (11 stolen bases in 2015), but increased power has come instead (career-high 41 HR last year). Trout might not be the slam dunk No. 1 overall pick in fantasy, but he is still only entering his age-25 season.
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