clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

2012 Tiered Positional Rankings: Second Base

Yesterday we covered first base, and also explained some of the rationale behind the tiered ranking system. Be sure to check that out if you missed it, as today, we're diving right in.

Here's a reminder, though. This is a ranked list, but don't be too worried about placement within the tiers themselves. Those at the top are more highly thought of than those at the bottom, of course, but if you're splitting hairs about who is where in the middle of a tier, you're over thinking the process here. The point is that players within a tier are similarly-valued enough to merit inclusion within that tier. There might be $1 of draft value separating a four players within a tier, so if you think Player X is better than Player Y by that $1 or two, then it's likely you wouldn't hear me argue with you about it.

Five-Star ($30+)

PLAYER POS TEAM
Cano, Robinson 2B NYA

Cano was my lone five-star second baseman last year, too. Dustin Pedroia is certainly capable of being up here as well, but between Cano's park and the lineup around him, I like his chances as far as being a guaranteed five-star caliber player better.

Four-Star ($20-29)

PLAYER POS TEAM
Pedroia, Dustin 2B BOS
Kinsler, Ian 2B TEX

As I said, Pedroia is certainly five-star capable in a standard league, especially since he swipes some bases. I'm just more comfortable placing him in the four-star tier and considering him in my head to be something akin to a 4.5-star guy. Ian Kinsler is also five-star material, but sometimes injuries get in the way of that. If healthy, he's going to be worth $30 or so, but guaranteeing health at that price is a risky proposition.

Three-Star ($10-19)

PLAYER POS TEAM
Phillips, Brandon 2B CIN
Weeks, Rickie 2B MIL
Zobrist, Ben 2B,RF TBA
Utley, Chase 2B PHI
Kendrick, Howard 2B,LF ANA
Uggla, Dan 2B ATL
Walker, Neil 2B PIT
Hill, Aaron 2B ARI

Phillips has the best chance of sneaking into the four-star value level here, but he just made it in 2011, and is more likely to be three-star going forward. Rickie Weeks is something of a poor man's Kinsler; he'd be worth so much more if he could just stay on the field, but even with that under consideration, he's still very useful.

If Zobrist's back issues are behind him, he's easy money for a $15-20 season at second base. He doesn't do any one thing excellently, but he does a little bit of everything well. Chase Utley is another who, if you could guarantee health for, I would feel much better about. Like Weeks, 650 plate appearances would be an easy four-star rating, but he hasn't approached that for two years now, and isn't getting younger.

Kendrick finally broke out in 2011, at basically the same moment many gave up on him ever turning into anything. It's a good lesson going forward, but don't be overzealous with your 2012 approach to acquiring him. He's good, but not markedly better than many others at the keystone.

Dan Uggla is likely capable of being a lot better than this, but as 2011 reminded us, aging second basemen with old-player skills are also capable of completely falling apart. Let's split the difference like he did, and project him for $15 or so. Neil Walker isn't a sexy option, but he gets the job done better than most. Aaron Hill completely fell apart in Toronto last year, but he rebounded a bit in Arizona, thanks to an easier division and a much more hitter-friendly environment. I've already put my draft picks where my mouth is with him, picking him up in expert mocks, so give him some thought for the later rounds when everyone else is focused on how awful he was in his old environment.

Two-Star ($9 and under)

PLAYER POS TEAM
Espinosa, Danny 2B WAS
Johnson, Kelly 2B TOR
Ackley, Dustin 2B SEA
Weeks, Jemile 2B OAK
Kipnis, Jason 2B CLE
Altuve, Jose 2B HOU
Aviles, Mike 2B,3B BOS
Murphy, Daniel 1B,2B,3B NYN
Raburn, Ryan 2B,LF DET
Roberts, Ryan 2B,3B ARI
Beckham, Gordon 2B CHA

Espinosa's power intrigues me, but so does his second-half collapse. I have faith in him being a useful piece, but I'm not going to spend what he was worth in 2011 to test that theory, either. Kelly Johnson completely cratered, but still had his uses last season. A complete rebound isn't necessary for him to be a two-star type, so be sure to bid low to stay pleased with the results. I like Dustin Ackley a whole lot, even if I don't like his home park. In an environment less-suited for pitchers, Ackley is probably a low three-star option for me. Jemile Weeks will rack up steals for you, but hitting in Oakland won't do him lots of favors. He'll need an exceptional batting average to stand out in a weak lineup in a pitcher's park.

Jason Kipnis has much better potential than being a two-star player, but he'll have to show us that before he gets handed a promotion to the next tier. Jose Altuve has the potential for a huge fantasy season due to his bat, but he's very young, very raw, and in the middle of a very bad lineup. Mike Aviles should pick up most of the playing time at shortstop for Boston, and if he does he should be able to produce $5 or more worth of value thanks to hitting in a park tailor-made for his doubles power.

Ryan Raburn is the kind of guy you would love to get to man second in an AL-only, but he's less appealing in mixed formats. He still has his uses, though, so don't sleep on him if you're stuck for a middle infield option late. Gordon Beckham continues to disappoint, but consider 2012 his last chance for redemption in regards to me being nice about his ranking.

One-Star (AL/NL Only)

PLAYER POS TEAM
Ellis, Mark 2B LAN
Giavotella, Johnny 2B KCA
Infante, Omar 2B FLO
Rodriguez, Sean 2B,3B,SS TBA
Hairston, Jerry 2B,3B,LF LAN
Casilla, Alexi 2B,SS MIN
Carroll, Jamey 2B,SS MIN
Barney, Darwin 2B CHN
Sanchez, Freddy 2B SFN
Tejada, Ruben 2B,SS NYN
Roberts, Brian 2B BAL
Hudson, Orlando 2B SDN
Downs, Matt 2B HOU
Baker, Jeff 2B CHN
Andino, Robert 2B,3B,SS BAL
Santiago, Ramon 2B,SS DET
Greene, Tyler 2B SLN
Izturis, Maicer 2B,3B ANA
Hughes, Luke 1B,2B MIN
Punto, Nick 2B BOS
Theriot, Ryan 2B,SS SFN
Keppinger, Jeff 2B TBA
Schumaker, Skip 2B,OF SLN
Kennedy, Adam 1B,2B,3B LAN
Turner, Justin 2B,3B NYN
Nelson, Chris 2B,3B COL
Wilson, Jack 2B,SS ATL
Guillen, Carlos 2B SEA
Burriss, Emmanuel 2B SFN
Herrera, Jonathan 2B COL
Donald, Jason 2B CLE
Valdez, Wilson 2B,3B,SS CIN
Getz, Chris 2B KCA
Adams, Ryan 2B BAL
Gonzalez, Alberto 2B,SS TEX
Lombardozzi, Steve 2B,3B WAS
Conrad, Brooks 2B MIL

As you would expect from this section, these guys are mostly $1 fliers, or the kind of second basemen you pick up in AL- or NL-only leagues to fill out some middle infield slots. Playing time is the key with almost all of them (especially Brian Roberts, who is in some kind of not-quite-dead yet state each spring). If they aren't projected to get much of it by the time draft season is in full swing, there's no reason for you to spend more than that buck on them, if anything.