Consensus Position Rankings/Projections: Top 30 First Baseman for 2014, Part 1

Alex Kantecki opened First Base week here at Fake Teams with the fantasy state of the position earlier this morning. Now we bring you our consensus fantasy first baseman rankings for 2014. We used a points system for each of the 30 first basemen ranked by each of the Fake Teams writers who participated in the consensus rankings series.

We feel that providing you our consensus position rankings, you get an average ranking from the Fake Teams writers, rather than hearing me spew my rankings nonsense throughout the offseason. You will see some players ranked higher by one Fake Teams writer than the others, so this helps the reader see both sides of the argument for/against a certain player who might be getting too much love this offseason.

Each of the position rankings will be split into two parts, rankings and player profiles for catchers ranked 1 - 15 in part 1, and rankings and player profiles for catchers ranked 16 - 30 in part 2 to be published on Wednesday morning. Consensus rankings should bring about discussion amongst you, our readers, and the Fake Teams writers who participated in this series.

In addition to the rankings, we are now offering your 2014 projections for each player ranked, courtesy of Dan Schwartz from Fake Teams and Rotobanter. He has spent all offseason on his projections, and to learn more about how he calculates his projections, you can read his explanations here: Part 1| Part 2| Part 3. Part 1 details his projection approach, Part 2 details how he calculates his hitter projections and part 3 details how he calculates his pitcher projections.

We didn't stop at just providing you rankings and projections, as we are also providing you with auction values, courtesy of Dan, along with the Equivalent Fantasy Average for each player ranked, courtesy of Daniel Kelley. The fantasy average can be used to compare players at the same position.

Here is a brief explanation of Equivalent Fantasy Average, from Daniel's Fantasy Average Positional Breakdown piece a few weeks ago:

Those who have been around the last week or two probably saw my Fantasy Average piece, in which I attempted to use standard deviations to present every offensive players' fantasy contributions in terms of a batting average-like number. That presentation is a useful ranking tool and, since it's on a scale we're all familiar with, is a heck of a shorthand for overall strength. If your guy hit ".300" by Fantasy Average, he's a heck of a player.

And all of this is consolidated, with player photos, into statistical tables thanks to the work of Jason Hunt.

Fantasy First Base Rankings for 2014

Rank	Player	Team	Ranking Points	Ray	Matt	Brian	Alex	Daniel	Joe	Jason	Zack
1	Miguel Cabrera	DET	256	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
2	Paul Goldschmidt	ARI	247	2	3	2	2	2	2	2	2
3	Chris Davis	BAL	236	3	4	5	3	3	4	3	3
4	Joey Votto	CIN	229	6	2	3	4	4	6	4	6
5	Edwin Encarnacion	TOR	224	5	6	4	5	6	3	7	4
6	Prince Fielder	TEX	222	4	5	7	6	5	5	5	5
7	Freddie Freeman	ATL	207	8	7	6	8	8	7	6	7
8	Adrian Gonzalez	LAD	191	9	8	8	10	9	10	9	10
9	Eric Hosmer	KCR	185	7	12	10	7	7	9	12	15
10	Albert Pujols	LAA	184	10	10	11	9	13	8	11	8
11	Allen Craig	STL	180	11	9	12	12	10	13	8	9
12	Anthony Rizzo	CHC	164	13	11	9	11	19	12	14	11
13	Mark Trumbo	ARI	149	14	17	20	15	12	14	10	13
14	Buster Posey	SFG	140	23	13	14	13	16	15	16	14
15	Mike Napoli	BOS	136	15	15	18	20	11	24	13	12

Player Profiles

	# 1 Miguel Cabrera (DET)
Photo Credit: Kim Klement - USA Today Sports

2013 FANTASY STATISTICS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
.348	103	44	137	3
2013 SECONDARY STATISTICS
PA	OBP%	SLG%	BB%	K%
652	.442	.636	13.8%	14.4%
2014 ROTOBANTER PROJECTIONS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.327	103	37	120	2
Auction Value: $35.99		Equivalent Fantasy Average: 0.313

We decided to rank Cabrera as a first baseman and a third baseman, even though he didn't play first base last season. He will play there this season after the Tigers dealt first baseman Prince Fielder to the Rangers this offseason. It doesn't matter where he plays, he will be ranked at #1, even if the Tigers decided to move him anywhere else on the field. That won't happen, but you get the point. Cabrera is coming off two consecutive MVP awards, and is the best hitter in baseball. One could make the case that he is one of the best hitters to ever don a uniform.

Last season, Miggy hit .348-.442-.636 with 44 HRs, 103 runs and 137 RBI in 148 games last season. He basically equaled his 2012 statistics in 13 less games last season. He walks almost as much as he strikes out, which is pretty low when you consider how great a hitter he is. I am surprised he doesn't get the Barry Bonds treatment with runners on base. He will turn 31 in mid-April and is his peak years of production, so one can expect him to hit over .300 with 35-40 home runs, 100 runs scored and 120+ RBI once again in 2014. Should he get the Bonds treatment, the home run and RBI totals will come down a bit, but not that much. His HR/FB% has improved in each of the last two seasons, so another run at 40 home runs is pretty much guaranteed, barring a serious injury.

	# 2 Paul Goldschmidt (ARI)
Photo Credit: Jake Roth - USA Today Sports

2013 FANTASY STATISTICS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.302	103	36	125	15
2013 SECONDARY STATISTICS
PA	OBP%	SLG%	BB%	K%
710	0.401	0.551	13.9%	20.4%
2014 ROTOBANTER PROJECTIONS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.3	96	34	103	14
Auction Value: $ 28.86		Equivalent Fantasy Average: 0.320

If it wasn't for Miguel Cabrera, Goldschmidt would be ranked as our top first baseman in baseball, as he is coming off a breakout season in 2013, hitting .302-.401-.551 with 36 HRs, 103 runs, 125 RBI and 15 stolen bases in 160 games. He is a lock to be a first round pick in all drafts this season, and is probably a top 5-6 pick, depending on whether owners in your league prefer Robinson Cano (which I disagree with) ahead of him. Goldschmidt improved his walk and strikeout rates last season, and was one of the most consistent hitters month to month last season. Here is a look at his monthly production last season:

Month: BA-HR-R-RBI

April: .287-5-18-18

May: .376-7-16-23

June: .262-7-19-26

July: .295-5-16-19

August: .283-7-19-18

September: .318-5-15-21

He hit .300 at home and on the road. His batting average on ground balls was .270 and on fly balls it was .350, so he is hitting the ball real hard when he makes contact, which is often. His O-Swing% is just 26% so he isn't going to the plate hacking, he has a plan. The fact that he throws in double digit steals with the big power and .300 average makes him a top 3 pick, for me, in fantasy drafts this season.

	# 3 Chris Davis (BAL)
Photo Credit: Derick E. Hingle - USA Today Sports

2013 FANTASY STATISTICS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.286	103	53	138	4
2013 SECONDARY STATISTICS
PA	OBP%	SLG%	BB%	K%
673	0.37	0.634	10.70%	29.57%
2014 ROTOBANTER PROJECTIONS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.271	89	38	109	2
Auction Value: $ 22.1		Equivalent Fantasy Average: 0.295

Davis had a magical season at the plate in 2013, hitting .286-.370-.634 with 53 home runs, 103 runs, and 138 RBI, a huge jump from the 33 home runs and 85 RBI in 2012. His 50 home run season was baseball's first since Jose Bautista accomplished the feat back in 2010. Davis led MLB with his .348 ISO and his .634 slugging percentage was second only to Miguel Cabrera. The question for fantasy owners is whether he can duplicate the 50 home run season again in 2014. I don't expect him to repeat the 50 home run season, but he could hit 40 again, but it is more likely that he hits 30+ in 2014.

After hitting 37 home runs and driving in 93 runs in the first half last season, he "slumped" in the second half, hitting just 16 home runs and driving in 45 runs. Davis will be prone to slumps due to his propensity to strike out, but when he does make contact, it usually is hard contact. His strikeout rate rose from 28% in the first half to 32% in the second half last season, and his batting average and power dipped as a result. Davis is currently being drafted at #6 overall according to NFBC ADP data, and I think he has a chance to disappoint fantasy owners who draft him this high in 2014.

	# 4 Joey Votto (CIN)
Photo Credit: Jake Roth - USA Today Sports

2013 FANTASY STATISTICS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.305	101	24	73	6
2013 SECONDARY STATISTICS
PA	OBP%	SLG%	BB%	K%
726	0.435	0.491	18.60%	19.01%
2014 ROTOBANTER PROJECTIONS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.297	93	22	86	5
Auction Value: $ 18.13		Equivalent Fantasy Average: 0.289

I used to be down on Votto, but have to say I am warming up to the fact that I might be drafting him this season. After hitting just 14 home runs in an injury-shortened 2012 season, Votto hit 24 home runs last season the fourth time he has done so in the last five seasons. He is one of the best hitters in the game, probably second only to Miguel Cabrera when it comes to pure hitting ability. He walks as much as he strikes out (around 19%), and scored over 100 runs for the third time in the last four seasons.

The only issue I have with Votto is the RBI, and this is something that was discussed during the 2013 season, and was an issue raised by some of the Reds beat reporters, if I remember correctly. His 73 RBI last season is just not going to cut it coming from a top tier fantasy first baseman. With Shin-Soo Choo leaving for Texas, and being replaced in center field by speedy Billy Hamilton, presumably, his RBI count could stay in the 70-80 range in 2014. There was some talk of moving Votto from the three spot to the second spot in the Reds lineup since he gets on base so much. I doubt that happens, but I wonder if we will see him get more aggressive at the plate this season. Back in 2010 when he hit 37 home runs, his 0-Swing % was 30%.

His O-Swing% has dropped every season since, indicating he is more willing to take borderline pitches than swing at them. If he decides to expand his strike zone, we could see a bit more power from Votto in 2014.

	# 5 Edwin Encarnacion (TOR)
Photo Credit: Derick E. Hingle - USA Today Sports

2013 FANTASY STATISTICS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.272	90	36	104	7
2013 SECONDARY STATISTICS
PA	OBP%	SLG%	BB%	K%
621	0.37	0.534	13.20%	9.98%
2014 ROTOBANTER PROJECTIONS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.271	91	34	106	7
Auction Value: $ 22.19		Equivalent Fantasy Average: 0.301

Encarnacion has turned into one of the best power hitters in the game, but some questions linger on how he will perform after having wrist surgery last season. I have not seen any updates on his recovery from the surgery, so I will have to assume that he will be fine in 2014. Encarnacion had another excellent season at the plate in 2013, hitting .272-.370-.534 with 36 home runs, 90 runs, 104 RBI and he even chipped in with 7 stolen bases. 2013 marked the second consecutive season he has hit 35 or more home runs, scored 90+ runs and driven in 100+ runs, as he joins only Miguel Cabrera to accomplish that feat in each of the last two seasons.

Encarnacion gets away with below average BABIPs, as he continues to hit for elite power due to excellent fly ball and HR/FB rates. He also owns elite plate discipline, as he walked more than he struck out in 2013, and there are no indications it will regress going forward. He hit righties just as well as lefties in 2013, but do know that 31 of his 36 home runs came against right-handed pitchers, so I wonder if he just doesn't see many lefties, or if there is more power to come from him. If the wrist is healthy in spring training and there are no setbacks, EE should provide owners with another 30+ HR, 100+ RBI season in 2014.

	# 6 Prince Fielder (TEX)
Photo Credit: Ronald Martinez - Getrty Images

2013 FANTASY STATISTICS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.279	82	25	106	1
2013 SECONDARY STATISTICS
PA	OBP%	SLG%	BB%	K%
712	0.362	0.457	10.53%	16.43%
2014 ROTOBANTER PROJECTIONS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.286	82	29	104	1
Auction Value: $ 19.04		Equivalent Fantasy Average: 0.286

I already went over my thoughts on the Fielder trade to Texas here, but will repeat, I love the deal for Fielder's fantasy value in 2014. 2013 represented a down year of sorts for Fielder, as he had some off field distractions (he was going through a divorce), but still hit .278-.362-.457 with 25 HRs, 82 runs and 108 RBI. Despite the down year, he was one of fifteen hitters to drive in 100 or more runs last season, so the production was there in some respects.

With the trade to Texas, he moves from a pitchers park to a hitters park that was a bit of a pitchers park last season. I think the move to Texas will benefit Fielder owners who take advantage of others thinking that 2013 is his new level of production going forward. Rangers Ballpark at Arlington (who comes up with these ball park names anyway? why can't they just call it Rangers Stadium?) improved home runs for left handed hitters by 8% last season, a sight drop from the 10% improvement at Comerica in Detroit. Fielder still owns the skill set to hit for 30+ home runs, drive in 100+ runs and hit ,290-.300 in 2014.

	# 7 Freddie Freeman (ATL)
Photo Credit: Kim Klement - USA Today Sports

2013 FANTASY STATISTICS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.319	89	23	109	1
2013 SECONDARY STATISTICS
PA	OBP%	SLG%	BB%	K%
629	0.396	0.501	10.49%	19.24%
2014 ROTOBANTER PROJECTIONS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.295	90	26	110	1
Auction Value: $ 22.13		Equivalent Fantasy Average: 0.290

Freeman put up his best season as a major leaguer in 2013, hitting .319-396-.501 with 23 HRs, 89 runs and 109 RBI, bouyed by a .371 BABIP. Freeman is a favorite of many, and maybe I need to change my non-believer status, but I just wonder if there is more power in his bat. In a recent chat, ESPN's Keith Law responded to a reader question about his batting average:

Tim (AZ)

Is Freddie Freeman for real. Is he closer to the 259 avg, 2012 number or the 320 avg, 2013 number?

Klaw (1:13 PM)

AVG doesn't tell much of a story. If you're asking where I think his 2014 batting average ends up, I'll set the over/under line at .300.

KLaw's response surprised me, so maybe fantasy owners should raise their expectations on Freeman in 2014. He hits in a pretty good lineup, but one that strikes out quite a bit, so it is possible the RBI total drops some in 2014; but one could argue that Justin Upton, Jason Heyward and B.J. Upton will perform better at the dish in 2014 as well, so his RBI total could jump as well.

Power is down across MLB so expectations for home runs should be lower for 2014. With that said, a 23-26 home run, 90-100 RBI season from Freeman, or anyone else for that matter, should be valued as a very good season. Throw in a .290-.300 batting average, and drafting Freeman in the first three rounds of fantasy drafts would not be frowned upon.

	# 8 Adrian Gonzalez (LAD)
Photo Credit: Rick Scuteri - USA Today Sports

2013 FANTASY STATISTICS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.293	69	22	100	1
2013 SECONDARY STATISTICS
PA	OBP%	SLG%	BB%	K%
641	0.342	0.461	7.33%	15.29%
2014 ROTOBANTER PROJECTIONS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.289	72	21	98	1
Auction Value: $ 13.74		Equivalent Fantasy Average: 0.276

I can't explain the power drop off we have seen from Gonzalez over the past four seasons, as he hit 30+ home runs three times in four seasons from 2007-2010. Since then, he has hit 27, 18 and 22 home runs, so maybe his shoulder surgery a few seasons ago sapped some of his power. With that said, he is still a productive fantasy first baseman, capable of hitting 20-25 home runs, driving in 90-100 runs and hitting .290-.300, and that has value.

He used to walk 10-15% of his plate appearances, but that has dropped to below 10% over the past few seasons. Part of that can be explained by his O-Swing% trend. Let's take a look:

2005: 22.9%

2006: 23.8%

2007: 28.2%

2008: 28.0%

2009: 23.1%

2010: 31.8%

2011: 35.5%

2012: 37.3%

2013: 36.8%

That doesn't portend well for his walk rate, and could explain his drop in power, as he could be expanding his strike zone in an effort to make up for the loss of power. Moving forward, AGonz should continue to hit for a high average, with 20-25 home runs and 90 RBI for his owners.

	# 9 Eric Hosmer (KCR)
Photo Credit: Jake Roth - USA Today Sports

2013 FANTASY STATISTICS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.302	86	17	79	11
2013 SECONDARY STATISTICS
PA	OBP%	SLG%	BB%	K%
680	0.353	0.448	7.50%	14.71%
2014 ROTOBANTER PROJECTIONS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.294	86	21	84	12
Auction Value: $ 18.03		Equivalent Fantasy Average: 0.297

Hosmer found his swing after George Brett was installed as the Royals short-term hitting coach last season, and his impressive hitting continued even after Brett stepped down from the role. Hosmer bounced back after a very disappointing 2012 season and a slow start to the 2013 season. Once Brett came on board, Hosmer hit over .300 every month from June through September:

April: .250

May: .269

June: .303

July: .324

August: .323

September: .324

He finished the season hitting .302-.353-.448 with 17 HRs, 86 runs, 79 RBI and 11 stolen bases, and hit 16 of his 17 home runs from June 1 forward. If he can continue hitting 4-5 home runs per month, we could see a 25 home run season from him in 2014. Combine that with a .300+ batting average, 80-90 RBI and double digit stolen bases, he could be move up these rankings this time next season. To do so, though, he will have to improve the percentage of fly balls he hits, as his FB% has dropped in each of the last two seasons, from 31.7% in 2011 to just 24.9% last season. He hit lefties well last season, in fact, hitting better vs lefties than righties, so 2014 could be his breakout season is he can improve the power tool.

	# 10 Albert Pujols (LAA)
Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas - USA Today Sports

2013 FANTASY STATISTICS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.258	49	17	64	1
2013 SECONDARY STATISTICS
PA	OBP%	SLG%	BB%	K%
443	0.33	0.437	9.03%	12.42%
2014 ROTOBANTER PROJECTIONS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.273	71	24	89	3
Auction Value: $ 10.9		Equivalent Fantasy Average: 0.276

Age and injury caught up with Pujols last season, as he played in just 99 games, hitting just .258-.330-.437 with 17 HRs, 49 runs and 64 RBI, his worst performance at the plate of his career. Granted, he played just 99 games, but his triple slash line has dropped in each of the last five seasons, meaning, each of the BA/OBP/SLG stats have dropped in unison. Never proven, his real age is in question, but I don't think it matters any more really. He's reached an age where most hitters, even Hall of Famers like Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle, see a drop off in their performance at the plate, and Pujols is no different. To give you an idea as to his fall off as a player, not just a hitter, here are his fWAR over the last six years:

2008: 8.6

2009: 8.7

2010: 7.0

2011: 4.4

2012: 3.7

2013: 0.7

Yes, Pujols is in his decline years, and it has hit him pretty quick in the last few seasons. Like Adrian Gonzalez, one of the reasons for his decline can be attributed to him expanding the strike zone. Here is his O-Swing% over the last six seasons:

2008: 21.6%

2009: 22.9%

2010: 27.5%

2011: 31.8%

2012: 36.4%

2013: 34.3%

His contact% has seen a similar decline as well. ZiPS recently published their 2014 projections for the Angels, and projected Pujols to hit .277-.344-.485 with 24 HRs, 68 runs, and 81 RBI. I think that sounds about right for the aging Pujols. Don't listen to those who say we will see 2012 production from him in 2014. I don't see it

	# 11 Allen Craig (STL)
Photo Credit: Steve Mitchell - USA Today Sports

2013 FANTASY STATISTICS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.315	71	13	97	2
2013 SECONDARY STATISTICS
PA	OBP%	SLG%	BB%	K%
563	0.373	0.457	7.10%	17.76%
2014 ROTOBANTER PROJECTIONS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.298	71	17	97	2
Auction Value: $ 12.93		Equivalent Fantasy Average: 0.276

Despite hitting .315-.373-.457 with 13 HRs, 71 runs and 97 RBI last season, Craig had a disappointing season, as his power was pathetic. A year after hitting .307 with 22 HRs, 76 runs and 92 RBI, many, including me, were hyping him for 2013, with the chance to approach 30 home runs. That didn't happen, but his excellent hitting tool allowed him to keep the runs and RBI totals at high levels. Craig traded fly balls for line drives in 2013, resulting in the drop in home runs. Missing most of the month of September with an ankle injury didn't help matters, but he also had two other months of the season where he hit either zero or one home run, so he may top out around 20 home runs.

Craig is very similar to Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez as he is a very good hitter (.290-.310 range), with middling power, but solid RBI totals. Like Pujols and Gonzalez, he opened up his strike zone, leading to less contact and power last season.

	# 12 Anthony Rizzo (CHC)
Photo Credit: Jake Roth - USA Today Sports

2013 FANTASY STATISTICS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.233	71	23	80	6
2013 SECONDARY STATISTICS
PA	OBP%	SLG%	BB%	K%
690	0.323	0.419	11.01%	18.41%
2014 ROTOBANTER PROJECTIONS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.258	77	28	91	6
Auction Value: $ 12.27		Equivalent Fantasy Average: 0.284

Rizzo is one of the few guys on this list that could break out in 2014, as he has the power to hit 30 home runs and drive in 90-100 runs. The problem is the Cubs lineup around him does not bode well for 90-100 RBI. Rizzo entered the 2013 season with some hype as he had a solid debut in the big leagues in 2012, hitting .295 with 14 HRs and 48 RBI in just 87 games. He finished his first full season in the majors hitting .233-.323-.419 with 23 HRs, 71 runs, 80 RBI and 6 stolen bases.. The batting average and power was a little disappointing, but there were some positives to take away from his 2013 performance, as his BABIP was just .258, so there is room to improve in the batting average category. He improved his walk rate from 7.3% to 11.0%, and reduced his o-Swing% from 38.5% to 30.0% as well. Rizzo will also have to reduce his 10% IFFB% and improve upon his 12.6% HR/FB% to see the home run production improve in 2014.

	# 13 Mark Trumbo (ARI)
Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas - USA Today Sports

2013 FANTASY STATISTICS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.234	85	34	100	5
2013 SECONDARY STATISTICS
PA	OBP%	SLG%	BB%	K%
678	0.294	0.453	7.96%	27.14%
2014 ROTOBANTER PROJECTIONS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.249	75	31	91	4
Auction Value: $ 11.99		Equivalent Fantasy Average: 0.280

Trumbo is one of the better power hitters in the game, and after hitting 30+ home runs in each of the last two seasons and 95 over the last three, he moves to one of the better hitters park in baseball, Chase Field. Over the last three seasons, he has hit 29, 32 and 34 home runs in Angels Stadium in Anaheim, and that number could improve in 2014, as Chase Field improves home runs for right handed hitters by 8%, while Angels Stadium suppressed home run output by 14%.

Along with the prodigious power, there is a lot of swing and miss with Trumbo, and he doesn't walk much, as his low .294 OBP indicates. Trumbo struck out 184 times last season, and could see that total increase moving to the pitcher heavy NL West, where he will have to face the likes of Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Madison Bumgarner, Matt Cain, Josh Johnson, among others. He will play left field for the Diamondbacks in 2014, and first base when Paul Goldschmidt needs a breather, so he may his first base eligibility unless Goldschmidt is injured.

	# 14 Buster Posey (SFG)
Photo Credit: Kyle Terada - USA Today Sports

2013 FANTASY STATISTICS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.294	61	15	72	2
2013 SECONDARY STATISTICS
PA	OBP%	SLG%	BB%	K%
595	0.371	0.450	10.08%	11.76%
2014 ROTOBANTER PROJECTIONS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.310	71	18	83	1
Auction Value: $17.22		Equivalent Fantasy Average: 0.274

I wrote about Posey in our consensus Top 30 Fantasy Catcher Rankings last Monday.

	# 15 Mike Napoli (BOS)
Photo Credit: Steve Mitchell - USA Today Sports

2013 FANTASY STATISTICS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.259	79	23	92	1
2013 SECONDARY STATISTICS
PA	OBP%	SLG%	BB%	K%
578	0.36	0.482	12.63%	32.35%
2014 ROTOBANTER PROJECTIONS
AVG	R	HR	RBI	SB
0.247	70	22	79	1
Auction Value: $ 4.09		Equivalent Fantasy Average: 0.263

Napoli loses catcher eligibility in 2014, as he played did not catch one game last season for the Red Sox. He re-signed with the Sox this offseason for two years, and will be their starting first baseman once again. Napoli had a solid 2013 campaign hitting .259-.360-.482 with 23 HRs, 79 runs and 92 RBI, marking the sixth straight season he has hit 20 or more home runs. He benefitted from an elevated BABIP last season (.359 vs career rate of .310), so we could see him return to the .230 hitter he was before joining Boston.

Napoli has big power, but like Trumbo, it comes with plenty of swing and miss, as he struck out in 32.4% of his plate appearances last season. He does walk around 13% of his plate appearances, so that helps, but we could see some regression from him in 2014, as I expect his BABIP to drop some, resulting in a lower batting average, and less home runs and RBI.

Fantasy Rundown

If you are looking for more position rankings, or plain old fantasy baseball goodness, make sure you check out Fantasy Rundown, your one place to get all things fantasy.