AL Tiered Outfielder Ranks: July 2016

It once again is time for the monthly update for my AL Outfield Tiers! As always, these are my rest of the season ranks for the position and you can check out my previous versions below as well as Alex Chamberlain’s NL versions.

AL Tiered Outfielder Rankings: Preseason

NL Outfield Rankings: March/April

AL Tiered Outfielder Rankings: April 2016

NL Outfield Rankings: May

AL Tiered Outfielder Rankings: May 2016

NL Outfield Rankings: June

AL Tiered Outfield Rankings: June 2016

NL Outfield Rankings: July

This month’s is a tad bit abbreviated partially due to me being on vacation last week and partially due to the fact the trade deadline could drastically change these ranks.

This week I have named the tiers by the best characters from the show The League.

Tier 1: Pete

Mike Trout

Still the best in the game.

Tier 2: Taco

Mookie Betts

Finally gets his own tier. Mookie has proved me wrong two years in a row.

Tier 3: Kevin

George Springer

Ian Desmond

Nelson Cruz

Mark Trumbo

Chris Davis

Springer isn’t running how I expected him to. He has only attempted one stolen base in the month of July. It maybe AJ Hinch giving him the stop sign, but I think they’ll come back, just not to the level I had hoped for.

I am waiting for Trumbo to have that second half slump that we have grown accustomed to and he has started the second half a bit slow but he has already hit seven home runs and hit .253/.330/.544 in the month of July. I am going to bank that he can sustain most of the first half gains.

Tier 4: Ruxin

Jose Bautista

Lorenzo Cain

Hanley Ramirez

Adam Jones

Jackie Bradley Jr.

Michael Saunders

Kole Calhoun

Justin Upton

Adam Eaton

Brett Gardner

Jacoby Ellsbury

Khris Davis

Miguel Sano

Bautista has returned from the DL and would have joined his normal spot in Tier 3, but I am a bit concerned about the turf toe issue resurfacing.

Hanley’s power surge since the break is a bit surprising. I don’t expect it to continue, but he has been a solid contributor. Good sell candidate for those rebuilding in keeper/dynasty formats, as he loses OF eligibility next year.

Khris Davis continues to tear the cover off the ball. Four home runs so far in the second half with a .262/.326/.595 and a .921 OPS.

Tier 5: Andre

JD Martinez

Nomar Mazara

Leonys Martin

Melvin Upton

Melky Cabrera

Josh Reddick

Joey Gallo

JD Martinez is working his way back from an elbow injury. I am a bit concerned that he is only DH-ing so far in his rehab assignment.

Mazara has slowed down since his call up, but it is not uncommon for rookies to have slumps. The injuries to Choo and Fielder should help cement his playing time a bit, so I am confident he will rebound and he has looked good since the break. He needs to improve against lefties, but that will come with time.

I believe in some of the changes we have seen from Melvin Upton. He moves to a better park, team and division, but he has a history of reverting back to poor habits, so that keeps him from moving up in my ranks.

Gallo has come up and he hit a bomb yesterday. He could see some decent playing time with Fielder on the DL and has the power upside to hit a ton of home runs in the second half.

Tier 6: Jenny

Shin-Soo Choo

Michael Brantley

Chris Young

Brantley is still without a timetable to return. At some point, you have to wonder if he will be back before September.

Tier 7: Ellie

Carlos Gomez

Corey Dickerson

Max Kepler

Colby Rasmus

Rajai Davis

Tyler Naquin

Jose Ramirez

Danny Valencia

Kevin Pillar

Steven Souza

Byron Buxton

Carlos Beltran

Gomez and Dickerson are improving, but after their awful starts to the year (and my heavy investment in them), I am being cautious before believing in them again.

While Kepler’s, number don’t jump off the page, he has been pretty good in the last six weeks for the Twins and getting regular playing time since the break. I believe in his talent and his approach and as long as he is getting the at bats, I expect him to be a steady contributor.

The value of the Indians trio of Davis, Naquin and Ramirez could see their value change dramatically soon. Davis and Ramirez have slowed down since the break and could see serious threats to their playing time if the Indians make a move at the trade deadline or call up either Frazier or Zimmer who have recently been promoted to Triple-A.

Tier 8: Shiva

Cameron Maybin

Alex Gordon

Kevin Kiermaier

Seth Smith

Jarrod Dyson

Franklin Gutierrez

Delino DeShields

Lonnie Chisenhall

Hyun Soo Kim

Delino DeShields has returned to the Majors, but I still see him as no more than a #4 outfielder in real life.

Hyun Soo Kim should see increased playing time with Rickard on the DL, but he still has limited upside.

Tier 9: Rafi and Dirty Randy

Ryan Rua

Oswaldo Arcia

Robbie Grossman

Coco Crisp

Paulo Orlando

Brad Miller

Joey Rickard

Billy Burns

Danny Santana

Eddie Rosario

Desmond Jennings

Ezequiel Carrera

Brandon Guyer

Avisail Garcia

Steve Pearce

Brock Holt

Austin Jackson

Aaron Hicks

Whit Merrifield

Just like Rafi and Dirty Randy, this tier has redeeming qualities, but usually do more harm than good.

Tier 10: Ted

Bradley Zimmer

Clint Frazier

Aaron Judge

Lewis Brinson

Both Frazier and Zimmer have been moved to Triple-A and could make a real impact when called up. We have to wait and see if the Indians make any trade for an outfielder that could slow their arrival time.