Ottoneu Top 50 Middle Infielders for 2020

Using a format similar to the one Paul Sporer recently posted (2B, SS) for 2020 Roto player rankings, below is the 2020 ranking of the Top 50 Middle Infielders for Ottoneu fantasy baseball.  Ottoneu leagues are auction style, but with no salaries listed (league dependent), think of these lists as simplified “snake draft” rankings (“which player would I take before the next”), or a value ranking of players above replacement level for 2020. Players with multi-position eligibility may receive a slight bump in value (2020 positions listed).  You can reference average Ottoneu player salaries here, but keep in mind these salaries fluctuate throughout the winter as rosters shape up towards the January 31st keeper deadline for all leagues.

Previous 2020 Ottoneu rankings:

First Base

Third Base

Shortstop

Second Base

Since a majority of Ottoneu leagues are points leagues (offense based on linear weights), you’ll notice speed is less of a factor here than traditional rotisserie rankings.  Even if you don’t play Ottoneu, this list might be a good proxy for OBP, OPS, or sabermetric leagues, so keep that context in mind as you review.

You can read 2B and SS rankings separately, but because Ottoneu owners will start three middle infielders per team and carry at least another two or three on their 40 man roster, it is helpful to view these groups together.

Ottoneu 2020 Top 50 Middle Infielders
RK Name 2020 POS Outlook
1 Alex Bregman SS/3B A perennial MVP candidate entering age 26; .315/.446/.663/1.1.09 line away from HOU
2 Xander Bogaerts SS Steady skills growth could lead to a true age 27 MVP breakout
3 Trevor Story SS About as consistent as they come, and #1 candidate for Roto formats
4 Ketel Marte 2B/SS/OF BABIP will regress but xwOBA supports significant skills growth will remain
5 Francisco Lindor SS Low risk despite trade rumors; xStats suggest he’s a clear tier below those above him
6 Jose Altuve 2B Career-low zone contact % (86.9%) offset by hitting the ball harder than ever
7 Carlos Correa SS Health is now the issue but skills exist for best overall at SS
8 Gleyber Torres 2B/SS At just 23 years old, there is likely another gear or two coming
9 Max Muncy 1B/2B/3B 35 home runs makes him valuable in three key spots for 2020
10 Trea Turner SS Finger injury should be well behind him come April
11 Ozzie Albies 2B Majority of power appears vs. LHP (.295 ISO vs. .177 vs. RHP), but young enough to balance out the splits
12 Fernando Tatis Jr. SS What goes up (BABIP) must come down, but sky is still the limit long term
13 Manny Machado SS/3B Exit velocity still in elite range; Steamer .861 OPS feels like a balanced expectation
14 DJ LeMahieu 1B/2B/3B .349 BABIP hard to repeat but NYY, 20+ HR, and xwOBA make him a mainstay solution
15 Keston Hiura 2B 60/60 Hit/Power tools and history of solid adjustments could push him well up this list by end of 2020
16 Marcus Semien SS 2019 was a career season, but xwOBA suggests there’s a new, solid floor
17 Mike Moustakas 2B/3B Steamer’s projected .340 wOBA and 35 HR seems just about right
18 Jeff McNeil 2B/3B/OF Hit 20 of 23 HR vs. RHP; expect shift adjustments in 2020 that could impact power output
19 Javier Baez SS Approach and streakiness will continue to limit possibility of true breakout
20 Bo Bichette SS Should be a doubles machine with sneaky 20+ HR power, maybe more
21 Corey Seager SS Will play at just 26 years old and polling as a nice rebound value at this spot
22 Jorge Polanco SS Well below average Hard Hit % should push expectations towards his 2019 2nd half (~.800 OPS)
23 Whit Merrifield 2B/OF Near lock for 700+ PA’s and OPS around .800; speed may continue slowing now entering 30’s
24 Didi Gregorius SS New fit in Philly should keep him a 20 HR threat as final option in this tier
25 Tim Anderson SS With .399 BABIP and 2.9% BB%, regression will be painful
26 Paul DeJong SS With significant pressure on the hit tool, the floor here is lower than appeared a just year ago
27 Brandon Lowe 1B/2B/OF MiLB stats provide home for strong OBP floor; one of just five 2B with xSLG above .500 in 2019
28 Eduardo Escobar 2B/3B Don’t expect another 35 HR, but he’s averaged an .825 OPS over the past two seasons
29 Luis Arraez 2B/3B/OF Age 22 MLB BB/K rate of 1.24 makes him a high floor sleeper if any power develops
30 Cavan Biggio 2B/OF Elite approach, launch angle, and zone awareness make him a candidate for power improvement
31 Howie Kendrick 1B/2B/3B His 2019 age 35 xwOBA (.419) ranked 4th in MLB behind Trout, Bellinger, and Yelich
32 Tommy La Stella 2B/3B With power development now looks like a safe bet for .800+ OPS, with most damage vs. RHP
33 Gavin Lux 2B/SS Elite prospect tools that should play up even if moved out of LAD
34 Nick Solak 2B/3B/OF Excellent small sample debut (.375 wOBA in 33 games) bodes well for above average production
35 Lourdes Gurriel Jr. 2B/OF Likely to be streaky, but stats should add up to a starting 2B in 12+ team leagues
36 Amed Rosario SS Age 24 SS showed quiet growth in 2nd half that could take another step
37 Ian Happ 2B/3B/OF Still just 25, but he hits the ball hard (.526 xSLG) and just needs the playing time in CHC to jump
38 Kolten Wong 2B Big 2nd half (.342/.409/.487) could indicate a new, above average gear coming in 2020
39 Tommy Edman 2B/3B/OF A professional young hitter that could surprise, expect an OPS around .800, maybe more
40 Jean Segura SS Kind of the epitome of your league average SS at this point
41 Carter Kieboom 2B/SS Prospect pedigree and likelihood of finding time should make Kieboom pretty close to a starting MI
42 Jonathan Villar 2B/SS Will benefit from long leash in MIA, but this is a speed game better built for Roto leagues
43 Asdrubal Cabrera 2B/3B Currently unsigned but he can still hit and should land somewhere with at least platoon value
44 Willy Adames SS Rays always have a few unheralded breakouts, so keep Adames on your radar since MiLB stats were solid
45 Ryan McMahon 1B/2B/3B Quietly launched 24 HR last year, could approach .800 OPS with a little luck + opportunity
46 Robinson Cano 2B Will play at age 37 but just one full season removed from .845 OPS over 80 games (2018)
47 Luis Urias 2B/SS There is pedigree here now to combine with a great MIL ballpark, so Urias could be a riser
48 Jurickson Profar 2B/OF Former #1 overall prospect now in SD and will need to hit well to fulfill full time role
49 Dansby Swanson SS Injured his foot in late July and was horrible afterward; Statcast is more optimistic than Steamer
50 Danny Santana 1B/2B/SS/3B/OF .352 wOBA and 28 HR out of nowhere, but he plays so many positions you have to give him a bench spot
Offense in Ottoneu points leagues are based on linear weights.





Trey is a 20+ year fantasy veteran and an early adopter of Ottoneu fantasy sports. He currently administers the Ottoneu community, a network of ~1,200 fantasy baseball and football fans talking sports daily. More resources here: http://community.ottoneu.com

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Spinmember
4 years ago

Whit Merrifield said the reason for the drop off in stolen bases was the Royals were not in contention, so why increase the risk of injury. Expect more stolen bases early, and less late, again.