RotoGraphs Consensus Rankings – May Update: First Basemen

With the catchers already released, we’re in the midst of our first in-season rankings update which will run through next week. The remarkably stacked first base position remains so almost two months into the season with many of the expected studs doing their part while some mid-round assets have emerged to keep the position deep and strong even as a few would-be studs have sputtered and failed to deliver up to expectations just yet.

First base is one of those positions where earning the eligibility at the position isn’t automatically going to improve your value. The bat required to carry the position in fantasy is at such a high level that multi-eligible first basemen are often much more valuable at their other position(s). As such, there is little value to ranking someone like Buster Posey at the position.

At no point should you really be putting him in at first base as a long-term solution because then you’re running two catchers in your lineup which hurts your counting categories given their built-in off days. Posey definitely plays more than a lot of catchers as his days off are often spent at first, but even with that he’s only peaked at 610 PA for a season. That would’ve been good for 11th-most at the position last year.

Other names you won’t find here, but instead at their primary position include Todd Frazier (3B), Carlos Santana (3B), and Logan Forsythe (2B). Both Frazier and Santana have the bat to carry being a fantasy first baseman, but we’re putting ’em at third.

If you feel we missed including someone, please let us know in the comments.

For this update, you’ll get the rankings of myself, Zach Sanders, and Mike Podhorzer. Jeff Zimmerman will return for the midseason update. Without further ado:

Num Player Team League Paul Zach Mike AVG
1 Paul Goldschmidt Diamondbacks NL 1 1 2 1.3
2 Miguel Cabrera Tigers AL 2 3 1 2.0
3 Anthony Rizzo Cubs NL 3 4 3 3.3
4 Jose Abreu White Sox AL 5 2 4 3.7
5 Edwin Encarnacion Blue Jays AL 4 8 5 5.7
6 Adrian Gonzalez Dodgers NL 7 5 6 6.0
7 Joey Votto Reds NL 8 6 10 8.0
8 Freddie Freeman Braves NL 10 7 7 8.0
9 Prince Fielder Rangers AL 6 11 9 8.7
10 Eric Hosmer Royals AL 9 9 14 10.7
11 Lucas Duda Mets NL 11 10 16 12.3
12 Albert Pujols Angels AL 13 16 8 12.3
13 Chris Davis Orioles AL 12 15 12 13.0
14 Brandon Belt Giants NL 18 12 15 15.0
15 David Ortiz Red Sox AL 23 18 11 17.3
16 Mark Teixeira Yankees AL 14 14 28 18.7
17 Adam LaRoche White Sox AL 20 17 20 19.0
18 Chris Carter Astros AL 17 24 22 21.0
19 Mike Napoli Red Sox AL 15 26 23 21.3
20 Adam Lind Brewers NL 25 13 27 21.7
21 Kendrys Morales Royals AL 16 21 29 22.0
22 Billy Butler Athletics AL 22 23 21 22.0
23 Ryan Zimmerman Nationals NL 28 27 13 22.7
24 Matt Adams Cardinals NL 29 22 18 23.0
25 Pedro Alvarez Pirates NL 21 25 26 24.0
26 Victor Martinez Tigers AL 19 37 17 24.3
27 Justin Morneau Rockies NL 26 29 19 24.7
28 Steve Pearce Orioles AL 31 19 24 24.7
29 Ryan Howard Phillies NL 24 28 32 28.0
30 Logan Morrison Mariners AL 33 20 31 28.0
31 Joe Mauer Twins AL 32 32 25 29.7
32 Mitch Moreland Rangers AL 27 33 33 31.0
33 Yonder Alonso Padres NL 30 31 39 33.3
34 James Loney Rays AL 35 34 34 34.3
35 Ike Davis Athletics AL 39 30 35 34.7
36 Michael Morse Marlins NL 41 35 30 35.3
37 Mark Canha Athletics AL 36 39 36 37.0
38 Justin Bour Marlins NL 34 39 41 38.0
39 C.J. Cron Angels AL 40 39 37 38.7
40 Max Muncy Athletics AL 37 39 42 39.3
41 Kyle Blanks Rangers AL 38 38 43 39.7
42 Justin Smoak Blue Jays AL 42 39 38 39.7
43 Jon Singleton Astros AL 43 36 44 41.0
44 Garrett Jones Yankees AL 44 39 40 41.0
  • The largest disparity in the group unsurprisingly comes with V.Mart. Mike and Zach are 20 spots on him and I lean much closer to Mike than Zach, though I completely understand the concerns surrounding V.Mart given his health, remarkably slow start, and the simple fact that he’s currently on the DL.

 

  • There wasn’t total consensus on anyone, but it was really close on Goldschmidt, Rizzo, and Loney, all of whom had two rankers dead on and the third ranker just a spot away.

 

  • The depth of the position is outlined by the fact that the AL leader in RBIs (Morales) sits 21st overall. Even my high-end ranking still only got to 16th. He’s been a top 10 1B to date, but it’s driven primarily on the gaudy RBI and R totals. He’s pacing toward 137 RBIs and 118 Rs, I can’t imagine either holds at that pace. His .302 AVG and 23 HR pace are much more in line with the Morales we saw from 2009-2013 when he averaged 22 HRs with a .286 AVG.

 

  • The Top 10s were near consensus in terms of who showed up in them. There were just 12 different players among the trio of Top 10s. Fielder made it for myself and Mike, but not Zach; Hosmer didn’t make Mike’s, Duda only made Zach’s, and Pujols only made Mike’s. The eight names within all three Top 10s were Goldschmidt, Cabrera, Rizzo, Abreu, Encarnacion, Gonzalez, Votto, and Freeman.





Paul is the Editor of Rotographs and Content Director for OOTP Perfect Team. Follow Paul on Twitter @sporer and on Twitch at sporer.

33 Comments
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Marty McFly
8 years ago

So where would you slot David Ortiz in a league where he’s 1B eligible? He’s testing my patience………….

Tuscan Chicken
8 years ago
Reply to  Paul Sporer

Brandon Moss?

Tuscan Chicken
8 years ago
Reply to  Paul Sporer

Cool.

Marty McFly
8 years ago
Reply to  Paul Sporer

Thanks, even just your ranking on Ortiz would suffice.

Jackie Aprile
8 years ago
Reply to  Paul Sporer

Any update on Ortiz?