Top 10 players at every MLB position for the 2018 season

4. Chris Sale, Red Sox Whether it be his menacing glare, often nasty disposition or the snake-like way he unfurls on the mound, Sale has always had a special type of intimidation factor on the hill. Of course, the upper-90s fastball and wipe-out slider doesn’t hurt either. All of these elements came together better than ever for the lefty in his debut season in Boston, as he became the first hurler in the AL since Pedro Martinez 18 years earlier reach 300 strikeouts.Sale is the best pitcher in baseball without a Cy Young to his credit, and while it may be tough to imagine him outdoing his performance from a year ago, it is not hard to imagine the fiery competitor in him reaching down even further to finish what he started this time around.

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2. Gary Sanchez, Yankees Sanchez’ sophomore campaign justified the hype he created over the final two months of 2016. His 33 home runs led all catchers by a significant margin and was the most in a season by a catcher since Javy Lopez’ 43 in 2003. Sanchez also posted an .876 OPS in a season that was limited to only 122 games due to a biceps injury, which means he could significantly add to his already impressive power totals with even average health this year.While there are still concerns about his capabilities behind the plate, his imposing presence with the bat in his hand is more than enough to make those limitations tolerable. Remember, it was Sanchez who eliminated his now-teammate Giancarlo Stanton from last year’s All-Star Home Run Derby.

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6. Cody Bellinger, Dodgers. While his struggles in the postseason showcased some of the holes in his swing, as well as how much he still must learn regarding battling elite breaking balls, his .143 World Series batting average far from erases just how dominant he remained throughout his rookie campaign. Bellinger has a rare level of electricity in his bat, which led him to setting the NL rookie home run record at 39. It is scary to think about how much more efficient of a power hitter he can be this year.

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3. Jonathan Schoop, Orioles. Quietly, Schoop has put together a rapid rise in the hierarchy of second basemen. In a 2017 season that saw him make his All-Star debut, Schoop hit 32 homers, drove in 105 runs, scored 92 runs and had an .841 OPS. Although he did strike out 142 times, many of the steady improvements in his game have come in large part due to a maturing approach at the plate. With Manny Machado likely entering his final year in Baltimore, Schoop is clearly the heir apparent as the franchise player for the O’s — at least until he reaches free agency himself.

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8. Evan Longoria, Giants. Seeing Longoria in anything except for Rays garb will take some getting used to, but that is exactly what is ahead as the long-time face of Tampa baseball will join the rapid rebuilding effort in the Bay this year. In his early 30s, Longoria has settled in as an exceptionally solid player with both the bat and the glove. And while he certainly is not at the peak of his powers anymore, there's nothing to be ashamed of with the current player. Though his power numbers dipped from 36 home runs and an .840 OPS in 2016 to 20 homers and a .737 mark a year ago, he remained elite in the field, winning his first Gold Glove since 2010.

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10. Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox. After a pair of Silver Slugger-winning campaigns in 2015 and '16, Bogaerts took a step backward a year ago. As a result, his already one-sided value took a bit of a tumble as well after finishing with a negative dWAR mark for the second time in as many years. While his future could very well be at third base as opposed to shortstop, his recent returns at the plate still are strong enough to warrant a mention among the position’s elite. His three-year averages include a .296 BA, .776 OPS, 34 doubles and 98 runs scored.

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2. Bryce Harper, Nationals. Harper resoundingly put the struggles of 2016 behind him last year. He was on pace to land his second MVP nod before his 25^th birthday before a scary August injury on the wet base paths in D.C. forced him out of the lineup. Still, in only 111 games he connected for 29 home runs, 87 RBI and a .319 average. While his ratios were slightly behind his MVP effort in 2015, his 1.008 OPS was nearly 200 points higher than the year that preceded it.

Harper will spend the summer as the game’s most discussed player. His every step will be analyzed as the biggest name to hit free agency in a long time following the season. Never short on intensity or focus, we could be getting ready to see one of the game’s greatest talents at his absolute best as he tries to finally lead the Nationals to postseason success while awaiting his massive payday.

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1. Nelson Cruz, Mariners. Since 2014, Cruz has been the most consistent power hitter in the game. His 166 home runs in that time are over a dozen more than any other player. 2017 marked the first time in four years that Cruz fell short of 40 long balls, when he hit a mere 39. Along the way, he also paced the American League in RBI with 119 and finished with an OPS over .900 for the third straight year.The impact Cruz has made, while somewhat under appreciated, saw him raise his WAR with the Mariners to 13.9 and finish within the top 10 of AL MVP voting for the third time.

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5. Pat Neshek, Phillies. The crafty Neshek remained a frustrating pitcher to face for all comers last year, posting the third sub-2.00 ERA season of his career. At age 36, Neshek was at his best yet in 2017, utilizing his wipe-out slider and confounding submarine delivery to a 1.59 ERA, 1.86 FIP and 69 strikeouts against only six walks over 71 games. He returns to Philadelphia, where he had an astounding 1.12 ERA and held right-handers to a .201 average against, after being dealt to the Rockies at the trade deadline.

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7. Cody Allen, Indians. While his bullpen mate Andrew Miller is the ace reliever in the fold, often setting the table for Allen’s work, the Cleveland closer has been darn good in his own right. His last three seasons have been the picture of consistency, with Allen saving between 30 and 34 games, while averaging 12.2 strikeouts per nine innings, a 2.81 ERA, and finishing 55 or more contests in each year.

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