Miguel Cabrera
2017 ESPN Fantasy Baseball Ranking: 14th
First Base Ranking: 3rd
Trailing only Paul Goldschmidt and Anthony Rizzo, the former triple crown winner finds himself as one of the best options available not only at first base but in the entirety of baseball. Miguel Cabrera has consistently crafted together masterful seasons, and entering his 15th season in the big leagues, Cabrera will seek to continue his Hall of Fame career. While Cabrera actually statistically improved last season over the previous year, 2017 may not be as flattering.
Now, before I get butchered in the comment section, let me explain myself. Cabrera will still be awesome, will likely still be an All-Star, and will continue being Miguel Cabrera. However, I do not think he should be considered the third best first baseman and 14th best player in all of baseball. I’d personally put Freddie Freeman and Daniel Murphy over Cabrera (yes, Murphy may be considered a first baseman next season). That drops him to fifth among first basemen, and I can see him sliding lower on the list for all players. With age setting in, and the Tigers reportedly wanting to enter rebuild mode, Cabrera may fall of the edge a tad.
Cabrera would still be a steal in the first five rounds, but many people will use their first round pick on the Detroit first baseman. With injuries being even more prevalent due to his age, burning a first round selection on Cabrera seems very unwise. I love Miguel Cabrera and what he does for baseball, but fantasy owners should avoid taking him so early in the draft.