The Majors Adam Waltersdorf will break down and attempt to rank all of baseball’s best at each and every position. The Infield rankings came out on Monday, the Outfield came out on Tuesday, and the Starting Pitchers came out on Wednesday. On Friday, every MLB team will be ranked in order.

Some considerations are:

This formula rewards career performance over young players just making a splash. Since the track record is smaller, it is harder to gauge if they have the staying power of the stars ahead of them on the list. For example, Derek Jeter isn’t one of the best five shortstops in the game anymore, but is still ranked higher because the formula rewards career performance over current.

Injury frequency is also not factored. Johan Santana hasn’t been fully healthy in years, but is still one of the games best if he is.

All the players that are currently on the disabled or suspended are included in the list. When they are healthy or return from suspension, they will return to hold down their spots.

 Closers:

The value ranking is on a 5 point scale with 5 being the best possible value. The ranking is composed of three major statistical categories: Earned Run Average, Save Conversion Percentage, and Strikeouts per Nine Innings.  ERA is 25% of the ranking, K/9 is also 25% of the ranking, and SV% makes up the remaining half. A ranking of below 2.0 means the player is considered to be below average.

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Rank Player Team ERA SV% K/9 Value
1 Craig Kimbrel Atlanta Braves 1.38 0.898 15.7 5.00
2 Aroldis Chapman Cincinnati Reds 2.23 0.840 14.3 3.94
3 Ernesto Frieri Los Angeles Angels 2.32 0.893 12.1 3.76
4 Jonathan Papelbon Philadephia Phillies 2.34 0.888 10.8 3.53
5 Sergio Romo San Francisco Giants 2.18 0.781 10.7 3.32
6 Mariano Rivera New York Yankees 2.22 0.894 8.2 3.08
7 Tom Wilhelmsen Seattle Mariners 2.60 0.875 9.1 2.92
8 Joe Nathan Texas Rangers 2.85 0.897 9.5 2.85
9 Rafael Soriano Washington Nationals 2.81 0.847 9.4 2.72
10 Greg Holland Kansas City Royals 3.09 0.781 11.9 2.68
11 Jose Valverde Detroit Tigers 3.11 0.888 9.9 2.67
12 Steve Cishek Miami Marlins 2.73 0.800 9.3 2.61
13 Jim Henderson Milwaukee Brewers 2.88 0.667 13.1 2.53
14 Jason Motte St. Louis Cardinals 2.87 0.783 9.5 2.47
15 Houston Street San Diego Padres 3.05 0.839 9.2 2.43
16 J.J. Putz Arizona Diamondbacks 3.07 0.816 9.5 2.40
17 Chris Perez Cleveland Indians 3.18 0.846 8.7 2.21
18 Joel Hanrahan Boston Red Sox 3.83 0.818 9.9 1.80
19 Grant Baulfor Oakland Athletics 3.36 0.698 9.6 1.70
20 Addison Reed Chicago White Sox 4.22 0.895 9.5 1.60
21 Rafael Betancourt Colorado Rockies 3.13 0.619 9.5 1.47
22 Fernando Rodney Tampa Bay Rays 3.77 0.774 8.4 1.35
23 Jim Johnson Baltimore Orioles 3.04 0.808 5.8 1.08
24 Casey Janssen Toronto Blue Jays 3.56 0.783 6.7 0.98
25 Brandon League Los Angeles Dodgers 3.59 0.730 6.6 0.70
26 Jason Grilli Pittsburgh Pirates 4.25 0.684 8.0 0.42
27 Glen Perkins Minnesota Twins 4.08 0.774 6.4 0.34
28 Bobby Parnell New York Mets 3.76 0.471 8.3 -0.54
29 Jose Veras Houston Astros 4.04 0.350 9.4 -2.16
30 Shawn Camp Chicago Cubs 4.37 0.414 6.2 -2.55

Relievers:

The value ranking is on a 5 point scale with 5 being the best possible value. The ranking is composed of three major statistical categories: Earned Run Average, Walks and Hits per Innings Pitched, and Strikeouts per Nine Innings.  ERA, WHIP, and K/9 are all one third of the ranking. A ranking of below 2.5 means the player is considered to be below average.

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Rank Player Team ERA WHIP K/9 Value
1 Al Alburquerque Detroit Tigers 1.64 1.127 13.8 4.057
2 Kenley Jansen Los Angeles Dodgers 2.20 0.944 14.3 3.843
3 Vinnie Pestano Cleveland Indians 2.44 1.090 11.0 3.439
4 Jonny Venters Atlanta Braves 2.23 1.241 10.1 3.418
5 David Robertson New York Yankees 2.94 1.296 12.0 3.322
6 Ryan Cook Oakland Athletics 2.36 1.051 9.7 3.302
7 Joakim Soria Texas Rangers 2.40 1.043 9.7 3.284
8 Sean Doolittle Oakland Athletics 2.80 1.043 10.9 3.266
9 Mike Adams Philadelphia Phillies 2.27 1.055 9.2 3.263
10 Andrew Bailey Boston Red Sox 2.43 1.022 9.2 3.191
11 Jake McGee Tampa Bay Rays 3.10 1.066 10.9 3.132
12 Rex Brothers Colorado Rockies 3.30 1.406 11.6 3.121
13 Jordan Walden Atlanta Braves 3.05 1.306 10.6 3.117
14 Jonathan Broxton Cincinnati Reds 3.17 1.235 10.9 3.101
15 Carlos Marmol Chicago Cubs 3.40 1.319 11.7 3.087
16 John Axford Milwaukee Brewers 3.31 1.275 11.3 3.084
17 Sergio Santos Toronto Blue Jays 3.47 1.311 11.4 3.023
18 Tyler Clippard Washington Nationals 3.14 1.143 10.1 3.011
19 Luke Gregerson San Diego Padres 2.90 1.104 9.2 2.981
20 Nate Jones Chicago White Sox 2.50 1.374 8.2 2.972
21 Aaron Crow Kansas City Royals 3.01 1.276 9.1 2.915
22 Tim Collins Kansas City Royals 3.39 1.347 10.0 2.885
23 Antonio Bastardo Philadelphia Phillies 3.83 1.177 11.4 2.863
24 Darren O’Day Baltimore Orioles 2.65 1.044 7.9 2.839
25 Joe Thatcher San Diego Padres 3.37 1.319 9.5 2.820
26 Octavio Dotel Detroit Tigers 3.78 1.238 10.8 2.816
27 Heath Bell Arizona Diamondbacks 3.32 1.247 9.2 2.793
28 Mike Dunn Miami Marlins 3.72 1.518 10.2 2.766
29 Drew Storen Washington Nationals 3.10 1.117 8.5 2.765
30 Matt Thornton Chicago White Sox 3.53 1.281 9.4 2.732
31 Jerry Blevins Oakland Athletics 3.23 1.227 8.3 2.667
32 Jared Burton Minnesota Twins 3.01 1.199 7.8 2.655
33 Tony Sipp Arizona Diamondbacks 3.69 1.257 9.3 2.645
34 Frank Francisco New York Mets 3.92 1.326 9.9 2.634
35 Ronald Belisario Los Angeles Dodgers 3.11 1.193 7.8 2.611
36 Joba Chamberlain New York Yankees 3.76 1.357 9.1 2.580
37 Tony Watson Pittsburgh Pirates 3.54 1.169 8.5 2.568
38 Joe Smith Cleveland Indians 3.04 1.249 7.4 2.544
39 Eric O’Flaherty Atlanta Braves 2.84 1.244 6.9 2.495
40 Carter Capps Seattle Mariners 4.54 1.514 10.9 2.488
41 Jason Frasor Texas Rangers 3.77 1.328 8.6 2.485
42 Tanner Scheppers Texas Rangers 3.35 1.558 7.7 2.480
43 Santiago Casilla San Francisco Giants 3.58 1.364 8.0 2.446
44 David Hernandez Arizona Diamondbacks 4.03 1.338 9.0 2.442
45 Pedro Strop Baltimore Orioles 3.80 1.443 8.4 2.432
46 Ryan Madson Los Angeles Angels 3.59 1.294 7.8 2.396
47 Kyle Farnsworth Tampa Bay Rays 4.23 1.362 8.9 2.335
48 Mark Melancon Pittsburgh Pirates 3.83 1.207 8.0 2.334
49 Joaquin Benoit Detroit Tigers 4.26 1.307 8.8 2.303
50 Sean Marshall Cincinnati Reds 3.80 1.311 7.8 2.302
51 Joel Peralta Tampa Bay Rays 3.91 1.135 8.0 2.299
52 Matt Lindstrom Chicago White Sox 3.63 1.398 7.3 2.254
53 Mark Rzepczynski St. Louis Cardinals 4.07 1.386 8.1 2.249
54 Wilton Lopez Colorado Rockies 3.33 1.244 6.8 2.245
55 Oliver Perez Seattle Mariners 4.53 1.470 9.1 2.236
56 Jared Hughes Pittsburgh Pirates 3.28 1.198 6.6 2.205
57 Wesley Wright Houston Astros 4.51 1.406 8.8 2.192
58 Randy Choate St. Louis Cardinals 4.01 1.337 7.7 2.185
59 Scott Downs Los Angeles Angels 3.54 1.323 6.9 2.182
60 Edward Mujica St. Louis Cardinals 3.86 1.147 7.3 2.151

 

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