Who will be the best players in Major League Baseball in the 2016 season?
ESPN formed a panel of MLB writers, analysts and contributors to rank the top 100, which we'll count down from No. 100 to No. 1, revealing the top 10 on Baseball Tonight on Thursday (10 p.m. ET, ESPN).
To compile the top 100, we polled 70 ESPN experts in February and March, starting with a list of more than 350 players. Using a 0-to-10 scale, the experts evaluated the players based on how well they are projected to perform in 2016. Players expected to miss 2016 because of injury were not included.
The results will be announced on ESPN.com, Facebook (ESPN Baseball Tonight) and Twitter (@BBTN). Fans can use the hashtag #BBTN100 to join the discussion and follow along.
We're continuing the top 100 with Nos. 20-11.
20. Felix Hernandez
Pos.: RHP | Team: Seattle Mariners | @RealKingFelix
2015 rank: 5 | 2016 fantasy rank: 76
2015 stats: 31 GS, 18-9, 3.53 ERA, 191 Ks
ESPN says: Felix won 18 games, his most since 2009, but his 3.53 ERA was his highest since 2007, and his home run rate increased and his K rate went down. Batters hit .230 and slugged .339 off his usually untouchable changeup, so he has spent spring training working on a few minor mechanical adjustments as he aims for his 11th consecutive season with 30 starts and 190-plus innings. -- David Schoenfield, ESPN.com Sweetspot blogger
By the numbers: Hernandez struck out 197 batters with his changeup the past two seasons. That's 44 more than anyone else in MLB (Danny Salazar is next with 153). In that time, opponents have hit .230 in at-bats ending in a changeup from Hernandez, and they have missed on 31.5 percent of swings against those pitches. -- ESPN Stats & Information
19. Jose Fernandez
Pos.: RHP | Team: Miami Marlins
2015 rank: 39 | 2016 fantasy rank: 63
2015 stats: 11 GS, 6-1, 2.92 ERA, 79 Ks
ESPN says: Don't expect anything less than pure heat from a fully healthy Fernandez in 2016, though that heat might be mixed with a more complete arsenal of pitches. The 23-year-old Fernandez will be even better this season, worrying less about being a flamethrower and more about finesse, and that should reduce his risk of injury and help him carry an unreliable Marlins rotation. The always fiery Fernandez will be a man on a mission, learning how to protect his surgically repaired arm while also competing for the National League Cy Young. -- Marly Rivera, ESPNDeportes.com
By the numbers: Fernandez has missed a lot of time the past two seasons because of recovery from Tommy John surgery in 2014. In the 289 innings he has been able to pitch since his debut, he has a 2.40 ERA while striking out 29.2 percent of batters faced. Fernandez's splits at home are quite ridiculous, as he owns a 1.40 ERA and is undefeated in 26 career starts at Marlins Park. -- ESPN Stats & Information
18. Manny Machado
Pos.: 3B | Team: Baltimore Orioles
2015 rank: 59 | 2016 fantasy rank: 10
2015 stats: .286 BA, .861 OPS, 35 HRs, 86 RBIs
ESPN says: The lumber has caught up to the leather for Machado, the former Platinum Glover (2013) whose 35 homers last season were more than he had in his first three years. Ditto for the 70 walks. Just 23 years old, Machado has the look of a future Triple Crown winner. Thanks to Fowler-gate, which leaves Machado as Baltimore's projected leadoff hitter and limits his RBI potential, the future will have to wait. In the meantime, another Gold Glove and another All-Star appearance will have to do. -- Eddie Matz, ESPN.com Orioles/Nationals reporter
By the numbers: Machado notched career highs in home runs, runs, hits, RBIs and stolen bases, as well as in the associated rate categories (BA/OBP/SLG/OPS), last season. With 35 homers and 20 stolen bases, Machado became the first third baseman to reach those marks since Mark Reynolds in 2009. He was the youngest third baseman to accomplish the feat and the third-youngest player ever to do so, behind only 20-year-old Mike Trout in 2012 and 21-year-old Andruw Jones in 1998 (Jones also did it in his age-22 season in 1999). Machado is one of just four Orioles third basemen to hit 30 homers in a season. -- ESPN Stats & Information
17. Buster Posey
Pos.: C | Team: San Francisco Giants | @BusterPosey
2015 rank: 10 | 2016 fantasy rank: 37
2015 stats: .318 BA, .849 OPS, 19 HRs, 95 RBIs
ESPN says: Posey's career achievements are without precedent. The Giants' franchise catcher merely put up another amazing season in 2015, as he banked an .849 OPS while raising his career batting average to .310. What do you give the guy who has three World Series rings, an MVP trophy and a Rookie of the Year award before his 30th birthday? A lighter workload behind the plate to help him stay healthy enough to deliver and win another title or two, perhaps, as the Giants cut him back to just 103 starts behind the dish. -- Christina Kahrl, ESPN.com editor/Sweetspot blogger
By the numbers: Since his 2012 MVP season, Posey leads the National League in batting average while playing the most games at catcher of any player in the majors. His 80 homers in the past four seasons are second among players whose primary position is catcher (Brian McCann has 89). Posey also has caught the most batters stealing of any catcher in the NL in that span. In each even year of his career, Posey's average has been higher than in the preceding odd year, but Posey hit .318 last season (an odd year), his best since hitting .336 in the 2012 season. -- ESPN Stats & Information
16. Carlos Correa
Pos.: SS | Team: Houston Astros | @TeamCJCorrea
2015 rank: NR | 2016 fantasy rank: 11
2015 stats: .279 BA, .857 OPS, 22 HRs, 68 RBIs
ESPN says: He is only 21 and heading into his first full season, but some believe the talented shortstop has MVP ability -- this year. Hey, prorate his 2015 numbers over 155 games, and you get 34 home runs, 106 RBIs and 22 stolen bases. Did we mention he's only 21? -- Schoenfield
By the numbers: Correa went from star prospect to star player in his breakout 2015 campaign. In 99 games after being called up in early June, Correa hit 22 home runs (one every 17.6 at-bats). His 22 home runs were the most by a rookie shortstop since Troy Tulowitzki hit 24 in 2007. The only two rookie shortstops in the modern era to hit more home runs than Correa and Tulowitzki were Nomar Garciaparra (30) and Cal Ripken (28). -- ESPN Stats & Information
15. David Price
Pos.: LHP | Team: Boston Red Sox | @DAVIDprice24
2015 rank: 18 | 2016 fantasy rank: 31
2015 stats (with Tigers and Blue Jays): 32 GS, 18-5, 2.45 ERA, 225 Ks
ESPN says: It cost them $217 million, but the Red Sox finally got what they needed: a proven No. 1 starter. The 30-year-old lefty has spent most of his career in the AL East and has a 3.17 ERA in starts within the division. His mere presence figures to improve the rotation, though he will ultimately be judged on his ability to improve an 0-7 record and 5.27 ERA in eight career postseason starts. -- Scott Lauber, ESPN.com Red Sox reporter
By the numbers: Since 2011, Price has not walked more than 2.5 batters per nine innings in any season. In that time, he has the highest strikeout percentage (24.4) by any left-handed starter who walked no more than 5.5 percent of batters faced. -- ESPN Stats & Information
14. Max Scherzer
Pos.: RHP | Team: Washington Nationals | @Max_Scherzer
2015 rank: 11 | 2016 fantasy rank: 16
2015 stats: 33 GS, 14-12, 2.79 ERA, 276 Ks
ESPN says: It's hard to believe Scherzer tossed two no-hitters, led the majors in K/BB ratio (8.12) and posted a career-low WHIP (0.92) ... and won only 14 games last season. But that's what happened. Don't expect the lack of support from the Nationals' bats -- the offense managed just 3.55 runs per game when Washington's ace started (fifth worst in MLB) -- to continue. Do expect Scherzer to contend for his second Cy Young. -- Matz
By the numbers: Scherzer's first season with the Nationals was a tale of domination. Scherzer threw two no-hitters, which made him the first player since Nolan Ryan in 1973 to throw two no-hitters in the regular season and the fifth player ever to do so. Scherzer has made three straight All-Star teams and won the 2013 American League Cy Young award with the Tigers. His 768 strikeouts in that span are second in the majors behind Clayton Kershaw's total. -- ESPN Stats & Information
13. Dallas Keuchel
Pos.: LHP | Team: Houston Astros | @kidkeuchy
2015 rank: NR | 2016 fantasy rank: 53
2015 stats: 33 GS, 20-8, 2.48 ERA, 216 Ks
ESPN says: No pitcher has improved as much over the past two seasons as Keuchel, who went from a 5.15 ERA to Cy Young winner after going 20-8 with a 2.48 ERA and league-leading 232 innings. He gets ground balls, he increased his strikeout rate to more than 5 percent, he limits the running game, and he has proved he can carry a big workload. He'll be in Cy Young contention again. -- Schoenfield
By the numbers: Keuchel had a 5.20 ERA over the first 239 innings pitched in his career, and in his first 47 appearances, he lost 18 times and won only nine times. Over the past two seasons, Keuchel has a 2.69 ERA and has won 32 times in 62 starts. A big change for him has been his ground ball rate, which has been above 60 percent each of the past two seasons, after it was 52 percent and 56 percent the previous two. -- ESPN Stats & Information
12. Chris Sale
Pos.: LHP | Team: Chicago White Sox
2015 rank: 7 | 2016 fantasy rank: 22
2015 stats: 31 GS, 13-11, 3.41 ERA, 274 Ks
ESPN says: All flying legs and arms in his delivery, it's surprising Sale isn't nicknamed "The Octopus." The tall, lean lefty has one of the best fastball/slider combinations in the game, and his three-quarter release point, with deception, only makes it that much more brutal on opposing hitters. The salty, competitive edge? Everybody saw recently that it isn't just for show -- it's the real article. -- Doug Padilla, ESPN.com Dodgers reporter
By the numbers: Sale has the most strikeouts of any American League pitcher since the start of 2012 (900). He led the majors with 11.8 strikeouts per nine innings last season, ahead of Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer. Sale's 1.07 WHIP in that span is the best among pitchers with at least 100 starts, and Sale has made four straight All-Star appearances. -- ESPN Stats & Information
11. Madison Bumgarner
Pos.: LHP | Team: San Francisco Giants
2015 rank: 15 | 2016 fantasy rank: 29
2015 stats: 32 GS, 18-9, 2.93 ERA, 234 Ks
ESPN says: The Giants are hopeful a nerve issue in Bumgarner's foot and his strained rib-cage muscle are just minor spring annoyances, but any injury concerns about San Francisco's ace raise major red flags, given his importance. Following three straight seasons with a sub-3.00 ERA, there's no doubt who the Giants' ace is, even after the acquisition of Johnny Cueto. Also, Bumgarner hit five home runs in just 77 at-bats and is a legitimate pinch-hitting option for Bruce Bochy, who used him four times last year. -- Mark Saxon, ESPN.com Cardinals reporter
By the numbers: Bumgarner has been dominating since his rookie season in 2010. As a rookie, he threw eight scoreless innings on the road in Game 4 of the World Series, when he began to etch his name into postseason lore. He notched a 1.03 ERA in six starts and one infamous relief appearance in the 2014 postseason, and he allowed just one earned run in 21 innings during the World Series, including five scoreless innings out of the bullpen in Game 7 in Kansas City. Bumgarner made his third straight All-Star team in 2015 and won his second straight Silver Slugger award. Bumgarner's nine homers since 2014 are the most by a pitcher (Zack Greinke is next with four). -- ESPN Stats & Information