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 March 24.
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 an 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. 60-51.
60. Yoenis Cespedes
Pos.: CF | Team: New York Mets | @ynscspds
2015 rank: 97 | 2016 fantasy rank: 43
2015 stats: .291 BA, .870 OPS, 35 HRs, 105 RBIs, 101 runs
ESPN says: Cespedes provided a jolt to the lineup when he arrived from the Detroit Tigers in a trade last season. He helped the Mets become the first team in major league history to reach the World Series after being last in runs scored on July 31. Now, after re-signing for three years and $75 million (with an opt-out after the 2016 season), Cespedes is poised to bat third for the Mets. He acknowledges he will be hard-pressed to duplicate the regular-season numbers he produced after the trade in 2015 (.287, 17 HR, 44 RBIs in 230 ABs). -- Adam Rubin, ESPN.com Mets reporter
By the numbers: Cespedes had the best season of his career in 2015. His .542 slug percentage, .870 OPS, 35 homers and 105 RBIs were all career bests. His 17 homers after the Mets traded for him were the second-most ever after July 31 by a player traded during the season (Mark McGwire had 24 in 1997). Cespedes also added his first career Gold Glove award to his mantle, and he did so in quirky fashion: Cespedes won an American League award despite finishing the season in the National League. The only other player to win a Gold Glove award in a season in which he played in both leagues was Vic Power, who won a 1964 AL Gold Glove despite finishing the season in the NL in Philly. -- ESPN Stats & Information
59. Prince Fielder
Pos.: DH | Team: Texas Rangers | @RealPFielder28
2015 rank: 87 | 2016 fantasy rank: 52
2015 stats: .305 BA, .841 OPS, 23 HRs, 98 RBIs, 78 runs
ESPN says: The American League's Comeback Player of the Year the past season, Fielder traded some power for contact, and the result was a player more likely to bat .300 than hit 30 homers. Still, that and his move to DH decreased worries about the effects of age on his numbers, and at 31 (32 in May), Fielder shouldn't fall far short of either threshold in 2016. -- Tristan H. Cockroft, ESPN.com senior fantasy writer
By the numbers: The 2015 AL Comeback Player of the Year played in 158 games last season, after undergoing neck surgery the year before. He hit .305 with 98 RBIs in a season that saw an All-Star selection and MVP votes for the DH. Since his rookie year in 2006, Fielder's 309 homers are fifth in the majors behind Albert Pujols, Ryan Howard, Miguel Cabrera and David Ortiz. -- ESPN Stats & Information
58. Johnny Cueto
Pos.: RSP | Team: San Francisco Giants | @JohnnyCueto
2015 rank: 17 | 2016 fantasy rank: 81
2015 stats: 32 GS, 11-13, 3.44 ERA, 176 Ks
ESPN says: After winning a ring with the Royals, Cueto is returning to the National League to take his chances with the Giants' even year phenomenon. If last year's struggles locating his slider down the stretch -- and concerns about his elbow -- are a thing of the past, the benefits of pitching in China Basin's damp air could produce increasingly microscopic ERAs and rehabilitate his ace rep, not to mention make this ranking look low. -- Christina Kahrl, ESPN.com editor/Sweetspot blogger
By the numbers: Over the past five seasons, Cueto ranks in the top five among all qualified pitchers in ERA, opponent OPS and WHIP. His 2.71 ERA since 2011 is second in the majors in that span, behind only Clayton Kershaw. Cueto's strikeout rate has risen more than 4 percent the past two seasons, and he has walked fewer batters too. -- ESPN Stats & Information
57. A.J. Pollock
Pos.: CF | Team: Arizona Diamondbacks
2015 rank: NR | 2016 fantasy rank: 15
2015 stats: .315 BA, .865 OPS, 20 HRs, 76 RBIs, 111 runs
ESPN says: One of the most valuable hitters of 2015, Pollock finally turned health into a breakout campaign and became the lone big leaguer to reach 20 home runs and 30 stolen bases. Pollock is capable of more as his power continues to develop. He walked more and struck out less, and having Paul Goldschmidt following him in the lineup is nice. Expect another excellent season. -- Eric Karabell, ESPN.com senior fantasy writer
By the numbers: Pollock hit a career-high .315 last season while setting career bests in RBIs (76), HRs (20) and hits (192). He finished fifth in the National League in batting average behind Dee Gordon and a trio of perennial NL MVP candidates: Bryce Harper, Paul Goldschmidt and Buster Posey. Pollock is just the third Diamondbacks player to hit .315 or better in a season. He won a Gold Glove award in 2015 for his efforts in center. -- ESPN Stats & Information
56. Mookie Betts
Pos.: RF | Team: Boston Red Sox | @mookiebetts
2015 rank: NR | 2016 fantasy rank: 23
2015 stats: .291 BA, .820 OPS, 18 HRs, 77 RBIs, 92 runs
ESPN says: Meet the new, fresh face of the Red Sox. With David Ortiz planning to exit the stage after this season, Betts is a rising star with a dynamic blend of speed, power and athleticism. Best of all, the leadoff-hitting 23-year-old outfielder oozes self-confidence and innate leadership qualities. He even treated his veteran teammates to dinner at the start of spring training. Last season, he fell two homers shy of the 20/20 club. This is the year he joins it. -- Scott Lauber, ESPN.com Red Sox reporter
By the numbers: Betts led the Red Sox in WAR in 2015 while putting up 42 doubles, 18 home runs and an .820 OPS in his second season. His 8.1 WAR in his first two seasons ranks fifth in Red Sox history. Betts had a career-high 18-game hit streak from Aug. 24 to Sept. 13 last season, the longest hit streak by a Red Sox player in the past two seasons. Betts has robbed three home runs since his 2014 debut, which ties J.D. Martinez and Mike Trout for most home run robberies in the majors in that span. -- ESPN Stats & Information
55. Adrian Beltre
Pos.: 3B | Team: Texas Rangers
2015 rank: 22 | 2016 fantasy rank: 55
2015 stats: .287 BA, .787 OPS, 18 HRs, 83 RBIs, 83 runs
ESPN says: Beltre is 37 years old and has appeared in the second-most games at third base in history, but he has shown no signs of significantly slowing down. Despite missing most of June because of a thumb injury that he subsequently played through, Beltre recorded the highest batting average (.311) and second-most RBIs (63) at his position from July 1 on. Expect more of the same in 2016, including Gold Glove-caliber defense. -- Cockroft
By the numbers: Over the course of an 18-year career, Beltre has racked up 413 homers, 1,467 RBIs and 2,767 hits. His 12.8 WAR the past two seasons is fourth in the majors. His 2,725 hits since 1999 put him third in the majors in that span, behind Ichiro Suzuki and Derek Jeter. Beltre has appeared in by far the most games since 1999, with a 133-game advantage over the next active player, Ichiro, entering the 2016 season. Beltre's 18 defensive runs saved at third base last season tied for the most in baseball, and the slugger finished seventh in MVP voting. -- ESPN Stats & Information
54. Yadier Molina
Pos.: C | Team: St. Louis Cardinals | @Yadimolina04
2015 rank: 23 | 2016 fantasy rank: 384
2015 stats: .270 BA, .660 OPS, 4 HRs, 61 RBIs, 34 runs
ESPN says: Spring training turned into a waiting game for the Cardinals, who are anxiously trying to determine if their most important player will be healthy for Opening Day. He had left thumb surgery in December, his second operation on the hand in a matter of months. Many people credit him generously for the team's great pitching over the years. -- Mark Saxon, ESPN.com Cardinals reporter
By the numbers: Molina's best hitting days are likely behind him. His slugging percentage has dropped from .501 in 2012 to .477, .386 and .350 the past three seasons. Molina's .350 slugging percentage last season ranked 164th out of 180 players with at least 400 at-bats, but he was still worth 1.4 WAR, which made it his ninth straight year worth at least 1.0 WAR. Only two other NL players -- Brandon Phillips and Ryan Braun -- have been worth at least a win in each of the past nine seasons. -- ESPN Stats & Information
53. Nelson Cruz
Pos.: DH | Team: Seattle Mariners | @ncboomstick23
2015 rank: 68 | 2016 fantasy rank: 41
2015 stats: .302 BA, .935 OPS, 44 HRs, 93 RBIs, 90 runs
ESPN says: In 2014, nobody wanted Cruz, he signed late with the Orioles, and he led the AL with 40 home runs. In 2015, he signed for $57 million, everyone said the Mariners overpaid, and he hit .302 with 44 home runs in the best season of his career. He turns 36 in July, and everyone expects some regression. He has been proving us wrong. -- David Schoenfield, Sweetspot blogger
By the numbers: Last season was Cruz's first at Safeco Field, yet he managed to hit 40 home runs for the second straight season. Cruz has managed to improve his home run-to-fly ball ratio as he has aged, from 13.1 percent in 2012 to 21.3, 20.4 and 30.3 the past three seasons. -- ESPN Stats & Information
52. Andrew Miller
Pos.: RP | Team: New York Yankees | @a_miller48
2015 rank: 82 | 2016 fantasy rank: 182
2015 stats: 60 games, 100 Ks, 2.04 ERA, 36 saves
ESPN says: Miller will begin the season as the Yankees closer but then is expected to be pushed into a setup role upon Aroldis Chapman's return. If not for his good attitude and big contract (he is in the second year of a four-year, $36 million deal), he could be sour about losing his role. Instead, Miller has embraced going back to work in the seventh and eighth innings. -- Andrew Marchand, ESPN.com Yankees reporter
By the numbers: Miller struck out 100 batters in 61 2/3 innings pitched last season. It was his second consecutive season with at least 100 strikeouts in 65 or fewer innings. Miller and new teammate Aroldis Chapman are the only players in MLB history with multiple such seasons. Only two other times have players hit the 100 strikeout mark in 65 or fewer innings: Craig Kimbrel in 2012 and Brad Boxberger in 2014. -- ESPN Stats & Information
51. Yu Darvish
Pos.: RSP | Team: Texas Rangers | @faridyu
2015 rank: NR | 2016 fantasy rank: 235
2015 stats: DNP
ESPN says: Early in spring training, general manager Jon Daniels described Darvish as being on a "mission'' in his comeback from Tommy John surgery. The timetable calls for Darvish to return in mid-to-late May, at which point he'll join Cole Hamels and give Texas a killer 1-2 combination at the top of the rotation. With 680 strikeouts in 545 1/3 career innings, he's a force when healthy. -- Jerry Crasnick, ESPN.com senior writer
By the numbers: Darvish most recently pitched a full season in 2013. He struck out 277 batters that season, second-most in the past 10 seasons (Clayton Kershaw had 301 in 2015) and second-most in Rangers franchise history (Nolan Ryan had 301 in 1989). -- ESPN Stats & Information