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, they evaluated the players based only on how well they are projected to perform in 2016. Players expected to miss 2016 with 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. 90-81.
90: Russell Martin
Pos.: C | Team: Toronto Blue Jays | @russellmartin55
2015 rank: 66 | 2016 fantasy rank: 134
2015 stats -- .240 BA, .787 OPS, 23 HRs, 77 RBIs
ESPN says: The 33-year-old catcher has played for the Dodgers, Yankees, Pirates and Blue Jays since 2006, but one thing almost always happens: His teams have appeared in the postseason eight times in his 10 seasons, including the past five, a testament to his leadership and ability to handle a pitching staff. He's coming off a career-high 23 home runs and draws enough walks to boast a decent on-base percentage even when he hits .240. -- David Schoenfield, ESPN.com Sweetspot blogger
By the numbers: Martin's 13.0 wins above replacement over the last three seasons rank second among catchers to Buster Posey (16.3). Much of that comes from his defensive work. He's ranked in the top three in defensive runs saved for catchers in four of the last six seasons. -- ESPN Stats & Information
89: Todd Frazier
Pos.: 3B | Team: Chicago White Sox | @FlavaFraz21
2015 rank: 98 | 2016 fantasy rank: 25
2015 stats -- .255 BA, .806 OPS, 35 HRs, 89 RBIs
ESPN says: Frazier will have to make the necessary adjustments that come with switching leagues. He leaves the seventh-most-generous home run park in baseball (Great American Ball Park) for the eighth-friendliest yard (U.S. Cellular Field), so the venues are basically a wash. He needs to show more staying power than last season, when his numbers fell off markedly after the All-Star break. -- Jerry Crasnick, ESPN.com senior writer
By the numbers: The 2015 home run derby champ in his then-home park, Frazier hit a career-high 35 homers last season, making his second straight All-Star Game. He was the first Reds player to hit 35 homers since Joey Votto in 2010, and just the second different Reds third baseman ever to do so (Tony Perez, 1970 and 1969). -- ESPN Stats & Information
88: Michael Wacha
Pos.: RHP | Team: St. Louis Cardinals | @MichaelWacha
2015 rank: NR | 2016 fantasy rank: 140
2015 stats - 30 GS, 17-7 W-L, 3.38 ERA, 153 Ks
ESPN says: The Cardinals don't think it's a coincidence that their 24-year-old All-Star pitcher had his worst month (7.88 ERA) in September last season. In order to limit Wacha's workload, the team has encouraged him to develop a cutter to go with his mid-90s fastball, curveball and cartoon changeup. The hope is that strikeouts might dip, but he'll get more early-count outs and hold up better as the season progresses. The world saw in 2013 what a weapon Wacha can be in October when he's fresh. -- Mark Saxon, ESPN.com Cardinals reporter
By the numbers: The last Cardinals pitcher with more wins through his age-23 season was Hall of Famer Steve Carlton in the late 1960s. Wacha's go-to secondary pitch -- a mid-80s changeup -- resulted in a strikeout 33.7 percent of the time last season, third best in the National League. -- ESPN Stats & Information
87: Francisco Liriano
Pos.: LHP | Team: Pittsburgh Pirates
2015 rank: NR | 2016 fantasy rank: 131
2015 stats -- 31 GS, 12-7 W-L, 3.38 ERA, 205 Ks
ESPN says: The Pirates' power lefty set a career high in strikeouts while tying a career-best 31 starts. Just two NL lefties allowed a lower batting average against than Liriano's .223 -- guys named Kershaw and Bumgarner, heard of them? Dealing an exceptionally balanced blend of sliders and changeups mixed with heat that sits around 92-93 mph, Liriano could cement his place as the Pirates' No. 2 starter if he reaches his 2016 goal of throwing 200 innings for the first time. -- Christina Kahrl, ESPN.com editor/Sweetspot blogger
By the numbers: Liriano's career renaissance in Pittsburgh continued last season, when he struck out 200 batters for just the second time in his career (and first time since 2010). He got 134 strikeouts with his slider last season, third most in baseball and 37 more than any other lefty. His also held opponents to an NL-best .128 batting average against that pitch. -- ESPN Stats & Information
86: Ryan Braun
Pos.: RF | Team: Milwaukee Brewers
2015 rank: 61 | 2016 fantasy rank: 71
2015 stats -- .285 BA, .854 OPS, 25 HRs, 84 RBIs
ESPN says: The good news is that the man inked to a cornerstone player's contract put up his best season since his 2013 suspension for performance-enhancing drugs, but the not so happy news is, since getting caught in the Biogenesis scandal, Braun has yet to slug .500 and hit 30 home runs, things he did in five of his first six seasons. With at least $100 million coming his way from the Brewers over the next five seasons, they're going to need him to show he can bounce back to that if he's going to play a significant part in their rebuild and rebound. -- Kahrl
By the numbers: Braun got back to the All-Star Game in 2015 after a two-year absence (he reached the Midsummer Classic every season from 2008-12). Last season, he became the fifth player in the last 10 seasons to record 25 home runs and 20 stolen bases at the age of 31 or older (Alex Rios, Carlos Beltran, Alex Rodriguez and Gary Sheffield). -- ESPN Stats & Information
85: Zach Britton
Pos.: RP | Team: Baltimore Orioles
2015 rank: NR | 2016 fantasy rank: 108
2015 stats -- 65.2 IPs, 79 Ks, 1.92 ERA, 36 saves
ESPN says: Thanks to a savage sinker that averaged 96 miles an hour last season, Britton is a ground ball machine. A year ago, among pitchers with at least 60 innings, his 10.6 ground ball-to-fly ball ratio was the best in the majors and nearly twice as high as the next closest guy. Between that and the crazy control (5.6 K/BB), it wouldn't be a surprise to see the 28-year old lefty reach 40 saves for the first time and return to the All-Star Game for the second straight season. -- Eddie Matz, ESPN.com Orioles/Nationals reporter
By the numbers: Britton had both the highest ground-ball rate (79.9 percent) and the lowest line-drive rate (12.2 percent) of any pitcher who pitched at least 50 innings last season. In fact, various sources have tracked ground-ball data dating back to around 1990 and Britton's single-season ground-ball rate is the best in that span. -- ESPN Stats & Information
84: Evan Longoria
Pos.: 3B | Team: Tampa Bay Rays | @Evan3Longoria
2015 rank: 48 | 2016 fantasy rank: 132
2015 stats -- .270, .764 OPS, 21 HRs, 73 RBIs
ESPN says: It isn't easy being the only feared hitter in your team's lineup. Longoria bore that burden last season and wound up with the second-lowest home run (21) and OPS (.764) totals of his career. The Rays sought to give him more support by adding Corey Dickerson and Logan Morrison. But make no mistake: The offense still revolves around a 30-year-old third baseman who has averaged 26 homers since coming to the big leagues in 2008. -- Scott Lauber, ESPN.com Red Sox reporter
By the numbers: Last season, Longoria became the first player in Rays history to hit 200 home runs. Since he entered the league in 2008, his 205 home runs are the most among those that played at least 75 percent of their games at third base. -- ESPN Stats & Information
83: Andrelton Simmons
Pos.: SS | Team: Los Angeles Angels | @Andrelton
2015 rank: 58 | 2016 fantasy rank: Not in top 300
2015 stats -- .265 BA, .660 OPS, 4 HRs, 44 RBIs
ESPN says: Based on his .666 OPS in 1,999 career plate appearances, Simmons is only going to contribute so much at the plate. But he's shown an ability to put the ball in play, so he fits right in with manager Mike Scioscia's preference for moving runners and playing a National League-style of ball. He became the front-runner for American League Gold Glove shortstop the minute the Angels acquired him from Atlanta. -- Crasnick
By the numbers: Simmons has 113 defensive runs saved over the last four seasons. Next most in the majors in that time is Jason Heyward with 89. The next most by a shortstop in that time is Brandon Crawford and Zack Cozart, who each have 42. -- ESPN Stats & Information
82: Mark Melancon
Pos.: RP | Team: Pittsburgh Pirates
2015 rank: NR | 2016 fantasy rank: 105
2015 stats -- 76.2 IPs, 62 Ks, 2.23 ERA, 51 saves
ESPN says: Melancon gets lost a little bit when compared with the likes of Craig Kimbrel, Aroldis Chapman and baseball's most dominant closers, but he's been a model of efficiency in Pittsburgh thanks to his unflappable demeanor and pinpoint control. That said, it's tough to expect him to repeat his 2016 output of 51 saves in 53 opportunities. -- Crasnick
By the numbers: Melancon was the first Pirates pitcher to lead the NL in saves since Dave Giusti in 1971. His most impressive stretch was a 34-appearance run in which he saved 25 of 26 and did not allow an earned run in 33 2/3 innings pitched. -- ESPN Stats & Information
81: Jordan Zimmermann
Pos.: RHP | Team: Detroit Tigers
2015 rank: 30 | 2016 fantasy rank: 128
2015 stats -- 201.2 IPs, 13-10 W-L, 3.66 ERA, 164 Ks
ESPN says: A true workhorse who has pitched 195 innings or more in each of the last four years, Zimmermann will further fortify a Tigers rotation that already includes Justin Verlander. Considering Zimmermann's grit and competitiveness, it's reasonable to assume that a bit of friendly competition between the two pitchers will only be beneficial to everyone involved. -- Katie Strang, ESPN.com Tigers reporter
By the numbers: Zimmermann has developed into one of the league's most consistent pitchers over the last several years; he's one of only five players to make at least 32 starts in each of the last four seasons. His 58 wins and 810 1/3 innings in that stretch each rank in the league's top 10. -- ESPN Stats & Information