71-80

Yoenis Cespedes
71. New York Mets | LF
Yes, if Cespedes hits as he did last season, the he'll be higher on this list next time around. However, what he did at the plate in 2015 was somewhat out of step with the rest of his career (116 OPS+ pre-2015, 137 OPS+ in 2015). He's a low-OBP power threat who's a defensive asset at an outfield corner (but not in center).



Ben Zobrist
72. Chicago Cubs | 2B
Zobrist is going into his age-35 season, so sudden decline is of course possible. However, the remarkably consistent Zobrist hasn't shown any hint of decline at the plate. The further he gets from last season's knee injury, the better his defense should be.



George Springer
Springer's got tools aplenty, and when healthy he's flashed them. Across parts of two MLB seasons, he's hit .256/.354/.463 and averaged 32 homers and 19 steals per 162 games played while grading out as a plus defender. Avoiding injury is his next challenge.




Corey Seager
Seager enters the 2016 season the heavy favorite to win NL Rookie of the Year honors. That's with good cause. He's got a clear path to regular playing time at shortstop, he excelled in his first brief taste of the majors last year, and he's got a strong record of performance coming up through the system. Speaking of all of that, the SportsLine Projection System tabs Seager for a line of .277/.348/.448. If that comes to pass, then he'll be quite higher on this list next year.


Yadier Molina
Molina's bat is probably in decline, and all those innings behind the plate (more than 12,000) have surely exacted a toll. For now, though, his broad base of defensive skills and contact abilities at the plate -- plus the qualities of elite catchers that evade statistical detection -- earn him the benefit of the doubt as he heads into his age-33 season.



Masahiro Tanaka
Tanaka's wipeout splitter is as nasty as advertised, and on a rate basis he's thrived on the command and run-prevention fronts. Durability is the only question mark as he heads into his age-27 season.




Christian Yelich
77. Miami Marlins | LF
Yelich combines production at the plate with defense and baserunning, and he's still just 24 years of age. Each of his three big-league seasons has been a good one, and he's a candidate to take the next step toward stardom in 2016.




Carlos Martinez
Martinez last season responded well to the predictability and regimentation of starting detail. A polished changeup helped him against the opposite side and made him a true four-pitch hurler. So long as the shoulder holds up, he's an ace in the making.




Mike Moustakas
Moustakas has long been a defensive asset at third base, and last season the bat finally came around, as he put up an OPS+ of 120 versus a pre-2015 career mark of 82. His newfound emphasis on hitting to all fields suggests it's sustainable.



Marcus Stroman
Stroman boasts a legit five-pitch repertoire and above-average velocity. The results? Across 157 2/3 big-league innings, he's running an ERA+ of 116 and a K/BB ratio of 3.79. He's now the ace in Toronto.





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