This article is part of our Bernie on the Scene series.
Here are my 2022 Fantasy Baseball Outfield Rankings:
A great deal of my evaluation for these rankings is based upon what I believe to be playing time issues for several players. Your favorite fantasy target could be down in the rankings, and I may not think he'll play enough to help. Outfield is the deepest position in fantasy, and any player could be much better or worse than the rankings.
If he's healthy, watch out: Kyle Lewis. If he's really strong and healthy, I have him ranked too low.
My Sleeper: Akil Baddoo. He will play. He'll run. He'll steal bases.
I'm very bullish on: Riley Greene. More for the future than this year, when he will be in a rookie learning curve.
- Juan Soto, WSH
- Bryce Harper, PHI
- Mike Trout, LAA
- Kyle Tucker, HOU
- Ronald Acuna, ATL (late start?)
- Mookie Betts, LAD
- Yordan Alvarez, HOU
- Teoscar Hernandez, TOR
- Luis Robert, CWS
- Aaron Judge, NYY (vaccination issues?)
- Byron Buxton, MIN
- Starling Marte, NYM
- Cedric Mullins, BAL
- Nick Castellanos, FA
- George Springer, TOR
- Tyler O'Neill, STL
- Eloy Jimenez, CWS
- Ketel Marte, ARI
- J.D. Martinez, BOS
- Giancarlo Stanton, NYY
- Kris Bryant, COL
- Jesse Winker, SEA
- Whit Merrifield, KC
- Franmil Reyes, CLE
- Randy Arozarena, TB
- Bryan Reynolds, Pit
- Kyle Schwarber, PHI
- Mitch Haniger, SEA
- Brandon Lowe, TB
- Seiya Suzuki, CHC
- Christian Yelich, MIL
- Cody Bellinger, LAD
- Ryan Mountcastle, BAL
- Jared Walsh, LAA
- Tommy Edman, STL
- Austin Meadows, TB
- Lourdes Gurriel Jr., TOR
- Joey Gallo, NYY
- Michael Brantley, HOU
- Trent Grisham, Padres
- Alex Verdugo, BOS
- Avisail Garcia, MIA
- Chris Taylor, LAD
- Jorge Soler, MIA
- Hunter Renfroe, MIL
- Michael Conforto, FA
- Andrew Benintendi, KC
- Adolis Garcia, TEX
- Dylan Carlson, STL
- Austin Hays, BAL
- Ramon Laureano, OAK
- Myles Straw, CLE
- Eddie Rosario, ATL
- Anthony Santander, BAL
- Kyle Lewis, SEA
- Robbie Grossman, DET
- Daulton Varsho, Dbacks
- Alex Kirilloff, Twins
- Jarred Kelenic, Mariners
- Akil Baddoo, Tiger
- Randal Grichuk, TOR
- AJ Pollock, LAD
- Charlie Blackmon, COL
- Adam Duvall, ATL
- Andrew Vaughn, CWS
- Ian Happ, CHC
- Julio Rodriguez, SEA (Rookie, late start?)
- Marcell Ozuna, ATL
- Amed Rosario, CLE
- Raimel Tapia, COL
- Tommy Pham, FA
- Enrique Hernandez, BOS
- Jo Adell, LAS
- Mark Canha, NYM
- Wil Myers, SD
- Mike Yastrzemski, SF
- Max Kepler, MIN
- Jesus Sanchez, MIA
- Luis Arraez, MIN
- Riley Greene, DET (Rookie, starts the season with the parent club?)
- Pavin Smith, ARI
- Harrison Bader, STL
- Gavin Lux, LAD
- Brandon Nimmo, NYM
- Jeff McNeil, NYM
- Patrick Wisdom, CHC
- Tyler Naquin, CIN
- Andrew McCutchen, MIL
- LaMonte Wade, SF
- Lane Thomas, WSH
- Manuel Margot, RAYS
- David Peralta, ARI
- Joc Pederson, SF
- Connor Joe, COL
- Willie Calhoun, TEX
- Gavin Sheets, CWS
- Jarren Duran, BOS
- Lorenzo Cain, MIL
- Dominic Smith, NYM
- Brandon Marsh, LLA
- Hunter Dozier, KC
- Brett Phillips, TB
- Jake Meyers, HOU
- Leody Taveras, TEX
- Michael Taylor, KC
- Jake Fraley, CIN
- Garrett Cooper, MIA
- Victor Robles, WSH
- Josh Naylor, CLE (Not playing yet)
- Kole Calhoun, TEX
- Cristian Pache, OAK
- Bryan De La Cruz, MIA
- Sam Hilliard, COL
- Darin Ruf, SF
- Ben Gamel, PIT
- Nick Senzel, CIN
- Tyrone Taylor, MIL
- Leury Garcia, CWS
- Seth Brown, OAK
- Connor Joe, COL
- Rafael Ortega, CHC
- Kyle Isbel, KC
- Steven Kwan, CLE (If he makes the club, he'll get on base)
- Aaron Hicks, NYY
- Clint Frazier, CHC
- Chas McCormick, HOU
- DJ Stewart, BAL
- Austin Slater, SF
- Bradley Zimmer, CLE
- Kevin Kiermaier, TB
- Harold Ramirez, CHC
- Anthony Alford, PIT
- Dylan Moore, SEA
- Adam Engel, CWS
- Justin Upton, LAA
- Victor Reyes, DET
- Aristides Aquino, CIN
- Odubel Herrera, PHI
- Josh Lowe, TB
- Jason Heyward, CHC
- Stephen Piscotty, OAK
- Oscar Mercado, CLE
- Jackie Bradley , BOS
- Steven Duggar, SF
- Alex Dickerson, ATL
- Yadiel Hernandez, WSH
- Trevor Larnach, MIN
- Adam Haseley, PHI
- Chad Pinder, OAK
- Skye Bolt, OAK
- Matt Vierling, PHI
- Jurickson Profar, SDP
- Daz Cameron, DET
HEADING HOME:
I was totally shocked to learn that Carlos Correa had signed with the Twins. They are now "all in," as they have spent an incredible amount of money this offseason.
My sources insist the Twins are for sale. And maybe this is to bolster the roster to make the team more attractive to a potential buyer.
I'm looking for a tremendous number of pitcher arm miseries without a full spring training. For that reason, I think the MLB rosters could be expanded beyond 26. I haven't heard the official number, yet, but teams are already moaning.
I've been in press boxes all week at spring training. Most people to whom I've spoken feel MLB could have signed off on the current CBA in November. And frankly, nothing seems to have changed. Sure, the Tigers, Twins and other smaller market teams are now spending to acquire bigger players, but look at what the Reds and Athletics have done.
I don't want to hear, "Oakland always does that and succeeds." Or, "Oakland is getting ready for their new stadium" and blah blah blah. They are not competitive. Period. They have no chance to win their division.
Attendance at spring training the first week, mid-March with great weather, has been dismal.
Fans can't make plans immediately and just hop on a plane and go to Florida and Arizona.
The entire vibe is really mild and very unlike spring training in Arizona. Maybe the next two weeks will be better.
There are plenty of "snowbirds" here now in Arizona. The restaurants are packed. But so far, they aren't buying spring training tickets. And I've heard the ticket prices are through the roof.
I'm old enough to remember the great Bill Veeck saying, "I'll give anything away, but I won't give my product away. I won't give away free tickets." Tell that to the Cleveland Guardians.
For some stupid reason, their home season opener against the Giants in mid-April in Cleveland is a night game. That makes no sense.
Cleveland home openers have always been during the day. They sold out in10 or 20 minutes in the great years. Now the Guardians (what a ridiculous name) are giving a free ticket in April and May for every home opener ticket purchased. That screams of a disaster of a home opener advance ticket sale.
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Have a great week.