Sluggers -- giant home run and power producers -- used to roam left field in most ballparks like baseball’s version of the T-Rex. In 2006, 21 players whose primary position was left field mashed 20 or more homers, from Barry Bonds to Juan Rivera to Pat Burrell to Marcus Thames to Manny Ramirez.
But as statistical analysis continues to shape the game, highlighting players who excel in run prevention and in their platoon work against left-handed and right-handed pitchers, the composition of those who play left field has changed. (Increased testing for performance-enhancing drugs has probably played a role in this, as well.)
If you use the same sorting tools for 2016 as for 2006, only 12 left fielders generated 20 or more homers last year. Oh, sure, there are still a few left fielders cut out of the old mold, like Khris Davis of Oakland, who bashed 42 homers, or Justin Upton of the Tigers, who clubbed 31 homers while playing every day. But more and more, the left field at-bats are carved up into slices doled out to a group of players who provide productivity in particular matchups -- on defense and against lefties or righties. In 2006, 24 left fielders had more than 490 at-bats. In 2016, only 12 left fielders had more than 490 at-bats.
The Dodgers used 12 different players in left field in 2016; the Astros, eight. Among the 12 left fielders deployed by the Cubs were pitchers Travis Wood and Pedro Strop.
What this also means is that teams are not devoting as much of a share of their payroll to left fielders as they used to. This makes sense because positions like shortstop, second base, third base and center field require a greater range of skills -- and more money -- in this era.
With all of that in mind, here is Part VII of our positional rankings: the top 10 left fielders, based on the input of scouts and executives.
Major League Baseball is flush with cash, and teams have operated this winter with the comfort of knowing that a new management-favorable labor agreement is in place. Yet only one player received a deal worth at least $100 million -- Cespedes, who returned to the Mets on a four-year, $110 million contract after demonstrating the past two seasons what a difference he can make. Over the past two years, the Mets’ record in the regular-season games in which Cespedes has played for them is 110-79. In the games he hasn’t played, they're 67-68. They don’t have a lot of lineup depth or power, which underscores the importance of Cespedes’s production for them. The Mets have averaged 4.6 runs per game in which he has played for them and 4.0 when he hasn’t been in the lineup. While his defense has been in clear regression, his ability to throw still makes him a weapon.
From Sarah Langs of ESPN Stats & Information: Cespedes has 48 homers since Aug. 1, 2015, third-most in the NL behind Nolan Arenado (58) and Kris Bryant (51). Cespedes’s 20.9 percent hard-hit rate ranks first in the NL in that span.
The Pirates have discussed moving Andrew McCutchen to another spot in their outfield alignment and shifting Marte to center field, and of course they’ve talked about trading McCutchen. Until that happens, Marte continues to be slotted in as a left fielder. While Cespedes has more power, Marte provides the greatest range of skills of anyone who plays this spot in the big leagues.
Despite missing 33 games to injury, Marte accumulated 19 defensive runs saved last season, the most of any left fielder. He batted .311, with a .362 on-base percentage, 47 stolen bases and 48 extra-base hits. He could be under team control through the next five seasons, including club options in 2020 and 2021, and if the Pirates do trade McCutchen, he and right fielder Gregory Polanco will become the two most important pieces in the Pittsburgh lineup. Polanco is under team control through 2023 due to the long-term deal he signed.
From Sarah Langs of ESPN Stats & Information: Marte has 76 DRS in left field since his 2012 debut. The next-most by an NL left fielder is 31 by Christian Yelich. Marte has notched 4.9 WAR or higher in each full season of his career (since 2013).
The only outfielders with 4.5-plus WAR in each season since 2013: Mike Trout and Starling Marte. The only players, overall, with 4.5+ WAR each season since 2013: Marte, Trout, Buster Posey, Ian Kinsler, Paul Goldschmidt, Josh Donaldson, Miguel Cabrera, and Adrian Beltre.
3.
Ryan Braun
The Brewers have signaled to the industry that they are ready to trade Braun under the right circumstances, but the conditions to make a deal were far less than perfect for Milwaukee this winter because of a glut of corner outfielders available -- including a whole bunch who don’t have Braun’s injury or PED history. Braun has put together good seasons in back-to-back years, accumulating 55 homers, 40 steals and a .361 on-base percentage in 2015 and 2016. But Braun is still owed $80 million, including a $4 million buyout on a 2020 option, which is almost as much money as the Dodgers just gave to Justin Turner. Unless the Brewers are willing to eat a whole lot of that salary and are OK about receiving a modest return, they may have trouble moving him.
There must have been moments during the Cubs’ 103-win regular season when front-office execs wondered how they could’ve been even better had they not lost Schwarber to a knee injury in April. Schwarber’s remarkable comeback in the World Series was a reminder of how good of a hitter he is. While the Cubs will try him in different spots under various circumstances in 2017, left field figures to be his primary spot -- perhaps at the top of the order as the team’s new leadoff hitter.
5.
Matt Kemp
He had a good offensive season last year with 39 doubles and 35 homers, and he thrived after landing with the Braves in a midseason deal, posting an .855 OPS in 56 games for Atlanta. Only two outfielders rated worse than he did in defensive runs saved -- Kemp was at a minus-21 -- and given that he’s 32 and on the downside of his career, he’s probably not going to improve much. But the perception among some evaluators is that he played heavy last season and can add range if he drops some weight.
He played just 11 games in 2016 after shoulder surgery and was only recently cleared to start swinging a bat -- swinging, not trying to hit a ball. It’s impossible to know how much he’ll be able to contribute in the season ahead, or if he’ll get back to being the star-level player he was before he got hurt. Some evaluators placed him as high as No. 3 on their lists, with the necessary qualifier: If he stays in the lineup.
I asked Indians president Chris Antonetti about the club’s expectations for Brantley. “Michael continues to progress with his rehab,” he replied. “He recently started the early stages of his hitting progression with dry swings while he was at home in Florida for the holidays. He will continue his rehab in Cleveland for the next few weeks prior [to] transitioning out to Goodyear. Both our medical personnel and external experts remain confident that Michael will be back for the start of the season.”
Brantley worked to come back last year as well, but it wasn’t until he was at game speed that he had a recurrence of shoulder issues. So the Indians will be left to hope he can recover from an injury that can be problematic.
A number of evaluators ranked him in the 7-to-10 range on this list, which is interesting because the Yankees -- with a wave of young outfielders at the top of their farm system -- have made it clear they’re willing to move him with a couple of years and $26 million left on his contract and haven’t found suitable offers. Gardner, 33, continues to be a good player with a steady on-base percentage (.351 last season), good defense (he won his first Gold Glove in ’16) and versatility. (He has the throwing arm to play all three outfield spots.)
A concern for some scouts is in his declining production on the bases: His stolen bases have dropped from a league-high 49 in 2011 to 16 last season.
8.
Justin Upton
He’s entering the second year of his six-year deal, and while his contract is already viewed as onerous, Upton continues to have stretches in which he can have a major impact. He hit 31 homers last year, his most since 2011, and he followed a stretch of 17 games in early August in which he didn’t have a homer or RBI with a burst of late-season power -- 18 homers in his last 37 games.
9.
Alex Gordon
Some evaluators had Gordon as high as No. 4 on this list, but others expressed concern about his declining numbers in a season in which he broke his right wrist. His average fell to .220, his on-base percentage to .312, and he had just an .656 OPS against right-handed starting pitchers. His rate of missed swings jumped from 9.0 percent in 2015 to 12.2 percent last year. His defensive metrics dipped for the second year in a row, and Gordon -- an fWAR star in his best seasons -- fell to 1.2 last season. Gordon will be 33 at the outset of the 2017 season, and given that he’ll be in Year 2 of a four-year deal, the Royals need a big rebound.
During Boston’s three-game playoff loss to Cleveland, he greatly impressed the Indians’ staff with the quality of his at-bats. He was good at just about everything he did for the Red Sox last season, hitting .295 with an .835 OPS and showing off speed, power and defense. With David Ortiz in retirement, the left-handed-hitting Benintendi is a huge X factor for a Red Sox lineup that will need production from that side of the plate in 2017.
Honorable mention
Jayson Werth: He’ll be 38 in May, but he can still stress a pitcher, still hit for power (21 homers last season) and still generate really strong at-bats. He averaged 4.60 pitches per plate appearance last year, the highest in the majors. Werth is entering the final year of his seven-year, $126 million contract.
David Dahl: The 22-year-old former first-round pick thrived in his first games in the big leagues, hitting .315 (.359 OBP) in 237 plate appearances. You could make a solid case he should be in the Top 10 right now.
Marcell Ozuna: He moves to left field for the Marlins, coming off a year in which he slumped after the All-Star break (.609 OPS, with a .267 OBP).
Randal Grichuk: The Cardinals have believed in his talent, his power and his speed, but this will be an important year for the 25-year-old, who hit .240 with a .289 OBP last season.
Khris Davis: He bashed 42 homers among 68 extra-base hits and scored 85 runs, but he’ll probably need to progress in his on-base percentage (.307 last year) to ascend in the eyes of some evaluators.
Adam Duvall, Cincinnati Reds. In his first full season in the majors, he put up big power numbers, with 70 extra-base hits –- including 33 homers. The pride of the University of Louisville drove in 103 runs and generated some excellent defensive metrics. Only Starling Marte had more defensive runs saved.