Bernie on the Scene: Outfield Rankings

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Updated on March 21, 2022 5:51PM EST

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.

Thank you for following me on twitter @BerniePleskoff and for reading my articles at Forbes.

If you wish to share any comments with me, please use the section below, and I will try to respond.

Have a great week.