Now that everyone has said goodbye to the World Series and the 2016 Major League Baseball season, it's time to say hello to MLB's Hot Stove season.
'Tis the season when dozens of players pack their bags and get moving after signing on the dotted line or learning they've been traded. We're here to narrow down the top 100 players that could be moved before the 2017 season.
We'll get started with a look at the top 15 corner infielders who are entering the winter either as free agents or as trade targets according to the latest rumors and/or plausible speculation. The players are ranked based on how they fared in the following scoring system:
- Talent Outlook: Out of 70. This is where we look at how guys have performed recently and consider the outlook of their skills going forward. Think of 35 out of 70 as a league-average player and 70 out of 70 as a Mike Trout-like talent.
- Durability Outlook: Out of 20. This is where we probe track records and injury histories for a projection for how guys' bodies will hold up. Think of 10 out of 20 as signaling a toss-up as to whether guys will remain durable, with 20 out of 20 indicating no concerns whatsoever. To keep things fair, we'll allow a ceiling of 15 points for players in line for short-term commitments.
- Value Outlook: Out of 10. This is where we try to project what kind of contract or trade package it's going to take to acquire a guy and then determine if he'd be worth it. Think of five out of 10 as a fair deal, with zero being a megabust and 10 being a megasteal.
Just as a heads-up: Designated hitters are included in this particular list. And in the event of ties, the nod will be given to the player we'd rather sign or trade for.
Along the way, you'll find links to relevant data at Baseball-Reference.com, FanGraphs, Brooks Baseball, Baseball Prospectus and Baseball Savant.
Now that you know everything you need to know, it's time to take it away.
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