Box-Toppers 2020 preseason team rankings
The New York Yankees are the top-ranked preseason team in Box-Toppers rankings. Players on their preseason roster accumulated 144.9 Box-Toppers points in the 2019 season. Shown below in the 2020 column is the accumulated 2019 Box-Toppers point total for each player on that team’s current roster (as of March 6). Also shown in the 2019 column is each team’s Box-Toppers point total at the end of last season. The final column (+/-) shows the change in team rosters’ Box-Toppers points from the end of last season until now.| Teams | 2019 | 2020 | +/- | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yankees | 123.4 | 144.9 | +21.5 |
| 2 | Nationals | 132.9 | 131.5 | -1.4 |
| 3 | Twins | 115.7 | 123.4 | +7.7 |
| 4 | Braves | 112.7 | 121.4 | +8.7 |
| 5 | Rays | 123.2 | 112.8 | -10.4 |
| 6 | Dodgers | 129.9 | 112.2 | -17.7 |
| 7 | Reds | 95.6 | 109.3 | +13.7 |
| 8 | Brewers | 104.9 | 107.8 | +2.9 |
| 9 | Diamondbacks | 92.8 | 107.8 | +15.0 |
| 10 | Indians | 110.8 | 106.0 | -4.8 |
| 11 | Mets | 108.7 | 105.9 | -2.8 |
| 12 | Astros | 158.1 | 105.7 | -52.4 |
| 13 | Cubs | 107.9 | 99.2 | -8.7 |
| 14 | Red Sox | 105.0 | 97.0 | -8.0 |
| 15 | Phillies | 103.7 | 92.6 | -11.1 |
| 16 | Cardinals | 105.8 | 91.5 | -14.3 |
| 17 | Blue Jays | 62.0 | 91.1 | +29.1 |
| 18 | Angels | 76.4 | 89.6 | +13.2 |
| 19 | Athletics | 124.9 | 89.1 | -35.8 |
| 20 | White Sox | 85.0 | 87.7 | +2.7 |
| 21 | Padres | 80.1 | 86.3 | +6.2 |
| 22 | Rangers | 85.9 | 85.1 | -0.8 |
| 23 | Rockies | 83.2 | 79.2 | -4.0 |
| 24 | Giants | 75.6 | 70.6 | -5.0 |
| 25 | Pirates | 69.6 | 66.1 | -3.5 |
| 26 | Royals | 60.7 | 65.2 | +4.5 |
| 27 | Marlins | 62.1 | 64.6 | +2.5 |
| 28 | Mariners | 69.4 | 53.7 | -15.7 |
| 29 | Tigers | 47.1 | 53.2 | +6.1 |
| 30 | Orioles | 57.4 | 51.2 | -6.2 |
The New York Yankees are the top-ranked team in Box-Toppers’ 2020 preseason rankings, rising from fifth place at the end of the 2019 season.
The 2019 World Series-champion Washington Nationals, ranked second at the end of 2019, maintain second place in the 2020 preseason rankings.
Meanwhile, the Toronto Blue Jays made the biggest offseason improvement in players’ accumulated Box-Toppers points, while the Houston Astros—2019’s top-ranked team and American League champion—had the biggest decline.
Players on the Yankees current 2020 preseason roster accumulated 144.9 Box-Toppers points during the 2019 season, more than any other team. It is the second straight year the Yankees have been Box-Toppers’ top-ranked preseason team.
The top National League team, the Washington Nationals, rank second overall—players on the current 2020 preseason roster accumulated 131.5 Box-Toppers points during the 2019 season.
Yankees rank first
The Yankees had the second-biggest gain in Box-Toppers points from the end of 2019 to the 2020 preseason of 21.5 (finishing 2019 with 123.4 points). For the third straight year, the Yankees picked up the player with the largest 2019 Box-Toppers point total to change teams for 2020. The Yankees signed free agent pitcher Gerrit Cole, who led all players in 2019 with 32.2 Box-Toppers points, the fourth-largest single-season point total since Box-Toppers tracking began in 1995.
In 2018, the Yankees acquired outfielder Giancarlo Stanton from the Marlins. He had the most 2017 Box-Toppers points of all players to switch teams for 2018 (14.2). (In 2018, he earned 6.5 points and in 2019, had just 1.0 point.)
In 2019, the Yankees acquired starting pitcher James Paxton from the Mariners. He had the most 2018 Box-Toppers points of all players to switch teams for 2019 (17.0). (In 2019, he had 14.1 Box-Toppers points, eighth among AL pitchers.)
Cole (with 32.2 Box-Toppers points in 2019) was by far the Yankees’ biggest offseason acquisition. The next biggest was catcher Chris Iannetta, who earned 2.0 Box-Toppers points in 2019 for the Rockies, before being released prior to season’s end. The Yankees’ biggest losses were shortstop Didi Gregorius (4.2 points), who went to the Phillies for 2020 and pitcher CC Sabathia (3.0 points in 2019), who retired after 2019.
Among top-ranked players returning to the Yankees in 2020 are Paxton (whose 14.1 Box-Toppers points led all Yankees in 2019), shortstop/second baseman Gleyber Torres (12.0 points, second among AL batters), pitcher Domingo German (10.7 points, 17th among AL pitchers), pitcher Masahiro Tanaka (9.7, 20th among AL pitchers), pitcher J.A. Happ (8.7, 25th among AL pitchers), centerfielder Brett Gardner (8.5, 12th among AL batters) and third baseman Gio Urshela (7.5, 17th among AL batters).
While the Yankees preseason 2020 roster has the highest 2019 Box-Toppers point total among all teams, they open their season with several prominent players injured, including Stanton, Paxton, and outfielder Aaron Judge (11.2 points in 2017, but just 5.0 in 2018 and 1.0 in 2019), all expected to miss the early part of the season. Also, Domingo German, the Yankees pitcher with the second-most Box-Toppers points in 2019 (10.7) is suspended for the first 63 games for violating baseball’s domestic violence policy. In addition, starting pitcher Luis Severino (seventh overall in 2017 with 21.1 points and 10th overall in 2018 with 17.7) is out the entire 2020 season recovering from Tommy John surgery. (However, Severino earned just 2.0 points in 2019.)
Nationals rank 2nd, lead NL teams
The Washington Nationals rank second among all teams—first among NL teams. Players on the team’s 2020 preseason roster accumulated 131.5 Box-Toppers points in 2019. That’s a decline of just 1.4 points from the 132.9 points the team had at the close of 2019.
The biggest addition to the Nationals in 2020 is Eric Thames, who had 3.5 points in 2019 with the Brewers (14th among NL first basemen). The Nationals biggest loss was Anthony Rendon (5.0 points, ninth among NL third basemen), who went to the Angels. Among top-ranked players returning to the Nationals in 2020 are Stephen Strasburg (20.7 points, third among all players, first among NL pitchers), Patrick Corbin (16.4, sixth among NL pitchers), Max Scherzer (15.4, ninth among NL pitchers) and Asdrubal Cabrera (9.0, seventh among NL batters).
Twins, Braves, Rays round out top 5
Rounding out the top five teams in Box-Toppers’ 2020 preseason rankings are the Minnesota Twins (ranked third with 123.4 Box-Toppers points), the Atlanta Braves (ranked fourth with 121.4) and the Tampa Bay Rays (ranked fifth with 112.8).
The third-ranked Twins had a net gain of 7.7 points since the end of 2019 (115.7, when they ranked seventh). Main acquisitions: Pitcher Homer Bailey (10.4) from the Athletics, pitcher Kenta Maeda (8.7) from the Dodgers, third baseman Josh Donaldson (7.5) from the Braves. Key losses: Pitcher Kyle Gibson (7.7) to the Rangers, second baseman Jonathan Schoop (5.0) to the Tigers, first baseman C.J. Cron (5.0) to the Tigers. Key returners: Designated hitter Nelson Cruz (12.5, who led all AL batters in 2019), pitcher Jake Odorizzi (12.4), pitcher Jose Berrios (10.7), catcher Mitch Garver (7.5) and closing pitcher Taylor Rogers (7.0).
The fourth-ranked Braves had a net gain of 8.7 points since the end of 2019 (112.7, when they ranked eighth). Main acquisitions: Leftfielder Marcell Ozuna from the Cardinals (12.0 points in 2019, first among NL batters), pitcher Cole Hamels (9.7) from the Cubs, catcher Travis d'Arnaud (6.2) from the Rays and closing pitcher Will Smith (5.0) from the Giants. Key losses: Pitcher Julio Teheran (8.0) to the Angels and third baseman Josh Donaldson (7.5) to the Twins. Key returners: Pitcher Mike Soroka (11.4), first baseman Freddie Freeman (10.2, fourth among NL batters), pitcher Max Fried (10.0), closing pitcher Luke Jackson (8.0) and second baseman Ozzie Albies (6.5)
The fifth-ranked Rays had a net loss of 10.4 points since the end of 2019 (123.2, when they ranked sixth). Main acquisition: Outfielder Hunter Renfroe (5.5) from the Padres. Main loss: Catcher Travis d’Arnaud (6.2) to the Braves. Key returners: Pitcher Charlie Morton (18.8, fifth overall, third among AL pitchers), pitcher Ryan Yarbrough (12.4), pitcher Blake Snell (10.0), pitcher Tyler Glasnow (9.7), pitcher Yonny Chirinos (7.0) and centerfielder Kevin Kiermaier (6.0).
Blue Jays have biggest offseason gain
Biggest team gains & drops
The Toronto Blue Jays picked up the most Box-Toppers points on its roster in the offseason (+29.1) while the Houston Astros lost the most (-52.4). The Blue Jays notably gained pitchers Hyun-Jin Ryu (17.4 Box-Toppers points in 2019), Tanner Roark (7.7 points) and Chase Anderson (6.0). The Astros notably lost pitchers Gerrit Cole (32.2 Box-Toppers points), Wade Miley (6.7 points) and Collin McHugh (5.0).| Biggest gains | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teams | 2019 | 2020 | +/- | |
| 1 | Blue Jays | 62.0 | 91.1 | +29.1 |
| 2 | Yankees | 123.4 | 144.9 | +21.5 |
| 3 | Diamondbacks | 92.8 | 107.8 | +15.0 |
| 4 | Reds | 95.6 | 109.3 | +13.7 |
| 5 | Angels | 76.4 | 89.6 | +13.2 |
| Biggest drops | ||||
| Teams | 2019 | 2020 | +/- | |
| 1 | Astros | 158.1 | 105.7 | -52.4 |
| 2 | Athletics | 124.9 | 89.1 | -35.8 |
| 3 | Dodgers | 129.9 | 112.2 | -17.7 |
| 4 | Mariners | 69.4 | 53.7 | -15.7 |
| 5 | Cardinals | 105.8 | 91.5 | -14.3 |
The Toronto Blue Jays had the largest offseason gain, picking up a net of 29.1 Box-Toppers points from the end of 2019 to the 2020 preseason. The Blue Jays finished 2019 with 62.0 Box-Toppers points, 27th among all teams. They open 2020 with players on the preseason roster having accumulated 91.1 points in 2019, 17th among all teams.
The Blue Jays biggest acquisition was pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu, whose 17.4 Box-Toppers points with the Dodgers in 2019 ranked 10th among all players and fourth among NL pitchers. Ryu also has the second-highest 2019 point total among players who changed teams in the offseason. The Blue Jays second-biggest acquisition was pitcher Tanner Roark (7.7) from the Athletics.
Diamondbacks, Reds, Angels also make gains
After the Blue Jays and Yankees, the next three teams with the biggest offseason gains in team Box-Toppers points are the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Cincinnati Reds and the Los Angeles Angels.
The Diamondbacks had a net gain of 15.0 points, the third-most, increasing from 92.8 at the end of 2019 (ranked 17th) to 107.8 in the 2020 preseason (ranked ninth), mainly by picking up pitcher Madison Bumgarner (10.0 points in 2019) from the Giants.
The Reds had a net gain of 13.7 points, fourth-most, increasing from 95.6 at the end of 2019 (ranked 16th) to 109.3 for the 2020 preseason (ranked seventh). Main acquisitions: Pitcher Wade Miley (6.7) from the Astros, third baseman Mike Moustakas (5.5) from the Brewers and rightfielder Nicholas Castellanos (5.0) from the Cubs.
The Angels had a net gain of 13.2 points, fifth-most, increasing from 76.4 at the end of 2019 (ranked 22nd) to 89.6 for the 2020 preseason (ranked 18th). Main acquisitions: Pitcher Julio Teheran (8.0) from the Braves and third baseman Anthony Rendon (5.0) from the Nationals.
Astros have biggest offseason decline
The Houston Astros had the largest offseason decline, losing a net of 52.4 Box-Toppers points from the end of 2019 to the 2020 preseason. The Astros finished 2019 with 158.1 Box-Toppers points, by far the most of any team. But they open 2020 with players on the preseason roster having accumulated 105.7 Box-Toppers points, falling to 12th place.
The 52.4-point drop is mainly due to the loss of 2019 Box-Toppers Player of the Year Gerrit Cole to the Yankees. The Astros lose the 32.2 points Cole earned for them in 2019, which is the fourth-highest single-season total for any player in the 25 seasons of Box-Toppers player tracking. The Astros also notably lost pitcher Wade Miley (6.7) to the Reds and pitcher Collin McHugh (5.0) to the Red Sox. The Astros’ biggest acquisition was pitcher Austin Pruitt from the Rays, who earned just 1.7 points in 2019.
The amount of the Astros’ loss since the end of 2019 to the 2020 preseason (52.4 points) is itself larger than the 2020 preseason point total for the 30th-ranked Baltimore Orioles (51.2).
While the Astros experienced offseason turmoil as they were implicated in baseball’s sign-stealing scandal, their Box-Toppers point total decline is entirely separate and unrelated. Baseball punished the Astros for the player-driven sign-stealing scheme during the 2017 season by suspending manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow for one year. The Astros subsequently fired both of them. The players, who were given immunity to provide information about the sign-stealing, were not punished by Major League Baseball.
While the Astros were the overall top-ranked team for 2019 and won the AL championship, they lost the 2019 World Series to the Washington Nationals, who ranked second among teams in 2019.
Other teams making biggest declines for 2020
The Oakland Athletics, Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariners and St. Louis Cardinals round out the top five teams making the biggest Box-Toppers point decline from the end of 2019 to the 2020 preseason.
The Athletics had a net loss of 35.8 points, second-most, decreasing from 124.9 at the end of 2019 (ranked fourth) to 89.1 in the 2020 preseason (ranked 19th). Key losses: Pitcher Homer Bailey (10.4) to the Twins, pitcher Tanner Roark (7.7) to the Blue Jays, closing pitcher Blake Treinen (6.0) to the Dodgers and catcher Josh Phegley (5.5) to the Cubs.
The Dodgers had a net loss of 17.7 points, third-most, decreasing from 129.9 at the end of 2019 (ranked third) to 112.2 in the 2020 preseason (ranked sixth). Key losses: Pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu (17.4, 10th overall, fourth among NL pitchers) to the Blue Jays and pitcher Kenta Maeda (8.7) to the Twins. The Dodgers have a net point decline despite their flashy offseason acquisitions of rightfielder Mookie Betts (8.7, eighth among AL batters) and pitcher David Price (5.7) from the Red Sox. The Dodgers also acquired closing pitcher Blake Treinen (6.0) from the Athletics.
The Mariners had a net loss of 14.7 points, fourth-most, decreasing from 69.4 at the end of 2019 (ranked 25th) to 53.7 in the 2020 preseason (ranked 28th). Key losses: Shortstop Tim Beckham (4.5) to free agency, catcher Omar Narvaez (3.7) to the Brewers and outfielder Domingo Santiago (3.0) to the Indians.
The Cardinals had a net loss of 14.3 points, fifth-most, decreasing from 105.8 at the end of 2019 (ranked 12th) to 91.5 in the 2020 preseason (ranked 16th). Key losses: Leftfielder Marcell Ozuna (12.0, first among NL batters) to the Braves and pitcher Michael Wacha (4.0) to the Mets.
Prominent player changes
Prominent player changes from 2019
Here are the most prominent player changes since 2019—the 25 players with the most 2019 Box-Toppers points who are not on the same team as they were last season. Gerrit Cole had the most 2019 points of any player to change teams. He was on the Astros in 2019 and signed with the Yankees for 2020. (Cole also led all players in 2019 Box-Toppers points.) Players are ranked on the list by their 2019 Box-Toppers point (BTP) totals.| Player | Pos | BTP | ’19 team | ’20 team | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gerrit Cole | pi sp | 32.2 | Astros | Yankees |
| 2 | Hyun-Jin Ryu | pi sp | 17.4 | Dodgers | Blue Jays |
| 3 | Mike Minor | pi sp | 13.7 | Rangers | Brewers |
| 4 | Marcell Ozuna | lf | 12.0 | Cardinals | Braves |
| 5 | Homer Bailey | pi sp | 10.4 | Athletics | Twins |
| 6 | Madison Bumgarner | pi sp | 10.0 | Giants | Diamondbacks |
| 7 | Cole Hamels | pi sp | 9.7 | Cubs | Braves |
| 8 | Zack Wheeler | pi sp | 9.0 | Mets | Phillies |
| 9 | Mookie Betts | rf | 8.7 | Red Sox | Dodgers |
| 10 | Kenta Maeda | pi sp | 8.7 | Dodgers | Twins |
| 11 | Jordan Lyles | pi sp | 8.7 | Brewers | Rangers |
| 12 | Julio Teheran | pi sp | 8.0 | Braves | Angels |
| 13 | Kyle Gibson | pi sp | 7.7 | Twins | Rangers |
| 14 | Tanner Roark | pi sp | 7.7 | Athletics | Blue Jays |
| 15 | Josh Donaldson | 3b | 7.5 | Braves | Twins |
| 16 | Eric Lauer | pi sp | 6.7 | Padres | Brewers |
| 17 | Wade Miley | pi sp | 6.7 | Astros | Reds |
| 18 | Travis d’Arnaud | ca | 6.2 | Rays | Braves |
| 19 | Rick Porcello | pi sp | 6.0 | Red Sox | Mets |
| 20 | Blake Treinen | pi cp | 6.0 | Athletics | Dodgers |
| 21 | Chase Anderson | pi sp | 6.0 | Brewers | Blue Jays |
| 22 | David Price | pi sp | 5.7 | Red Sox | Dodgers |
| 23 | Mike Moustakas | 3b | 5.5 | Brewers | Reds |
| 24 | Hunter Renfroe | rf lf ph | 5.5 | Padres | Rays |
| 25 | Hunter Pence | dh lf | 5.5 | Rangers | Giants |
Gerrit Cole had the most 2019 Box-Toppers points of any player who moved to a new team for 2020.
In fact, Cole was Box-Toppers’ 2019 Player of the Year, leading all players with 32.2 Box-Toppers points last season, the fourth-highest single-season total for a player in the 25 seasons of Box-Toppers tracking, which began in 1995.
Cole, who was a free agent after his 2019 season with the Astros, signed a nine-year, $324 million contract with the Yankees, which helped boost the Yankees to first place in Box-Toppers 2020 preseason team rankings. Thanks to signing Cole, the Yankees also have the second-biggest net gain in Box-Toppers points since the end of 2019 (+21.5).
This is the third time a player has switched teams the season after leading all players in Box-Toppers points (again, tracking began in 1995). The other times:
Pitcher Randy Johnson led all players with 26.4 Box-Toppers points in 1998, a season he started with the Mariners and ended with the Astros. In 1999, he moved to the Diamondbacks and led all players for four consecutive seasons—1999 (31.5), 2000 (33.7), 2001 (29.4) and 2002 (33.7).
CC Sabathia led all players with 26.7 Box-Toppers points in 2008, a season he started with the Indians and ended with the Brewers. In 2009, he moved to the Yankees and earned 18.7 points, fifth among all players and fourth among AL pitchers.
Cole has the most-ever Box-Toppers points in the previous season prior to switching teams (32.2). And, for what it’s worth, he’s the only Box-Toppers points leader to switch teams who played the entire previous season with just one team (Astros).
The top batter to change teams in 2020 is Marcell Ozuna, who led NL batters in 2019 with 12.0 Box-Toppers points with the Cardinals. Ozuna signed a one-year, $18 million deal to play with the Braves for 2020. He has the fourth-most 2019 Box-Toppers points of any player to change teams for 2020.
In 2018, Ozuna had the ninth-most 2017 Box-Toppers points (9.2) of all players to change teams from 2017 to 2018. That season, he moved from the Marlins to the Cardinals. It was the fifth-highest point total among all the batters who changed teams from 2017 to 2018.
The chart on this page (Prominent player changes from 2019) shows the 25 players with the most 2019 Box-Toppers points who are no longer with their 2019 team. The list includes seven batters and 18 pitchers.
About Box-Toppers—Box-Toppers tracks who most helps their team win the most games. Using standard box score statistics, Box-Toppers uses a simple formula to determine a Player of the Game for each Major League Baseball game played. That player is the person who contributed most to his team’s win. In regular season games, players earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being named Player of the Game and can earn bonus points for being Player of the Day or top player or batter in their league for the day.
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Related:
Box-Toppers’ 2019 preseason rankings: Yankees top Box-Toppers 2019 preseason team rankings; champion Red Sox fall to 2nd
Box-Toppers’ 2019 end-of-season rankings: Houston Astros finish 2019 with large lead in Box-Toppers team rankings