The Milwaukee Brewers are the top-ranked team going into 2022, leading Box-Toppers offseason team rankings as of mid-December.
Players currently signed to the Brewers 40-man roster accumulated 111.1 Box-Toppers points during the 2021 season, most of any team.
Box-Toppers offseason team rankings
The Milwaukee Brewers are the top-ranked offseason team for 2022 as of mid-December 2021. Players currently on the roster accumulated 111.1 Box-Toppers points during the 2021 season, most of any team. Shown below in the 2021 column is the team’s final Box-Toppers point total for 2021. The 2022 column is the total of points for signed players currently on the roster. The next column (+/-) shows the change in team rosters’ Box-Toppers points from the end of last season until now. And the final column (Rank at end of ’21) shows how each team finished among the 30 teams at the close of the 2021 regular season.As of Dec. 15, 2021, the 30 teams have a combined net loss of 376.8 Box-Toppers points from the end of 2021. Unsigned free agents have a combined 361.1 Box-Toppers points.
| Teams | 2021 | 2022 | +/- | Rank at end ’21 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brewers | 122.8 | 111.1 | -11.7 | 4 |
| 2 | White Sox | 124.9 | 109.2 | -15.7 | 2 |
| 3 | Mets | 103.0 | 107.1 | +4.1 | 16 |
| 4 | Yankees | 119.8 | 103.8 | -16.0 | 6 |
| 5 | Mariners | 104.7 | 103.4 | -1.3 | 14 |
| 6 | Blue Jays | 116.0 | 100.6 | -15.4 | 8 |
| 7 | Red Sox | 115.9 | 100.5 | -15.4 | 9 |
| 8 | Dodgers | 146.7 | 99.7 | -47.0 | 1 |
| 9 | Braves | 122.4 | 95.6 | -26.8 | 5 |
| 10 | Rays | 116.4 | 95.5 | -20.9 | 7 |
| 11 | Padres | 108.1 | 93.4 | -14.7 | 11 |
| 12 | Astros | 114.0 | 92.8 | -21.2 | 10 |
| 13 | Giants | 124.6 | 92.6 | -32.0 | 3 |
| 14 | Guardians | 96.7 | 92.2 | -4.5 | 18 |
| 15 | Cardinals | 105.4 | 91.9 | -13.5 | 13 |
| 16 | Tigers | 81.3 | 83.6 | +2.3 | 21 |
| 17 | Marlins | 74.4 | 83.0 | +8.6 | 24 |
| 18 | Athletics | 103.4 | 81.4 | -22.0 | 15 |
| 19 | Phillies | 106.6 | 76.4 | -30.2 | 12 |
| 20 | Rockies | 88.5 | 76.1 | -12.4 | 19 |
| 21 | Reds | 98.7 | 74.5 | -24.2 | 17 |
| 22 | Angels | 87.1 | 72.0 | -15.1 | 20 |
| 23 | Royals | 75.0 | 70.5 | -4.5 | 23 |
| 24 | Twins | 77.2 | 61.7 | -15.5 | 22 |
| 25 | Cubs | 52.5 | 61.2 | +8.7 | 30 |
| 26 | Diamondbacks | 53.0 | 56.0 | +3.0 | 29 |
| 27 | Rangers | 57.7 | 50.9 | -6.8 | 25 |
| 28 | Nationals | 54.6 | 50.6 | -4.0 | 28 |
| 29 | Pirates | 57.1 | 50.4 | -6.7 | 26 |
| 30 | Orioles | 56.2 | 50.2 | -6.0 | 27 |
The Chicago White Sox rank second overall with 109.2 Box-Toppers points, leading all American League teams.
The New York Mets have made the biggest offseason jump in rankings so far, rising 13 spots from 16th at the end of 2021 to third with 107.1 Box-Toppers points, mainly on the strength of signing free agent pitcher Max Scherzer of the Dodgers, who led all players in 2021 with 25.1 Box-Toppers points.
The San Francisco Giants have had the biggest offseason decline, falling 10 spots from third at the end of 2021 to 13th with 92.6 Box-Toppers points. The Giants notably lost free agent pitcher Kevin Gausman (13.7 points in 2021) to the Blue Jays and catcher Buster Posey (6.5 points in 2021) to retirement.
The 2021 World Series champion Atlanta Braves fall from fifth place at the end of 2021 to ninth place with 95.6 Box-Toppers points. The decline is mainly due to several unsigned free agents who played for the Braves in 2021, including pitcher Drew Smyly (8.0 Box-Toppers points in 2021), outfielder Joc Pederson (6.0), outfielder Jorge Soler (6.0) and first baseman Freddie Freeman (4.5). If all four were to re-sign with the Braves, they would rank first, ahead of the Brewers, with 120.1 points.
The Houston Astros, the 2021 American League champion, rise two spots from 12th at the end of 2021 to 10th with 92.8 Box-Toppers points. Despite the rise in rankings, the Astros are down a net of 21.2 Box-Toppers points. Notably, pitcher Zack Greinke (8.7 points) and shortstop Carlos Correa (7.0) are unsigned free agents.
Box-Toppers’ top-ranked team for 2021, the Los Angeles Dodgers, fall seven spots in rankings to eighth place with 99.7 Box-Toppers points, with the biggest net loss of points among all teams (-47.0). Notably, the Dodgers lost free agent pitcher Scherzer (25.1) to the Mets and pitchers Clayton Kershaw (13.4) and Kenley Jansen (6.0 are unsigned free agents.
At this point in the offseason, most teams have experienced a net decline in points from the end of 2021 due to the number of unsigned free agents. As of Dec. 17, the 30 teams have a combined net loss of 376.8 Box-Toppers points since the end of 2021. All unsigned free agents have a combined 361.1 points.
Only five teams currently have a net gain in points since the end of 2021:
The Chicago Cubs have gained 8.7 net points, rising from 30th place at the end of 2021 to 25th with 61.2 Box-Toppers points. Notably, the Cubs have signed Reds pitcher Wade Miley (10.7) and Mets pitcher Marcus Stroman (10.0).
The Miami Marlins have gained 8.6 net points, rising from 24th at the end of 2021 to 17th with 74.4 points. Notably, the Marlins signed Brewers outfielder Avisail Garcia (5.2) and Rays third baseman Joey Wendle (4.7).
The Mets have gained 4.1 net points, rising from 16th place to third with 107.1, mainly from signing Scherzer (25.1).
The Arizona Diamondbacks have gained 3.0 net points, rising from 29th place to 26th with 53.0 points.
The Detroit Tigers have gained 2.3 net points, rising from 21st to 16th with 83.6 points. Notably, the Tigers signed Red Sox pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez (10.0).
Top unsigned free agents
After a flurry of free agent signings in November, activity has gone silent in December after the collective bargaining agreement between the players and owners expired and the owners imposed a lockout, which halted most player transactions. Players currently listed as free agents earned a combined 361.1 Box-Toppers points in 2021. That’s 12.5 percent of all 2,888.4 points earned in 2021.
Here are the top 10 current free agents with the most 2021 Box-Toppers points, listed with their 2021 team:
1. Clayton Kershaw, pitcher, Dodgers, 13.4.
2. Carlos Rodon, pitcher, White Sox, 11.7.
3. Nick Castellanos, outfielder, Reds, 11.5.
4. Zack Greinke, pitcher, Astros, 8.7.
5. Ian Kennedy, closing pitcher, Phillies, 8.7.
6. Drew Smyly, pitcher, Braves, 8.0.
7. Tyler Anderson, pitcher, Mariners, 7.0.
8. Michael Pineda, pitcher, Twins, 7.0.
9. Carlos Correa, shortstop, Astros, 7.0.
10. Jordan Lyles, pitcher, Rangers, 7.0.
Top returning players for Brewers, White Sox
The current top-ranked team, the Brewers, are led by four returning pitchers and an outfielder acquired from the Red Sox in the offseason, including:
Pitcher Corbin Burnes with 18.1 Box-Toppers points, fourth among NL pitchers in 2021.
Pitcher Brandon Woodruff, 17.1 points, sixth among NL pitchers in 2021.
Pitcher Freddy Peralta, 12.7 points, 17th among NL pitchers in 2021.
Pitcher Adrian Houser, 8.0 points, 36th among NL pitchers in 2021.
Outfielder Hunter Renfroe, who had 6.0 points in 2021 with the Red Sox. Renfroe ranked 21st among AL batters in 2021, fifth among AL outfielders.
The Brewers most notable loss is Eduardo Escobar, who had 6.5 points in 2021 (18th among NL batters) and signed as a free agent with the Mets for 2022. The Brewers top returning batter is Christian Yelich, whose 5.5 points ranked 27th among NL batters in 2021.
The current top AL team, the White Sox, are led by five returning players:
Pitcher Dylan Cease, 14.4 Box-Toppers points in 2021, fifth among AL pitchers.
Pitcher Lance Lynn, 12.4 points in 2021, 10th among AL pitchers.
Pitcher Lucas Giolito, 11.4 points in 2021, 15th among AL pitchers.
First baseman Jose Abreu, 8.0 points in 2021, sixth among AL batters.
Closing pitcher Liam Hendriks, 7.0 points in 2021, 45th among AL pitchers, first among AL closers.
The White Sox most notable loss so far is pitcher Carlos Rodon, currently an unsigned free agent, who earned 11.7 Box-Toppers points in 2021, 12th among AL pitchers.
Top players changing teams for 2022
Scherzer has the most 2021 Box-Toppers points of players changing teams for 2022. Here are the remaining top 10 players so far slated to change teams next season:
2. Robbie Ray, 17.7 Box-Toppers points, sixth overall and second among AL pitchers, with Blue Jays in 2021, signed as free agent with Mariners for 2022.
3. Kevin Gausman, 13.7 points, 18th overall and 11th among NL pitchers, with Giants for 2021, signed as free agent with Blue Jays for 2022.
4. Eduardo Rodriguez, 10.0 points, 17th among AL pitchers, with Red Sox in 2021, signed as free agent with Tigers for 2022.
5. Marcus Stroman, 10.0 points, 26th among NL pitchers, with Mets in 2021, signed as free agent with Cubs for 2022.
6. Alex Cobb, 7.4 points, 30th among AL pitchers, with Angels in 2021, signed as free agent with Giants for 2022.
7. Michael Wacha, 7.1 points, 32nd among AL pitchers, with Rays in 2021, signed as free agent with Red Sox for 2022.
8. Steven Matz, 6.7 points, 42nd among AL pitchers, with Blue Jays in 2021, signed as free agent with Cardinals for 2022.
9. Eduardo Escobar, 6.5 points, 18th among NL batters, with Brewers for 2021, signed as free agent with Mets for 2022.
10. Marcus Semien, 6.2 points, 19th among AL batters, with Blue Jays for 2021, signed as free agent with Rangers for 2021.
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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