Top Ten Position Players in Major League Baseball Heading into 2008

Ranking the top ten position players in MLB is tough, but keep in mind that these rankings are about more than just stats. Baseball fans love to fall into the trap of accepting regular-season stats as the gospel but this list takes into account things like clutch performance, fielding, and even leadership skills.

Here is my list:

10. Derek Jeter, New York Yankees-

He doesn't put up the greatest stats but he is money in the post-season and in regular-season games when it truly matters. He has the ability to dial up his power when it's needed as well as to hit singles and doubles to set other hitters up. He is also a great leader and still a good fielder.

9. Matt Holliday, Colorado Rockies-

While he does play in the launching pad known as Coors Field, he still has to be on this list after leaading his team to the World Series and an incredible winning streak to even get to the post-season. The bulky young outfielder hit 36 HR's last year and had a .340 average.

8. Travis Hafner, Cleveland Indians-

Sure, he's not the best fielder and he can't run at all. On top of that, the All-Star game seems to have some sort of grudge against him. But Hafner is among the most feared hitters in baseball easily and can change a game and make any lineup instantly better.

7. Magglio Ordonez, Detroit Tigers-

He won the batting title in the best offensive league, the AL, last year and sprayed balls into right field as if he were hitting golf balls with a pitching wedge. He is also a better defender in RF than he's given credit for.

6. Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers-

Cabrera's trade to the Tigers takes away one of the NL's best hitters and leaves them feeling decidedly short on this list. Cabrera's first 5 seasons have been nothing short of spectacular considering he's only 19 years old. Now that he is on a team that expects to win and will have tons of lineup protection, the suddenly in-shape Cabrera could shoot up the charts among the game's elite.

5. Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners-

One of the best hitters in the game and a great athlete who can play just about any outfield position, he is a national hero in his native Japan.

4. David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox-