Up this week are the August rankings. Players are ranked based on how I believe they will perform in 5x5 leagues over the remainder of the season. Included with the position rankings is a new overall top-250 list.
Click to see other August Rankings:
Relief Pitcher Rankings
Starting Pitcher Rankings
Outfielder Rankings
Catcher Rankings
First Basemen Rankings
Second Basemen Rankings
Shortstop Rankings
Third basemen Rankings
Top 250 Overall Rankings
Relief pitchers
Rising:Francisco Rodriguez (4 to 1), Joakim Soria (8 to 5), Jonathon Broxton (39 to 9), Kevin Gregg (22 to 10), Brian Wilson (23 to 16), Brian Fuentes (27 to 17), Brandon Morrow (34 to 25), Masahide Kobayashi (37 to 26), Jason Isringhausen (41 to 27), Joel Hanrahan (NR to 29), Fernando Rodney (NR to 31), Rafael Perez (58 to 32), Brad Ziegler (NR to 33), John Grabow (NR to 34)
Falling:Billy Wagner (5 to 8), Huston Street (10 to 19), J.J. Putz (16 to 30), Matt Capps (13 to 37), Jon Rauch (19 to 38), Ryan Franklin (26 to 44), Takashi Saito (6 to NR), Todd Jones (24 to NR), Joe Borowski (29 to NR)
Notes
- With the way Duaner Sanchez and Aaron Heilman are throwing, the Mets figure to mix and match at closer if Wagner lands on the DL with his strained left forearm. Sanchez's numbers remain pretty solid, but his velocity is well down at the moment. He'd probably be the favorite for saves anyway, but he doesn't crack the top 60 this month.
Sports
- Street is no longer Oakland's sole closer, but he remains the heavy favorite for saves. The A's may still want to deal him this winter, and his trade value would only decline further if it's clear the team doesn't trust him as a closer. Brad Ziegler debuts at No. 33 this month, but the ranking has more to do with his setup performance than the possibility of saves.
- Putz falls to No. 30, but there is still the possibility that the Mariners could announce within the next week or two that they're shifting Morrow to the rotation. He's a buy-low candidate in leagues with late trade deadlines.
- Kyle Farnsworth likely would have been ranked ahead of Rodney today had he pitched better yesterday. Rodney hasn't responded well at all to the move to thrust him in the closer's role, and the Tigers could soon be forced to go to a committee. Ideally, Joel Zumaya would prove his arm is sound and run away with the job. However, that's not something that can be counted on. As a result, no Tigers relievers crack the top 30.
