It was an overall sad day in May when the Angels released one of the best baseball players in history. Equally as sad, may be the reality that it was the right move for the Angels to move on from Albert Pujols as possibly the best player in history is toiling in the mediocrity of the AL West. Mike Trout is well on his way to another MVP season and this move will ensure we see more playing time for Jared Walsh and Shohei Ohtani. While odd to see value in this lineup, it is an exciting time to watch the Angels and capitalize on some talent in their lineup. Moreover, Trout never ceases to give a pun-driven headline.
While I sit here and dream up the 10-day contract that Pujols should sign with the Cardinals to hit the last homer of his career, you can continue with the rest of the season top 100 hitter rankings for 2021 fantasy baseball. Without ado here is the rundown:
| Ranking | Player | Movement |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ronald Acuna Jr. | |
| 2 | Mike Trout | 4 |
| 3 | Mookie Betts | -1 |
| 4 | Fernando Tatis Jr. | |
| 5 | Trea Turner | |
| 6 | Juan Soto | -3 |
| 7 | Bryce Harper | 2 |
| 8 | Jose Ramirez | |
| 9 | Trevor Story | -2 |
| 10 | Bo Bichette | 1 |
| 11 | Nelson Cruz | 4 |
| 12 | Corey Seager | |
| 13 | Xander Bogaerts | 5 |
| 14 | Freddie Freeman | -4 |
| 15 | Nolan Arenado | 6 |
| 16 | Anthony Rendon | -2 |
| 17 | Francisco Lindor | -4 |
| 18 | J.D. Martinez | 11 |
| 19 | Byron Buxton | 23 |
| 20 | Vladimir Guerrero Jr. | 13 |
| 21 | Yordan Alvarez | 14 |
| 22 | Whit Merrifield | 1 |
| 23 | Rafael Devers | 5 |
| 24 | Alex Bregman | 1 |
| 25 | Marcell Ozuna | -1 |
| 26 | Tim Anderson | 1 |
| 27 | DJ LeMahieu | -5 |
| 28 | Jose Abreu | -12 |
| 29 | Manny Machado | -9 |
| 30 | J.T. Realmuto | 2 |
| 31 | Randy Arozarena | -1 |
| 32 | Aaron Judge | 2 |
| 33 | George Springer | 3 |
| 34 | Cody Bellinger | -15 |
| 35 | Kyle Tucker | -9 |
| 36 | Starling Marte | 2 |
| 37 | Ketel Marte | |
| 38 | Matt Olson | 12 |
| 39 | Christian Yelich | -22 |
| 40 | Trent Grisham | |
| 41 | Anthony Rizzo | |
| 42 | Charlie Blackmon | -3 |
| 43 | Wil Myers | |
| 44 | Nick Castellanos | |
| 45 | Austin Meadows | |
| 46 | Javier Baez | |
| 47 | Ozzie Albies | |
| 48 | Michael Brantley | 4 |
| 49 | Shohei Ohtani | NR |
| 50 | Giancarlo Stanton | 5 |
| 51 | Nick Solak | 27 |
| 52 | Kris Bryant | 17 |
| 53 | Paul Goldschmidt | -5 |
| 54 | Pete Alonso | 2 |
| 55 | Yoan Moncada | 2 |
| 56 | Jared Walsh | 19 |
| 57 | Jose Altuve | -6 |
| 58 | Luke Voit | 5 |
| 59 | Ramon Laureano | 18 |
| 60 | Marcus Semien | 10 |
| 61 | Cavan Biggio | -7 |
| 62 | Jeff McNeil | -1 |
| 63 | Mike Moustakas | -1 |
| 64 | Justin Turner | 9 |
| 65 | Jazz Chisholm | NR |
| 66 | Matt Chapman | -2 |
| 67 | Max Muncy | 1 |
| 68 | Mike Yastrzemski | 3 |
| 69 | Brandon Lowe | -20 |
| 70 | Adalberto Mondesi | -4 |
| 71 | Jesse Winker | 15 |
| 72 | Carlos Correa | -5 |
| 73 | Teoscar Hernandez | -1 |
| 74 | Gleyber Torres | -9 |
| 75 | Franmil Reyes | 5 |
| 76 | Salvador Perez | -2 |
| 77 | Dansby Swanson | -17 |
| 78 | Alex Verdugo | -2 |
| 79 | Yuli Gurriel | NR |
| 80 | Eric Hosmer | -1 |
| 81 | Tommy Pham | -22 |
| 82 | Garrett Hampson | 2 |
| 83 | Ryan McMahon | -1 |
| 84 | Mitch Haniger | 14 |
| 85 | Rhys Hoskins | -4 |
| 86 | Eugenio Suarez | -28 |
| 87 | Dylan Carlson | 3 |
| 88 | Michael Conforto | -5 |
| 89 | Gavin Lux | -4 |
| 90 | Isiah Kiner-Falefa | NR |
| 91 | J.D. Davis | NR |
| 92 | Jarred Kelenic | -1 |
| 93 | Mark Canha | 3 |
| 94 | Gio Urshela | -7 |
| 95 | Trey Mancini | -2 |
| 96 | Jed Lowrie | NR |
| 97 | Ty France | |
| 98 | Josh Donaldson | -3 |
| 99 | Alex Kirilloff | NR |
| 100 | Buster Posey |
- Christian Yelich and Cody Bellinger have top 10 upside for the rest of the season, but they certainly do not appear to have anywhere near top 100 health. Bellinger has been ramping up slowly but still has not been cleared for baseball activities, while the commentary around Yelich has me much more worried as the team looks to ‘solve’ the issue. There is nothing to be done, but hold these two for now.
- I wrote this except two weeks back and I am doubling down this week as well with the ageless wonders: There are a few ageless wonders moving up our rankings in Justin Turner and Nelson Cruz. Both players continue to defy the odds, but due to their age carried a massive draft day discount and any buying window is likely already closing. If you own them, there is little reason to sell high.
- Moving up 27 spots in our rankings is Nick Solak, the pride of Woodridge IL, is having a standout beginning to the 2021 season. Ultimately, his line looks remarkably similar to last year outside of the impressive power numbers. Solak has been a little bit lucky this year in the number of fly balls clearing the fence, but a little luck this year compared to terrible luck last year tells me that he is here to stay as a key piece in our fantasy lineups.
- Eugenio Suarez tumbles down the rankings this week and is on the fast track out of the Top 100 rankings. A dropping line drive rate paired with a soaring K rate and a bevy of other dreadful metrics give little hope that 2020 was an aberration, but rather the beginning of a worrisome trend.
- We wrap up our notes today with the prospects on the horizon. Alex Kirilloff jumps into the rankings with an early promising appearance and the hope that his wrist injury is brief. Not far behind will be the names of Kelenic, Franco, and Adell. Not all of these gentlemen will burst onto the scene, but anybody still sitting on the waiver wire should be grabbed before it is too late to find out.
