We’re deep, and these guys might not be playable. The top 100 outfielders for 2024 fantasy baseball are your flyers in most leagues, and your 5th and 6th outfielders in deep leagues. Keep in mind, we have NL-Only rankings, and AL-Only rankings. If you have no need for these outfielders in your league, think on the bright side: Next up in the 2024 fantasy baseball rankings is starting pitchers. Here’s Steamer’s 2024 Fantasy Baseball Projections for Hitters and 2024 Fantasy Baseball Projections for Pitchers.
Subscriptions are up and running, and you can already get Rudy’s Draft War Room. Anyway, here’s the top 100 outfielders for 2024 fantasy baseball:
NOTE: All my rankings are currently available on Patreon for the price of a Starbucks coffee, if you get one of those extra grande frappuccino jobbers. Don’t wait for the rankings to come out over the next month, and get them all now.
NOTE II: Free agents are listed as just that and not yet projected. Once a guy signs, I will write out their blurb and add in projections, or remove them, if they sign in an unfavorable place. They are ranked currently where I think they might be if they sign on for a full-time job.
NOTE III: BDon and I discuss each and every outfielder:
TO RETURN TO THE TOP 80 OUTFIELDERS
81. Brandon Marsh – This is a new tier (to go back to top 80 outfielders). This tier goes until Rosario. I call this tier, “No empty promises.” “The most annoying players to draft are ones with upside! I hate those guys!” If this sounds like something you might’ve said, I have just the tier for you. As I’ve said numerous times, if you’re in a deeper league, safer but boring might be desired. This would be that tier vs. the previous tier, but the further you move down in the rankings, harder it is to find decent and safe, and you might be looking at more like “safe to give you less than ideal stats.”
As for Marsh, I don’t mind him, but mostly because he has a ZZ Top beard. Oddly enough, Marsh looks like he has swamp ass. What I don’t like as much is that he gets 400+ ABs every year and hits exactly meh homers with 10 steals. 2024 Projections: 51/10/57/.242/10 in 411 ABs
82. Alek Thomas – Like Marsh, Thomas appears to have upside, but can’t really hit for power. Like Marsh, Thomas appears to have great speed, but doesn’t seem interested in running. Marsh and Thomas are the 10/10 crew. The 10/10 Crew also sounds like a breakdancing posse. That’s where the fun ends. Give them 400 at-bats or 600 at-bats and they’ll give you around 10/10. Head spin yo’ ass outta here! 2024 Projections: 53/8/51/.254/14 in 437 ABs
83. Brendan Donovan – Already went over him in the 2nd basemen rankings.
84. Gavin Lux – Already went over him in the 2nd basemen rankings.
85. Jeff McNeil – Already went over him in the 2nd basemen rankings.
86. Alex Kirilloff – Already went over him in the 1st basemen rankings.
87. Tommy Edman – Already went over him in the 2nd basemen rankings.
88. LaMonte Wade Jr. – Already went over him in the 1st basemen rankings.
89. Andrew Benintendi – Some billionaire team owners want one last taste of victory, a fleeting reminder of what it’s like to be a fan before leaving this mortal coil. Riding in one final parade, hoisting a trophy they dreamt about as kids. Some, like Jerry Reinsdorf, want to get buried with the money. Somewhat related, the White Sox will hit Benintendi leadoff for 600 at-bats if he stays healthy. 600 of the worst at-bats you’ve ever seen. 2024 Projections: 81/5/42/.258/12 in 582 ABs
90. Whit Merrifield – Already went over him in the 2nd basemen rankings.
91. Zach McKinstry – Already went over him in the 2nd basemen rankings.
92. Michael Conforto – Was surprised to see Conforto exercise his player option for $18 million rather than play the free agent market. I’m sure another team would’ve–I am messing around! Giants got half of the question out of their mouth, “Do you want to exercise–” Conforto replied, “Yes! Not like go to the gym, I mean them duckets you is paying me!” Any hoodle, kinda wonder if Conforto isn’t just done, due to his shoulder, but maybe another season away from surgery will get him back to boring vs. terrible. 2024 Projections: 56/18/61/.231/3 in 421 ABs
93. Alex Verdugo – Here’s what I said this offseason, “Traded to the Yanks. Say what you want about Alex Cora, and I’ve said my share, but he’s nothing if not predictable. If you were following last year, around July, he decided he hated Verdugo. His number one mandate must’ve been get rid of Verdugo. He hated him so much, the Red Sox dealt with the Yankees! The good news for the Red Sox is they were able to acquire right-handers Richard Fitts, Greg Weissert and Nicholas Judice. Hey, if the Dick Fitts… (On a slightly sadder note, the Red Sox turned Mookie Betts into Dick Fitts, the worst named condom.) So, Verdugo for fantasy, there’s a case to be made that he’s really not that different than his ex-teammate Yoshida, who is going 150 picks or more before him, but, guess what, I’m not making that case. Is Yoshida really worth 150 picks more than Verdugo? Nah, not at all. But Verdugo is so snoozy it’s impossible to say anything kind about him without immediately taking a–[stretches arms, yawns] What was I saying? Sorry, I just had to nap real fast. Also, you might think the short porch will up Verdugo’s power, but I’m here to say, that seems unlikely, due to his spray chart. Finally, when Dominguez returns in July, where does Verdu…go?” And that’s me quoting me! 2024 Projections: 53/12/58/.282/6 in 411 ABs
94. Kyle Isbel – Between Marsh, Thomas, Jake Meyers, Everson Pereira, Estevan Florial, Isbel, Canha and others, there is a sudden influx of 12/12 guys who stink to high heaven. Not the 1st floor of heaven, but high heaven. Just the absolute stinkiest boring level of heaven. 2024 Projections: 54/12/49/.252/11 in 423 ABs
95. Mark Canha – Already went over him in the 1st basemen rankings.
96. Ryan O’Hearn – Already went over him in the 1st basemen rankings.
97. Hunter Renfroe – Already went over him in the 1st basemen rankings.
98. Eddie Rosario – Signed with the Nats. With Winker, Gallo, Senzel and now Eddie Rosario, the Nats have shown they’re not afraid to go out and sign guys no one wants because they’re not very good. Bold strategy, Cotton. 2024 Projections: 54/16/57/.238/3 in 367 ABs
99. Brenton Doyle – This is a new tier. This tier goes from here until Dominguez. I call this tier, “Cheap pop.” In wrestling, they call the crowd reaction pop. To elicit real pop, it is not easy. You can elicit cheap pop. You take a fan favorite, say, The Undertaker, you bring him out for some wrestler you’re trying to get over and the crowd goes crazy for a moment, but then The Undertaker stays retired and that wrestler who got the cheap pop turns out to be a bore. That’s this tier, you draft them and people in the draft chat are like, “Ooh…nice pick! Sexy! Wow!” Then you get to May and you’ve already dropped them. This tier isn’t really exciting. This tier is cheap pop. If this tier’s outfielders were exciting, they’d be ranked thirty, fifty, 75 picks earlier. No, this tier’s outfielders seem exciting, but then you drill down and you see why they’re ranked this late.
As for Brenton Doyle, he went 10/22 in his rookie year. Hey, Bargain Basement Flyer, next stop on the Excitement Train is Top 40 Outfielder! Oh, he hit .203 and had a 33% K% in Triple-A and 35% in the majors. Damn, that cheap pop fizzled fast. 2024 Projections: 51/14/54/.218/20 in 436 ABs
100. Nelson Velazquez – Already gave you my Nelson Velazquez sleeper. It was written while going wee-ooh-wee-wow. UPDATE: Seems ticketed for the minors. 2024 Projections: 31/17/43/.244/6 in 319 ABs
101. Stone Garrett – So. Dot dot dot. I actually wrote a sleeper post for Stone Garrett, but I’m not publishing it. I wrote it in the darkness of November. In the harsh light of January, I sound like a lunatic expecting a breakout for Stone Garrett. A 28-year-old with 116 career games in the majors? I want some of what November Grey was smoking. I was Stoned Garrett, now I am Sober Garrett. He does have power and speed, but he’s absolutely going to struggle to hit .230 and stay on the field vs. righties. 2024 Projections: 49/18/57/.234/8 in 360 ABs
102. Jesus Sanchez – Such an exciting name that’s not really exciting. You hear about his light tower power, and you get goose pimples in the inner thigh. You see he won’t face lefties, has no speed or average and you’re like, “Yo, goose pimples, you are lying to me!” 2024 Projections: 47/17/52/.248/2 in 383 ABs
103. Cavan Biggio – Already went over him in the 1st basemen rankings.
104. Mickey Moniak – The bad news is is he’s supposed to platoon with Jo Adell. The good news is he’s supposed to platoon with Jo Adell. 2024 Projections: 51/16/56/.215/7 in 393 ABs
105. Jake McCarthy – If Mr. Prorater saw Jake McCarthy’s projections, he’d be in love. “You’re beautiful, baby.” That’s Mr. Prorater carrying McCarthy’s projections over the threshold. Also, a word in general about the projections. They are not the only thing that goes into rankings. If you want Charlie Blackmon over McCarthy? Then go for it. Blackmon’s projections will look better, but his projections have as much upside as a shallow grave. 2024 Projections: 41/7/43/.248/20 in 318 ABs
106. Pete Crow-Armstrong – Already gave you my Pete Crow-Armstrong fantasy. It was written while honking my horn that plays La Cucaracha. UPDATE: PCA was sent down to start the year, which makes me a sad clown. Paint a smile on my frown. 2024 Projections: 34/6/38/.234/17 in 341 ABs
107. Jasson Dominguez – Another example of what I keep saying in regards to there’s no way to rank for every league in one ranking. If you have a bunch of IL slots or a keeper league, Dominguez moves up forty to sixty picks. In a shallow redraft league? I appreciate your optimism, but we’re not seeing him until July, maybe later. 2024 Projections: 32/12/38/.268/7 in 266 ABs
108. Mitch Haniger – This is a new tier. This tier goes from here until Berti. I call this tier, “Sweatpants as formal wear.” Let’s face it, you stopped trying. You’re drafting from this tier, because you’ve given up. Put on some jeans and deodorant and draft a more interesting outfielder!
As for Haniger, here’s what I said this offseason, “Traded to the Mariners. Could he have one more year where he stays healthy for 155+ games? No. To give you a little longer reasoning: Nooooooooooooo.” And that’s me quoting me! 2024 Projections: 34/14/41/.223/1 in 304 ABs
109. Charlie Blackmon – If Chazz Noir stays healthy, he will hit leadoff and challenge Beintendi for the worst 600 at-bats you’ve ever seen in the Worst 600 At-Bats Challenge. Interestingly, there’s a Jamaican Bud Black, mon, who is shaking his head, reacting to Bud playing Blackmon every day. 2024 Projections: 61/6/38/.262/4 in 464 ABs
110. Ramon Laureano – I legitimately forgot Ramon Laureano existed, until I saw him on my draft screen. Thankfully, a fly wasn’t sitting on my screen or I would’ve been like, “Who the hell is Ram ureano?” The Guardians are a team that gives some true wonky wonksters a lot of at-bats, so Laureano could go 20/20 if he stays healthy. He also has only one year of more than 400 ABs. 2024 Projections: 42/12/47/.216/14 in 381 ABs
111. Joc Pederson – Signed with the Diamondbacks. Tommy Pham is punching air right now. “Those DBags!!!” That’s Tommy Pham yelling at his phone, while reading the signing news. Pederson has one of the clearest downward career trajectories I’ve seen, and he’s no longer great, if he ever was. 2024 Projections: 58/20/63/.237/2 in 389 ABs
112. Mike Yastrzemski – You know how bad one has to be to be projected to be a three-hole hitter and this low in the rankings? Carl’s Jr. Jr. serving up the impossible burger, a plant-based substitute for meat that tastes just like the real thing if you’ve never had the real thing and, while eating it, you skipped your mouth’s tastebuds and it went right from the plate to the gullet. Yummers! That is impossible! 2024 Projections: 58/17/62/.224/3 in 403 ABs
113. Mike Tauchman – Did I just rank Mike Tauchman next to Mike Yastrzemski because they both had the same first name? [awkward pause, forced smile, clearly lying] No way! My hope with the Cubs is that Pete Crow-Armstrong is so obviously the center fielder that even a major league manager can figure it out. If I had 100% faith in that, I would’ve not even ranked Tauchman. 2024 Projections: 42/7/32/.256/6 in 305 ABs
114. Oswaldo Cabrera – Already went over him in the shortstops rankings.
115. Andrew McCutchen – Re-signed with the Pirates. If you’d allow me to be sincere for one second. Every team should have one guy who is a Franchise Player, and they keep them until they retire. Reds with Joey Votto, Yanks with Judge, Pirates with McCutchen and the Nats with, like, Joey Meneses–So, each team doesn’t have a great one, but let’s make this happen. 2024 Projections: 63/15/66/.251/12 in 437 ABs
116. Enrique Hernandez – Already went over him in the 1st basemen rankings.
117. Seth Brown – Already went over him in the 1st basemen rankings.
118. Chris Taylor – Already went over him in the shortstops rankings.
119. Jon Berti – Already went over him in the 2nd basemen rankings.
120. Hunter Goodman – This is the final tier of the top 100 outfielders. I call this tier, “Filibuster.” This tier name refers to me delaying the inevitable, the end of the hitter rankings, and I’m just saying out some names that could have some worth in the deepest of leagues. It goes back to what I’ve said before, if these guys were that good, they’d be ranked higher.
As for Goodman, already went over him in the 1st basemen rankings.
121. Colton Cowser – Mentioned this during my rookie outlook series a few times, if there were guaranteed at-bats for certain guys, then I’d be a lot more optimistic. Cowser, for unstints? He’d be a top 60 outfielder with an everyday job. If him and Jackson Holliday both had starting job, I might like Cowser more for this year (for this year, I am repeating, because I don’t want to hear it. It’s because he’s older). Where does Cowser play and how much? Haven’t the slightest. He should be playing every day or traded for an arm, if the O’s had any sense in their heads. Just don’t trade him to the Reds, they have enough sexy outfielders! 2024 Projections: 31/10/34/.249/7 in 236 ABs
122. Joshua Palacios – You should be able to draft Joshua Palacios and get Richie for free. A Palacios combo offer. Would that make it worth your while drafting either? Absolutely (if you’re their mother; this way you wouldn’t have to choose). UPDATE: Pirates signed Michael Ann Taylor. 2024 Projections: 44/14/48/.258/12 in 378 ABs
122. Estevan Florial – Here’s what I said this offseason, “Traded to the Guards. He hit 28 homers and stole 25 bags in Triple-A last year, while hitting .284! Give Florial his flowers! Oh, wait, he’s 26 years old and looks like he could have a 35% K% in the majors, meaning he’s a .185 hitter? Oh, hmm, uhh…How about that speed and power though, baby! Yanks should be ashamed of themselves how they dragged their heels with this guy, so maybe there’s a chance he was swinging at everything in the minors to show he deserved a shot. Hitting .220 with a 25/25 season wouldn’t be awful for his draft price, but I don’t know if he gets the at-bats to get to 25/25 or “only” hits .220.” And that’s me quoting me! 2024 Projections: 41/14/44/.214/14 in 303 ABs
123. Victor Robles – Pretty sure Robles has appeared in the last possible tier for hitters every year of his career. So, who am I to stop doing that? What, and smarten up?! Get out of here! 2024 Projections: 45/7/48/.259/15 in 334 ABs
124. JJ Bleday – Singing the name JJ Bleday to the tune of It Was A Good Day, “Freakin’ have one outfielder like Melendez, MJ, I can’t believe I then drafted JJ Bleday…” 2024 Projections: 42/17/46/.206/5 in 417 ABs
128. Cal Mitchell – With Sexy Dr. Pepper gone, there’s a lot of room for someone to step up and take the sting out of Padres’ fans as they massage their scalp. That’s why, when my head is scratchy, I turn to Cal Mitchell. Seriously, though, the Padres went from kajillion-dollar spenders to bankrupt in 18 months. That’s a huge head scratcher, and Cal Mitchell sounds like a shampoo. What a perfect fit! UPDATE: With Profar signing, I removed Cal. Finally, a Mitchell Report that matters. 2024 Projections: 49/15/56/.221/5 in 425 ABs
125. Jose Azocar – I can galaxy brain myself into thinking Azocar is a cheap Esteury Ruiz. Watch Azocargo! Hashtag snailed it! 2024 Projections: 42/6/47/.236/29 in 403 ABs
126. Michael A. Taylor – Signed with the Pirates. There’s no worse encapsulation of how garbage the Pirates organization is than this signing. Okay, fine, the Domingo German signing. 2024 Projections: 44/17/48/.216/10 in 404 ABs
127. Edward Olivares – Here’s what I said this offseason, “Traded to the Pirates. He’s free! [sees Pirates’ depth chart has Olivares behind Palacios] No, no, no, no! I want Olivares! You pay dirt-cheap price and you hit pay dirt! That sounds like a commercial for a combo shovel and treasure map deal, and that’s what I want! Pirates use treasure maps, don’t they? Someone read my Edward Olivares sleeper from last year, right? Or they did, then they witnessed what Olivares did after I wrote it. Olivares is like Jose Siri but with better contact and zero return on investment for the past four years. Olivares’s peripherals look so good and his actual stats look so bad. Hopefully, this frees him for good.” And that’s me quoting me! UPDATE: Pirates signed Michael Ann Taylor. 2024 Projections: 33/9/37/.271/6 in 314 ABs
128. Oscar Colas – The stats for every White Sox player, besides Luis Robert, make me cringe so bad. Colas has pop, if he were in Minnesota and talking like he was in Fargo. Colas has speed, if this were the 1900s and Coca-Cola hadn’t yet changed their original recipe. 2024 Projections: 36/12/41/.226/5 in 381 ABs
Omitted but considered: Adam Duvall, Cal Mitchell, Dominic Canzone, Trent Grisham, Avisail Garcia, Garrett Mitchell, Dylan Crews, Drew Waters, Blake Sabol, Ji Hwan Bae, Luis Matos, Mauricio Dubon, Joey Wiemer, James Wood, Sean Bouchard, Jo Adell, Randal Grichuk, Tyrone Taylor, Everson Pereira, Will Brennan, Akil Baddoo, Oswaldo Cabrera, Nick Senzel, Chase DeLauter, Jacob Young, Connor Joe, Victor Scott, Nick Pratto, Alec Burleson, Manuel Margot, Jonny DeLuca, Dylan Carlson, Lawrence Butler, Andy Ibanez, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Nick Gordon, Kevin Kiermaier, Zac Veen, Jakob Marsee, Alexander Canario, Joey Gallo, Myles Straw, DJ Stewart, Austin Meadows, Richie Palacios, Oscar Gonzalez, Dylan Moore, Miguel Andujar, Jake Bauers, Corey Julks, Eric Haase, Aaron Hicks, Dairon Blanco, Gavin Sheets, Jurickson Profar, Jason Heyward, Cade Marlowe, Roman Anthony, Jake Meyers, Kevin Alcantara, Trevor Larnach, Trey Cabbage, Jake Alu, Wil Myers, Samad Taylor, Jonatan Clase
