50 MOST FASCINATING PEOPLE IN MLB
IANCARLO Stanton won the National League homer title by 20 last year over Cody Bellinger. No player had led a league by more since Babe Ruth doubled up Lou Gehrig 54-to-27 in 1928.
Shohei Ohtani is expected this year to become the first major leaguer to start at least 15 games as a pitcher and 15 at another position since — yep — Ruth in 1918.
So within this offseason of blah, there’s been a touch of the Babe. Stanton landed 10 miles north of Broadway, Ohtani 35 miles south of Hollywood. Those are relocations of Ruthian proportions.
They reverberate still from the early December weekend when Ohtani surprisingly picked the Angels and the Yankees shockingly barged in to corral Stanton — notably because they changed focus after being spurned by the Japanese star. Those decisions would have stood out even in a more typical offseason of free agent megadealing — that is how seminal, seismic and sexy they were. But in the context of the slowest-moving free agent market ever, they resonate all the more and land the duo atop Hardball’s annual 50 Most Interesting People in Baseball heading into spring training 2018 (last year’s rank in parentheses): 1 Shohei Ohtani Angels SP/DH (11)
The righty pitcher/lefty slugger edges Stanton because his quest is more unique and his challenges greater. He comes with the burden of being dubbed — wait for it — The Babe Ruth of Japan. He will try to both start and be a regular DH with great doubt around him that anyone could do both at a high level — in part because the differentiation in training to pitch and hit have become so great. The Angels will accommodate a schedule more familiar to him from Japan by going to a six-man rotation, which also might bring greater tension and attention (if that is possible). Ohtani will join fellow new additions Zack Cozart and Ian Kinsler to try to maximize Mike Trout’s prime. 2 Giancarlo Stanton Yankees LF (NR)
No one was calling him the Ruth of Miami, but he now falls into the subset that began with Ruth — the great slugger imported by the Yankees. Stanton handled himself well at his introductory press conference at the Winter Meetings and at last month’s Baseball Writers Association of America’s awards dinner, at which he was seated next to Aaron Judge. But he is going from a place of small crowds/media focus and nothing close to an important game played in his career to the largest market and hugest expectations. Just to show you how much his world has changed: He was unranked on this list last year while a player from Japan (Ohtani) was No. 11. 3 Rob Manfred MLB commissioner (3) These should be the good days, what with the sport having exceeded $10 billion in revenue for the first time and the sale of MLB Advanced Media to Disney netting each team $50 million. But attendance was down for a third straight year in 2017 — the lowest it had been since 2007 — the players are beating the drums for labor confrontation amid the pennypinching freeagent period, and about one-third of the teams are in tank mode — raising the question about competitive balance. Manfred was unable to get the union to work with him on pace-ofplay initiatives. What’s a commissioner to do about all of this? 4 Bryce Harper Nationals RF (2)
Looming over this offseason and sure to hover over the regular season is anticipation of next winter’s expected mega-class of free agents fronted by Harper and Manny Machado. Harper was on the way to an NL MVP before yet another injury derailed him last season. Still, he is a star, doesn’t turn 26 until October and the expectation is that he will top Stanton’s $325 million record for most ever given a player and possibly top $400 million or (gulp) even $500 million. But who knows with these things? He has been associated for so long with the Yankees, who at this time last year had no sure thing cornerstone corner outfielders and now have Stanton and Judge. 5 Derek Jeter Marlins CEO (NR)
He built a mostly pristine reputation over two-plus decades under the Yankees’ employ and has done much to wreck that in a few months as the public face and dayto-day chief of the Marlins’ new ownership. The guy famous for “The Flip” has flopped in how he has gone about the Marlins’ latest fire sale and the dismissal of a bunch of popular retired players with Marlins ties, among other things. It might be a baseball miracle if this team wins 60 games and draws 750,000 home fans. Jeter emerged from 56 errors in his first full season in the minors to be a great player with that pristine reputation. Can he begin to make the same reversal as an executive? 6 Tony Clark MLBPA executive director (NR) For the better part of four decades, the Players Association basically kicked ownership’s butt in collective bargaining. Not so much on this last one, as the union did not do a good enough job foreseeing the impact analytics was having on convincing teams to stay away from mega-deals that would take players deep into their 30s while also motivating more clubs that did not believe they were championship ready to tank and, thus, not use available cash to try to upgrade, say, a 70-win team to a 73-win team. Clark, the union head, has blamed ownership for the lowered salaries, but a mirror might be more useful. How does he help change this trend while either being helpful or obstructionist on pace of play rules? 7 Aaron Judge Yankees RF (NR) What does he do for an encore? Judge handled massive attention and huge slumps with grace, which bodes well for him long term. The only teammates to exceed 50 homers in the same season were Roger Maris (61) and Mickey Mantle (54) in 1961. Judge and Stanton were the only
players to do so in the majors last year. Can they do it as teammates? The Yankees are opening gates in spring training earlier so folks can see their batting practice.
8 Scott Boras Agent (NR)
His way of negotiating — essentially patience plus talent will net sizeable contracts — worked brilliantly for nearly four decades. But have the analytics, among other things, forced him to reconsider the strategy as he approached spring training with five huge free agents (Jake Arrieta, Greg Holland, Eric Hosmer, J.D. Martinez and Mike Moustakas) as the headliners of more than a dozen of his clients who didn’t have jobs yet. Plus, he represents Harper and other huge looming free agents in the megaclass next year — including Dallas Keuchel, Elvis Andrus, Zach Britton, Marwin Gonzalez and Matt Harvey.
9 Manny Machado Orioles SS (NR)
There will be a duel next offseason of Harper vs. Machado and, thus, also their competitive agents, Boras vs. Dan Lozano, to see who gets the biggest deal. Machado’s walk year is made more compelling because he is shifting back from third to shortstop for the Orioles.
10 Yu Darvish Cubs SP (NR)
Does his dawn-of-spring signing with the Cubs thaw the top of the market, especially for starters Arrieta, Alex Cobb and Lance Lynn? Darvish has ace stuff, but questions about his sturdiness — physically and emotionally after his World Series horror show — persist.
11 Clayton Kershaw Dodgers SP (15)
Still great, but he turns 30 next month. He has been derailed by injuries each of the past two years, most worrisome a chronic back condition. He still has not permanently dismissed concerns about him in the postseason. He can opt out of the final two years at $65 million after this season, but whether he does and whether the Dodgers bid frantically to retain him will to a large degree come down to how he performs this year.
12 Alex Rodriguez ESPN/FOX broadcaster (21)
His image resuscitation tour continues as he becomes the lead analyst for ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball” to go along with his FOX gig. Only in the Bizzaro World would it have been possible, say, two years ago to believe this list would include both Jeter and A-Rod for the reasons they are included.
13 Mike Trout Angels CF (16)
Maybe it is his year, since his beloved Eagles won the Super Bowl. Here is the list of players through their age-25 season who had at least 4,000 plate appearances and a higher OPS-plus than Trout’s 172: Ty Cobb (180) and Mickey Mantle (174). But Trout has appeared in just one more playoff series than me, and I have won as many postseason games (zero). The greatest player of this era still needs the October platform.
14 Aaron Boone Yankees manager (NR)
Boone (Yankees), Alex Cora (Red Sox) and Dave Martinez (Nationals) all take over 90-plus win playoff teams who have championship aspirations this year as first-time managers.
15 Gabe Kapler Phillies manager (NR)
Kapler (Phillies), Mickey Callaway (Mets) and Ron Gardenhire (Tigers) also are managing — only Gardenhire is a repeat. Kapler is the most fascinating because of how polarizing he is within the industry. It feels the most black or white of the hires — an outside-the-box choice who has the persona to either thrive or dive.
16 Evan Longoria/ Andrew McCutchen Giants 3B/RF (NR/4)
At a time when most teams are running away from age, the Giants doubled-down on 30-somethings by adding Longoria and McCutchen to try to recover from what was the NL’s worst record last year.
17 David Price Red Sox SP (NR)
Price’s 2017: Went to the disabled list twice as concerns lingered he needed Tommy John surgery, warred with the media — notably Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley — and wound up a $217 million reliever. Like Kershaw, he can opt out after this season, but to be in demand he is going to have to prove himself healthy and still a high-end starter. The sense is he does not like Boston and would love out.
18 Vladimir Guerrero Jr./ Vladimir Guerrero Sr. Blue Jays prospect/ Hall of Fame inductee (NR)
On July 28, Guerrero Sr. will be inducted into the Hall of Fame along with Trevor Hoffman, Chipper Jones, Jim Thome, Jack Morris and Alan Trammell. Is it possible that same week his son could be called to the majors? It is trade deadline week, Josh Donaldson is in his walk year and the Blue Jays — if they are not contenders — have to consider moving him. Their top prospect is a third baseman, Guerrero Jr., who joins Ronald Acuna (Braves), Gleyber Torres (Yankees), Fernando Tatis Jr. and Eloy Jimenez (White Sox) as part of the conversation for the majors’ best prospect.
19 Marcell Ozuna/ Christian Yelich Cardinals LF, Brewers RF (NR)
You know the Marlins traded more than just one star outfielder (Stanton). They broke up the best outfield in the majors by also dealing Ozuna to the Cardinals and Yelich to the Brewers — as those two teams try to track down the Cubs in the NL Central. And Miami actually dealt another outfielder, since the Mariners acquired second baseman Dee Gordon to play center.
20 Albert Pujols Angels 1B/DH (39)
He is 32 hits shy of 3,000. But Pujols — due to a sickly on-base percentage and negative value as a defender and baserunner — finished last among qualifiers in Fangraphs’ version of Wins Above Replacement. With Ohtani joining the Angels, Pujols is going to play first base with some regularity for the first
time since 2015. He is 38 and claiming to feel better than he has after a few injuryplagued years. He has four years at $114 million left on his contract. He is becoming Albatross Pujols.
21 Andrew Friedman Dodgers president of baseball operations (1)
Like the Yankees, the Dodgers are trying to become a financial heavyweight going under the 2018 luxury-tax threshold of $197 million. But the Yankees have won five titles since the Dodgers last won in 1988. L.A. got excruciatingly close last season — reaching Game 7 of the World Series. Can the Dodgers pay less and nd do more?
22 Max Scherzer Nationals SP (NR)
He should top 2,000 inningsgs and 150 wins this year, and he just might take a good Hall of Fame case over the top. He has two straight Cy Young wins, and just Randy Johnson and Greg Maddux (both four times in a row) have won three straight. If he won again, Scherzer would have four Cys in all, and just Johnson, Maddux, Steve Carlton and Roger Clemens have that many.
23 Mike Rizzo Nationals GM (12)
The Nationals’ head of baseball operations has assembled a terrific roster with Harper and Scherzer, among others. But Washington has not won a round of the playoffs under his stewardship, so the organization remains titleless. Martinez is the sixth manager since Rizzo became GM in 2009. Harper, Daniel Murphy and Gio Gonzalez are free agents after this season and Anthony Rendon following 2019. Oh, and Rizzo is in the final year of his contract. Feels a little now or never-ish.
24 Jose Altuve Astros SS (NR)
He has 1,250 hits — 51 more through his age-27 season than Jeter did. Altuve’s past four years he finished 13th, 10th, third and then won the MVP last season while serving as the engine to a champion and as a reminder that — in baseball — greatness comes in all shapes and sizes.
25 Cole Hamels Rangers SP (NR)
It is always difficult to determine who will be the best player traded at the July 31 deadline, but the Rangers have the look of a team that has gotten older/ thinned its farm chasing a first title, and the time for a reboot may be nearing. Hamels and fellow lefties Matt Moore and Martin Perez all have options for 2019, as does righty Doug Fister. Texas could be a starting-pitching clearinghouse come July.
26 Madison Bumgarner Giants SP (NR)
He feels like a legacy player with the Giants. But what if San Francisco’s plummet last year was not an aberration, but a scream that the Giants — after those three titles — need a rebuild? Do they decide the player that can get them the most in return is a 28-year-old lefty with a 2019 option and a big-game reputation? Bumgarner has something to prove, as well, after his dirt bike accident helped submarine the Giants’ 2017 season.
27 Miguel Cabrera Tigers 1B (NR)
He played through back issues all last season and had his worst campaign. Was this the strongest sign of the beginning of the end for one of the greatest hitters ever? He turns 35 in April and still has six years at $192 million left as the Tigers delve into a total rebuild around him.
28 Bartolo Colon Rangers SP (42)
After going 7-14 with a 6.48 ERA for the Braves and Twins last year, Colon might be finished. He turns 45 in May, after all. But Big Sexy is trying to latch on with the Rangers via a minor league deal with the hope he can amass six more wins to reach 246 and pass Dennis Martinez for the most victories by a pitcher born in a Latin American country.
29 Matt Harvey Mets SP (5)
Is he as interesting as he used to be? No. But in what almost certainly is his final act as a Met — entering his walk year — Harvey gets a last chance to more positively spin his Mets legacy and his free-agency case. What does he have left, and will there ever be that moment when Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Steve Matz, Noah Syndergaard an Zack Wheeler take a rotation turn (or two)?
30 Justin Verlander Astros SP (NR)
The hope for Harvey was that he could be Verlander — a durable, brilliant power righty. Verlander’s acquisition was the final push to ththe Astros’ first championship, and absorbing information from Houston’s analytic wing appeared to lift Verlander. He turns 35 next week, and it will be fascinating how long he can sustain excellence.
31 Brendan McKay Rays SP/1B (NR)
Ohtani justifiably is getting all of the attention of trying to be a two-way player. But McKay was taken fourth overall in last June’ draft amid lots of debate if he projected better as a first bbaseman or pitcher. He did both in ththe New York-Penn League last year and, for now, the Rays are on board for continuing to allow McKay to try to be both a pitcher and hitter.
32 Carlos Correa (46)/ Francisco Lindor (18)/ Corey Seager Astros SS (46)/Indians SS (18)/ Dodgers SS (NR)
Born within 11 months of each other in 1993-94, these are arguably the three best shortstops in the game (I don’t actually know if there is much argument). Is this the Willie, Mickey and The Duke of this era? Each of the three has played in a World Series the past two years. All are viable MVP candidates.
33 Joe Girardi MLB Network broadcaster
He will make a pit stop, working for the MLB Network, but the former Yankees skipper clearly wants to manage again and will loom out there as seats get hot on managers.
34 Andrew Miller Indians RP (NR)
In six years as a full-time reliever, Miller has a 2.01 ERA in 350 games while averaging 14.1 strikeouts per nine innings. In the same time frame, the big lefty has a 1.10 ERA in 20 postseason games and, as much as anyone, has helped change how relievers are deployed and paid — with big money now going to dominant relievers, not just guys who rack up saves. The dynamic late-game duo of Miller and Cody Allen are both free agents after this season, so the Indians might be looking at their last best chance in this window to win a title for the first time since 1948.
35 Bruce Maxwell A’s C (NR)
The first and believed only major leaguer to kneel during the national anthem last year, Maxwell was indicted by a grand jury in November on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and disorderly conduct for allegedly pointing a gun at a person delivering him food in October in Arizona. He might face backlash for one or both, and he also is atop the A’s depth chart at catcher.
36 Nolan Arenado Rockies 3B (NR)
Who is the best player not enough folks know about? Arenado is among the five best defenders (any position) in the majors, and if you think his numbers are purely Coors inflated know this: He has 34 homers on the road the past two years, more than, for example, Kris Bryant, Trout or Harper. The Rockies made the playoffs last year, but there is some urgency. Charlie Blackmon and D.J. Lemahieu are free agents after this season, Arenado after 2019.
37 Tim Lincecum Free agent SP (NR)
When last seen in 2016, Lincecum had a 9.16 ERA in nine starts for the Angels. Lincecum has remade his physique and, perhaps, his fastball at Driveline Baseball and has an upcoming showcase to try to entice that there is something left. The game would be more fun if The Freak can make it back. He is just 33, six weeks older than Scherzer.
38 Kyle Schwarber Cubs LF (19)
Coming off his baseball miracle of making it back against huge odds to play and star in the 2016 World Series after tearing the ACL and LCL in his left knee three games into that season, Schwarber regressed last year hitting just .211 and even being sent back to the minors briefly. He lost 20 pounds this offseason in an attempt to be a more agile left fielder while fulfilling expectations of being an elite hitter.
39 Miguel Sano Twins 3B (NR)
The Twins were a surprise wildcard participant last year, but now they are bracing for a possible suspension of Sano under MLB’s domestic violence policy and learned ace Ervin Santana will miss the first month of the season after needing finger surgery. Still, Minnesota is viewed as in play for a starter or two and will hope Sano and Santana become big contributors even under their worst scenarios.
40 Theo Epstein Cubs president of baseball operations (6)
He has exhausted a good deal of his
prospect base and elevated payroll to create more than an elusive title, but a dynasty. But no one should bet against the Cubs’ baseball head getting creative and figuring out how to further boost his club as he did with the acquisition of Darvish.
41 Tim Tebow Mets LF (14)
The second best quarterback now employed by a New York baseball team — heck, maybe a New York football team, too — with the Yankees obtaining Russell Wilson. Will fans, like last year, flock to see Tebow play in the minors, and will he make the kind of improvements that would give him even a 5 percent chance of getting to the majors? First, though, he was invited to spring training by the Mets. The Yanks and Mets play March 7 and 10, they should find a way to have Tebow and Wilson in a game at the same time at some point.
42 Dave Dombrowski Red Sox president of baseball operations (NR)
The Red Sox’s head of baseball operations emptied a lot of the franchise’s elite prospects over the past few years for players such as Craig Kimbrel, Drew Pomeranz and Chris Sale. Now, Kimbrel and Pomeranz are in their walk year and Sale is free after 2019. There is a sense the Yankees have slipped ahead of the Red Sox as the team to beat in the AL East.
43 Felix Hernandez Mariners SP (27)
He missed three months with shoulder problems in his worst season as a major leaguer in 2017. His fastball and performance have been dipping. Hernandez is trying to recreate himself, but the clock is ticking on him and this Seattle core (Hernandez, Robby Cano, Nelson Cruz and Kyle Seager) winning together. Hernandez has pitched for 13 seasons and never made the playoffs, and no team has gone longer without reaching the postseason than the Mariners (2001).
44 Yasiel Puig Dodgers RF (35)
After three straight seasons of having his OPS plummet, Puig produced an .833 OPS last year, hit 28 homers and was a core part of the Dodgers’ NL title run. Of course, he is Puig, so his agents essentially fired him in the offseason.
45 Brian Cashman Yankees GM (47)
He lowered payroll this offseason while incorporating the player with the largest contract ever (Stanton). That is baseball Houdini stuff. But after the Yanks’ surprise run to the ALCS last year and the addition of Stanton, the expectations will rise and it will be compelling to see if the Yankees GM — now in the first season of a new fiveyear deal — can keep the same discipline as needs arise during the year.
46 Yoenis Cespedes Mets LF (20)
The last position player to sign a nine-figure free-agent deal (pending the inking of those at the top of the still current group), Cespedes followed his $110 million agreement with an injurymarred season. Word is that he is training and hydrating differently to try to avoid injuries, especially to his legs.
47 Brady Singer Florida Gators SP (NR)
The Tigers are on the clock with the first pick in the June 4 draft and the consensus — a few months out — is the righty Singer is currently viewed as the top pick. Last June, Detroit took Alex Faedo with its first-round pick (18th overall). Singer and Faedo helped lead Florida to its first College World Series title in 2017.
48 Don Mattingly Marlins manager (28)
The 2017 Marlins were the first team to have four players each reach 679 plate appearances since the 2009 Phillies, and Gordon, Ozuna, Stanton and Yelich were all traded after producing 48.8 of Miami’s hits in 2017. The player fifth on the Marlins in plate appearances and hits — J.T. Realmuto — also is on the block. Once a mentor to a young prospect named Jeter, Mattingly now works for him and Jeter has given him a team that will struggle to avoid 100 losses.
49 Lorenzo Cain Brewers CF (NR)
It took a while, but he was the rare significant free agent this offseason who not only signed, but got about what was anticipated (five years at $80 million). He joins Yelich in a retooled Brewers outfield as Milwaukee tries to outdo the Cubs in the NL Central.
50 Joe Maddon Cubs manager (NR)
In 2016, he guided the Cubs to their first championship since 1908, but not without huge questions about his strategy decisions in the World Series. Last year the Cubs just looked out of gas in getting swept out of the NLCS by the Dodgers. What followed was a significant overhaul of Maddon’s coaching staff and in most places that is viewed as a shot over the bow to the manager — the coaches now, you’re next. Maddon is entering the fourth year of a five-year deal. Maybe his status is such that he is untouchable. Maybe not. joel.sherman@nypost.com