Fantasy Baseball Friday: Top Five Outfielders in 2015 AL Central

Mar 19, 2015; Melbourne, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers left fielder

(28) prior to the game against the Washington Nationals at Space Coast Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports

For fantasy baseball purposes, outfield is much weaker than the infield and pitching positions in the American League Central.

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That, however, doesn’t mean there isn’t some value to be had if owners choose to target AL Central outfielders.

At the right position in the draft and when needing certain categories, having outfielders from the AL Central can be very useful to any fantasy owner.

Here are the top five fantasy baseball outfielders in the American League Central for the 2015 season. Don’t forget to check out the top five infielders and top five starting pitchers from the AL Central for this coming season as well.

Sep 24, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians left fielder

(23) runs after doubling in the seventh inning against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

LF/CF Michael Brantley, Cleveland Indians

Brantley barely cracks the top 10 fantasy outfielders list at No. 9 and the top 25 overall list at No. 25 on Fantasy Pros, suggesting as stated before, the division isn’t full of outfield talent in fantasy.

The Indians outfielder, though, is clearly the best option. He reached career-highs in virtually every category in 2014 with 20 home runs, 97 RBI, 94 runs, 23 stolen bases, 45 doubles, 200 hits while posting a .327 average, .385 on-base percentage and .506 slugging percentage.

The 27-year-old will be hard pressed to repeat those numbers, but with Cleveland an up-and-coming team again expected to contend for a playoff spot, Brantley will have every opportunity to do so.

After the top tier outfielders are gone, Brantley won’t remain on the draft board long.

Mar 23, 2015; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Kansas City Royals left fielder

(4) singles in the first inning against the San Francisco Giants at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

LF Alex Gordon, Kansas City Royals

It’s funny how things work sometimes. Our top three fantasy outfielders in the AL Central are all left fielders.

Although a great player overall, Gordon has never lived up offensively to being the second overall pick in the 2005 draft. He has 121 home runs, 475 RBI, 565 runs and 79 stolen bases while hitting .268 in eight seasons.

Gordon has only hit .300 in a season once and went deep 20 times in a season twice.

Still, at his 109.5 ADP, he provides some value because he can do a little bit of everything.

Gordon has recorded between 87-to-101 runs, 14-to-23 home runs, 72-to-87 RBI and 10-to-17 steals  in each of the last four seasons. He will have less upside than other outfielders available in the 10th round, but Gordon should reach those ranges again.

Mar 24, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers left fielder J.D. Martinez (28) leads off of second base during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Yankees won 9-8. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

RF/LF J.D. Martinez, Detroit Tigers

Martinez is one of those outfielders that will have a lot more upside that can be picked about the same time as Gordon.

The 27-year-old slashed a career-high .315/.358/.553 in 2014 along with posting a career-high 23 home runs, 76 RBI, 57 runs, and 30 doubles.

The question now is will Martinez repeat those numbers again.

Entering the prime of his career, he certainly could repeat them, but it seems unlikely he hits .300 again. If owners take Martinez ahead of Gordon, then they will be counting on him doing so because Gordon will score more runs and steal more bases.

Mar 17, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Chicago White Sox outfielder

against the Seattle Mariners at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

LF Melky Cabrera, Chicago White Sox

Huh, who would have guessed, another left fielder.

As previously stated, the outfielder position is weak in the AL Central, so Cabrera might not be deemed worth starting in shallow leagues. His average ADP is 143.3 according to Fantasy Pros.

Cabrera has been no where near as good since his PED suspension that ended his 2012 season with the Giants, but he had a respectable stat line last season with the Blue Jays: .301/.351/.458, 16 home runs, 73 RBI, 81 runs.

He can provide some depth to any fantasy outfield.

Next: Fantasy Baseball Draft: Take Joakim Soria in Later Rounds