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2016 AL East Rankings by Position: First Base

By Nate Wardle

Sep 20, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Chris Davis (19) hits a 2-run home run during the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 20, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Chris Davis (19) hits a 2-run home run during the third inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 21, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Chris Colabello (15) hits a home run during the second inning against the Kansas City Royals in game five of the ALCS at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 21, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Chris Colabello (15) hits a home run during the second inning against the Kansas City Royals in game five of the ALCS at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Toronto Blue Jays – Chris Colabello, Justin Smoak, Matt Dominguez, Casey Kotchman

IF one year made a player, the Jays might be second on this list. But Chris Colabello has only ever had one good season in the majors, and that was last year. This is a 32-year-old who played in less than 60 games with the Twins in 2013 and 2014, and then exploded onto the scene last year for the Jays.

Colabello hit .321/.367/.520, with 15 HRs, 19 2Bs, 54 RBIs and 55 runs in 101 games. However, only 34 of those games were at first base. With the corner outfield positions resolved, barring injuries, Colabello will likely see a lot of time at first base. Whether he can maintain his success, and also play good defense, will say a lot about whether everything clicked for him.

Smoak is not a very good defender, as evident by his -4.9 career dWAR. But, he brings power to the first base position. Smoak hit .226/.299/.470 in 2015 in 71 starts at first base, with 18 HRs, 16 2Bs, 59 RBIs, and 44 runs.

Dominguez and Kotchman will both show up at Spring Training, but I can’t see either making last year’s AL East Champion’s roster.

Next: Where is the offense?

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