2016 AL East Rankings by Position: Second Base

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Oct 23, 2015; Kansas City, MO, USA; Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Ryan Goins (top) turns a double play over Kansas City Royals runner Terrance Gore in the 8th inning in game six of the ALCS at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Toronto Blue Jays – Ryan Goins, Devon Travis*, Darwin Barney, David Adams

If Devon Travis was healthy, the Jays would probably be all the way up to third, that’s how good he was in 2015. Travis was acquired in a trade for Anthony Gose, and the 24-year-old started 60 games at second base, hitting .304/.361/.498 for the Blue Jays during that time. He added 8 HRs, 18 2Bs, 35 RBIs, and 38 runs in his limited games. Travis was also a good defender for the Jays.

The benefit is that the Jays’ Goins played in more than 125 games for the Jays in 2015. He started 62 games at second base, hitting .250/.318/.354 with very limited power. However, on a team with a barrage of offense, Goins is a very, very good defender for the Blue Jays. Barney was acquired after Travis got hurt a second time last year in September, and was pretty good in limited time. Barney is also a capable utility player for the Blue Jays. The reason for the low ranking is Goins’ offensive limitations, and the fact that with Travis out until at least May, the Jays may not see him fully healthy in 2016.

Related Story: AL East Catcher Rankings

The second base rankings are tough to predict, as one player is an aging veteran on a lineup with several aging veterans, one is playing under the bright lights of New York for the first time, one is coming off a breakout year, one has to prove he can stay healthy, and the last is dealing with injury issues already. With that said, I wouldn’t be surprised if the end of the year rankings look much, much different.

What do you think?

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