2004 Fantasy Baseball Awards

This is where we give awards to the best fantasy baseball player for each position. These are the elite, that stepped up and did the best they could with the main 5x5 categories of fantasy baseball.

NL - Center Field

Carlos Beltran

Powerful numbers along with 42 stolen bases for good measure. Imagine this guy on the Yankees in 2005. If that happens he may go #1 in some leagues.

NL - Right Field

Bobby Abreu

Similar numbers to Beltran, but with a much higher bating average. His 42 stolen bases round him out as the best Right Fielder for fantasy owners.

NL - Left Field

Barry Bonds

45 Home Runs in 373 official at-bats is just insane. If your league counted on-base-percentage, you dominated that category if you had this guy.

NL - First Base

Albert Pujols

133 Runs, 46 Home Runs, 123 RBI. Need I say more?

NL - Second Base

Jeff Kent

Kent quietly put together a 107 RBI season and propelled the Astros into the post-season. He had the same effect on many fantasy teams as well.

NL - Shortstop

Jimmy Rollins

Rollins gave fantasy teams a boost in 4 of 5 categories and didn't do so bad for NL shortstops when it comes to homers with 14.

NL - Third Base

Adrian Beltre

We all gave up on him after last year. 48 home runs later we're eating our words. Still only 25 years old.

NL - Starting Pitcher

Randy Johnson

He only had 16 wins (low for him) on that terrible team, but he makes up for it in the other 4 categories.

NL - Relief Pitcher

Eric Gagne

2 Blown saves all year. If you needed saves, he was the sure thing.

AL - Center Field

Hideki Matsui

109 Runs, 31 HR's, and 108 RBI while batting .298. Matsui is the king of fantasy consistency.

AL - Right Field

Gary Sheffield

Another great season. Just imagine what his numbers would have been if he wasn't hurt. His injury could play a role as to where he goes in the draft next season.

AL - Left Field

Manny Ramirez

After being put on waivers by the Red Sox, Manny didn't let that get him down. He put up huge fantasy numbers and captured the World Series. 43 HR's and 130 RBI. What a monster!

AL - First Base

David Ortiz

Yes, Papi qualifies at 1B, so he wins the award there. 41 HR's and 139 RBI. He wins it even if you don't consider his clutch post-season performance.

AL - Second Base

Michael Young

The best at the worst fantasy position. Young was 1 shy of 100 RBI. As a bonus, he qualified at SS too.

AL - Shortstop

Alex Rodriguez

Possibly the last time you will find him here, for his SS days are gone. 36 HR's, 106 RBI and threw in 28 SB's for good measure.

AL - Third Base

Melvin Mora

.340 average with over 100 runs and RBI. Mora also wins the Free Agent Pickup of the Year Award.

AL - Starting Pitcher

Johan Santana

The first 2 months of the season made it look like Santana belonged back in the bullpen. 20 wins later he's the best fantasy starter there is.

AL - Relief Pitcher

Mariano Rivera

Forget his post-season. Rivera helped fantasy owners 53 saves and an ERA under 2. Joe Nathan was a close second here.