MLB’s 50 most fascinating begin with this year’s Theo Epstein

The 2016 season so clearly was about the Cubs — win or lose.

Theo Epstein methodically had built an infrastructure of high-end young position players, then spent two offseasons using cash to land the manager and veterans he believed would be the finishing pieces to the organization’s first title since 1908. That the Cubs were fun and did not retreat from the attention only intensified the spotlight — or bull’s-eye.

That is why it was so easy to name Epstein Hardball’s Most Interesting Person in Baseball heading into 2016.

The choice is less clear this year. But again Hardball will pick an executive facing ever-intensifying heat to win it all. When Andrew Friedman joined the Dodgers as president of baseball operations after the 2014 season and surrounded himself with former general managers, he forged the most expensive front office ever and one expected to give Los Angeles cutting-edge thinking combined with deeper pockets than any team.

There have been two NL West titles and the building of perhaps the majors’ best farm system. But the Dodgers also have had the majors’ highest payrolls each season, including the largest ever in 2015. They have talked financial restraint and the big picture, but the quest to win now led them to invest $192 million to retain Rich Hill, Kenley Jansen and Justin Turner.

Like the Yankees of old, with this kind of outlay comes an expectation of championships. It is not 1908 like the Cubs, but the Dodgers are title-less since 1988. They have a team good enough to win it all. Last year, when that came to Epstein he said “if not now, when” in trading Gleyber Torres for Aroldis Chapman. Will Freidman be as bold this season?

That makes Friedman Hardball’s Most Interesting Man in Baseball heading into 2017. Here is the rest of the Top 50 (last year’s ranking in parentheses, when applicable):

2. Bryce Harper (8) — The Harper vs. Mike Trout conversations have ceased. Trout has won by knockout. Harper has had one great, healthy season and won the 2015 NL MVP, then sank to hit .243 with 24 homers last year — the same as Danny Espinosa. There has been speculation Harper could become the first $400 million or even $500 million free agent after the 2018 season. He is just 24 years old and filled with talent. But it has to be more than occasional, healthy genius or else Manny Machado might earn more than him that offseason.

3. Rob Manfred (4) — Getting a new collective bargaining agreement completed before the deadline — and, thus, without a work stoppage — was the priority. But the deal did not include anything significant on the commissioner’s major initiative to improve pace of play. Manfred continues to push in this area with concepts such as just sending a batter to first when an intentional walk is desired and limiting mound visits. Can he get the union to approve his ideas and will they make enough of a difference to keep the attention of a younger demographic?

4. Andrew McCutchen — From 2012-15, McCutchen finished no worse than fifth in the NL MVP voting (winning in 2013). He slumped last year and the worst kept secret of the offseason was how badly Pittsburgh was trying to trade the face of its baseball revival — nearly completing a deal with Washington. Now, his defense diminished, he is being moved from center to right. Can he rebound at just age 30? And will the Pirates trade him during a season if they are contending?

5. Matt Harvey (13) — In many ways, he’s the pitching Harper, as great fanfare has surrounded a player with just one healthy brilliant season and free agency beckoning in two years with Scott Boras as his agent. The Mets have enough starting pitching to win without him. But they are so much better and more intriguing with him. Can he make it all the way back from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery?

6. Theo Epstein (1) — He guaranteed his historic place and Hall of Fame certainty as the architect who ended curses for both the Red Sox and Cubs. Now, he shoots for dynasty.

7. Aroldis Chapman (16)/Kenley Jansen/Mark Melancon — The postseason and offseason revolved heavily around the game’s best relievers. We saw bold, aggressive use of notably Andrew Miller, but also Chapman, Jansen and others. Then Chapman, Jansen and Melancon all broke the previous high package given a reliever in free agency. Will this signal a change in how the best are used in 2017 or will it just be one-inning-at-a-time business as usual?

8. Edwin Encarnacion — He did not get in free agency (three years, $60 million) nearly what was anticipated. But that he ended up in Cleveland was perhaps the biggest jolt of the offseason with the small-market Indians securing him. He will feel the burden of getting Cleveland over the final hurdle for its first title since 1948.

9. Chris Sale — Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has shown a willingness to deal big prospects when he feels he is a piece away from a championship. In this case, he gave up perhaps the sport’s top prospect, Yoan Moncada, as part of a package for Sale, who will be asked to front a ring-worthy rotation.

10. Jake Arrieta/Johnny Cueto/Yu Darvish (38)/Masahiro Tanaka — This was a poor offseason for free-agent starters, but next year promises to be greatly improved, particularly if Cueto and Tanaka opt out of their contracts. Tanaka is trying to build up value and confidence about his long-term viability as he continues to pitch with a slight tear in his elbow ligament. What do the Yankees do to try to keep him or to try to replace him if he leaves?

11. Shohei Otani (19) — This was not a great offseason for American fans seeing Otani. First, the new CBA moved the age requirement for an international player being an unfettered free agent from 23 to 25, which would mean Otani would have to take about $5 million or wait until after the 2019 season. Second, the best hitter and pitcher in Japan will not play in the WBC. Word is he still wants to come to the American MLB after this season. If so, he becomes one of the most fascinating free agents ever, might force a rule change so that he can receive the $200 million-ish expected if he did come pre-25 and moves ahead of Arrieta, Cueto, Darvish and Tanaka for most desirable free-agent starter — and perhaps cleanup hitter.

12. Mike Rizzo — Like Friedman, the Nationals’ GM is feeling a hotter seat to produce what would be the organization’s first title. The clock is ticking. Harper and Daniel Murphy are free agents after 2018, and Max Scherzer is among the majors’ best starters now. His offseason was a lot of high-end swings and misses, including on McCutchen and Sale. He begins the year without an established closer.

13. Jose Bautista — He always has played with a chip on his shoulder. So what now? He reportedly wanted $150 million before last season and wound up with a limited market and having to go back to Toronto for one year at $18 million. He is 36 and coming off an injury-filled down year (for him). With Encarnacion gone from the Blue Jays, his bat matters as much as ever as he tries to rebuild his value.

14. Tim Tebow — He likely never will spend a day in the majors and this all might be nothing more than a quest to stay relevant. But he has quite a large following, and his success or failure is going to draw attention.

15. Clayton Kershaw (36) — He is the great pitcher of this era, but his résumé cries out for a dominant postseason and a championship, so he needs Friedman to excel in crafting a team around him more than anyone.

16. Mike Trout (6) — The hitting Kershaw. The modern Mantle. Trout never has finished worse than second for the AL MVP in his five full seasons. Any sport is hurt when its best players are not in the postseason, and Trout having been there just once is problematic for MLB. The Angels look improved, but probably not enough to get Trout to October.

17. Gary Sanchez — He is now the face and first significant building block of what the Yankees hope will be another sustained period of contention. But after 20 homers in 53 games, Sanchez is in a difficult spot not to disappoint in his encore.

18. Francisco Lindor — There is such a Jeter-esque quality in Lindor— not in their style of play, but in temperament. Lindor exudes joy and confidence in everything he does on a field and that no moment is bigger than him — just like Derek Jeter offered from the outset. The Indians shortstop emerged from the postseason a national star and a face of the game.

19. Kyle Schwarber — His World Series return from a torn ACL and LCL, which were supposed to cost him the season, was inspiring. He essentially showed he is one of those types that can roll out of bed and hit, and now — health permitting — we will see what he can do with his bat over a full season. When you ask ways the Cubs can be better than in 2016, perhaps the biggest is 500 at-bats for Schwarber.

20. Yoenis Cespedes (5) — He got the money ($110 million) and a sense of comfort (four-year deal with the Mets). What does that make him in 2017? Content or an even bigger difference maker?

21. Alex Rodriguez (10) — Raise your hand if you think he is staying out of the news this year. He will be in Yankees camp at some point as an instructor. He will be involved in TV in some form. Let’s just say he is more than less likely to do something (a few things) newsworthy over the next few months than your average retired player.

22. David Ortiz (2) — On the subject of retired players, Ortiz is in retirement, but the suspicion he might come back has not gone away completely, and if the Red Sox suddenly need a hitter during the season …

23. Jeff Bagwell/Ivan Rodriguez — Hall of Famer Frank Thomas put to public words what many have been thinking: “I’m sure this year’s going to be uncomfortable because we’ve got two great players going in, but they know. It’s no secret.” Bagwell and Rodriguez will be enshrined in July. More and more we are going to have to see how current Hall of Famers react — including whether they show up to the ceremony — when players suspected of steroid use are inducted.

24. Joe Davis — For the first time since 1949, Vin Scully will not be calling Dodgers games. He will be replaced by a 29-year-old Michiganite who grew up a Cubs fan. Davis is filling a big microphone.

25. Tony Clark (3) — Manfred needs the players’ consent on any pace rules and roster-size changes. Thus, Clark wields tremendous influence over how much of the commissioner’s vision will be sanctified.

26. Noah Syndergaard (45) — How long can an arm tolerate averaging — averaging!!! — 98 mph with a fastball and 91 mph with a slider? Hopefully, a long time, because Syndergaard not only is fun to watch pitch, but is blossoming into an enjoyable personality off the field.

27. Felix Hernandez — No team has gone longer without reaching the playoffs than the Mariners (2001). There was a fade in Hernandez’s pitching last year. Can he return to his ace perch or has Seattle wasted the prime of a No. 1 starter?

28. Don Mattingly (30) — The Marlins are trying to win just a few months after the death of their ace, Jose Fernandez, and with king of dysfunctional owners, Jeffrey Loria, trying to sell the team. Good luck to their manager.

29. Yoan Moncada — He struck out in the final nine at-bats of a 19-at-bat cameo with the Red Sox last year. Moncada is now a cornerstone of the White Sox’s rebuild.

30. Pablo Sandoval — He has dropped weight in hopes of reclaiming the Red Sox’s third base job and winning over disapproving fans. He so far has been a bust as he enters Season 3 of a five-year, $90 million contract.

31. Stephen Strasburg (11) — The Nationals gave the righty a seven-year, $175 million deal during last season to keep him from free agency, and he broke down — yet again. The Nats have made the playoffs three times in his career and he has made one start.

32. Manny Machado — Can he continue to make a case that he, not Harper, should be the highest-paid player in the starry 2018-19 free agent class?

33. Al Avila/Rick Hahn/Dayton Moore — The GMs of the Tigers, White Sox and Royals not only share an AL Central address, but the possibility of being trade-deadline gatekeepers. Hahn already is in full sell mode, just waiting to hear the right offers for Melky Cabrera, Todd Frazier, Jose Quintana and David Robertson. Avila and Moore are hoping their teams push the Central favorite Indians, but if not the Tigers have — among others — Ian Kinsler and Justin Verlander to dangle at the deadline while the Royals still have Lorenzo Cain, Alcides Escobar, Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas in their walk years.

34. Jose Reyes/David Wright — Just how we knew this would work out 10 years ago with this duo — the Mets having no idea what they can expect from Wright due to spinal stenosis and Reyes as his insurance policy.

35. Yasiel Puig (12) — Puig’s four season OPS: .925, .863, .758, .740. Talent or tease?

36. Shelby Miller — He is the punchline on one of the game’s most disastrous trades. Arizona surrendered Ender Inciarte and Dansby Swanson to Atlanta, and Miller went 3-12 with a 6.15 ERA last year. Can he recover?

37. Zack Greinke (31) — After getting a six-year, $206.5 million deal from the Diamondbacks, Greinke was supposed to team with Miller to form the top of a playoff rotation. Arizona needs him to rebound, namely so that it can trade him and get out of as much of his contract as possible.

38. Julio Urias — He showed enough in his age-19 season to demonstrate why Friedman has refused to include him in any trades. The Dodgers re-signed Hill, but Urias has the best chance to emerge as the kind of dominant No. 2 starter to Kershaw that Greinke once was

39. Albert Pujols (44) — He is nine homers short of 600, and Barry Bonds’ 762 is not out of the question. But Pujols is 37 now, and pretty much every part of his game, except his power bat, has regressed significantly.

40. Adrian Beltre — He turns 38 in April, yet continues to thrive, burnishing his Hall of Fame candidacy with one all-around brilliant season after another. He is 58 hits shy of 3,000.

41. Kris Bryant — The identity of the second-best player in the majors may not be Harper or Machado.

42. Bartolo Colon — Because he is Bartolo Colon, though now hitting homers for the Braves.

43. Daniel Murphy — What if midway through his final Mets season you had been told that Murphy was going to lead the NL in slugging in 2016? Was anyone else prepared to see him morph from Todd Walker into Larry Walker? Anyone else curious to see if he can keep doing it?

44. Mookie Betts — All-Star. Gold Glove. Silver Slugger. Second in the AL MVP. How high can Mookie fly?

45. Ian Desmond — Desmond got more ($70 million) than Edwin Encarnacion ($60 million). To play first base for the first time in his life. For the Rockies. Interested to see how this turns out?

46. Carlos Correa (15) — He regressed a bit last year, but he still has a chance to be this generation’s A-Rod (on-field version). He is part of arguably the greatest talent pool of young shortstops to play at one time ever.

47. Brian Cashman (50) — The Yankees’ GM is trying to keep the team competitive and turn over a new championship core at the same time. He is now tied to how players such as Clint Frazier, Aaron Judge, James Kaprielian, Justus Sheffield and Gleyber Torres perform.

48. Amed Rosario — The Mets’ shortstop of the future (the near future) has a chance to be viewed as the best prospect in the game.

49. Sonny Gray — Can the A’s ace rebound enough to become a central figure at the trade deadline?

50. David Price (24) — After giving Price $217 million, the Red Sox felt they still needed Sale to lead the staff. Price is an above-average workhorse, but has yet to show he can thrive consistently in big moments. It is the blight on his career.