The offseason is beginning to heat up as we approach the Winter Meetings. The Winter Meetings are definitely the closest thing to Christmas for most baseball fans. Key free agents get signed and key players get traded. So, we have our last opportunity to rank players before some of them change uniforms. Total points is the best expression of what players bring to the table offensively. It is an attempt to give fantasy baseball the gambling element of daily fantasy sports.

However, more and more platforms are also using it in full season formats as well. Each site has its own formula, so we will use are own to keep everything on the level. Feel free to adjust accordingly. We are looking at the top 30 second basemen on the board according to total points and total points per game. The formula we are using is below.

Total Bases + Runs + RBI + SB + BB + HBP – SO – CS – GIDP = Total Points

Ozzie Albies—Atlanta Braves 

	G	TP	Rank	TP/G	Rank
2017	57	153		2.68
AVG	57	153	30	2.68	5

Contract Status: Pre-Arbitration

DRS: +1 

Let’s start with the obvious. He is neither of these rankings. He seemed to combine solid power numbers and solid speed numbers to produce this level of production. His minor league track record would seem to indicate that this is out of context production. He should get the first crack at the regular job in Atlanta and that alone is worth something. He should be a fantasy backup, but he could be a decent 2B/SS in leagues that employ those.

Jose Altuve—Houston Astros 

	G	TP	Rank	TP/G	Rank
2017	153	506		3.31
2016	161	546		3.39
2015	154	428		2.78
2014	158	458		2.90
2013	152	290		1.91
AVG	156	446	1	2.86	1

Contract Status: Signed through 2019

DRS: +3

The American League MVP has been building towards this moment since he burst on the scene in 2014. Prior to that, he had been a really good contact hitter, but lacked the power to be a primetime performer. In each progressive year he has added a little power and a little patience. Three batting titles later he is the best second baseman on the board. He may have capped out on his production, but he should produce at this level for at least the next few seasons.

Asdrubal Cabrera—New York Mets 

	G	TP	Rank	TP/G	Rank
2017	135	287		2.13
2016	141	309		2.19
2015	143	262		1.83
2014	146	290		1.99
2013	136	259		1.90
AVG	140	281	13	2.01	20

Contract Status: Signed Through 2018

DRS: -13

Cabrera played in more than 30 games at second base, shortstop, and third base. We list him here because he projects to play more games at second than the other two, but he is essentially a utility player. Those guys have value. They can be inserted into the lineup for a week or two at a time when the regular is slumping or injured. His days as a full-time player are probably done, but he will latch on somewhere for the next few seasons because of his flexibility.

Robinson Cano— Seattle Mariners 

	G	TP	Rank	TP/G	Rank
2017	150	395		2.63
2016	161	495		3.07
2015	156	348		2.23
2014	157	416		2.65
2013	160	474		2.96
AVG	157	426	2	2.71	4

Contract Status: Signed through 2023

DRS: 0

Cano is a Hall of Famer in waiting. The numbers above could be extended out to cover his entire career. That has a way of inflating his value as you see good season after good season. Yet, you only get credit for one at a time. He is also at the age where we will likely see consistent decline from here on out. He is still a top five second baseman in any format. He just probably isn’t in the top three anymore.

Starlin Castro—New York Yankees 

	G	TP	Rank	TP/G	Rank
2017	112	257		2.29
2016	151	285		1.89
2015	151	243		1.61
2014	134	275		2.05
2013	161	224		1.39
AVG	142	257	17	1.81	26

Contract Status: Signed Through 2019

DRS: -6

Baseball is always full of little ironies. Castro enjoyed his best season on a per game basis last year, but the Yankees discovered they could live without him. Ronald Torreyes didn’t produce the same numbers offensively, but when you factored in his defense he approached the same value on a per game basis. So, look for the Yankees to shop Castro if they can. Some team might bite on the consistent production until they realize it isn’t quite as much as they thought. The same goes with fantasy owners.

Brian Dozier— Minnesota Twins 

	G	TP	Rank	TP/G	Rank
2017	152	449		2.95
2016	155	474		3.06
2015	157	375		2.39
2014	156	407		2.61
2013	147	299		2.03
AVG	153	401	4	2.62	6

Contract Status: Signed Through 2018

DRS: -4

One of the more fascinating concepts in Economics is the concept of opportunity costs. Once you pay a player like Dozier you don’t have the resources to pay other players. The Twins know that well with Joe Mauer’s expiring contract. Eduardo Escobar performed well last season and has no established position. He could take over at second base. Look for the Twins to shop Dozier again and this offseason they may find a taker. If he goes to another contender it could help these numbers play up.

Brandon Drury— Arizona Diamondbacks

	G	TP	Rank	TP/G	Rank
2017	135	224		1.66
2016	134	243		1.81
AVG	135	234	22	1.73	27

Contract Status: Pre-Arbitration 

DRS: +4

Drury has played multiple positions in his short career and as hard as it is to believe he had a better year in 2016. He showed surprising pop, so he will get the first crack at holding down second base, but it is likely he will continue to shuffle around the diamond as a super-utility guy. Those can be valuable members of your fantasy bench, but that’s about it.

Logan Forsythe—Los Angeles Dodgers 

	G	TP	Rank	TP/G	Rank
2017	119	163		1.37
2016	127	274		2.16
2015	153	328		2.14
2014	110	108		0.98
2013	75	81		1.08
AVG	117	191	27	1.63	30

Contract Status: Signed Through 2018

DRS: +9 

The only real limitation of total points is that it hamstrings players that spend part of their time coming off the bench. Forsythe did that in his first few seasons before he busted free in 2015. Still, the Dodgers expected a lot more from him last season. He spent some time playing third base, so he will have multiple position flexibility. He is better than his overall rankings, but maybe not much better.

Scooter Gennett—Cincinnati Reds

	G	TP	Rank	TP/G	Rank
2017	141	328		2.33
2016	136	241		1.77
2015	114	149		1.31
2014	137	247		1.80
2013	69	122		1.77
AVG	119	217	25	1.82	25

Contract Status: Arbitration

DRS: -8

 One of the great things about baseball is that while a season may be negative for a team like the Reds, there are always silver linings in that cloud. Gennett was a breath of fresh air after the Reds traded away Brandon Phillips. It may be a short lived bright spot given his track record. He has the look of a guy you let go through to waivers and wait and see if he rediscovers the magic. He does have multi-position eligibility in some formats, so he may have enough value to be a late round selection.

Dee Gordon—Miami Marlins 

	G	TP	Rank	TP/G	Rank
2017	158	371		2.35
2016	79	152		1.92
2015	145	359		2.48
2014	148	326		2.20
2013	38	41		1.08
AVG	114	250	21	2.19	14

 Contract Status: Signed Through 2020

 DRS: +3

Gordon is rumored to be a part of the discussions that could see Giancarlo Stanton moving to the West Coast. Reportedly, he could be a part of a trade to the Giants for Joe Panik and pitching prospects. Take away his 50 game suspension in 2016 and he would have four consecutive all-star level campaigns. He has far more value in five category leagues where his steals bring considerably more value.