- Ratings (OVERALL/POTENTIAL) are as of July 27, 2041
- 2041 WAR figures are through July 27, 2041 and projected out for the rest of the season
- Salary figures in grey italics are projected arbitration totals
- Players selected in the 2041 First Year Draft were not considered for the list due to lack of professional experience
Part II: #40-#21
Without further ado, here’s the top twenty for 2041:
- - - - - - - - - -
#20 - Ricardo Rivera, San Antonio, SP 80/80
PREVIOUS RANK: 14
| YEAR | AGE | WAR | SALARY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2039 | 19 | 1.1 | $500,000 |
| 2040 | 20 | 4.9 | $500,000 |
| 2041 | 21 | 0.7 | $500,000 |
REMAINING CONTRACT: $22,800,000
REMAINING AAV: $5,700,000
Here’s what was said in last year’s edition: “All that can keep Rivera being one of the best starters in the league is his health.” Well wouldn’t you know it, Rivera suffered a season-ending partially torn labrum in May, giving him an ominous 6.66 ERA for the year. One of only eight 80-rated potential starting pitchers in the majors and the only one to reach such potential, the only thing holding Rivera from being a top 10 value is his fragile arm.
#19 - Ronnie Hubbard, Louisville, CF 66/65
PREVIOUS RANK: 21
| YEAR | AGE | WAR | SALARY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2039 | 20 | 5.6 | $500,000 |
| 2040 | 21 | 4.5 | $500,000 |
| 2041 | 22 | 5.3 | $500,000 |
REMAINING CONTRACT: $21,000,000
REMAINING AAV: $7,000,000
Just when you thought Louisville couldn’t get better, they locked up Hubbard to a three-year under-market extension in April. Despite “only” being rated by scouts at a 65, Hubbard has 40/40 potential every year to go along with outstanding defense in center. With make-up off the charts, Hubbard continues to out-perform the scouts and remains one of the more valuable and fun players to follow in the Brewster.
#18 - David Simpson, California, LF 75/75
PREVIOUS RANK: 6
| YEAR | AGE | WAR | SALARY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2039 | 22 | 5.6 | $500,000 |
| 2040 | 23 | 6.0 | $500,000 |
| 2041 | 24 | 2.3 | $500,000 |
TEAM CONTROL THROUGHH: 2044
REMAINING CONTRACT: $28,700,000
REMAINING AAV: $9,566,666
After two straight years ranked in the top 10, the man they call “Horrible” as seen his value slide in lock-step with his 2041 production. When an OPS of .880 is considered a down year, you know what kind of player you’re dealing with. Sure, scouts have downgraded his overall skills just a hair, but Simpson is still a very good player and great value in California as he plays out the final three years of team control.
#17 - Eru Likiliki, Nashville, SP 60/65
PREVIOUS RANK: 22
| YEAR | AGE | WAR | SALARY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2039 | 22 | 5.3 | $1,050,000 |
| 2040 | 23 | 2.8 | $1,050,000 |
| 2041 | 24 | 4.6 | $3,080,000 |
REMAINING CONTRACT: $17,600,000
REMAINING AAV: $8,800,000
Likiliki's scouting reports are a mixed bag, but the flame-throwing sidearmer gets the most out of his stuff and diverse pitch arsenal. One red flag is his medical history, but as long as he's making starts every five days, the Bluebirds will take what they can squeeze out of the Samoan hurler. "Doodles" is likely to make oodles on the free agent market in a few years, but until then, Nashville has themselves an interesting pitcher profile and one heck of a trade asset, if needed.
#16 - José Zúñiga, Jacksonville, 1B 75/75
PREVIOUS RANK: 13
| YEAR | AGE | WAR | SALARY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2039 | 23 | 2.6 | $500,000 |
| 2040 | 24 | 7.3 | $810,000 |
| 2041 | 25 | 4.2 | $1,250,000 |
TEAM CONTROL THROUGHH: 2044
REMAINING CONTRACT: $23,200,000
REMAINING AAV: $7,733,333
After leading the Johnson League in HR, RBI, SLG and OPS, the league was interested in seeing what kind of follow-up would come from “El Guapo”. He’s due to put up another 1.000+ OPS season so Zúñiga has cemented his name in the top hitters in the league while still on his rookie deal. Zúñiga will see his AAV spike after next season but he’ll still be a huge value asset for Jacksonville.
#15 - Carlos Pineda, Yellow Springs, SP 70/80
PREVIOUS RANK: NR
| YEAR | AGE | WAR | SALARY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2039 | 19 | -- | minor leagues |
| 2040 | 20 | 1.6 | $500,000 |
| 2041 | 21 | 6.1 | $500,000 |
TEAM CONTROL THROUGHH: 2046
REMAINING CONTRACT: $28,700,000
REMAINING AAV: $4,783,333
Early 20s? Check. Lefty? Check. 98+ MPH fastball with pinpoint control? Check. As if straight from Central Casting for the role of “Young Franchise Starter,” Pineda is already Ace #2 in Yellow Springs’ talented rotation. His low AAV during team control in the next five years was in part a factor in allowing the team to extend Carlos Valle long-term. Sometimes the greatest value never sees the trading block.
#14 - Lorenzo Palácios, Rockville, LF/DH 70/70
PREVIOUS RANK: 9
| YEAR | AGE | WAR | SALARY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2039 | 25 | 7.0 | $10,562,500 |
| 2040 | 26 | 6.2 | $10,562,500 |
| 2041 | 27 | 4.6 | $13,300,000 |
REMAINING CONTRACT: $53,200,000
REMAINING AAV: $13,300,000
While Palácios is locked up with a reasonable long-term deal, the lefty slugger can opt out after two years and really cash in on a potential $100M+ contract. Risk aside, the best outfielder in the Brewster not named Dennis French, an AAV of $13.3M for any length of time while providing MVP-level production is tremendous value.
#13 - Lineu Aldo, Montreal, 2B 75/75
PREVIOUS RANK: NR
| YEAR | AGE | WAR | SALARY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2039 | 19 | -- | minor leagues |
| 2040 | 20 | -- | minor leagues |
| 2041 | 21 | 8.0 | $500,000 |
REMAINING CONTRACT: $18,800,000
REMAINING AAV: $3,760,000
A top-50 ranked prospect in each of the first six seasons of Aldo’s professional career, the athletic second baseman has burst onto the season in his rookie campaign, earning All-Star honors and on-pace to be a Silk Award finalist. If his debut is a sign for what is in store for opposing pitchers, you can expect Aldo to jump into the top ten in value next year.
#12 - Alex Ramírez, Wichita, 3B 80/80
PREVIOUS RANK: 11
| YEAR | AGE | WAR | SALARY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2039 | 23 | 5.7 | $500,000 |
| 2040 | 24 | 6.3 | $7,260,000 |
| 2041 | 25 | 3.0 | $7,260,000 |
REMAINING CONTRACT: $7,260,000
REMAINING AAV: $7,260,000
#11 - Steven Collins III, Edmonton, 3B 80/80
PREVIOUS RANK: 12
| YEAR | AGE | WAR | SALARY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2039 | 22 | 4.5 | $500,000 |
| 2040 | 23 | 6.5 | $6,875,000 |
| 2041 | 24 | 8.2 | $10,531,250 |
REMAINING CONTRACT: $38,400,000
REMAINING AAV: $12,800,000
Edmonton entered 2041 with Collins playing out the final year of his rookie deal, presenting the team with the following decision: trade Collins for an incredible return or fork over well-deserved cash and keep him in the blue and gold for more years. The Jackrabbits’ front office decided on the latter and extended the stud hitter for three years at what looks like a hometown discount.
Ramírez’s value may very well be tested in the next twelve months, as Wichita will be soon faced with a similar scenario as Edmonton did with Collins. Heading into the final year of an under-market extension signed before 2040, Ramírez is spending what looks to be a Hall of Fame-like trajectory on a team averaging 90 losses over the last eight seasons. Does Wichita extend Ramírez in hopes they made a jump towards relevancy or will they move one of the ten best position players in the league to try fill one of the worst minor league systems? Stay tuned…
#10 - Félix Román, Boise, RF 80/80
PREVIOUS RANK: 19
| YEAR | AGE | WAR | SALARY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2039 | 19 | -- | minor leagues |
| 2040 | 20 | 4.6 | $500,000 |
| 2041 | 21 | 8.2 | $500,000 |
REMAINING CONTRACT: $22,000,000
REMAINING AAV: $5,500,000
A true five-tool superstar-in-the-making, Román has followed up an excellent rookie campaign with a phenomenal season that will likely earn the 21-year-old an award or two. If any player can knock Dennis French off as the best outfielder in the league, it very well might be his teammate Román.
#9 - Héctor Márquez, Seattle, SP 65/70
PREVIOUS RANK: 4
| YEAR | AGE | WAR | SALARY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2039 | 24 | 7.0 | $500,000 |
| 2040 | 25 | 5.6 | $500,000 |
| 2041 | 26 | 6.3 | $6,8750,000 |
REMAINING CONTRACT: $20,700,000
REMAINING AAV: $10,350,000
The 2039 Frick League Nebraska Award-winner has everything you look for in an ace: left-handed, mid-20s, top-notch production, excellent skills, workhorse capabilities, off-the-charts make-up. That said, Márquez’s value is volatile for two reasons: his AAV is about to spike to over $10M with just two years remaining under team control and scouts have seemed to downgrade their ratings in the last year. Still, it’s tough not to think most teams would throw in the kitchen sink if trying to acquire Márquez in a trade.
#8 - Alaric Wullenweber, Hawaii, SP 75/80
PREVIOUS RANK: 29
| YEAR | AGE | WAR | SALARY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2039 | 19 | -- | minor leagues |
| 2040 | 20 | -- | minor leagues |
| 2041 | 21 | 6.7 | $500,000 |
REMAINING CONTRACT: $20,100,000
REMAINING AAV: $3,350,000
A second-round steal by Hawaii in the 2038 draft, the short German with the big name and bigger arm has lived up to his pre-season #1 overall prospect status. Arguably the most coveted young pitcher in the entire Brewster, Hawaii has their sights set on big things with Wullenweber under team control through 2047.
#7 - Ángel González, Vancouver, CF 75/75
PREVIOUS RANK: 29
| YEAR | AGE | WAR | SALARY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2039 | 19 | 1.3 | $500,000 |
| 2040 | 20 | 4.3 | $500,000 |
| 2041 | 21 | 8.7 | $500,000 |
REMAINING CONTRACT: $28,300,000
REMAINING AAV: $7,075,000
After debuting at age 19 and putting up an OPS of 1.042 in 24 games, González quickly became one of the best players in the Frick League last year, having a tour de force rookie season that resulted in runner-up in the Gillstrom. Vancouver’s 2041 success can widely be attributed to González, the highest ranked first-timer on this list.
#6 - Aaron Haney, Valencia, CF 75/80
PREVIOUS RANK: 8
| YEAR | AGE | WAR | SALARY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2039 | 20 | -- | minor leagues |
| 2040 | 21 | 7.3 | $500,000 |
| 2041 | 22 | 5.9 | $500,000 |
REMAINING CONTRACT: $29,200,000
REMAINING AAV: $7,300,000
As referenced in last year’s list, “if anyone can be considered "the next Dennis French," it could be Haney.” After putting up one of the greatest rookie seasons in recent memory, Haney jumped up a few spots and will likely be a fixture in the top ten through the course of his rookie contract.
#5 - Dennis French, Boise, CF 80/80
PREVIOUS RANK: 2
| YEAR | AGE | WAR | SALARY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2039 | 22 | 8.1 | $500,000 |
| 2040 | 23 | 8.2 | $7,000,000 |
| 2041 | 24 | 10.9 | $10,000,000 |
REMAINING CONTRACT: $21,300,000
REMAINING AAV: $10,650,000
The myth, the man, the legend. French is so good that he could sign a six-figure extension next year and still be considered a top five asset in terms of value.
#4 - Juan Rivera, Atlantic City, RF 80/80
PREVIOUS RANK: 26
| YEAR | AGE | WAR | SALARY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2039 | 20 | -- | minor leagues |
| 2040 | 21 | 5.4 | $500,000 |
| 2041 | 22 | 9.4 | $500,000 |
REMAINING CONTRACT: $27,900,000
REMAINING AAV: $6,975,000
Only three years since being drafted, Rivera is in the midst of a Silk Award-worthy season, putting up power numbers rarely seen in the modern era. Thanks to a big rookie season, Rivera’s AAV for his rookie contract nearly doubled, but we’re guessing Atlantic City is quite alright with that trade-off.
#3 - Dong-po Thum, Yellow Springs, 3B 80/80
PREVIOUS RANK: 3
| YEAR | AGE | WAR | SALARY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2039 | 21 | 5.4 | $500,000 |
| 2040 | 22 | 7.0 | $500,000 |
| 2041 | 23 | 6.8 | $500,000 |
REMAINING CONTRACT: $28,700,000
REMAINING AAV: $9,566,667
Thum comes in at the #3 spot for a second-straight season and here’s why: with the influx of talented outfielders, SS and 3B seem to be the most valuable to fill with a super-star. And boy oh boy, is Thum a superstar. On pace to averaging nearly 6.5 WAR in his first three seasons in the bigs, it seems there’s nothing Thum can’t do, including delivering in the clutch, as the 23-year-old was named MVP during the Doubleday Series last season. It’s been noted that Yellow Springs tends to get the most out of their players and with a dynamic force at their disposal in Thum, who knows what heights both he and the club can obtain.
#2 - Semei Kwakou, Louisville, RF 75/75
PREVIOUS RANK: 1
| YEAR | AGE | WAR | SALARY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2039 | 19 | 7.7 | $500,000 |
| 2040 | 20 | 5.9 | $500,000 |
| 2041 | 21 | 5.7 | $500,000 |
REMAINING CONTRACT: $25,500,000
REMAINING AAV: $8,500,000
It’s not an indictment that Kwakou fell from the perch. Any of the top seven or eight players have great arguments to be considered the highest value in the league. Thanks to a three-year extension buying out the last three years of arbitration, Louisville have the face of their franchise locked up, something that should scare all the other seven teams in the Heartland.
#1 - Danya Tchekanov, Long Beach, SP 75/80
PREVIOUS RANK:7
| YEAR | AGE | WAR | SALARY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2039 | 22 | 2.0 | $500,000 |
| 2040 | 23 | 5.6 | $500,000 |
| 2041 | 24 | 9.1 | $500,000 |
REMAINING CONTRACT: $25,400,000
REMAINING AAV: $8,466,666
As if Tchekanov's leap last year from top-10 prospect to one of the best pitchers in the Frick League wasn’t enough, the Belarusian is now simply the best pitcher in the entire Brewster, especially when considering his value with Long Beach having three more years of team control. Tchekanov is on pace to win what will likely be just the first of many Nebraska Awards.
- - - - - - - - - -
And there you have it, the conclusion of the third annual BBA Trade Value Series! Who was left out or who should be shown the door? Who needs some helium to rise higher or who needs to be knocked down a rung or two?
Additionally, here's a few charts breaking down the Top 50:
| TEAM | PLAYERS IN TOP 50 |
|---|---|
| Louisville | 5 |
| Rockville | 4 |
| Yellow Springs | 4 |
| Boise | 3 |
| Calgary | 3 |
| Edmonton | 3 |
| Valencia | 3 |
| Vancouver | 3 |
| Atlantic City | 2 |
| Charm City | 2 |
| Des Moines | 2 |
| Hawaii | 2 |
| Seattle | 2 |
| California | 1 |
| Jacksonville | 1 |
| Long Beach | 1 |
| Madison | 1 |
| Mexico City | 1 |
| Montreal | 1 |
| Nashville | 1 |
| New Orleans | 1 |
| Omaha | 1 |
| San Antonio | 1 |
| San Fernando | 1 |
| Wichita | 1 |
| Brooklyn | 0 |
| Charlotte | 0 |
| Chicago | 0 |
| Las Vegas | 0 |
| Phoenix | 0 |
| Portland | 0 |
| Twin Cities | 0 |
| POSITION | PLAYERS IN TOP 50 |
|---|---|
| SP | 19 |
| CF | 8 |
| RF | 7 |
| 1B | 5 |
| LF | 4 |
| 3B | 3 |
| SS | 2 |
| 2B | 1 |
| C | 1 |
| DH | 0 |
| RP | 0 |
For those interested, you can see the Top 50 spreadsheet (plus additional players considered) below:
...and its valentines day too!
