The very best offensive players in the American League so far in 2024 are predominantly those who were signed, grown and kept. In the National League, players acquired in trades or through free agency have been the best of the best.
That’s a sharp distinction as the 162-game regular season hits the halfway point this weekend.
AL clubs, while losing some stars, have protected their interests by signing players such as Jose Altuve, Jose Ramirez, Bobby Witt Jr., Mike Trout, Yordan Alvarez and others to long-term contract extensions. The New York Yankees re-signed superstar slugger Aaron Judge to a nine-year deal in 2022 after he hit the free-agent market.
In the NL, the Los Angeles Dodgers signed three big names away from AL clubs. They got Mookie Betts from the Boston Red Sox, Teoscar Hernandez from the Seattle Mariners and Shohei Ohtani from the Los Angeles Angels. Former AL teen-age phenom Jurickson Profar has flourished in 2024 for the San Diego Padres after years of tepid production.
Here’s a look at 2024 leaders in five offensive categories:
American League
Players signed and developed in one farm system dominate the league leaders. Judge, Ramirez of the Cleveland Guardians, Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman of the Baltimore Orioles, Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals, Jarren Duran of the Boston Red Sox and Altuve of the Houston Astros pop up in more than one category. Anthony Santander of Baltimore and Houston’s Alvarez, acquired as minor-leaguers and developed by their current teams, are multi-listers, too.
Juan Soto of the Yankees and Cleveland’s Josh Naylor are players that were acquired in trades and listed in more than one category.
Home Runs
Judge (30), Henderson (26), Ramirez (21), Kyle Tucker (19) and Rafael Devers (16) are all with the teams that signed them. Santander (21) and Alvarez (16) were developed. Josh Naylor (19), Juan Soto (19), Giancarlo Stanton (18) and Tyler O’Neill (16) were acquired in trades. Edge to growing.
Runs Batted In
Judge (77), Ramirez (72), Henderson (57), Rutschman (57), Witt Jr. (53), Vinnie Pasquentino (49) and Cal Raleigh (49) grown; Santander (53) developed; Naylor (58) and Soto (57) from trades. Edge to growing.
Runs Scored
Henderson (70), Judge (61), Ramirez (61), Witt (61), Duran (55), Anthony Volpe (55), Riley Greene (50) and Altuve (49) grown; Soto (65) in trade; Marcus Semien (52) free agent. Edge to growing.
Batting Average
Witt Jr. (.311), Judge (.309), Altuve (.303), Rutschman (.297), Duran, Henderson and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (all .288) grown; Carlos Correa (.306) free agent; Soto (.303) trade; Josh Smith (.294) developed. Note that Steven Kwan is hitting .377 for Cleveland but missed time and does not have enough at bats to currently qualify for a batting title if the season were to end today. He is with his drafted team. Edge to growing.
Stolen Bases
Witt Jr. (21), Duran (20), Cedric Mullins (16), Julio Rodriguez (16), Ramirez (15), Volpe (15) grown; David Hamilton (21), Luis Rengifo (20), Dairon Blanco (16) developed; Jose Caballero (24), Andres Gimenez (14) trades. Edge to growing.
National League
Free agents lead the way here, specifically the big four signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers: Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernandez. All are listed more than once, as are free-agent signings Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies and Marcell Ozuna of the Atlanta Braves.
A unique player listed is Arizona Diamondbacks slugger Christian Walker. The first baseman has never been traded, nor signed as a free agent but is with his fourth organization. He was claimed on waivers by the Diamondbacks in March 2017, twenty days after the Cincinnati Reds claimed him on waivers from Atlanta, who had claimed him on waivers from Baltimore nine days before that. He was developed in Arizona’s farm system and has crashed 133 homers over the last six seasons.
Home Runs
Ohtani (25), Ozuna (21), Harper (20), Hernandez (18), Schwarber (17) were free agents; Walker (16) developed; Ketel Marte (16) trade; Pete Alonso (16), Nolan Gorman (16) and Christopher Morel (15) grown. Edge to free agents.
Runs Batted In
Ozuna (67), Ohtani (61), Harper (57), Hernandez (55), Jurickson Profar (55), Freeman (50) free agents; Alec Bohm (64) grown; Walker (50) developed; Willy Adames (54) and Jake Cronenworth (50) trades. Edge to free agents.
Runs Scored
Ohtani (65), Schwarber (60), Harper (52), Freeman (51), Matt Chapman (51), Betts (50) free agents; William Contreras (56), Marte (52) and Francisco Lindor (51) trades; Elly De La Cruz (53) and Brandon Nimmo (50) grown; Fernando Tatis Jr. (50) developed. Edge to free agents.
Batting Average
Ohtani (.322), Profar (.316), Harper (.305), Ozuna (.305), Betts (.304), Freeman (.299) free agents; Luis Arraez (.310), Contreras (.292) trades; Bohm (.304) and Masyn Winn (.292) grown. Edge to free agents.
Stolen Bases
De La Cruz (37), Brice Turang (27), Bryson Stott (20), Brenton Doyle (18), Jacob Young (18), Ronald Acuna Jr. (16) grown; Ohtani (16), Ha-Seong Kim (15) free agents; Lane Thomas (17), Christian Yelich (16) trades. Edge to growing.
Next To Get Rich
Soto, Alonso, Adames, Walker and Hernandez lead the list of top offensive players who will become free agents after this season. Veterans Alex Bregman, Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger will be available, too.
Will their current teams deal them for prospects at the trading deadline, let them walk, or possibly pay them as free agents? This season shows there is a case to be made for any scenario.
