While the sabermetric revolution has given us much better tools to evaluate fielding ability, there are still questions about how accurate these methods are. In fact, the two most popular forms of WAR still use fairly different metrics to asses fielding.

So perhaps the best way to judge fielding prowess is combination of sabermetrics and the old eye test. Using bWAR, which assesses fielding with an intricate +/- system, we’ve listed the top ten defensive players so far of 2014. The chances are that one of them is the best defensive player in baseball. With the help of videos, it’s up to your eyes to tell us which one.

10. Leonys Martin
bWar rates Martin the 10th best fielder in baseball and the Rangers CF’s defense has been one of the few bright spots in otherwise dismal season for Texas. The 26-year old Cuban import has also posted his best offensive numbers this year, and is quietly becoming one of the most valuable players in the American League.

9. Dustin Pedroia
It’s been a tough season overall for the Red Sox’s second baseman, who was shutdown for the season yesterday with wrist troubles. But the mighty mite never let his struggles at the plate bleed into his defense, which has been excellent throughout his career.

8. DJ LeMahieu
LeMaieu played all over the infield in the minors, but has settled in at second base as a big leaguer. With Nolan Arenado and Troy Tulowitzki to his right, it’s safe to say the Rockies have the best fielding infield in the National League, if not all of baseball.

7. Jhonny Peralta
There must be something in the water in St. Louis. Peralta is the latest in a long line of players who improve when the come to the Cardinals. The 32-year, a stealth MVP candidate if St. Louis makes the playoffs, is having the best year of his career in large part to his excellent defense.

6. Ender Inciarte
The most obscure name on this list, the 23-year old rookie has been revelation patrolling the middle of the spacious outfield at Chase Field. He’s probably going to need to hit a bit more to keep his spot in Arizona’s crowded outfield, but his glove has certainly been up to the task.

5. Josh Donaldson
The A’s recent implosion has taken some of the shine off of Donaldson’s great season. But he still leads all position players in WAR, and his leather at the hot corner is a big part of that.

4. Zack Cozart
It seems like every year Reds shortstop Zack Cozart gets better with the glove and worse with the bat. So while he might be baseball’s fourth best fielder by bWar, he’s become a real black hole in the lineup.

3. Jason Heyward
If this list was strictly based on runs saves, Heyward would be at the top. However, bWAR rightly adjusts for position, and right is the third least challenging spot to field on the diamond.

2. Andrelton Simmons
Last year Simmons may have had the best defensive season in MLB history. He hasn’t quite been that sharp this year, but the rocket-armed 25-year old is still a wizard at short.

1. Juan Legares
If you are wondering how the Mets are flirting with .500 despite a mediocre, injury-ridden roster and disappointing seasons from Curtis Granderson and David Wright, look no further than the amazing play they are getting from Juan Legares in center. The 25-year old, our pick for the best defensive player in baseball, validates the bWar system by also being their pick.

Who do you think the best fielder in MLB is?

It was actually his second dinger in a row, if you count his final AB for the Cubs Iowa triple-A club. Chicago signed Soler to a nine-year $30 million deal back in 2012, so they hope this will be a taste of things to come.

Howeve,r when one scans the list of those who went yard in their first AB it becomes a apparent that such a distinction is no guarantee of future success. In fact for 23 of the 116 to accomplish the feat before Soler it was their only MLB long ball.  56 — almost half — were never able to get to double digits for home runs for their career.

Soler, who was ranked among baseball’s top 50 prospects, will almost surely top ten taters when all is said and done. Here is a list of some of the notable major leaguers who also started their career the best way possible.

Gary Gaetti
The third baseman is the all-time leader in home runs among the first at-bat club with 360. He’s also a two-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glove winner and was a key member of the 1987 World Champion Minnesota Twins.

Starlin Castro
Soler doesn’t have to look far to find another player who shares his thrill of making the ultimate MLB introduction. Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro went deep in his first at-bat in 2010. He’s had an up-and-down career since, but is still young enough to reach his almost limitless potential.

Earl Averill
Averill was a 27-year old rookie for the Cleveland Indians when he accomplished the feat in 1929. He was then able to pack enough punch in his 13-year career to make the Hall of Fame via the Veterans Committee.

Hoyt Wilhelm
Not only was his first AB dinger his only home run, but Wilhelm batted a dismal .088 during his 21-year career. Of course Wilhelm was known for his knuckleball, which landed him in the Hall of Fame.

Carlos Lee
With 358 taters, the three-time all-star almost topped Gaetti for most home runs for a player who homered in his first at-bat. Lee hasn’t played since 2012, but is still just 38. Maybe he can come back and claim the crown.

Jermaine Dye
At one point, Dye looked like he’d be a sure bet to beat Gaetti’s mark. The left fielder hit his 325th home run in 2009, a season in which he had 27 long balls. He was only 35 at the time, but — inexplicably — never played another game after that, freezing his total at 325.

Will Clark
While the six-time All-Star was best known for his liners into the gaps, he was a pretty good power hitter at the beginning his career, which had started with a home run.

Jurickson Profar
Profar, an even bigger prospect than Soler, justified his status in his first at bat in 2012. It’s been a struggle since then for the Rangers infielder.

Starling Marte
Another prospect who entered the league with a bang in 2012, Marte has been quite good since then. Although he’s not that much of a power hitter.

Kevin Kouzmanoff and Daniel Nava
The modern duo are the only two players in MLB history to hit a grand slam on the first pitch they saw. Can’t do any better than that.

Mark Worrell
The most unlikely member of the club, relief pitcher Worrell gave up 13 earned runs during his 7.2 inning big league career. He somehow also accumulated two at-bats, and hit a round tripper in his first.

Jason Heyward
Although his power numbers are down the last couple years, the Braves 24-year old right fielder is our best bet to top Gaetti’s mark. Although Cubs fans can now start pulling for Soler to beat him to it.

“But don’t the A’s already have three pretty good catchers?” you are probably thinking.  And you would be right to think that. Derek Norris, Stephen Vogt and John Jaso are each having well above average seasons at the plate.  Even with Vogt suffering a foot problem that has him mostly playing first base, the team seems more than covered at the catcher position. It makes one wonder if maybe something is also wrong with Norris or Jaso.

Soto broke onto the scene in 2008, winning Rookie of the Year for the Cubs. He struggled his sophomore season, before having the best year of his career in 2010.  While he appeared to be on his way toward a long effective career, the wheels fell off in 2011, and by the end of 2012 he was a back up catcher for the Texas Rangers. After having a decent year as a second-stringer in 2013, Soto has barely played in 2014 due to injuries, including a torn meniscus. He is healthy now, but only has a .237/.237/.368 slash line in 38 plate appearances. 

The 31-year has been a much better hitter against lefties over his career. Given the As long reliance on platoons, that is likely where A’s manager Bill Beane sees his value. Soto will be a free agent this off-season.

It would behoove the Rangers, who unexpectedly have the worst record in the league, to work out a trade. Cotts, who will be a free agent after the season, hasn’t been quite as good as he was in 2013, when he posted a 1.11 ERA in 57 innings after a three-year hiatus from the Big Leagues. Still, the 34-year old has been effective this year, with a 3.48 ERA and a 3.17 FIP and would be of use to a contender like the Tigers or Dodgers who have problems in their bullpen. (But again, we don’t know who claimed him.)

Given that the Phillies were able to get a pretty decent prospect as their first of two players-to-be-named-later in their waiver deal of Roberto Hernandez to the Dodgers, the Rangers can expect to get at least one useful player for Cotts if they can work out a deal.

Rangers players who have cleared waivers, and are now clear to be traded to any team in either league, include Elvis Andrus, Alex Rios, Yu Darvish and Adrian Beltre.

While everyone expected Andrus and Rios to make it through, the lack of claims on Beltre and particularly Darvish are surprising. It’s possible that no team believed the Rangers would trade their ace Darvish (who also happens to be injured) or Beltre, their future Hall of Fame third baseman who’s playing some of the best baseball of his career at age 35 despite the Rangers struggles.

Over his 14 year career, Adam Dunn has a hit a lot of home runs (457) taken a lot of base on balls (1307) and struck out more times (2336) than anyone in Major League history besides Reggie Jackson and Jim Thome.

One thing he hadn’t ever done is pitch, which, of course isn’t all that surprise: most position players haven’t. But Dunn isn’t exactly like most position players. He has a big time high school quarterback, good enough to be recruited to play at University of Texas (he left after a redshirt year) and also quite the high school pitcher.

Dunn had apparently been lobbying his managers to get his big arm on the mound for years. With the White Sox down 15-0 to the Rangers Tuesday night, skipper Robin Ventura finally obligated, allowing the 6 foot 6 inch 290 pound man-mountain to pitch the top of the ninth.

(See Baseball’s Best Position Player Pitcher Performances here.)

Dunn threw in the low-eighties and featured enough sink on his pitches to impress Rangers All-Star third baseman Adrian Beltre.

Needless to say, the few fans that were left at US Cellular Field were thrilled by Dunn’s maiden trip to the mound. He pitched an inning giving up one run, two hits and a walk. Not so great, but as good as any of the White Sox who get paid to pitch did last night.

Dunn didn’t speak to reporters after the game, but his teammate, center fielder Adam Eaton, chimed in on his performance.

“I haven’t laughed on a baseball field like that in a long time, ever since I was probably kicking dandelions, in my early teens,” Eaton said. “He had good sink, that’s all I can say. He was 80 mph but he had really good sink.”

“If he hit somebody, we can’t charge the mound because he’s too big,” Beltre added, laughing too.

While Dunn’s pitching appearance Tuesday was more entertaining than good, there have been some pretty fine pitching performance over the years — including one by Tiger’s shortstop Danny Worth this season.

See what Wade Boggs, Chris Davis, Ted Williams and, of course, Babe Ruth were able to do when they took the mound in our post from earlier this season “Baseball’s Best Position Player Pitcher Performances.”

Thornton, until earlier today a New York Yankee, was claimed on waivers by the Nationals. It is unclear at this point if New York then worked out a deal with Washington for Thornton, or if they just let the Nationals have him. What is clear is Thornton is now an National, and, pending any money the Yankees may have sent over with the big-left hander, Washington will be responsible for the rest of the 2 yrs/$7M deal he signed this off-season.

It’s a pretty odd move for the Yankees. Thornton had been solid in the pen for New York, sporting a 2.73 ERA and 1.176 WHIP that was more or less backed up by his peripherals. Perhaps they thought Thornton was redundant after they (re)acquired another LOOGY, David Huff, from the Giants earlier this year.

Huff does sport a gaudy 1.93 ERA, however has a horrendous 5.8 BB rate per nine, and his FIP of 5.20 suggests he is going to start regressing and quick. The deal does presumably get the Yankees out of paying $3.5 million next year to Thornton, who will be 38. But since when does the brain trust in the Bronx worry about a few million dollars? Especially when they are chasing a playoff spot? Again, this one is a head-scratcher. Are we missing something?

No real mystery as to why the Tigers took a flyer on Jim Johnson with a minor league contract . Johnson, who was released (and fully paid) by Oakland last month for being absolutely horrible, led the American League in saves in 2012 and 2013, when he was with the Orioles. He’s low-K rate has always been a red flag — and made him quite the unconventional closer. But before moving to the west-coast his sinkerball schtick had had a good four year run.

It’s the second big-name bullpen acquisition the Tigers have made in the last couple weeks. They traded for Rangers closer Joakim Soria on July 23, with many predicating he would take over the ninth inning for struggling incumbent Joe Nathan — who Detroit had coincidentally signed from the Rangers during the off-season.

However, Soria has not looked good since moving to the American League Central. Now the Tigers will have a third struggling former All-Star ninth inning man in their system. This one comes with no risk, as the 31-year old Johnson will have to prove he can handle the minors before given the opportunity to implode on the big-league level again.

Closer Casey Janssen was somewhat subtle with his dig at the front office in an interview with MLB.com.

For us not to do anything, most of us had some ideas that we were going to improve this club a little bit. It’s unfortunate we didn’t. At the same time, we just have to do what we have to do to win games and try to find ways to get into the playoffs. Yes, it was frustrating but we have to play tonight.

Slugger Jose Bautista was somewhat less subtle while talking to MLB.com, and dropped the D-word. Twice.

Of course it’s a little disappointing that we somehow weren’t able to get anything done, but everybody around us that’s in contention somehow–and even some teams that aren’t in contention, like the Red Sox–somehow figured it out. But there’s still time to get stuff done. We still have a pretty good team put together and we’re hoping to get the guys that are hurt back and that’ll be a good injection of talent for us down the road. … But it’s a little bit of disappointment.

Anthopoulos and the Blue Jays are no strangers to big deals. Before the 2013 season they pulled off one the biggest blockbusters of the last decade, acquiring Mark Buehrle, Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson and Emilio Bonifacio from the Marlins. Then, later that offseason, thye recieved reigning NL CY Young R.A. Dickey in a deal with the Mets, which sent over catching prospect Travis d’Arnaud, among others..

While those trades famously didn’t pay off in 2013, Beuhrle, Reyes and Dickey were big parts of the Blue Jays hot start in 2013. However, the Blue Jays have been four games under .500 since June 6, when they sat 38-24 and were six games in the lead in the American League East.

Thanks their current six game winning streak, they have fought their way back to just 1.5 games behind the division leading Orioles and control the second wild card spot. The Jays had been linked to Jon Lester, Alex Rios, Asdrubal Cabrera, David Price and Bartolo Colon heading up to the deadline but, as Bautista and Jansen lamented, none of them are coming to Canada.

There is still the waiver trade deadline of August 31 to make a deal and be able to use the acquired player in the postseason. Now it’s up to Janssen, Bautista and other Blue Jays to get over their disappointment, and keep their team in playoff contention until then.

Marlon Byrd
It says something about the evolution of Marlon Byrd and the de-evolution of baseball power that, at 36, Byrd is suddenly one the game’s better home run hitters. It makes no sense for him to stay in Philly, and a whole lot sense for a contender to bet on Byrd being worth the $8 million he will definitely make in ’15 and the $8 million he will likely make in ’16, via a plate appearance vesting option.

David Price
It is unlikely the Rays will ever be able to make a long term commitment to their ace at $25 million a year. Which means they will either trade Price, a ’16 free agent, tomorrow, in the offseason, or at the deadline in ’15. He gets increasingly less valuable as time goes on, and Tampa is a playoff long-shot, so they should do it tomorrow.

Matt Kemp
The relationship between Kemp and the Dodgers seems pretty broken, at this point. Although any team is going to scoff at Kemp’s insistence he play center because he’s just not good at it. His two home runs yesterday suggest he can still play, but the Dodgers are still going to have to eat good chunk of the $107 million Kemp is owed between ’15 and ’19 if they want anything good in return.

Starlin Castro
He’s only 24, but Castro has already amassed a a fair share of baggage, and you could make the argument the Cubs rebuild would be better without him. His contract is reasonable enough if he could just play up to 3/4 of his potential, which he struggles to do. The Cubs have a couple good shortstop prospects behind Castro and the Mets are hot for him. Deal seems logical.

Jon Lester
The best starter who is unequivocally on the market, Lester, a ’15 free agent, has said he would be very open to return to Boston next season if they dealt him at the deadline. So they should deal him at the deadline.

Alex Rios
He would be a more attractive trade candidate if his power hadn’t completely disappeared, but Rios is still hitting over .300 for the season, has good speed and is decent in right. The price is also right; Rios is just owed about $4 million more in ’14, and can be bought out for a million in ’15. The Rangers aren’t going to get a great return for Rios, but they no longer have any need for him so they may as well get something.

Joaquin Benoit
The Padres made out like bandits in the Huston Street trade and if they can get half of that haul for Benoit, who replaced Street in the ninth inning, they will have had themselves one fine trading season.

Ian Kennedy
Pitching in Petco makes every pitcher look good, and Kennedy, who had a rough couple years after almost winning the Cy Young in 2011, has recovered enough of his value this year that he could get something significant from a contender needing an arm.

Cole Hamels
As much as they need to rebuild, the Phillies certainly don’t need to trade Hamels, who just turned 30, has a fairly reasonable long-term contract, and is playing the best baseball of his career. But it they Dodgers were to offer up big time prospects Joc Pederson, Corey Seager and Julio Urias it would be difficult for Amaro and company not to send “Hollywood” Hamels back home to Southern California.

The popular slugger was still basking in the afterglow of leading the Red Sox to a World Series win. In fact, Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia had the second most jersey sales back in April and Sox closer Koji Uehara and 2013 center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury also made the top 20.

Fast forward to midseason, and things are a bit different in the jersey sales race. Ortiz and Pedroia are still in the top five, despite the Red Sox’s struggles. But now it’s a member of the hated Yankees at number one. We run down the top 20 selling jerseys, including their rank at the beginning of the season, below.

20. Yu Darvish Texas Rangers (ranked 19th in April)
The Japanese import sells out on both sides of the Pacific

19. Tim Lincecum San Francisco Giants (unranked)
Mr. Cy Young Award has become Mr. No-Hitter. (Although the Giants would probably prefer Mr. Cy Young.

18. Hyun-Jin Ryu Los Angeles Dodgers (unranked)
More proof of the power of the Asian market.

17. Bryce Harper Washington Nationals (12)
Eye black sold separately.

16. Manny Machado Baltimore Orioles (10)
New notoriety has led to a down tick in sales.

15. Anthony Rizzo Chicago Cubs (unranked)
At least Cubs fans have one thing to cheer about.

14. Masahiro Tanaka New York Yankees (unranked)
Injury to their rookie ace could derail the Yankees season and fast.

13. Robinson Cano Seattle Mariners (9)
Power might be gone, but his new team is surprisingly good. Still probably not worth the money.

12. Freddie Freeman Atlanta Braves (unranked)
Becoming a legit middle of the order presence, which the Braves really, really need.

11. Andrew McCutchen Pittsburgh Pirates (6)
Quietly putting up better numbers than he did in his 2013 National League MVP season.

10. Miguel Cabrera Detroit Tigers (13)
Even in a down year he still rakes.

9. Yasiel Puig Los Angeles Dodgers (11)
When you want to say “I’m exciting and unpredictable and give my manager ulcers.”

8. David Wright New York Mets (8)
“Captain America” remains a bit hit with the jersey buying public.

7. Mike Trout Anaheim Angles (14)
The best player in the world looks like he will win his first MVP in 2014; maybe then he can also top jersey sales by the end of the year.

6. Yadier Molina St. Louis Cardinals (4)
A Molina jersey will never look right without the corresponding aggressive neck tattoo.

5. Dustin Pedroia Boston Red Sox (2)
Sox fans aren’t blaming the laser show for their team’s dismal season.

4. David Ortiz Boston Red Sox (1)
Nor have they turned on Big Papi.

3. Clayton Kershaw Los Angeles Dodgers (5)
23.1 more innings to break Orel Hershisher’s scoreless struck of 59. If you were starting a team would you rather have Trout or Kershaw? Some question don’t have proper answers.

2. Buster Posey San Francisco Giants (7)
Giants fans always support their main man.

1. Derek Jeter New York Yankees (3)
To his credit, the retiring Hall of Famer has been keeping his head above water lately.

Dropped out of the 20: Koji Uehara, Jacoby Ellsbury, Adam Wainwright, Prince Fielder, Matt Harvey,

Over in the American League fans made two questionable starter selections. Sentimental choice Derek Jeter certainly isn’t the best shortstop in the Junior Circuit (although we can’t really blame the fans for voting the retiring superstar in), and O’s catcher Matt Wieters is out for the year and has been for some time. The rest of the fans picks in the AL were spot on.  The fans’ picks in the NL were solid enough.  Giancarlo Stanton, Dee Gordon and Jonathan Lucroy — who were all picked as reserves — could each make an argument that they the best at their position. However the players the fans picked instead also have proper All-Star pedigree.

Here are the five players who were most unfairly left on the rosters entirely. If all is right they will be among those named as injury replacements.

Ian Kinsler
Kinsler is having the best year of his career and ranks third in WAR among American League position players. Traded to Detroit from the Rangers in the offseason — a trade Texas would very much like to undo — Kinsler has proved that his offense was much more of than a creation of The Ballpark at Arlington and is playing his typical Gold Glove level defense at second. We think the three-time All-Star is having a slightly better season than Brandon Moss, the team’s fourth third baseman, and is certainly having a better year than part-timer Kurt Suzuki, the team’s third catcher.

Kyle Seager
Seager ranks sixth in the American League in position player WAR and is big reason the Mariners are surprisingly in the playoff hunt. One could make the argument he’s having a better season than AL reserve third baseman Adrian Beltre, but it’s pretty close there. We would certainly add him at the expense of Suzuki.

Adam LaRoche
Despite quietly putting up numbers every year, Adam LaRoche has never made an All-Star team. We’re not saying the 34-year old should be a perennial selection by any means, but it’s a little surprising he’s never been honored. LaRoche .883 OPS is the highest of any player not picked in 2014 and while we get what Mike Matheny is trying to do by tapping utility man Josh Harrison — who is having a very nice year — his roster already has a few position flexible players. We would have also gone with LaRoche’s teammate, 2B/3B Anthony Rendon over Harrison. However, Rendon doesn’t make this list because fans can still vote the 24-year old in through the online final vote competition. LaRoche needs somebody to get hurt to play in his first All-Star game.

Corey Dickerson
We’re not really sure that Corey Dickerson is an All-Star, although his 1.020 OPS would be the second best in the National League if he had enough plate appearances to qualify. We are sure he’s having a better year than his teammate Charlie Blackman, who the players voted in as a reserve for some reason.

Huston Street
Another head-scratching teammate play, although in this case it was made even stranger by the requirement that each team has to have at least one representative. Starting pitcher Tyson Ross gets the nod for the hapless Padres despite a losing record. Sure his 2.93 ERA is nice, but given his home park it’s nothing like an All-Star clinching stat. On the other hand, closer Street has a minuscule 1.13 ERA, .781 WHIP and 23 saves in 24 chances. Ross will be utilized like a relief pitcher if he gets in the game, so why not go with the Padre who’s been about the best relief pitcher in baseball in 2014?