Virat Kohli has moved up to No. 4 in the latest T20I rankings for batsmen following his unbeaten 80 in the final T20I against England in Ahmedabad, which helped India clinch the five-match series 3-2.

Kohli went past KL Rahul, and now has 762 rating points. Rahul, who had a horror run with the bat with scores of 1, 0, 0 and 14 in the series, has slipped to No. 5.

Despite England losing the series, Dawid Malan, who scored a 46-ball 68 in the last game, continued to top the table with 892 rating points. Aaron Finch (No. 2, 830 points) and Babar Azam (No. 3, 801 points) are the others in the top five.

In the ODI rankings, Jonny Bairstow climbed four places after his blazing 66-ball 94 in the first ODI against India in Pune. He is now in the seventh spot with 775 rating points.

Kohli continued to occupy the No. 1 spot among ODI batsmen, with Azam and Rohit Sharma battling for the second position. With 837 rating points, Azam is No. 2, and Sharma, with one point fewer, is at No. 3.

Among bowlers, Adil Rashid gained one spot to be at No. 4 in T20Is, where South Africa's Tabraiz Shamsi is at the pole position, with a lead of 14 points over No. 2 Rashid Khan.

New Zealand seamer Matt Henry is now ranked eighth among ODI bowlers, having gained three places since the last update, while Trent Boult continued to head the list.

Shreyas Iyer has been ruled out of the remaining two England ODIs after hurting his left shoulder in the field during the series opener on Tuesday night in Pune. ESPNcricinfo understands Iyer, who dislocated his shoulder, is set to miss the first half of the IPL where he is the captain of the Delhi Capitals.

On Tuesday Iyer was taken for scans immediately after he walked off the field during the eighth over of England's chase. In a flash medical update at the time the BCCI said Iyer had "subluxated" (partially dislocated) his left shoulder. Although the BCCI is yet to announce Iyer's exit from the England series, it is understood that the injury will take several weeks to heal, putting in doubt Iyer's return for the IPL. It is understood that Iyer is likely to undergo surgery on the left shoulder which he has injured thrice since the 2020 IPL. In case Iyer does undergo surgery, his recovery period could stretch to a few months.

Iyer's absence is unlikely to hurt India's gameplans for the remaining two matches in the ODI series considering there is more than one option on bench in Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill.

It is the Capitals who will feel the pain of Iyer's injury considering he is not only their leader but also a key batsman in the top order. It is likely that Rishabh Pant, who is the vice-captain, will lead the Capitals until Iyer returns.

This is the second time in the last six months that Iyer has suffered a shoulder injury, having picked one during the white-ball segment of the Australia tour. Before joining the India squad for the limited-overs series against England, Iyer had played in just four of the eight 50-overs matches in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Mumbai, in which he scored two centuries.

The timing of his injury will also concern Lancashire, who had signed Iyer for the Royal London Cup (50-overs tournament) in the summer. Iyer was meant to join Lancashire from July 15.

Iyer had a prolific IPL season in 2020 and led the Capitals to the final, in which they lost to the Mumbai Indians. Iyer was the fourth-highest run-scorer then, and second-highest for the Capitals, with a tally of 519 runs behind KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan and David Warner.

The Capitals' first game is on the second day of the 2021 IPL, against the Chennai Super Kings in Mumbai.

NFL owners hope to resume in-person offseason workouts this spring, sources tell ESPN's Chris Mortensen, but the NFL Players Association is continuing to advocate for another fully virtual program.

The sides have begun a complex set of negotiations to determine the parameters of offseason work as vaccinations against COVID-19 become widely available. NFLPA president JC Tretter said in December that the virtual 2020 offseason should be made permanent, citing the reduced wear on players' bodies, and the talks are also connected to owners' looming vote on expanding the regular season to 17 games and cutting the preseason to three games.

Owners are expected to approve the 17-game season during virtual meetings next week, a decision the NFLPA maintains would trigger a revision of offseason workout terms in the sides' collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

If owners demand in-person workouts, the sources said, the NFLPA will ask the league to conduct daily COVID-19 testing. Owners believe daily testing will not be necessary by the time training camps open in July because most players will be vaccinated by then. The league spent more than $100 million in 2020 on COVID-19 protocols, with daily testing representing one of the largest line-item expenses.

In 2020, players met with coaches via video conference and followed prescribed training regimens at home or in nearby gyms. The arrangement was deemed by both sides to be suitable in a pandemic, but coaches have long advocated for more, not less, offseason workouts. Tretter, however, said the 2020 season demonstrated that in-person workouts were not needed.

"The argument in favor of these offseason practices is based on the assumption that players need reps during OTAs to develop and learn while teams need the practices to gel," Tretter wrote in a December blog post on the NFLPA web site. "Yet, the lack of OTAs this year demonstrated that those theories aren't substantiated. New and first-year head coaches had success. Newly assembled teams had success. Rookies stepped in and played at a high level all across the league.

"... We do not need to be brought in during April-June to practice against each other -- it's simply unnecessary."

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Veteran running back James White has agreed to a one-year deal to remain with the New England Patriots, a league source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

White, 29, has spent the first seven years of his career with the Patriots, who selected him in the fourth round of the 2014 draft out of Wisconsin.

A three-time Super Bowl champion, he is viewed as a top "passing back," coming on to the field in obvious passing situations and those in which he might be more apt to block a blitzing linebacker.

He totaled 49 receptions in 2020, the second highest of any Patriots player, and has 269 regular-season receptions in his career. He has added 59 receptions in the postseason, with his signature performance coming in a Super Bowl LI victory over the Atlanta Falcons when he had a record 14 catches and scored three touchdowns, including the game winner in overtime.

A soft-spoken three-time Patriots captain, White has earned widespread respect and admiration across the NFL, with many rallying around him in September after his father, Tyrone, was killed in a car crash that also injured his mother, Lisa.

White's return bolsters the Patriots' running back position, which returns top option Damien Harris, along with 2018 first-round pick Sony Michel, second-year player J.J. Taylor and core special teamer Brandon Bolden.

"I can't even put into words how much you can learn from a guy like James White. I really look up to him a lot," Harris said in December. "James White is definitely a guy you can say, 'Yeah, I want to be like James White when I grow up.'"

Referee Tim Peel will not work another game in the NHL after getting caught saying he "wanted to give" the Nashville Predators a penalty in their win over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night.

NHL senior executive vice president of hockey operations Colin Campbell made the announcement Wednesday morning, saying that Peel would "no longer be working NHL games now or in the future."

Peel, 53, was due to retire after this season. He has been an NHL on-ice official since October 1999 and had refereed 1,334 games entering this season.

"Nothing is more important than ensuring the integrity of our game," Campbell said. "Tim Peel's conduct is in direct contradiction to the adherence to that cornerstone principle that we demand of our officials and that our fans, players, coaches and all those associated with our game expect and deserve. There is no justification for his comments, no matter the context or his intention, and the National Hockey League will take any and all steps necessary to protect the integrity of our game."

With 15:04 left in the second period, Predators forward Viktor Arvidsson was called for tripping Red Wings defenseman Jon Merrill in the offensive zone, even though replays showed that Merrill embellished his fall to help draw the call. Peel made the penalty call from around center ice.

With 12:42 remaining in the second period, the Nashville broadcast captured audio from Peel saying "it wasn't much, but I wanted to get a f---ing penalty against Nashville early."

The NHL told ESPN after the game that it had opened an investigation into Peel's comments.

Nashville won the game 2-0. Both teams were whistled for three penalties, and the Predators took a fourth for putting the puck over the glass in the third period.

Nashville coach John Hynes was asked about the hot mic after the game. "I think the situation is what it is," he said. "I think from our perspective, it probably doesn't matter how I feel about it in general, but the referees are employees of the league, and rather than me comment, I think it's an issue that the league will have to take care of."

Hynes said that "you always want to have things that are fair for your players and for your team" but that there are no excuses. "We have to find a way to kill the penalty and control what we can control."

Peel has been one of the NHL's most maligned officials, with fans using social media to critique his calls through the years. In 2015, Peel was removed from officiating a New Jersey Devils home game after being photographed at a bar drinking with a reporter. [Editor's note: The reporter was ESPN's Greg Wyshynski, the writer of this piece.]

The Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers continued their busy offseason Wednesday, agreeing to a two-year, $31.8 million contract extension with offensive tackle Donovan Smith while finalizing a one-year, $10 million deal to bring back defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Smith's extension runs through 2023 and includes $30 million guaranteed over the next two seasons, sources told ESPN.

The move helped the Bucs create more room under the salary cap for this season while still maintaining continuity on the offensive line to protect quarterback Tom Brady.

Had Smith played under his current deal, he would have counted $14.25 million against the salary cap in 2021. In that scenario, the Bucs would have had just $1.55 million in salary cap space heading into Wednesday morning, according to Roster Management. Instead, a source told ESPN that he'll count roughly $3.6 million against the cap in 2021, freeing up an additional $10.65 million.

As far as Suh's cap number, a source told ESPN that's still being worked out because there will be voidable years in his contract, something the Bucs have used extensively this free agency period to account for the NFL's 8% salary cap decrease, which allows them to be cap compliant.

Smith has had somewhat of an up-and-down career, although he has displayed remarkable durability, missing just two regular-season games in six seasons, third best in the NFL. He struggled midway through the 2021 season with Brady, but he was at his best in the final four games of the regular season and the postseason, surrendering just one sack.

Suh has spent the past two seasons on one-year deals with the Bucs, playing an integral role in their transition from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense and helping mentor 2018 first-round draft pick Vita Vea after the departure of Gerald McCoy.

In 2019, his first year with defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, Suh had 2.5 sacks and four fumble recoveries -- two of which were returned for touchdowns. Suh finished the 2020 regular season with 6 sacks, 1 forced fumble and 44 tackles. His 330 plays against double-teams was second only to the Los Angeles Rams' Aaron Donald, who was named the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year.

Bowles credited Suh for not allowing Patrick Mahomes to properly step into his throws in Super Bowl LV, during which Suh registered 1.5 sacks. Coach Bruce Arians credited Suh for the impact he has had on younger players and for helping them overcome the loss of Vea during the regular season.

Suh, who turned 34 in January, was the Detroit Lions' pick at No. 2 in the 2010 draft, has been selected to five Pro Bowls and is a three-time first-team All-Pro. In 11 seasons with the Lions, Miami Dolphins, Rams and Buccaneers, he has 64.5 sacks and 563 tackles.

The moves are the latest in what has been a busy offseason for the Bucs, who have now extended the deals of Brady and Smith, placed the franchise tag on receiver Chris Godwin and signed Suh, linebacker Shaq Barrett, linebacker Lavonte David, tight end Rob Gronkowski and kicker Ryan Succop to new deals.

The Bucs likely aren't done, either. They have continued to talk to representatives for wide receiver Antonio Brown and running back Leonard Fournette, and they are considering more moves to free up cap space. They also have to address their backup quarterback situation, as neither Blaine Gabbert nor Ryan Griffin are under contract for 2021.

Florida Gators sophomore Tre Mann has decided to declare for the 2021 NBA draft and will forgo his remaining college eligibility.

"After much consideration, I have decided to take the next step in my basketball career and will declare for the 2021 NBA draft," Mann told ESPN. "To Gator nation, your love and support will always hold a special place in my heart. I will be hiring an agent to help guide me through this process."

Mann, the No. 15 prospect in the ESPN 100 NBA draft rankings, is coming off the best stretch of his college career, averaging 21 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists per game in the SEC and NCAA tournaments over the past two weeks, elevating his standing significantly in the eyes of NBA talent evaluators.

"My season at Florida was filled with a lot of individual growth with the significant increase of playing time and emphasis on fulfilling my role," Mann said. "However, this year was filled with adversity in [the form of] COVID and the loss of Keyontae [Johnson]. While we didn't reach our goal as a team in the NCAA tournament, it was a great experience nonetheless."

Growing to 6-foot-5 over the course of his college career, Mann is considered one of the most talented ball handlers and shot creators in this draft class, featuring NBA range on his jump shot and impressive shiftiness changing speeds out of the pick-and-roll.

"I think that NBA teams were able to see my ability to play on and off the ball as well as my improved stats across the board," Mann said. "I was able to showcase my leadership skills, efficiency shooting the ball, defensive versatility and ability to rebound."

Mann, a McDonald's All American coming out of high school, averaged 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game for Florida, also shooting 40% from beyond the arc, and earned All-Southeastern Conference honors.

"During the pre-draft process, I am eager to show NBA teams my athleticism and true length/size," Mann said. "I am looking forward to showcasing my extended shooting range and my ability to run an offense while getting others involved."

The NBA has yet to announce when the 2021 draft will be held, and significant uncertainty exists about what the pre-draft process will look like in terms of private workouts or a combine. Neither the NBA nor the NCAA has announced a deadline to enter or withdraw from the draft, but Mann's college career is likely over, and he thanked his teammates in a statement he sent to ESPN.

"I would like to thank Coach White and his staff at the University of Florida for believing in me and helping to shape me into the man and player I am today," he said. "Thank you to all my teammates who shared the Gator uniform with me for the last two seasons. Thank you to my family for always providing me with love and support. No words can ever describe how grateful I am to you."

In an attempt to crack down on the use of foreign substances on baseballs for the upcoming season, Major League Baseball will inspect balls taken out of play, analyze spin rate data and increase monitoring of dugouts and clubhouses.

The new policies, outlined in a memo obtained by ESPN on Wednesday and sent to all 30 teams, are ultimately meant to help level the playing field for hitters, which should increase balls in play, a source told ESPN.

Substances on baseballs, like pine tar, can increase spin rate, which leads to more strikeouts and less action on the field.

If a pitcher's "normal" spin rate, measured in revolutions per minute, increases significantly, the league may investigate whether the player is doctoring balls. Baseballs taken out of play -- both randomly and prioritized, if they exhibit signs of foreign substances -- will be inspected by a third-party lab, according to the memo. Balls will be tracked back to whomever was pitching when they were taken out of play.

Finally, game-day compliance officers will monitor dugouts, batting cages and bullpens for violations of the foreign substance rules while filing daily reports of their observations with the league office.

While there has long been a rule against using foreign substances on baseballs, enforcement has been sporadic. The memo states that on-field, in-game monitoring by umpires will not change, but postgame analysis could lead to punishment. The new enhanced monitoring measures will provide a "separate evidentiary basis to support a finding that a player has violated the foreign substance rules," according to the memo.

Club personnel are also being reminded they are prohibited from assisting players in the doctoring of baseballs and are subject to punishment as well.

Over the past three days, we have revealed our MLB Rank list of the top 100 players in baseball for the 2021 season.

Now that the full ranking has been unveiled, it's time for the real fun to begin -- debating who is too high, too low and who should have the biggest gripes about not making the top 100 at all. Starting with Mike Trout and Mookie Betts at the top and continuing right through current stars who just missed the cut, there is plenty to discuss this year, so we asked ESPN MLB experts Bradford Doolittle, Buster Olney and David Schoenfield to weigh in on what caught their attention.

Who will be the best player of the 2021 MLB season?

With Opening Day nearly upon us, it's time to break down how baseball's elite stack up.

To create our annual MLB Rank list of the top 100 players in the sport, we presented our panel of ESPN baseball experts with multiple pairings of the biggest names in the game and asked simply, "Which player will be better in 2021?"

This final portion of our list -- the top 25 -- features Cy Young Award winners, MVPs, veterans already building Hall of Fame résumés and breakout megastars primed to dominate the sport for years to come. But which one is No. 1?

Alongside each player below, you'll find a relevant stat or storyline to put his position on the list in context.

On Monday, we revealed Nos. 100-51, featuring rising stars like the reigning National League Rookie of the Year and a trio of young hitters in Chicago who help make the White Sox one of the American League's most exciting teams. On Tuesday, it was Nos. 50-26, featuring seven shortstops in what is truly a golden age for the position.

Today, we determine the No. 1 player overall in the game, pitting names like Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, Juan Soto and Ronald Acuna Jr. against each other and helping to settle -- or add more fuel to -- positional debates like who is MLB's best starting pitcher.

More: 100-51 | 50-26 | Who's next? | Snubs, debates | 2020 list

25. Bryce Harper, OF, Philadelphia Phillies

2020 rank: 25

Why he's here: Harper enters his third season with the Phillies after a strong 2020 campaign in which he hit .268/.420/.542 with 13 homers. The right fielder is still just 28 years old, which seems nearly impossible given how long he's been on the minds of baseball fans, but he has yet to win his first playoff series as a major leaguer, something Philadelphia undoubtedly envisioned when it signed him to a 13-year, $330 million deal. -- Joon Lee

24. Aaron Judge, OF, New York Yankees

2020 rank: 15

Why he's here: This will be a critical season for Judge, who turns 29 in April. Fans have been waiting three years for a glimpse of a season like Judge's monumental 52-homer Rookie of the Year campaign in 2017. But since the start of the 2018 season, Judge has played in just 242 games out of the scheduled 384. -- Marly Rivera

23. Trevor Story, SS, Colorado Rockies

2020 rank: 30

Why he's here: With the offseason trade of Nolan Arenado to the Cardinals, Story has become a one-man act for the Rockies. And with the two-way standout shortstop heading into a walk year, Story's act might be a limited-run performance. If Colorado falters as the projections suggest, Story will be a hot commodity on the in-season trade market. Only Francisco Lindor and Xander Bogaerts have compiled more fWAR among shortstops over the past three years, and Story may be a better all-around performer than them both. -- Bradford Doolittle

22. Corey Seager, SS, Los Angeles Dodgers

2020 rank: 78

Why he's here: Given a full season to recover from hip surgery -- and build a strong enough base so that his mechanics didn't waver through the rigors of a season -- Seager returned to the superstar form he displayed in his early years, batting .307/.358/.585 with 28 extra-base hits in 52 games during the regular season. He then won NLCS MVP and World Series MVP. Now he'll head into his free-agent year looking to cement his place among the game's most valuable players. -- Alden Gonzalez

21. Max Scherzer, SP, Washington Nationals

2020 rank: 7

Why he's here: Seven years have gone fast as Scherzer is entering the final season of his contract in Washington in 2021. After years of ERAs in the 2.00s, his ballooned to 3.74 in 2020, hardly a huge cause for concern but a drop-off nonetheless. Is Scherzer entering the "just good" stage of his career, or is he still elite? -- Jesse Rogers

20. Manny Machado, 3B, San Diego Padres

2020 rank: 50

Why he's here: After an uneven first season in San Diego, Machado was terrific in 2020. He hit .304/.370/.580 with 16 home runs, provided his usual good defense (although it's impossible to win a Gold Glove in a league with Nolan Arenado) and finished third in the NL MVP voting. His value has fluctuated with his batting averages, which have gone .294, .259, .297, .256 and .304 since 2016. If he hits around .300, he's clearly a top-20 player. If he hits around .250, he slides into the back half of the top 100. -- David Schoenfield

19. DJ LeMahieu, 2B, New York Yankees

2020 rank: 57

Why he's here: Re-signing LeMahieu was arguably the best move made in the AL this offseason. In two years with the Yankees, LeMahieu has twice finished in the top five in MVP voting and led the majors in batting average in 2020. While other players might see a decline at 32, LeMahieu's versatility in the field and discipline at the plate continue to set a gold standard. -- Rivera

18. Walker Buehler, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers

2020 rank: 19

Why he's here: Buehler took some time off when the 2020 season initially shut down and was thus slow to build up when MLB restarted midsummer. But Buehler was at his best when it mattered most, allowing just five runs and striking out 39 batters in 25 innings during the postseason. He's only 26 and has already established himself as one of the game's best big-game pitchers -- and it seems as if the best is yet to come. -- Gonzalez

17. Jose Ramirez, 3B, Cleveland

2020 rank: 47

Why he's here: He's a little undersized, but all this guy does is hit, hit for power and steal some bases. In the past four years, he has finished third, third and second in the MVP voting, sandwiched around a subpar (for him) 2019 season. He was a 7 WAR player in 2017 and 2018 and was on pace for 6.4 WAR in 2020. -- Schoenfield

16. Trevor Bauer, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers

2020 rank: 88

Why he's here: Bauer, the NL's reigning Cy Young winner, parlayed a sterling truncated season with the Reds into what is essentially a three-year, $102 million contract with baseball's reigning champions. While eyes will be fixed on how well he meshes with a club packed with established stars, of more tangible interest will be Bauer's quest to repeat his award-winning showing for Cincinnati. Coming off a season in which he posted a 1.73 ERA, there would seem to be nowhere to go but down. Then again, few players in MLB today have a greater penchant for self-improvement than Bauer. -- Doolittle

15. Anthony Rendon, 3B, Los Angeles Angels

2020 rank: 13

Why he's here: Making contact has never been more difficult than it is now for hitters, and over the past four years, Rendon has struck out only 24 more times than he has walked. In that stretch, he batted .307/.399/.550 while playing Gold Glove-caliber defense and accumulating 22.6 FanGraphs WAR, trailing only Trout and Betts. -- Gonzalez

14. Shane Bieber, SP, Cleveland

2020 rank: 40

Why he's here: Bieber emerged as one of the game's best pitchers over the past two seasons and put together a remarkable 2020 campaign. He posted a 1.63 ERA and 0.87 WHIP in 12 starts and was in the hunt for the American League MVP award for much of the year in addition to the Cy Young he eventually won. -- Lee

13. Alex Bregman, 3B, Houston Astros

2020 rank: 12

Why he's here: Bregman is coming off a forgettable 2020 season in which, perhaps more than any other fallen Astro, his on-field swagger appeared to wane amid the avalanche of derision that fell on Houston. The telltale metric was that Statcast credited Bregman with just five barrels on 128 batted balls a season ago. As Bregman eases into his prime seasons, he'll look to return to hitting rockets, and if he does, he'll remind everyone why he was second in AL MVP voting during our last full season. -- Doolittle

12. Cody Bellinger, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

2020 rank: 6

Why he's here: Bellinger is a naturally gifted fielder with a plus arm, elite speed and majestic power. When he gets the timing of his intricate load and swing right, he's one of the game's greatest players, as he showed through most of his MVP season in 2019. But sometimes, as was evident throughout the shortened 2020 season, his mechanics go awry, necessitating frequent maintenance. Bellinger was never quite in sync last year, batting .233/.329/.455 if you include the postseason. -- Gonzalez

11. Nolan Arenado, 3B, St. Louis Cardinals

2020 rank: 9

Why he's here: Arenado played through shoulder pain (AC joint) for most of 2020, which led to a career-worst .253/.303/.434 over 48 games. Many question whether his numbers will transfer outside of mile-high Denver, but the 29-year-old claims he is "ripping" the ball with no issues this spring, and that's good news for the Cardinals. In Colorado, Arenado twice led the league in both homers and RBIs, and he was a four-time Silver Slugger Award winner. Arenado's eight Gold Gloves will also bring an upgrade at the hot corner to an already talented defensive infield. -- Rivera

10. Francisco Lindor, SS, New York Mets

2020 rank: 10

Why he's here: This will be a crucial year for the two-time Gold Glove shortstop and four-time All-Star. "Mr. Smile" is coming off a down final season in Cleveland in which he hit a career-low .258 with eight home runs. Now he will need to keep his contract negotiations from being a distraction as he dons a Mets uniform and takes center stage in New York. -- Rivera

9. Christian Yelich, OF, Milwaukee Brewers

2020 rank: 4

Why he's here: Of all the players who struggled in 2020, Yelich might have made the fewest excuses. He's now playing with a chip on his shoulder, and Brewers manager Craig Counsell is positive he'll return to form. Before posting a .786 mark last season, he led the National League in OPS his first two seasons in Milwaukee. -- Rogers

8. Fernando Tatis Jr., SS, San Diego Padres

2020 rank: 41

Why he's here: He has played only a full season's worth of major league games and has already secured a 14-year, $340 million contract while being considered the new face of baseball. Why? Well, that one-season sample (143 games, 629 plate appearances) included a .301/.374/.582 slash line, 39 homers, 27 stolen bases, 8 triples and a 7.0 Baseball-Reference WAR -- all before turning 22. No player has ever accumulated more Baseball-Reference WAR within his first 150 games. -- Gonzalez

7. Freddie Freeman, 1B, Atlanta Braves

2020 rank: 17

Why he's here: It's going to be almost impossible for Freeman to match the .341/.462/.640 line that won him MVP honors in 2020, but maybe he can do it again. He had more walks than strikeouts in 2020, with career-best rates in both categories. Having fewer strikeouts leads to a higher average and OBP, and he didn't sacrifice any power in cutting down the K's. -- Schoenfield

6. Jacob deGrom, SP, New York Mets

2020 rank: 3

Why he's here: He wasn't far from a third consecutive Cy Young Award in 2020, finishing third behind Trevor Bauer and Yu Darvish. With deGrom's velocity up this spring and an improved lineup around him, Mets fans can expect more deGrom dominance -- and more than likely some better run support -- in 2021. -- Rogers

5. Gerrit Cole, SP, New York Yankees

2020 rank: 2

Why he's here: Baseball's best pitcher admitted to being affected by the stop-and-start nature of last year's pandemic-shortened season. Cole still lived up to his ace billing, going 7-3 with a 2.84 ERA in 12 regular-season starts in 2020, with 94 strikeouts over 73 innings. But the Yankees' $324 million right-hander does have to clean up his propensity to serve up home runs, as his 14 homers allowed was the second most in the majors. -- Rivera

4. Ronald Acuña Jr., OF, Atlanta Braves

2020 rank: 8

Why he's here: It's so easy to forget that Acuña is still just 23 years old, given how quickly he has established himself as one of the sport's most feared hitters, belting 14 homers and posting a .250/.406/.581 line in 46 games last year. Given the astronomical 14-year, $340 million contract given to Fernando Tatis Jr., Braves fans should feel lucky that the team has locked up the superstar outfielder to an eight-year, $100 million deal. -- Lee

3. Juan Soto, OF, Washington Nationals

2020 rank: 11

Why he's here: No, it's not foolish to compare Soto to Ted Williams. Williams hit .344/.442/.594 as a 21-year-old. Soto hit .351/.490/.695. Granted, Soto did it in just 47 games and Williams then hit .406 as a 22-year-old, but the point is Soto has the same superstar ability and plate discipline as Williams. If you're picking the player most likely to be the best hitter in the game in 2021, it's Soto. --Schoenfield

2. Mookie Betts, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

2020 rank: 5

Why he's here: Dodgers players and coaches knew Betts was good before he joined them last year. They just didn't realize how good. After sharing the same uniform for one season, they came away amazed by how sharp he was defensively, how well he worked counts, how forcefully the ball jumped off his bat and how perfectly he ran the bases. Betts is a five-tool player in every sense of the word. His 38.4 FanGraphs WAR from 2015 to 2020, topped by only Mike Trout, backs that up. -- Gonzalez

1. Mike Trout, OF, Los Angeles Angels

2020 rank: 1

Why he's here: Last season was Trout's worst since his cup-of-coffee debut a decade ago. His batting percentages were down across the board. He stole just one base and posted poor defensive metrics. He also deservedly finished in the top five of AL MVP voting for the ninth season in a row. If you can judge a player's greatness by his worst seasons, with Trout, you can see at a glance why he's as much in a race with the likes of Babe Ruth and Willie Mays for historical supremacy as he is with Mookie Betts, Juan Soto and Fernando Tatis Jr. for the best-right-now throne that remains his, and his alone. -- Doolittle