Right Field

1. Aaron Judge, Yankees
2. Mookie Betts, Red Sox
3. Randal Grichuk, Blue Jays
4. Carlos Gomez, Rays
5. Colby Rasmus, Orioles

Would it be fair to call this a tie? Seriously, how could you go wrong with either Judge or Betts? They’re the last two AL MVP runners-up — Betts in 2016, Judge in 2017 — and both are just 25 years old. Do you prefer pure, mammoth power and great plate discipline, like Judge’s 52 home runs (a rookie record), 114 RBIs, 1.049 OPS and 127 walks last year? Or do you prefer a guy who does everything well, like Betts, who owns a career .292 average, .351 on-base percentage, .488 slugging and two Gold Gloves — plus 80 steals in 96 attempts? I’ll give the edge to Judge, simply because his 2017 season was one for the ages, but it’s really a toss-up.

After those two, it’s a severe drop-off to the rest of the group. The Blue Jays have youth on their side with Grichuk, 26, a once-promising prospect with the St. Louis Cardinals who never really busted out. Still, he has plenty of power potential and could still break through. The Rays snagged two-time All-Star Gomez on a $4 million deal, and while he’s no longer the player he once was, he should provide some decent production on the cheap.

Rasmus, attempting a comeback with the Orioles, is more of a wild card. He lasted just 37 games for the Rays last season before landing on the DL with a hip injury, then left the team for the rest of the season to spend time with his family. Although he was a non-roster invitee, Rasmus is on track to be the Orioles’ starting right fielder, at least against righties. A free-swinging power hitter who doesn’t draw many walks, he’s a similar player to much of the O’s lineup.

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