ESPN 500: Players No. 201-250

Updated: March 26, 2012, 1:39 PM ET

ESPN.com

Who are the best players in Major League Baseball heading into the 2012 season? ESPN formed a panel of MLB writers, analysts and contributors to rank the top 500. The countdown from No. 500 to No. 1 began March 20 and ends April 3.

The results are being announced on ESPN.com, on Facebook and Twitter (@ESPN_MLB). Fans can use the hashtag #ESPN500 to join the discussion or to follow along.

To compile a top-500 ranking, 34 ESPN experts started with a list of the top 600 players projected to play in the majors in 2012. Using a 0-to-10 scale, they evaluated only the quality of each player for the 2012 season. Players who are expected to miss 2012 with an injury, such as Victor Martinez, were not included. But Arodys Vizcaino (No. 376) was included because he was injured after the voting. Ages are listed as of July 1, 2012.

Panelists were polled over the final two weeks of February. Dan Szymborski's ZiPS system, which projects 2012 performance, was used to break ties to the fourth decimal point.

RANK	PLAYER	SCORE
201	Francisco Cordero RHP \| @BlueJays \| Age: 37 \| Stats	5.48
Bet Ruben Amaro gave Francisco Cordero a 10 after he found out he couldn't give him $50 million. #ESPN500 #CloserMentality — John Leary (@GreenLineOutfit) March 26, 2012
202	Colby Rasmus Center Field \| @BlueJays \| Age: 25 \| Stats	5.47
203	Yunel Escobar Shortstop \| @BlueJays \| Age: 29 \| Stats	5.47
A shortstop with 10 WAR over the last three seasons ranks behind a 37-year old relief pitcher. lulz #ESPN500 — Drew F (@DrewGROF) March 26, 2012
204	Cameron Maybin @CamMaybin Center Field \| @Padres \| Age: 25 \| Stats	5.47
205	Mark Trumbo @Mtrumbo44 Third Base \| @Angels \| Age: 26 \| Stats	5.47
206	Kenley Jansen RHP \| @Dodgers \| Age: 24 \| Stats	5.45
207	Matt Thornton LHP \| @WhiteSox \| Age: 35 \| Stats	5.45
208	Huston Street RHP \| @Padres \| Age: 28 \| Stats	5.44
209	Danny Espinosa @DannyEspinosa18 Second Base \| @Nationals \| Age: 25 \| Stats	5.42
210	Torii Hunter @toriihunter48 Center Field \| @Angels \| Age: 36 \| Stats	5.41
211	Vance Worley @VANIMAL_49 RHP \| @Phillies \| Age: 24 \| Stats	5.41
212	Francisco Liriano @liriano47 LHP \| @Twins \| Age: 28 \| Stats	5.39
213	Jhoulys Chacin RHP \| @Rockies \| Age: 24 \| Stats	5.38
214	Ricky Nolasco RHP \| @Marlins \| Age: 29 \| Stats	5.38
215	Ryan Vogelsong RHP \| @Giants \| Age: 34 \| Stats	5.38
216	Denard Span @thisisdspan Center Field \| @Twins \| Age: 28 \| Stats	5.38
Denard Span, good defensive CF (107 wRC+) is 11 spots behind Mark Trumbo, poor defensive 3B (101 wRC+) in #ESPN500 #wat — Giants Nirvana (@GiantsNirvana) March 26, 2012
217	Coco Crisp @Coco_Crisp Left Field \| @Athletics \| Age: 32 \| Stats	5.38
@ESPN_MLB Coco Crisp #217??? I don't think that he is better than the other half of players below him #ESPN500 — Edgar Gómez (@edgom) March 26, 2012
218	Brandon Beachy RHP \| @Braves \| Age: 25 \| Stats	5.35
219	Gaby Sanchez @GabySanchez15 First Base \| @Marlins \| Age: 28 \| Stats	5.34
220	Johan Santana @johansantana LHP \| @Mets \| Age: 33 \| Stats	5.34
I see that Johan Santana scored a 5.34.Not that far behind the MPH left on his fastball. #ESPN500 — John Leary (@GreenLineOutfit) March 26, 2012
221	Scott Rolen Third Base \| @Reds \| Age: 37 \| Stats	5.34
Things I just learned: Scott Rolen is still playing baseball. RT @ESPN_MLB: We're back with 201-250 of #ESPN500 — Productive Outs (@ProductiveOuts) March 26, 2012
222	Jonathan Sanchez LHP \| @Royals \| Age: 29 \| Stats	5.34
223	Yoenis Cespedes Center Field \| @Athletics \| Age: 26 \| Stats	5.32
how can you put Yoenis Cespedes at 223 when he hasn't even played a single inning yet? #ESPN500 — Ed Hu (@EdWho85) March 26, 2012
224	Matt Joyce Right Field \| @RaysBaseball \| Age: 27 \| Stats	5.31
225	Brett Anderson @BrettAnderson49 LHP \| @Athletics \| Age: 24 \| Stats	5.31
226	Mike Moustakas Third Base \| @Royals \| Age: 23 \| Stats	5.31
227	Ryan Dempster RHP \| @Cubs \| Age: 35 \| Stats	5.31
228	Todd Helton First Base \| @Rockies \| Age: 38 \| Stats	5.31
229	Josh Willingham Left Field \| @Twins \| Age: 33 \| Stats	5.29
230	Carlos Pena First Base \| @RaysBaseball \| Age: 34 \| Stats	5.28
231	Aroldis Chapman LHP \| @Reds \| Age: 24 \| Stats	5.28
232	Randy Wolf LHP \| @Brewers \| Age: 35 \| Stats	5.28
233	Rick Porcello RHP \| @Tigers \| Age: 23 \| Stats	5.28
234	Phil Hughes @PhilHughes65 RHP \| @Yankees \| Age: 26 \| Stats	5.28
235	Rafael Furcal Shortstop \| @Cardinals \| Age: 34 \| Stats	5.25
236	Kurt Suzuki @kurtsuzuki Catcher \| @Athletics \| Age: 28 \| Stats	5.25
237	Jemile Weeks @RealJemileWeeks Second Base \| @Athletics \| Age: 25 \| Stats	5.25
238	J.P. Arencibia @jparencibia9 Catcher \| @BlueJays \| Age: 26 \| Stats	5.23
239	Drew Stubbs Center Field \| @Reds \| Age: 27 \| Stats	5.23
240	Scott Downs RHP \| @Angels \| Age: 36 \| Stats	5.22
241	Jake Peavy @JakePeavy_44 RHP \| @WhiteSox \| Age: 31 \| Stats	5.22
242	Dexter Fowler @DFowler24 Center Field \| @Rockies \| Age: 26 \| Stats	5.22
243	Placido Polanco Third Base \| @Phillies \| Age: 36 \| Stats	5.22
244	Chris Sale LHP \| @WhiteSox \| Age: 23 \| Stats	5.19
245	Delmon Young Left Field \| @Tigers \| Age: 26 \| Stats	5.19
Delmon Young ranked 22 spots lower than Yoenis Cespedes? Young has a career BA of .288 with 71 HR and 408 RBI. Cespedes? Nothing. #ESPN500 — Garrett Elliott (@BigRed6810) March 26, 2012
246	Ted Lilly LHP \| @Dodgers \| Age: 36 \| Stats	5.19
247	Rafael Betancourt RHP \| @Rockies \| Age: 37 \| Stats	5.16
248	Neil Walker @NeilWalker18 Second Base \| @Pirates \| Age: 26 \| Stats	5.16
Yoenis Cespedes has never even played an inning and he's ranked higher than Neil Walker. #ESPN500 #Givetheguysomerespect — Matt Weaver (@THEMatt_Weaver) March 26, 2012
249	Jonathon Niese RHP \| @Mets \| Age: 25 \| Stats	5.16
250	Takashi Saito RHP \| @Dbacks \| Age: 42 \| Stats	5.16