5. Adrian Gonzalez, 29 years old, Boston Red Sox; 2011 Offensive stats: .338/.410/.548, 27 home runs, 117 RBIs, 108 runs scored, 74/119 walks/strikeouts, 1/1 steals/attempts. Career 162-game average: .293/.375/.514, 31 home runs, 102 RBIs, 95 runs scored, 78/124 walks/strikeouts, 0/0 steals/attempts—Gonzalez doesn’t have the ceiling that Hamilton has but has missed just 14 games the past six seasons while hitting between 24 and 40 home runs every year. Hitting just 27 home runs last season keeps him just behind Bautista’s sudden power.

4. Jose Bautista, 31 years old, Toronto Blue Jays; 2011 Offensive stats: .302/.447/.608, 43 home runs, 103 RBIs, 105 runs scored, 132/111 walks/strikeouts, 9/14 steals/attempts. Career 162-game average: .254/.362/.481, 29 home runs, 80 RBIs, 83 runs scored, 83/121 walks/strikeouts, 6/9 steals/attempts—Although it’s only been two great seasons, Bautista makes it all the way to fourth with extreme power and patience. Bautista’s 54 home runs in 2010 were the most in the majors since Ryan Howard hit 58 in 2006 and his 132 walks last year were the most since Barry Bonds’s 232 in 2004.

3. Prince Fielder, 27 years old, Detroit Tigers; 2011 Offensive stats: .299/.415/.566, 38 home runs, 120 RBIs, 95 runs scored, 107/106 walks/strikeouts, 1/2 steals/attempts. Career 162-game average: .282/.390.540, 37 home runs, 106 RBIs, 93 runs scored, 92/126 walks/strikeouts, 3/5 steals/attempts—A similar hitter to Bautista, Prince gets the nod here since he’s been a similar power, but patient, threat for six years. Only his relatively low average keeps him from passing his new teammate in Detroit.

2. Miguel Cabrera, 28 years old, Detroit Tigers; 2011 Offensive stats: .344/.448/.586, 30 home runs, 105 RBIs, 111 runs scored, 108/89 walks/strikeouts, 2/3 steals/attempts. Career 162-game average: .317/.395/.555, 33 home runs, 118 RBIs, 102 runs scored, 77/121 walks/strikeouts, 3/5 steals/attempts—Cabrera has finished in the top five of the MVP voting three straight seasons and five times overall. A threat everywhere, except running the bases, Cabrera has led the league in home runs, RBIs, and batting average at various points in his career. Cabrera’s power numbers (as great as they are) and strikeouts keep him from topping Albert, even after a down year by Pujols.

1. Albert Pujols, 32 years old, Los Angeles Angels; 2011 Offensive stats: .299/.366/.541, 37 home runs, 99 RBIs, 105 runs scored, 61/58 walks/strikeouts, 9/10 steals/attempts. Career 162-game average: .328/420/.617, 42 home runs, 126 RBIs, 123 runs scored, 93/67 walks/strikeouts, 8/11 steals/attempts—Pujols’s numbers for his career are incredible. To think that his still-stellar 2011 was his worst statistical season in every major category except for runs and home runs (37 is his third worst) makes it even more amazing. Though he’s 32, his under-performing season last year seemed due to his contract dispute to start the season. His numbers after the All-Star break were a more Pujols-like .319/.375/.584 leaving many to believe he’ll continue 2012 right where he left off in St. Louis.