Best MLB Players of 2006, Ranked by NUT
2006 seasonAlbert Pujols (STL) was the most productive hitter in MLB in 2006 by NUT at +5.0, and Johan Santana (MIN) the most productive pitcher at +3.7.
4 of 430 qualified hitters and 2 of 445 qualified pitchers graded S for the season.
New York Yankees (97-65) had both the best record and the highest team NUT at +17.5.
St. Louis Cardinals beat Detroit Tigers 4–1 in the World Series, as the lower team-NUT club (-6.4 to +2.1).
Modern era. Drug testing, pitch tracking, the strikeout boom and the 2023 pitch clock.
World Series by team NUT
Season team NUT, regular season. The lower-NUT club won. Every World Series by NUT
Awards vs NUT
NUT's MVP pick is the league's best player by season NUT, hitters and pitchers compared by grade; its Cy Young pick is the best pitcher. Voters also weigh defense, which NUT leaves out. Rookie of the Year shows where the winner ranked among all qualified players.
Best by league
League by the player's final club. By NUT, not award voting.
Top 10 hitters and pitchers
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albert PujolsSTL · 1B | +5.0 | |
| 2 | Travis HafnerCLE · DH | +4.9 | |
| 3 | Ryan HowardPHI · 1B | +4.7 | |
| 4 | David OrtizBOS · DH | +4.6 | |
| 5 | Lance BerkmanHOU · 1B | +4.2 | |
| 6 | Garrett AtkinsCOL · 3B | +4.2 | |
| 7 | Manny RamirezBOS · LF | +4.2 | |
| 8 | Matt HollidayCOL · LF | +4.2 | |
| 9 | Jermaine DyeCWS · RF | +4.2 | |
| 10 | Jim ThomeCWS · DH | +4.1 |
| # | Player | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johan SantanaMIN · P | +3.7 | |
| 2 | Brandon WebbARI · P | +3.4 | |
| 3 | Roy OswaltHOU · P | +2.9 | |
| 4 | Jeremy BondermanDET · P | +2.8 | |
| 5 | John LackeyLAA · P | +2.7 | |
| 6 | John SmoltzATL · P | +2.7 | |
| 7 | Chris CarpenterSTL · P | +2.6 | |
| 8 | Francisco LirianoMIN · P | +2.6 | |
| 9 | CC SabathiaCLE · P | +2.5 | |
| 10 | Ben SheetsMIL · P | +2.4 |
All 30 teams by NUT
| # | Team | W-L | Hit | Pitch | NUT | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NYY | 97-65 | +13.3 | +4.3 | +17.5 | S |
| 2 | LAD | 88-74 | +6.2 | +8.9 | +15.1 | A |
| 3 | CLE | 78-84 | +5.8 | +4.0 | +9.8 | B |
| 4 | MIN | 96-66 | +1.1 | +8.5 | +9.6 | B |
| 5 | LAA | 89-73 | -1.1 | +9.5 | +8.4 | B |
| 6 | TOR | 87-75 | +6.9 | +1.4 | +8.3 | B |
| 7 | ATL | 79-83 | +7.2 | +0.7 | +7.9 | B |
| 8 | PHI | 85-77 | +8.5 | -0.9 | +7.7 | B |
| 9 | NYM | 97-65 | +5.8 | +1.0 | +6.8 | C |
| 10 | CWS | 90-72 | +6.4 | +0.2 | +6.5 | C |
| 11 | SD | 88-74 | +1.6 | +4.5 | +6.1 | C |
| 12 | BOS | 86-76 | +4.4 | +1.3 | +5.7 | C |
| 13 | TEX | 80-82 | +3.4 | +1.4 | +4.8 | C |
| 14 | ARI | 76-86 | +0.3 | +3.6 | +3.9 | C |
| 15 | MIL | 75-87 | -0.9 | +3.6 | +2.7 | C |
| 16 | HOU | 82-80 | -2.0 | +4.5 | +2.6 | C |
| 17 | DET | 95-67 | -1.4 | +3.5 | +2.1 | C |
| 18 | COL | 76-86 | +0.9 | +0.8 | +1.7 | C |
| 19 | FLA | 78-84 | +1.6 | -0.8 | +0.8 | C |
| 20 | OAK | 93-69 | -2.3 | +3.0 | +0.7 | C |
| 21 | SF | 76-85 | -3.1 | +1.9 | -1.2 | D |
| 22 | SEA | 78-84 | -4.3 | +1.9 | -2.4 | D |
| 23 | CIN | 80-82 | -0.5 | -3.6 | -4.1 | F |
| 24 | PIT | 67-95 | -4.9 | +0.5 | -4.4 | F |
| 25 | WSH | 71-91 | +0.9 | -5.9 | -5.0 | F |
| 26 | STL | 83-78 | -0.8 | -5.5 | -6.4 | F |
| 27 | BAL | 70-92 | -1.0 | -5.5 | -6.5 | F |
| 28 | CHC | 66-96 | -1.8 | -5.0 | -6.8 | F |
| 29 | TBD | 61-101 | -5.9 | -4.3 | -10.3 | F |
| 30 | KC | 62-100 | -5.7 | -9.2 | -15.0 | F |
How the 2006 season is ranked
Season NUT is one number for production against that season's league average. 0.0 is league average; defense is left out. Players need 100 plate appearances or 25 innings to qualify. Team NUT is the sum of its qualified players.