Old but still good, these 9 vets are key in 2020

We love the kids with all their speed, enthusiasm and absolutely unlimited potential. Their impact on Major League Baseball has never been greater than right now.

That doesn’t mean the older players have gone away or that they are of any less value. In fact, it’s some of our favorite veteran players who just might decide an assortment of playoff berths -- and playoff series -- in 2020.

• An all 40-and-up squad you wouldn't want to face

Here are nine:

1) Justin Verlander, RHP, Astros (age 37)

If he’s healthy, the Astros could be MLB’s best team. If he’s not, it’ll be a challenge to hold off the A’s and Angels in the AL West. How’s that for a simple bottom line? The Astros are optimistic Verlander, who underwent right groin surgery in March and would have missed at least the first two months of the regular season, has another season of greatness in him.

2) Rich Hill, LHP, Twins (age 40)

All the Twins were asking out of Hill, who is recovering from left elbow surgery was, say, a dozen starts. Now, they’re hopeful he’ll be ready for Opening Day, and given his 2.91 ERA the past five seasons, he might just elevate a solid rotation to another level. In the AL Central race, he could be a difference-maker.

3) Robinson Canó, 2B, Mets (age 37)

He had a disappointing first season with the Mets with a .736 OPS that was more than 100 points below his career average. Despite 53 home runs from Pete Alonso, the Mets were seventh in the NL in runs, and getting a big year from Canó would go a long way toward getting them back in the postseason.

4) Joey Votto, 1B, Reds (age 36)

Only five teams scored fewer runs than Cincinnati in 2019, and the front office did its part by adding Nick Castellanos, Mike Moustakas and Shogo Akiyama to the lineup. Now the Reds need to get their superstar back to normalcy after his worst season. He showed up early for Spring Training 1.0 for the first time and said he was as excited about this season as he’d been in a long time. Here’s betting he has a monster season.

5) Cole Hamels, LHP, Braves (age 36)

On a team with virtually no weaknesses and a deep pitching staff, Hamels brings a resume that includes 16 postseason starts for three different clubs. He appears to be recovered from spring shoulder inflammation, and the Braves have so much depth they can monitor his workload to have him at his best for the stretch run.

6) Jake Arrieta, RHP, Phillies (age 34)

He’s healthy for the first time since 2017, and because of that, he is mentally recharged as well. He’ll slide into the Phillies’ rotation behind Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler to give them a potentially playoff-worthy front three.

7) Howie Kendrick, UTIL, Nationals (age 36)

He was invaluable to the 2019 World Series champions in playing four positions and then hitting the two biggest home runs of the postseason. With Anthony Rendon having departed via free agency and Ryan Zimmerman choosing not to play, Kendrick will be vital to the Nationals’ chances of repeating.

8) Charlie Morton, RHP, Rays (age 36)

Three years after wondering if he’d even be wanted in free agency, Morton has emerged as one of the best players in either league and one of the most admired. He begins his 13th season as a critical part of what could be MLB’s best pitching staff.

9) Jon Lester, LHP, Cubs (age 36)

He injured his left hamstring running the bases in the Cubs’ home opener last season and never really hit his stride in what turned into one of his most frustrating seasons. He’s healthy again, and even with Yu Darvish and Kyle Hendricks taking the top spots in the Cubs’ rotation, Lester is again one of the keys to a playoff run.