Building a team with my favorite players
Let's have a little fun.
Ignore whether the player is or has proven to be the best player at his position. We all have favorites. Sometimes it’s because the players is the best. Sometimes, though, it’s about how they play the game, style points, if you will. Often it’s something else, like where they are from or what they stand for off the field.
I’ve built a team, one player at each position, plus a five-rotation, and three-man bullpen, based on my favorites, regardless of how good the player is and where he might rank amongst his positional peers. The only rule? Active players that have appeared in the majors.
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1B: Paul Goldschmidt, St. Louis Cardinals
Goldschmidt happens to be one of the elite first sackers in baseball. I love his athleticism and complete game that includes above-average defense and speed to go with big-time hit and power skills at the plate.
I’m also a big Ty France fan.
2B: Jeff McNeil, New York Mets
McNiel isn’t the best second baseman in baseball, but last year he was Top 3, and he also can play left field to above-average levels. He’s an old-school hitter, spraying the ball around with line drives, making tons of contact, and handling the position well. His new deal with Mets, by the way? Incredible bargain.
I also really like Nico Hoerner in Chicago.
3B: Ke’Bryan Hayes, Pittsburgh
He’s flashed at the plate and has tools to project to 20 homers and 20 stolen bases, but hasn;t figured it all out yet. He does make enough contact, but the swing and timing need work to help him create leverage and avoid pounding the ball into the turf. Hayes, however, is a tremendous defensive third baseman (24 DRS, 34 OAA in 2022), and just turned 26.
SS: Francisco Lindor, New York Mets
Cisco has been my favorite player in the league since he debuted in 2015 at age 21. He’s ammassed 42.0 fWAR since then, eight more wins above replacement than the next-best shortstop Xander Bogaerts. Lindor remains among the best defensive shortstops in baseball, and can do it all offensively, including hit for power and steal bases.
Also a huge Dansby Swanson fan, and Trea Turner is a lot of fun to watch, particularly after he makes contact.
C: Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners
Raleigh went from third-rounc pick to Top 5 catcher in baseball in under four years, despite a lot of scouts doubting his long-term abilities in all facets. He’s as tough as nails, understands the position, and packs a wallop when he digs in at the plate. Raleigh plays the game like a star, but it looks like a big kid in the sandlot. How can you not love Cal?
I’m also a big fan of Adley Rutschman in Baltimore. He’s the most gifted backstop in baseball and has a chance to win an MVP or two.
OF: Julio Rodriguez, Seattle Mariners
Back in 2018, I saw Rodriguez in Class-A West Virginia. He was 17 years old and playing centerfield. He struck out in his first plate appearance, went hitless in his first two, and didn’t get a ball hit to him until about the fifth inning of a 5-1 losing effort. But when he made the catch to end the frame, he ran off the field with an enormous smile. For me, that is when Franchise was born.
No one plays the game with as much apparent joy as Rodriguez. He’s a treasure.
OF: Mookie Betts, Los Angeles DodgersI mean, come on. The dude is 5-foot-9, 180 pounds, and can do anything. ANYTHING. He can play center, might be the game’s best right fielder the last 10 years, and the Dodgers are considering using him at second base in 2023. He can dunk, he’s bowled perfect games, has won an MVP, and his worst full season since he became a full-time player was his 4-win season in 2021 when he played just 122 games and battled some nagging injuries. He still posted a 130 wRC+ that year. Betts has a chance at 300 homers and 300 steals, though he’s falling behind in the bags department (32 over the last three years, 158 for his career).
OF: Cody Bellinger, Chicago Cubs
This is mostly style since Bellinger’s performance started slipping in 2020, but the swing is as easthetically pleasing as any in baseball, the power remains huge, and he’s a terrific athlete.
Also a big fan of Tyler O’Neill, Taylor Trammell, Corbin Carroll, and Bryce Harper.
DH: Nelson Cruz, San Diego Padres
No-brainer. I know Cruz is finally showing his age, but what a tremendous career and a joy to watch play baseball, particularly once he became a full-time DH. By all accounts he’s a great teammate, but let’s get back to the bat.
Cruz left the Rangers in 2013 at age 32 after a 137 wRC+, 27-HR season. At that point, he had a .268/.327/.495 slash with 157 homers. Since then, his age-33-41 seasons, Cruz has posted a .278/.355/.528 line with 302 homers and a 139 wRC+, despite batting just .234/.313/.337 a year ago.
SP: Corbin Burnes, Milwaukee Brewers
Burnes throws gas, paints like a finesse arm with all five pitches, and ranks No. 1 in baseball over the last three seasons in pitcher fWAR, strikeout rate, K-BB%, BAA, xFIP, and FIP. Sign me up. Power guys that paint are fun. You’ll notice a pattern here for me.
SP: George Kirby, Seattle Mariners
Kirby is on his way to frontline status after a 3-win rookie season where he was basically Burnes lite. Five pitches, up to 98 mph, plus command… what’s not to like? Another power painter.
SP: Shane Bieber, Cleveland Guardians
Bieber doesn’t throw as hard as Burnes or Kirby, but touches 94 mph and locates his entire arsenal.
SP: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels
Ohtani’s hitting has somewhat overshadowed what he’s done on the mound, but he’s a legit ace with Cy Young stuff. His athleticism and raw stuff make him fun to watch. He has one of elite secondary combos in baseball with his slider and splitter, and that comes off mid-to-high 90s heat.
SP: Shane McClanahan, Tampa Bay Rays
I love left-handed curveballs, and McClanahan’s is among the very best in baseball. I was in a bad mood until I just went and watched a bunch of the lefties curveballs. Ahhhhhh. All good now.
RP: Edwin Diaz, New York Mets
Diaz blows straight gas, and his slider can be untouchable, but it’s the aura, entrance music, smile, and respect for the game I love most. He’s a joy.
RP: Emmanuel Clase, Cleveland Guardians
For obvious reasons… That hard cutter is ridiculous!
RP: Paul Sewald, Seattle Mariners
The angle, the four-seam value despite ordinary velocity, and the passion he displays makes Sewald one of my favorite current players, period.