The league’s 2024 All-MLB team will be announced on Thursday, so it’s the perfect time to make my own picks for the best in baseball at each position.
I’ve chosen an All-MLB team for years and it’s always interesting to see how much turnover there is from season to season. Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto were the only players selected this year who also made my team in 2023. Ohtani, of course, is in his own category; he’s the only one to make the team in each of the past three seasons. Also noteworthy: The Dodgers, Yankees and Guardians were the only clubs with two players on my All-MLB team this year.
As always, I have included my choices for top owner, front office executive and manager, but I suspect my player selections will generate the most interest and debate. Let me know in the comments section what you think I got right and wrong.
Note: Player selections were made based on the regular season; postseason performance was not considered. WAR, OPS+ and ERA+ are according to Baseball Reference. MLB advanced stats and percentiles are according to Statcast.
Players
William Contreras has become one of the top catchers in the league. (Benny Sieu / Imagn Images)
Catcher: William Contreras, Brewers
WAR: 4.9 OPS+: 129
William Contreras batted .281/.365/.466 with 37 doubles, 23 home runs, 99 runs scored and 92 RBIs. The 26-year-old catcher won a Silver Slugger Award for the second year in a row and made his second All-Star team. He finished in the 92nd percentile in batting run value, the 94th percentile in average exit velocity and the 91st percentile in hard-hit rate. He graded out above average in framing and pop time as well.
Also considered: Salvador Perez, Yainer Diaz
First base: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays
WAR: 6.2 OPS+: 166
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. slashed .323/.396/.544 with 44 doubles, 30 home runs, 98 runs scored and 103 RBIs. He won his second Silver Slugger Award and made the All-Star team for the fourth consecutive year. He finished in the 98th percentile in batting run value, xwOBA, xSLG and average exit velocity, and in the 100th percentile in xBA.
Also considered: Bryce Harper, Freddie Freeman, Christian Walker
Second base: Ketel Marte, Diamondbacks
WAR: 6.8 OPS+: 155
Ketel Marte was the MVP of the Diamondbacks this year and should finish third in the National League MVP voting behind Shohei Ohtani and Francisco Lindor. Marte slashed. 292/.372/.560 with 23 doubles, 36 home runs, 93 runs scored, 95 RBIs and seven stolen bases in eight attempts. He made his second All-Star team (but first since 2019) and won his first Silver Slugger Award. He finished in the 96th percentile in batting run value, xBA, xSLG and hard-hit percentage; the 97th percentile in xwOBA; and the 98th percentile in average exit velocity.
Also considered: Jose Altuve
Bobby Witt Jr. had a breakout season this year. (Daniel Shirey / MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Shortstop: Bobby Witt Jr., Royals
WAR: 9.4 OPS+: 171
Bobby Witt Jr. is expected to finish second in the American League MVP voting behind Aaron Judge. The 24-year-old phenom slashed .332/.389/.588 with 45 doubles, 11 triples, 32 home runs, 125 runs scored, 109 RBIs and 31 steals. He led the majors in hits and batting average. He became the first shortstop in MLB history with two 30-30 seasons (home runs, steals). He made his first All-Star team and won his first Gold Glove Award. He finished in the 99th percentile in batting run value, base running value and outs above average (defensive range). He was in the 100th percentile in xBA and sprint speed.
Also considered: Francisco Lindor
Third base: José Ramírez, Guardians
WAR: 6.8 OPS+: 143
José Ramírez is expected to finish in the top five in the AL MVP voting for the fifth time in his career. (It would be his seventh top-10 MVP finish through his age-31 season.) He batted .279/.335/.537 with 39 doubles, 39 home runs, 114 runs scored, 118 RBIs and 41 stolen bases. He made his fourth consecutive All-Star team (sixth overall) and won his fifth Silver Slugger Award. He finished in the 96th percentile in batting run value, the 98th percentile in K% and the 83rd percentile in outs above average. He’s fundamentally sound and always hustles, even on routine groundouts. His intangibles are off the charts. In my opinion, he’s a future Hall of Famer.
Also considered: Rafael Devers, Manny Machado, Matt Chapman
Right field: Juan Soto, Yankees
WAR: 7.9 OPS+: 178
Juan Soto was my preseason pick for AL MVP; he won’t end up winning the award, but he’s expected to be third or fourth in the voting. Soto slashed .288/.419/.569 with 31 doubles, 41 home runs, a league-leading 128 runs scored, 109 RBIs and 129 walks. He made his fourth All-Star team and won his fifth Silver Slugger Award. He finished in the 100th percentile in batting run value, xwOBA and BB%. He was in the 98th or 99th percentile in xBA, xSLG, average exit velocity, barrel percentage, hard-hit rate and chase rate. He’s about to become the highest paid player in MLB history based on net present value. (Note: Soto made my All-MLB team last year as a left fielder with the Padres.)
Center field: Aaron Judge, Yankees
WAR: 10.8 OPS+: 223
Aaron Judge was the best overall player in MLB this year. He led the league in WAR, home runs (58), RBIs (144), walks (133), on-base percentage (.458), slugging percentage (.701), OPS (1.159) and total bases (392). He made his sixth All-Star team, won his fourth Silver Slugger Award and soon will win his second AL MVP Award. He finished in the 100th percentile in batting run value, xwOBA, xSLG, average exit velocity, barrel percentage, hard-hit rate and walk rate. He was in the 83rd percentile in arm value and the 75th percentile in arm strength despite being below average overall defensively in center field.
Left field: Teoscar Hernández, Dodgers
WAR: 4.3 OPS+: 137
Teoscar Hernández had arguably the best year of his career, batting .272/.339/.501 with 32 doubles, 33 home runs, 84 runs scored, 99 RBIs and 12 stolen bases in 15 attempts. He made his second All-Star team, won his third Silver Slugger Award and even won the Home Run Derby to boot. He finished in the 90th percentile in batting run value, the 91st percentile in xSLG and the 94th percentile in barrel rate. He was in the 70th percentile in arm strength and the 83rd percentile in sprint speed. He’s a below-average defender in left field but a strong presence in the clubhouse and a player who posts every day with high energy and enthusiasm.
Also considered: Jurickson Profar, Riley Greene, Steven Kwan, Jackson Chourio, Bryan Reynolds
Shohei Ohtani had quite a year. (Kiyoshi Mio / Imagn Images)
Designated hitter: Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers
WAR: 9.2 OPS+: 190
Shohei Ohtani is expected to win his third MVP Award and first in the NL. He batted .310/.390/.646 and led the league with 731 plate appearances, 134 runs scored, 54 home runs, 130 RBIs and 411 total bases. (He also led the league in OBP, SLG and OPS.) He stole 59 bases in 63 attempts. He opened the 50-50 Club as only he could, with one of the best single-game offensive performances ever. He made his fourth All-Star team and won his third Silver Slugger Award. He finished in the 99th percentile in batting run value and xBA and in the 100th percentile in xSLG, average exit velocity, barrel percentage and hard-hit rate. And despite all those amazing numbers and accomplishments, he surely cares most about one I haven’t even mentioned yet: winning his first World Series.
(Note: Marcell Ozuna deserves a special mention for his strong season, but Ohtani was the only player “considered” here, for obvious reasons.)
Starting pitcher: Tarik Skubal, Tigers
WAR: 6.3 ERA+: 170
Tarik Skubal led the AL in wins (18), ERA (2.39), strikeouts (228) and FIP (2.50). He made his first All-Star team and soon will win the AL Cy Young Award. Batters hit .197 against his four-seam fastball, .216 against his changeup, .207 against his two-seamer, .169 against his slider and .158 against his knuckle curve. He finished in the 100th percentile in pitching run value, the 99th percentile in fastball run value and the 93rd percentile in offspeed run value.
Also considered: Chris Sale
Closer: Emmanuel Clase, Guardians
WAR: 4.4 ERA+: 674
Emmanuel Clase will soon win the Mariano Rivera Award, given to the best reliever in the AL, and he dominated like Rivera in the regular season. Clase led the AL in games finished (66) and saves (47) for the third consecutive year. He made the All-Star team for the third straight year. He posted an astounding 0.61 ERA, allowing only 39 hits in 74 1/3 innings. He finished in the 98th percentile in pitching run value and the 99th percentile in fastball run value.
Also considered: Ryan Helsley, Kirby Yates, Raisel Iglesias
Front office and field staff
Owner: Mark Walter, Dodgers
Mark Walter approved more than a billion dollars in future payroll commitments last offseason. He allowed president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, general manager Brandon Gomes and manager Dave Roberts to make all the baseball decisions without interference. He always provides the necessary resources so this franchise can pursue World Series titles. He deserves more credit for the Dodgers’ success than he’s received.
Executive: Andrew Friedman, Dodgers
Andrew Friedman not only landed Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in free agency but also signed Teoscar Hernández to a one-year “pillow” contract that was a big success for the team and player. However, Friedman’s pivotal in-season moves — including a lopsided three-way trade that netted shortstop/center fielder Tommy Edman and reliever Michael Kopech and his deadline day deal for starter Jack Flaherty — made him the pick here. Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller and Royals GM J.J. Picollo deserved consideration as well.
Manager: Dave Roberts, Dodgers
Dave Roberts secured his place as a future Hall of Fame manager with an outstanding postseason, winning his second World Series title in four years. In nine years as manager of the Dodgers, Roberts has an 851-506 record (.627 winning percentage). The Dodgers have made the playoffs in all of those nine seasons and won the NL West in eight of nine. Roberts now has four pennants and two world championships to his name, but this was his best year as a manager as he had 12 starting pitchers spend time on the injured list and still found a way to lead his team to the best regular-season record followed by an outstanding postseason run. So many managers had impressive seasons — including Matt Quatraro, Stephen Vogt, A.J. Hinch, Pat Murphy, Carlos Mendoza and Mike Shildt — but Roberts gets the nod here. He’s one of the game’s best motivators and best human beings as well.
My past All-MLB teams
2023
Catcher: Adley Rutschman, Orioles
First base: Matt Olson, Braves
Second base: Marcus Semien, Rangers
Shortstop: Corey Seager, Rangers
Third base: Austin Riley, Braves
Right field: Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves
Center field: Julio Rodríguez, Mariners
Left field: Juan Soto, Padres
Designated hitter: Shohei Ohtani, Angels
Starting pitcher: Gerrit Cole, Yankees
Closer: Félix Bautista, Orioles
Owner: Steve Cohen, Mets
Executive: Alex Anthopoulos, Braves
Manager: Bruce Bochy, Rangers
2022
Catcher: J.T. Realmuto, Phillies
First base: Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals
Second base: Jose Altuve, Astros
Shortstop: Carlos Correa, Twins
Third base: Manny Machado, Padres
Right field: Aaron Judge, Yankees
Center field: Mike Trout, Angels
Left field: Steven Kwan, Guardians
Designated hitter: Shohei Ohtani, Angels
Starting pitcher: Justin Verlander, Astros
Closer: Edwin Díaz, Mets
Owner: Peter Seidler, Padres
Executive: Andrew Friedman, Dodgers
Manager: Terry Francona, Guardians
(Top image: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic. Photos: Nic Antaya / MLB Photos / Getty Images; Mary DeCicco / MLB Photos / Getty Images; Brace Hemmelgarn / Minnesota Twins / Getty Images)