B/R's All-MLB Team Roster for the 2024 Season
It's time to honor the best of the best across Major League Baseball during the 2024 season with Bleacher Report's All-MLB Team roster.
The rosters consist of one player at each position, five starting pitchers and two relief pitchers, with the three outfielders chosen from the full pool of outfielders and not specific to any one position. Players were selected based solely on their 2024 production.
Our panel of voters was made up of the following MLB experts:
Eric Ball, B/R MLB deputy editor
Jason Dunbar, B/R staff editor
Tim Kelly, B/R MLB writer
Kerry Miller, B/R MLB writer
Joel Reuter, B/R MLB writer
Zach Rymer, B/R MLB writer
There were 10 unanimous selections among the 16-player roster, with the final outfield spot and final starting pitching spot the most hotly contested, but in the end, there was a clear consensus for our 2024 All-MLB team selections.
Enjoy.
Catcher: William Contreras, Milwaukee Brewers
1 of 16
Stats: 155 G, 129 OPS+, .281/.365/.466, 62 XBH (23 HR), 92 RBI, 4.9 WAR
Two years later, it looks like the Milwaukee Brewers are the clear winners in the three-team deal that sent fellow catcher Sean Murphy to the Atlanta Braves and a haul of prospects to the Oakland Athletics.
Contreras, 26, posted his third straight season with a 120 OPS+ while setting career-high marks in home runs (23), RBI (93), total bases (277) and WAR (4.9).
He also threw out 23 percent of base stealers and graded out as a solid pitch-framer, and he has developed into a far better defensive catcher than expected when he was first acquired after serving primarily as a DH with the Braves.
Others Receiving Votes: Cal Raleigh, SEA (1)
First Baseman: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays
2 of 16
Stats: 159 G, 166 OPS+, .323/.396/.544, 75 XBH (30 HR), 103 RBI, 6.2 WAR
After a down season relative to his own lofty standards in 2023, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. continued trending in the wrong direction when he hit .229/.331/.348 during the first month of the 2024 campaign.
However, he hit .345/.412/.590 with 39 doubles, 27 home runs and 92 RBI in 128 games the rest of the way, leaving little doubt he was the most productive player at his position during the 2024 season.
Now the focus shifts to his upcoming free agency, with only one year of arbitration control remaining. Will the Toronto Blue Jays lock him up with a long-term extension, or will he be playing elsewhere in 2026 and beyond?
Others Receiving Votes: None
Second Baseman: Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks
3 of 16
Stats: 136 G, 155 OPS+, .292/.372/.560, 61 XBH (36 HR), 95 RBI, 6.8 WAR
Ketel Marte hit .329/.380/.534 over 79 plate appearances last postseason, setting a record with a 20-game playoff hitting streak while leading the Arizona Diamondbacks to an unexpected World Series run.
The 31-year-old picked up right where he left off this season, and he put together an even better season than his 2019 breakout when he finished fourth in NL MVP balloting.
- 2019: 144 G, 149 OPS+, 32 HR, 92 RBI, 6.9 WAR
- 2024: 136 G, 155 OPS+, 36 HR, 95 RBI, 6.8 WAR
In a down year at second base in terms of offensive standouts, Marte was an easy choice ahead of AL standouts Jose Altuve (HOU) and Marcus Semien (TEX).
Others Receiving Votes: None
Third Baseman: José Ramírez, Cleveland Guardians
4 of 16
Stats: 158 G, 143 OPS+, .279/.335/.537, 80 XBH (39 HR), 118 RBI, 41 SB, 6.8 WAR
José Ramírez has been, arguably, the most underrated superstar in baseball for nearly a decade, and he came one home run shy of quietly joining the 40/40 club while again doing a lot of the heavy lifting offensively for the Cleveland Guardians.
The 32-year-old posted the fifth 6-WAR season of his terrific career in 2024, and he will almost certainly finish in the Top 10 in AL MVP voting for the seventh time in the past eight seasons.
With all due respect to Matt Chapman, Rafael Devers, Manny Machado and Eugenio Suárez who came on strong down the stretch, there is little doubt who baseball's best third baseman was this year.
Others Receiving Votes: None
Shortstop: Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals
5 of 16
Stats: 161 G, 171 OPS+, .332/.389/.588, 88 XBH (32 HR), 109 RBI, 31 SB, 9.4 WAR
It feels unfair to overlook the season Gunnar Henderson had for the Baltimore Orioles and the MVP-caliber production Francisco Lindor provided as the most important player on the New York Mets roster, but Bobby Witt Jr. was simply in a league of his own.
After showing steady improvement during his first two seasons in the majors, the 24-year-old broke through as a bona fide superstar in 2024, leading the Kansas City Royals to an unexpected playoff berth a year after they finished 56-106.
Witt led the AL in batting average (.332) and hits (211), became the first shortstop in MLB history with multiple 30/30 seasons, and showed significant improvement defensively to earn a spot alongside Brayan Rocchio (CLE) and Anthony Volpe (NYY) as AL Gold Glove finalists.
Others Receiving Votes: None
Outfielder: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
6 of 16
Stats: 158 G, 223 OPS+, .322/.458/.701, 95 XBH (58 HR), 144 RBI, 10.8 WAR
Postseason struggles aside, it has been another fantastic season for Aaron Judge, who will almost certainly take home AL MVP honors in a few weeks.
He fell short of reaching the 60-homer mark for the second time in his career, but by almost any other measure, he had a better season than his 2022 campaign while leading the AL in home runs (58), RBI (144), walks (133), on-base percentage (.458), slugging (.701), OPS+ (223) and WAR (10.8).
His 223 OPS+ is a difficult number to put into context. No player has reached that mark since Barry Bonds had his ridiculous four-year peak with the San Francisco Giants from 2001-04, and before that it had not been seen since Ted Williams in 1957.
Outfielder: Juan Soto, New York Yankees
7 of 16
Stats: 157 G, 178 OPS+, .288/.419/.569, 76 XBH (41 HR), 109 RBI, 7.9 WAR
The New York Yankees made one of the biggest splashes of the offseason last year when they acquired Juan Soto from the San Diego Padres for a package of five players headlined by controllable starting pitcher Michael King.
The bright lights of New York and the short right field porch at Yankee Stadium proved to be a great fit for Soto, and he put together a fantastic season while slugging a career-high 41 home runs and leading the AL with 128 runs scored hitting ahead of Aaron Judge in the lineup.
Now he is set to reach free agency for the first time in his career, and his Hall of Fame trajectory, coupled with the fact that he just turned 26 years old, likely means a contract north of $500 million awaits this winter.
Outfielder: Jarren Duran, Boston Red Sox
8 of 16
Stats: 160 G, 129 OPS+, .285/.342/.492, 83 XBH (21 HR), 75 RBI, 34 SB, 8.7 WAR
One of the breakout stars of the 2024 season, Jarren Duran built off a solid 2023 season to emerge as one of the most well-rounded players in baseball.
The 28-year-old led the AL in doubles (48) and triples (14) while filling up the stat sheet with 191 hits, 21 home runs, 75 RBI, 111 runs scored, 34 steals and a staggering 8.7 WAR in 160 games.
He also racked up 23 Defensive Runs Saved in the outfield while bouncing between left field and center field. And with club control through the 2028 season, he has quickly become one of the most valuable players on the Red Sox roster.
Others Receiving Votes: Brent Rooker, OAK (2), Jackson Merrill SD (1)
Designated Hitter: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers
9 of 16
Stats: 159 G, 190 OPS+, .310/.390/.646, 99 XBH (54 HR), 130 RBI, 59 SB, 9.2 WAR
It was going to be almost impossible for Shohei Ohtani to live up to the $700 million deal he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers during the offseason, especially with half his game on the shelf as he recovered from elbow surgery.
Never doubt Shohei Ohtani.
Even relegated to strictly DH duties, he was a 9.2-WAR player en route to becoming the first 50/50 player in MLB history with 54 home runs and 59 steals in 63 attempts setting the table for a stacked Dodgers lineup.
Unanimous NL MVP honors likely await him this offseason, and his first year in a Dodgers uniform could not have gone any better.
Others Receiving Votes: None
Starting Pitcher: Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers
10 of 16
Stats: 31 GS, 18-4, 2.39 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 228 K, 192.0 IP, 6.3 WAR
Tarik Skubal teased a breakout season to come in his return from flexor tendon surgery in 2023 when he went 7-3 with a 2.80 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 102 strikeouts in 80.1 innings over 15 starts.
Still, his 2024 season exceeded even the most optimistic of expectations as he took home AL Triple Crown honors while tossing 22 quality starts in 31 outings and leading the Detroit Tigers to an unexpected postseason berth.
The 27-year-old is arbitration eligible through the 2026 season, but he could be a candidate for an early extension this winter, especially after the Tigers balked at the idea of trading him at the deadline before they clawed back into the playoff race.
Starting Pitcher: Chris Sale, Atlanta Braves
11 of 16
Stats: 29 GS, 18-3, 2.38 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 225 K, 177.2 IP, 6.2 WAR
A perennial Cy Young candidate at his peak with the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox, Chris Sale made just 11 total starts and pitched 48.1 total innings during the 2020, 2021 and 2022 seasons while battling injury.
The 35-year-old stayed healthy enough to make 22 starts in 2023, but he was far from his ace-level self with a 4.30 ERA in 102.2 innings, and the Atlanta Braves bought low during the offseason hoping he could at least serve as a back-end starter.
The deal to acquire him along with cash in exchange for Vaughn Grissom now looks like one of the best trades in franchise history, as he took home NL Triple Crown honors and is almost certainly headed for a long-awaited first Cy Young Award.
Starting Pitcher: Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies
12 of 16
Stats: 32 GS, 16-7, 2.57 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 224 K, 200.0 IP, 6.1 WAR
With 26 quality starts in 32 outings, Zack Wheeler gave the Philadelphia Phillies a reasonable shot to win almost every time he took the mound in 2024.
The 34-year-old wrapped up his five-year, $118 million contract this season before a new three-year, $126 million extension kicks in next year, and that initial deal will go down as one of the most successful nine-figure contracts ever given to a starting pitcher.
Wheeler capped off his season with seven scoreless innings of one-hit ball against the New York Mets in the NLDS, adding to one of the most impressive postseason resumes of any active pitcher.
Starting Pitcher: Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates
13 of 16
Stats: 23 GS, 11-3, 1.96 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 170 K, 133.0 IP, 5.9 WAR
If he had broken camp with a spot on the Pittsburgh Pirates roster on Opening Day, Paul Skenes might have joined Fernando Valenzuela as the only rookie pitchers in MLB history to win a Cy Young.
Instead, the 2023 No. 1 overall pick debuted on May 11, and he only allowed more than three earned runs once in 23 starts when he surrendered six hits and four runs on the road against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 10.
Twice he was pulled from a no-hitter, and his 33.1 percent strikeout rate trailed only Garrett Crochet (35.1%) and Blake Snell (34.7%) among all pitchers who worked at least 100 innings during the 2024 season.
Will that be enough for him to edge out San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill in NL Rookie of the Year voting?
Starting Pitcher: Seth Lugo, Kansas City Royals
14 of 16
Stats: 33 GS, 16-9, 3.00 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 181 K, 206.2 IP, 5.3 WAR
The was not a better bang-for-your-buck signing made last offseason than the two-year, $30 million deal the Kansas City Royals gave to veteran Seth Lugo following a successful transition from relief work to starting with the San Diego Padres in 2023.
The 34-year-old tied for the AL lead with 22 quality starts and was one of only four pitchers to reach 200 innings pitched, joining up-and-coming left-hander Cole Ragans atop the rotation to lead the Royals' playoff push.
Using his four-seam fastball and curveball less and his sinker and slurve more helped him unlock a new level of success, and he was as instrumental in his team reaching the postseason as any offseason addition.
Others Receiving Votes: Corbin Burnes, BAL (2), Cole Ragans, KC (2), Logan Gilbert, SEA (1)
Relief Pitcher: Emmanuel Clase, Cleveland Guardians
15 of 16
Stats: 74 G, 47/50 SV, 0.61 ERA, 0.66 WHIP, 8.0 K/9, 4.4 WAR
Armed with a blistering 99.5 mph cutter and a lethal slider that generated a 35.5 percent whiff rate, Emmanuel Clase put together one of the most dominant seasons by a relief pitcher in MLB history.
The 26-year-old allowed just 39 hits in 74.1 innings while limiting opposing batters to a .154 batting average, and he surrendered only eight extra-base hits to the 270 batters he faced during the regular season.
Clase has now led the AL in saves in three consecutive seasons, and while it's unlikely he is going to snatch AL Cy Young honors away from Tarik Skubal, he has a real shot at finishing second in the balloting.
Relief Pitcher: Ryan Helsley, St. Louis Cardinals
16 of 16
Stats: 65 G, 49/53 SV, 2.04 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 10.7 K/9, 3.0 WAR
With a franchise-record 49 saves in 53 chances, Ryan Helsley did his job as consistently as any reliever in baseball while slamming the door for the St. Louis Cardinals.
The 30-year-old averaged 99.6 mph with his fastball and backed it with a slider that generated a ridiculous 51.0 percent whiff rate, giving him the traditional late-inning profile with two power pitches that miss a ton of bats.
With the Cardinals expected to get younger this offseason, he could find himself on the trade block ahead of his final year of arbitration eligibility, and he will be a hot commodity as one of the game's elite relievers.
Others Receiving Votes: Mason Miller, OAK (1), Cade Smith, CLE (1), Kirby Yates, TEX (1)
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