MLB 2012: Who Are the Best Players at Each Position?

As each baseball season progresses, fans debate who they would pick for their ultimate starting lineup.  Fantasy baseball helps them in this department, as does voting for the MLB All-Stars.  Yet, each indulgence is temporary and over within the blink of an eye.

That said, I'd like to propose all of you loyal readers with a horse of a different color.

What if you were the owner of an incoming expansion team and for your first nine picks, could select any active MLB players?  Would you go for a speedy lineup, one heavy with power, or a balanced approach? 

Though it may seem easy, it's actually a tough project!

You see, ladies and gentlemen, I spent all weekend trolling through each MLB roster trying to answer the following question: Who would be featured in MLB's best starting nine?  Well, after much number crunching and self-debate, I think I've found the nine men who fit it best.

Catcher: Yadier Molina

Though Carlos Ruiz and his career season made a strong push for this spot, Yadier Molina and his career year ultimately won out.  The youngest Molina brother is easily the best defensive catcher in his family, having won four consecutive Gold Gloves at his position.

On top of that, Molina has shown some extra pop in his bat this season.  Always a decent hitter for average, he is batting .303 this year with a career-high 16 home runs to go with 51 RBI.

Yet, what really won Molina the starting catcher's job in my starting nine was his championship experience.  At age 30, he has already appeared in three World Series, winning twice (2006, 2011), and holds a career postseason batting average of .309.

His overall experience and leadership qualities would make him a welcome addition not just on a fantasy team, but on any squad.

First Base: Joey Votto

He may only be in his sixth MLB season, but Votto has already blossomed into one of the best first basemen in the game.  He holds a career batting average of .316 and a .412 OBP, making his power hitting all the more impressive.  Currently on the 15-day DL with a knee injury, Votto is hitting .342 with 14 homers and 49 RBI in 2012.

Those stats may be low, considering what we've grown used to seeing from him, but let's not forget that Votto took home the NL MVP Award in 2010, has played in three consecutive All-Star Games and won a Gold Glove last year. 

His career is just beginning, and though he may not be on an elite team, he is certainly an elite player.

Second Base: Robinson Cano

Cano is a special kind of player who, like Votto, hits for a great average as well as good power, and is one of the most clutch hitters in baseball to boot.  He recently played in his third straight All-Star Game and his hitting .316 with 22 home runs (just seven away from his career high set in 2010) and 56 RBI.

Like Molina, Cano's true value comes from his extensive postseason experience, which we can attribute to his playing for the New York Yankees.  He took home a World Series ring in 2009, and while his team's performance in October has been disappointing as of late, he has still hit .329 over the last two Octobers.

That said, is there really anyone else in MLB who would be better suited at second base in this lineup than Cano?

Shortstop: Derek Jeter

Every team needs positive veteran experience, and Jeter is the perfect man for that.  He turned 38 this season, an age at which most professional athletes are on the decline.  This year, the Yankee captain has defied age and is hitting .311 while ranking second in the American League in hits, with 128.  His career total in the hit department currently stands at 3,216.

Yet, all numbers aside, Jeter is just a great leader.  His teammates look up to him and he does a great job of respecting every one of them.  As a result, he has only ever missed the playoffs once in his career.

With a career resume as lengthy as his, including 13 All-Star berths, five Gold Gloves and five World Series rings, he is the obvious answer at shortstop.

Third Base: David Wright

Every team needs a player who will just keep smiling regardless of circumstances, but also lock in when it's time to win the game.  Thus, look no further than David Wright, who will be manning the hot corner on this team.

Wright is having a great bounce-back season, hitting a career-best .331 with 16 homers and 70 RBI.  On a New York Mets team plagued with inconsistency at the plate, he has been a bright spot in the lineup.  Given how well he can run, as well as play the field to Gold Glove standards, Wright easily wins the third base job here.

Left Field: Mike Trout

Now that we've taken care of the infield, it's time to head to the outfield.  Here, I've gone with a simple approach.  To quote Rocky II, we need greasy fast speed.

That said, given how two of the fastest outfielders in the game share a position, I've chosen to put Mike Trout on the team and move him over to left field rather than his usual spot in center.  The 20-year-old rookie phenom is currently leading the AL in batting with a .350 average and also leads the majors with 31 steals.

With his five-tool potential, he is going to do some great work at the top of this batting order.  Unless of course one of his teammates takes the leadoff spot...

Center Field: Andrew McCutchen

McCutchen is a little bit older than Trout at 25 years of age, but he too is putting up such phenomenal numbers that I chose to put Trout in left rather than have the two duke it out for the starting center fielder's job. 

This season, the Pittsburgh Pirates star is batting an astounding .369 with 22 longballs and 66 RBI.  His steal total is a bit low at 14, but trust me, the speed is there.

Simply put, McCutchen is just as good an athlete as Trout, and if you want a one-two punch in terms of speed, these two players are ones who can be counted on to regularly make some dust on the basepaths, not to mention mash some balls out of the park.

Right Field: Giancarlo Stanton

Now, we come to the man in the lineup who is in it to do one thing: wow the fans with his monstrously long home runs. 

Stanton is just 22-years-old, and before he went down with a knee injury this season, he was hitting .284 with 19 home runs and 50 RBI.  Last season, just his second in the majors, he hit 34 homers, so he clearly has potential as a threatening power hitter.

Yet, though he is in the lineup to hit home runs, we cannot ignore that Stanton also has a great outfield arm.  He logged 10 outfield assists last year, and while his speed may not be what we'd like it to be, he's still one of the most electrifying players in the game today.

Pitcher: Justin Verlander

Verlander tossed two no-hitters, is one of just eight pitchers to win the Cy Young and MVP Awards, and has garnered five-All Star berths. 

Oh, and he's just 29 years old.

Thus, is there really a reason why the heavily reliable Justin Verlander SHOULDN'T be the top starting ace for this staff?