Naming the All-Division Team for Every MLB Division

Back in February, I wrote an article naming my All-Prospect team for each division, and it sparked some good debate among readers.

That said, the prospect world is not for everyone. So in an effort to appeal to a larger audience, I turned my attention to the big leagues.

Picking a full 25-man roster, I assembled what I felt was the best possible team that each division had to offer, with 13 position players and 12 pitchers selected for each team.

For the sake of making it easier to compare all six lineups, I selected a DH for the NL teams as well as the AL teams. For all of you baseball purists out there, I apologize in advance for that.

My approach to building the teams was not long term in scope. I was strictly looking to build the best team for the 2013 season.

With big-name players failing to make the cut for their respective divisions, your ideal teams will no doubt differ from mine. But that's the beauty of an article like this.

Let the debate begin.

AL East

Starting Lineup

SS Jose Reyes, TOR
CF Adam Jones, BAL 
2B Robinson Cano, NY
RF Jose Bautista, TOR
1B Mark Teixeira, NY
3B Evan Longoria, TB
DH Edwin Encarnacion, TOR
C Matt Wieters, BAL
CF Curtis Granderson, NY

Bench

C J.P. Arencibia, TOR
2B Dustin Pedroia, BOS
SS Derek Jeter, NY
UT Ben Zobrist, TB

Offense Analysis

This team is stacked with power hitters, as everyone outside of Reyes and Wieters is more than capable of hitting 30 home runs.

Encarnacion gets the nod over David Ortiz due in part to the fact that he is capable of playing third base. Without him, there would be no other backup for the injury-prone Longoria.

The versatile Zobrist edges out Jacoby Ellsbury and Nick Markakis for the backup outfield spot, while Arencibia gets the nod over Jarrod Saltalamacchia for backup catcher duties.

Rotation

LHP CC Sabathia, NY
RHP R.A. Dickey, TOR
LHP David Price, TB
RHP Jeremy Hellickson, TB
LHP Mark Buehrle, TOR 

Bullpen

LHP Jon Lester, BOS
RHP Pedro Strop, BAL
LHP Darren Oliver, TOR
RHP David Robertson, NY
RHP Fernando Rodney, TB
RHP Jim Johnson, BAL
RHP Mariano Rivera, NY 

Pitching Analysis

The top three in the rotation rank right up there with the best in the game, but I'll give the veteran workhorse Sabathia the nod as staff ace.

After those three, there were a number of guys to choose from. I like the upside of Hellickson and the proven durability of Buehrle over guys like Brandon Morrow, Josh Johnson and Hiroki Kuroda, among others.

Oliver secures the last bullpen spot over Red Sox closer Joel Hanrahan due to the need for a second left-hander in the bullpen. Rodney, Johnson and Rivera give the back end three of the best late-inning arms in the business.

AL Central

Starting Lineup

CF Austin Jackson, DET
C Joe Mauer, MIN
3B Miguel Cabrera, DET
1B Prince Fielder, DET
DH Billy Butler, KC
RF Nick Swisher, CLE
LF Alex Gordon, KC
SS Asdrubal Cabrera, CLE
2B Jason Kipnis, CLE 

Bench

C Salvador Perez, KC
1B Paul Konkero, CWS
SS Alcides Escobar, KC
OF Josh Willingham, MIN

Offense Analysis

The lineup has some star power in guys like Cabrera, Fielder, Butler and Mauer, and they form a dynamic middle of the lineup. Budding star Austin Jackson sets the table for that group.

The Indians trio of Swisher, Kipnis and Cabrera, along with Kansas City's Alex Gordon, rank as second-tier players. Escobar would need to branch out and prove capable of manning second and third base as well as his natural shortstop position, but he has the defensive talent to do so.

Perez earns backup catcher honors over Carlos Santana, and Willingham gets the fourth outfielder spot over Alex Rios in another tough decision.

Rotation

RHP Justin Verlander, DET
LHP Chris Sale, CWS
RHP James Shields, KC
RHP Jake Peavy, CWS
RHP Max Scherzer, DET 

Bullpen

RHP Joaquin Benoit, DET
LHP Tim Collins, KC
RHP Addison Reed, CWS
LHP Glen Perkins, MIN
RHP Vinnie Pestano, CLE
RHP Greg Holland, KC
RHP Chris Perez, CLE 

Pitching Analysis

Any rotation fronted by Verlander and rounded out by Scherzer isn't too shabby, and the staff appears to be the biggest strength of the team.

Unlike the other divisions, the AL Central has just one frontline closer in Perez, but they have a bevy of impressive setup relievers.

Guys like Phil Coke, Aaron Crow, Matt Thornton, Nate Jones and Joe Smith are all terrific options as well and could be considered interchangeable with a number of the selected relievers.

AL West

Starting Lineup

CF Mike Trout, LA
2B Ian Kinsler, TEX
1B Albert Pujols, LA
LF Josh Hamilton, LA
3B Adrian Beltre, TEX
RF Yoenis Cespedes, OAK
DH Nelson Cruz, TEX
C A.J. Pierzynski, TEX
SS Elvis Andrus, TEX 

Bench

C Jesus Montero, SEA
1B/OF Michael Morse, SEA
2B Jose Altuve, HOU
OF Josh Reddick, OAK 

Offense Analysis

The starting lineup is essentially a meshing of the best pieces from the Rangers and Angels, two of the league's best offenses, with A's slugger Yoenis Cespedes thrown in for good measure.

The catcher and shortstop positions are incredibly thin in the division, while second base is solid from top to bottom. 

Reddick could push for a starting job if he is able to duplicate last season's output, but for now we'll give the starting gig to the more proven Cruz. Whether or not Altuve can play shortstop and third off the bench is a big question as well.

Rotation

RHP Felix Hernandez, SEA
RHP Jered Weaver, LA
LHP C.J. Wilson, LA
RHP Yu Darvish, TEX
LHP Matt Harrison, TEX 

Bullpen

RHP Jarrod Parker, OAK
LHP Scott Downs, LA
RHP Tom Wilhelmsen, SEA
LHP Sean Burnett, LA
RHP Grant Balfour, OAK
RHP Ryan Madson, LA
RHP Joe Nathan, TEX 

Pitching Analysis

The No. 5 starter was one of the toughest decisions I had in any divisions. Parker, Brett Anderson, Tom Milone, Derek Holland and bounce-back candidate Tommy Hanson were all viable options.

As its stands, the staff is fronted by two of the elite arms in the game, with Darvish capable of taking that next step and joining the upper echelon in his second season in the states.

Downs earns the final bullpen spot over the likes of Ernesto Frieri and Ryan Cook due to a need for a second left-hander. I'm also banking on Madson returning to form post-Tommy John surgery in the setup role.

NL East

Starting Lineup

SS Ian Desmond, WAS
CF Bryce Harper, WAS
RF Giancarlo Stanton, MIA
1B Ryan Howard, PHI
3B David Wright, NY
DH Ryan Zimmerman, WAS
LF Justin Upton, ATL
C Brian McCann, ATL
2B Dan Uggla, ATL 

Bench

C Carlos Ruiz, PHI
1B Ike Davis, NYM
SS Andrelton Simmons, ATL
OF Jason Heyward, ATL

Offense Analysis

The lineup is an impressive one, with two of the best young sluggers in the game in Harper and Stanton flanked by proven veterans Howard, Wright and Zimmerman.

Catcher is relatively weak, and McCann and Ruiz could wind up in a platoon to keep them both fresh. Second base is also weak, as the power of Uggla beats out an aging Chase Utley and Danny Espinosa.

Heyward edges out his new teammate B.J. Upton for the fourth outfield spot. Count me among those drinking the Kool-Aid on Simmons; he gets the infield bench spot over Jimmy Rollins.

Rotation

LHP Cole Hamels, PHI
RHP Stephen Strasburg, WAS
LHP Cliff Lee, PHI
LHP Gio Gonzalez, WAS
LHP Jon Niese, NYM 

Bullpen

RHP Kris Medlen, ATL
RHP Mike Adams, PHI
LHP Jonny Venters, ATL
RHP Steve Cishek, MIA
RHP Tyler Clippard, WAS
RHP Jonathan Papelbon, PHI
RHP Craig Kimbrel, ATL

Pitching Analysis

Another tough call for the No. 5 starter spot. I went with the upside of Niese emerging as the Mets' ace over Tim Hudson, Jordan Zimmermann and teammate Matt Harvey. 

Medlen gets the nod for the long-relief spot over the aforementioned trio. This was not only due to his phenomenal second half last season, but because he has experience working out of the 'pen.

I've tried my best to get two left-handers in every team's bullpen. Still, there was just no way to leave any of these guys off in favor of someone from the crop of Antonio Bastardo, Eric O'Flaherty or Josh Edgin.

NL Central

Starting Lineup

SS Starlin Castro, CHI
2B Brandon Phillips, CIN
LF Ryan Braun, MIL
1B Joey Votto, CIN
CF Andrew McCutchen, PIT 
3B Aramis Ramirez, MIL
RF Jay Bruce, CIN
DH Matt Holliday, STL
C Yadier Molina, STL

Bench

C Jonathan Lucroy, MIL
1B/OF Allen Craig, STL
2B Rickie Weeks, MIL
3B David Freese, STL

Offense Analysis

Considering the NL Central is often viewed as one of the worst divisions in baseball, they can still assemble a very strong lineup among their five teams.

The Braun-Votto-McCutchen trio may be the best middle of the order in any division. Aside from their terrific power from top to bottom, everyone outside of Bruce is capable of hitting .300.

Craig could push for a starting job over either Bruce or Holliday, while Weeks gets onto the roster as really the only plus middle infielder in the division outside of the two starters.

Rotation

RHP Adam Wainwright, STL
RHP Yovani Gallardo, MIL
RHP Johnny Cueto, CIN
RHP Mat Latos, CIN
RHP Jeff Samardzija, CHI

Bullpen

RHP Mitchell Boggs, STL
RHP Jared Hughes, PIT
LHP Sean Marshall, CIN
RHP Jason Grilli, PIT
RHP John Axford, MIL
LHP Aroldis Chapman, CIN
RHP Jason Motte, STL

Pitching Analysis

The NL Central rotation has five solid starters, but they lack the top-tier ace that the other divisions can boast. Wainwright got the nod as the No. 1, but anyone could wind up being the ace.

Chapman moves back to the bullpen where he thrived last year. He serves in a setup role, though he may in fact be the best closing option on a team filled with unappreciated relievers.

Samardzija gets the call as No. 5 starter over Homer Bailey, Jaime Garcia, A.J. Burnett and Bronson Arroyo. In my mind, he has the highest upside of that group for the upcoming season.

NL West

Starting Lineup

DH Hanley Ramirez, LA
2B Aaron Hill, ARI 
CF Matt Kemp, LA
1B Adrian Gonzalez, LA
C Buster Posey, SF
LF Carlos Gonzalez, COL
SS Troy Tulowitzki, COL 
3B Chase Headley, SD
RF Andre Ethier, LA

Bench

C Miguel Montero, ARI
1B Paul Goldschmidt, ARI
IF/OF Martin Prado, ARI
3B Pablo Sandoval, SF

Offense Analysis

Top to bottom, this gets my vote for the best lineup of any division. There is a legitimate star at every position, and the entire bench is capable of starting without the team losing much.

Prado is as valuable a player to have off the bench as anyone. He can play just about anywhere and hits over .300 with decent power.

Dexter Fowler, Carlos Quentin and a potentially healthy Carl Crawford were edged out for the final bench spot by Sandoval.

Rotation

LHP Clayton Kershaw, LA
RHP Matt Cain, SF
RHP Zack Greinke, LA
LHP Madison Bumgarner, SF
RHP Ian Kennedy, ARI

Bullpen

RHP Luke Gregerson, SD
RHP David Hernandez, ARI
LHP Jeremy Affeldt, SF
RHP Kenley Jansen, LA
RHP J.J. Putz, ARI
RHP Sergio Romo, SF
RHP Huston Street, SD

Pitching Analysis

The Kershaw-Cain duo at the top of the rotation would be deadly, and Greinke and Bumgarner are solid second-tier guys behind them.

The uncertainty surrounding Tim Lincecum kept him off the roster, but he could certainly prove himself worthy of a spot quickly. He was joined by Trevor Cahill, Wade Miley, Brandon McCarthy, Edinson Volquez and Ryan Vogelsong as pitchers who missed out on the No. 5 spot.

The bullpen, though it's without a long reliever and has only one left-hander, may be the best of any division. Street edges out the dynamic Romo for the closer's job based on his track record.