Selecting MLB's 2014 Year-End All-Star Teams
With the 2014 MLB regular season set to wrap up Sunday and the postseason kicking off the following Tuesday with the AL Wild Card Game, there's not much time to reflect before playoff baseball takes center stage.
So with just a few days remaining, now is as good a time as any to select our year-end All-Star team for each league.
While the All-Star Game rosters are voted on by the fans and often accompanied by a good deal of controversy, the following year-end All-Star teams were chosen by just one person (me) and will likely also come with a decent amount of controversy.
One player from each position in each league was selected, based on his overall contributions here in 2014.
A runner-up was also named for each position-player spot, while a full five-man rotation and seven-man bullpen was chosen to accompany the top starting pitcher and top closer in each league.
AL Catcher: Yan Gomes, Cleveland Indians
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2014 Stats
| 133 | .282/.315/.478 | 135 | 25 | 21 | 74 | 61 | 0 | 4.5 |
Overview
After quickly playing his way into an everyday role in his first season with the Cleveland Indians a year ago, Yan Gomes wound up posting an .826 OPS with 18 doubles and 11 home runs in just 293 at-bats. Those numbers, coupled with his plus receiving skills, were good for a 4.2 WAR.
They also made him the unquestioned starter behind the plate heading into the season, and he leads all qualified AL catchers in RBI (74), OPS (.793) and total bases (229) on the year. He has a 1.2 dWAR as well, good for fourth-best in the league, as he's undoubtedly been the best all-around catcher in the AL this season.
Runner-Up
Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals
NL Catcher: Jonathan Lucroy, Milwaukee Brewers
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2014 Stats
| 149 | .301/.373/.467 | 171 | 52 | 13 | 68 | 72 | 4 | 6.6 |
Overview
Jonathan Lucroy entered the season as one of the most underrated players in baseball, fresh off a 2013 season in which he hit .280/.340/.455 with 18 home runs and 82 RBI.
He's stepped his game up both offensively and defensively this season, and some deserved recognition has come along with it. Were it not for the Milwaukee Brewers' late-season collapse, he likely would have been among the front-runners for NL MVP honors.
Runner-Up
Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants
AL First Baseman: Jose Abreu, Chicago White Sox
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2014 Stats
| 142 | .316/.381/.580 | 172 | 35 | 35 | 105 | 79 | 3 | 5.3 |
Overview
The Chicago White Sox knew Jose Abreu had plenty of power potential when they inked the Cuban defector to a six-year, $68 million deal this past offseason, but he has exceeded even the most ambitious of predictions here in his rookie season.
After winning AL Player of the Month honors in April, he just kept getting better as the season progressed, and his .318 batting average may be the most surprising stat of all. That's good for sixth in the AL, while his home run and RBI totals both rank third and fourth, respectively.
Runner-Up
Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers
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NL First Baseman: Anthony Rizzo, Chicago Cubs
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2014 Stats
| 137 | .281/.380/.517 | 144 | 26 | 31 | 74 | 87 | 4 | 4.6 |
Overview
After turning some heads in his first extended big league action in 2012, when he had an .805 OPS and 15 home runs in 337 at-bats, Anthony Rizzo took a big step backward in 2013, as his OPS dipped to .742 and he hit just .233 in his first full-season slate of at-bats.
That proved to simply be a minor bump in the road, though, and with Paul Goldschmidt going down at the beginning of August with a fractured hand, Rizzo, 25, claims top honors among NL first basemen here in 2014.
Runner-Up
Adrian Gonzalez, Los Angeles Dodgers
AL Second Baseman: Jose Altuve, Houston Astros
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2014 Stats
| 155 | .343/.379/.455 | 222 | 46 | 7 | 57 | 84 | 56 | 6.0 |
Overview
A case can be made here for Robinson Cano, who has helped turn around what was one of the worst offenses in baseball in Seattle, but it's hard to make a case against Jose Altuve, as he's been phenomenal for the Houston Astros all season.
Provided his nine-point lead over Victor Martinez in the AL batting title race holds up, he'll be the first player since Ichiro Suzuki in 2001 to lead his respective league in average, hits and stolen bases. Still just 24 years old, he's the foundation of the Astros' continued rebuilding efforts.
Runner-Up
Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners
NL Second Baseman: Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies
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2014 Stats
| 151 | .270/.340/.406 | 155 | 33 | 11 | 76 | 72 | 8 | 3.5 |
Overview
For as deep as the second base position was in the AL this season, it's still fairly thin in the NL, as this was essentially a three-man race between Chase Utley, Neil Walker and Dee Gordon.
Utley proved he still has plenty in the tank, even at the age of 35, and he remains perhaps the best all-around second baseman in the NL, as his glove is still a plus on top of a bat that has been one of the most productive the position has ever seen.
Runner-Up
Neil Walker, Pittsburgh Pirates
AL Third Baseman: Josh Donaldson, Oakland Athletics
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2014 Stats
| 154 | .251/.340/.452 | 149 | 31 | 28 | 97 | 90 | 8 | 7.0 |
Overview
Josh Donaldson came out of nowhere to hit .301/.384/.499 with 24 home runs and 93 RBI a year ago, finishing fourth in AL MVP voting, and he's been the Oakland A's offensive leader once again this season.
His overall offensive numbers may not be as good as those of Adrian Beltre or Kyle Seager, but when you factor in his defense, he's an easy choice for top honors among AL third basemen. His 18 defensive runs saved lead the position, while his 14.2 UZR/150 is tops in the AL, according to FanGraphs.
Runner-Up
Adrian Beltre, Texas Rangers
NL Third Baseman: Anthony Rendon, Washington Nationals
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2014 Stats
| 149 | .286/.347/.471 | 172 | 39 | 20 | 81 | 110 | 16 | 6.3 |
Overview
Anthony Rendon broke into the league a year ago as a second baseman, and that's where he opened the 2014 season. But injuries to Ryan Zimmerman allowed him to move back to his natural position of third base, and he shined there both offensively and defensively.
The No. 6 pick and consensus top college bat in the 2011 draft, Rendon currently leads the NL in runs scored (110) and ranks fourth in total bases (283), as he has been the best player on perhaps the most complete team in baseball this season.
Runner-Up
Todd Frazier, Cincinnati Reds
AL Shortstop: Alexei Ramirez, Chicago White Sox
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2014 Stats
| 155 | .276/.308/.414 | 168 | 35 | 15 | 72 | 81 | 21 | 3.1 |
Overview
The shortstop position in the AL has been the weakest spot in all of baseball, and unlike the Midsummer Classic, Derek Jeter is not going to sneak into the lineup here on the strength of a fan vote. Instead, the choice is Alexei Ramirez, and it's a fairly easy one at that.
The Cuban Missile has been one of the most consistent producers at the position since breaking into the league back in 2008, and his 21.4 WAR over that span trails only Troy Tulowitzki, Hanley Ramirez and Erick Aybar.
Runner-Up
J.J. Hardy, Baltimore Orioles
NL Shortstop: Jhonny Peralta, St. Louis Cardinals
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2014 Stats
| 155 | .259/.334/.440 | 143 | 37 | 21 | 71 | 61 | 3 | 5.8 |
Overview
The St. Louis Cardinals knew they were getting an offensive boost at the shortstop position when they signed Jhonny Peralta to a four-year, $53 million deal this past offseason, and he has certainly delivered at the plate. It's been his defense that has been a surprise.
His 18 DRS and 13.0 UZR/150 are both good for third among NL shortstops, according to FanGraphs. That, combined with his plus numbers at the plate, is enough for him to rank sixth among all NL position players with a 5.8 WAR this season.
Runner-Up
Ian Desmond, Washington Nationals
AL Left Fielder: Michael Brantley, Cleveland Indians
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2014 Stats
| 154 | .329/.387/.510 | 199 | 45 | 20 | 97 | 94 | 23 | 7.0 |
Overview
The Cleveland Indians' decision to lock up Michael Brantley on a four-year, $25 million extension may have been the move of the offseason, as they jumped what turned out to be a breakout year, and will now have him at a fraction of his market value for the next three seasons.
He didn't exactly come out of nowhere, after hitting .284/.332/.396 with 10 home runs and 73 RBI a year ago, but he's gone from best outfielder on the Indians to one of the best outfielders in all of baseball this season, and the 27-year-old is just entering his prime.
Runner-Up
Alex Gordon, Kansas City Royals
NL Left Fielder: Matt Holliday, St. Louis Cardinals
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2014 Stats
| 154 | .274/.370/.444 | 156 | 37 | 20 | 90 | 83 | 4 | 3.3 |
Overview
After a so-so first half of the season, Matt Holliday has hit .289/.365/.524 with 14 home runs and 45 RBI since the break, helping propel the St. Louis Cardinals to first place in the NL Central division and turn around what had been one of the worst offenses in baseball.
Justin Upton was a close second here, and he actually has Holliday beat in a number of categories. However, he went ice cold when it mattered most and has hit just .155/.231/.282 in September, while Holliday is at .310/.376/.512 for the month.
Runner-Up
Justin Upton, Atlanta Braves
AL Center Fielder: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels
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2014 Stats
| 154 | .290/.380/.563 | 172 | 39 | 35 | 110 | 114 | 16 | 8.0 |
Overview
His strikeouts are up and his batting average is down, but Mike Trout has still been a monster at the plate this season. He currently leads the AL in RBI, runs scored, total bases (333) and OPS+ (169), with that final number actually higher than the 168 mark he posted during his historic rookie season.
After finishing runner-up to Miguel Cabrera in AL MVP voting the past two years, it appears to finally be his time to hoist the trophy, as he has led the Los Angeles Angels to the best record in baseball and will be making his first postseason appearance this October.
Runner-Up
Adam Jones, Baltimore Orioles
NL Center Fielder: Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates
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2014 Stats
| 142 | .313/.408/.545 | 168 | 37 | 25 | 78 | 86 | 17 | 6.5 |
Overview
The reigning NL MVP, Andrew McCutchen, has again been the driving force behind the Pittsburgh Pirates offense and one of the most dynamic all-around players in all of Major League Baseball.
With Josh Harrison and Russell Martin both having terrific seasons, he has not been asked to single-handedly carry the offensive load like he did at times a year ago, but he's still been indispensable in helping the team to its second straight postseason appearance.
Runner-Up
Carlos Gomez, Milwaukee Brewers
AL Right Fielder: Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays
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2014 Stats
| 152 | .290/.409/.534 | 157 | 27 | 35 | 103 | 101 | 5 | 6.0 |
Overview
Finally healthy after missing a combined 115 games to injury the past two seasons, Jose Bautista was once again one of the game's elite offensive players, as he is one of just five players this season with a .900 OPS, 30 home runs and 100 RBI.
His .409 on-base percentage leads the AL, as he's drawn 104 walks against just 94 strikeouts. Alongside Edwin Encarnacion, he has formed one half of arguably the most productive power-hitting duo in the game today.
Runner-Up
Kole Calhoun, Los Angeles Angels
NL Right Fielder: Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins
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2014 Stats
| 145 | .288/.395/.555 | 155 | 31 | 37 | 105 | 89 | 13 | 6.5 |
Overview
If Clayton Kershaw was the favorite for NL MVP honors, then Giancarlo Stanton was candidate 1A in that argument prior to suffering a season-ending injury when he was hit in the face by a Mike Fiers fastball.
He still leads the NL with 37 home runs, but the value of his season is not simply in an impressive stat line. He was the driving force behind the Miami Marlins' drastic turnaround from a 100-loss team a year ago to a legitimate contender for much of the 2014 season.
Runner-Up
Hunter Pence, San Francisco Giants
AL Designated Hitter: Victor Martinez, Detroit Tigers
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2014 Stats
| 147 | .334/.408/.562 | 183 | 32 | 31 | 100 | 86 | 3 | 5.1 |
Overview
There were legitimate concerns as to whether the Detroit Tigers would be able to provide enough protection for Miguel Cabrera after trading Prince Fielder in the offseason, but Victor Martinez answered those questions and then some with the best season of his impressive career.
He currently ranks in the top 10 in all three Triple Crown categories, leading the AL with a .970 OPS, and he's done it all in a contract year. It will be interesting to see how much he gets on the open market, considering he's a 35-year-old coming off of a career year, but there's no question his contributions have been huge for the Tigers this year.
Runner-Up
Nelson Cruz, Baltimore Orioles
NL Utility Player: Josh Harrison, Pittsburgh Pirates
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2014 Stats
| 139 | .316/.347/.493 | 159 | 36 | 13 | 52 | 72 | 17 | 5.4 |
Overview
To keep things even and, admittedly, to find a way to sneak Josh Harrison into the conversation here, we've opted to name a top "utility player" on the NL side of things. Versatility is an invaluable trait around the league but especially so in the NL, where double switches and late-inning defensive maneuvering is commonplace.
Harrison opened the season viewed as a useful bench piece, and he ended it with an NL batting title, as he currently trails Justin Morneau by the slimmest of margins (.317 to .316). Making his numbers even more impressive is the fact that he's posted them while playing at least eight games each at third base, left field, right field, second base and shortstop this year.
Runner-Up
Justin Turner, Los Angeles Dodgers
AL Starting Pitcher: Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners
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2014 Stats
| 33 | 14-6 | 2.34 | 2.60 | 0.936 | 46 | 241 | 230.2 | 6.4 |
Overview
A rough outing Tuesday night narrowed the gap between Felix Hernandez and the duo of Corey Kluber and Chris Sale, but the choice is still King Felix as the top starting pitcher in the AL this season.
The 28-year-old workhorse is enjoying his best season since he claimed AL Cy Young honors back in 2010, and he looks like the front-runner to walk away with that award once again this season. There is a case to be made for both Sale and Kluber, and really, you can't go wrong with any of them, but Hernandez is the choice here.
Rest of the AL Rotation
RHP Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians
LHP Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox
RHP Max Scherzer, Detroit Tigers
LHP Jon Lester, Boston Red Sox/Oakland Athletics
NL Starting Pitcher: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers
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2014 Stats
| 27 | 21-3 | 1.77 | 1.80 | 0.862 | 31 | 239 | 198.1 | 7.6 |
Overview
Really, what more needs to be said at this point about the season Clayton Kershaw is having here in 2014?
He tripled Wednesday night for his first extra-base hit of the year, so that was something different, but other than that, it was business as usual, as he worked eight innings and allowed just one run while striking out 11.
Count me among those who are generally opposed to a pitcher claiming MVP honors, but there is no question he deserves each and every award that will be heaped upon him once the season is over. Now he just needs to get that postseason monkey off his back.
Rest of the NL Rotation
RHP Adam Wainwright, St. Louis Cardinals
RHP Johnny Cueto, Cincinnati Reds
LHP Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies
LHP Madison Bumgarner, San Francisco Giants
AL Closer: Greg Holland, Kansas City Royals
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2014 Stats
| 63 | 1-3 | 44-of-46 | 1.49 | 0.928 | 2.8 | 13.0 | 2.4 |
Overview
Greg Holland converted on 47 of 50 save chances with a 1.21 ERA and 13.8 K/9 in his first full season as the Kansas City closer a year ago, and he's been just as dominant this season for a Royals team that may finally be on its way back to the postseason.
He was part of a three-headed monster at the back of the KC bullpen, along with Kelvin Herrera and Wade Davis, that shortened an awful lot of games for the team this season.
Rest of the AL Bullpen
RHP Dellin Betances, New York Yankees
LHP Zach Britton, Baltimore Orioles
RHP Wade Davis, Kansas City Royals
LHP Jake McGee, Tampa Bay Rays
LHP Andrew Miller, Boston Red Sox/Baltimore Orioles
RHP Fernando Rodney, Seattle Mariners
NL Closer: Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves
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2014 Stats
| 61 | 0-3 | 45-of-49 | 1.66 | 0.888 | 3.8 | 13.7 | 2.3 |
Overview
Another year, another dominant stat line from the Atlanta Braves' flame-throwing closer Craig Kimbrel, who is on his way to leading the NL in saves for the fourth straight season.
He's now converted 184 of 203 save chances in his short time in the league, striking out a ridiculous 472 batters in just 287 innings of work, and his numbers this season are right in line with the rest of his stellar career.
Rest of the NL Bullpen
RHP Joaquin Benoit, San Diego Padres
LHP Aroldis Chapman, Cincinnati Reds
RHP Ken Giles, Philadelphia Phillies
RHP Pat Neshek, St. Louis Cardinals
RHP Drew Storen, Washington Nationals
LHP Tony Watson, Pittsburgh Pirates
Hypothetical Starting Lineup/Pitching Staff
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Starting Lineups
| 1. 2B Jose Altuve | 1. DH Josh Harrison |
| 2. CF Mike Trout | 2. 3B Anthony Rendon |
| 3. RF Jose Bautista | 3. CF Andrew McCutchen |
| 4. 1B Jose Abreu | 4. RF Giancarlo Stanton |
| 5. DH Victor Martinez | 5. 1B Anthony Rizzo |
| 6. LF Michael Brantley | 6. LF Matt Holliday |
| 7. 3B Josh Donaldson | 7. C Jonathan Lucroy |
| 8. C Yan Gomes | 8. SS Jhonny Peralta |
| 9. SS Alexei Ramirez | 9. 2B Chase Utley |
Pitching Staffs
| RHP Felix Hernandez | LHP Clayton Kershaw |
| RHP Corey Kluber | RHP Adam Wainwright |
| LHP Chris Sale | RHP Johnny Cueto |
| RHP Max Scherzer | LHP Cole Hamels |
| LHP Jon Lester | LHP Madison Bumgarner |
| RHP Dellin Betances | RHP Joaquin Benoit |
| LHP Zach Britton | LHP Aroldis Chapman |
| RHP Wade Davis | RHP Ken Giles |
| RHP Greg Holland | RHP Craig Kimbrel |
| LHP Jake McGee | RHP Pat Neshek |
| LHP Andrew Miller | RHP Drew Storen |
| RHP Fernando Rodney | LHP Tony Watson |
Unless otherwise noted, all stats are courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and cover games through Wednesday, Sept. 24.
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