Assembling the 2019 MLB All-Star Team
Last week, my Bleacher Report colleague Jason Catania wrote an article laying out the perfect 25-man roster. In his slideshow, he made it clear that he was not just putting together a team full of All-Stars, but a team with a solid blend of superstars and role players.
After reading his list, I had the idea to make my own team. However, I am not making the same stipulations. This is an All-Star team with no limits.
This team is my predictions for who will be stars four years from now. There will be plenty of young prospects but also a few veteran players who will still be performing at a high level in 2019.
In this ranking, I will take into account the player's talent as well as their prime years. I can only include so many players, so please comment with any suggestions or ideas.
Catcher: Buster Posey, Giants
1 of 21
2019 Age: 31
Buster Posey has quickly established himself as one of the best catchers in the league. He is one of the best young hitters in the league and shows no signs of slowing down. Over the past three seasons, he has hit .314 while averaging 20 home runs and 88 RBI per year.
He is also a great defender, even if the Giants have been trying to move him out from behind the plate. Posey has thrown out 30 percent of base stealers in each of the past three seasons, which is well above the major league average.
He has also shown tremendous leadership skills, leading a less talented Giants team to three World Series championships in the past five years.
First Base: Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks
2 of 21
2019 Age: 31
Not a very highly touted prospect coming up through the minor leagues, Paul Goldschmidt enjoyed a breakout season in 2012 when he hit 20 home runs and 43 doubles. He followed that up with a monster 2013 season, mashing 36 home runs and driving in 125 runs.
Goldschmidt has cemented himself as one of the premier power hitters in the game. He was fourth in the MLB in 2013 with a massive 160 OPS+, a sabermetric that goes beyond the standard OPS by taking into account ballpark factors. And he was on pace to have another terrific season last year, but he suffered an unfortunate injury that kept him out for the last 50 games of 2014.
He is also one of the best defensive first baseman in the league, and he is young enough that he will still be very productive when 2019 rolls around.
Second Base: Jose Altuve, Astros
3 of 21
2019 Age: 29
It is hard to make an All-Star team without Robinson Cano manning second base, but he will be 36 in 2019, making Jose Altuve the better choice.
The 5'6" Venezuelan second baseman is one of the most underrated players in the league, but he made a name for himself in 2014. His phenomenal .341 batting average earned him the batting title, and he also beat Cano for the American League Silver Slugger award.
The Astros are a team on the rise, and as more talented players make it to the big leagues, Altuve will have more protection in the order, and he may become even more productive when 2019 rolls around.
.png?w=256)
Third Base: Kris Bryant, Cubs
4 of 21
2019 Age: 27
He has not yet recorded a major league plate appearance, but Kris Bryant is going to be a star. The third baseman led the minor leagues in 2014 with a whopping 43 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A.
He was the starting third baseman for the U.S. Team in the 2014 Futures Game.
Those ridiculous numbers earned him a host of awards, including the Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year as well as MiLB.com, ESPN.com, USA Today and Yahoo Sports player of the year.
He will likely not start the upcoming season with the Cubs, but he is sure to make his debut sometime in 2015. His best attribute is his power, rated a 75 on the 20-to-80 scale, but he also hits for a high average and also possesses impressive speed for his 6'5", 215-pound frame.
Shortstop: Andrelton Simmons, Braves
5 of 21
2019 Age: 29
If you like defense, then you'll love Andrelton Simmons. He has already developed into the best defensive shortstop and one of the most exciting young players in the game.
Simmons has been named the ESPN Defensive Player of the Year each of the past two years, due in large part to his phenomenal defensive metrics. He has saved a league-leading 69 runs over the past two seasons.
He has also recorded a remarkable 9.3 Defensive Wins Above Replacement over the last two years, per Baseball-Reference.com, which leads the MLB by a large margin. Mets outfielder Juan Lagares is second with 6.9.
Simmons has struggled with the bat, but he has shown flashed of brilliance. He showed some pop with 17 homers in 2013, and if he can replicate that performance there is no way he can't become the best all-around shortstop in the league.
Left Field: Bryce Harper, Nationals
6 of 21
2019 Age: 26
One of the most hyped prospects in the history of baseball, Bryce Harper hasn't developed into a superstar as soon as most expected him to. However, what he has done in his first three big league seasons has still been phenomenal.
He hit at least 20 home runs and was named an All-Star in each of his first two years and managed to hit 13 homers in 2014 despite battling injuries and playing only 100 games.
Harper has one of the most violent and powerful swings in all of baseball, and I expect him to reach his potential very soon if not in 2015. He has plenty of protection in the middle of the Nationals order, and if he can find a way to stay healthy for an entire season, he can easily become a 30/20 (30 homers, 20 steals) player on a regular basis.
Center FIeld: Mike Trout, Angels
7 of 21
2019 Age: 27
This was the easiest selection on the roster. Mike Trout has solidified himself as the most dynamic player in the league. After losing two years in a row to Miguel Cabrera for the AL MVP, he finally won the most coveted award in 2014.
Trout has led the league in runs scored in two of the past three years, and his averages over that span are mind boggling. He has averaged 31 homers, 97 RBIs, 118 runs scored, 33 stolen bases and a fantastic 171 OPS+ over the course of his three full major league seasons.
He is a true five-tool player and will continue to be elite for many years down the road.
Right Field: Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins
8 of 21
2019 Age: 29
Giancarlo Stanton has always had the reputation as a power hitting corner outfielder, but he broke out in a big way in 2014. He came in second in the NL MVP voting last year after he crushed pitchers all season long.
He hit .288 with 37 gargantuan blasts, and he also plays a terrific right field. He has one of the strongest arms in the game and is the epitome of a cornerstone player.
The Marlins felt the same way, which is why they locked him up long term with a 13-year, $325 million contract. He is a rare talent and will be one of the best power hitters in the game for years to come.
Designated Hitter: Jose Abreu, White Sox
9 of 21
2019 Age: 32
In his first season in the MLB after defecting from Cuba, Jose Abreu was an absolute beast. He mashed 36 long balls and drove in 107 runs in his rookie season, which was good enough to unanimously win the AL Rookie of the Year Award.
His power-hitting prowess, age and mediocre defensive ability make him a prime candidate for this team's designated hitter.
He showed wonderful skills at the plate in 2014 and didn't miss a beat against MLB pitchers. Abreu will keep hitting, especially because the White Sox have made it a point this offseason to improve the pieces around their big-hitting Cuban.
Batting Order
10 of 21
1. CF Mike Trout
2. 2B Jose Altuve
3. RF Giancarlo Stanton
4. 1B Paul Goldschmidt
5. DH Jose Abreu
6. C Buster Posey
7. LF Bryce Harper
8. C Buster Posey
9. SS Andrelton Simmons
No. 1 Starting Pitcher: Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
11 of 21
2019 Age: 31
Similar to Mike Trout, Clayton Kershaw is simply the best at what he does. He is the only pitcher in MLB history to win the ERA title four years in a row, and he won the Cy Young Award in three of those four. He won the MVP as well, which is a true testament of his absolute dominance.
He brings everything to the table that an ace needs. He pitches deep into games, he is nearly impossible to score on, he registers boatloads of strikeouts and he doesn't walk many people.
At the age of 31, he will still be among the best pitchers in the game, and I want him as my No. 1 starter.
No. 2 Starting Pitcher: Matt Harvey, Mets
12 of 21
2019 Age: 30
Matt Harvey missed last season recovering from Tommy John surgery, but that doesn't scare me in the least. By 2019, he will be back to full strength and striking out batters at an astronomical pace. He has a bulldog mentality on the mound, and he attacks hitters with an unparalleled vigor.
Even though he suffered a torn UCL toward the end of his rookie year, he doesn't have a lot of mileage on his arm. Once he is fully healthy, he has the potential to be the most dominant pitcher in the league.
No. 3 Starting Pitcher: Jose Fernandez, Marlins
13 of 21
2019 Age: 26
Like Harvey, Jose Fernandez is recovering from Tommy John surgery. And like Harvey, by 2019 Fernandez will be as good as he ever has been.
One of the best strikeout pitchers in the game, Fernandez possesses a dynamic arsenal consisting of an explosive fastball, a wicked curveball, a wipeout slider and a devastating changeup.
He is also one of the youngest pitchers in the league, and he will still be pitching at the ripe age of 26 when 2019 rolls around.
No. 4 Starting Pitcher: Chris Sale, White Sox
14 of 21
2019 Age: 30
For the fourth starter in this rotation, I opted to go for a veteran left-hander to follow the two young right-handers. Chris Sale fits the bill perfectly. He is already a tremendous pitcher, and with four more years of experience under his belt, he may be even more consistent.
He led the league with a 178 ERA+ in 2014, which is a sabermetric that takes the traditional ERA stat a step farther by taking ballpark factors into account.
He has finished in the top six in the AL Cy Young voting in each of the past three seasons, and I'm guessing he will win one before 2019 rolls around.
No. 5 Starting Pitcher: Taijuan Walker, Seattle Mariners
15 of 21
2019 Age: 26
Taijuan Walker is a former top prospect who pitched well in the 38 big league innings he tossed in 2014, but he hasn't even tapped the ceiling of his immense potential.
He relied heavily on his fastball last year, opting for 95-MPH gas nearly 60 percent of the time, according to Fangraphs, but he also has a great changeup as well as a nice curveball and cutter.
Once Walker learns how to mix all of his pitches to keep hitters off balance, he might end up even higher in the rotation in 2019.
Left-Handed Specialist: Aroldis Chapman, Reds
16 of 21
2019 Age: 31
Aroldis Chapman has been overpowering against everyone in his five MLB seasons, but especially against left-handed hitters. He held opposing lefties to a paltry .132 batting average in 2014 while striking out 25 and allowing only five hits.
The average velocity on fastballs last year for Chapman was a mind-boggling 100.3 miles per hour, according to Fangraphs. He also throws a slider that is absolutely wicked against lefties.
He can also pitch effectively against righties, so he can pitch a full inning of relief to save the bullpen if needed.
Long Reliever: Kevin Gausman, Orioles
17 of 21
2019 Age: 28
Kevin Gausman is the ideal candidate for this position for several reasons. Not only is he young and ultra-talented, but he also has experience starting and pitching in relief. He has pitched 40 games in his two year career, 25 starts and 15 in relief.
He throws a mid-to-high 90s fastball as well as a nasty splitter and a slider and changeup. This four-pitch mix gives him the ability to be a dominant presence out of the bullpen, but he also can give the team a spot start whenever necessary.
Middle Reliever: Lucas Giolito, Nationals
18 of 21
2019 Age: 24
This selection probably surprises you, but it shouldn't. True, Lucas Giolito is a starter, not a reliever, but if there is anyone in 2019 who I would want on the mound to record three important outs, it just might be Giolito.
The top-ranked right-handed pitching prospect in MLB.com's 2015 rankings, Giolito was part of the U.S squad in the Futures Game and had a fabulous minor league season last year. He went 10-2 with a 2.20 ERA at Single-A Hagerstown, and he will surely be a star once he reaches the big leagues.
Middle Reliever: Daniel Norris, Blue Jays
19 of 21
2019 Age: 26
Like Giolito, Daniel Norris is not a relief pitcher by trade, but remember that this is an All-Star team. Norris put together a tremendous season in the minors last year, going 12-2 with a 2.53 ERA. His performance earned him a call-up to the major leagues at the end of the season.
In five professional appearances, including one start, he allowed four earned runs in 6.2 innings. He will be a stud in 2019, and he is a near-perfect complement to Giolito as a middle reliever.
Setup Man: Wade Davis, Royals
20 of 21
2019 Age: 33
Wade Davis was ineffective as a starter in 2013, but it looks like he has found a home in the back end of the bullpen. He was absolutely lethal last year for the Royals, going 9-2 with a 1.00 ERA and 109 strikeouts with only 23 walks.
He has three excellent pitches, an explosive fastball as well as a cutter and curveball. He used all three pitches at least 18 percent of the time, according to Fangraphs, which keeps opposing batters off balance.
Davis is the perfect guy to anchor the eighth inning, and I think he would do a terrific job setting up the closer.
Closer: Craig Kimbrel, Braves
21 of 21
2019 Age: 31
Craig Kimbrel has been the best closer in baseball the past four seasons, and he hasn't shown any signs of slowing down. He is still very young, and there is nobody in the league I would rather have to get the last three outs than him.
His career stats are unworldly: 1.43 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 14.8 K/P and he has successfully converted 186-of-205 save opportunities.
This team is going to have plenty of late leads, and Kimbrel is the guy who will close them out.
Please comment with any changes you feel should be made. Statistics are courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.
.png?w=480)
