Every MLB Franchise's Greatest Outfielders of the Last 25 Years
Welcome to Bleacher Report's series highlighting the best and brightest for every MLB franchise at each position over the last 25 years!
Up next, the outfielders.
While there are a handful of no-brainer selections, such as Mike Trout for the Los Angeles Angels, Aaron Judge for the New York Yankees and Ichiro Suzuki for the Seattle Mariners, most of the picks required at least some level of debate.
Since we're focusing on the last 25 years, only statistics compiled since the start of the 2000 season were eligible for consideration. That meant someone like Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, who was still active during the 2000s but well past his prime, does not get credit for his entire career body of work—only what he did from 2000 forward.
Offense, defense, individual accolades, and postseason success were all factors in determining each team's best second baseman. In a tight race, peak production was valued over a larger, less impressive body of work.
Catch up on the Greatest of the Last 25 Years series: Catchers, First Basemen, Second Basemen, Shortstop, Third Basemen
Arizona Diamondbacks
1 of 30
Luis Gonzalez (23.6 WAR, 3.7 per 162 games)
Stats: 1,041 G, 128 OPS+, .292/.389/.526, 486 XBH (198 HR), 663 RBI, 23 SB
Justin Upton (13.7 WAR, 3.0 per 162 games)
Stats: 731 G, 118 OPS+, .278/.357/.475, 283 XBH (108 HR), 363 RBI, 80 SB
A.J. Pollock (18.7 WAR, 4.8 per 162 games)
Stats: 637 G, 113 OPS+, .281/.338/.467, 247 XBH (74 HR), 264 RBI, 103 SB
David Peralta won a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger during his nine seasons with the D-backs, and Chris Young had three 20/20 seasons in a span of five years, but when healthy A.J. Pollock was the best of the bunch among a strong list of candidates for the third spot in Arizona's outfield.
Honorable Mentions: David Peralta, Chris Young, Steve Finley, Corbin Carroll
Athletics
2 of 30
Josh Reddick (16.4 WAR, 4.5 per 162 games)
Stats: 596 G, 111 OPS+, .257/.321/.440, 203 XBH (84 HR), 300 RBI, 36 SB
Coco Crisp (13.6 WAR, 3.0 per 162 games)
Stats: 734 G, 100 OPS+, .253/.322/.397, 234 XBH (69 HR), 304 RBI, 169 SB
Khris Davis (7.4 WAR, 1.9 per 162 games)
Stats: 637 G, 118 OPS+, .240/.315/.493, 263 XBH (159 HR), 423 RBI, 5 SB
The only slam dunk pick here was Josh Reddick, who racked up 14.1 WAR over a four-year peak in Oakland. Speed and defense helped Coco Crisp post a strong WAR total, while Khris Davis had three straight 40-homer, 100-RBI seasons while memorably hitting exactly .247 each year.
Honorable Mentions: Yoenis Céspedes, Ramón Laureano, Mark Canha, Nick Swisher
Atlanta Braves
3 of 30
Andruw Jones (43.1 WAR, 5.6 per 162 games)
Stats: 1,256 G, 116 OPS+, .264/.344/.505, 544 XBH (288 HR), 860 RBI, 64 SB
Ronald Acuña Jr. (25.8 WAR, 5.8 per 162 games)
Stats: 722 G, 139 OPS+, .289/.379/.525, 322 XBH (165 HR), 417 RBI, 196 SB
Jason Heyward (23.0 WAR, 5.5 per 162 games)
Stats: 681 G, 114 OPS+, .262/.351/.429, 226 XBH (84 HR), 292 RBI, 63 SB
Even with the first four seasons and 17.9 WAR of his career coming prior to our cut line at the end of the 1990s, Andruw Jones was still an easy choice, and the same was true for 2023 NL MVP and 41-homer, 73-steal star Ronald Acuña Jr. even with the injuries he has had to navigate. Michael Harris II should overtake Jason Heyward in the coming years, but for now Heyward still gets the nod thanks to three 5-WAR seasons in his five years in Atlanta.
Honorable Mentions: Michael Harris II, Gary Sheffield, Nick Markakis
Baltimore Orioles
4 of 30
Adam Jones (32.5 WAR, 3.3 per 162 games)
Stats: 1,613 G, 109 OPS+, .279/.319/.459, 595 XBH (263 HR), 866 RBI, 90 SB
Nick Markakis (26.0 WAR, 3.1 per 162 games)
Stats: 1,365 G, 113 OPS+, .290/.358/.435, 473 XBH (141 HR), 658 RBI, 61 SB
Cedric Mullins (15.0 WAR, 3.5 per 162 games)
Stats: 693 G, 108 OPS+, .252/.320/.425, 227 XBH (86 HR), 278 RBI, 125 SB
While Adam Jones and Nick Markakis were no-brainer selections, there was a compelling debate to be had between Cedric Mullins and Anthony Santander for the final spot. Mullins is the more well-rounded player with a 30/30 season on his resume and a solid glove in center field, though Santander's 44 home runs last season were the seventh-highest single-season total in franchise history.
Honorable Mentions: Anthony Santander, Jay Gibbons, Austin Hays
Boston Red Sox
5 of 30
Mookie Betts (42.2 WAR, 8.6 per 162 games)
Stats: 794 G, 134 OPS+, .301/.374/.519, 394 XBH (139 HR), 470 RBI, 126 SB
Manny Ramírez (33.2 WAR, 5.2 per 162 games)
Stats: 1,083 G, 155 OPS+, .312/.411/.588, 537 XBH (274 HR), 868 RBI, 7 SB
Johnny Damon (15.5 WAR, 3.7 per 162 games)
Stats: 597 G, 108 OPS+, .295/.362/.441, 221 XBH (56 HR), 299 RBI, 98 SB
Mookie Betts and Manny Ramírez were bona fide superstars and two of the faces of baseball during their time in Boston.. That left the third outfield spot as the only real debate, and while Jacoby Ellsbury had one huge season in 2011 and Trot Nixon was a steady run producer, Johnny Damon was an invaluable member of the 2004 World Series team as the table-setter out of the leadoff spot.
Honorable Mentions: Trot Nixon, Jacob Ellsbury, Jackie Bradley Jr., J.D. Drew
Chicago Cubs
6 of 30
Sammy Sosa (25.8 WAR, 5.7 per 162 games)
Stats: 729 G, 156 OPS+, .295/.390/.612, 380 XBH (238 HR), 589 RBI, 9 SB
Ian Happ (17.7 WAR, 2.9 per 162 games)
Stats: 989 G, 115 OPS+, .248/.343/.451, 351 XBH (150 HR), 478 RBI, 64 SB
Alfonso Soriano (8.2 WAR, 1.5 per 162 games)
Stats: 889 G, 110 OPS+, .264/.317/.495, 412 XBH (181 HR), 526 RBI, 70 SB
While two of his three 60-homer seasons came during the 1990s, Sammy Sosa still had a 64-homer, 160-RBI, 10.3-WAR season in 2001 while slugging 238 total home runs over his final five years on the North Side. The steady production of Ian Happ both offensively and defensively earns him a spot, while Alfonso Soriano put up solid overall numbers even if he never quite lived up to his eight-year, $163 million deal.
Honorable Mentions: Kyle Schwarber, Moises Alou, Dexter Fowler, Seiya Suzuki
Chicago White Sox
7 of 30
Magglio Ordóñez (17.7 WAR, 4.2 per 162 games)
Stats: 678 G, 137 OPS+, .313/.376/.550, 324 XBH (139 HR), 510 RBI, 59 SB
Jermaine Dye (8.5 WAR, 1.9 per 162 games)
Stats: 724 G, 121 OPS+, .278/.344/.525, 322 XBH (164 HR), 461 RBI, 23 SB
Carlos Lee (15.1 WAR, 3.2 per 162 games)
Stats: 753 G, 114 OPS+, .287/.344/.493, 304 XBH (136 HR), 468 RBI, 60 SB
Magglio Ordóñez had four straight 30-homer, 100-RBI seasons with the White Sox, and the last three came during the 2000s. Jermaine Dye gets additional points for winning 2005 World Series MVP, while a young Carlos Lee averaged 27 home runs and 94 RBI over his five full seasons with the White Sox to edge out the oft-injured but extremely talented Luis Robert Jr.
Honorable Mentions: Luis Robert Jr., Aaron Rowand, Carlos Quentin, Adam Eaton
Cincinnati Reds
8 of 30
Adam Dunn (16.6 WAR, 2.5 per 162 games)
Stats: 1,087 G, 130 OPS+, .247/.380/.520, 470 XBH (270 HR), 646 RBI, 58 SB
Jay Bruce (17.3 WAR, 2.3 per 162 games)
Stats: 1,220 G, 110 OPS+, .249/.319/.470, 498 XBH (233 HR), 718 RBI, 61 SB
Ken Griffey Jr. (12.9 WAR, 2.2 per 162 games)
Stats: 945 G, 122 OPS+, .270/.362/.514, 391 XBH (210 HR), 602 RBI, 17 SB
Adam Dunn had four straight 40-homer seasons while logging a .381 on-base percentage during that stretch during an elite offensive peak. Jay Bruce lived up to his top prospect status with a productive nine-year run in Cincinnati, while Ken Griffey Jr. still showed enough glimpses of his superstar self with three 30-homer seasons and three All-Star selections to earn the final spot.
Honorable Mentions: Austin Kearns, Billy Hamilton, Ryan Freel
Cleveland Guardians
9 of 30
Grady Sizemore (27.7 WAR, 5.0 per 162 games)
Stats: 892 G, 120 OPS+, .269/.357/.473, 398 XBH (139 HR), 458 RBI, 134 SB
Michael Brantley (24.0 WAR, 3.7 per 162 games)
Stats: 1,051 G, 115 OPS+, .295/.351/.430, 354 XBH (87 HR), 528 RBI, 118 SB
Shin-Soo Choo (21.8 WAR, 5.2 per 162 games)
Stats: 685 G, 134 OPS+, .292/.383/.469, 264 XBH (83 HR), 372 RBI, 85 SB
Grady Sizemore posted a 128 OPS+ while averaging 27 home runs, 29 steals and 6.2 WAR during his four fully healthy seasons in Cleveland before injuries derailed his career. Michael Brantley and Shin-Soo Choo were two of the most underrated offensive players of their era, and Steven Kwan is a similar player whose contributions are often overlooked due to his lack of elite power.
Honorable Mentions: Steven Kwan, Coco Crisp
Colorado Rockies
10 of 30
Charlie Blackmon (21.3 WAR, 2.1 per 162 games)
Stats: 1,624 G, 111 OPS+, .293/.353/.479, 629 XBH (227 HR), 801 RBI, 148 SB
Carlos González (23.8 WAR, 3.1 per 162 games)
Stats: 1,247 G, 116 OPS+, .290/.349/.516, 543 XBH (227 HR), 749 RBI, 118 SB
Matt Holliday (18.6 WAR, 4.2 per 162 games)
Stats: 723 G, 131 OPS+, .319/.387/.550, 343 XBH (130 HR), 486 RBI, 66 SB
Larry Walker still had a few prime seasons left in the tank during the 2000s, but his MVP award and two of his three batting titles came during the 1990s, which opened the door for a young Matt Holliday to claim the third spot. Charlie Blackmon ranks second in franchise history to Todd Helton in hits (1,805) and total bases (2,956).
Honorable Mentions: Larry Walker, Dexter Fowler, Brad Hawpe
Detroit Tigers
11 of 30
Curtis Granderson (21.2 WAR, 5.1 per 162 games)
Stats: 674 G, 114 OPS+, .272/.344/.484, 284 XBH (102 HR), 299 RBI, 67 SB
Magglio Ordóñez (13.5 WAR, 2.6 per 162 games)
Stats: 847 G, 123 OPS+, .312/.373/.476, 299 XBH (107 HR), 533 RBI, 12 SB
J.D. Martinez (13.2 WAR, 4.7 per 162 games)
Stats: 458 G, 147 OPS+, .300/.361/.551, 219 XBH (99 HR), 285 RBI, 12 SB
Curtis Granderson and Magglio Ordóñez were two of the offensive stars for the Tigers team that reached the 2006 World Series, and both put together strong overall tenures in Detroit. Successful reclamation project J.D. Martinez took his game to another level after he was cut loose by the Astros and scooped up by the Tigers, and his peak performance is enough to edge out speed/defense center fielder Austin Jackson.
Honorable Mentions: Austin Jackson, Bobby Higginson, Riley Greene
Houston Astros
12 of 30
Lance Berkman (47.9 WAR, 5.0 per 162 games)
Stats: 1,558 G, 147 OPS+, .297/.411/.552, 721 XBH (322 HR), 1,075 RBI, 77 SB
George Springer (27.8 WAR, 5.7 per 162 games)
Stats: 795 G, 131 OPS+, .270/.361/.491, 324 XBH (174 HR), 458 RBI, 48 SB
Kyle Tucker (23.0 WAR, 5.9 per 162 games)
Stats: 633 G, 139 OPS+, .274/.353/.516, 276 XBH (125 HR), 417 RBI, 94 SB
Lance Berkman eventually shifted to first base, but he spent his first six seasons with the Astros as an outfielder, and the switch-hitting slugger was one of baseball's best offensive players at his peak. George Springer (No. 11 in 2011) and Kyle Tucker (No. 5 in 2015) were both successful first-round picks that developed into All-Stars while serving as key contributors to a World Series winner.
Honorable Mentions: Hunter Pence, Richard Hidalgo, Carlos Lee
Kansas City Royals
13 of 30
Alex Gordon (34.5 WAR, 3.2 per 162 games)
Stats: 1,753 G, 102 OPS+, .257/.338/.410, 573 XBH (190 HR), 749 RBI, 113 SB
Lorenzo Cain (24.7 WAR, 5.6 per 162 games)
Stats: 713 G, 106 OPS+, .289/.342/.421, 217 XBH (56 HR), 308 RBI, 120 SB
Carlos Beltrán (19.8 WAR, 5.1 per 162 games)
Stats: 625 G, 115 OPS+, .286/.356/.492, 260 XBH (101 HR), 401 RBI, 134 SB
Alex Gordon and Lorenzo Cain were key cogs on the Royals teams that reached back-to-back World Series in 2014 and 2015, providing elite defense and steady offense as two of the most valuable players on the roster. Five-tool star Carlos Beltrán began his career in Kansas City, and he averaged 30 doubles, 10 triples, 26 home runs, 102 RBI, 36 steals and 5.6 WAR over his final three full seasons with the team.
Honorable Mentions: David DeJesus, Jarrod Dyson
Los Angeles Angels
14 of 30
Mike Trout (86.2 WAR, 9.2 per 162 games)
Stats: 1,518 G, 173 OPS+, .299/.410/.581, 743 XBH (378 HR), 954 RBI, 212 SB
Vladimir Guerrero (22.8 WAR, 4.4 per 162 games)
Stats: 846 G, 141 OPS+, .319/.381/.546, 377 XBH (173 HR), 616 RBI, 52 SB
Garret Anderson (17.9 WAR, 2.3 per 162 games)
Stats: 1,285 G, 109 OPS+, .294/.325/.482, 544 XBH (200 HR), 899 RBI, 44 SB
A generational talent in Mike Trout and 2004 AL MVP Vladimir Guerrero were easy choices to occupy two slots in the Angels outfield, but there is a tough debate between longtime teammates Tim Salmon, Garret Anderson and Darin Erstad for the final spot. All three began their careers during the 1990s, and Anderson was the best of the bunch from 2000 forward.
Honorable Mentions: Darin Erstad, Torii Hunter, Tim Salmon, Kole Calhoun
Los Angeles Dodgers
15 of 30
Mookie Betts (27.4 WAR, 7.6 per 162 games)
Stats: 587 G, 145 OPS+, .284/.372/.530, 287 XBH (132 HR), 361 RBI, 62 SB
Matt Kemp (22.9 WAR, 2.9 per 162 games)
Stats: 1,262 G, 127 OPS+, .292/.348/.494, 476 XBH (203 HR), 733 RBI, 170 SB
Andre Ethier (21.5 WAR, 2.4 per 162 games)
Stats: 1,455 G, 122 OPS+, .285/.359/.463, 499 XBH (162 HR), 687 RBI, 29 SB
Mookie Betts has already established himself as the best Dodgers outfielder in decades over five seasons with the team, though he is expected to be the team's primary shortstop in 2025. Matt Kemp had an elite power-speed peak, while Andre Ethier's consistency and full body of work edged out more impressive peak seasons from Shawn Green, Cody Bellinger and Yasiel Puig.
Honorable Mentions: Shawn Green, Cody Bellinger, Yasiel Puig, Gary Sheffield, Joc Pederson
Miami Marlins
16 of 30
Giancarlo Stanton (35.7 WAR, 5.9 per 162 games)
Stats: 986 G, 147 OPS+, .268/.360/.554, 479 XBH (267 HR), 672 RBI, 36 SB
Christian Yelich (17.5 WAR, 4.4 per 162 games)
Stats: 643 G, 121 OPS+, .290/.369/.432, 219 XBH (59 HR), 293 RBI, 72 SB
Marcell Ozuna (13.8 WAR, 3.4 per 162 games)
Stats: 653 G, 115 OPS+, .277/.329/.457, 236 XBH (96 HR), 361 RBI, 11 SB
The three players listed above shared the same outfield for five seasons from 2013-17, yet the Marlins never posted a winning record during that stretch. All three were traded after the 2017 season in a massive rebuilding effort, with Sandy Alcántara and Zac Gallen coming back in the deal that sent Ozuna to the Cardinals.
Honorable Mentions: Juan Pierre, Cliff Floyd, Cody Ross
Milwaukee Brewers
17 of 30
Ryan Braun (47.1 WAR, 4.3 per 162 games)
Stats: 1,766 G, 134 OPS+, .296/.358/.532, 809 XBH (352 HR), 1,154 RBI, 216 SB
Christian Yelich (24.3 WAR, 4.8 per 162 games)
Stats: 823 G, 136 OPS+, .285/.384/.493, 326 XBH (145 HR), 455 RBI, 133 SB
Geoff Jenkins (17.8 WAR, 2.8 per 162 games)
Stats: 1,015 G, 116 OPS+, .276/.348/.496, 432 XBH (182 HR), 594 RBI, 25 SB
Ryan Braun (2011) and Christian Yelich (2018) joined Rollie Fingers (1981) and Robin Yount (1982, 1989) as the only players in Brewers history to win an MVP award, making them both obvious choices. The final spot came down to the brief but electric peak of Carlos Gómez and the more steady middle-of-the-order production of Geoff Jenkins, who ranks among the franchise leaders in home runs (212, fourth) and RBI (704, fifth).
Honorable Mentions: Carlos Gómez, Corey Hart, Lorenzo Cain
Minnesota Twins
18 of 30
Torii Hunter (26.1 WAR, 3.4 per 162 games)
Stats: 1,231 G, 106 OPS+, .269/.322/.470, 492 XBH (205 HR), 755 RBI, 118 SB
Byron Buxton (24.5 WAR, 5.1 per 162 games)
Stats: 772 G, 110 OPS+, .244/.304/.476, 314 XBH (133 HR), 353 RBI, 93 SB
Max Kepler (20.7 WAR, 3.1 per 162 games)
Stats: 1,072 G, 102 OPS+, .237/.318/.429, 382 XBH (161 HR), 508 RBI, 35 SB
After the obvious choice of Torii Hunter, who won seven straight Gold Gloves in center field while providing a middle-of-the-order bat, the Twins were one of the toughest teams to narrow down to three outfielders. Byron Buxton is a slam dunk choice when healthy, but his frequent injuries make him a polarizing option. Max Kepler narrowly edged out Michael Cuddyer as offensive-minded corner outfielders, while Denard Span was a high average, plus speed player in the Juan Pierre mold.
Honorable Mentions: Michael Cuddyer, Denard Span, Eddie Rosario, Jacque Jones
New York Mets
19 of 30
Carlos Beltrán (31.1 WAR, 6.0 per 162 games)
Stats: 839 G, 129 OPS , .280/.369/.500, 374 XBH (149 HR), 559 RBI, 100 SB
Brandon Nimmo (23.3 WAR, 4.1 per 162 games)
Stats: 911 G, 126 OPS , .261/.371/.438, 303 XBH (110 HR), 371 RBI, 41 SB
Michael Conforto (15.6 WAR, 3.3 per 162 games)
Stats: 757 G, 124 OPS , .255/.356/.468, 277 XBH (132 HR), 396 RBI, 18 SB
The seven-year, $119 million deal that Carlos Beltrán signed turned out to be one of the more successful nine-figure deals given to an outfielder, and the fact that he was flipped for a young Zack Wheeler in the final year of that contract was the cherry on top. Brandon Nimmo (No. 13 in 2011) and Michael Conforto (No. 10 in 2014) both lived up to being first-round selections.
Honorable Mentions: Curtis Granderson, Yoenis Céspedes, Cliff Floyd, Juan Lagares
New York Yankees
20 of 30
Aaron Judge (52.2 WAR, 8.5 per 162 games)
Stats: 993 G, 173 OPS+, .288/.406/.604, 493 XBH (315 HR), 716 RBI, 53 SB
Brett Gardner (44.3 WAR, 4.3 per 162 games)
Stats: 1,688 G, 100 OPS+, .256/.342/.398, 463 XBH (139 HR), 578 RBI, 274 SB
Hideki Matsui (20.4 WAR, 3.6 per 162 games)
Stats: 916 G, 123 OPS+, .292/.370/.482, 347 XBH (140 HR), 597 RBI, 12 SB
Aaron Judge is an obvious choice and Brett Gardner quietly piled up 44.3 WAR over 14 seasons in the Bronx. That left one spot up for grabs, and Hideki Matsui is the pick thanks to his immediate contributions and steady production after coming over from Japan. Keep in mind Bernie Williams posted just 14.9 of his 49.6 career WAR during the 2000s, with his best seasons coming during the 1990s.
Honorable Mentions: Bernie Williams, Curtis Granderson, Johnny Damon, Nick Swisher
Philadelphia Phillies
21 of 30
Bobby Abreu (34.7 WAR, 5.4 per 162 games)
Stats: 1,050 G, 138 OPS+, .298/.412/.510, 467 XBH (158 HR), 647 RBI, 208 SB
Bryce Harper (23.3 WAR, 5.2 per 162 games)
Stats: 726 G, 149 OPS+, .285/.391/.533, 344 XBH (152 HR), 455 RBI, 65 SB
Shane Victorino (24.0 WAR, 3.9 per 162 games)
Stats: 987 G, 105 OPS+, .279/.345/.439, 332 XBH (88 HR), 390 RBI, 179 SB
Bobby Abreu kicked off the 2000s with five straight 5-WAR seasons, hitting .303/.412/.526 for a 143 OPS+ while averaging 44 doubles, 25 home runs, 96 RBI and 31 steals during that stretch. Put him in the Hall of Fame! Bryce Harper is a first baseman now, but still qualifies as an outfielder for this exercise, while Shane Victorino edges out the more one-dimensional Pat Burrell for the final spot.
Honorable Mentions: Pat Burrell, Jayson Werth, Kyle Schwarber
Pittsburgh Pirates
22 of 30
Andrew McCutchen (42.7 WAR, 4.4 per 162 games)
Stats: 1,578 G, 132 OPS+, .284/.375/.475, 609 XBH (235 HR), 818 RBI, 185 SB
Brian Giles (19.5 WAR, 5.5 per 162 games)
Stats: 574 G, 158 OPS+, .306/.429/.586, 290 XBH (126 HR), 391 RBI, 34 SB
Starling Marte (28.5 WAR, 4.8 per 162 games)
Stats: 953 G, 115 OPS+, .287/.341/.452, 342 XBH (108 HR), 420 RBI, 239 SB
Andrew McCutchen was the face of the franchise when the Pirates snapped a 20-year playoff drought and will go down as one of the best players in franchise history. Brian Giles had an absolutely elite four-year run in Pittsburgh where he posted a 160 OPS+ while averaging 37 home runs, 109 RBI and 5.9 WAR. The power, speed and defense of Starling Marte gets him the final spot ahead of Jason Bay who won 2004 NL Rookie of the Year and followed it up with back-to-back 30-homer, 100-RBI seasons.
Honorable Mentions: Jason Bay, Bryan Reynolds
San Diego Padres
23 of 30
Fernando Tatis Jr. (21.7 WAR, 6.8 per 162 games)
Stats: 516 G, 140 OPS+, .279/.350/.533, 246 XBH (127 HR), 332 RBI, 92 SB
Brian Giles (17.4 WAR, 3.4 per 162 games)
Stats: 833 G, 122 OPS+, .279/.380/.435, 297 XBH (83 HR), 415 RBI, 43 SB
Wil Myers (12.2 WAR, 2.2 per 162 games)
Stats: 888 G, 112 OPS+, .254/.330/.451, 319 XBH (134 HR), 433 RBI, 94 SB
Fernando Tatis Jr. has made a seamless transition from shortstop to right field, and Jackson Merrill did the same thing last year, though he needs more than one season of standout production to make the list. Brian Giles and Wil Myers both took turns as the de facto face of the franchise, with Myers posting back-to-back 20/20 seasons in 2016 and 2017.
Honorable Mentions: Will Venable, Jurickson Profar, Jackson Merrill
San Francisco Giants
24 of 30
Barry Bonds (59.1 WAR, 9.7 per 162 games)
Stats: 986 G, 221 OPS+, .322/.517/.724, 507 XBH (317 HR), 697 RBI, 54 SB
Hunter Pence (9.8 WAR, 2.0 per 162 games)
Stats: 789 G, 107 OPS+, .265/.322/.429, 256 XBH (95 HR), 412 RBI, 48 SB
Mike Yastrzemski (14.3 WAR, 3.3 per 162 games)
Stats: 694 G, 114 OPS+, .239/.322/.457, 262 XBH (106 HR), 318 RBI, 18 SB
Barry Bonds won four straight NL MVPs from 2001-04, including his legendary 73-homer season in 2001, despite the fact that he was already 35 years old when the 2000 season arrived. Hunter Pence was a key contributor for the 2012 and 2014 World Series winners, while Mike Yastrzemski has been a great bargain pickup with six straight 2-WAR seasons after coming over in an under-the-radar trade with the Orioles.
Honorable Mentions: Randy Winn, Ángel Pagán, Andrés Torres
Seattle Mariners
25 of 30
Ichiro Suzuki (56.4 WAR, 4.9 per 162 games)
Stats: 1,861 G, 113 OPS+, .321/.365/.416, 473 XBH (99 HR), 633 RBI, 438 SB
Mike Cameron (18.4 WAR, 4.9 per 162 games)
Stats: 610 G, 112 OPS+, .256/.350/.448, 221 XBH (87 HR), 344 RBI, 106 SB
Julio Rodríguez (15.9 WAR, 6.0 per 162 games)
Stats: 430 G, 130 OPS+, .277/.334/.467, 164 XBH (80 HR), 246 RBI, 86 SB
Ichiro Suzuki was already 27 years old when he made his MLB debut in 2001, becoming just the second rookie ever to win MVP honors. That was the first of 10 straight years where he hit .300 with at least 200 hits, building the foundation of his Hall of Fame resume. Mike Cameron came to Seattle with lofty expectations as the centerpiece of the deal that sent Ken Griffey Jr. to the Reds and largely delivered, while Julio Rodríguez is the new face of the franchise.
Honorable Mentions: Raúl Ibañez, Mitch Haniger, Franklin Gutierrez, Randy Winn
St. Louis Cardinals
26 of 30
Jim Edmonds (37.9 WAR, 5.6 per 162 games)
Stats: 1,105 G, 143 OPS+, .285/.393/.555, 486 XBH (241 HR), 713 RBI, 37 SB
Matt Holliday (23.1 WAR, 3.8 per 162 games)
Stats: 982 G, 138 OPS+, .293/.380/.494, 401 XBH (156 HR), 616 RBI, 29 SB
J.D. Drew (14.5 WAR, 4.9 per 162 games)
Stats: 479 G, 129 OPS+, .289/.384/.505, 156 XBH (78 HR), 228 RBI, 40 SB
Jim Edmonds won the NL Gold Glove in each of his first six seasons in St. Louis, also posting a 154 OPS+ while averaging 35 home runs, 98 RBI and 6.1 WAR during that stretch. Matt Holliday was originally acquired via trade and then inked to a seven-year, $120 million deal that wound up being one of the most successful $100 million contracts ever signed. Top prospect J.D. Drew spent the first six years of his career with the Cardinals before he was traded to the Braves in the deal that brought Adam Wainwright to St. Louis.
Honorable Mentions: Ryan Ludwick, Jon Jay, Harrison Bader, Tyler O'Neill
Tampa Bay Rays
27 of 30
Carl Crawford (35.6 WAR, 4.7 per 162 games)
Stats: 1,235 G, 107 OPS+, .296/.337/.444, 424 XBH (104 HR), 592 RBI, 409 SB
Kevin Kiermaier (31.7 WAR, 5.6 per 162 games)
Stats: 914 G, 98 OPS+, .248/.308/.407, 273 XBH (82 HR), 316 RBI, 112 SB
Randy Arozarena (11.8 WAR, 3.7 per 162 games)
Stats: 568 G, 122 OPS+, .255/.345/.441, 207 XBH (85 HR), 289 RBI, 94 SB
Speedy outfielder Carl Crawford has a solid case for the title of baseball player in Rays history not named Evan Longoria, and he was a four-time All-Star in nine years with the team. Elite defense earns Kevin Kiermaier a spot, while Randy Arozarena edges out B.J. Upton for the final spot on the strength of his epic postseason performance.
Honorable Mentions: B.J. Upton, Desmond Jennings, Matt Joyce
Texas Rangers
28 of 30
Josh Hamilton (23.0 WAR, 5.3 per 162 games)
Stats: 697 G, 134 OPS+, .302/.359/.542, 331 XBH (150 HR), 531 RBI, 40 SB
Nelson Cruz (12.1 WAR, 2.5 per 162 games)
Stats: 796 G, 114 OPS+, .268/.327/.495, 335 XBH (157 HR), 489 RBI, 65 SB
Adolis García (11.7 WAR, 3.1 per 162 games)
Stats: 610 G, 108 OPS+, .240/.299/.453, 245 XBH (122 HR), 383 RBI, 61 SB
Josh Hamilton and Nelson Cruz were two of the offensive leaders of the Rangers teams that reached back-to-back World Series in 2010 and 2011. Hamilton won 2010 AL MVP during a truly elite peak in Texas. Adolis García had averaged 31 home runs and 2.9 WAR in his four full seasons with the Rangers, and his 2023 ALCS MVP helped move him ahead of Joey Gallo for the final spot.
Honorable Mentions: Joey Gallo, David Murphy
Toronto Blue Jays
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José Bautista (38.3 WAR, 5.0 per 162 games)
Stats: 1,235 G, 136 OPS+, .253/.372/.506, 519 XBH (288 HR), 766 RBI, 56 SB
Vernon Wells (29.1 WAR, 3.4 per 162 games)
Stats: 1,369 G, 109 OPS+, .280/.330/.477, 586 XBH (222 HR), 805 RBI, 89 SB
Teoscar Hernández (10.6 WAR, 2.8 per 162 games)
Stats: 609 G, 122 OPS+, .263/.320/.503, 264 XBH (129 HR), 369 RBI, 35 SB
One of the most impactful late-bloomers of the last 25 years, José Bautista did not become an everyday player until his age-29 season in 2010 when he slugged 54 home runs to kick off a stretch where he hit 227 home runs and piled up 35.3 WAR in six years. Vernon Wells and Teoscar Hernández both comfortably clear a solid group of honorable mentions.
Honorable Mentions: Alex Ríos, Shannon Stewart, Kevin Pillar, George Springer
Washington Nationals
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Bryce Harper (27.8 WAR, 4.9 per 162 games)
Stats: 927 G, 139 OPS+, .279/.388/.512, 385 XBH (184 HR), 521 RBI, 75 SB
Juan Soto (21.3 WAR, 6.1 per 162 games)
Stats: 565 G, 159 OPS+, .291/.427/.538, 236 XBH (119 HR), 358 RBI, 38 SB
Vladimir Guerrero (21.1 WAR, 5.8 per 162 games)
Stats: 586 G, 154 OPS+, .329/.406/.603, 292 XBH (142 HR), 421 RBI, 95 SB
Bryce Harper and Juan Soto both began their rise to superstardom wearing a Nationals uniform, and they are clear choices for the first two spots in the Nationals outfield. The third goes back to the Expos days of the early 2000s before the team moved, with Vladimir Guerrero spending the first four seasons of the decade as the face of the franchise in Montreal before he departed in free agency.
Honorable Mentions: Brad Wilkerson, Jayson Werth, Denard Span
