The Starting Nine: A Look at the Best Players in the Majors

"Out with the old and in with the new" is a phrase many Major League General Managers seem to be taking to heart these days.

With that in mind, here's a look at how a starting roster would look composed of the best overall player at each position, including starting pitchers and bullpen.

Additionally, I will list the best up-and-coming player at each position, or simpler, the player who five years from now will be on this list.

Catcher - Russell Martin, Los Angeles Dodgers. Martin barely edges out Indians' catcher Victor Martinez with the main reason being speed and defense. In Martin's three full seasons in the league, his lowest fielding percentage is .987, which is this year's through 57 games. Additionally, Martin had 21 stolen bases last season and is on pace for roughly 15 this year.

While Martinez has four more years experience than Martin and has topped the 20-home run plateau three times, his power numbers are dwindling (zero through 49 games this season). And while Martinez is no slouch defensively, Martin is the NL's defending Gold Glove winner and base runners test Martinez pretty regularly.

While it's a tough call, if I had one season to win a World Series and one catcher to pick, I'd have to go with Martin. Runner-up - Martinez.

Future Catchers:Matt Wieters, Baltimore Orioles. Geovany Soto, Chicago Cubs.

First Baseman - Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals. This one isn't even close. Pujols is an absolute monster in every facet of his game and will undoubtedly go down as one of the game's greatest players.

His offensive numbers are well-known (.333 career hitter, 297 home runs, no season under 100 RBI's). But what makes Pujols so impressive is how much he's improved his defense.

When first brought up the Cardinals couldn't figure out how to use him. They tried the outfield, third base, and first base, but once they finally planted him and first base for good, Pujols worked hard to improve his game and got so good at the position that he won a 2006 Gold Glove. Runner-up: Derrek Lee, Chicago Cubs.

Future first baseman: Lars Anderson, Boston Red Sox.

Second Baseman- Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies. Utley is a rare, five-tool second baseman who just flat out knows how to play the game. He's a .301 career hitter and has dropped his strikeouts from 132 in 2006 (a year in which he still hit 32 home runs and has a career-high 203 hits), to only 89 last season. He seems to have finally found his power stroke as he leads the Majors with 21 at this point (he had 22 all of last season). His defense and knack for picking up clutch hits put him above the rest. Runner-up: Brian Roberts, Baltimore Orioles.

Future Second Baseman: Matt Antonelli, San Diego Padres

Shortstop - Derek Jeter, New York Yankees. It's impossible to leave Jeter off this list with his career accomplishments. Keep in mind, I'm building this team with the intentions of winning a World Series THIS year, and this year alone. If I'm winning, I'm taking him over the likes of Jose Reyes, Jimmy Rollins, or Miguel Tejada. Jeter's postseason batting average is .309 in 495 at bats. He's garnered at least one MVP vote in 10 of his 13 big league seasons, finishing second in 2006. He's the ultimate team leader and impossible to leave off the roster. Runner-up: Jimmy Rollins, Philadelphia Phillies.

Future Shortstops:Hanley Ramirez, Florida Marlins, Mike Moustakas, Kansas City Royals.

Third Baseman: Chipper Jones, Atlanta Braves. Like Jeter, Jones' experience overall and in the postseason warrant his selection over the likes of Alex Rodriguez. Jones is a .310 career hitter and at the age of 36, is the first person to threaten .400 since Tony Gwynn and Larry Walker did it in the late 90's. He's a respectably .288 career hitter in the postseason and an above-average third baseman defensively with a .354 career mark. Runner-up: Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees.

Future Third Baseman:Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays.

Outfielders - Matt Holliday, Colorado Rockies, Manny Ramirez, Boston Red Sox, Ichiro Suzuki, Seattle Mariners.

Future Outfielders- Jay Bruce, Cincinnati Reds, Cameron Maybin, Florida Marlins, Carlos Gonzalez, Oakland Athletics.

Pitching Staff - 1. Brandon Webb, Arizona Diamondbacks, 2. Johan Santana, New York Mets, 3. Josh Beckett, Boston Red Sox, 4. Jake Peavy, San Diego Padres, 5. Roy Halladay, Toronto Blue Jays.

Future Pitchers- Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers, David Price, Tampa Bay Rays, Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants, Edison Volquez, Cincinnati Reds, John Danks, Chicago White Sox.

Closer - Francisco Rodriguez, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. 

Future Closers- Carlos Marmol, Chicago Cubs, Joakim Soria, Kansas City Royals.

Alright so there you have it, to recap, here is the ultimate starting lineup one would put together if there goal was to win the World Series THIS year, and this year alone:

C - Russell Martin, Dodgers

1B - Albert Pujols, Cardinals

2B - Chase Utley, Phillies

SS - Derek Jeter, Yankees

3B - Chipper Jones, Braves

OF - Matt Holiday, Rockies, Manny Ramirez, Red Sox, Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners.

Pitcher - Brandon Webb

Closer - Francisco Rodriguez

Upon looking at the list, one thing is clear, Major League executives have begun to focus on the young stars instead of risking contracts on old, washed up veterans (the reason Kenny Lofton, Sammy Sosa, among others are having trouble finding a job).

It's also clear that the most talent-rich positions in the majors are catcher, first base, and shortstop, while third base and the outfield feature more veterans towards the end of their careers.