Every team hopes to have a franchise player to help build a championship team. Finding a superstar that can carry a team is easier said than done.
At a time when MLB players are joining squads with other superstars, it can be hard to find these cornerstones for every ball club. Only a select group of players help build a championship contender or have been around the league long enough to have success to see their names in Cooperstown.
These players range from young upstarts to perennial All-Stars to legendary players winding down their careers. They play for teams in the middle of a rebuild, trying to break into the playoffs or contending for the World Series each year.
Arizona Diamondbacks – Madison Bumgarner
Madison Bumgarner joined the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2020, but his prime seasons were with the San Francisco Giants.
He is a proven winner on the mound with three World Series, including the 2014 season when he was named World Series Most Valuable Player and National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player. He’s a four-time All-Star and a two-time Silver Slugger from the plate.
Atlanta Braves – Ronald Acuna Jr.
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Ronald Acuna Jr. has already been around for a while and is only 25 years old.
He won the National League Rookie of the Year in 2018 and was a four-time All-Star. Acuna Jr. also has a World Series Championship with the Braves from 2021 but was not part of their postseason run due to an ACL tear earlier in the season.
Baltimore Orioles – Adley Rutschman
A tough pick, the Baltimore Orioles are currently in the driver’s seat for the top spot in the American League.
They have a young nucleus of players that became first-time All-stars with very little veteran presence on the team. A tough pick, but the value of Rutschman at the catcher position should not go unnoticed after going to his first All-Stat game in 2023.
Boston Red Sox – Kenley Jansen
He is a four-time All-Star and two-time winner of the National League Reliever of the Year.
He started his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers and was part of their 2020 World Series team. He led the National League in saves and has recorded over 400 saves in his career.
Chicago Cubs – Cody Bellinger
Cody Bellinger’s accomplishments came with the Los Angeles Dodgers as he was the 2017 National League Rookie of the Year, 2019 National League Most Valuable Player, and a two-time All-Star.
He also won a Silver Slugger and Gold Glove. Bellinger was also named the 2018 National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player and was part of the Dodgers team in 2020 that won the World Series.
Chicago White Sox – Tim Anderson
The Chicago White Sox have a few players in their lineup that have been All-Stars in their careers.
Shortstop Tim Anderson is the standout on the roster and an All-Star in two seasons. 2019 he won the American League batting title, and in 2020 was named a Silver Slugger. He participated in the 2020 and 2021 playoffs.
Cincinnati Reds – Joey Votto
Joey Votto has been the heart and soul of the Reds since his debut with the team in 2007.
The 2010 National League Most Valuable Player has also been named to six All-Star teams and has a Gold Glove on his resume. He has a. 296 career batting average and has 355 home runs to his name. Votto played in four different postseasons.
Cleveland Guardians – Jose Ramirez
Due to Jose Ramirez longevity, he is the pick over Shane Bieber. Ramirez has a little more to his resume.
He has made five All-Star teams and has collected four Silver Slugger Awards. In 2018 he joined the 30-30 club as he hit 30 home runs and stole 30 bases.
Colorado Rockies – Kris Bryant
Bryant has a chance to finish with a strong career after starting as the 2015 National League Rookie of the Year and 2016 National League Most Valuable Player with the Chicago Cubs.
He has four All-Star Appearances to his name during his time in Chicago and was part of their 2016 World Series team.
Detroit Tigers – Miguel Cabrera
Miguel Cabrera is a surefire first-ballot Hall of Famer. His rookie season was the 2003 World Champion Florida Marlins.
He went to the Detroit Tigers in 2008 and 2012 and had the first triple-crown season in 45 years. He won two MVP awards and 12 All-Star selections. He has won four batting titles, Led the league in both home runs and RBIs twice.
Houston Astros – Justin Verlander
Justin Verlander or Jose Altuve? Verlander, being a pitcher with a Most Valuable Player Award helps his case winning it with Detroit Tigers in 2011.
He has three Cy Youngs, winning his most recent one in 2022. He has two World Series rings, named an All-Star nine times, and a pitching triple crown in 2011.
Kansas City Royals – Zach Greinke
Zach Greinke is winding down a Hall of Fame career with the Kansas City Royal.
Having won the 2009 Cy Young was named a six-time All-Star, won six gold gloves and two Silver Slugger awards. He also led the league in ERA twice. He has also appeared in two World Series.
Los Angeles Angels – Mike Trout
Mike Trout edges out Los Angeles Angels teammate Shohei Ohtani after being the best player in the MLB for years.
Trout has three American League Most Valuable Player awards, a Rookie of the Year award, an 11-time All-Star, and a 9-time Silver Slugger. He has done enough to be a Hall of Famer.
Los Angeles Dodgers – Clayton Kershaw
Multiple players on this Los Angeles Dodgers will reach Cooperstown, including Freddy Freeman and Mookie Betts.
Clayton Kershaw gets the nod for spending his entire career with the Dodgers. He won the 2014 National League Most Valuable Player award, three Cy Youngs, and a 10-time All-Star. He won his World Series ring in 2020.
Miami Marlins – Sandy Alcantara
The Miami Marlins is a tough team to choose from because of a continuing revolving door of talent.
Sandy Alcantara proved that he is a cornerstone for the future of the Marlins. He won a Cy Young award in 2022 and two All-Star appearances.
Milwaukee Brewers – Corbin Burnes
Corbin Burnes is a controversial pick over Christian Yelich, yet in the last few seasons, Burnes has become the Milwaukee Brewers most reliable player.
Winning a Cy Young in 2021 and three-time All-Star. He won an ERA title in 2021 and led the National League in strikeouts in the 2022 season.
Minnesota Twins – Carlos Correa
Shortstop Carlos Correa has had the best career of anyone on the Minnesota Twins.
Most of his career spent on the Houston Astros, where he won the 2017 American League Rookie of the Year and a Gold Glove in 2017. He is a two-time All-Star and a member of the 2017 Astros World Series Champions.
New York Mets – Pete Alonso
This choice is a lot tougher if it was the start of the 2023 season when the team had two Hall of Famers on the mound, Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer.
Both are gone now, so the best pick is the New York Mets First Baseman Pete Alonso. Alonso was the 2019 National League Rookie of the Year and a three-time All-Star. He has also won two Homerun Derbies.
New York Yankees – Aaron Judge
Aaron Judge is one of the brightest stars in baseball for the most recognizable team in the MLB.
He won the 2017 American League Rookie of the Year and the 2022 American League Most Valuable Player award. A five-time All-Star and had led the American League in home runs. He has participated in every postseason since 2017.
Oakland Athletics – Brent Rooker
The Oakland Athletics are the worst team in the majors and have very little Hall of Fame talent.
The best bet is Brent Rooker, named an All-Star this season as a designated hitter. He currently has 18 home runs and 48 RBIs.
Philadelphia Phillies – Bryce Harper
Bryce Harper is the easy pick for the Philadelphia Phillies.
He has won two National League Most Valuable Player Awards, the 2012 National League Rookie of the Year, and is a seven-time All-Star and a two-time Silver Slugger winner. He was named the National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player in 2022.
Pittsburgh Pirates – Andrew McCutchen
The Pittsburgh Pirates legend helped his team back to the postseason in 2013 after a 21-year playoff drought.
He was voted the National League Most Valuable Player in 2013 and is a five-time All-Star. He bounced to other teams from 2018 to 2022 but returned to Pittsburgh for another stint in 2023.
San Diego Padres – Nelson Cruz
Tough call with the San Diego Padres roster. They have a roster with some of the top-tier talent over the years. Nelson Cruz gets the nod.
Cruz has also shown poise in the postseason as the 2011 American League Championship Series Most Valuable Player and appeared in two World Series.
San Francisco Giants – Brandon Crawford
Shortstop Brandon Crawford is one of the few remaining San Francisco Giants from their last World Series Championship in 2014.
He also played on the 2012 World Champion team and has spent his entire career with the Giants. He is a three-time All-Star and has won four Gold Gloves.
Seattle Mariners – Julio Rodriguez
Only two seasons into his career, Rodriguez is already a top player.
The 2022 American League Rookie of the Year and a two-time All-Star with the Seattle Mariners and winning a Silver Slugger. He helped guide the Mariners to the playoffs for the first time in 21 years.
St. Louis Cardinals – Paul Goldschmidt
Paul Goldschmidt or Nolan Arenado. Goldschmidt gets the nod after winning the National League Most Valuable Player award in 2022.
He is a seven-time All-Star, has won four Gold Gloves and five Silver Slugger awards, and led the National League in home runs and RBIs in 2013.
Tampa Bay Rays – Randy Arozarena
Randy Arozarena has done a tremendous job for the Tampa Bay Rays in a short period.
He won the American League Championship Series Most Valuable Player award in 2020, American League Rookie of the Year, and an All-Star for the first time in 2023.
Texas Rangers – Max Scherzer
Pick from the Texas Rangers pitching staff Max Scherzer is still the most accomplished with three Cy Young awards, eight All-Star selections, and leading the National League in strike out three times.
He also has a World Series Championship ring during his time with the Washing Nationals.
Toronto Blue Jays – Vladmir Guerrero Jr.
Vladmir Guerrero Jr has high expectations for his career that he is living up to with the Toronto Blue Jays. He is a three-time All-Star, a Gold Glove award winner, and a Silver Slugger winner.
Leading the majors in home runs in 2021 and the 2023 homerun derby. He won the 2021 MLB All-Star Most Valuable Player.
Washington Nationals – Josiah Gray
Not too many players left from the Washington Nationals team that won the World Series in 2019.
Josiah Gray is a piece to build around, became an All-Star for the first time in 2023 and is only 25 years old. The Nationals still need players to make it back into postseason contention.
