Fansided

Picking an All-Decade MLB team for the 2010s

By Joshua Sadlock

TORONTO, ON - JUNE 17: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim bats in the fourth inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on June 17, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JUNE 17: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim bats in the fourth inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on June 17, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 08: Francisco Lindor #12 of the Cleveland Indians reacts as he runs the bases after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning against the Houston Astros during Game Three of the American League Division Series at Progressive Field on October 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Shortstop: Francisco Lindor

The best period for shortstops in MLB history — the first decade of the 21st Century, highlighted by Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Nomar Garciaparra — was followed by a transition decade where no one player stood out for the entire ten years. Troy Tulowitzki’s peaks were on par with the Jeter, Rodriguez and Garciaparra trio, but he was injured far too often to be the pick.

With no clear choice to span the entire decade, the pick is going to be the current best shortstop in the league — Cleveland Indians star Francisco Lindor, who nearly matched Tulowitzki’s WAR total in five fewer seasons and 140 fewer games (see, I told you Tulo was injured a lot). Lindor has become the face of the franchise in Cleveland (for now) and has put some serious ground on much-hyped Carlos Correa, who debuted in the same season and won Rookie of the Year.

Lindor has hit .288/.347/.493 with 178 doubles, 130 home runs, 384 RBI and 93 steals. He has been an All-Star four years in a row and has won two Silver Sluggers and a Gold Glove. His brilliance has also carried over into the playoffs. Lindor keyed a run to the World Series in 2016 by hitting .368/.400/.579 in the ALCS. He is a five-tool player who plays elite defense at one of the most important positions on the field.

The book on Lindor when he made his MLB debut was that he would contend for the Gold Glove every year but would not deliver quite as much on the offensive side. He hit 12 home runs and drove in 51 in 99 games his rookie year to point to solid offensive potential. The last three seasons have exceeded even the wildest expectations, as the 25-year-old star has hit .278/.342/.514 with 126 doubles, 103 home runs and 255 RBI. The Indians have quietly been floating the idea of trading their star before free agency, but he will be the best shortstop in baseball regardless of who he suits up for.

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