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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ANAHEIM, CA – MAY 26: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim hits a RBI double in the seventh inning of the game against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on May 26, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

Outfield: Mike Trout

Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout has played eight full MLB seasons. In each of those eight seasons, he has been the best player in baseball. Trout has finished first or second in the MVP vote in all but one season of his career. In the season he came in fourth in the vote, he hit .306/.442/.629 with 33 home runs and 72 RBI in 114 games and walked more often than he struck out.

Trout could retire today if he got some strange urge and immediately go in the Hall of Fame on the first ballot. His career to date has been nothing short of ridiculous, and if he stays healthy and produces at a high level past the age of 35, he could go down in history as the greatest baseball player of all time.

Since debuting, Trout has generated 73.4 WAR. The next closest outfielder over the last decade, Andrew McCutchen, checks in at 46.5 WAR. Trout has been almost twice as good as the rest of his competition.

Somehow, it’s possible that Trout has not yet peaked. He is only 28 and has hit .303/.447/.634 over the last three seasons with 76 doubles, 117 home runs, 255 RBI and 57 stolen bases. Trout has had to deal with some minor injuries the last three years, but the only likely impact to his game moving into the second half of his career is on the basepaths, where he will likely attempt fewer stolen bases. Now, if the Angels could just build a competitive team around him.

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