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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DENVER, CO – AUGUST 28: Boston Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts (50) warms up before batting against the Colorado Rockies during a regular season interleague Major League Baseball game on August 28, 2019 at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – AUGUST 28: Boston Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts (50) warms up before batting against the Colorado Rockies during a regular season interleague Major League Baseball game on August 28, 2019 at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Outfield: Mookie Betts

Only one player has truly stepped up to the plate to challenge Mike Trout for the undisputed title of best player in baseball. That’s Boston Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts, who ranks fourth on the leaderboard for WAR among outfielders in the decade despite not making his MLB debut until 2014 and not playing a full season until 2015. Betts is about as close to Trout as we’re going to get in terms of a five-tool package.

Betts has played five full seasons in the major leagues, hitting .302/.374/.524 with 217 doubles, 134 home runs, 452 RBI and 119 stolen bases. He has been one of the most difficult strikeouts in the game, averaging fewer than 100 whiffs per season. Betts won the 2018 AL MVP, putting up numbers that could rival any of Trout’s best seasons. He hit .346/.438/.640 with 47 doubles, 32 home runs, 80 RBI and 30 stolen bases. Betts led the major leagues in batting average, slugging percentage and runs scored.

In addition to his MVP-caliber numbers on offense, Betts is also the best right fielder in baseball. He has won three Gold Gloves in a row and should pick up a fourth for his efforts this season. Betts isn’t quite Trout, but he’s damn close when he’s at his best. Trout has actually not topped Betts’ career-best single-season WAR total, though he does have three double-digit WAR seasons to Betts’ one.

The Red Sox are at a crossroads as a franchise and with Betts, who may be shopped on the trade block this offseason. If he has indeed played his last season in Boston, he will go down as one of the best ever in team history. His presence will be impossible to replace, but the Red Sox might not be able to sign him to a long-term deal.

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