Here‘s what the 2018 All-Star teams should look like
Time:2018-01-09
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These are the teams you should see.
American League
Starters
C: Wilson Ramos, Tampa Bay – When you can start off the All-Star rosters with a player who has grounded into 17 double plays in the first half of the season, you just gotta do it.
1B: Mitch Moreland, Boston – The first two starting spots on the American League All-Star team belong to Wilson Ramos and Mitch Moreland. Stay hot, 2018.
2B: Jose Altuve, Houston – OK, this is a little more like it.
SS: Francisco Lindor, Cleveland – Fine, a lot more like it.
3B: Jose Ramirez, Cleveland – Little-realized fact: Ramirez has an average on balls in play of just .276, meaning if luck tilts back on his side, he’s going to be even better … and he’s already on pace for the highest single-season WAR total by a third baseman ever.
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You already knew Mike Trout would be on this list. (AP)
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OF: Mike Trout, Los Angeles – He’s been even better than Ramirez.
OF: Mookie Betts, Boston – More or less identical to Trout, only with 19 fewer games because of injuries.
OF: Aaron Judge, New York – He’d be the clear-cut favorite to win MVP in the National League. In the AL, he’s something like the fifth-best player.
DH: J.D. Martinez, Boston – Next to Trout and Betts, he’s been the best hitter in baseball – and easily the best free agent bargain.
Backups
C: Max Stassi, Houston – He will not be an All-Star in real life, but some guy on the internet says he warrants a spot, so at least he’s got that going for him.
1B: Jose Abreu, Chicago – This deserved to go to Oakland’s Matt Olson, but the rules state that every major league team must be represented. Yes, the White Sox are still technically a major league team.
2B: Whit Merrifield, Kansas City – So are the Royals.
SS: Manny Machado, Baltimore – And the Orioles. Except unlike the previous two, Machado would’ve made it the team regardless of team.
SS: Andrelton Simmons, Los Angeles – Sorry, Jean Segura, but Simmons is a similar hitter with a far better glove at shortstop.
3B: Matt Chapman, Oakland – Sorry, Matt Olson and Jed Lowrie – whose spots were taken by Abreu and Merrifield – but the last slot on the team goes to an A’s teammate with the best third-base glove this side of Nolan Arenado.
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Alex Bregman loves a good walk-off win. (AP)
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3B: Alex Bregman, Houston – The King of the Walkoff in 2018 has some heady company – Wilmer Flores and Luke Maile – with three apiece this season.
OF: Eddie Rosario, Minnesota – Back-to-back Yahoo Sports MLB Podcast guests making the All-Star team. Coincidence? Yes. Yes, it is.
OF: Nick Castellanos, Detroit – Considering how he plays the outfield, he’d have made a great starting first baseman.
OF: Mitch Haniger, Seattle – Apologies to Andrew Benintendi, but the numbers are practically identical, and Haniger hits in a much tougher park.
DH: Shin-Soo Choo, Texas – With a $130 million deal, he is the highest-paid player never to make an All-Star team. This year should change that.