Major League Baseball (MLB) has seen many great players come through in the 2010 decade. Although they are not on our list, we should not forget to mention players like Giancarlo Stanton, Nolan Arenado, Stephen Strasburg, Cole Hamels and Freddie Freeman. It's important to say that Albert Pujols was not included on this list either.
Some have been able to win the World Series, but not all the best players play for the most successfull teams. With that said, we present to you the 20 best MLB players of the past decade.
20. Josh Donaldson
He played for three teams throughout the decade, which included the Oakland Athletics, Toranto Blue Jays, and the Atlanta Braves. He was named the American League MVP in 2015, played in three All-Star games, and won the National League Comeback Player of the Year award in 2019.
19. Christian Yelich
He began his career with the Miami Marlins where he would show his great potential. However, he consolidated himself as one of the league's best player after being traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in 2018. In the last two seasons, he would win the National League MVP award and has been called to last two All-Star games.
18. Zack Greinke
He began his career in 2009 and has played for six teams in the past decade. Since 2010, Greinke has taken part in five All-Star games and won six Gold Gloves.
17. David Price
In the past decade, the left handed pitcher has played for the Tampa Bay Rays, Detroit Tigers, Toronto Blue Jays, and Boston Red Sox. He won the Cy Young in 2012, has been to five All-Star games, and won the World Series in 2018 with the Boston Red Sox. Along with this, he won the American League Comeback Player of the Year award in 2018.
16. Madison Bumgarner
Having started the new decade with the Arizona Diamondbacks, he played the entire previous one with the San Francisco Giants. With the Giants, he won three World Series titles, being named MVP in 2014. He has taken part in four All-Star games and holds the records for most strikeouts in a game for a left handed picture.
15. Andrew McCutchen
He played the previous decade with the Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees, and Philadelphia Phillies. His most successful period came in Pittsburgh where he won the National League MVP in 2013, took part in five All-Star games, won four Sliver Slugger awards, and a Gold Glove.
14. Mookie Bets
The current Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder did something in 2018 while playing for the Boston Red Sox that no other player in MLB history had done before. He achieved the league MVP, the Silver Slugger, Gold Glove, had the best hitting average, and won the World Series in the same season. Additionally, he has also taken part in four All-Star games.
13. Bryce Harper
He made his debut in 2012 at only 19 years of age with the Washington Nationals where he would be called to the All-Star game in his first season and would win the National League Rookie of the Year award. Harper has taken part in five All-Star games and was named the National League MVP in 2015. In 2019, he left the Nationals to sign for the Philadelphia Phillies.
12. Jacob deGrom
In 2014, he made his debut for the New York Mets and would win the National League Rookie of the Year award. He has won two consecutive Cy Young awards and has participated in three All-Star games. The question now is can he keep up with his great form in this new decade?
11. Paul Goldschmidt
The St. Louis Cardinals' first baseman had some great seasons in the past decade when he was still playing for the Arizona Diamondbacks. His best season came in 2013 when he finished the campaign with the best RBI and most homeruns in the National League. In addition, he finished second in the National League MVP voting and has taken part in six All-Star games.
10. José Altuve
The Venezuelan second baseman has played his entire career with the Houston Astros. He made his debut in 2012 and has enjoyed some great seasons, taking part in six All-Star game. However, he achieved individual and collective success in 2017 when he was named the American League MVP and won the World Series.
9. Chris Sale
The left handed pitcher has not won a Cy Young award, but he has had some brilliant performances over the past decade. He was one of the Chicago White Sox's best players and he helped the Boston Red Sox win the World Series in 2018. Along with this, he has participated in seven All-Star games.
8. Buster Posey
An unbelievalbe decade for the San Francisco Giants' catcher. In his first season as a professional, he would win the National League Rookie of the Year award and helped the team win the World Series. He added another two World Series titles with the Giants, was named the National League MVP in 2015, and has taken part in six All-Star games.
7. Miguel Cabrera
It is true that his last couple of seasons have not been the best, but he was during a good portion of the decade one of the most dominant players in MLB. He was the American League MVP on two occasions and won the Triple Crown in 2012.
6. Adrián Beltré
He began the decade by taking a pay cut to play for the Boston Red Sox, which is where he would consistently show the talent that many knew he had. He was selected that year to play in his first All-Star game and would later take part in another two editions.
5. Joey Votto
His best season may have been in 2010 where he hit 37 home runs and was named the National League MVP, but he has been one of the league's most consistent players over the years. He is an expert on getting on base, achieving a .428 on base average throughout the decade. Additionally, he has participated in six All-Star games.
4. Max Scherzer
He began the decade with his first winning season and concluded it by winning the World Series with the Washington Nationals. Although he has not won a league MVP, he has stood out over the years for his strikeouts. He has won three Cy Young awards and is a 7-time All-Star.
3. Justin Verlander
Throughout the decade, he was named American League MVP, two Cy Young awards, and six appearances at the All-Star game. He added a World Series title to his curriculum in 2017 while playing with the Houston Astros.
2. Clayton Kershaw
The Los Angeles Dodgers left handed pitcher began to stand out in 2011. Although he had been in the league for three seasons, that year he won his first of three National League Cy Young awards. He was named National League MVP in 2014 and is an 8-time All-Star.
1. Mike Trout
The Los Angeles Angels outfielder has been the MLB's best player of the past decade and is already considered one of the greatest of all time. Surprisingly, he is still yet to win a postseason series, but that does not take away from his incredible performances. He has won three American League MVP awards in 2014, 2016, and 2019, seven Silver Slugger awards, and has participated in eight All-Star games.
