The players' picks for best of the next decade
MLB¡¯s new Vault contest is asking fans to pick which individuals and teams will lead the league in nine different categories from 2020-29. But hey, why stop at fans? What about the players? After all, it's always fun to have a window into whom players consider the best among their peers.
Here's a look at some Vault picks from players around MLB, as well as some quotes from them on the reasons for their selections.
Note: Players were not allowed to choose their own club or any of their teammates.
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Mike Clevinger, Indians
Home runs: Ronald Acu?a Jr.
Hits: Fernando Tatis Jr.
Wins (pitcher): Gerrit Cole
Strikeouts (pitcher): Gerrit Cole
Wins (team): Yankees
World Series championships: Braves
MVP Awards: Ronald Acu?a Jr.
Cy Young Awards: Trevor Bauer
All-Star Games: Ronald Acu?a Jr.
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Blake Snell, Rays
Home runs: Ronald Acu?a Jr.
Hits: Mookie Betts
Wins (pitcher): Gerrit Cole
Strikeouts (pitcher): Walker Buehler
Wins (team): Red Sox
World Series championships: Red Sox
MVP Awards: Mike Trout
Cy Young Awards: Blake Snell
All-Star Games: Mookie Betts
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Nelson Cruz, Twins
Home runs: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. -- ¡°He¡¯s a freak athlete with a lot of pop. If he shows what he showed in the Minors, it¡¯s going to be a remarkable career. Probably this year he¡¯s going to show who he really is.¡±
Hits: Gleyber Torres
Wins (pitcher): Mike Soroka
Strikeouts (pitcher): Shane Bieber
Wins (team): Yankees
World Series championships: Yankees
MVP Awards: Mike Trout
Cy Young Awards: Bieber
All-Star Games: Fernando Tatis Jr.
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J.D. Davis, Mets:
Home runs: Christian Yelich -- "Nine years in that Milwaukee [band box]? Yeah. I would say also [Aaron] Judge because he's so big and hits so many home runs. It's hard to guess who will stay healthy. That's the biggest thing."
Hits: Juan Soto
Wins (pitcher): Jack Flaherty
Strikeouts (pitcher): Josh Hader
Wins (team): No answer
World Series championships: White Sox
MVP Awards: Mike Trout
Cy Young Awards: Jack Flaherty
All-Star Games: Mike Trout -- "Trout's going to make 10 out of 10. That's pretty easy."
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Elvis Andrus, Rangers
Home runs: Mike Trout
Hits: Jos¨¦ Altuve
Wins (pitcher): Jacob deGrom
Strikeouts (pitcher): Gerrit Cole
Wins (team): Yankees
World Series championships: Yankees
MVP Awards: Mike Trout
Cy Young Awards: Max Scherzer
All-Star Games: Mike Trout -- "It's hard to pick against Mike Trout for anything."
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Corey Seager, Dodgers
Home runs: Aaron Judge
Strikeouts (pitcher): Jacob deGrom
MVPs: Mike Trout
Hits: Christian Yelich
Wins (team): Yankees
Cy Young Awards: deGrom
Wins (pitcher): deGrom
World Series championships: No Answer
All-Star Games: Nolan Arenado
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Billy McKinney, Blue Jays
Home runs: Eloy Jim¨¦nez
Hits: Ronald Acu?a Jr.
Wins (pitcher): Shane Bieber
Strikeouts (pitcher): Walker Buehler
Wins (team): Yankees
World Series championships: Padres
MVP Awards: Juan Soto
Cy Young Awards: Walker Buehler
All-Star Games: Gleyber Torres
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Cole Tucker, Pirates
Home runs: Cody Bellinger
Hits: Tatis Jr. -- ¡°You¡¯ve got to go with youth here. ¡ Austin Meadows would be a good pick. Can¡¯t pick (teammate) Brian Reynolds. I kind of like Tatis. He¡¯s young. I really like Tatis. Acu?a or Tatis would be my pick, so I¡¯m going to go Tatis because he¡¯s a shortstop and show him some love."
Wins (pitcher): Jack Flaherty -- ¡°Shane Bieber is a sneaky good pick. He¡¯s so good and accurate and just nails. ¡ I like Bieber or Flaherty. I¡¯ve got more hits off Bieber than Flaherty, so I¡¯m going to go Flaherty.¡±
Strikeouts (pitcher): Nate Pearson -- ¡°Nate Pearson, dear God. I like Pearson. I played behind him in the Fall League. I¡¯m going to go Pearson. One hundred miles per hour is hard to hit now. It¡¯s probably going to be hard to hit in 10 years.¡±
Wins (team): Yankees -- ¡°It would be helpful if I was super into MLB Pipeline and knew everything about everybody. ¡ Just based off history, I¡¯ll go with the Yankees.¡±
World Series championships: Braves
MVP Awards: Ronald Acu?a Jr.
Cy Young Awards: Gerrit Cole
All-Star Games: Matt Chapman
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Miguel Rojas, Marlins
Home runs: Pete Alonso
Hits: Ronald Acu?a Jr.
Wins (pitcher): Walker Buehler
Strikeouts (pitcher): Jacob deGrom
Wins (team): Dodgers
World Series championships: White Sox
MVP Awards: Juan Soto
Cy Young Awards: Jacob deGrom
All-Star Games: Javier B¨¢ez
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Wil Myers, Padres
Home runs: Ronald Acu?a Jr.
Hits: Juan Soto
Wins (pitcher): Mike Soroka
Strikeouts (pitcher): Jacob deGrom
Wins (team): Yankees
World Series titles: No answer
MVPs: Mike Trout
Cy Young Awards: Gerrit Cole
All-Star Games: Aaron Judge
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Dylan Moore, Mariners
Home runs: Mike Trout
Hits: Luis Arraez
Wins (pitcher): Shane Bieber
Strikeouts (pitcher): Jesus Luzardo
Wins (team): Angels
World Series championships: Cardinals
MVP Awards: Mike Trout
Cy Young Awards: Luis Castillo
All-Star Games: Mike Trout