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.
Mike Clevinger, Indians
Home runs: Ronald Acuña Jr.
Hits: Fernando Tatis Jr.
Wins (pitcher): Gerrit Cole
Strikeouts (pitcher): Gerrit Cole
Wins (team): Yankees
World Series championships: Braves
MVP Awards: Ronald Acuña Jr.
Cy Young Awards: Trevor Bauer
All-Star Games: Ronald Acuña Jr.
Blake Snell, Rays
Home runs: Ronald Acuña 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
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.
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."
Elvis Andrus, Rangers
Home runs: Mike Trout
Hits: José 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."
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
Billy McKinney, Blue Jays
Home runs: Eloy Jiménez
Hits: Ronald Acuña 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
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. Acuña 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 Acuña Jr.
Cy Young Awards: Gerrit Cole
All-Star Games: Matt Chapman
Miguel Rojas, Marlins
Home runs: Pete Alonso
Hits: Ronald Acuña 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 Báez
Wil Myers, Padres
Home runs: Ronald Acuña 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
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