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Who are the top MLB players of the 2000s? Here is our top 10 countdown:
10. Derek Jeter: the heart and soul of the New York Yankees for two decades, Jeter was an 8x All-Star, 4x Silver Slugger, and 3x Gold Glover during the 2000s (43.9 WAR), leading New York to a pair of bookend World Series titles during this span (winning World Series MVP in 2000).
9. Manny Ramirez: a model of consistency with six consecutive top-10 MVP finishes to start the decade, Ramirez was a 9x All-Star and 7x Silver Slugger who posted 43.5 WAR in the 2000s and won two World Series titles with the Boston Red Sox, earning World Series MVP in 2004.
8. Johan Santana: second to only Pedro Martinez in ERA during the 2000s, Santana racked up four All-Star selections, three ERA titles, three straight strikeout crowns, a pair of Cy Youngs, a Gold Glove, and a Pitching Triple Crown en route to 46.3 WAR for the decade.
7. Mariano Rivera: the greatest closer ever and baseball’s all-time saves leader, Rivera racked up nearly 400 saves for the decade on nine 30+ save seasons and two years leading the league with 50+ saves; with eight All-Star selections and three top-five Cy Young finishes, he posted 33.0 WAR in the 2000s and helped the Yankees win a pair of championships.
6. Pedro Martinez: a 4x All-Star during the decade and the 2000 AL Cy Young Award winner, Martinez led all pitchers in winning percentage and ERA (leading the league in the category 3x) in the 2000s while posting 45.7 WAR and guiding the Red Sox to their first World Series title in 86 years.
5. Randy Johnson: starting off the decade with three straight Cy Youngs and 300+ strikeout seasons, which included two ERA titles and a Pitching Triple Crown, Johnson was a 4x All-Star and co-MVP of the 2001 World Series for the Arizona Diamondbacks, leading all pitchers in strikeouts and WAR (51.5) in the 2000s.
4. Ichiro Suzuki: after coming over from Japan to win both AL Rookie of the Year and MVP in 2001, Ichiro was a 9x All-Star and Gold Glover in the 2000s who won three Silver Sluggers and two batting titles while hitting .300+ with 200+ hits each year en route to compiling 51.2 WAR.
3. Barry Bonds: baseball’s all-time home run king, Bonds won four straight MVPs in the early 2000s (leading the league in walks, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS+ each year), including a record 73 home runs in 2001; he was also a 6x All-Star and 5x Silver Slugger who accumulated 59.1 WAR for the decade, though his achievements are clouded by steroids.
2. Alex Rodriguez: though steroid use has also clouded his legacy, Rodriguez led the decade with 77.6 WAR, hitting 30+ home runs with 100+ runs batted in each season to not only pace the 2000s in home runs, runs batted in, and runs scored, but also earn three MVP awards, eight All-Star selections, seven Silver Sluggers, a pair of Gold Gloves, and a World Series championship with the Yankees.
1. Albert Pujols: the best hitter in baseball during the 2000s, Pujols began his career with NL Rookie of the Year honors and hit .300+ with 30+ home runs and 100+ runs batted in every year of the decade, winning three MVPs, a World Series title with the St. Louis Cardinals, and five Silver Sluggers with eight All-Star appearances for a total WAR of 73.6.
Agree/Disagree? As always, debate/discuss, and leave your thoughts and comments below.
Note: All statistics as of time of publication.
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Countdown 51: Top 10 NFL Players of the 2000s
