Creating the Los Angeles Dodgers 2010s all-decade team

1 of 3

LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 13: (L-R) Andre Ethier #16, Clayton Kershaw #22 and Matt Kemp #27 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pose with their 2011 Golden Gloves before the game against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium on April 13, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

In the 2010s, the Dodgers saw a new ownership group, seven-straight NL West titles, a franchise-record setting season, and two NL pennants.

In one of the team’s best decades since the 1980s, the Dodgers saw the direction of the franchise do a quick about face, especially in the last few years of the 2010s. The team has been bringing in massive crowds and plenty of TV revenue, and the Guggenheim group has shown no signs of slowing down.

The 2010s also happened to be the decade in which my fandom grew the most. From Rafael Furcal and Juan Pierre to Orlando Hudson and Manny Ramirez, the time between the 2008 and 2009 seasons and the early 2010s provided budding Dodger fans like myself a generation of homegrown stars to enjoy.

On offense, Matt Kemp dominated the early part of the decade, with Andre Ethier having his moments as well. American League All-Star Adrian Gonzalez stopped by and Hanley Ramirez did his thing in the postseason. Yasiel Puig began a wave of prospect success that still has yet to dwindle, with Corey Seager, Cody Bellinger, and now Gavin Lux and Alex Verdugo making a major impact at the big league level.

This decade has certainly been one for the ages, but for all that it did well, it still does not house a World Series ring. In a decade in which the Los Angeles Kings and Los Angeles Lakers hosted championship parades, the Dodgers failed to do so despite hosting two World Series near the decade’s close.

In this set of articles, I’ll go position by position and create an all-2010s roster, complete with short blurbs about why I selected each player. I’ll break down the roster into pitchers and hitters, with honorable mentions as well (Don’t be afraid to comment on who I snubbed, as I’ll certainly find a way to leave off a big name or two).

PHOENIX, AZ – SEPTEMBER 28: Matt Kemp #27 of the Los Angeles Dodgers during the Major League Baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on September 28, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Dodgers defeated the Diamondbacks 7-5. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

The All-Decade Offense- The Outfield

It’d be hard to talk about the Dodgers last decade without bringing up a few big seasons from a group of young outfielders. Here’s my three starting outfielders for the decade.

Matt Kemp– The obvious choice, Kemp had the greatest single season of any Dodger hitter in 2011, when he notoriously should have won the NL MVP award if not for the roid-aided season of Ryan Braun. Kemp’s 39 home runs and 40 steals complemented a .324 average and 8.3 WAR season overall. He’ll forever be a fan-favorite, even in the minds of recent fans who saw him launch a home run in the World Series in 2018 against the Red Sox.

Yasiel Puig– In over 700 games with the Dodgers, Puig went from being an unknown from Cuba, to a Spring Training phenom, to finishing second in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2013. He hit important playoff home runs, including the all-time greatest moment of my Dodger playoff fandom, when he hit a three-run home run in the 2018 World Series in Game Four off of Eduardo Rodriguez. Puig’s cannon arm and bat-licking antics will forever remind me of the best reasons to enjoy baseball: because it brings you back to your own childhood. He’s one of my favorite Dodgers, despite the drama he brought to the clubhouse.

Cody Bellinger– His 2019 postseason still stings, but his Rookie of the Year campaign subdues my frustration when considering his overall skills and performance during the decade. By WAR, he put up the second-best Dodger season with the bat, after Kemp’s 2011, and like Kemp, Belli-Bomb will probably finish second in the NL MVP voting. While he may have less of a long-standing relationship to Dodger fans than contemporary Andre Ethier, he literally is just as beloved, as the fans who ran on the field to hug him would tell you.

Honorable Mentions:

Andre Ethier (the most games as a Dodger during the decade) and Joc Pederson

Now, onto the infield.

WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 07: Justin Turner #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the first inning of game four of the National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on October 07, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

The All-Decade Offense- The Infield

The infield houses some of the most interesting Dodgers of the decade, with some of the most frustrating and most fun players around.

Catcher, Yasmani Grandal– Even if he struggled enough to let Austin Barnes usurp him in the postseason during both World Series runs, his offense really did balance the Dodgers lineup for four years out of ten. He put up two 4-WAR seasons and two 5-WAR seasons thanks to his massive power from the left side.

Honorable Mention- Russell Martin (played in 2010 and 2019, book ending the decade at catcher)

More from Dodgers Way

First Base- Adrian Gonzalez– I love Max Muncy, but his two seasons in Dodger blue don’t encapsulate as much of the decade as Gonzalez’s five-season run from 2012 to 2017. He perfectly encapsulated the decade; he was brought in by the Guggenheim group to rebuild the franchise and he was usurped by the youth movement and Cody Bellinger before he could play in the World Series for the Dodgers.

Honorable Mention- Max Muncy (has the two biggest WAR seasons for a Dodger 1B on the decade)

Second Base- Dee Gordon– Another largely important home grown Dodger, Gordon provided the Dodgers a lead-off man with 60+ steal potential (which he reached in 2014 with 64 steals). After struggling at short stop, he Flash Gordon transitioned to second base and thrived, through Friedman and the front office sold high on him and shipped him off to Miami as part of a three-team deal that netted the Dodgers Howie Kendrick.

Honorable Mention- Chase Utely (simply because he’s the Silver Fox)

Shortstop- Corey Seager– He helped the Dodgers reach their first World Series berth of the decade in 2017 and he won the Rookie of the Year award in 2016. Another home grown stud, Seager is another player poised to have a bigger 2020s decade than 2010s decade, he’ll just need to continue to improve.

Honorable Mention- Hanley Ramirez was amazing in the postseason for the Dodgers, and he helped bring a fun edge to the team, especially during his 86 game outburst in which he smacked 20 home runs in 2013. But his stay was short-lived and shortened by injuries, and he really was a third baseman for the Dodgers for all intents and purposes.

Third Base- Justin Turner– Easy choice for me, quite possibly the easiest on the offensive list outside of Kemp. Turner dominated the 2010s once he joined the Dodgers, stabilizing the playoff lineup and dominating in October to help the team reach a pair of World Series. RedTurn2 epitomized the Dodgers rise to the upper echelon of the sport, as he was a low-cost reclamation project turned superstar. Though he’s unlikely to dominate in the 2020s, he led the team in WAR (25.2) for the decade, making him quite possibly the decade MVP for the team.

Honorable Mention- Juan Uribe (almost entirely because of his monstrous homer in the NLDS that sent the Dodgers on to the NLCS in 2013, which I saw live from the left field pavilion)

dark. Next. What if the Dodgers dealt their big lefty?

In the next set of the All-Decade team, I’ll get into the best of the bullpen and starting rotation, and don’t worry, Jonathan Broxton will be mentioned.

Home / Dodgers History

Creating the Los Angeles Dodgers 2010s all-decade offense

In the 2010s, the Dodgers saw a new ownership group, seven-straight NL West titles, a franchise-record setting season, and two NL pennants.

More from Dodgers Way

Schedule