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MLB

Who has the best infield in the MLB?

With big hitters and even bigger contracts moving around the league, we take a look at the teams with the best infielders in Major League baseball

Update:
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - MARCH 23: Bobby Bradley #44 of the Cleveland Guardians safely slides into second base with an infield double as Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers makes a leaping catch on a throw from Miguel Vargas #71 during the fourth inning o
Norm HallAFP

During the past weeks, some of the biggest signings in baseball have involved infielders. Carlos Correa, perhaps the top free agent overall, signed a whopping three-year, $105.3 million deal with the Minnesota Twins. Trevor Story was snapped up by the Boston Red Sox on a six-year, $140 million deal.

Freddie Freeman’s services were contracted by the Los Angeles Dodgers for six years at $162 million. And if we look back to pre-lockdown deals, the Texas Rangers brought in Corey Seager at shortstop for an eye-watering $325 million over ten years and Marcus Semien at second base on a seven-year $175 million contract.

This is not the first time that the Rangers have had one of the best infields in baseball. With the moves of Arlington legends like Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, Alfonso Soriano, and Iván “Pudge” Rodriguez, not to mention the recent transactions for Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Joey Gallo, longsuffering Ranger fans may be forgiven for thinking that New York sees them as a kind of Triple-A plus training ground for future Yankees. Yes, Gallo is an outfielder, but it still kind of stings.

As for those Yankees, well, they fall outside of the top infields if you simply base the criteria on WAR. Even with the big acquisitions that they have traditionally made, there are several teams who have done better than the Yankees this free agency.

The top infield likely to be fielded in MLB will be a toss-up between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays. With the addition of Freddie Freeman and Trea Turner, the Dodgers have made up for their loss of Corey Seager. But the Blue Jays have made some trade moves as well and bringing in Matt Chapman gives them a much-needed boost to their existing lineup. He will join Vlad Guerrero Jr and Bo Bichette to make for an exciting infield. But where the Jays may have the edge in excitement, the Dodgers have greater depth behind their starters.

You can’t discuss infields and leave out the Boston Red Sox. With the addition of Trevor Story to Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers, they are presenting a strong case on the infield dirt. They also have a prospect in Triston Casas who could get called up to the Show during the course of the season, bringing his explosive bat with him.

The reigning World Series champion Atlanta Braves are another team with an impressively strong infield. The loss of Freddie Freeman was made up for, in the eyes of the Braves front office, by the acquisition of Matt Olson. He will join Austin Riley, Dansby Swanson, and Ozzie Albies in one of the most potent lineups in baseball.

The other team involved in the Fall Classic, the Houston Astros, is still a force to be reckoned with, even after the loss of Carlos Correa to the Twins. But with "Mighty Mouse" José Altuve and Alex Bregman anchoring that pull side and Yuli Gurriel on the bag at first, they can still sweep up most of the league.

Judging strictly by projected WAR, here are the top 10 infields in the Major Leagues.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers: 16.7
  • Toronto Blue Jays: 16.7
  • Boston Red Sox: 15.2
  • New York Mets: 15.1
  • Atlanta Braves: 14.9
  • Texas Rangers: 14.7
  • San Diego Padres: 14.6
  • Minnesota Twins: 14.2
  • Houston Astros: 13
  • St. Louis Cardinals: 12.9