Top 10 MLB players of 2019

While the year concludes with the Washington Nationals as World Series champions, a number of baseball's top talents showcased some of their finest work during a 2019 campaign chock-full of home runs, strikeouts, and general baseball dominance.

Let's look back at the 10 best players of the season.

10. Stephen Strasburg

After logging a league-leading 209 innings and a career-high 18 wins during the regular season, the right-hander was sensational in the playoffs en route to a World Series win and MVP honors. The 31-year-old's stellar performance earned him a seven-year, $245-million contract with the Nationals, which, at the time, was a record-breaker for a pitcher in free agency.

9. Anthony Rendon

Like Strasburg, Rendon used a marvelous 2019 campaign with the Nationals to secure a seven-year, $245-million contract, though it was the Los Angeles Angels who ultimately ponied up the cash. The sure-handed third baseman completed an All-Star campaign in 2019 with a third-place finish in National League MVP voting courtesy of a .319/.412/.598 slash line, an MLB-leading 126 RBIs, and a ridiculous 153 OPS+.

8. Marcus Semien

Semien enjoyed one of the most surprising breakout campaigns in baseball, finishing third in American League MVP voting thanks to a career year that included 162 games played, 43 doubles, and 33 homers. Major kudos must be given to the 29-year-old, who proved that his defensive improvements in 2018 were no fluke. In 2019, Semien finished first in FanGraphs defense and third in defensive runs saved among qualified AL shortstops.

7. Justin Verlander

Like a fine wine, Verlander continues to get better with age. The 36-year-old led baseball in wins, innings pitched, starts, and WHIP while earning the second Cy Young of his illustrious career. The hard-throwing right-hander only surrendered 42 walks and 137 hits in 223 innings and struck out 300 for the first time in his career. Add a no-hitter and membership into the 3,000-strikeout club to his list of 2019 accomplishments, and it was quite a year for the veteran.

6. Jacob deGrom

DeGrom followed a historic 2018 season with a second straight Cy Young campaign in 2019. Across 204 innings, the Mets right-hander led the NL in strikeouts, WHIP, and WAR, and he finished inside the top five in ERA, FIP, K/9, and HR/9. Despite his exploits, deGrom hasn't earned much luck; he's won just 21 games for the Mets over the past two years, with the team finishing 14-18 in contests he started last season.

5. Gerrit Cole

It may seem strange that Cole is ahead of both Cy Young winners, but he bettered deGrom in a number of statistical categories including wins, WAR, innings pitched, and strikeouts, and, when you factor in the postseason, exceeded Verlander in 2019. Cole turned one of the most dominant campaigns in recent memory into the richest contract ever signed by a pitcher, netting $324 million from the Yankees this offseason.

4. Christian Yelich

Yelich might have been higher on this list - and also won back-to-back NL MVPs - if it weren't for a fractured kneecap that forced him to miss the last 32 games of the season. Before his injury, the Brewers outfielder led baseball in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging. He did finish his campaign with 44 homers, a second consecutive batting title (.329), and his third Silver Slugger award.

3. Cody Bellinger

Bellinger, who beat out Yelich for NL MVP honors, had a career year in 2019. In 156 games, the versatile Dodgers slugger finished among the top 10 in his league in homers, RBIs, OPS, WAR, wRC+, and ISO. He also played three different positions for Los Angeles, ultimately winning the first Gold Glove of his career as an outfielder.

2. Alex Bregman

Bregman likely would have been named MVP had he played for an NL club in 2019. Not winning the award shouldn't take away from his stellar campaign, though. The Astros third baseman hit 10 more homers than his previous season high, drove in 112, and led the league with 119 walks. He also stepped in to play shortstop when Carlos Correa went down injured, making just three errors in 295 innings.

1. Mike Trout

Stop me if you've heard this one before: Mike Trout was the best player in baseball last season. Across 134 games in 2019, Trout set a new career high in homers and led the league in on-base percentage, slugging, OPS+, and WAR while drawing more than 100 walks for the fourth time in his career. It's no wonder he won his third MVP, a mark only bettered by Barry Bonds' seven.