Los Angeles Dodgers: The 2010s All-Decade Team

From Matt Kemp to Clayton Kershaw to Justin Turner, these are the best Los Angeles Dodgers during the 2010’s decade.

The Los Angeles Dodgers experienced a lot of success in the second decade of the 21st Century. This was the team’s best decade since the 1980s. They went 919-701, posting a .567 winning %.

The Dodgers won the most games in the National League and were two games short of the New York Yankees for most wins in the league.

However, Los Angeles did not win a World Series. They came up short twice, in 2017 and 2018.

Joe Torre was the team’s skipper for the 2010 season, the Dodgers only losing season of the decade. Don Mattingly managed the team from 2011-2015. Dave Roberts has been the team’s manager since the 2016 season.

The Dodgers won the National League West each season since 2013, seven consecutive titles. The team won at least 91 games each season during that span.

The Baseball Writer’s Association of America has been very kind to the Dodgers this decade. Clayton Kershaw, arguably the best starting pitcher of the decade, won the National League Cy Young award three times, as well as win the 2014 NL MVP. He has been the best left-handed pitcher of this decade and used this timeframe to shape his Hall of Fame career.

Cody Bellinger was honored by the Association twice, winning the 2017 National League Rookie of the Year and the 2019 National League Most Valuable Player. The 24-year-old is a five-tool player and already has 111 home runs through just three seasons. He is going to be an impactful presence in this league for a long time

Corey Seager was the 2016 National League Rookie of the Year. The young shortstop has been an offensive threat when healthy.

The Dodgers have produced many talented players that have made huge impacts in the league.

This has been a legendary decade for the Dodgers, even though it did not include a World Series Title.

Here is a position by position evaluation of the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 2010s.

All-Decade Los Angeles Dodgers Infield

Yasmani Grandal, Catcher

• 2015 All-Star

Yasmani Grandal joined the Los Angeles Dodgers in December 2014 when he was acquired in a trade package from San Diego Padres in exchange for Matt Kemp.

This was a turning point for the Dodgers because Matt Kemp was their star player for almost nine seasons.

From 2015 to 2019, Grandal played 510 games, hit 89 home runs, drove in 245 runs and had a .790 OPS. This might seem underwhelming but Grandal was an above-average backstop for a playoff team for four seasons.

In 2015, he became the third Dodger catcher to ever hit three home runs in a game, joining Mike Piazza and Roy Campanella. This was also his only All-Star year for LA. Becoming an NL All-Star as a catcher in the 2010s was beyond competitive because of the presence of Yadier Molina and Buster Posey.

Grandal left the Dodgers for the Milwaukee Brewers after the 2018 season.

He has continued to improve since leaving LA but was a consistent option for them behind the plate for four seasons.

Adrian Gonzalez, First Base

• 2015 All-Star
• 2014 Gold Glove
• 2014 Silver Slugger
• 2014 RBI Leader

In a blockbuster trade with the Boston Red Sox, the Los Angeles Dodgers upped their payroll big time by acquiring Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Josh Beckett, and more. Gonzalez signed a seven-year, $154 million extension with the Red Sox.

At the time, the Dodgers were getting a 30-year-old first baseman, coming off a dominant span, 2008-2011, when he was a four-time All-Star, won a Silver Slugger and three Gold Gloves. He spent part of 2012 through 2017 with the Dodgers. He began to see less time in 2017 when Max Muncy and Cody Bellinger both broke out for LA.

Gonzalez was part of the core that built a winning culture in LA that still exists today. As the club’s primary first baseman for about four consecutive seasons, he was a consistent threat in the middle of their lineup. From 2013-2015, he appeared on the NL MVP ballot, with his highest finish being seventh in 2014.

Through 735 games and 6.5 seasons for the Dodgers, Gonzalez hit 101 home runs, drove in 448 runs, batted .280 and had a .793 OPS.

2014 was his best season in Dodger blue. He led the National League  in RBIs with 116 and helped the Dodgers win the NL West.

Dee Gordon, Second Base

• 2014 All-Star
• 2014 Triples & Stolen Bases Leader
• Second base is a position that the Dodger did not necessarily excel in this decade.

This is the first homegrown Dodger to make the team. Debuting in 2011, Gordon played both shortstop and second base for Los Angeles. He wore Dodger blue from 2011-2014.

In 2014, he was the Dodger’s primary second baseman and was named to his first All-Star team. He led the league in both triples (12) and stolen bases (64). He was an efficient leadoff man for the 2014 NL West champions

Through 329 games and four seasons with LA, Gordon stole 130 bases, hit .272, and recorded 335 hits.

All-Decade Los Angeles Dodgers Outfield

Matt Kemp, Outfield

• Three-time All-Star
• 2011 Silver Slugger
• 2011 Gold Glove

The brief prime of Matt Kemp took place from 2010 to 2012, when he was 25-27. He was an All-Star in 2011 and 2012.

He put together an elite 2011 campaign, hitting 39 home runs, scoring 115 runs, driving in 126 runs and stealing 40 bases. Kemp won the Gold Glove and the Silver Slugger that season, coming in second for the NL MVP to Ryan Braun.

Kemp put together a solid 2014 season. After spending time in San Diego and Atlanta, Kemp made his way back to the Dodgers and was an All-Star in 2018. He was then traded to the Cincinnati Reds after the 2018 season.

Cody Bellinger, OF

• Two-time All-Star
• 2017 Rookie of the Year
• 2019 MVP
• 2019 Gold Glove
• 2019 Silver Slugger

Even though he debuted in 2017, Cody Bellinger is an easy pick for the Dodger’s all-decade outfield.

Through his first three seasons, Bellinger has played 450 games, hit 111 home runs, drove in 28 runs, has a batting average of .278 and an OPS. of .928. Remember, he will only be 24 at the beginning of next season.

His first three seasons have all shown signs of greatness. He was dominant his rookie year and was awarded for it. In 2019, he was the best player of the best National League team in the regular season. His OPS. was over 1.000 and he hit 47 home runs.

Bellinger is a very versatile player and has played all three outfield positions, mostly right and center. However, he also spends a lot of time at first and is going to bounce around throughout his career.

Yasiel Puig, Outfield

• 2014 All-Star

Yasiel Puig rounds out the outfield for this team.

Believe it or not, Puig has played in the most postseason games in franchise history. He spent 2013-2018 in Los Angeles.

Over six seasons and 712 games, Puig hit 108 home runs, 331 RBI, and had an OPS. of .823.

He was a consistent bat in their lineup and very strong defensively.

Puig was signed by the Dodgers from Cuba, at the age of 22,  prior to the 2013 season

It was close between him, Joc Pederson and Andre Ethier. All three have been above average outfielders for the Dodgers.

All-Decade Los Angeles Dodgers Starters

Clayton Kershaw, LHP

• Eight-time All-Star
• Three-time Cy Young Winner
• 2014 MVP
• 2011 Gold Glove
• 2011 Triple Crown

Not only was Clayton Kershaw the best Dodger’s pitcher of the decade, but he was the best starting pitcher in the whole league during the 2010s.

He entered his dominant prime in 2011 and has continued it through this season. His three Cy Young awards and his 2014 MVP speak for themselves, but his numbers are also ridiculous and impressive.

In this decade, Kershaw went 156-61 with a 2.31 ERA, striking out 2,179 batters over 1,996 innings.

He led the NL in wins three-time, ERA five times, complete games twice, strikeouts three times, and innings pitched once.

Kershaw has been the ace of one of the most dominant teams of the decade. He put together a Hall of Fame career this decade and will continue to build on it as he enters his 13th season.

Zack Greinke, RHP

• Two-time All-Star
• Two-time Gold Glove
• 2013 Silver Slugger.
• Dodgers’ franchise record for ERA

Zack Greinke had a brief, but dominant tenure with the Dodgers. Spending 2013-2015 in Los Angeles, Greinke went 51-15 with a 2.30 ERA, striking out 555 batters over 602.2 innings.

He was an All-Star in 2014 and 2015. His 2015 campaign was one of the best seasons ever by a pitcher that did not win the Cy Young that year, as he came in second to Jake Arietta. He had a 1.66 ERA over 222.2 innings.

Greinke came in the top eight on the Cy Young ballot in each of his seasons with the Dodgers. His time in LA came to an end when he opted out of his contract and signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

It can be argued that some of Greinke ‘s best season came as a Dodger.

All-Decade Los Angeles Dodgers Starters Continued

Hyun-Jin Ryu, LHP

• 2019 All-Star

Hyun-Jin Ryu came back to the Dodgers after accepting the Qualifying Offer and had the best season of his career. Even though 2019 was his best season, he has been a consistent starter for Los Angeles since 2013.

Ryu has won 14 games three times. He posted a 2.32 ERA and led the majors in 2019, coming in second for Cy Young to Jacob deGrom. This was his first All-Star season as well.

Ryu has been a part of their rotation since 2013 and has had a career ERA below 3.0.

Rich Hill, LHP

• 2016-2019

Rich Hill came to the Los Angeles Dodgers via trade with the Oakland A’s during the 2016 season. Hill has put together a decent career in his late 30’s with LA.

Over 69 game, Hill is 30-16 with a 3.16 ERA, striking out 427 batters over 361.1 innings.

He has been a valuable part of their rotation in the second half of the decade. He is a veteran lefty that can go deep into games.

Walker Buehler, RHP

• 2019 All-Star

Walker Buehler only has had two full seasons in the majors but is already an elite pitcher. The 24-year-old was an All-Star in 2019, going 14-4 with a 3.26 ERA.

Through 62 games, 53 starts, the young righty is 23-9 with a 3.12 career ERA.

The franchise has a lot of trust in Buehler and his future development. He was the starter of game 1 of the 2019 NLDS.

The next pitcher consider was Alex Wood. His time with the Dodgers was impressive but not as powerful as Buehler’s two seasons.

All-Decade Los Angeles Dodgers Bullpen

Pedro Baez, Relief Pitcher

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Pedro Baez has been a consistent threat out of the Dodgers’ bullpen since he made his debut in 2014.

In his six major league seasons, Baez has pitched in 337 games, going 21-15. His ERA is 3.03 over 339 innings, striking out 356 batters. His career WHIP is 1.10.

Baez has appeared in five separate postseasons for Los Angeles.

He continues to pitch for the Dodgers and is still a vital part of their bullpen.

Kenley Jansen, Closer

• Three-time All-Star
• Two-time Hoffman Relief Award

Besides Kershaw, Kenley Jansen has been the best Dodger of the decade.
The closer has been absolutely elite for the Dodgers since he made his debut in 2010. Jansen has been their primary closer since the 2012 season, winning at least 25 games each year. Froom 2016-2018, he was named to the All-Star team each year.

Through 605 games, Jansen is 30-21, has a 2.35 ERA and 301 saves. He currently ranks 28th all-time in saves.

He is continuing to add to his legacy and his resume in the next few seasons. He is under contract through the 2021 season and will continue to close games out for the Dodgers.

In addition to his dominance during the regular season, Jansen has 16 saves in the postseason with a 2.01 ERA.

He has been one of the most consistent closers of this decade. Jansen is the main reason why the Dodgers experienced so much success over the last 10 seasons.