Arizona Diamondbacks: The 2010s All-Decade Team

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 28: Christian Walker #53 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates a solo home run with teammate Ketel Marte #4 in the second inning of the MLB game against the San Diego Padres at Chase Field on September 28, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - SEPTEMBER 28: Christian Walker #53 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrates a solo home run with teammate Ketel Marte #4 in the second inning of the MLB game against the San Diego Padres at Chase Field on September 28, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
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(Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
(Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

Now that the 2010s are officially over, let’s take a position by position look at the Arizona Diamondbacks 2010’s All-Decade Team.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have seen some pretty good players come through their system, which is why we are going to take a look at the All-Decade team for the 2010s.

I’m not really going to put a time limit on when we take a look at these players, although that will factor in.  The main thing I’m going to be looking at is obviously their performance stacked up against the others.

This will be an interesting list, especially factoring in how many ex-Diamondback players were on both the Washington Nationals and Houston Astros during the World Series this year.  There are only a few positions where it was really simple to pick.

To explain the format, we are going to pick one player for each position in the infield and outfield.  For pitchers, we will pick five starters and I’ll do three relievers.

Now let’s take a look at the All-Decade Arizona Diamondbacks team of the 2010s.

(Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
(Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

All-Decade Arizona Diamondbacks Infield

Miguel Montero, Catcher

  • 2x All-Star

There is no question as to who the best catcher has been during this decade.  Montero, who played for the D-backs from 2006 to 2014, is that man.  Now obviously we will only be counting his years in the 2010s.  His only two All-Star appearances were during this decade.

He slashed .262/.346/.412 during those five years with 66 home runs and 331 RBI’s.  He also led the National League in CS percentage in 2011 at 40%.

The team at this point seems set at catcher with Carson Kelly looking like the catcher of the future in Arizona.

Paul Goldschmidt, First Base

  • 6x All-Star
  • 3x Gold Glove
  • 4x Silver Slugger

As if there was any question as to who would be representing at this position.  Goldschmidt is going to be in the Hall of Fame, especially with his career trajectory at this point.  He played for the D-backs from 2011 to 2018.

In that span, he finished in the top-5 in the MVP race three times.  He slashed an incredible .297/.398/.532 with 209 home runs and 710 RBI’s.  Not to mention he stole 124 bases and was intentionally walked 103 times.

Not only is Goldschmidt represented here on the All-Decade team, he more than likely occupies this spot on the All-Time Arizona Diamondbacks team.  The team though is in a good place with Christian Walker being the first baseman of the future.

(Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
(Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

All-Decade Arizona Diamondbacks Infield

Ketel Marte, Second Base

  • 1x All-Star

Marte is the second baseman of the future.  While there were players like Kelly Johnson and Aaron Hill in the mix, Marte is here because of his last two seasons.  He has been a member of the Diamondbacks since 2017.  In that time he is slashing .290/.358/.497 with 59 home runs and 169 RBI’s.

Marte has been a Swiss Army Knife for the team playing multiple positions, but getting the lion share of his playing time at 2nd.  He is definitely one to watch going forward and because of his two stellar seasons, he makes this list.

Nick Ahmed, Shortstop

  • 2x Gold Glove

Now Ahmed has not earned any All-Star nods, but he definitely has been the best shortstop this decade for the Snakes.  He has been with the team his entire career, since 2014.  He is one who should be a D-back for his entire career if that’s possible.

He is slashing .236/.289/.387 with 55 home runs and 231 RBI’s.  Not the best offense stats, but what Ahmed lacks at the plate, he makes up for defensively.  He has won the past two Gold Gloves at shortstop and doesn’t seem to be slowing down whatsoever.

Eduardo Escobar, Third Base

This pick coupled with the Marte pick might seem like recency bias, but with Jake Lamb having been hurt so frequently this decade, I had to go with Escobar.  He has been playing at basically the same level as Marte has been.

The two have been very pleasant surprises.  He has only been with the D-backs for the past two seasons, more like a season and a half after being traded.  He has slashed .270/.327/.501 during that time with 58 homers and 202 RBI’s.

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All-Decade Arizona Diamondbacks Outfield

David Peralta, Outfield

  • 2019 Silver Slugger
  • 2019 Gold Glove

Peralta has simply been a mainstay in the D-backs outfield forever.  Another career D-back alongside Nick Ahmed, he has been with the big league club since 2014.  In that time he has slashed .290/.346/.478 with 85 home runs and 330 RBI’s.

With his gold glove win this year, he has cemented his place on the All-Decade team and is a clubhouse favorite.  He always seems to be able to lighten the mood and help the team remember they are playing a game for a living.

A.J. Pollock, Outfield

  • 1x All-Star
  • 2015 Gold Glove

No outfield list would be complete without Pollock.  He was a mainstay roaming around Chase Field since 2012 until last season.  His best season, 2015 was his All-Star and Gold Glove year and also finished 14th in the MVP race.  He has always been solid in all phases of the game.

During his time with the team, he slashed .281/.338/.467 with 74 home runs and 264 RBI’s.  It’s too bad that his time in the desert is over and he is in Los Angeles Dodger blue.

Justin Upton, Outfield

  • 4x All-Star
  • 2011 Silver Slugger

Upton has a few more awards than just the Silver slugger in 2011, but that is the main award he received while with the team.  He was with the D-backs for three of these seasons and definitely left an impact on the organization.  He also finished fourth in MVP voting in 2011.

He slashed .281/.361/.469 with 92 home runs and 294 RBI’s.  Unfortunately Upton, who was seen as the future face of the franchise, never really lived up to those lofty expectations.

(Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
(Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

All-Decade Arizona Diamondbacks Starting Rotation

Robbie Ray, LHP

  • 1x All-Star

Ray has been a staple in this rotation since he broke into the major leagues in 2014 with the Detroit Tigers.  He was sent to the Diamondbacks in a three-team trade with the New York Yankees.

Since 2015 he has gone 46-42 with a 3.96 ERA, 955 strikeouts and an ERA+ of 111.  His All-Star year of 2017 he also finished 7th in the Cy Young race.  He has been a steady force in the rotation, who really needs to work on just his walks.

Patrick Corbin, LHP

  • 2x All-Star

Corbin was a part of the young D-backs rotation with Ray.  He was with the team from 2012 to 2018.  During that time he went 56-54 with a 3.91 ERA and 897 strikeouts with an ERA+ of 109.

Corbin has moved on to Washington Nationals and won a World Series title, but he will always be a part of this All-Decade D-backs team.  Beyond that he actually 4 complete games and 1 shutout.  He has absolutely mastered how to bury his superb slider down and inside to right handed hitters.

Zack Greinke, RHP

  • 6x All-Star
  • 4x Gold Glove
  • 2019 Silver Slugger

Even with Greinke only being a D-back for 3 seasons, being one of the best pitchers in the entire league means he definitely gets on this list.  During his time with the Diamondbacks he put up some amazing stats.

He went 63-30 with a 3.37 ERA and 735 strikeouts and a 133 ERA+.  He also threw 2 complete games and one shutout.  Despite being traded right before the trade deadline, he definitely makes this list.

Ian Kennedy, RHP

Kennedy was another staple in the rotation for four years.  He pitched well for the Diamondbacks while he was with the team.

He pitched from 2010 to 2013 and went 52-36 with a 3.85 ERA, 716 strikeouts and a 104 ERA+.  The best season of his career was with the Snakes in 2011 when he went 21-4 and a 2.88 ERA.  He finished 4th in the Cy Young race and 14th in the MVP race.

Wade Miley, LHP

  • 1x All-Star

Miley is the last pitcher to make it on this list.  Having pitched from 2011 to 2014 for the Diamondbacks.  He went 38-35 with a 3.79 ERA with 499 strikeouts and his ERA+ was 103.  He is the third pitcher on this list who came from within the Diamondbacks organization.

The team has been known to bring up some great pitchers throughout the years another example is Max Scherzer.  Miley also has moved on and is pitching with the Milwaukee Brewers.

(Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB via Getty Images)
(Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB via Getty Images) /

All-Decade Arizona Diamondbacks Bullpen

Andrew Chafin, Middle Reliever

More from Call to the Pen

Chafin is another home-grown pitcher who has been with the team since 2014.  He has given the team stability in one of its shakiest positions.  He has gone 9-11 with a 3.57 ERA, 278 strikeouts and an ERA+ of 122.

He only has 3 saves, but only because he hasn’t been asked to be the closer of the team.  If should be unquestioned the D-Backs will resign him as he has been the most consistent pitcher in that bullpen.

David Hernandez, Set Up Man

Hernandez was the most consistent setup man the Diamondbacks have had this decade.  He pitched from 2011 to 2015 and went 13-17 with a 3.54 ERA, 274 strikeouts and an ERA+ of 113.

There isn’t anyone else who I would want setting up the closer during this decade than Hernandez.  He amassed 70 holds during his stint with the Diamondbacks.

J.J. Putz, Closer

This was the toughest choice of all.  The closer has been the team’s biggest weakness for the entire decade.  They have had a total of 9 different closers in the past decade and it was between Putz and Brad Ziegler.  Putz was way more successful in his tenure there.

dark. Next. Los Angeles Dodgers: The 2010s All-Decade Team

He went 7-9 with a 2.81 ERA and 83 saves in 97 save opportunities and 178 strikeouts.  He greatly declined after his first three seasons, but that was good enough for him to make it here.

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