As the 2022 season kicks into gear, we set out to create division-by-division MLB superteams.

Let's set the stage with some parameters:

  • Roster Construction: We selected a 26-man roster for each team, consisting of 13 position players and 13 pitchers who all reside within the same division.
  • Payroll Limitations: To spice things up a bit, we instituted a payroll cap of $150 million for each team based on 2022 salaries (via Spotrac). For pre-arbitration players whose salaries aren't public, we assigned the league-minimum salary of $700,000.
  • Notes: Below each division's roster are a few notes explaining the logic behind certain picks, notable omissions and other useful tidbits.

The full roster and payroll breakdown for each superteam can be found here.

MLB

Opening Day overreactions for every MLB team

Let's get started.

 

AL East

Starting Lineup: 1. CF Cedric Mullins (BAL), 2. SS Bo Bichette (TOR), 3. 3B Rafael Devers (BOS), 4. 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR), 5. RF Aaron Judge (NYY), 6. 2B Brandon Lowe (TB), 7. DH Teoscar Hernandez (TOR), 8. LF Randy Arozarena (TB), 9. C Danny Jansen (TOR)

Bench: C Kyle Higashioka (NYY), IF Wander Franco (TB), IF/OF Enrique Hernandez (BOS), OF Joey Gallo (NYY)

Starting Rotation: 1. RHP Gerrit Cole (NYY), 2. RHP Nathan Eovaldi (BOS), 3. LHP John Means (BAL), 4. RHP Alek Manoah (TOR), 5. LHP Shane McClanahan (TB)

Bullpen: RHP Tanner Houck (BOS), RHP Clay Holmes (NYY), LHP Tim Mayza (TOR), RHP Chad Green (NYY), RHP Garrett Whitlock (BOS), RHP Andrew Kittredge (TB), RHP Jonathan Loaisiga (NYY), RHP Jordan Romano (TOR)

Total 2022 Salary: $144.2 million

     

Notes

The decision to splurge on Gerrit Cole ($36 million) was largely offset by the fact that Alek Manoah ($706,200) and Shane McClanahan ($700,000) are making roughly the league minimum. However, it was still tough to leave Kevin Gausman ($21 million) and Jose Berrios ($10.7 million) off the rotation.

The most difficult snub was Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts ($20 million), though Bo Bichette ($723,550) provides similar if not slightly better production for a fraction of the price.

It feels wrong having only three Tampa Bay Rays players on the team after they won 100 games last year, but they continue to be a "whole is greater than the sum of its parts" team.