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MLB All-Star Game: Picking the American League Starters

By Matt Snyder

Apr 4, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres center fielder Travis Jankowski (16) in the field during the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres center fielder Travis Jankowski (16) in the field during the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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MLB All-Star Game
Jun 1, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado (13) looks to throw after fielding a ground ball during the sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Baltimore Orioles defeated Boston Red Sox 13-9. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

Shortstop: Manny Machado, Baltimore Orioles

Manny Machado has split time between third base and shortstop this season (though he’s played more innings at short) — and is technically on the ballot as a third baseman — but, in my view, he’s the best shortstop in the league (and that’s no disrespect to Xander Bogaerts).

Machado often gets overlooked in the superstar discussion, but the 23-year-old Floridian has developed into an elite player on both sides of the ball. He’s second in the American League in OPS at .985 and can also perform as an above average defender at the most demanding positions on the diamond.

Next: Third Base

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