With All-Star voting over the team at SMT Sports has put together our Major League Baseball All-Star squads. Our criteria is very similar to the criteria used by MLB. Each squad would be made up of 32 players and each major league team would have to be represented by at least one player.

American League Roster

Starting Lineup

C: Victor Martinez CLE

His entire career Martinez has been known as a great offensive catcher with little skill behind the plate. He still has not become the next Ivan Rodriguez, but his offensive numbers this season have dwarfed his struggles behind the plate. There is an amazing group of contenders for this spot in the American League, but Martinez gets the edge with his production numbers.

1B: Justin Morneau MINN

His bruised lung will most likely take Morneau out of contention for an all-star spot, but his numbers definitely put him as a lock if healthy. The buzz early this season was about Kevin Youkilis and how he was not on the ballot for the first baseman spot, but when you look at the enormous numbers Morneau has put up this season, you have to have him in the starting spot. Not only does he carry his team’s offense, but he has lived up to the reigning MVP tag.

2B: B.J. Upton TB

Upton is the perfect example of a great player hidden in a bad team. His numbers are by far the best all-around numbers by any second baseman in the American League. He has put up some fantastic production numbers while still maintaining an above .300 batting average and flashing some great speed with double-digit stolen bases. In just his third season in the majors, he is putting up numbers that could bring on comparisons to a young Alfonso Soriano and if he can live up to those comparisons he will be making all-star teams for years to come.

3B: Alex Rodriguez NYY

The biggest no brainer in the all-star selections is Rodriguez who is putting up absolutely incredible numbers at third this season. In every offensive category Rodriguez either leads or is among the leaders. He is even near double-digits in stolen bases. A-Rod has done everything great this season and is a lock for the starting position at third.

SS: Carlos Guillen DET

Derek Jeter has been getting all of the publicity this season, and for good reason with his fantastic numbers this season. However if you compare Guillen to Jeter, he is the clear-cut winner for the starting spot. From a great average to fantastic production numbers to clutch hitting, Guillen has been one of the best all-around hitters in the American League.

OF: Magglio Ordonez DET

If it was not for Alex Rodriguez, Ordonez could be the run away first-half MVP.  He has his typically great production numbers, but the most surprising number from Ordonez is his batting average. His performance this season has been spectacular and he is the leader the Tigers needed to stabilize their lineup. The Tigers are the best hitting team in the league and Ordonez is the main reason for that.

OF: Vladimir Guerrero LAA

Guerrero is simply playing like he has been his whole career, but this time is possibly the most impressive season so far because of his lack of protection in the lineup. In the past Guerrero was protected in the lineup by names like Troy Glaus, Garrett Anderson and Tim Salmon and was successful. This season he has Gary Mathews and Rob Quinlan, solid players, but they cause Guerrero to be walked much more. With all of these walks, Guerrero is still putting up MVP caliber production numbers.

OF: Torii Hunter MINN

Hunter is this year’s Alfonso Soriano is that he is making himself more and more money with every swing of the bat. This being a contract year his great RBI total and solid average only helps his value when you add that to his fielding ability. His OBP is not great, but his Slugging Percentage is great and up with the best in the AL.

SP: Dan Haren OAK

Haren leads the league in quality starts (15) and ERA (1.78). He has a walk to strikeout ratio that is near 4:1 and is the ace on the best pitching team in the AL. Most people will argue for Josh Beckett as the starter because of his power pitching style, but when you look at it, Haren has more strikeouts than Beckett and his ERA is something that can not be argued against.

Bench

C: Jorge Posada NYY, DH/1B: David Ortiz BOS, 2B: Brian Roberts BAL, 2B: Placido Polanco DET,

3B: Mike Lowell BOS, SS: Derek Jeter NYY, SS: Orlando Cabrera LAA, OF: Mark Teahen KC,

OF: Sammy Sosa TEX, OF: Gary Sheffield DET, OF: Alex Rios TOR, OF: Ichiro Suzuki SEA

Pitching Staff

SP: Justin Verlander DET, SP: Josh Beckett BOS, SP: John Lackey LAA, SP: C.C. Sabathia CLE,

SP: Kelvim Escobar LAA, SP: Johan Santana MINN, P: Hideki Okajima BOS, P: Al Reyes TB,

P: Jonathan Papelbon BOS, P: Francisco Rodriguez LAA, P: J.J. Putz SEA

American League    National League