The Cleveland Indians placed a league-high six players on the 2017 All-MLB team, including starter Corey Kluber, the only unanimous choice among the 45 players, general managers, executives, scouts, analysts, writers, broadcasters and other major league personnel surveyed by Yahoo Sports.

In creating an All-MLB team, the goal was to provide the equivalent of the NFL’s All-Pro team or the All-NBA team: recognition that better represents the full breadth of the season than an All-Star appearance and covers a wider swath of players than annual MVP voting. Ballots were cast within the last 48 hours and form the basis of the first-, second- and third-team All-MLB rosters listed below.

The New York Yankees, who could face the Indians in the American League Division Series, also had six players make the teams, though Cleveland led the first team with four players and tied for the most on the second team with two. Kluber, the AL Cy Young favorite, was a first-team choice on all 45 ballots. Others just missing unanimity were Washington starter Max Scherzer and Houston second baseman Jose Altuve (44 votes), Boston starter Chris Sale and closer Craig Kimbrel (43 votes) and Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen (41 votes).

Indians pitcher Corey Kluber is the only unanimous choice among the 61 players on the All-MLB team. (Getty Images)

The Dodgers, Nationals and Arizona Diamondbacks each placed five players, while fellow playoff teams Houston (four), Boston (three) and Chicago (three) joined them near the top. Also with three were Colorado, which could clinch a postseason berth this weekend, and the Los Angeles Angels and Milwaukee.

Every National League team booked at least one player on a team. Six AL organizations failed to do so: Chicago, Detroit, Kansas City, Oakland, Tampa Bay and Texas (though the White Sox, Tigers and A’s did trade players that eventually made it). Of the 61 players on the teams, 34 come from the NL.

The goal was to fill each everyday position – catcher, first base, second base, shortstop, third base, left field, center field, right field and designated hitter – with someone who regularly plays there, plus add a utilityman to each team to recognize the value of versatility in 2017. Because of a lack of specificity in the directions – something that will be remedied next year – the utility role, in particular, sowed some confusion. The first-team utilityman, Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez, also received the second-highest vote total at second base. Rather than list him multiple times, he was removed from consideration at second base (and third, where he garnered first- and second-team votes). The rules for 2018 clearly will outline utility eligibility, as well as that for DH, where only two actual designated hitters received votes, leaving the third team without a DH.

Unlike hitters, who were wedded to their positions, pitchers were not selected by where they slot into a team’s rotation or what innings they pitch out of the bullpen. The three teams include the 15 best starters and 15 best relievers as judged by the panel.

In total, voters cast valid ballots for 115 players, with the widest variation on the field coming at catcher and utility. The position, followed by the nominated candidates:

Catcher: 8

First base: 4

Second base: 6

Shortstop: 7

Third base: 6

Left field: 5

Center field: 5

Right field: 5

Designated hitter: 2

Utilityman: 12

Starting pitcher: 24

Relief pitcher: 31

Though only two first-team players didn’t make the All-Star team, the number jumps to nine of the second team’s 20 players and 14 of the third team’s 21. If the goal was to recognize excellence that may have gone underappreciated otherwise, it seems to have been met, and hopefully well enough that the exercise grows in scope and participation to encompass as full a rendering as possible of the season that was.

With that in mind, the first – hopefully of many – All-MLB team:

First team

Catcher: Gary Sanchez, New York Yankees

First baseman: Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds

Second baseman: Jose Altuve, Houston Astros

Shortstop: Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians

Third Baseman: Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies

Left fielder: Tommy Pham, St. Louis Cardinals

Center fielder: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels

Right fielder: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees

Designated hitter: Nelson Cruz, Seattle Mariners

Utilityman: Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Indians

Starting pitcher: Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians

Starting pitcher: Max Scherzer, Washington Nationals

Starting pitcher: Chris Sale, Boston Red Sox

Starting pitcher: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers

Starting pitcher: Luis Severino, New York Yankees

Relief pitcher: Craig Kimbrel, Boston Red Sox

Relief pitcher: Kenley Jansen, Los Angeles Dodgers

Relief pitcher: Corey Knebel, Milwaukee Brewers

Relief pitcher: Andrew Miller, Cleveland Indians

Relief pitcher: Archie Bradley, Arizona Diamondbacks

Second team

Catcher: Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants

First baseman: Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks

Second baseman: Jonathan Schoop, Baltimore Orioles

Shortstop: Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers

Third Baseman: Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs

Left fielder: Marcell Ozuna, Miami Marlins

Center fielder: Charlie Blackmon, Colorado Rockies

Right fielder: Giancarlo Stanton, Miami Marlins

Designated hitter: Edwin Encarnacion, Cleveland Indians

Utilityman: Chris Taylor, Los Angeles Dodgers

Starting pitcher: Zack Greinke, Arizona Diamondbacks

Starting pitcher: Stephen Strasburg, Washington Nationals

Starting pitcher: Justin Verlander, Houston Astros

Starting pitcher: Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals

Starting pitcher: Carlos Carrasco, Cleveland Indians

Relief pitcher: Chad Green, New York Yankees

Relief pitcher: Pat Neshek, Colorado Rockies

Relief pitcher: Felipe Rivero, Pittsburgh Pirates

Relief pitcher: Roberto Osuna, Toronto Blue Jays

Relief pitcher: Anthony Swarzak, Milwaukee Brewers

Third team

Catcher: Willson Contreras, Chicago Cubs

First baseman: Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves

Second baseman: Brian Dozier, Minnesota Twins

Shortstop: Andrelton Simmons, Los Angeles Angels

Third Baseman: Anthony Rendon, Washington Nationals

Left fielder: Justin Upton, Los Angeles Angels

Center fielder: George Springer, Houston Astros

Right fielder: (tie) Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox and J.D. Martinez, Arizona Diamondbacks

Utilityman: Marwin Gonzalez, Houston Astros

Starting pitcher: Jacob deGrom, New York Mets

Starting pitcher: Robbie Ray, Arizona Diamondbacks

Starting pitcher: Jimmy Nelson, Milwaukee Brewers

Starting pitcher: Marcus Stroman, Toronto Blue Jays

Starting pitcher: (tie) Alex Wood, Los Angeles Dodgers and Aaron Nola, Philadelphia Phillies

Relief pitcher: Brad Hand, San Diego Padres

Relief pitcher: David Robertson, New York Yankees

Relief pitcher: Wade Davis, Chicago Cubs

Relief pitcher: Ryan Madson, Washington Nationals

Relief pitcher: Tommy Kahnle, New York Yankees