Thanks to the introduction of Sets and the removal of several sneaky ways to make Stubs, building a team in MLB The Show 23’s Diamond Dynasty won’t be easy. However, players can build competitive teams on the cheap. With that said, here’s a look at some of the best budget beasts in MLB The Show 23, sorted by position.

Related: Best cards in MLB The Show 23 Diamond Dynasty

Best budget infielders

Here’s a look at our best budget beasts in MLB The Show 23, starting with the catchers:

C

1. Retro Finest Mike Napoli (99 OVR)
2. Retro Finest Yasmani Grandal (99 OVR)
3. 2023 Postseason Jonah Heim (99 OVR)
4. 2023 Postseason Will Smith (99 OVR)
5. 2023 Postseason J.T. Realmuto (99 OVR)

1B

1. Signature Miguel Cabrera (99 OVR)
2. Retro Finest Eddie Murray (99 OVR)
3. 2023 Finest Freddie Freeman (99 OVR)
4. 2023 Finest Matt Olson (99 OVR)
5. Great Race of ’98 Mark McGwire (99 OVR)

2B

1. 2023 Finest Jose Altuve (99 OVR)
2. 2023 Finest Brandon Drury (99 OVR)
3. All-Star Game/Milestone Ketel Marte (99 OVR)
4. 2023 Finest Ha-Seong Kim (99 OVR)
5. Retro Finest Jake Cronenworth (99 OVR)

3B

1. 2023 Finest Rafael Devers (99 OVR)
2. Prime Mike Moustakas (99 OVR)
3. Retro Finest George Brett (99 OVR)
4. Signature Evan Longoria (99 OVR)
5. 2023 Postseason Austin Riley (99 OVR)

SS

1. 2023 Postseason Corey Seager (99 OVR)
2. 2023 Finest Trea Turner (99 OVR)
3. 2023 Finest Bobby Witt Jr. (99 OVR)
4. 2023 Finest Francisco Lindor (99 OVR)
5. Retro Finest Jimmy Rollins (99 OVR)

Now that were are in Set 5, only Core, Set 4, and Set 5 cards can be used without the Wild Card. That will change come late December, when Set 6 and the “end game” part of the cycle takes hold.

Thanks to Team Affinity 5, many new or lapsed players will be able to build out a squad full of 99 OVRs rather quickly. However, we also recommend players do the World Series Program. Two players from that Program — Ketel Marte and Corey Seager — are among top budget infielder options.

However, we should note that those who completed the Set 4 Pennant Chase and Career Tribute programs can still make use of some rather meta-relevant cards.

Best budget outfielders

Now, let’s move on to the outfielders:

LF

1. September MA Juan Soto (99 OVR)
2. Great Race of ’98 Dante Bichette (99 OVR)
3. Retro Finest Matt Holliday (99 OVR)
4. 2023 Postseason Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (99 OVR)
5. 2023 Postseason Yordan Alvarez (99 OVR)

CF

1. All-Star Game Ken Griffey Jr. (99 OVR)
2. August MA Lightning Julio Rodriguez (99 OVR)
3. Retro Finest Willie Mays (99 OVR)
4. 2023 Finest Mike Trout (99 OVR)
5. 2023 Finest Luis Robert Jr. (99 OVR)

RF

1. 2023 Finest Mookie Betts (99 OVR)
2. Retro Finest Gary Sheffield (99 OVR)
3. 2023 Postseason Nick Castellanos (99 OVR)
4. 2023 Postseason Adolis Garcia (99 OVR)
5. Retro Finest Joe Carter (99 OVR)

For those who have yet to unlock the 99 OVR Ronald Acuna Jr. in the Season 5 path, or for those who don’t have any of the TA5 or Set 5 Collection rewards, there are still plenty of options.

The September MA Lightning Juan Soto is arguably one of the best outfielders in the game in general, making it a must-own.

2023 Finest versions of Mike Trout and Luis Robert Jr. are good options in center, as are the August MA Lightning Julio Rodriguez and the Extreme Program reward Ken Griffey Jr.

And in right field, SDS dropped the 2023 Finest Program. It allowed lapsed players to unlock a 99 OVR Mookie Betts.

Best budget starting pitchers

1. 2023 Finest Corbin Burnes (99 OVR)
2. Awards Madison Bumgarner (99 OVR)
3. 2023 Postseason Pablo Lopez (99 OVR)
4. Signature Adam Wainwright (99 OVR)
5. Great Race of ’98 Tom Glavine (99 OVR)
6. Retro Finest Jake Peavy (99 OVR)
7. 2023 Finest Eduardo Rodriguez (99 OVR)
8. Retro Finest Roy Oswalt (99 OVR)
9. Retro Finest A.J. Burnett (99 OVR)
10. 2023 Postseason Aaron Nola (99 OVR)

Many of the game’s top-tier pitchers would not be categorized in the budget tier. However, 2023 Finest Corbin Burnes can be unlocked through Team Affinity 5. Burnes is generally regarded as an elite starter in MLB The Show 23, and his 122 H/9 is among the best that can be found at this moment.

Best budget relief pitchers

1. 2023 Finest Felix Bautista (99 OVR)
2. Signature Kenley Jansen (99 OVR)
3. 2023 Finest Jhoan Duran (99 OVR)
4. 2023 Finest Emmanuel Clase (99 OVR)
5. September MA Jake Diekman (97 OVR)
6. 2023 Postseason Brusdar Graterol (98 OVR)
7. 2023 Finest Brooks Raley (97 OVR)
8. TA4 Captain Jose Alvarado (95 OVR)
9. Awards Rollie Fingers (99 OVR)
10. Prime Adam Ottavino (95 OVR)

Many of the game’s best relievers can be obtained through Team Affinity 5, including Felix Bautista and Jhoan Duran.

Couple those cards with Brooks Raley, who can be obtained through the Season 5 XP Path, and one can build a pretty good bullpen on the cheap.

Note: All cards on this list are either Core, Set 4 or Set 5 cards. In order for a card to be on this list, it must either be exclusively available through a Program (i.e. Monthly Awards, Topps Now, etc.) or have a Buy Now of 20,000 Stubs or less. Collection, Battle Royale Flawless, and World Series Ranked Program cards are not included.