Every MLB team’s MVP for ’19
With the Major League Baseball season over, it’s time to hand out the hardware.
Mike Trout is likely to win his third MVP award in six years. And Cody Bellinger is set become a first-time winner.
The secret ballots for the American and National League MVPS won’t be unveiled until after the World Series in November, but why not announce the winners now and crown an MVP on every team?
For many clubs, the choice was obvious. But for some, particularly on teams losing 90-plus games, the task was a little more difficult. But just like the Allstar Game, every team has to be represented.
Here are our winners for each of the 30 teams:
AL EAST
New York Yankees – 2B DJ Lemahieu: Lemahieu proved he could hit outside Coors Field. The free agent signee was the rock on a team decimated by injuries all season. He led the team in RBI, runs and made a run for the AL batting crown.
Tampa Bay Rays – RHP Charlie Morton: Morton has gotten better with age. At 35, he set career highs and ranks in the top 5 in the AL in wins (16), ERA (3.05), strikeouts (240), batting average against (.215) and WHIP (1.08).
Boston Red Sox – SS Xander Bogaerts: Bogaerts led all shortstops in doubles, RBI and OPS and became the first Red Sox shortstop with 30+ homers and 100+ RBI in a season since Nomar Garciaparra in 1998.
Toronto Blue Jays – Biggio, Bichette, Guerrero Jr.: This rookie trio made baseball fun to watch again North of the Border. The sons of three former All-stars are the future of the franchise.
Baltimore Orioles – OF Trey Mancini: Mancini, Alex Bregman and Anthony Rendon were the only hitters with at least 34 home runs, 35 doubles and 100 runs scored this season.
AL CENTRAL
Minnesota Twins – SS Jorge Polanco: With 22 homers, he ranks eighth on a team that slugged an Mlb-record 307.
Cleveland Indians – RHP Mike Clevinger: He posted double-digit strikeouts in seven of his 21 starts and finished with a 13-4 record and 2.71 ERA on a club just missing the playoffs.
Chicago White Sox – 3B Yoan Moncada: Moncada finished with career highs in every major offensive category despite playing nearly 20 fewer games.
Kansas City Royals – DH Jorge Soler: Apologies to Whit Merrifield who had another solid season, but it’s hard not to recognize Soler, who set a franchise record with 48 home runs.
Detroit Tigers – RHP Shane Greene: Yes, he’s no longer on the Tigers. But Greene’s tenure in Detroit still holds after the first-time All-star posted a 1.18 ERA in 38 appearances with 22 saves in Motown before he was traded to the Braves.
AL WEST
Houston Astros – 3B Alex Bregman: Attitude. Swag. He’s got both. And Bregman prefers World Series rings over MVP awards.
Oakland Athletics – SS Marcus Semien: Semien broke Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson’s single-season franchise record for home runs from the leadoff spot with 29 earlier this month.
Texas Rangers – LHP Mike Minor: Yes, it was fishy how he reached 200 strikeouts in his last start. But, he ranks tied for first in the majors in WAR for pitchers (7.8) with Justin Verlander.
Los Angeles Angels – OF Mike Trout: Not only is he the best player on his team, he’s the best player in baseball.
Seattle Mariners – LHP Marco Gonzales: The Mariners used nearly 70 different players this year, so we’ll give the nod to Gonzales, who led the club in WAR.
NL EAST
Atlanta Braves – OF Ronald Acuña Jr.: Power, speed is a deadly combination at the top of the lineup. Acuña finished with 41 homers and 37 stolen bases.
Washington Nationals – 3B Anthony Rendon: He played well enough to earn him a big cash payout this winter when he becomes a free agent.
New York Mets – 1B Pete Alonso: He set the franchise record for home runs and broke Aaron Judge’s all-time rookie record with 53.
Philadelphia Phillies – C J.T. Realmuto: Realmuto commanded respect behind the plate. He threw out an Mlbhigh 47 percent of stolen base runners.
Miami Marlins – Pick ‘em: Brian Anderson. Garrett Cooper. Sandy Alcantara. Miguel Rojas. Billy the Marlin. Let’s let Derek Jeter choose.
NL CENTRAL
St. Louis Cardinals – RHP Jack Flaherty: After a 4-6 start and 4.64 ERA, he has allowed just 10 earned runs over 15 starts for a 0.91 ERA since the break.
Milwaukee Brewers – OF Christian Yelich: The reigning MVP had better numbers this season than his 2018 campaign. A kneecap fracture on Sept. 11 ended his chances of repeating.
Chicago Cubs – 1B Anthony Rizzo: Does anyone on this team want the ballyhoo? Javier Baez? Kris Bryant? After an abysmal meltdown in September, its hard to pick one, but we will opt for Rizzo.
Cincinnati Reds – 3B Eugenio Suarez: Suarez set the record for most homers in a season (49) by an NL third baseman.
Pittsburgh Pirates – 1B Josh Bell: The first-time All-star posted a 30+ homer, 100+ RBI season after a sophomore slump. Now the question is if he will he follow in the footsteps of Andrew Mccutchen as the next Pirates superstar?
NL WEST
Los Angeles Dodgers – OF Cody Bellinger: Bellinger, who slugged 47 homers, is the favorite to win the MVP in the NL.
Arizona Diamondbacks – INF/OF Ketel Marte: He posted a .329/.389/.592 slash line and almost won the NL batting crown. He will finished second to Yelich by .0006 points.
San Francisco Giants – LHP Will Smith: He became just the second pitcher to finish a year 6-0 or better with at least 30 saves (6-0, 34). Minnesota’s Joe Nathan went 7-0 with 36 saves in 2006.
San Diego Padres – SS Fernando Tatis Jr.: He was the most exciting player in baseball and would have given Alonso a run for his money for the Rookie of the Year award if he didn’t have season-ending back surgery in August.
Colorado Rockies – 3B Nolan Arenado: Arenado might have had the best season of his career. He slugged 41 homers and had a career-high .962 OPS. But, he will once again be overlooked when it comes to the NL MVP award because of Bellinger, Yelich, Rendon and Marte.