Mike Redmond: Giancarlo Stanton belongs in MVP conversation
By Hayden Kane
The Miami Marlins probably won’t make the playoffs in 2014. Their manager believes that Giancarlo Stanton belongs in the conversation for National League MVP anyway.
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As far as pure numbers go, it is hard to argue with Stanton’s offensive output this off-season. The hulking outfielder has a staggering .292/.393/.568 slash line this season with 31 home runs and 82 driven in. That’s not to mention that he actually plays an underrated right field defensively. Put it all together and he is a 5.8 WAR player this season, according to Baseball Reference.
His coach Mike Redmond took a moment on Tuesday to argue for his outfielder as the league’s MVP, or at least one of the top candidates for the award. From MLB.com:
"Redmond is surprised Stanton isn’t considered among the frontrunners for the NL MVP Award.“I was watching one of those shows today, and they were talking about, just should he be mentioned. I was like, ‘What? Just mention him?'” Redmond said. “I think what he’s done is made a statement. For sure, he should be right up there.”"
It’s an odd situation in the National League this season, because players do not necessarily jump out from the top contending teams. The most outstanding players in terms of personal achievement have been Stanton, Troy Tulowitzki, and Andrew McCutchen. The latter two are both hurt, though McCutchen at least plays for a team in the playoff race.
If the MVP is to come from a contending team, Clayton Kershaw might have an argument. Otherwise, Redmond is right that Stanton belongs at the top of the list.