Fansided

MLB: 5 players who could steal the MVP from Mike Trout

By Ed Carroll

Jul 15, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; American League outfielder Mike Trout (27) of the Los Angeles Angels holds up the MVP trophy after after the 2014 MLB All Star Game at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 15, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; American League outfielder Mike Trout (27) of the Los Angeles Angels holds up the MVP trophy after after the 2014 MLB All Star Game at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 24, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians left fielder Michael Brantley (23) runs to first base on a single in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 24, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians left fielder Michael Brantley (23) runs to first base on a single in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Michael Brantley, Cleveland Indians

I’m admittedly an Indians fan when I’m not attempting to be objective in my writing, but if anyone had told me Brantley was going to post an MVP-caliber season this year, I would have told them they were high and laughed my butt off. Brantley’s been a good player in his career, but never has had this level of production (6.9 fWAR in 2014, next highest was 2.6 in 2012).

Brantley has traditionally been a solid offensive player for the Indians, but advanced defensive metrics rate him as a below-average fielder in left, and awful in center. This year, Brantley has been about average when in left (0 Defensive Runs Saved) and still bad in center (-3 Defensive Runs Saved), but his bat has made the leap to the next level, and it’s not simply the result of a hot month or two.

The knock on Brantley’s bat has always been that he will never hit for enough power; in 2013 he had 10 home runs, his next-highest season total was seven. In 2014, he’s hit 20 already, and has cut his strikeout rate to a career-low of 8.2 percent. He’s been the Indians steadiest bat this season, and it’s gotten him 97 RBI, a .329/.387/.510 slashline, a weighted on base average (wOBA) of .391 and a solid case for the AL MVP.

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