Fansided

MLB Awards Watch: All-Star break edition

By Brad Rowland

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) high fives right fielder Bryce Harper (34) after defeating Baltimore Orioles 3-2 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Washington Nationals starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) high fives right fielder Bryce Harper (34) after defeating Baltimore Orioles 3-2 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) yells out after being hit by a pitch during the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports
Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) yells out after being hit by a pitch during the sixth inning against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports /

AL MVP

  1. Mike Trout, OF Los Angeles Angels – Mike Trout is pretty good. He leads the AL in home runs (26), slugging (.614) and wRC+ (184) in addition to a massive lead in fWAR (5.6), and there is no question that Trout is the best player of the bunch. His combination of power, speed and defense is simply off the charts, and Trout remains on a path to all-time greatness if he can sustain his recent level of performance moving forward.
  2. Jason Kipnis, 2B Cleveland Indians – Kipnis has been off the radar in some circles, but his excellence is becoming tough to ignore. Cleveland’s second baseman boasts a .401 OBP that engineers a 4.7 fWAR, and he provides big-time value on the basepaths and with his glove. The knock on Kipnis is a relative lack of power (6 home runs) but a .487 slugging is more than acceptable, especially for a middle infielder who does everything well.
  3. Josh Donaldson, 3B Toronto Blue Jays – Donaldson inches past Manny Machado for the final spot in something of a coin flip between third basemen, and Toronto’s superstar has been just that this season. He is arguably the best defender in the league at the position, and with 21 home runs and a .532 slugging, it is simply incredible that the Blue Jays were able to pry him from Oakland for little return.
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