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MLB Awards Watch: Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa battle for AL Rookie of the Year

By Brad Rowland

Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) smiles during the ninth inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) smiles during the ninth inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Washington Nationals center fielder Bryce Harper (34) hits a solo home run during the eighth inning against the New York Mets at Nationals Park. New York Mets defeated Washington Nationals 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Washington Nationals center fielder Bryce Harper (34) hits a solo home run during the eighth inning against the New York Mets at Nationals Park. New York Mets defeated Washington Nationals 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

NL MVP

  1. Bryce Harper, OF Washington Nationals – It doesn’t matter that the Nationals are likely going to miss the playoffs. Harper has been the best player in the NL (and all of MLB) from the jump, and his season-long numbers are staggering. He continues to lead the league in wRC+ (205) and fWAR (9.7) by leaps and bounds, and you have to actively attempt to steal the award from his grasp to place anyone else at number one.
  2. Joey Votto, 1B Cincinnati Reds – Votto wins the battle of first basemen on underwhelming teams, outlasting Paul Goldschmidt for the runner-up spot. Goldschmidt holds the edge in stolen bases (21 to 11) and batting average (.316 to .313), but Votto takes the lead in virtually every other category, including a 27-point bump in on-base percentage. You have to be paying close attention to note just how good Votto has been in relative obscurity, but that doesn’t diminish from what he’s done.
  3. Clayton Kershaw, SP Los Angeles Dodgers – Some have opined that Kershaw could win the honor outright, and while that won’t happen he does deserve to be in the mix in the 3-4 range. Kershaw’s fWAR (7.8) outlasts any hitter in the NL that isn’t named Bryce Harper, and he has been flatly staggering in the second half of the season. The Dodgers claiming the NL West in a runaway will be huge for his candidacy, and it wouldn’t be shocking if he finished higher than this, even with Zack Greinke on site to steal votes.

Next: AL MVP

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