MLB Awards Watch: Mike Trout and everyone else

9. <p>Kris Bryant hasn’t been the best player in all of MLB (we’ll get to that shortly), but he does have the easiest case to win an MVP award. He is the best player in the NL this season, leading the way in both fWAR (7.8) and bWAR (7.2) and, for good measure, the Cubs are easily the best team in baseball. That combination is a deadly one with voters, and despite Bryant’s young age and relative lack of experience, he is easily deserving of the honor based on his production with 37 home runs, quality defense and a stellar 155 wRC+ in 2016.</p>. 3B/OF. Chicago Cubs. Kris Bryant. 1. player

SS. Los Angeles Dodgers. Corey Seager. 2. player. 71. <p>Rookies aren’t supposed to finish second in NL MVP voting, but Seager’s case is tremendous. He trails only Bryant in fWAR (7.3) with a top-three mark in bWAR (5.9) and his quality defense at a premium position really helps in that regard. It should be noted, though, that Seager’s bat has been tremendous in its own right, with a 147 wRC+ to go along with 25 home runs and a .319/.378/.536 slash line over more than 600 plate appearances. I’m a sucker for defensive value, and give me the power-hitting, sweet-fielding shortstop all day.</p>

90. <p>For me, third place is less clear. Nolan Arenado has been ridiculous at the plate (with Coors Field to help him) and with the glove, Freddie Freeman has been awesome in obscurity because the Braves stink, Brandon Crawford’s glove is tremendous and even Anthony Rizzo has been great in support of Bryant in Chicago. I’ll go with Murphy, though, because he has been the best hitter in the NL this season. Yes, you read that correctly. A second baseman (!) leads the NL in wRC+ at 158, and Murphy’s .598 slugging percentage is far and away the best in the league. Add to that the second-best OBP (.391) and 25 home runs, and it is hard to describe how great Murphy has been in Washington.</p>. 2B. Washington Nationals. Daniel Murphy. 3. player