Giancarlo Stanton wins NL MVP

Miami Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton has won the National League’s Most Valuable Player award after a phenomenal season.

Who says your team has to be in the playoffs to win the Most Valuable Player award? After seeing Kris Bryant of the eventual World Series champion Chicago Cubs take home the hardware in 2016, Giancarlo Stanton has earned his first MVP, albeit on a losing team.

Many believed the race was between Stanton and Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto, who played on a franchise mired in last place of the NL Central all season. Ultimately, Votto ended up in second place, with the 28-year-old Stanton earning the most coveted individual trophy in his sport alongside the Cy Young. Votto finished only two points out of first place in the voting.

Stanton was tremendous for the Marlins, batting .281 with 59 home runs and 132 RBI in 159 games. Stanton also reached base at a .376 clip and accounted for 8.8 WAR, the best mark of his Hall of Fame career.

Incredibly, he might have played his last season in Miami. With the Marlins being sold to a group that includes Derek Jeter, there have been rumors flying about Stanton, along with Christian Yeliich and Marcell Ozuna, being dealt to slash payroll. Unfortunately, this isn’t new for marlins fans, who have lived through a legion of fire sales.

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While Stanton might be the most devastating hitter in the game, he won’t be easy to take on. The hulkish hitter has 14 years and just under $300 million remaining on his contract, putting him into a very high tax bracket. Stanton will be pursued by only the richest of clubs which could include the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals.