Fansided

Top 10 AL MVP candidates in a shortened MLB season

By Scott Edwards

ST PETERSBURG, FL - JUNE 14: Mike Trout #27 and Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels get ready to bat against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on June 14, 2019 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
ST PETERSBURG, FL - JUNE 14: Mike Trout #27 and Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels get ready to bat against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on June 14, 2019 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /
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ANAHEIM, CA – JULY 27: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim goes to bat agaisnt the Baltimore Orioles at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on July 27, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA – JULY 27: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim goes to bat agaisnt the Baltimore Orioles at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on July 27, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images) /

102. 1. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. OF. Los Angeles Angels. Mike Trout

No one is probably too shocked by this one. Mike Trout has been the measuring point of the MLB since pretty much his rookie campaign. He is the best player in baseball at the age of 28 years and it has been that way for a long time now. In 2019, Trout won his third AL MVP award despite the struggles of his Angels team for the most part.

What he is able to do on the field is absolute greatness. Fans are already calling him the greatest player in the history of the sport. While most will have a tough time on agreeing just yet, his resume makes it difficult through eight MLB seasons. Rookie of the year in 2012 and finished in second for MVP that same year. His finishes for MVP in his eight full season are as followed:

Second, second, first, second, first, fourth, second, first.

It’s unmatched and pure dominance. It almost takes an unfortunate injury or a miraculous season from someone else to beat him out. Last season, Alex Bregman had the best season of his life and it still wasn’t enough. Trout finished 2019 leading the MLB in OBP, Slugging, and OPS. Add in the fact that he managed to hit a career-high 45 home runs, giving up a little average for more power. The .291 average was his worst since 2014. Most players would be happy with that number nowadays.

When it comes to MVP voting, it really is Trout and everyone else. Anyone else listed at No. 1 would have been criminal. And the idea that Trout has more talent at his disposal is scary for the rest of the league. The only thing that can stop him from his first repeat is that the season is only 60 games.

It’s a different animal. You know he will be there at the end of 162. That’s given. But a slight slump in a 60 game season is far different from a slump in 162. For him, it’s a matter of being himself and he has just as good of a chance at winning once again.

The 60 game MLB season will be something to watch this year. It could be the most open the AL MVP race has been in years strictly due to the uncertainty that could entail beginning at the end of January.

Next. Giants could use a nice comeback season from Johnny Cueto. dark

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