MLB Insider World Series, award predictions for the 2023 season

MLB Predictions 2023: Award winners

MVP Winners:

• National League: Trea Turner
• American League: Shohei Ohtani

I am on record many times on The Baseball Insiders podcast in saying that Trea Turner is the best shortstop in baseball. He can hit. He can play defense. He’s arguably the fastest player in baseball. And I think this is the year that he wins the MVP award. … Shohei Ohtani is the favorite to win the MVP award again unless Aaron Judge hits 60+ home runs again. He’s Max Scherzer and Matt Olson combined into one. Special.

Cy Young Winners:

• National League: Corbin Burnes
• American League: Jacob deGrom

I know his Opening Day start did not go according to plan — the Brewers’ defense is much to blame for that – but Corbin Burnes is a supremely talented pitcher who has a strong case as the best pitcher in the NL. … deGrom, meanwhile, has a strong case as the most talented pitcher in baseball — barring health. I’m betting that he stays healthy in 2023 and makes the Rangers look very good for being the only team willing to give him a five-year pact in free agency.

Rookie of the Year:

• National League: Jordan Walker
• American League: Anthony Volpe

Entering Opening Day, the National League Rookie of the Year race is a toss-up between Jordan Walker and Corbin Carroll. I’ll take Jordan Walker here, but not choosing Carroll here, who has already secured a $100+ million contract, was really, really difficult. … Volpe is the Yankees’ young stud shortstop and if spring training was any indication, he looked primed for a monster season. His biggest competition for the award could come from inside the division — the Boston Red Sox’s Masataka Yoshida is a prominent pick after the World Baseball Classic — but give me Volpe.