Let's Set Odds: Who Will Win the AL MVP Award in 2022?

Your 2021 American League MVP is Los Angeles Angels’ pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani.

Ohtanu put together one of the most incredible seasons in Major League Baseball history. On the mound, Ohtani compiled a record of 9-2, with a 3.18 ERA and 156 strikeouts in 130 ⅓ innings. At the plate, he batted .257 with 46 home runs, 100 RBI, 26 stolen bases, and an OPS of .956.

While the .257 batting average doesn’t scream “Babe Ruth”, neither does the impressive 26 stolen bases.

What Shohei Ohtani did in 2021 will never be forgotten by baseball fans, but whether or not he can maintain that level of production remains to be seen.

WynnBET Sportsbook doesn’t have odds listed for who will win the American League MVP Award in 2022, so let’s set odds for next season’s potential AL MVP winners.

Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels (+150)

After what he did last year, Ohtani is clearly the front runner in 2022.

In his first three seasons, Ohtani showed flashes on the mound and at the plate, but he put it all together for one of the greatest performances in the history of baseball.

When a player can sell out opposing ballpark just because he’s in the lineup or on the mound, that player has made quite a mark on the game.

Fun fact: the sneaky fast Ohtani also led the Major Leagues in triples. 

Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays (+250)

After a shaky rookie campaign in 2019, and a disappointing showing in the truncated 2020, Guerrero exploded in his first full season in 2021.

Guerrero batted .311 with 48 home runs, 111 RBI, 188 hits, 132 runs, and an OPS of 1.002 in 161 games. Guerrero led the Major League lead runs scored and tied for the lead in home runs with Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez.

Guerrero also led the American League in on-base percentage (.401), slugging percentage (.601), and OPS (1.002).

If, arguably, the greatest season by a two-way player in baseball history doesn’t occur in 2021, then Guerrero would already have an MVP Award on his mantle.  

If Guerrero can improve upon those numbers, or even just reproduce them, then he’s a great bet to win AL MVP in 2022.

Aaron Judge, New York Yankees (+450)

Judge had a decent season last year, batting .287 with 39 home runs, 98 RBI, 158 hits, and a .916 OPS.

Even after recording those solid numbers, it still felt like a down year. There is so much potential for the former 50-home run hitter that maybe he hasn’t reached his ceiling yet.

Judge has dealt with some injuries over the last few years, but if he can remain healthy and produce a season of 50+ home runs and 120+ RBI, then he will be in the running for AL MVP in 2022.

It feels like a 60 homer, 150 RBI season is in the realm of possibility for Judge, and next year could be the year.

Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Guardians (+650)

Cleveland put a lot of focus on Francisco Lindor over the last few seasons, but lurking in his shadow was Jose Ramirez. But now that Lindor is in Queens, Ramirez is the face of the franchise.

In 2021, Ramirez put together a much better season than his former teammate, batting .266 with 36 home runs, 103 RBI, 27 stolen bases, 147 hits, 32 doubles, and an .893 OPS.

In each of his last two seasons appearing in over 130 games, Ramirez has hit at least 36 home runs and stolen at least 27 bases. In the last five seasons, Ramirez has finished in the top-six in AL MVP voting four times, finishing as the MVP runner-up in voting in 2020.

Ramirez is a five-tool player in the Guardians infield, and he is a threat to take home the hardware in Cleveland’s inaugural season as the “Guardians” in 2022.

Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox (+750)

MVP’s rarely go through slumps, and one man that didn’t slump often in 2021, was Rafael Devers. 

Devers batted .279 with 38 home runs, 113 RBI, 165 hits, 37 doubles and an .890 OPS last season, leading a powerful Red Sox offense.

Devers is still just 25-years old, so if he improves and takes his game to another level, what does that even look like?

If the third baseman for the Red Sox batted over .300 with 50 home runs, and drove in 130 RBI, he would be a safe bet for AL MVP in 2022. Who knows Devers’ ceiling?

Brandon Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays (+10000)

Let’s take a look at a potential MVP sleeper.

The Tampa Bay Rays dominate a lot of the conversation in baseball. A low-payroll team using their creativity and flexibility to creep into the playoffs year after year.

Brandon Lowe has been a big bat on those Rays’ teams. Lowe batted just .247 in 2021, but belted 39 home runs and drove in 99 RBI. The second baseman also collected 31 doubles and produced an .863 OPS. 

As long as the Rays keep winning, they will remain in the conversation. The MVP voters may throw some votes at a potential 40-homer second baseman in the middle of Tampa Bays’ lineup.