AL MVP FUTURES REPORT
Favorites
Los Angeles Angels OF Mike Trout (+220): Trout once again heads into an MLB season as the favorite to be voted American League MVP. The three-time winner of the award has never finished lower than last year’s fifth in voting, despite the Angels making just one playoff appearance in his nine full seasons.
New York Yankees OF Aaron Judge (+1200): Judge is the top MVP contender from the star-studded Yankees. He was limited to just 28 games by injury last season. The 2017 AL Rookie of the Year and home run champ needs to play closer to a full season than he has each of the past three years.
Chicago White Sox OF Luis Robert (+2500): Abreu deservedly received the bulk of the credit for the White Sox’s first playoff appearance since 2008. But Robert finished second in Rookie of the Year voting and won a Gold Glove. The White Sox are the favorites to win the AL Central and Robert has the potential for the most impressive stat line with his well-rounded skill set.
Longshots
Toronto Blue Jays OF George Springer (+3000): The prized free agent addition of the offseason joins the young Blue Jays roster as a veteran presence and former World Series winner with the Houston Astros. He also brings some much-needed defense to the outfield. If the Jays challenge the Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays in the AL East, Springer will deserve a large share of the credit.
Tampa Bay Rays OF Randy Arozarena (+5000): Arozarena hit 7 home runs and slashed .281/.382/.641 in 23 regular-season games before erupting as a postseason star. He hit 10 homers with 14 RBI, slashed .377/.442/.831 and was named ALCS MVP. He should play every day and hit in the heart of the order while looking to continue that success over a full season.
New York Yankees C Gary Sanchez (+7000): Sanchez hit a modest 10 homers in 49 games and slashed just .147/.253/.365 last season. Injuries have kept his numbers in check since his breakout 2017 campaign, but he could impress defensively this season while catching free agent additions Corey Kluber and Jameson Taillon. Bettors are anticipating a strong year from Sanchez as his MVP odds at FanDuel went from +10000 to +7000 from late February to late March.
NL MVP FUTURES REPORT
Favorites
Washington Nationals OF Juan Soto (+700): Soto led the NL with a .351 batting average and led baseball with a 1.185 OPS last season; he finished fifth in NL MVP voting. The 2019 World Series champs added 1B Josh Bell from the Pittsburgh Pirates this offseason, but Soto will remain the biggest key to success in Washington.
San Diego Padres SS Fernando Tatis Jr. (+700): There will be a lot of eyes on baseball’s newest $300-million man this season. A third-place finisher for NL Rookie of the Year in 2019, he finished fourth in MVP voting last year. He hit 17 homers, stole 11 bases over 59 games and was a plus defender.
Los Angeles Dodgers OF Mookie Betts (+750): Betts finished second in 2020 NL MVP voting. He was everything the Dodgers expected after being acquired via trade from the Boston Red Sox while hitting 16 home runs with 10 stolen bases and a .292/.366/.562 slash line. He won’t enjoy quite as favorable of a schedule this year but it’s unlikely to affect his performance much.
Longshots
New York Mets 1B Pete Alonso (+3500): The Mets were one of the busiest teams this offseason and stand to be one of baseball’s most improved teams. They acquired SS Francisco Lindor and SP Carlos Carrasco from the Cleveland Indians. Alonso, the 2019 Rookie of the Year, should see more pitches with Lindor in the lineup and will chase his second home run title.
Cincinnati Reds 3B Eugenio Suarez (+6000): Suarez was one of the biggest reasons the Reds fell flat last year as a popular preseason darkhorse pick. He hit an adequate 15 homers in 57 games but a .202/.312/.470 slash line was largely the fault of a .214 BABIP. Cincinnati still has the second-best odds to win the NL Central and another push for the home run crown from Suarez will be needed to topple the retooled St. Louis Cardinals.
Philadelphia Phillies 3B Alec Bohm (+6000): The Phillies managed to retain C J.T. Realmuto and SS Didi Gregorius this offseason but were unable to make any notable additions. Bohm, a first-round pick of the 2018 draft, fills a need at a premier position at third base, and impressed with a .338/.400/.481 slash line over 44 games last year.