Mike Trout of the Angels and Kris Bryant of the Cubs won the most valuable player awards in their respective leagues, the Baseball Writers Association of America announced tonight.
If Trout’s win is a surprise, it’s only because many wondered of the impact of the fact that his team wasn’t in contention. Looking only at his numbers, the case was rather clear, and he got 19 of 30 first-place votes. It may have been only a typical season for Trout, but a .315/.441/.550 batting line, 29 home runs, and 30 steals (combined with outstanding baserunning and quality defense in center) represented the best all-around output in baseball. This is his second MVP, and the fifth consecutive year he has finished in the top two of the voting.
Mookie Betts was the other top contender for the American League prize, and he was Trout’s equal in most offensive areas excepting OBP (.363), but his context-adjusted output wasn’t anywhere near as good (171 wRC+ for Trout, 135 for Betts). That said, Betts was every bit as good on the bases, and graded better defensively, but still finished over 1 WAR behind. He received nine first-place votes. Star Astros second baseman Jose Altuve came in third in the race.
On the National League side, it was long apparent that Bryant would win. He very nearly did so unanimously, but second-place finisher Daniel Murphy garnered one top nod. In just his second season in the majors, Bryant blasted 39 home runs, put up a 149 wRC+, and made a difference with his glove and legs. That he was the best player on the best team in the game surely didn’t hurt.
It was a truly great campaign for the Nationals’ Murphy, too, who slightly topped Bryant in overall offensive production (156 wRC+) but wasn’t nearly as good in the other areas of the game. Corey Seager of the Dodgers, who took the Rookie of the Year award, finished an impressive third.
In other news: MLB announced that Bill Chastain and Mike Puma win Bad-Guy Sports Writers of the Year for their leagues respectively
Lmao good one
Well deserved for Bryant
Congrats to both men! Well deserved by both!
Bottom line – who the hell else!
Is no one overseeing this site? You’re the last one to report this news?
It’s called mlbtraderumors
They report on all baseball issues. You’d know that if you visit here often.
As Senior Editor, you should manage your staff and their reporting methods better if you want more timely news. Also, this is a free site with minimal ads. If the report comes out a half hour later than other sources, I’m not gonna throw a fit. Thank you MLBTR for doing what you do.
They also usually wait to do some research/stat finding before posting an article. As opposed to a source like ESPN, which I do like by the way, just posting something like “Trout, Bryant win MVP awards” and the only real substance in their article is those two players’ stats right away (before eventually coming back and adding more).
I’m almost out of data can someone hook a fella up with the wifi password up in this piece?
+1
Okay …
This is what I guess I’d call a topic of interest to our readers. We cover it, but we aren’t breathlessly on top of it from the moment the news hits the wire. (As we were, say, for the major trade and signing that took place today.)
I chose to write out some stuff on the various guys before publishing it as a full article. It obviously doesn’t impact player control rights or compensation except in the most tangential of fashions, so it’s just not something we’re going to jump all over. This site has what you might call a niche.
FWIW, also, the idea that this is somehow huge news that needs to be reported right away on MLBTR is kinda hilarious. First of all, who cares all that much? Secondly, did you need to read it here to learn of the results?
With most signings and trades I see them on here before I get the at bat notification so you guys are doing somthing right. I honestly just think people care it’s not on here seconds after so that they can start there commenting before everyone else but who knows. But thanks for all the work you do to keep all fans up to date.
We try to get breaking news written into a published post within about a minute of seeing it. And then add relevant details and reporting as soon as possible. That won’t change.
Far as this goes, I’m guessing I’d have been fielding a lot more comments from long-time readers upset if I had put up a one-sentence post on the MVP awards. I don’t mind constructive feedback or criticism. But I think most people who read the site know we aren’t falling over ourselves to post MVP results.
BTW, and FWIW, I’m still willing to bet I got my little post finished and up before many outlets — not that it was anything more than a cursory look.
@Toddy, you don’t have to justify what you choose to write about on this site, it’s your site. While I respect that person’s right to express what they feel they want this site to be, you guys get to decide that and I hope (and feel like) they are in the minority… the vast majority of people very likely love it and just don’t speak up.
This is an amazing site with (for the most part) knowledgeable fans with minimal trolling. I love reading just throwing out a question and hearing differing opinions from people… people who go by gut instinct… people who go by stats… or both…
So shut yer yap, stop responding to these people and go write something about my Giants!!!
Ha. It isn’t my site, I just work for it, but I like to think I get the approach that Tim Dierkes has charted.
I will stop now, but unfortunately I don’t have any juicy Giants notes for you right now!
Jeff you are great at what you do. Reporting awards isn’t what this site is focused on. keep doing what you do, ignore em. thanks for the work you put in for us readers that can appreciate it.
You guys do an incredible job of what you do, don’t go changin’ as Billy Joel once said
Appreciate it.
Jeff, you do very good work. The depth you provide is important, and because you cover all the teams, I get a chance to learn things about other than my hometown teams, and a handful of others that get national coverage. Don’t change the format-I’m not looking for breaking news here–that’s for others to do. Be what you are
Thank you. The site has been around for a long while, focusing on the hot stove. We touch upon other stuff — prominent former players passing away, awards, etc — when we know they’ll be of particular interest to our readers. But it’s not the core function of this site. Others handle that stuff. We always want to be on top of all the relevant aspects of the key news that is in our wheelhouse, and always try to be timely and comprehensive, but MVP and other awards don’t get that treatment here.
Good answer Jeff!
I’m here to read about McCann and Reddick and the off season outlooks. Ten thousand other places report on the MVP. #Yawn
Sorry boss, was too busy getting the lowdown on what we actually do here, report on rumors and hot stove action. I think the McCann trade was more in our wheel house. Please don’t fire me. I guess we change our name to “MLB Award Recipients”?
Thank you MLBTR staff, I found out who won the awards right here because this has become my primary sports news outlet.
I’ve never understood why it matters if a team makes the playoffs or not when it comes to MVP voting.
IMO – MVP voting should be based on how good a player performs not how good the team performs. In fact one could argue that it’s even harder for a player like Trout to put up good stats if he doesn’t have protection around him, in that other teams can throw around him and less chance of him hitting with runners on base affecting his ability to drive in runs.
Anyway, happy for Trout even though he’s not on my team and happy for Bryant even though the Cubs beat my Giants. Bryant seems like a classy player.
I think they need to come up with a Player of the Year award to separate the fantasy league best player, from the Most Valuable. Under WAR interpretation, Kirk Gibson would have never won the MVP with the Dodgers, because he wasn’t the Best player. It was his intangibles that changed the culture of the Dodgers clubhouse that was as much responsible for his being the Most Valuable Player as his actual numbers. Leadership on a winning team should be just as important as WAR. That is why it is called Most Valuable Player, and why before fantasy baseball, MVP’s were often not the player with the very best stats. Mike Trout is the Player of the Year in my book.
Yeah, Trout should never win the award because Jered Weaver sucks and Garret Richards got hurt. Trout was the best player in baseball – as he has been for the last 5 seasons – by far. He doesn’t control the rest of the team. It’s a foolish conceit to think he does or could.
Don’t mean to sound particularly facetious but if Trout is your POY then who is your MVP? Mike Napoli, Adrian Beltre, Rajai Davis?
Andrew Miller
Mookie Betts
How about Jose Ramirez of the Indians. With Brantley out, if he hadn’t had his outstanding and unexpected season, there is no way the Indians win. Along with his versatility, playing all over the diamond, he was one of the most clutch hitters in the game with runners in scoring position. He absolutely was NOT the POY, but he was the MVP in my book. I am a Tigers fan, so I am not fawning on a favorite. I am actually doubtful he can repeat his season. For this year, without him, Cleveland doesn’t make the WS. Without Trout, the Angels still have a forgettable season. And if so many players on the Indians had gotten injured or had bad seasons that they hadn’t competed, Ramirez breakout would also have been meaningless, (except to his agent and fantasy players).
Before “fantasy baseball” as you say (I think that’s a unfair assessment, it’s the information age, not the fantasy age), MVP voting was an absolute rort. Considerable bias and a complete lack of understanding (and desire to understand) better was rife. We are moving towards a far more transparent system where pressure is on those who display ignorance.
Juan Gonzalez (x2), Andrew Dawson, Wills over Mays, the infamous Ted Williams triple-crown-but-left-off-a-ballot-and-lost (despite being FAR and away the best) year. Fortunately, these kind of things shouldn’t happen again.
While I do agree that “intangibles” have taken a backseat, probably a bit too much when looking at the swing – it’s unfortunately that the majority of people who have an issue with the changes in dynamic, are those that have no interest in better understanding and learning. It’s all..”I don’t get it so it’s wrong” kinda thing.
Get off my lawn.
What do you mean by Juan gonzalez? Didn’t he put up monster stats? Who else shold have won?
And no hate..I’m high and curious bc I was looking at his wiki page randomly a few days ago lol..
Its not that I don’t get the new stats, but many of them were developed/inspired by the advent of Fantasy Baseball (don’t kid yourself that it was a coincidence). I look at it as Most Valuable to the team. You interpret it as Most Valuable to the League. As to it providing a better understanding. and providing the hope that ” Fortunately, these kind of things shouldn’t happen again,” explain that to Kate Upton, and the two Tampa writers that left Verlander off their ballots.
This actually sounds like a decent idea. It gets rid of the annual argument on the meaning of MVP. Make a POTY award for the Mike Trouts (guys with the best stats) and leave the MVP award for the guys that actually win and make the playoffs!!
There already is a POTY award – it’s been around since the 30’s. It’s just, the current incarnation of the MVP award gets more attention.
There has always been a strong correlation between MVP and the league’s highest WAR. But 1988 was an exception. Wade Boggs had MLB’s highest WAR that season. And if one were to go by WAR in the NL NVP voting it would’ve gone too… Orel Hershiser…
The best opinion I read about on this Trout-MVP discussion. Finally is someone getting realistic. Trout is the best player, posible the best player ever, but, is he the most valuable? I vote for that “Player of the year” award. The MVP must be a Player-Manager call, beyond the stats and the press .POY being a both leagues award, for Trout.
Because the keyword is “valuable”.
Yes, great players bring value to your team. But how much value was brought to your team if you wouldn’t make the playoffs with or without the player? The end goal is always the playoffs. If one player’s presence can change or shape a team’s run to the playoffs and another player’s presence would make no difference either way in terms of playoffs, then the first player should win it. I don’t really see much value in “But without Arenado, the Rockies would’ve finished in 5th place instead of 3rd”. Yeah? So what?
Fair point @RytheStunner. I kinda think of MVP as being the best all around player in the league though. But get what you’re saying.
Well Bryant’s WAR was far less than what the Cubs won the Central by. As you said, if a “player’s presence would make no difference either way”, he shouldn’t be the MVP. The Cubs would have won the central without Bryant so he shouldn’t be the MVP. By that rationale, only a Giant or Met should be the MVP this year, since they are the only teams who have a single player who accounted for the wins that put them into a playoff spot.
Now, I’m obviously not saying I believe that. In fact, I think Bryant is the MVP, but because he was the best player.
You are looking only at Bryant’s stats. His value also includes what his presence does for the rest of the lineup, which can not be measured by WAR. If he was not there would the people in front or behind him have had the same season? Was he a leader in the clubhouse?(not a Cubs follower, so I don’t know) These are the intangibles I refer to. Was he the Most Valuable Player on a team that won? Absolutely.
But they wouldn’t have had homefield advantage, and when some of your playoff opponents have won over 50 games at home, that’s a big deal.
The end goal is the World Series, not the playoffs, so by that criteria, the MVP should always be the best player on each WS team.
Like it or not, a player can be more valuable on a losing team than one on a winning team. It doesn’t make any sense to argue otherwise. A player can only control his own production, while a myriad of things go into making a team playoff-bound.
” I don’t really see much value in “But without Arenado, the Rockies would’ve finished in 5th place instead of 3rd”. Yeah? So what?”
If you don’t see the value in that, look harder. Players can have monster years for teams that are terrible and they still hold a lot of value. The difference between 70 wins and 80 wins is huge for attendance, fan base excitement, free agency, etc. It could also mean a manager keeping their job.
The only time this is really ok is when the player outshines everyone by a longshot in just about every stat, then you can make a case for a player from a non-contender winning it.
Which is what happened this year. Trout was better than everyone. Like he has been for years.
Exactly, which is why I made that point.
Right but its most “valuable” player…how valuable is a player to a team that lost 90 + games? If he wasn’t on roster how much of difference would he have made? Maybe 100 losses…big deal. I agree the MVP doesn’t need to just come for the best team, but at least one in contention. There isn’t much value on a bottom feeder.
Thank you, I totally agree. There is no definition of “valuable” that Mike Trout doesn’t mesh with (Well except in regards to actual money earned for on-field play, then Betts wins).
In my humble opinion, this is an individual award and team play should not factor into it. The only way it should factor into it is when the stats are as close as they were between Betts and Trout, except the reverse way. If Trout was on the Red Sox and Betts on the Angels which player’s stats go up and which would regress? I think Trout would’ve had about 50 more RBI’s playing in that Sox lineup and Betts loses a ton of offensive stats had he been in the Angels lineup.
The fact that Trout was anywhere close to Betts offensively (besides the walks, of course) is a testament to his ability and proves his worth. If I’m pitching against the Angels and it’s not a blowout, I’m pitching around Trout and letting Pujols try to beat me every time.
And just to put it out there, I have no bias in the AL as I’m a lifelong Cubs fan.
As such, I also agree with Bryant for NL MVP but I can’t figure out how Nolan Arenado doesn’t receive more votes.
The guy takes the Silver Slugger and Golden Glove awards at 3rd but barely gets any votes for MVP? I’m not aware of his baserunning stats or intangibles however I am aware of his home/road splits being with the Rockies and all but damn, he was impressive the last couple years.
“This is an outrage!!!” – no one, ever.
Except Mike Trout. He’s not used to winning this thing when he deserves it.
laughed at this
This one was impossible to screw up. No way you could anybody but these two
Mookie. He was on a contender.
But Trout outclassed him on a worse team so…
Not really stats very comparable.
not on offense. trout had him beat by quite a margin
Trout only beat him in obp
He destroyed him in OBP, though, which has an affect on the overall batting numbers.
MLB is racist
Good point man. There’s no other reason Trout could have won. It’s not like he was the better player or anything
Because the best players won all the good player awards?
Lol. I’m kidding
Lol #whitewashed
Im wt you on that!! Betts have better number and help Boston to the playoff!!
In which they proceeded to be swept out like the chumps that they are.
first off, that was legit funny addison. and redsox for_life, bette had guys like ortiz, dustin, boegarts, bradley, price and porcello. Trout had nobody like that.
Yes they will give it to a Trout but never to a Salmon…
At least they couldn’t screw this one up
Trout could have an MVP every full season of his career to this point..
not could, should
Agreed.
Miguel Cabrera hot for the Triple Crown! Do you know how rare that is. I understand that there is more to baseball than Avg., HR, and especially RBI but to argue that he didn’t deserve to win is idiotic.
he was a less valuable player. How is that stupid?
Triple crown winners have failed to win the MVP before.
I could see the argument for the 2013 year, although between Miggy and Trout, there really wasn’t a clear choice between the two that year. For 2012, which wasn’t a “full” season technically in that he played like 130 something games, but if you feel he should’ve won that year, I would disagree since Miggy was clearly the best player that year.
He’s got around 50 WAR and he’s only 24. For comparison purposes, ARod had around 40,
Made the right call for both leagues, Bryant was phenomenal and Trout is by far the best player on the planet.
While I don’t disagree with you, There’s also a pretty impressive kid in Japan (that pitches too)
I hate so much that we’ll never get to see this unfold. By the time he comes over he’ll have missed so many mlb years.
Oh well….can’t wait till then
Japanese baseball is like AAA level. Dude could flounder like the dozens of other Japanese “stars” once he faces real competition.
I’d say it’s more like AAAA
True, but he could turn out to be the truth as multiple Japanese “stars” have turned out to be. While Otani clearly doesn’t have the ceiling of Trout he does have the potential to be say like a Kole Calhoun who is also your #2 starter, and that potential player my friend makes for compelling baseball.
Close one, I was hoping for Betts but Trout does deserve it.
There is nothing in the voting guidelines that says a player has to be on a winning team, so the issue comes down to think what “valuable” means. I think that means the best player, period. Mike Trout isn’t in the front office, he didn’t tell Jered Weaver to start throwing 82 MPH meatballs, he certainly didn’t ask Huston Street to suck and get hurt….I’m glad that the BBWAA is learning. It’s progress.
I think you just hit the nail on the head. It depends on what you mean by “valuable”. I just looked it up on Wikipedia and the first sentence is:
“The Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) is an annual Major League Baseball (MLB) award, given to one outstanding player in the American League and one in the National League.”
The word “playoffs” doesn’t appear at all on the page…. so anyway… I agree with you but still haven’t *totally* convinced myself I’m right!! 🙂
I did notice that it said “given to one outstanding player” rather than “the most outstanding player.” That still leaves it open to interpretation. (until someone changes the Wiki entry)
I missed that, thank you! Good point.
Ok then using your logic Evan longoria should have won , it wasn’t his fault the rest of the team sucked cmon plz MVP ? Guess your right the angels finished next to last
Lomgoria was nowhere near as good as Trout. I’m not even sure what your argument is here
“Valuable” is leading your team to the playoffs.
If you led your team to 1st place instead of 3rd place, you were very valuable at the season was a success.
If you led your team to 3rd place from 5th place, sure you’re valuable, but the season was still a failure either way. 3rd place or 5th place makes NO difference except in terms of where you get a draft pick (unless of course you happen to win the wild card in 3rd place).
Baseball isn’t basketball. Trout can’t bat every time through the order or play all nine positions. LeBron James can literally get the ball every time his team has a posession.
No reason to give 1 first place vote to.Murphy if the writers now he’s not winning.. Either way well deserved for Bryant. Would have been nice to have Ortiz win the mvp
Why not? While I didn’t think Murphy would in fact win it, it’s not that crazy that he got 1 first-place vote. Also, it’s not like the writers come together and tell each other who they’re voting for, so that one guy probably didn’t know he was the only one to not put Kris Bryant first. Also, how is it stupid to give Murphy a single first-place vote but “nice” if Ortiz would’ve won it?
jose altuve was robbed of the mvp
Congrats to all. Season officially over.
Still gold glove awards I think.
Those were announced last week.
I only saw the Wilson ones, my bad.
Really happy with these results even as a Red Sox fan. Trout absolutely deserved this award and I feel it would set a poor precedent had Mookie won over him.
Methinks Jonah Hill should just pick MVP from now on
Nolan arendado had much better numbers than Bryant but wasn’t even considered. who cares if he’s hitting the ball in Colorado, you still have to hit the ball.
They weren’t better at all when you adjust for park effects. Just a 124 wRC+. There’s value with the glove, too, of course, but the same is true of Bryant (who is also a great baserunner).
That’s not even true. Arenado had more HR and RBI but his numbers on the road were pedestrian (277/12/48) and that’s before getting into OBP and base running. And Bryant led the league in runs scored, which is a better measure of skill than RBI.
And another fun stat: arenado hit into 17 double plays in 2016. Kris Bryant hit into 3.
When you don’t have to hit the ball as hard or as far for it to leave the yard, then yes, it makes a difference.
“Wahhh wahhh wahhh why did you post that rumor so quick are you guys just that desperate to get the story out first?”
Five minutes later:
“Wahhh wahhh wahhh you guys were so slow to post this news we all already know”
Trout has the stats that he should have won 4 MVPS the last 5 years..his first 5 years..
I feel like people don’t respect him like they should outside of baseball fans..he should be a sulerstat, but he plays on the left Coast and no one can see him play
Let’s trade sale for trout straight up..and make him the superstar he deserves to be
He definitely deserves at least another MVP (the 2015 race is a close one, but I’d give it to Trout). Miggy obviously deserves the 2012 one (I know there have been players who won a Triple Crown but didn’t win the award, but Miggy’s numbers were far and away so much better). The 2013 one is a toss-up in my opinion. Miggy’s offensive numbers were better but Trout put up similar numbers while playing a more premium position at a high caliber level and being better on the basepaths.
could anyone imagine if the angels were to amir the playoffs 3 years in. row? how could anyone beat trout in the mvp race? the only thing critics have is that the angels dont make the playoffs
that should say make, not amir. sorry
It’s because they don’t stay up late enough to watch him play everynight..
he is one of the few must watch players when they are on tv..like when Kershaw or sale pitch. LeBron play, Tom Brady, serena,federer, tiger..it’s being able to watch history and right now we’re lucky to see some all time greats,, so stories you will tell the grand kids about..OK I’m bias with sale, being from Chicago but I got to see Michael a little bit less then I would really like due to my age. And I won’t let that regret occur with any one else..
Huh?
This was a lazy vote for the AL writers.