AL MVP: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels

Trout should receive his first MVP award this year, and probably deserved it the past two, but that’s not to say he’s being given this award as a sort of apology for the last two.   We’re witnessing a historically great start to a career with Trout, one in which he’s lead the league in Wins Above Replacement (WAR) in his first three complete seasons.

The only thing that’s been held against him in the past has been his team’s inability to make the playoffs and Miguel Cabrera’s own greatness. This year, Trout is the undisputed top player in the league on the best team, and there’s no one really to challenge him.

Honorable Mentions: Victor Martinez (DET), Josh Donaldson (OAK), Alex Gordon (KC), Miguel Cabrera (DET), Robinson Cano (SEA), Michael Brantley (CLE)

AL Cy Young: Corey Kluber, Cleveland Indians

Kluber has some competition, as both Felix Hernandez and Chris Sale had incredible seasons of their own.  I give the nod to Kluber for a few reasons.  Sale only started 26 games and pitched 60 less innings than Kluber, and though King Felix was dominant in his own right, he benefitted from better luck and considerably better defense.  According to fangraphs, Cleveland was the second worst defensive team in the league, while the Mariners finished 13th.  Kluber also suffered from an abnormally high Batting Average on Balls in Play (BABIP), and his poor luck shouldn’t be held against him. Still, if the voters were to choose Felix, it’d be hard to argue against them. 

Honorable Mentions: Felix Hernandez (SEA), Chris Sale (CHW), Dellin Betances (NYY), Max Scherzer (DET)

AL Rookie of the Year: Jose Abreu, Chicago White Sox

Abreu has been on track to win this award relatively uncontested since Masahiro Tanaka injured his elbow back in early July.  He was second in the MLB in OPS, 3rd in the AL in home runs and RBIs, hit for average and finished the year strong despite lacking the stamina to maintain his eye-popping first half power numbers.  

The committee might hold the fact that he’s 27 against him, but given the fact that there’s no one even close to him in this race, it seems unlikely they do.  If that happens, the award will likely go to Dellin Betances, the sensational reliever from the Yankees who was absolutely dominant all year, and was arguably the best reliever in the majors. 

Honorable Mentions: Dellin Betances (NYY), Collin McHugh (HOU), Danny Santana (MIN)

SEE MORE: Peavy, Giants Bullpen Shut Down Nationals In Game 1

Adam Wainwright won't sniff the NL Cy Young, thanks to Clayton Kershaw. (Wikimedia Commons)

Speaking of witnessing historically good career arcs, have you met Clayton Kershaw? Kershaw led the majors in every meaningful statistic besides strikeouts and innings pitched, posting one of the most dominant seasons in recent memory.  He won 21 games in 27 appearances, no-hit the Rockies, had a 41 inning scoreless streak, and posted a jaw dropping June stat line, going 6-0 with a 0.82 ERA.  He posted a 1.77 ERA for the season as a whole, and became the first pitcher in MLB history to win four consecutive ERA titles.  With the path he’s on, he’s got a good chance to be considered one of the greatest pitchers to ever play the game when it’s all said and done.

Honorable Mentions: Giancarlo Stanton (MIA), Jonathan Lucroy (MIL), Andrew McCutchen (PIT), Anthony Rendon (WAS) 

NL Cy Young: Adam Wainwright, St Louis Cardinals Clayon Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers

KIDDING! Kershaw wins the 14th unanimous Cy Young Award in MLB history.

Honorable Mentions: Adam Wainwright (STL), Johnny Cueto (CIN), Cole Hamels (PHI), Aroldis Chapman (CIN), Craig Kimbrel (ATL)

NL Rookie of the Year: Jacob DeGrom, New York Mets

This award looked to be Billy Hamilton’s to lose in the early goings of the season, but he ran out of steam with a rough second half in which he posted a .254 On Base Percentage.  DeGrom was called up in late May and had a turbulent start to his career, going 0-4 in his first seven starts. However, since then he’s been commanding, finishing the year 9-2 with a 1.90 ERA in his final 15 starts. He sported a 2.63 ERA over the course of his 140 innings this season, averaging over a strikeout per inning, and was one of few bright spots for the Mets over the course of the season. 

Honorable Mentions: Billy Hamilton (CIN), Ender Inciarte (PHI), Kolten Wong (STL)

AL Manager of the Year: Buck Showalter, Baltimore Orioles

NL Manager of the Year: Clint Hurdle, Pittsburgh Pirates

Reach Staff Reporter Billy Lennon here.