2014 MLB Predictions: Spring Training Forecast for AL and NL MVPs

Spring training is the start of an extremely long grind for players around Major League Baseball. They will take to the field on nearly a daily basis for the next eight months, and one player from each league will be honored in the end with a Most Valuable Player award.

Miguel Cabrera is coming off back-to-back MVP seasons in the American League. The Detroit Tigers slugger hit .348 with 44 home runs last year to keep his crown. He was joined by Andrew McCutchen, who led the Pittsburgh Pirates to the playoffs for the first time since 1992.

Cabrera and McCutchen should both be in the mix for the award again in 2014. That said, let's examine the races in both leagues and make predictions for which players will come out on top. It could very well be a great season for immensely talented young outfielders.

American League: Mike Trout (Los Angeles Angels)

Trout built incredibly strong cases for MVP each of the past two seasons. Unfortunately for the game's brightest young star, they coincided with equally impressive campaigns from Cabrera, and the voters gave the nod to the better traditional numbers (average, HR, RBI).

This should be the year he finally moves past Cabrera into the top spot in the American League.

Last season, the five-tool outfielder hit .323 with 33 stolen bases, 27 home runs and an OPS only a shade below 1.000 all while playing strong defense. Those numbers are even more impressive when you consider he got off to a sluggish start in April (two homers and .765 OPS).

A better start to the season is one of four key factors to winning the MVP in 2014. One of the others is of course staying healthy, which is a prerequisite for every candidate.

Another thing under his control is becoming a major force on the basepaths again. He stole 49 bases and was caught just five times two years ago. But last season he swiped 16 fewer bags despite playing in 18 more games.

Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com passed along comments from Trout. He said he just loves playing the game as opposed to worrying about stats, but admitted that's an area he's keying in on heading into the new season:

"

A lot of you guys brought up 'sophomore slump,' and I was making fun of it last year that there's going to be a 'junior slump' this year. But your numbers are going to be where they're going to be. I just like competing. I like being on the field; I like the adrenaline rush, running on the field, making that big play, getting that big hit. That's what I love to do, is play the game.

[…]

I thought my stolen bases were down last year. I have to take advantage of taking that extra base.

"

At 22, there's no reason to believe Trout can't continue to improve in other facets of the game. He could easily top 30 home runs with a league-leading on-base percentage. Add in a steals boost and he could put together his best season yet, which is definitely saying something.

The other factor that could end up help Trout in the MVP chase is Prince Fielder's move from the Tigers to the Texas Rangers. He played a key role in Cabrera's spectacular numbers by providing protection for him in the lineup.

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

That task will likely now fall on the shoulders of Victor Martinez. The veteran is a solid hitter, but he doesn't possess the same amount of pop as Fielder. It means teams may opt to pitch around Cabrera with a great frequency, making it tougher for him to replicate his power stats.

When you combine all the different elements together, Trout seems to have the inside track on the AL MVP. Cabrera, Robinson Cano, Dustin Pedroia, Jacoby Ellsbury and Evan Longoria are also among the players capable of making a push for the award.

National League: Bryce Harper (Washington Nationals)

Harper was well on his way to an MVP campaign last April. He hit .344 with nine home runs in the season's opening month, which was a continuation of his strong finish in 2012. He didn't produce anywhere close to those numbers in any month that followed, however.

While there were questions about his lack of production from that point forward, it was nothing more than growing pains most young players go through early in their career. Very few are like Trout, who make the transition to the big league appear seamless.

Harper was forced to overcome a lingering knee injury over the winter. The Nationals were sure to pass along a message of him crushing baseballs during his first batting-practice sessions of the spring, showing he's ready to roll:

Despite being limited to just 118 games and his mundane production after the first month, Harper's final numbers last season were still .274 with 20 homers and 11 steals.

Now it's time for him to put it all together for a monster breakout season. It starts with staying healthy, which could mean playing slightly more conservative defensively—for example, stop running into outfield walls—but the payoff of keeping him in the lineup is far more important for Washington.

The Nationals figure to face another battle with the Atlanta Braves in the NL East. Atlanta came out of the gates on fire last season to grab an early lead and Washington could never get back level, eventually finishing 10 games off the pace.

Harper is the key to keeping the race closer and potentially winning the division. If he can play around 150 games and take that next step forward at age 21, the Nationals are not only a title threat, but he'll certainly be in the MVP conversation.

Unlike in the AL, where there are two prime candidates followed by a bunch of secondary hopefuls, the NL field is more wide-open from the start.

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

McCutchen probably enters as the front-runner after winning the award last year, but Buster Posey, Yadier Molina, Joey Votto, Paul Goldschmidt, Troy Tulowitzki and Ryan Braun are all strong candidates at the outset. And a few more will likely emerge once the season gets rolling.

That said, if this is the season where Harper reaches his off-the-charts potential, he's the player to beat. He has a good chance to finish with over 30 home runs, 20 steals and an OPS in the middle .900s.

If he combines those numbers with a division title, his first MVP should follow.