Selecting Every MLB Team's 2015 Regular-Season MVP
The upcoming postseason may be the main focus of the baseball world right now, but as the regular season winds down, the debate over who should win each of the league's major awards generally starts to heat up.
Bryce Harper and Josh Donaldson look to be the front-runners to win their respective league MVP awards heading into the final week, but they are by no means the only candidates.
The following won't focus on each league as a whole, though, but instead on who deserves team MVP honors for all 30 MLB franchises.
Position players generally tend to get the nod over pitchers when it comes to the league award, with Clayton Kershaw being a rare exception last season, but more than a few pitchers walked away with team honors.
The idea here was to find the player who has meant the most to the success of his respective team here in 2015.
Sometimes that was the player who led his team in WAR, but by no means was WAR the deciding factor in naming each team's MVP.
Along with a focus on each team's winner, a full ballot of the top five players was selected for each team to provide a few honorable mentions deserving of recognition as well.
Baltimore Orioles: 3B Manny Machado
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2015 Stats
MVP Overview
There were some legitimate questions about the long-term health of Manny Machado heading into the year after he had suffered season-ending knee injuries in back-to-back years.
He's been healthy here in 2015, though, and his offensive game has taken a huge step forward as a result.
The 23-year-old has more than doubled his previous career high in home runs (14), posted an OPS nearly 100 points higher than his career mark entering the year (.747 to .845) and added the stolen base to his game after tallying just 10 total in his first three years.
Meanwhile, he remains one of the game's truly elite defensive players as a natural shortstop manning the hot corner, and a second Gold Glove award would not be the least bit surprising.
Remaining Ballot
2. 1B Chris Davis
3. CF Adam Jones
4. SP Wei-Yin Chen
5. RP Darren O'Day
Boston Red Sox: CF Mookie Betts
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MVP Overview
A lot has gone wrong for the Boston Red Sox in 2015, but the emergence of Mookie Betts as a bona fide star has certainly been a bright spot.
Only four other times in Boston Red Sox franchise history has a player put together a season with 40 doubles, 15 home runs and 20 stolen bases, with the most recent being Jacoby Ellsbury in 2011.
However, he earns the nod here as much for his defense in center field as he does for his dynamic all-around offensive game.
A natural second baseman, Betts has made more than a few highlight-reel grabs on his way to 10 defensive runs saved (DRS) on the year, making him one of 20 outfielders in double digits.
Remaining Ballot
2. SS Xander Bogaerts
3. DH David Ortiz
4. UT Brock Holt
5. SP Wade Miley
New York Yankees: RP Dellin Betances
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2015 Stats
| 71 | 6-3 | 8/11 | 28 | 1.34 | 1.004 | 39 | 124 | 80.2 | 3.8 |
MVP Overview
Calling a setup reliever the MVP for a team that is headed to the postseason may seem like a stretch, but there is little doubt the relief corps has been the most consistent part of the 2015 New York Yankees, and Dellin Betances has been the leader of that group.
His 80.2 innings of work lead all pitchers who have not made a start this season, and he's been completely dominant in the setup role once again while bridging the gap to new closer Andrew Miller.
For what it's worth, catcher Brian McCann told reporters that he feels Betances is the team MVP, according to YES Network's Meredith Marakovits (via Ryan Hatch of NJ.com).
"That's awesome," Betances said after hearing of McCann's endorsement. "That's Mac. He's always tries to pump you up a little bit. I think we're all trying to help each other out and we've done a great job collectively."
Remaining Ballot
2. C Brian McCann
3. RP Andrew Miller
4. DH Alex Rodriguez
5. SP Masahiro Tanaka
Tampa Bay Rays: CF Kevin Kiermaier
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MVP Overview
Just how valuable is elite-level defense?
Valuable enough to earn Kevin Kiermaier MVP honors for the Tampa Bay Rays this season, as the center fielder has been nothing short of amazing with the glove.
Since DRS became a stat in 2003, the single-season record is 41 from shortstop Andrelton Simmons back in 2013, and the highest total by an outfielder was 38 from Carlos Gomez in 2013, according to FanGraphs.
He hasn't quite hit the all-time record, but with 39 DRS and an absolutely ridiculous 42.1 UZR/150, Kiermaier is putting together one of the finest defensive seasons in recent memory.
He's no slouch at the plate either, as his 208 total bases are third on the team, and his 12 triples are second in the league.
Remaining Ballot
2. 2B Logan Forsythe
3. SP Chris Archer
4. 3B Evan Longoria
5. SP Jake Odorizzi
Toronto Blue Jays: 3B Josh Donaldson
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MVP Overview
Even in a lineup filled with stars, including two other players with 100-plus RBI on the year, Josh Donaldson has stood out as the clear MVP of not only the Toronto Blue Jays, but of the entire American League.
He's the first Blue Jays player since Carlos Delgado in 2000 with 40 doubles and 40 home runs in a season, he leads the American League with 122 RBI, and he's once again been a standout defender at the hot corner.
After finishing in the top 10 in AL MVP voting the past two years with the Oakland Athletics, the 29-year-old Donaldson has taken his game to another level this year and should be rewarded with some nice hardware as a result.
Hitting ahead of Jose Bautista helps, but only so much credit belongs to the lineup around him for his breakout performance.
Remaining Ballot
2. RF Jose Bautista
3. DH Edwin Encarnacion
4. RP Roberto Osuna
5. SP David Price
Chicago White Sox: 1B Jose Abreu
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MVP Overview
Jose Abreu may not have matched his rookie-year production, when he hit .317 with 36 home runs and 107 RBI, but he remains the most dangerous hitter in the Chicago White Sox lineup by a wide margin.
Despite receiving little in the way of protection from offseason addition Adam LaRoche and others, Abreu has continued to show a good all-around feel for hitting.
His OPS dropped by over 100 points (.964 to .851), but he still ranks 11th in the American League in that category, and his 97 RBI are good for eighth-best.
The 28-year-old has also made strides defensively, as he put up a minus-11 DRS as a rookie but has been about league average with the glove this year.
Remaining Ballot
2. CF Adam Eaton
3. SP Chris Sale
4. SP Jose Quintana
5. LF Melky Cabrera
Cleveland Indians: 2B Jason Kipnis
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MVP Overview
If this were strictly a second-half MVP, rookie Francisco Lindor would be an easy choice for the Cleveland Indians, as he's hit .356/.393/.557 since the All-Star break.
However, looking at the season as a whole, his double-play partner, Jason Kipnis, has to be the choice.
One of the league's most productive second basemen in 2013 (.818 OPS, 36 2B, 17 HR, 84 RBI, 30 SB), Kipnis took a huge step backward last season (.640 OPS, 25 2B, 6 HR, 41 RBI, 22 SB) while battling a nagging oblique injury.
His numbers have returned to an elite level here in 2015, though, and he ranks eighth in the AL in batting average (.302) and second in doubles (41).
Remaining Ballot
2. SS Francisco Lindor
3. LF Michael Brantley
4. SP Carlos Carrasco
5. SP Corey Kluber
Detroit Tigers: RF J.D. Martinez
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MVP Overview
Miguel Cabrera is probably going to win the AL batting title for the fourth time in the past five years, and you can definitely make a case for him being the selection for the Detroit Tigers.
However, Cabrera missed 35 games in the middle of the season with a calf strain, and in terms of full body of work, J.D. Martinez has been the team's MVP here in 2015.
Martinez was plucked from the scrapheap last season after being released by the Houston Astros, and thanks to a completely retooled swing, he hit .315 with 23 home runs in 441 at-bats.
A .389 BABIP left him looking like a clear candidate for regression, but instead he's been even better this season, as he ranks in the AL's top 10 in OPS (.875), home runs (37) and RBI (99).
He's also second in the league with 15 outfield assists.
Remaining Ballot
2. 1B Miguel Cabrera
3. 2B Ian Kinsler
4. SS Jose Iglesias
5. RP Alex Wilson
Kansas City Royals: CF Lorenzo Cain
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2015 Stats
MVP Overview
Lorenzo Cain was not your conventional No. 3 hitter heading into the postseason last year, but that didn't stop him from hitting .333/.388/.417 and claiming ALCS MVP honors to help lead the Kansas City Royals to the World Series.
That postseason success has carried over into a breakout 2015 season, and he's set career highs in literally every offensive category.
Cain has turned himself into a legitimate power-speed threat, and thanks to an improvement in his walk rate (4.8 to 6.1 percent), he has seen a 23-point uptick in his on-base percentage.
With his speed, that kind of on-base ability is dangerous, and the result has been 28 stolen bases and 99 runs scored, which puts him fourth in the AL in that category.
All of that said, defense remains his most impressive tool, as Cain has a 12.7 UZR/150 and 19 DRS on the year.
Remaining Ballot
2. 1B Eric Hosmer
3. 3B Mike Moustakas
4. RP Wade Davis
5. DH Kendrys Morales
Minnesota Twins: 2B Brian Dozier
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MVP Overview
More than perhaps any other team in baseball this season, the success of the 2015 Minnesota Twins has been a complete team effort, but Brian Dozier is a relatively easy choice for MVP honors.
After a breakout season last year, Dozier has continued to shoulder the offensive load and, in the process, set new career highs in hits (146), doubles (29), home runs (28), RBI (75) and OPS (.773).
In terms of power production he's been in a league of his own among second basemen, and that four-year, $20 million extension he signed prior to the season is looking like a brilliant move by the Twins.
Rookie Miguel Sano may be the team's most dangerous hitter right now, and Kyle Gibson may become their most important player if he winds up pitching in an elimination game, but for overall regular-season MVP, the choice is Dozier.
Remaining Ballot
2. DH Miguel Sano
3. SP Kyle Gibson
4. 3B Trevor Plouffe
5. LF Eddie Rosario
Houston Astros: SP Dallas Keuchel
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2015 Stats
| 32 | 26 | 19-8 | 2.47 | 2.85 | 1.009 | 49 | 213 | 226.0 | 7.3 |
MVP Overview
In order for a pitcher to be worthy of MVP consideration, whether it's a league award or simply a team award, he has to be clearly better than any position player candidates he's going up against.
No disrespect to Jose Altuve or Carlos Correa, who are both having terrific seasons, but there is no question Dallas Keuchel has been the best player on the Houston Astros this season.
Keuchel came out of nowhere to emerge as one of the better starters in the AL last year, and he's taken things to another level this season as one of the front-runners for AL Cy Young honors.
There are plenty of stats to point to that demonstrate how good he's been, and an AL-best 62.3 percent groundball rate has been a big reason for his success.
Keuchel is also 10-5 with a 2.95 ERA in 17 starts following a loss, as his dominance has gone a long way in helping the team avoid prolonged stretches of losing.
Remaining Ballot
2. 2B Jose Altuve
3. SS Carlos Correa
4. RF George Springer
5. SP Collin McHugh
Los Angeles Angels: CF Mike Trout
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MVP Overview
It appears a rough August (.218 BA, .689 OPS) will wind up costing Mike Trout AL MVP honors, but he's still an easy choice as the team MVP of the Los Angeles Angels.
After leading the majors in runs scored a year ago, the Angels have struggled to find any sort of offensive consistency this year, and their runs per game have dropped from 4.77 to 4.01 as a result.
Even with a mediocre second half, Trout still leads the AL with an OPS (.979) that is 40 points higher than it was a year ago when he took home his first AL MVP award.
A case can be made for a handful of other players having better seasons here in 2015, but Trout is still the best all-around player in the game and as dangerous a hitter as there is in baseball.
Remaining Ballot
2. 1B Albert Pujols
3. RF Kole Calhoun
4. SP Garrett Richards
5. RP Huston Street
Oakland Athletics: SP Sonny Gray
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2015 Stats
| 31 | 22 | 14-7 | 2.73 | 3.46 | 1.082 | 59 | 169 | 208.0 | 5.7 |
MVP Overview
A drastic offseason roster overhaul left the Oakland Athletics with a completely different team than the one that had looked like the best in baseball for much of 2014 before a late-season collapse.
The one returning star—and arguably the only star on the roster—was Sonny Gray, and he has taken that next step forward from staff ace to legitimately being one of the best pitchers in all of baseball.
A rough September (5 GS, 2-1, 6.84 ERA) has dashed his chances of winning the AL Cy Young, and hip soreness has led to him officially being shut down for the remainder of the season, according to Jane Lee of MLB.com.
However, his body of work as a whole over 31 starts and 208 innings of work is more than enough for him to claim team MVP honors.
Remaining Ballot
2. C Stephen Vogt
3. RF Josh Reddick
4. CF Billy Burns
5. RP Drew Pomeranz
Seattle Mariners: RF Nelson Cruz
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2015 Stats
MVP Overview
After opting against signing Nelson Cruz prior to the 2014 season, then watching him lead the majors with 40 home runs on a one-year deal, the Seattle Mariners avoided making the same mistake twice and signed him to a four-year, $57 million deal this past offseason.
While the Mariners have been incredibly disappointing this season after entering the year with legitimate postseason aspirations, Cruz has given the team exactly what they hoped for as a power bat from the right side of the plate.
Not only is he tied for the AL home runs lead with 43 long balls, but he also ranks seventh in the league in batting average (.304), second in OPS (.968) and 11th in RBI (90).
He's been bad defensively (-8 DRS, -11.8 UZR/150), but the Mariners didn't give him $57 million for his defense, and there is little question he's been one of the top hitters in the American League.
Remaining Ballot
2. 3B Kyle Seager
3. SP Felix Hernandez
4. 2B Robinson Cano
5. LF Franklin Gutierrez
Texas Rangers: RF Shin-Soo Choo
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MVP Overview
Weighing the value of late-season production versus production over the course of the entire season is important when it comes to the MVP conversation, as a strong month of September can go a long way in erasing a disappointing season if you play for a contending team.
The perfect example of that is Texas Rangers outfielder Shin-Soo Choo.
After a disappointing first season with the team last year, Choo got off to a slow start once again in 2015 when he was hitting just .221/.305/.384 at the All-Star break.
However, he's hitting .348/.464/.554 in the second half, and that includes a ridiculous .411/.529/.611 line in September with 23 runs scored in 26 games.
It's no coincidence then that the Rangers have gone 16-10 this month to climb into the AL West lead with arguably the hottest hitter in baseball in their lineup, and leading that late-season charge is reason enough for Choo to claim team MVP honors.
Remaining Ballot
2. DH Prince Fielder
3. 1B Mitch Moreland
4. RP Shawn Tolleson
5. 3B Adrian Beltre
Atlanta Braves: 1B Freddie Freeman
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MVP Overview
The overall numbers for Freddie Freeman don't stack up to the top first basemen around the league this year, but a lot of that has to do with the talent level around him in Atlanta.
A.J. Pierzynski and Nick Markakis are both having solid seasons, but neither are going to convince an opposing pitcher to give Freeman anything to hit in a big situation.
That being said, Freeman has delivered when given the opportunity, hitting .376/.512/.645 in 93 at-bats with runners in scoring position.
After signing an eight-year, $135 million deal prior to the 2014 season, Freeman will be the cornerstone of the Braves' rebuilding efforts in the years to come. His numbers may take a hit as a result, but there is little question he is still one of the top hitters in the National League.
Remaining Ballot
2. SP Shelby Miller
3. SS Andrelton Simmons
4. RF Nick Markakis
5. C A.J. Pierzynski
Miami Marlins: 2B Dee Gordon
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MVP Overview
Giancarlo Stanton looked like a shoo-in for team MVP and a legitimate candidate for NL MVP honors when he posted a .965 OPS with 27 home runs and 67 RBI through the Miami Marlins' first 75 games of the season.
However, he has been sidelined since June 26 with a fractured hand, and that opens the door for speedy Dee Gordon to claim the team award.
After finally turning his raw athleticism into production for the Los Angeles Dodgers last year, Gordon was traded to the Marlins in the offseason and has quickly proved his breakout season was no fluke.
He leads the NL in hits (196) and is still in the running for the NL batting title, as his .332 average is within striking distance of the .336 mark of Bryce Harper that currently leads the league.
It's his defense that has been the biggest surprise, though, as he went from well below average last year (-5 DRS, -3.5 UZR/150) to grading out as one of the best second basemen in the league this season (13 DRS, 7.2 UZR/150).
Remaining Ballot
2. SS Adeiny Hechavarria
3. RF Giancarlo Stanton
4. SP Jose Fernandez
5. RP A.J. Ramos
New York Mets: LF Yoenis Cespedes
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MVP Overview
When an MVP-caliber player switches leagues midseason, it makes for a tricky situation as far as where he fits into the MVP conversation.
It's hard to say Yoenis Cespedes deserves legitimate NL MVP consideration when he's only played 52 of his games in the National League this season.
However, on a team level, the New York Mets were a completely different team without him, and the impact he's made since coming over at the trade deadline makes him a deserving recipient of team MVP honors.
The Mets were 53-50 overall and trailing the Washington Nationals by two games in the NL East standings when they acquired Cespedes on July 31. Offense was the big issue, as they were averaging just 3.54 runs per game.
Since the trade, they've gone 36-17 and averaged 5.81 runs per game, clinching their first division title since 2006 in the process.
Everyone has a different definition of what MVP means, but it's hard to argue anyone has been more valuable to the Mets this year than Cespedes.
Remaining Ballot
2. SP Jacob deGrom
3. SP Matt Harvey
4. RF Curtis Granderson
5. RP Jeurys Familia
Philadelphia Phillies: RP Ken Giles
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2015 Stats
| 65 | 6-2 | 13/17 | 12 | 1.36 | 1.167 | 23 | 81 | 66.0 | 2.2 |
MVP Overview
Finding a team MVP for the 2015 Philadelphia Phillies was no easy task.
Maybe it's general manager Ruben Amaro for finally committing to rebuilding and trading off Cole Hamels, Jonathan Papelbon and a handful of others.
Or perhaps it's incoming team president Andy MacPhail for finally, mercifully relieving Amaro of his duties as GM after he stagnated the franchise with his unwillingness to rebuild earlier.
At the end of the day, though, we were looking for an on-field player, and setup man-turned-closer Ken Giles got the nod over surprise Rule 5 pickup Odubel Herrera and a half-season of standout rookies Maikel Franco and Aaron Nola.
Since replacing Papelbon in the closer's role, Giles has converted 13 of 14 save chances with a 0.40 ERA, 0.806 WHIP and 10.9 K/9 in 20 appearances.
Remaining Ballot
2. CF Odubel Herrera
3. 3B Maikel Franco
4. SP Aaron Nola
5. RF Jeff Francoeur
Washington Nationals: RF Bryce Harper
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MVP Overview
Recent shenanigans with Jonathan Papelbon aside, Bryce Harper is having one of the best offensive seasons we've seen in years. Even with the Washington Nationals laying an egg this year, he'll be a deserving NL MVP.
He currently leads the NL in average (.336), on-base percentage (.467), slugging (.658), home runs (41), runs scored (117) and WAR (10.2), and his 123-127 BB/K ratio is nothing short of ridiculous.
Looking at things from a historical standpoint, OPS+ is a good all-encompassing offensive stat that can be compared across generations, with an OPS+ of 100 representing league-average production.
Harper has a 201 OPS+ this season.
That checks in as the No. 51 season of all time from an OPS+ standpoint, with 21 of the 50 spots above him belonging to Babe Ruth, Ted Williams or Barry Bonds.
Not to shabby for a 22-year-old.
Remaining Ballot
2. SP Max Scherzer
3. SP Jordan Zimmermann
4. 3B Yunel Escobar
5. RP Drew Storen
Chicago Cubs: SP Jake Arrieta
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2015 Stats
| 32 | 28 | 21-6 | 1.82 | 2.40 | 0.879 | 48 | 229 | 223.0 | 8.3 |
MVP Overview
There's a good chance that both Anthony Rizzo and Jake Arrieta wind up finishing inside the top 10 in the NL MVP voting this season, so picking a team MVP for the Cubs was no simple task.
Rizzo has stepped into an important leadership role in the clubhouse and is undoubtedly one of the most dangerous hitters in the National League. It's hard to imagine where the Cubs would be without him this season.
That said, what Arrieta is doing right now is beyond special.
In his last 11 starts, he's gone 10-0 with a 0.44 ERA, allowing just 39 hits and four earned runs in 82.1 innings of work.
Those are video game numbers, and really good video game numbers at that.
It's not like he was anything short of dominant prior to that stretch either, as he's 21-6 with a 1.82 ERA and 0.879 WHIP overall on the season and making a strong case for NL Cy Young honors.
He'll take the ball for the biggest start of his life in the NL Wild Card Game, and right now, there's no starter in baseball you'd rather be handing the ball to in a do-or-die situation.
Remaining Ballot
2. 1B Anthony Rizzo
3. 3B Kris Bryant
4. SP Jon Lester
5. SS Addison Russell
Cincinnati Reds: 1B Joey Votto
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MVP Overview
The 2014 season was a rough one for Joey Votto. A pair of quad injuries limited him to just 62 games, and he hit .255/.390/.409 when he did manage to get onto the field.
He's back healthy this season, though, and once again looks like one of the most dangerous hitters in all of baseball, even while playing for a last-place Cincinnati Reds team.
There will always be the detractors who want him to walk less and be a more traditional middle-of-the-order slugger, but it's hard to argue with a 1.019 OPS.
Considering the Reds have Votto locked up for $192 million over the next eight seasons, a return to elite-level production is a good sign for the rebuilding franchise.
Remaining Ballot
2. 3B Todd Frazier
3. RP Aroldis Chapman
4. 2B Brandon Phillips
5. SP Anthony DeSclafani
Milwaukee Brewers: 1B Adam Lind
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2015 Stats
MVP Overview
Adam Lind has always been a solid hitter, as long as he never sees an at-bat against a left-handed pitcher, and he's been a terrific addition in an otherwise trying season for the Milwaukee Brewers.
Props to both sides on the trade that brought him to the Brewers. Marco Estrada has been terrific for the Toronto Blue Jays but would have been taking valuable innings from the young starters in Milwaukee, so it wound up being a win-win.
Despite seeing just 482 at-bats as a platoon player, Lind leads the team in doubles (32) and RBI (86) thanks to a .341 average with runners in scoring position.
The Brewers opted against trading Lind at the deadline, and they will instead exercise a very reasonable $8 million option on him this coming offseason.
Remaining Ballot
2. RF Ryan Braun
3. RP Francisco Rodriguez
4. SP Taylor Jungmann
5. LF Khris Davis
Pittsburgh Pirates: CF Andrew McCutchen
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MVP Overview
Andrew McCutchen is putting up his usual impressive numbers across the board here in 2015, but they're significantly more impressive when you consider the way he started the season.
When the first month of the season came to a close, McCutchen was hitting just .194/.302/.333, and the Pittsburgh Pirates were 12-10 and averaging 4.05 runs per games.
Since then, McCutchen has hit .307/.420/.514, and the Pirates have gone 83-52 while averaging 4.36 runs per game.
As McCutchen goes, so go the Pirates, there is little doubt about that, and that makes him an easy choice for team MVP on a roster full of legitimate candidates.
Remaining Ballot
2. SP Gerrit Cole
3. RP Mark Melancon
4. LF Starling Marte
5. 3B Jung-ho Kang
St. Louis Cardinals: 3B Matt Carpenter
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MVP Overview
With so many injuries up and down the roster this season, nailing down a team MVP for the St. Louis Cardinals is a bit tricky.
You can certainly make the case that Yadier Molina is still the most important player on the roster, and his status for the postseason will be the biggest storyline surrounding the team down the stretch, as he's currently sidelined with a thumb injury.
However, in terms of who has been most valuable to the team's success here in 2015, it has to be the consistent offensive production of third baseman Matt Carpenter.
He's sacrificed some average this season to hit for more power, and as a result he leads the team in doubles (42), home runs (27), RBI (83) and runs scored (96) despite spending most of the season hitting first or second.
A .327 average with runners in scoring position has helped pad that RBI total.
Remaining Ballot
2. RF Jason Heyward
3. SP John Lackey
4. RP Trevor Rosenthal
5. SP Michael Wacha
Arizona Diamondbacks: 1B Paul Goldschmidt
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2015 Stats
MVP Overview
One can't help but wonder how much more national attention Paul Goldschmidt would receive if he wasn't hidden in the Arizona desert.
The only thing that has proved effective in slowing down the 28-year-old over the past three seasons was a fractured hand that prematurely ended his 2014 season, but he has shown no ill effects of that injury here in 2015.
Aside from the surface numbers that make it clear he's one of the best power hitters and run producers in the game, Goldschmidt has also stolen 21 bases for the first 20-20 performance of his career and looks like a shoo-in for a second career Gold Glove.
His 18 DRS are not only tops among all first basemen this year by a wide margin (Adrian Gonzalez is second with nine), but they are the most since Daric Barton also tallied 18 for the Oakland Athletics back in 2010.
Goldschmidt is the complete package and the face of a Diamondbacks team on the rise.
Remaining Ballot
2. CF A.J. Pollock
3. LF David Peralta
4. RP Brad Ziegler
5. RF Ender Inciarte
Colorado Rockies: 3B Nolan Arenado
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MVP Overview
The Colorado Rockies may have traded the face of their franchise when they moved Troy Tulowitzki at the deadline, but Nolan Arenado had already emerged as the best player on the team prior to the deal being made.
A two-time Gold Glove winner who will likely make it three in a row this season, Arenado was already an elite defender, but he has taken his offensive game to another level entirely this year.
The 24-year-old looked to be on his way to a breakout season last year when a fractured finger cost him 37 games, and now that breakout has instead come a year later and in a big way.
He currently leads the NL in RBI (126) and total bases (338) and is tied with Bryce Harper for the home run title (41)—all this after entering the season with 28 home runs and 113 RBI in his first two seasons.
A relatively low .319 on-base percentage is the only real hole left in his game at this point, and he'll need to improve his 4.9 percent walk rate to take that final step to superstardom.
Remaining Ballot
2. RF Carlos Gonzalez
3. CF Charlie Blackmon
4. 2B DJ LeMahieu
5. SP Jorge De La Rosa
Los Angeles Dodgers: SP Zack Greinke
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2015 Stats
| 31 | 29 | 18-3 | 1.68 | 2.76 | 0.852 | 39 | 192 | 214.2 | 8.8 |
MVP Overview
Despite a slightly less-than-dominant performance over his last four starts (3-0, 2.25 ERA) and a hard-charging Jake Arrieta, Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Zack Greinke still looks like the NL Cy Young front-runner at this point.
He should also see some NL MVP support, and from a statistical standpoint he's actually having a better season than teammate Clayton Kershaw did when he won the award last season:
- '15 Greinke: 214.2 IP, 1.68 ERA, 221 ERA+, 0.852 WHIP, 8.8 WAR
- '14 Kershaw: 198.1 IP, 1.77 ERA, 197 ERA+, 0.857 WHIP, 7.5 WAR
That has made the decision to put an opt-out clause in his contract look like a brilliant one for Greinke, as he'll undoubtedly forgo the final three years and $77 million of his current deal to sign something significantly more substantial this offseason.
For the cherry on top, Greinke is hitting .231 with two doubles and two home runs, and his .593 OPS is actually higher than the .508 OPS he has allowed to opposing hitters.
Remaining Ballot
2. SP Clayton Kershaw
3. 1B Adrian Gonzalez
4. 3B Justin Turner
5. RP Kenley Jansen
San Diego Padres: LF Justin Upton
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2015 Stats
MVP Overview
The 2015 season has not gone according to plan for the San Diego Padres, as an offseason of wheeling and dealing had them looking like legitimate contenders. Instead, they will need to finish the year 4-2 just to match last year's record.
One player who has played up to expectations is left fielder Justin Upton, though the team's decision not to move him at the trade deadline was something of a head-scratcher.
At the very least they'll be able to present a qualifying offer and pick up a draft pick when he inevitably signs a big-money deal elsewhere, and at 28 years old, he still has several prime seasons left.
On top of his normal power and run-production numbers, Upton has also swiped 19 bases this season, the most since he had 21 back in 2011. His eight DRS are also a career high, as he's taken well to the spacious outfield of Petco Park.
Remaining Ballot
2. SP Tyson Ross
3. RP Craig Kimbrel
4. SP James Shields
5. 3B Yangervis Solarte
San Francisco Giants: C Buster Posey
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2015 Stats
MVP Overview
All due respect to a breakout season from shortstop Brandon Crawford and another terrific year from Madison Bumgarner atop the rotation, but Buster Posey is once again the MVP of the San Francisco Giants.
After hitting .314/.381/.498 with 14 home runs and 58 RBI in the first half to make his third All-Star Game appearance, he's seen his power numbers dip in the second half with just five home runs and 36 RBI.
However, he's still hitting .335/.390/.456 since the break, and his .323 batting average on the season is good for third in the National League.
He's seen more time at first base this season, and his offensive numbers obviously lose some value there, but he is still the leader of this Giants team and an easy pick for team MVP.
Remaining Ballot
2. SS Brandon Crawford
3. SP Madison Bumgarner
4. 3B Matt Duffy
5. 1B Brandon Belt
All standard statistics and WAR totals courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com, while defensive statistics such as DRS and UZR/150 come via FanGraphs.
