The 2020 MLB season is officially underway as the New York Yankees took down the Washington Nationals 4-1 in a rain-shortened affair, and the Mookie Betts led Los Angeles Dodgers ran away from the San Francisco Giants 8-1. It will be interesting to see the Dodgers and Nationals throughout the season, as they both received tough news before the game as Clayton Kershaw was placed on the 10-day IL, and Juan Soto tested positive for the coronavirus. The 2020 MLB awards predictions were made by 17 writers from the staff of Last Word on Baseball.
American League MVP: Mike Trout (5)
Runner up: Alex Bregman (4)
Another familiar site for Mike Trout, as he wins his fourth MVP award in his Hall of Fame career and continues his streak of finishing top four in MVP voting each year since 2012. Since his first full season in 2012, Trout has averaged 35 home runs, 92 RBIs and a .308 batting average. On top of that, he has averaged 24 stolen bases and has played excellent defense in center field. If Trout had another gear in him, this year would be a likely time for it to come as he has protection in the lineup like never before with newly signed Anthony Rendon and the full-time return of Shohei Ohtani. Another component that Trout has going for him is winning. The Angels have only made the playoffs once in his career. But with this lineup, this could be one of the best lineups they have had.
Just like last year, the writers have Alex Bregman finishing second in MVP voting to Trout. After an excellent season in 2018, Bregman broke out last season with 41 home runs and 112 RBIs. He also posted a ridiculous strikeout to walk ratio as he walked a league-leading 119 times while striking out just 83. Winning should not be a problem for Bregman as, despite a tumultuous offseason, the Houston Astros are still the heavy favorite to win the AL West.
National League MVP: Ronald Acuna Jr. (4)
Runner up: Cody Bellinger/Christian Yelich (3)
Like Trout, Ronald Acuna Jr. is one of the premier five-tool players in the game. In a regular season, Acuna has a legitimate chance at becoming a 40-40 player as he was just three stolen bases shy last season. Acuna’s impact is much more than his numbers as players like Ozzie Albies and Freddie Freeman see more fastballs with Acuna on base. Last season, Acuna finished fifth in MVP voting, so it is not a stretch for him to win MVP, especially if he gets hot in a shortened season. If Acuna wins the MVP award, the Atlanta Braves will be a major threat to unseat the Dodgers and make a run at the World Series.
There is a tie in second place between the last two NL MVPs, Cody Bellinger, and Christian Yelich. Yelich’s season came abruptly to an end when he broke his kneecap last September. Yelich was in-line to win his second straight MVP awards as he hit a league-best .329 and hit 44 home runs with 97 batted in. After Yelich’s injury, Dodgers star, Cody Bellinger, won the award after he hit 47 home runs. He was one for four with a double and a walk in the Dodgers season opener.
American League Cy Young: Gerrit Cole (7)
Runner up: Blake Snell (4)
Gerrit Cole gave the writers a vote of confidence in his Yankees debut by one hitting the defending World Series champs in a five-inning complete game. Although his command was shaky in the first inning, Cole got into a groove after allowing a solo home run to Adam Eaton. Cole finished second in Cy Young voting last year. Cole had a remarkable season where he led the majors in strikeouts with 326 and went 152 days without having a loss. He also had 11 consecutive starts with double-digit strikeouts last season. If Cole can stay healthy for the season, there is no doubt he will be in the Cy Young conversation.
The writers picked 2018 Cy Young winner, Blake Snell, to come in second place. Snell is coming off of an injury-plagued season where he made just 23 starts and put up a 4.29 ERA. However, Snell was incredible in the 2018 season where he won 21 games and posted a minuscule 1.89 ERA. There may be some questions about his health coming into the season, as Snell received a cortisone shot, but the Rays are not concerned about Snell’s health.
National League Cy Young: Jacob deGrom (3)
Runner up: Stephen Strasburg (2)
Jacob deGrom goes three in a row for Cy Young awards after putting up a 2.43 ERA and a 1.70 ERA in 2019 and 2018 respectively. deGrom has been a workhorse for the Mets for the past three seasons by pitching over 200 innings each season. If deGrom can get better run support this season, he should have a great chance of being in the Cy Young conversation. He has shown no signs of slowing down with an upper 90s fastball, and a low 90s slider. The Mets bullpen should be much improved in 2020, which should help them keep leads later in games.
The 2019 World Series MVP is picked to be a runner-up to division-rival Degrom. Stephen Strasburg pitched in 33 games for the first time since 2014 and showed lots of improvement in his pitching as a whole. Earlier in his career, Strasburg relied heavily on velocity, but with a slight drop, he has learned to use his offspeed pitches earlier in counts. If he stays healthy throughout the year, he has a chance to be in the top three in the Cy Young race, like in 2017.
American League ROY: Luis Robert (9)
Runner-up: Jo Adell (3)
Heading into the season, Luis Robert is undoubtedly the most hyped rookie as many of his teammates rave about his potential. On the defensive side, Robert has a strong arm and uses plus speed to cover ground in center field. He also uses this speed very well on the basepaths as he had 36 stolen bases last year in the minor leagues. Robert also offers tremendous power hitting 32 home runs last season. He also had a plus hit tool as he batted .328 last season. There will be no shortage of opportunity for Robert as he is slated to be the starting center fielder alongside Eloy Jimenez.
Jo Adell is another excellent prospect. Adell offers a great bat, and speed on the basepaths for the Angels. Although Adell did not make the Angels opening day roster due to defensive concerns, there is still a chance that he gets called up at some point throughout the season.
National League ROY: Gavin Lux (10)
Runner up: Carter Kieboom (5)
The top two NL Rookie of the Year picks are a pair of infielders with excellent hit tools. Gavin Lux is an excellent prospect as he is great at the plate, as he hit .347 last year in the minors with 26 home runs. On the basepaths, Lux also has plus speed which could translate to 20-25 stolen bases at the major league level. Lux showed up late to Summer camp, and was left off the 30-man roster in favor of Enrique Hernandez, who had a five-RBI game in the season opener. If Hernandez begins to cool down, and Lux gets back into his groove in minor league camp, he could easily be back up in the majors.
Carter Kieboom also has an excellent bat, and will be getting most of the starts at third base, with a mixture of Asdrubal Cabrera. Kieboom looked much better in Spring Training, and scrimmages at the plate as he hit a home run off Daniel Hudson in an intrasquad match-up. There are major questions on the defensive side, but Kieboom has the tools to be an excellent offensive player.
American League Comeback Player of the Year: Giancarlo Stanton (6)
Runner up: Corey Kluber (3)
Much like his teammate Gerrit Cole, Giancarlo Stanton got off to a strong start to the season by hitting a monster, 459 foot home run against Max Scherzer, and then an opposite-field RBI single later in the game. Stanton battled with injuries last season and played just 18 games and hit just three home runs. Even without Stanton, the Yankees were second in the league in home runs. If Stanton can get close to his 2017 season, the Yankees middle of the order will be one of the scariest in the league. Stanton offers a rare trait, of being a candidate for the most improved player, but having legitimate MVP potential.
Corey Kluber also battled various injuries last season, leading to a disappointing 5.80 ERA in just seven starts. Kluber has been exceptional from 2014-2018 with two Cy Young awards, a 2.85 ERA, and over ten strikeouts per nine innings. If Kluber can get close to his pre-injury levels, the Rangers will have a lethal top three with Lance Lynn, Mike Minor, and Kluber.
National League Comeback Player of the Year: Yoenis Cespedes (5)
Runner up: Andrew McCutchen (3)
It has been a long time coming for Yoenis Cespedes who last appeared in a game in 2018, where he only played 38 games. Cespedes has the potential to carry an offense. He led the Mets to a division title in 2015 after being traded by the Tigers. In the last season he appeared in more than 100 games, Cespedes batted .280 and hit 31 home runs. With Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil, and J.D. Davis in the mix, Cespedes has a chance to put the Mets lineup in a place where they can compete for a division title.
Andrew McCutchen got off to a solid start in the 2019 season where he hit 10 home runs and a .378 OBP in 59 games. However, McCutchen suffered a torn ACL. McCutchen offers veteran leadership and a spark at the top of the lineup that can set-up Harper and Hoskins in the middle.
American League Manager of the Year: Aaron Boone (5)
Runner-up: Kevin Cash/Rick Renteria/Joe Maddon (3)
The writers picked Aaron Boone to win AL manager of the year after he narrowly lost to Rocco Baldelli last season. LWOB predicted the Yankees to win the AL Pennant in the playoff predictions and the writers continue to believe in the deep lineup, and a rotation led by Cole, Masahiro Tanaka, and James Paxton. It will be interesting to see if Boone will win the award due to the Yankees having the best record. Perhaps the manager of an overachieving team gets the nod.
In second place, there is a three-way tie. The Chicago White Sox have a chance to compete this season with the signings of Yasmani Grandal and Dallas Keuchel, and a very young core including rookie of the year candidate Luis Robert. With these pieces in place, Rick Renteria has a chance to lead the White Sox to the playoffs, especially with the playoff expansion. Kevin Cash may be the most creative manager in the league, and the Rays have a chance to compete with the Yankees this season. However, star reliever, Colin Poche is out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.
With the signing of Rendon, and the return of Shohei Ohtani, Joe Maddon leads a very talented ballclub, with an exceptional lineup, but there are questions in the rotation. Maddon is creative with his lineups and management. So it will be interesting to see if Maddon can workaround the suspect starting pitching and bullpen.
National League Manager of the Year: David Bell (4)
Runner-up: Torey Lovullo (3)
As the Reds were predicted to win the Central, LWOB predicts that Reds skipper, David Bell, will win NL manager of the year. Bell leads a ballclub with one of the best rotations in baseball, led by Sonny Gray and Luis Castillo, and a lineup that has made improvements in the offseason with the signings of Mike Moustakas and Nicholas Castellanos. In addition to the signings, Eugenio Suarez remains one of the most underrated players in the league. In a wide-open NL Central, the Reds have a chance for their first division crown since 2012.
After a surprising season last season and the signing of Madison Bumgarner, Torey Lovullo is the runner-up for the NL manager of the year. Bumgarner gives them a solid rotation Robbie Ray and Zac Gallen, and the trade for Starling Marte gives offensive firepower next to Ketel Marte and Eduardo Escobar. Since they overachieved with 85 wins last season, the Diamondbacks will have high expectations, especially with the expanded playoffs.
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