There’s plenty of excitement when making early picks for the MVP. The American League MVP favorite lookds wide open. Yet early odds from FanDuel suggest that it’s between two outfielders on the New York Yankees. Unlike the AL race, the National League MVP competition figures to be more top-heavy based on the lastest baseball odds. Those superstars are going to be fighting for the NL MVP, making this a fascinating award race ahead of Opening Day.
We already covered the early odds for Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young Award, here’s a look at the early favorites for baseball’s most valuable player.
Early MVP Award Watch
American League
AL MVP Odds
| Player | Team | Odds |
| Aaron Judge | New York Yankees | +550 |
| Juan Soto | New York Yankees | +600 |
| Corey Seager | Texas Rangers | +1000 |
| Julio Rodríguez | Seattle Mariners | +1000 |
| Yordan Alvarez | Houston Astros | +1100 |
Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
If Aaron Judge can stay healthy and the New York Yankees have a big bounce-back season, it will be because of Judge’s offensive force. Despite missing two months of last season, Judge remains the leader in home runs (131), wRC+ (179, or 79 percent above average) and fWAR (22.5) by substantial margins since 2021. He also led the meague with a 64.2 percent hard-hit rate, 97.6 mph average exit velocity and 14.4 percent barrels per appearance.
Juan Soto, New York Yankees
The next best odds belong to Juan Soto, who is coming off a dominant season of his own. The left-handed slugger played in all 162 of the San Diego Padres’ games. Soto led the majors in walks (132) while winning a Silver Slugger and finishing sixth in the NL MVP voting. Soto is expected to hit ahead of Judge and log triple-digit runs and RBI. The short portch in right field at Yankee Stadium wull serve as an advantage for him. There is plenty of potential for Soto to succeed in New York, especially if the Yankees can stay healthy for a majority of the season.
Corey Seager, Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers have a proud history with the MVP award. Five different Rangers have won the award as the AL’s best. Not only should the reigning World Series MVP, Corey Seager, put up the numbers, he racked them up in 2023. This came after Seager missed more than 40 games, he finished second in the AL in batting average (.327), slugging percentage (.623) and OPS (1.013) en route to a second-place finish in the AL MVP voting. Seager won a Silver Slugger Award, was an All-MLB First-Team shortstop and was the starter at the position in the All-Star Game.
National League
NL MVP Odds
| Player | Team | Odds |
| Ronald Acuña Jr. | Atlanta Braves | +500 |
| Mookie Betts | Los Angeles Dodgers | +650 |
| Freddie Freeman | Los Angeles Dodgers | +900 |
| Shohei Ohtani | Los Angeles Dodgers | +950 |
| Fernando Tatis Jr. | San Diego Padres | +1000 |
Ronald Acuña Jr.. Atlanta Braves
It’s no surprise that Ronald Acuña Jr. is the favorite to repeat as NL MVP in 2024. Acuña Jr. was the unanimous 2023 NL MVP after a dazzling season for the Atlanta Braves. He became the first player to hit 40-plus homers and tally 70-plus steals in a single season. He led all MLB in runs scored (149), OBP (.416) and stolen bases while hitting 41 home runs and 106 RBI. Acuña Jr. was in the top five in the league in terms of average exit velcoity (94.7) and average home run distance (420). The 26-year-old is an elite player in one of the best lineups in baseball.
Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers
A move to second base gives Mookie Betts’ 2024 season a new feel. But, if it weren’t for Acuña Jr’s. eye-popping 2023, Betts could have won the NL MVP. His 2023 .307/.408/.579 slash line was somewhat comparable to the .346/.438/.640 line he tallied with the Boston Red Sox. The Los Angeles Dodgers lineup has much more potency with the addition of Shohei Ohtani. With so much depth and talent in the lineup, Betts might have a chance to one-up his stellar 2023 numbers.
Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles Dodgers
Like Betts, Freddie Freeman will have another chance to shine in the Dodgers lineup. Last year, Freeman hit 29 home runs, batted .331 and slugged .567. Competign with his teammates and Acuña Jr. for the MVP crown isn’t going to be an easy path. It’s a good thing when a player like Freeman has been healthy for most of his career. Tha’s a massive benefit for him.
Main Photo: © Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
