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With pitchers and catcher set to report next week for Spring Training, it is a great time to look at who has the best chance of winning the 2021 AL MVP award. José Abreu won the award last season after slashing .317/.370/.617 with 19 home runs and 60 RBI. Abreu is trying to win the award for the second-straight year, which has only been accomplished twice in the past 60 years in the American League — by Frank Thomas and Miguel Cabrera.
We will take a look at a favorite, sleeper, and long shot for the 2021 AL MVP award. All odds are courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
Favorite
Mike Trout
AL MVP odds: +200
To no one’s surprise, Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout is the overwhelming favorite to win the AL MVP. If Trout were to win it this upcoming season, it would be his fourth MVP award in seven years. Last season, Trout slashed .281/.390/.603 with 17 home runs and 46 RBI. Despite his numbers almost being similar to Abreu, Trout finished fifth in the MVP vote.
When he last won the MVP in 2019, the superstar outfielder slashed .291/.438/.645 with a career-high 45 home runs and 104 RBI. If Trout can duplicate or come close to those stats this season and the Angels make the postseason, then he’s locked in for the MVP.
Sleeper
Rafael Devers
AL MVP odds: +3000
The Boston Red Sox struggled mightily last season, but there were some bright spots. One was the continued development of third baseman Rafael Devers. The 24-year-old infielder had a slash line of .263/.310/.483 with 11 home runs and 43 RBI. Devers will likely enter this season as one of the Red Sox’s best offensive players.
For the Red Sox to return to the postseason, they will need Devers to return to his 2019 form. During that season, the young third baseman finished 12th in the MVP vote as he hit .311 with 32 home runs and 115 RBI.
Longshot
Giancarlo Stanton
AL MVP odds: +4000
As crazy as it might sound, Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton is a long shot to win the AL MVP. Stanton has struggled to stay healthy in his last two seasons in the Big Apple. The big-time power hitter has won MVP awards over his illustrious career, but the last one happened in 2017 with the Miami Marlins.
Right now, Stanton is the third-best player on the Yankees’ roster behind Aaron Judge and DJ LeMahieu. Judge has one of the better odds to win the MVP (+1200), while LeMahieu’s odds are at +3300. We all know what Stanton can do when healthy, and he needs to stay healthy for the Yankees to take their success back to a championship level.
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