Award Winner Predictions That Likely Won't Come to Fruition

For the 2nd year in a row, the MLB award winners predictions have totally escaped my mind for about a week. Rather than writing this post before Opening Day, like I originally intended, I've resulted to projecting these outcomes 1 week after the MLB season began. 

However, judging by my 2018 MLB award winners predictions, being a few days or even a week late shouldn't matter too much. In fact, none of my projects from last year were correct, and I wouldn't be surprised if the same thing happened this season. 

I typically go off performances from the previous season and make the award predictions accordingly. Taking a variety of factors, including consistency, into account, I haven't been too far off in terms of who I've picked in the past, but I've never hit the nail directly on the head.

With that being said, award winner projections and divisional predictions have always gone hand in hand. I genuinely enjoy making these picks, regardless of how accurate I am, because they get me excited for the upcoming season.

Even though the Red Sox are probably going to start this season 2-6, I'm still looking forward to the next 154 games of Baseball. Will reigning award winners like Blake Snell and Christian Yelich repeat? Or will a new wave of young players take over?

I can't promise that my choices are going to be entirely accurate, but I have an idea for a winner as well as 2 runners-up for both the AL and NL MVP and Cy Young awards.

2019 AL MVP: Jose Ramirez

After finishing in 3rd place in the 2017 and 2018 AL MVP contests, Indians 3rd baseman Jose Ramirez seems destined to finally take home the award in 2019. Despite a less than stellar batting average in 2018, .270, Ramirez hit a career-high 39 homers and drove in 105 runs. 

All he has to do is improve his batting average, bringing it closer to the .318 performance from 2017. If he can manage that, Ramirez won't be finishing 3rd in 2019. Rather, he'll be the first Indians player to win the AL MVP award since Al Rosen in 1953.

Runners-Up; Mike Trout and J.D. Martinez

If the 21st century has taught us anything when it comes to Baseball, repeating in any way shape or form is extremely difficult. This includes back-to-back World Series titles as well as awards, meaning that Mookie Betts' chances of being a finalist for the 2019 AL MVP award aren't too high.

Instead, I'm turning my attention to someone who's always in the MVP discussion, the recently-extended Mike Trout. He, along with power and contact hitting phenom, J.D. Martinez, is Ramirez's biggest competition. 

After all, an injured Mike Trout and Martinez combined to hit .321 with 82 home runs in 2018; enough said.

2019 AL Cy Young; Justin Verlander

Justin Verlander's 2.40 ERA since joining the Houston Astros says it all; sometimes, players do get better with age, and he's the embodiment of this philosophy. I don't foresee Blake Snell repeating as the Cy Young award winner, clearing the way for the 2018 runner-up to capture his 2nd career Cy Young award.

Runners-Up; Chris Sale and Trevor Bauer

Sale's 2nd-half struggles have consistently prevented him from capturing the much-desired AL Cy Young award. Last year, a shoulder injury got in the way of a performance that was arguably better than Blake Snell. 

With a stellar performance in 2019, Trevor Bauer could eclipse Corey Kluber as the Indians' true ace. He, along with Sale, was sensational in 2018, but I don't know if it's enough to take down Justin Verlander and claim the AL Cy Young award.

2019 NL MVP; Nolan Arenado

One of the most talented players in the game, Nolan Arenado has been a perennial MVP candidate since 2015 when he began his streak of 4-straight 100+ RBI seasons. At 27-years old, he's 14 home runs away from 200 and has well over 600 RBI. Not to mention, he's the best defensive 3rd baseman in the game.

After signing a massive extension with the Rockies, some may argue that Arenado doesn't have as much of an incentive to play hard. However, the exact opposite is true, for he's going to do everything in his power to lead the Rockies to a division title for the first time in franchise history.

Runners-Up; Kris Bryant and Corey Seager

Both Kris Bryant and Corey Seager are coming off injuries that significantly limited their playing time in 2018. Thus, like Arenado, both of these young stars have something to prove to themselves as well as their teams, for the Cubs and Dodgers are both vying for playoff spots once again.

If healthy, Bryant and Seager are some of the best in the game at their respective positions, and they had a long offseason to recover. If they can emulate their performances from 2016 when Seager was ROY and Bryant was MVP, they'll be serious competition for Arenado in 2019.

2019 NL Cy Young; Aaron Nola

Aaron Nola was one of the bigger surprises during his breakout 2018 season when he went 17-6 with a 2.37 ERA and 224 strikeouts. In any other season, he would've taken home the Cy Young award. Unfortunately for Nola, he was up against Max Scherzer and a historic performance by Jacob DeGrom.

Nola is only 25-years old, yet he's already established himself as one of the best pitchers in the National League. All he has to do is perform at the same level or better than he did in 2018, and he'll be tough to beat out for the NL Cy Young award.

Runners-Up; Max Scherzer and Jacob DeGrom

The NL Cy Young award is shaping up to be a 3-man race for the next few seasons with Nola, Jacob DeGrom, and Max Scherzer all fighting for the crown. However, both of these guys have already taken home the hardware, and I thoroughly believe that 2019 is Nola's year.

Simply put; I don't see Scherzer winning his 3rd Cy Young award in 4 seasons, nor do I envision DeGrom replicating his awe-inspiring performance from last year. It's going to be close, but I'm going with Nola for the 2019 NL Cy Young award with these 2 aces as very close runners-up.