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The American League MVP race is down to three legitimate candidates.
If you follow the rule that the MVP should be on a playoff team, then Yankees second baseman Robinson Cano and Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton are your guys. If you think it should go to a player with monster numbers, it’s Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera. Also garnering votes if you don’t necessarily believe the guy needs to play on a playoff contender would be Red Sox third baseman Adrian Beltre.
Cano has been the best player by far for the Yankees this season. You could even make the argument he is now their best player hands down. He is the only starter hitting over .300 at .316 and he’s added 28 home runs and 106 RBI. He’s scored 100 runs and ranks in the top 10 in every major offensive category.
Cano has come through in numerous clutch moments for New York this season and can produce anywhere in the lineup. In a Yankees roster that looked beat up and at times old this season, Cano provided the consistency to sustain them through the year. No player was more of an asset to their team.
Cabrera has the best numbers across the board of any player in the AL this season. He leads the league in RBIs (126), runs (111) and on-base percentage (.420). He ranks second in the league in slugging, homeruns (38) and OPS. His worst offensive rank is his .328 batting average, which is third in the AL.
The bad news for pitchers is he’s only 27 years old; this guy keeps getting better at the plate each year. He is now a perennial force and will be in this discussion for years to come. He needs the Tigers to be relevant, though, to get votes.
Beltre may be the best offseason acquisition last winter. After a disappointing five year stint in Seattle, Boston was able to acquire Beltre on clearance. He responded by having the second best year of his career. He can be found in the top 10 in each major offensive category. His line reads .325/28/102.
Also, with games remaining on the schedule, Beltre needs only 11 more hits to reach 200. Boston has been absolutely decimated by injuries this season but Beltre’s been their rock, playing in 152 games.
If anybody except Hamilton wins the award this year it will be an upset. With a .361 average, 31 homers and 97 RBI (and counting), his offensive numbers are there. The most impressive ones, however, are his league leading .635 slugging percentage and a .414 on-base percentage, good for second in the AL.
What Hamilton accomplished this summer is what won him the award. During the core part of the season Hamilton was the most consistent and productive player in the American League. His .418 batting average in July was a drop-off from the previous month in which he hit .454. After insane production during the summer grind, August finally caught up to him and his batting average dropped 62 points down to .356. It’s his to lose.
