Hot Stove Preview: Free Agent Catchers and Infielders

Catchers

This year's catching crop has a few good names, with a few starter-quality guys out there, though the market overall is fairly shallow. If a team can't get its hands on Lucroy, Castillo, Avila, or Iannetta, chances are they'll have to look elsewhere for a quality backstop.

1. Jonathan Lucroy (Previous Team: Rockies. 2018 Age: 31-32)

2017 Stats: 6 HR, 40 RBI, .265 AVG, 1 SB, 82 wRC+, 1.2 fWAR

Jonathan Lucroy may be coming off a disaster of a season, one in which he slashed .265/.345/.371 with just six home runs in 123 games, but he is still the top catcher on the market. Just one year ago, Lucroy slashed .292/.355/.500 with 24 home runs in 142 games for the Brewers and Rangers, posting a 123 wRC+ and racking up 4.6 fWAR. For a catcher, that is the kind of production you dream about. However, he was completely useless with the bat with the Rangers this year, slashing just .242/.297/.338 with four home runs in 77 games before his trade this year, good for a 66 wRC+, but his bat picked up after a trade to Colorado, as he slashed .310/.429/.437 with a pair of home runs in 46 games. The surge wasn't just due to the Coors Field effect, as his 112 wRC+, which is ballpark adjusted, was well above the league average of 100. One positive sign about his struggles this year was his ground ball rate, which skyrocketed to 53.5% this year after sitting at 37.2% last year. If he can get that rate back where it needs to be and get the ball in the air more, Lucroy could easily get back his status as one of the top catchers in the game. For his career, the 31 year old former Louisiana Ragin' Cajun has 96 home runs, a .281/.343/.433 slash line, and 22.1 fWAR over 975 games.

2. Welington Castillo (Previous Team: Orioles. 2018 Age: 31)

2017 Stats: 20 HR, 53 RBI, .282 AVG, 0 SB, 113 wRC+, 2.7 fWAR

Welington Castillo has quietly been a very solid catcher, racking up at least 1.6 fWAR in four of the past five seasons and reaching 2.7 in 2017. Despite missing time to injury, he still blasted 20 home runs and slashed .282/.323/.490 in 96 games, good for a 113 wRC+. Some of that power may have been a product of Camden Yards, but like Lucroy, Castillo provides value both at the plate and behind it, and that is hard to find these days. He's not as proven as Lucroy at the same age, but he is a playoff-caliber backstop. For his career, the 30 year old Dominican has 80 home runs, a .259/.319/.428 slash line, and 12.4 fWAR over 605 games.

3. Alex Avila (Previous Team: Cubs. 2018 Age: 31)

2017 Stats: 14 HR, 49 RBI, .264 AVG, 0 SB, 124 wRC+, 2.5 fWAR

Alex Avila is better than you think he is. He may have only been nominally average in the power, batting average, and defense departments, but he walked 62 times this year (16.5% of his plate appearances) to push his on-base percentage to an excellent .387. He is ranked below Castillo due to inconsistent production over the years (fewer than 1.2 fWAR three times in four years from 2013-2016), but his solid 2017 should not be overlooked. A career high .382 BABIP might have helped, but his 38.5% ground ball rate was the second lowest of his career and his 48.7% hard-hit rate was the highest, so don't be surprised if he can maintain this production next year. Even if he can't, he at least provides value through his walks. For his career, the 30 year old out of the University of Alabama has 87 home runs, a .243/.351/.401 line, and 14.4 fWAR over 852 games.

Others: Chris Iannetta (17 HR, .254/.354/.511, 120 wRC+, 2.2 fWAR), Nick Hundley (9 HR, .244/.272/.418, 78 wRC+, 0.4 fWAR), Rene Rivera (10 HR, .252/.305/.431, 91 wRC+, 1.0 fWAR)

First Basemen

The first base crop is deep this year, with no one player standing out but many guys available who can provide real value. In fact, most of the top guys are pretty evenly matched, though Hosmer will likely (and illogically) get the largest contract by far. In that sense, he'll likely provide the least value per dollar, and the guys in slots 2-4 might be better bargains.

1. Eric Hosmer (Previous Team: Royals. 2018 Age: 28)

2017 Stats: 25 HR, 94 RBI, .318 AVG, 6 SB, 135 wRC+, 4.1 fWAR

Eric Hosmer is a moderately overrated player, but he's still the best available at first base. A year after playing so poorly that he posted a negative fWAR of -0.1 (goes to show that 104 RBI means nothing), Hosmer had a career year in 2017, slashing .318/.385/.498 with 25 home runs, a 135 wRC+, and a career-best 4.1 fWAR. For the first time in his career, he posted All-Star level production, though it may have been fueled in part by a career-high .351 BABIP. I certainly would not give him the $100 million he very well may get, as he is essentially a just-above-league-average hitter playing poor defense at an unimportant position. He's got the star power, which is great if you want to draw fans, but he's basically a 2-3 win player that will come at the price of a 5 win player. That said, he'll be 28 for all of 2018 and has missed a total of just eight games over the past three seasons, and he's a solid player to have in the lineup. For his career, the South Florida native has 127 home runs, a .284/.342/.439 slash line, and 9.9 fWAR over 1048 games.

2. Carlos Santana (Previous Team: Indians. 2018 Age: 32)

2017 Stats: 23 HR, 79 RBI, .259 AVG, 5 SB, 117 wRC+, 3.0 fWAR

Carlos Santana isn't a star, but he's a solid hitter who has posted above-league-average production in each of his eight MLB seasons and has been worth at least 2.1 fWAR in each of the past seven seasons despite mediocre defense. This past season was just about in line with his career norms, as he slashed .259/.363/.455 with 23 home runs, a 117 wRC+, and 3.0 fWAR, fueled by an enviable combination of power and patience. He's actually been such a consistently patient hitter that his on-base percentage has remained between .351 and .377 in each of the past seven seasons, as his 88 walks this year were actually a career low. Combine that with at least 18 home runs in each of those seven seasons, and you have a player who provides value even without good defense. Hosmer gets the edge due to being three and a half years younger, but Santana is the better bargain. For his career, the 31 year old Dominican has 174 home runs, a .249/.365/.445 slash line, and 23 fWAR over 1116 games.

3. Logan Morrison (Previous Team: Rays. 2018 Age: 30)

2017 Stats: 38 HR, 85 RBI, .246 AVG, 2 SB, 130 wRC+, 3.3 fWAR

LoMo had a huge power breakout in 2017, smashing 38 home runs in 149 games while slashing .246/.353/.516 while returning 3.3 fWAR, the latter of which is triple his previous career high. Like most guys, he did this through a reduction in his ground ball rate (career low 33.3%) as well as an increase in his hard-hit rate (career high 37.4%). Even if without looking at those numbers, we can't chalk the season up to BABIP luck anyways, as he hit just .268 on balls in play. He ranks below Hosmer and Santana due to a lack of a track record, but his 2017 season was very solid and I see no reason why he can't repeat it next year, and likely for a bargain price. For his career, Morrison has 122 home runs, a .245/.330/.433 slash line, and 5.6 fWAR over 864 games.

4. Yonder Alonso (Previous Team: Mariners. 2018 Age: 31)

2017 Stats: 28 HR, 67 RBI, .266 AVG, 2 SB, 132 wRC+, 2.4 fWAR

Like Morrison, Yonder Alonso had a huge power breakout in 2017 due to a decrease in his ground ball rate (career low 33.9%). Alonso had never accumulated more than 1.1 fWAR in a season, and last year he slashed just .253/.316/.367 with seven home runs, but this year was different. Over 142 games, he slashed .266/.365/.501 with 28 home runs and a career high 36% hard hit rate. He has played his whole career in the pitchers' parks of San Diego (2012-2015), Oakland (2016-2017), and Seattle (2017), so his numbers are more valuable than you might realize, and he could be a big presence in a batting order somewhere next year. For his career, the 30 year old former Miami Hurricane has 67 home runs, a .268/.340/.407 slash line, and 5.7 fWAR over 806 games.

Others: Lucas Duda (30 HR, .217/.322/.496, 113 wRC+, 1.1 fWAR), Mitch Moreland (22 HR, .246/.326/.443, 98 wRC+, 0.9 fWAR), Mark Reynolds (30 HR, .267/.352/.487, 104 wRC+, 0.8 fWAR)

Second Basemen

There is a thin market for second basemen, led by Neil Walker and a pair of veterans, but if a contending team is looking for a starter, Walker is really the only option. After him, Brandon Phillips and Chase Utley are a pair of veterans who can be solid backups, and then the market drops off completely.

1. Neil Walker (Previous Team: Brewers. 2018 Age: 32)

2017 Stats: 14 HR, 49 RBI, .265 AVG, 0 SB, 114 wRC+, 2.1 fWAR

If you are looking for a second baseman in the free agent market, Neil Walker is probably the guy you want as the only starter-quality player available. Over 111 games this year, he slashed a respectable .265/.362/.439 with 14 home runs, enough for 2.1 fWAR. Those numbers don't jump off the page at you, but it is solid production at an important position. Especially nice was his 77/55 strikeout to walk ratio (17.2% to 12.3%), and with his adequate defense, he can certainly provide at least moderate value. One thing to be weary about is the fact that he has been limited to under 120 games in back to back seasons, due to back surgery in 2016 and hamstring issues in 2017. He turned 32 in September, so he is not old but is likely past his prime. For his career, the Pittsburgh native has 130 home runs, a .272/.341/.437 slash line, and 21.1 fWAR over 1060 games.

2. Brandon Phillips (Previous Team: Angels. 2018 Age: 36-37)

2017 Stats: 13 HR, 60 RBI, .285 AVG, 11 SB, 93 wRC+, 1.6 fWAR
Brandon Phillips isn't what he used to be, but he still provides value on both sides of the ball and can be a solid back-up or third-division starter even as he turns 37 in June. This past year, he slashed .285/.319/.416 with 13 home runs over 144 games, though I expect those numbers to tail off slightly this year. His power is beginning to fade, and he doesn't provide much in the way of on-base ability, but at the very least, he's a positive presence in the clubhouse. For his career, the Atlanta native has 210 home runs, a .275/.320/.421 slash line, and 32.3 fWAR over 1893 games.

3. Chase Utley (Previous Team: Dodgers 2018 Age: 39)

2017 Stats: 8 HR, 34 RBI, .236 AVG, 6 SB, 96 wRC+, 1.3 fWAR

At this point, the soon-to-be 39 year old Chase Utley is no longer a starter, but he can be a quality back-up on any team. His numbers this past season look poor on the surface (.236/.324/.405, 8 HR), but his 96 wRC+ shows that he was actually just below league average, and with 1.3 fWAR, he provided at least some value. This was due to his relatively high walk rate (9.1%), solid isolated power, and good base running. Like Phillips, at the very least, Utley can be a veteran clubhouse presence. For his career, the UCLA alumnus has 258 home runs, a .276/.359/.469 slash line, and 64.5 fWAR over 1850 games.

Others: Danny Espinosa (6 HR, .173/.245/.278, 41 wRC+, -1.0 fWAR), Darwin Barney (6 HR, .232/.275/.327, 58 wRC+, -0.6 fWAR), Cliff Pennington (3 HR, .253/.306/.330, 73 wRC+, 0.4 fWAR)

Shortstop

Like second base, the shortstop market isn't particularly deep, but Zack Cozart is a great option at the top. Behind him, there are a few players who could start for rebuilding teams, but none you'd want to carry into the playoffs as a starter. However, Alcides Escobar, Jose Reyes, and Erick Aybar could be solid options as utility guys for contending teams.

1. Zack Cozart (Previous Team: Reds. 2018 Age: 32-33)

2017 Stats: 24 HR, 63 RBI, .297 AVG, 3 SB, 141 wRC+, 5.0 fWAR

Zack Cozart may be one of the most attractive pieces on the market due to his lack of a qualifying offer as well as his high value on both sides of the ball. As a hitter, he had a breakout year in 2017 (you guessed it, with a career low 38.2% ground ball rate), slashing .297/.385/.548 with 24 home runs for the Reds, making his first All Star team and racking up 5.0 fWAR. On defense, he plays shortstop, a premium position, and plays it well. The only two things to be weary of for Cozart are his lack sustained success over multiple seasons (previous career high in fWAR was 2.5 in 2016) and his age, as he turns 33 in August. Still, any team looking for a shortstop should look at Cozart first, as he could be a bargain. For his career, the Memphis native out of Ole Miss has 82 home runs, a .254/.305/.411 slash line, and 14.9 fWAR over 743 games.

2. Alcides Escobar (Previous Team: Royals. 2018 Age: 31)

2017 Stats: 6 HR, 54 RBI, .250 AVG, 4 SB, 62 wRC+, 0.5 fWAR

Escobar provides no value with his bat, having never posted a wRC+ above 97 and holding a career mark of 72, but he provides just enough value on defense to be useful as a third division starter or a good utility man. Despite slashing just .250/.272/.357 with six home runs and a 62 wRC+ this year, he posted a 1.9 UZR, which isn't great but is enough at a tough position like shortstop. He also set a career high with 36 doubles, which isn't bad for a guy with virtually no power. For his career, the 30 year old Venezuelan has 37 home runs, a .260/.294/.346 slash line, 166 stolen bases, and 11.6 fWAR over 1297 games.

3. Jose Reyes (Previous Team: Mets. 2018 Age: 34-35)

2017 Stats: 15 HR, 58 RBI, .246 AVG, 24 SB, 94 wRC+, 2.0 fWAR

Jose Reyes may not be what he used to be, but the 34 year old has some value left in him. In 145 games for the Mets this year, he slashed ..246/.315/.413 with 15 home runs and 24 stolen bases, which aren't great numbers but were enough to push him to 2.0 fWAR, or about the average for a decent starter. His 94 wRC+ indicated that he wasn't quite league average at the plate, but he was close enough that his positional value at shortstop was enough to make him a valuable player. Don't expect him to be the first division starter or leadoff man he once was, but Reyes can be a good utility guy capable of taking over a starting job from an injured player or on a third division team. For his career, the Dominican has 141 home runs, a .286/.337/.430 line, 512 stolen bases, and 44.4 fWAR over 1767 games.

Others: Erick Aybar (7 HR, .234/.300/.348, 74 wRC+, -0.2 fWAR), J.J. Hardy (4 HR, .217/.255/.323, 50 wRC+, -0.6 fWAR), Stephen Drew (1 HR, .253/.302/.358, 70 wRC+, 0.1 fWAR)

Third Basemen

Third base appears deep, especially compared to second base and shortstop, but third base is also the deepest position in baseball as it is, especially at the top. With Kris Bryant, Manny Machado, Nolan Arenado, Josh Donaldson, Anthony Rendon, Alex Bregman, Justin Turner, etc. out there putting up huge numbers, it hasn't been all that hard to find a slugging third baseman in recent years. That said, the three guys at the top of this list are virtually equal in the value they'll likely provide, all looking like above average starters. However, Todd Frazier and Mike Moustakas could cost more, so Eduardo Nunez would likely be the best bargain. After those three, Yunel Escobar can be a mediocre starter or a solid backup, and Trevor Plouffe and Jhonny Peralta have a lot to prove after down years and will likely get minor league deals.

1. Todd Frazier (Previous Team: Yankees. 2018 Age: 32)

2017 Stats: 27 HR, 76 RBI, .213 AVG, 4 SB, 108 wRC+, 3.0 fWAR

Todd Frazier is an interesting case. He set a career low in batting average at .213, but also set a career high in on-base percentage at .344 due to a 14.4% walk rate. He was able to dramatically increase that walk rate by slashing his out-of-zone swing percentage to 25% while also being more patient in the zone, swinging at a career-low 60.2% of strikes. After six years of keeping his overall swing percentage between 46.7% and 52.9%, he cut it to 40.2% in 2017, and it paid off in the walk rate. He also clubbed 27 home runs, but with just 19 doubles and one triple, his slugging percentage sat at .428. His batting averages will always be so low that his newfound patience at the plate will never give him a high on-base percentage, and his power isn't excellent, but with solid defense he can be a good third baseman on any team. For his career, the Rutgers alumnus has 175 home runs, a .245/.321/.459 slash line, and 21.2 fWAR over 938 games.

2. Mike Moustakas (Previous Team: Royals. 2018 Age: 29)

2017 Stats: 38 HR, 85 RBI, .272 AVG, 0 SB, 114 wRC+, 2.2 fWAR

Mike Moustakas is a solid above-average bat, but don't look into the 38 home runs and think you have a star. His .272/.314/.521 slash line looks good, especially that .521 slugging percentage, but his 5.7% walk rate suppressed his on-base percentage to the point where his 114 wRC+ was merely good, not great, in what was supposedly a career year. He'll be a very good third baseman for whatever team picks him up, especially considering that at age 29, he is one of the younger available free agents, but he'll likely cost more than he is worth. For his career, the SoCal native has 119 home runs, a .251/.305/.425 slash line, and 12.1 fWAR over 836 games.

3. Eduardo Nunez (Previous Team: Red Sox. 2018 Age: 30-31)

2017 Stats: 12 HR, 58 RBI, .313 AVG, 24 SB, 112 wRC+, 2.2 fWAR

Eduardo Nunez is ranked just below Moustakas and Frazier here, but he'll cost significantly less money and could be just as good. Last year, he quietly slashed .313/.341/.460 with 12 home runs and 24 stolen bases, racking up just as much fWAR (2.2) as Moustakas and his 38 home runs. He actually had a lower walk rate (3.7%) than Moose, but he made up for it with more speed (24 stolen bases), batting average (and hence on-base percentage), and positional flexibility (he can also play second base, shortstop, and the outfield). 2017 was his third straight season with above-league-average offensive production (by wRC+), and he could be one of the better bargains on the market. For his career, the 30 year old Dominican has 46 home runs, a .282/.320/.415 slash line, 129 stolen bases, and 4.2 fWAR over 669 games (though he has 4.8 fWAR over the past two seasons).

Others: Yunel Escobar (7 HR, .274/.333/.397, 100 wRC+, 0.8 fWAR), Trevor Plouffe (9 HR, .198/.272/.318, 58 wRC+, -1.2 fWAR), Jhonny Peralta (0 HR, .204/.259/.204, 27 wRC+, -0.5 fWAR)

Biggest Takeaways From the 2017 Season

The 2017 season is complete, with the very deserving Houston Astros winning the World Series. Over the long offseason, while we impatiently wait for trades and free agent signings, we will also look back on the last six months of baseball. Each year has something it stands out for. 1967 was defined by Carl Yastrzemski's Triple Crown and the Red Sox' Impossible Dream. 1998 gave us Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa's chase for Roger Maris' home run record. 2012 introduced us to Mike Trout's ability. What will we remember in a few months? In a few years? In a few decades? Here is what stood out to me, starting with the broadest observations and finishing with more specific, nuanced takes.

The Fly Ball Revolution and the Year of the Home Run

It would be tough to argue that there was a bigger story in 2017. After years of lower offense, the Fly Ball Revolution (as well as potentially juiced baseballs) led to the largest single season output of home runs we've ever seen. Players like Daniel Murphy, Justin Turner, Josh Donaldson, and J.D. Martinez were at the forefront of encouraging hitters to increase their launch angles, and for most who followed (such as Yonder Alonso, Chris Taylor, Trea Turner, Ryan Zimmerman, etc.), the results were enormously positive. 2000 may have seen greater overall offensive output (fueled by the Steroid Era), but the real story of 2017 was specifically the home run. Francisco Lindor blasted 33, Rougned Odor hit 30, Chris Taylor hit 21, Marwin Gonzalez hit 23, and 5'5" Jose Altuve hit 24. None of these guys would ever strike you as home run hitters, but this was the Year of the Home Run, and it will likely continue as hitters keep aiming for fly balls rather than ground balls.

The World Series We All Wanted

Sure, it is nice when an underdog breaks through the ranks and makes a surprise run to the World Series, but every once in a while, it's nice to see the two best teams in baseball, the two that dominated their respective leagues, go head to head in a best of seven series. The 104 win Dodgers, led by the best pitcher in baseball, a deep rotation, bullpen, and lineup, and a plethora of breakout stars, matched up against the 101 Astros, led by the best collection of bats we've seen in recent memory. The Series itself lived up to the billing, showcasing back-and-forth game after back-and-forth game as the two equally matched clubs battled it out.

And a Win for Analytics

The Astros and Dodgers are two of the most analytics-heavy teams in the game, and it was a huge win for the nerds as those two met in the World Series. Analytics is growing around baseball, and what we saw this year will only speed that up.

Yankees Get Their Superstar, Prepare For New Dynasty

This may be the most visible effect of the 2017 season. The Yankees have always been a team known for their superstars: from Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig to Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Mickey Mantle, Thurman Munson, Ron Guidry, Don Mattingly, and Bernie Williams, it seems like every era can be defined by Yankees great or greats. Most recently, the Yanks were defined by the "Core Four" of Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, and Andy Pettitte, and you can throw Alex Rodriguez and Mike Mussina in that group as well. However, over the past half-decade or so, the lineup has been devoid of any superstars as the team has attempted to rebuild. That all changed this year, when Aaron Judge exploded onto the scene with 52 home runs, and he could be the AL MVP when all is said and done. One season isn't enough to label somebody the next DiMaggio or Mantle, but the MLB is a different place when the Yankees have a superstar. Combine Judge with up and coming stars like Gary Sanchez and Luis Severino, as well as top prospects Gleyber Torres and Clint Frazier (though Frazier technically is not a prospect), and this could be a new dynasty in the making.

Shift in Pitching Staff Management Continues

On a per batter basis, relievers are better than starters simply because they don't have to pace themselves. Managers are slowly beginning to realize that, and starting pitchers are finding themselves with shorter and shorter leashes. In the playoffs, teams have already almost fully adopted the strategy of yanking starters early and using your "closer" when you need him most (not necessarily in a "save situation"), and we're starting to see that strategy filter into the regular season. Starters are throwing the fewest percentage of their teams' innings in history and the trend is clearly continuing downwards. Hopefully, 2018 will be the year that "closers" start to come in at the most critical situations, not "save situations," at a higher rate. New Red Sox manager Alex Cora has hinted that he may be one to start that trend.

Braves, White Sox Position Themselves as Future Superteams

Many teams are rebuilding, but during the 2017 season, no team built up their farm system better than the Braves and White Sox. They Braves did so more through player development, which is cheaper and more sustainable, while the White Sox did so through trades, but both farm systems are fearsome to say the least. The Braves' system was led by the emergence of super-prospect Ronald Acuna, but other hitters such as Cristian Pache, Kevin Maitan, Cristian Pache, and Drew Waters help round out the offensive core. However, it's the pitching that is really exciting down on the farm, led by Luiz Gohara, Kolby Allard, Mike Soroka, Kyle Wright, Max Fried, Joey Wentz, Ian Anderson, Bryse Wilson, Kyle Muller, Touki Toussaint, and many more. The talent pipeline here is seemingly endless, and they could have an extremely deep MLB roster in the near future. Meanwhile, the White Sox' system is a conglomeration of the former top prospects of other teams, as they have acquired top prospects Yoan Moncada, Michael Kopech, Eloy Jimenez, Dylan Cease, Blake Rutherford, Dane Dunning, and Ryan Cordell, as well as mid-level guys like Ian Clarkin, Charlie Tilson, Luis Alexander Basabe, and A.J. Puckett. They also have their fair share of homegrown talent, led by recent draft picks Carson Fulmer, Alec Hansen, Zack Collins, Jake Burger, and Zack Burdi, as well as Cuban star Luis Robert.

Bud Black Establishes Rockies' First Effective Starting Rotation

You may not have noticed it, but first year Rockies manager did something amazing with the Colorado rotation. The team has difficulty attracting top-flight starting pitchers to ruin their career numbers in Coors Field, and young pitchers can often have their confidence dashed when they get blown up in the extremely hitter-friendly conditions. Because of this, the Rockies have never had a starting rotation worth bragging about until a staff full of rookies went out and shoved. 25 year old Jon Gray, in his second full season, went out and led the rotation by going 10-4 with a 3.67 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP, with his 73 ERA- (ballpark adjusted, lower is better, 100 is average) being better than that of Carlos Carrasco (73), Justin Verlander (76), Rich Hill (80), Madison Bumgarner (80), Jake Arrieta (81), Lance Lynn (81), and Yu Darvish (86), just to name a few. However, he was far from the only Rockies' pitcher to break out. 24 year old rookie Kyle Freeland went 11-11 with a 4.10 ERA (82 ERA-) and a 1.49 WHIP, 22 year old rookie German Marquez was 11-7 with a 4.39 ERA (87 ERA-) and a 1.38 WHIP, and fellow 22 year old rookie Antonio Senzatela was 10-5 with a 4.68 ERA (93 ERA-) and a 1.30 WHIP. That's four pitchers 25 and under, three of which had never thrown an MLB pitch prior to 2017, who went out and pitched better than league average in the toughest of situations. While the offense struggled outside of Charlie Blackmon and Nolan Arenado, these four were fun to watch, and could be the anchors of a great Rockies rotation for years to come.

Mike Trout, Clayton Kershaw Continue to Build Resumes As All Time Greats

Though both missed time to injury this year, Trout and Kershaw are looking more and more like they could will end up among the all time greats at their positions. In 114 games, Trout slashed .306/.442/.629 with 33 home runs and 22 stolen bases, marking his sixth straight season with at least 6.9 fWAR and a 167 wRC+. Through 925 games and at age 26, he has accumulated 54.4 fWAR, which puts him 156th all time and ahead of greats like Vladimir Guerrero (54.3), George Sisler (51.9), Jim Rice (50.8), David Ortiz (50.7), and Fred Lynn (49.2). With another seven win season (his career low is 6.9), he could jump to 110th all time. Meanwhile, Clayton Kershaw made only 27 starts, but he still went 18-4 with a 2.31 ERA, a 0.95 WHIP, and a 202/30 strikeout to walk ratio in 175 innings. In terms of ERA as well as WHIP, that was actually his worst season since 2012, when his 2.53 ERA and 1.02 WHIP were best in the National League. Yes, you read that correctly; by two good metrics, his worst season in the past six seasons was still best in the National League. For his career, he is now 144-64 with a 2.36 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP, giving him the lowest ERA by a starter in the history of the Live Ball Era (post 1919, minimum 1500 innings), way ahead of second place Whitey Ford (2.75). In terms of ERA- (see above paragraph), his 62 mark is the lowest of all time.

New Wave of Stars Continues to Emerge

Though it was a great year for rookies Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger, many young players who have already established their names are working their way from star-level to superstar-level. Jose Altuve, after a few years of above average production, has now put up back to back seasons of 6.8 fWAR and 7.5 fWAR, proving 2016 was no fluke and establishing himself as one of the top players in the game. Meanwhile, the Indians built up a pair of homegrown offensive stars, with Francisco Lindor posting fWAR's of 6.2 and 5.9 over the past two seasons and Jose Ramirez quietly turning himself into an elite third baseman. We all know about Lindor's great defense and dynamic offensive style, but Ramirez goes criminally un-talked about. He was very good in 2016 (.312/.363/.462, 11 HR, 46 2B, 4.7 fWAR), but he really burst out in 2017, slashing .318/.374/.583 with 29 home runs, 56 doubles, six triples, and 6.6 fWAR. Together, he and Giancarlo Stanton not only tied for the MLB lead with 91 extra base hits, but also posted the most in a season since Chris Davis' 96 in 2013. Another big season from Ramirez and we should start to hear is name a lot more in the national baseball media. Furthermore, Corey Seager nearly matched his huge rookie campaign, working to join Trout and Kershaw as the faces of West Coast Baseball. After posting a ridiculous 7.4 fWAR as a 22 year old rookie in 2016, he was able to rack up 5.7 in 2016 despite only playing in 145 games. There is also Kris Bryant, who nearly matched his MVP 2016 season with a 6.7 fWAR campaign (after 8.3 in 2016). On the mound, Noah Syndergaard may not have been able to further his name, but one Indians pitcher is quietly out-pitching tons of big names. Carlos Carrasco just posted his third season in the past four years with an ERA of 3.32 or lower, with 2017 actually being his best yet. Over 32 starts, the 30 year old went 18-6 with a 3.29 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP, striking out 226 and walking 46 in 200 innings. He's not a traditional rising star given his age, but he is a late bloomer who has not received enough attention from national baseball media. Luis Severino had everything to prove after a disastrous 2016, and he proved it all by going 14-6 with a 2.98 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP, striking out 230 in 193.1 innings. Other young pitchers to insert themselves into the national discussion or otherwise enhance their names include Robbie Ray (15-5, 2.89 ERA, 1.15 WHIP), Marcus Stroman (13-9, 3.09 ERA, 1.31 WHIP), and Drew Pomeranz (17-6, 3.32 ERA, 1.35 WHIP). Relievers Corey Knebel (1.78 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 126/40 K/BB), Brad Hand (2.16 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 104/20 K/BB), Felipe Rivero (1.67 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 88/20 K/BB), and Chris Devenski (2.68 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 100/26 K/BB) also did great work to join the Kenley Jansens, Craig Kimbrels, and Aroldis Chapmans at the top of the reliever hierarchy.

End of Season Awards: Manager of the Year

Below are my picks for AL and NL Manager of the Year. These are my picks, not predictions.

American League Manager of the Year

Winner: Terry Francona (Cleveland Indians): 102-60, .630 WPCT, best record in American League

Terry Francona may have his superstars (Corey Kluber, Francisco Lindor, Jose Ramirez), but this Indians team was built to win on chemistry more than anything else. While the Astros hit and hit and hit their way to a 101-61 record, Francona's Indians did a little bit of everything. They beat you at all angles with hitting, running, defense, starting pitching, relief pitching, you name it, and while that has as much to do with general manager Mike Chernoff building a great team as it does with Francona managing it, he sure as heck did a great job at that. The Indians got hot at just the right time, winning 22 straight games in August/September, and cruised into the postseason with the top overall seed in the American League. Francona busted the "Curse of the Bambino" in Boston in 2004, and with the Indians in a similar World Series drought, this one could be next.

Runner-up: Paul Molitor (Minnesota Twins): 85-77, .525 WPCT, 2nd AL Wild Card

Molitor's Twins had a very up and down season. After finishing 59-103 in 2016, garnering the league's worst record, they completely turned it around this year and looked like they were contending heading into the Trade Deadline. They acquired Jaime Garcia, but quickly got cold and flipped Garcia to the Yankees and closer Brandon Kintzler to the Nationals. Then, they got hot again, and by the end of the season, finished with the second AL Wild Card at 85-77. They ultimately lost the AL Wild Card Game to the Yankees, but it was a crazy ride for a team that was the worst in baseball just a year ago. They had no superstars, instead being led by the likes of Brian Dozier, Joe Mauer, Miguel Sano, Ervin Santana, and Jose Berrios. Molitor was able to fit this team together just enough to squeak what should have been a mediocre team into the playoffs, and that deserves as much credit as anything this year.

Just missed: Joe Girardi (Yankees, 91-71, .562), A.J. Hinch (Astros, 101-61, .623), John Farrell (Red Sox, 93-69, .574)

National League Manager of the Year

Winner: Tony Lovullo (Arizona Diamondbacks): 93-69, .574 WPCT, 1st NL Wild Card

Management may have shipped away Dansby Swanson and Ender Inciarte for 24 mediocre starts from Shelby Miller (so far), but that hasn't bothered Tony Lovullo. The D-Backs manager has taken a team led by Paul Goldschmidt, J.D. Martinez, Zack Greinke, and Robbie Ray, and pushed it to the third best record in the NL behind only the Dodgers and Nationals. He has gotten big breakout seasons out of pitchers Ray, Zack Godley, Taijuan Walker, and Archie Bradley, and he oversaw the transformation of Martinez from great hitter to demigod, powering the D-Backs through baseball's toughest division.

Runner-up: Bud Black (Colorado Rockies): 87-75, .537 WPCT, 2nd NL Wild Card

There is no tougher place to win than Colorado. It's nearly impossible to attract big name pitchers, and the Coors Field effect actually hurts the team on the road to the point where the hitters perform well below their park adjusted averages from home. Still, Bud Black took this team through the toughest division in baseball to an 87-75 record, and it wasn't in the same way most Rockies teams do it. When the Rockies do win, they usually do it through a plethora of hitting and just enough pitching to get by. This year, it was the opposite, despite a rotation full of rookies. While Jon Gray took a big step forward in his sophomore season, rookie starters Kyle Freeland, German Marquez, and Antonio Senzatela all exceeded expectations in a big way during their first tastes of the majors. Overall, the team posted a 4.51 ERA, good for 17th in baseball, which is actually amazing when you start to park adjust it. In pitching fWAR, they ranked eighth (18.2), and in ERA-, or park and league adjusted ERA, they ranked seventh (90, or 10% better than league average). Meanwhile, with Charlie Blackmon and Nolan Arenado being the only consistent bats, their team wRC+ of 87 (13% worse than league average) ranked 27th in baseball. Overall, they won because Bud Black and his coaches were able to bring along young pitching in the toughest of environments and do it well.

Just missed: Dave Roberts (Dodgers, 104-58, .642), Craig Counsell (Brewers, 86-76, .531), Dusty Baker (Nationals, 97-65, .599)

End of Season Awards: Reliever of the Year

These are my picks for the AL and NL Relievers of the Year. These are my picks, not predictions.

American League Reliever of the Year

Winner: Craig Kimbrel (Boston Red Sox): 5-0, 1.43 ERA, 0.68 WHIP, 35 SV, 126/14 K/BB

From 2012-2014, Craig Kimbrel was arguably the best reliever in baseball, never posting an ERA above 1.61 and striking out at least 95 in each season. 2015 and 2016 were not nearly as great, with his ERA spiking to 3.40 in 2016 as he wasn't much more than an average closer. He bounced back in a huge way this year, dropping his ERA to 1.43 and posting an incredible 0.68 WHIP. His component ratios were absolutely ridiculous, as he struck out 49.6% (!) of the batters he faced while walking just 5.5% over 69 innings, totaling 126 strikeouts to 14 walks. To put that in perspective, he struck out, on average, every other batter he faced while walking just one in 18. There's no chance for bloopers to fall in or for you defense to make errors when you strike everybody out.

Runner-up: Chad Green (New York Yankees): 5-0, 1.83 ERA, 0.74 WHIP, 103/17 K/BB

Green was actually better in relief than the overall numbers show, as he allowed two earned runs in two innings in his lone start on June 11th. Using only his 39 relief appearances, he put up a 1.61 ERA, a 0.72 WHIP, and a 100/16 strikeout to walk ratio over 67 innings. Bringing it back to include that one start, the Yankee reliever struck out 40.7% of those he faced while walking just 6.7%, establishing himself as an elite reliever despite having just 45.2 major league innings under his belt prior to this season. The 26 year old out of the University of Louisville was also incredibly consistent, never posting month by month WHIP's of 0.75 in May followed by 0.78, 0.71, 0.71, and 0.75. His ERA also never climbed above 2.84 for any individual month, avoiding cold streaks while maintaining a high level of dominance.

Just missed: David Robertson (1.84 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 98/23 K/BB), Andrew Miller (1.44 ERA, 0.83 WHIP, 95/21 K/BB), Chris Devenski (2.68 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 100/26 K/BB)

National League Reliever of the Year

Winner: Kenley Jansen (Los Angeles Dodgers): 5-0, 1.32 ERA, 0.75 WHIP,  41 SV, 109/7 K/BB

It didn't get much more automatic in the ninth inning than when Kenley Jansen was on the mound. The Dodger closer posted a 1.32 ERA and a 0.75 WHIP, striking out 42.2% of the batters he faced while walking a minuscule 2.7%, or just seven total across 68.1 innings. He actually didn't walk his first batter until his 31st appearance of the season, occurring on June 25th. From May 23rd to June 29th, he was as good as it gets, tossing 17 shutout innings while allowing just four hits and one walk (0.29 WHIP) with 21 strikeouts. At this point, with seven straight seasons of at least 50 innings and 80 strikeouts, having never posted an ERA above 2.85 or a WHIP above 1.13, Jansen may be the best reliever in the game.

Runner-up: Pat Neshek (Philadelphia Phillies/Colorado Rockies): 5-3, 1.59 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 1 SV, 69/6 K/BB

Very quietly, Pat Neshek was as good as anybody this year out of the Philadelphia and Colorado bullpens. Starting off with 43 appearances for the Phillies, he posted a 1.12 ERA and a 0.82 WHIP while striking out 45 batters (30.4%) and walking six (4.1%) in 40.1 innings. Out of contention, the Phillies shipped him to Colorado, where he had to pitch half of his games in Coors Field. Understandably, his stats took a hit, but he was still very good, posting a 2.45 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP, striking out 24 (27.6%) and walking just one batter (1.1%) over 22 innings. Combined, that's a 1.59 ERA, a 0.87 WHIP, and a 69 to six strikeout to walk ratio (29.4% to 2.6%). Had he not gained some publicity for the mid-season trade, he may have been the most under-talked about reliever in the game.

Just missed: Felipe Rivero (1.67 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 88/20 K/BB), Archie Bradley (1.73 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 79/21 K/BB), Brad Hand (2.16 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 104/20 K/BB)

End of Season Awards: Rookie of the Year

Below are my picks for the AL and NL Rookie of the Year Awards. These are my picks, not predictions.

American League Rookie of the Year

Winner: Aaron Judge (New York Yankees): 52 HR, 114 RBI, .284/.422/.627 slash, .430 wOBA, 173 wRC+, 9 SB, 8.2 fWAR

Come on now, this one is easy. The 25 year old led AL rookies in games (155), runs (128), home runs (52), RBI (114), walks (127), on-base percentage (.422), OPS (1.049), wOBA (.430), wRC+ (173), and fWAR (8.2), setting the rookie record with his 52 home runs. What Judge did was nothing short of historic, and he'll easily win the AL ROY unanimously.

Runner-up: Andrew Benintendi (Boston Red Sox): 20 HR, 90 RBI, .271/.352/.424 slash, .332 wOBA, 103 wRC+, 20 SB, 2.2 fWAR

The Best of the Rest is Andrew Benintendi, a pre-season frontrunner for this award who played roughly as expected. In 151 games, the Boston left fielder slashed .271/.352/.424 with 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases, providing a little bit of power, speed, on-base ability, and defense. Just two years removed from college ball at the University of Cincinnati, he has been a key piece of the Red Sox run, and he's likely not done ascending. It was a very good season for a rookie, but in the year of Judge, it will have to be second place.

Honorable mention: Trey Mancini (Baltimore Orioles): 24 HR, 78 RBI, .293/.338/.488 slash, .349 wOBA, 117 wRC+, 1 SB, 1.8 fWAR

Trey Mancini doesn't provide the same defensive value as Benintendi, but he's been one of the best rookie hitters in the game this year. Over 147 games, he slashed .293/.338/.488 with 24 home runs, leaving some to be desired in the on-base percentage category but for the most part producing at an above-league-average pace. He actually had a 17 game hitting streak from September 11th to September 29th, which only ended because he was walked twice on the 30th. Never a top prospect coming up out of Notre Dame, Mancini has hit his way into being a productive major leaguer.

Just missed: Yulieski Gurriel (18 HR, .299/.332/.486, 1.8 fWAR), Jordan Montgomery (9-7, 3.88 ERA, 1.23 WHIP), Parker Bridwell (10-3, 3.64 ERA, 1.20 WHIP)

National League Rookie of the Year

Winner: Cody Bellinger (Los Angeles Dodgers): 39 HR, 97 RBI, .267/.352/.581 slash, .380 wOBA, 138 wRC+, 10 SB, 4.0 fWAR

This year won't have any suspense when it comes to Rookie of the Year winners. Judge will win unanimously in the AL, and Bellinger should be the unanimous NL ROY. Despite not coming up until April 25th, he blasted 39 home runs and got on base at a .352 clip, including a stretch where he hit 12 home runs in 15 games from June 10th to June 25th. He couldn't quite keep up with Aaron Judge (who can?) but the final line was pretty incredible for a kid who turned 22 mid-season. Not surprisingly, he led NL rookies in runs (87), doubles (26), home runs (39), RBI (97), and fWAR (4.0), and he would have led in most rate stats had it not been for 50 games of Rhys Hoskins. On top of everything, he has the prettiest swing in baseball with a violent uppercut. 

Runner-up: Paul DeJong (St. Louis Cardinals): 25 HR, 65 RBI, .285/.325/.532 slash, .359 wOBA, 122 wRC+, 1 SB, 3.0 fWAR

DeJong very quietly put together an excellent rookie season, slugging 25 home runs with a .325 on-base percentage and solid defense at a premium position, shortstop. Perhaps the only flaw in the 23-24 year old rookie's game was his lack of walks (21, or 4.7% of his plate appearances), but with all the other factors of his game, the Cardinals should be willing to be patient on the development of his, you could say, patience. He avoided long slumps, never posting an OPS below .739 in any month, and clubbing at least five home runs in each of his four full months from June onward. Don't look now, but DeJong could become a Jhonny Peralta-type player for the Cardinals, providing long term value but with a little more power than Peralta. 

Honorable mention: Kyle Freeland (Colorado Rockies): 11-11, 4.10 ERA, 1.49 WHIP, 107/63 K/BB

Don't let the high-ish ERA and WHIP fool you; Freeland has been excellent this year for the Rockies. Pitching in the toughest of conditions, he managed to put up a respectable line that would look good for any rookie, regardless of Coors Field-status. Somehow, he was actually better at Coors (3.72 ERA, 1.43 WHIP) than he was on the road (4.57 ERA, 1.57 WHIP), though it's understandable that a 24 year old rookie might have trouble pitching in unfamiliar parks. Overall, though, he put up better numbers than most other rookie starters, even those that didn't have to make 19 appearances (16 starts) at Coors Field.

Just missed: Ian Happ (24 HR, .253/.328/.514, 1.8 fWAR), Josh Bell (26 HR, .255/.334/.466, 0.8 fWAR), Luis Castillo (3-7, 3.12 ERA, 1.07 WHIP)

End of Season Awards: Cy Young

Below are my picks for the AL and NL Cy Young Awards. These are my picks, not predictions.

American League Cy Young

Winner: Corey Kluber (Cleveland Indians): 18-4, 2.25 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, 265/36 K/BB

Corey Kluber only made 29 starts, but he still eclipsed 200 innings for the fourth straight season and was as good as any pitcher in baseball. In those 29 starts, he posted a 2.25 ERA, a 0.87 WHIP, and an excellent 265/36 strikeout to walk ratio over 203.2 innings, making for a percent ratio of 34.1% to 4.6%. He may have been the single biggest reason the Indians were able to go from good to great as the season progressed, as his season didn't really get going until June. Over his first six starts, he went 3-2 with a 5.06 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP, though that did include a three hit shutout of the White Sox on April 21st. Then, in his sixth start, he hurt his back, and he didn't return until June 1st. From that point on, Kluber was untouchable, going 15-2 with a 1.61 ERA and a 0.81 WHIP, striking out 224 and walking 23 in 167.1 innings. Aside from shutting out the White Sox on April 21st, he shut out the Orioles in Baltimore on June 19th while striking out eleven, and on September 12th, he shut out the Tigers on five hits. After the injury, he allowed more than three earned runs in a start just once and never allowed more than four, holding opponents to one or zero in fifteen of the 23 starts.

Runner-up: Chris Sale (Boston Red Sox): 17-8, 2.90 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 308/43 K/BB

Sale was almost as good as Kluber this year, keeping his ERA below 3.00 in a hitters' park, but the real story was the strikeouts. With 308, Sale had the most in a single season since Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling struck out 334 and 316, respectively, for the 2002 Arizona Diamondbacks. His season was up and down, highlighted by rough patches but also including absolute gems for starts. On April 20th, he shut down the Blue Jays for no runs, four hits, one walk, and thirteen strikeouts over eight innings. He was similarly untouchable against the Yankees on July 15th (7.2 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 13 K's), the Rays on August 8th (8 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 13 K's), the Blue Jays on August 29th (7 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 11 K's), and the Orioles on September 20th (8 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 13 K's). When he was on, there was no better pitcher in the American League than Chris Sale.

Honorable mention: Luis Severino (New York Yankees): 14-6, 2.98 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 230/51 K/BB

He wasn't quite on the level of Kluber or Sale, but this was a pleasantly surprising season we saw from the 23 year old Yankee starter. After going 3-8 with a 5.83 ERA last year, Luis Severino turned it around to go 14-6 with a 2.98 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP, striking out 230 batters in 193.1 innings (29.4% of those faced) to lead the Yankees to the Wild Card. There were some bumps along the way, but Severino was very consistent for the most part, allowing two or fewer earned runs in 20 of his 31 starts. Overall, he finished third in the American League in ERA (2.98) and WHIP (1.04) as well as fourth in strikeouts (230) while pitching his home games in hitter-friendly Yankee Stadium.

Just missed: Carlos Carrasco (18-6, 3.29 ERA, 1.10 WHIP), Justin Verlander (15-8, 3.36 ERA, 1.17 WHIP), Dallas Keuchel (14-5, 2.90 ERA, 1.12 WHIP)

National League Cy Young

Winner: Max Scherzer (Washington Nationals): 16-6, 2.51 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 268/55 K/BB

It's very close between Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw, but having the edge in innings pitched and WHIP will be enough to give Scherzer the award in my book. Through over 200 innings, he posted a 2.51 ERA, a 0.90 WHIP, and 268 strikeouts (34.4% of batters faced), leading the three headed monster of a Nationals rotation to the second best record in the NL. In 23 of his 31 starts, he allowed two or fewer earned runs, giving the Nationals the chance to win nearly every time he went out there. This marks three straight seasons for Scherzer with a sub-3.00 ERA, a sub-1.00 WHIP, more than 200 innings, and more than 260 strikeouts, making his the Nationals look better and better for signing him to that seven year megadeal.

Runner-up: Clayton Kershaw (Los Angeles Dodgers): 18-4, 2.31 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 202/30 K/BB

Had he not missed a month with a back injury, Kershaw likely would hold the top spot here. Despite making just 27 starts, he still threw 175 innings (averaging well into the seventh inning), and he was as good on a per inning basis as any pitcher in baseball. His 2.31 ERA and 0.95 WHIP may be his highest marks since 2012 (he still led the NL in ERA and was second in WHIP), but teams rarely got the chance to do much of anything against Kershaw. In 16 of his 27 starts, he allowed no more than one earned run. He also never allowed more than two runs in back to back starts, showcasing an ability to avoid slumps. His career ERA and WHIP now sit at 2.36 and 1.00, respectively, through nearly 2000 innings. At this point, it's not out of the question that he could find his name carrying the same weight as Walter Johnson, Sandy Koufax, Tom Seaver, and Pedro Martinez.

Honorable mention: Stephen Strasburg (Washington Nationals): 15-4, 2.52 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 204/47 K/BB

Strasburg only made 28 starts, but he still tossed 175.1 innings and went on a crazy run at the end of the season. He was pretty good in the first half (9-3, 3.43 ERA, 1.13 WHIP), but in the second half, he rivaled Corey Kluber for the most dominant pitcher in baseball. Over ten starts, he went 6-1 with a 0.86 ERA and a 0.81 WHIP, striking out 76 batters in 62.2 innings while allowing just six earned runs. That included a 35 inning scoreless streak that only ended on an unearned run, though Strasburg may have a tough time winning the award considering that to many analysts, he wasn't the best pitcher on his own team.

Just missed: Zack Greinke (17-7, 3.20 ERA, 1.07 WHIP), Robbie Ray (15-5, 2.89 ERA, 1.15 WHIP), Gio Gonzalez (15-9, 2.96 ERA, 1.18 WHIP)

End of Season Awards: MVP

Below are my picks for the AL and NL MVP's. These are my picks, not predictions

American League Most Valuable Player

Winner: Aaron Judge (New York Yankees): 52 HR, 114 RBI, .284/.422/.627 slash, .430 wOBA, 173 wRC+, 9 SB, 8.2 fWAR

One of the greatest rookie seasons in history came to a close with the end of the regular season, with Aaron Judge setting the rookie record with 52 home runs in 155 games for the Yankees. It took him just 82 games to reach 30 home runs, then after hitting just seven over his next 48 games, he finished with 15 in his final 25 games get the Yankees to the Wild Card. His .185/.353/.326 August, which included just three home runs, knocked him out of the top spot for MVP contention, but his September turned back all the doubters when he slashed .311/.463/.889 with 15 home runs, the 15 home runs and .889 slugging percentage being his highest marks for any month. He may have finished with 208 strikeouts, but when he hit the ball, it was going somewhere, as he slugged 1.018 on balls he actually made contact with. For reference, that's an expected value of more than one base just for making contact. When everything is put together, Judge the American League in home runs (52), runs scored (128), walks (127), and fWAR (8.2), all by surprisingly wide margins. The next best in each of those stats, respectively, were Khris Davis (43 HR), Jose Altuve (112 runs), Edwin Encarnacion (104 walks), and Altuve (7.5 fWAR). Mike Trout was able to top Judge in most rate stats, so Judge's .422 on-base percentage, .627 slugging percentage, 1.049 OPS, .430 wOBA, and 173 wRC+ were just behind Trout, but Judge gets the edge due playing 41 more games than his counterpart.

Runner-up: Jose Altuve (Houston Astros): 24 HR, 81 RBI, .346/.410/.547 slash, .405 wOBA, 160 wRC+, 32 SB, 7.5 fWAR

For much of the second half of the season, Altuve was engaged in a race with the slumping Aaron Judge for the AL MVP Award, and even looked like a frontrunner for stretches. However, Judge caught fire again in September, and Altuve's relatively pedestrian final month (.296/.390/.442, 3 HR) allowed Judge to take back over. This takes nothing away from the monster season that Altuve had, as the 5'5" second baseman proved  in hits (204) and batting average (.346) while also stealing 32 bases and knocking 24 home runs. Much of that was buoyed by a stretch of hitting between June 27th and July 28th that can be described as nothing short of insane. Over that 24 game stretch, Altuve slashed .510/.549/.765 with four home runs and nine stolen bases, raising his slash line from .319/.393/.521 to .369/.433/.585. At least in my book, it is a second straight season of just missing the award, but if he keeps hitting like this, he will win one eventually.

Honorable Mention: Mike Trout (Los Angeles Angels): 33 HR, 72 RBI, .306/.442/.629 slash, .437 wOBA, 181 wRC+, 22 SB, 6.9 fWAR

Had Trout played a full season, he likely would have beaten out Aaron Judge for his third AL MVP Award. Unfortunately, a thumb injury forced him to miss nearly two months, and playing in 114 games, he was "only" able to be the third most valuable player in the AL. In those 114 games, though, he was a one-man wrecking crew, leading the AL in most rate stats, including on-base percentage (.442), slugging percentage (.629), OPS (1.071), wOBA (.437), and wRC+ (181). Additionally, he finished third in fWAR (6.9) and walks (94) despite playing 40+ fewer games than the players ahead of him. He did this all with virtually no protection in the lineup (hence the 94 walks, or an 18.5% rate), creating his own production and punishing opposing teams. He also posted his second straight 20-20-20-.400 season (HR, SB, 2B, OBP) and the third of his career (would be fourth if not for a .399 OBP in 2012). He now has 54.4 career fWAR, 156th all time and easily the most among players with fewer than 1000 games (next is 1880's second baseman Fred Dunlap at 39.5).

Just missed: Corey Kluber (18-4, 2.25 ERA, 0.87 WHIP), Jose Ramirez (29 HR, .318/.374/.583, 6.6 fWAR), Chris Sale (17-8, 2.90 ERA, 0.97 WHIP)

National League Most Valuable Player

Winner: Giancarlo Stanton (Miami Marlins): 59 HR, 132 RBI, .281/.376/.631 slash, .410 wOBA, 156 wRC+, 2 SB, 6.9 fWAR

As it turns out, our two MVP's are very similar players. In fact, Aaron Judge was frequently compared to Giancarlo Stanton as a "best case scenario" as he was rising through the minors, and look what we've got. As it turns out, Stanton had a pretty fantastic season in his own right, cracking 59 home runs in a pitchers' park while setting career highs in every offensive category except walks, batting average, and on-base percentage. Stanton led the National League in home runs (59), RBI (132), and slugging percentage (.631), meanwhile finishing second in fWAR (6.9), wRC+ (156), OPS (1.007), and runs scored (123) and third in wOBA (.410). In addition, he did so in Marlins Park, which isn't the most hitter-friendly venue, didn't have a significant amount of lineup protection outside Marcell Ozuna and Christian Yelich, and played solid outfield defense, saving runs with his cannon arm. Perhaps the most notable piece of his season was a 25 game stretch from August 4th to August 29th, when he cracked 18 home runs, drove in 36, scored 27 runs, and slashed .387/.532/1.032 to place himself in the MVP race. Despite slashing just .245/.355/.509 with eight home runs in September/October, he was able to hold on in the absence of Bryce Harper, combining some of the best offense in baseball with enough defense to earn the MVP award.

Runner-up: Joey Votto (Cincinnati Reds): 36 HR, 100 RBI, .320/.454/.578 slash, .428  wOBA, 165 wRC+, 5 SB, 6.6 fWAR

Nobody in baseball hit like Joey Votto this year. If he provided any defensive value at all, he'd be the easy MVP, but as a first baseman in a hitters' park, he'll take the runner-up slot. Votto this year led the NL in games played (all 162), walks (134), on-base percentage (.454), OPS (1.032), wOBA (.428), and wRC+ (165), being as close to a machine at the plate as you can get. This is the third time in his career he has tallied more than 130 walks in a season, but although walks are his calling card, he does much more. When he was actually swinging, the Reds first baseman cracked 36 home runs and 34 doubles, slugged .578, and struck out just over once every other game (83 total). It actually took him a little bit of time to get going this year, as he slashed .237/.333/.539 with six home runs through his first 21 games. Then, in 141 games from April 26th onwards, he slashed .333/.472/.584 with 30 home runs, a pace nobody else in baseball could keep up with.

Honorable Mention: Anthony Rendon (Washington Nationals): 25 HR, 100 RBI, .301/.403/.533 slash, .394 wOBA, 142 wRC+, 7 SB, 6.9 fWAR

The National League's fWAR leader isn't Stanton, Votto, Blackmon, or Bryant, but Anthony Rendon. By combining excellent offense and defense, his numbers fit Fangraphs just right to make him, according to their data evaluation, the most valuable player in the NL. I don't fully trust their defensive evaluation, but Rendon had a darn good season. Sparked by arguably the greatest single-game performance of the season on April 30th, Rendon posted an on-base percentage north of .400 while adding power (25 HR, 41 doubles) and amazing defense at third base. As of the morning of April 30th, his season actually wasn't going too well, as he was slashing .226/.316/.250 without a home run through the season's first 22 games. Then, against the Mets in game 22, he cracked out six hits: two singles, a double, and three home runs, while scoring five runs and driving in ten. From that game on, he slashed .316/.420/.590 with 25 home runs over 126 games, of course with some of the best defense in the league at third base. Rendon was one major reason that when potential MVP Bryce Harper went down in August, the Nationals were able to keep hitting and winning in his absence (with a shoutout to Ryan Zimmerman).

Just missed: Charlie Blackmon (37 HR, .331/.399/.601, 6.5 fWAR), Kris Bryant (29 HR, .295/.409/.537, 6.7 fWAR), Max Scherzer (16-6, 2.51 ERA, 0.90 WHIP)