MLB National League MVP Predictions

Written by Blake Deresienski

It's the most wonderful time...of the year! MLB is finally returning, and I'm super excited to create more content for the upcoming season. In this article, I give my best bets and predictions for who could take home the National League MVP Award.

Juan Soto has become one of my favorite baseball players since he joined the league. The scary thing is – he is nowhere near what he can truly accomplish. Despite a small 2020 sample size of 47 games, Soto slashed .351/.490/.695 with an unbelievable 1.185 OPS. All four of these stats led the major leagues. Soto is the first player since Ted Williams to lead the league in OBP at age 21 or younger, showing the tremendous respect he gets at the plate. In addition, the Nationals acquiring Josh Bell from the Pirates will give Soto more lineup protection. Jayson Stark from The Athletic breaks down Soto’s career in this article, and the numbers and comparisons will have you speechless. We very well could be watching one of the greatest to play the game (and you Trout, I didn’t forget you!) right in front of our eyes. It is only a matter of time before Soto takes home the MVP award. 

Ronald Acuna Jr is my second favorite player to win NL MVP, for obvious reasons. In 2019, Acuna came just short of reaching a 40/40 season, finishing with 41 HRs and 37 SBs. He’s an upcoming superstar of the league, if not already, and is a great position this season. The Atlanta Braves are currently the favorites to win the NL East, with Acuna batting leadoff behind a talented roster. He truly has it all and is worth a play.

Sometimes a change of scenery is exactly what a star player needs. (Take Christian Yelich leaving Miami for example.) Arenado now joins fellow slugger Paul Goldschmidt with the Cardinals, a somewhat underrated move that could prove big. If Arenado can produce similar numbers as he did at Coors Field and lead the Cardinals to the playoffs, an MVP award is very possible. 

As I mentioned in the Juan Soto writeup, adding Josh Bell to the Nationals lineup is a massive benefit to the team. Bell was hit or miss for the Pirates, with his best season coming in 2019 where he mashed 37 HRs with a .277 AVG. He was undoubtedly the best player on the team, and opposing pitchers used that to their advantage. A change of scenery could be the perfect opportunity for Bell, and what more can you ask for to hit behind Juan Soto and Trea Turner? Bell should have ample opportunities to prove himself as a star player in the league this season, and for +10000? Worth a sprinkle to me. 

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