We’ve already put together our team-wide predictions, from division winners to pennants to the World Series championship picks.
Now in this very space, it’s time for the individual awards predictions.
Between Shohei Ohtani taking AL MVP, Gerrit Cole taking AL Cy Young and possibly even the Ronald Acuña Jr. NL MVP win, things were a bit chalky last season.
Still, very, very few had Blake Snell taking the NL Cy Young and every season brings with it plenty of unknown.
We’re bound to hit some and miss some here.
Not only is it a fun discussion for all of us, but there’s a big market in the gambling community on awards futures.
We’ll throw some of the odds for those interested after our picks, but first let’s check out the individual awards picks from the members of the CBS Sports MLB staff, starting with the AL.
American League National League Anderson: I don’t know that any of these selections qualify as surprises.
Maybe Castillo, but he’s been a reliably good starting pitcher at the big-league level, and he finished fifth in Cy Young Award voting last year.
Otherwise, my guiding principle was to pick fresh winners, even if it proves to be overzealous in the cases of Tatis, Castillo, Henderson, and others.
Axisa: The awards races feel wide open to me this year, particularly with Gerrit Cole hurt and thus not a Cy Young candidate.
Rutschman is the best player on what is likely to be the best team in the AL this year, and that always equals tons of MVP support.
Langford feels like a slam dunk Rookie of the Year pick with Jackson Holliday starting the season in the minors.
I know Yamamoto had a very rough debut last week, but he’s so talented, and I expect him to settle in quickly.
He is Rookie of the Year eligible despite all his success in Japan.
I considered making him my NL Cy Young pick before that rough first game.
The Manager of the Year award tends to go to the manager of the team that most exceeded expectations, and I have the Tigers and Padres making the postseason, so Hinch and Shildt it is.
Feldman: I picked Langford over Holliday for ROY even before the Orioles chose not to bring their top prospect north and I stand by it.
You can argue Holliday has a higher floor but when you hit homers as big and loud as Langford does, who cares?
As for the rest, it’s hard to bet against Juan Soto, especially with the Yankee Stadium short porch, and it just feels like the Braves are going to figure out how to turn back Chris Sale’s clock to 2015.
Yamamoto looked awful in his debut but who among us hasn’t had a bad day at work?
They’re not particularly revolutionary picks, but the best is the best.
Perry: I definitely see the case for Soto or one of the young core Orioles as MVP, but I think Alvarez is going to be generally healthy this season and pace the AL in homers while running an OBP north of .400.
As for Rodón, the guess here is that he rediscovers his 2021-22 form.
I’m close to predicting 300 strikeouts for Strider, but I can’t quite make that leap.
Even so, he’s the top strikeout artist among starting pitchers right now, and I think that core skill will carry him to the award in 2024.
Betts will continue producing at peak level with the bat while manning the premium position of shortstop.
That’s an MVP.
Pianovich: In baseball, you’re either on a streak or you’re due.
Did you know no catcher has won an MVP award since Buster Posey in 2012?
Catchers are due and Adley Rutschman will have his best season yet.
Fernando Tatis Jr. will likewise have the best season of his MLB career so far, getting the Padres to push the Dodgers for the NL West title in the process.
Spencer Strider and Luis Castillo are going to strike a lot of guys out while improving their run prevention numbers from last year.
I almost always miss these picks, so hopefully I am due and not on a streak of being wrong.
Snyder: Julio has had a few bout of inconsistency in his first two seasons, but he’s ready for a fully fledged MVP campaign now.
It makes it easier without a two-way superstar in the league, too.
I did have Gerrit Cole repeating as the Cy Young winner, but it’s wide open after his injury.
I’ll go with the underrated Astros workhorse.
Tatis got a late start last season and that was after an entire year off.
Now that the rust has been knocked off and he’s fully acclimated to his new position, he’s in for a monster season.
I already loved Logan Webb, but getting Matt Chapman behind him defensively made this pick even better.
Betting Odds (All odds via Caesars Sportsbook on March 22) AL MVP Juan Soto +500 Julio Rodríguez +550 Aaron Judge +750 Corey Seager +1200 Bobby Witt Jr. +1200 Yordan Alvarez +1200 NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. +500 Mookie Betts +700 Freddie Freeman +850 Fernando Tatis Jr. +850 Shohei Ohtani +900 Matt Olson +1000 AL Cy Young Corbin Burnes +800 Framber Valdez +800 Kevin Gausman +800 Tarik Skubal +1000 George Kirby +1200 Luis Castillo +1300 NL Cy Young Spencer Strider +425
The Major League Baseball season of 2024 is upon us. From division winners to pennants to World Series champions, we’ve already assembled our team-wide predictions. Now, let’s get the individual award predictions right here in this very space.
With Shohei Ohtani winning AL MVP, Gerrit Cole winning AL Cy Young, and maybe even Ronald Acuña Jr. NL MVP victory, the previous season was a little lackluster. Even so, very few predicted Blake Snell to win the NL Cy Young, and every season is full of surprises. Here, we’re going to hit some and miss some.
In addition to being entertaining for all of us, there is a sizable market for awards futures in the gambling industry.
Let’s take a look at the individual award predictions made by the CBS Sports MLB staff, starting with the AL, before we reveal some of the odds to those who are interested.
American Football League.
The National League.
Anderson: I’m not sure which of these choices can be considered unexpected. Perhaps Castillo, but he’s been a consistently strong big-league starter and placed fifth in the Cy Young Award voting the previous season. If not, my guiding principle was to select new winners, even if Tatis, Castillo, Henderson, and other cases prove that this was excessive.
Axisa: Given that Gerrit Cole is injured and therefore not a Cy Young candidate, I feel like there are a lot of open spots in the awards this year. Being the best player on what is probably the best AL team this year, Rutschman is sure to receive a ton of MVP support. Jackson Holliday began the season in the minors, so Langford seems like a lock to win Rookie of the Year. Even though Yamamoto’s debut was quite difficult the previous week, I think he will quickly adjust because of his incredible talent. For all his success in Japan, he is eligible for Rookie of the Year. Before that difficult opening game, I thought of selecting him as my NL Cy Young selection. Since I believe the Tigers and Padres will make the postseason, Hinch and Shildt will receive the Manager of the Year award, which usually goes to the manager of the team that most exceeded expectations.
Feldman: I maintain my pick of Langford for ROY over Holliday, which I made even before the Orioles decided against moving their best prospect north. It is debatable whether Holliday has a higher floor, but when you hit home runs as loud and massive as Langford does, it is irrelevant. As for the other players, it is difficult to wager against Juan Soto because of Yankee Stadium’s short porch, and it seems as though the Braves will find a way to make Chris Sale play like he did in 2015. They’re not especially ground-breaking choices, but the best is the best; Yamamoto looked terrible in his debut, but then, who among us hasn’t had a rough day at work?
Perry: Soto or one of the young core Orioles could make a strong case for MVP, but I believe Alvarez will lead the AL in home runs this season and maintain an OBP above.400. Regarding Rodón, my best guess is that he finds his 2021–22 form again. Though I can’t quite make the leap, I’m not far off from my prediction of 300 strikeouts for Strider. He is currently the best strikeout artist among starting pitchers, though, and I believe that fundamental ability will help him win the award in 2024. As long as he plays shortstop, Betts will be a top-tier batsman. It’s truly an MVP.
In baseball, one is either due or on a streak, according to Pianovich. Catchers are due, and Adley Rutschman is going to have his best season yet. In case you missed it, no catcher has won an MVP since Buster Posey in 2012. Juan Tatis Jr. will also have the best season of his Major League Baseball career, leading the Padres to challenge the Dodgers for the NL West title. While lowering their run prevention percentage from the previous season, Luis Castillo and Spencer Strider will strike out a lot of batters. Hopefully I am due and not on a run of incorrect selections because I almost always miss these.
Snyder: Julio is now prepared for a full-fledged MVP campaign, despite a few periods of inconsistency in his first two seasons. Additionally, it is easier without a two-way superstar in the league. Though, with his injury, it’s very possible that Gerrit Cole won the Cy Young again. I’ll choose the underappreciated workhorse of the Astros. After taking a full year off, Tatis received a late start in the previous season. He’s set for an incredible season now that the rust has worn off and he’s become fully accustomed to his new role. Even though I already adored Logan Webb, this pick was even better because Matt Chapman was there to provide defensive support.
Betting Odds.
The odds were obtained on March 22 from Caesars Sportsbook.
AL MVP.
Plus 500 for Juan Soto.
+550 Julio Rodríguez.
Judge Aaron +750.
+1200 is Corey Seager.
Robert Witt Jr. +1200.
+1200 Yordan Alvarez.
MVP in NL.
Ronaldo Acuña Jr. +1500.
Betts, Mookie + 700.
+850 for Freddie Freeman.
Juan Tatis Jr. +850.
Plus 900 for Shohei Ohtani.
Olson Matt +1000.
AL Cy Young.
Corbin Burns +800.
Plus 800 Framber Valdez.
Gausman Kevin at +800.
+1000 for Tarik Skubal.
Kirby George, +1200.
Luis Castillo at (130).
NL Cy Young Award.
Strider, Spencer + 425.
Zack Wheeler (plus 1000).
+1200 is Freddy Peralta.
Max Fried (+1200).
Logan Webb (+1200).
Yamamoto Yoshinobu +1300.
ALC Rookie of the Year.
Langford Wyatt + 300.
Jackson Holliday (+400).
Plus 400 for Evan Carter.
Keith Colt +900.
Caminero Junior +1100.
Park Meadows (+1400).
Rookie of the Year in the NL.
