Betting on an MLB future is extremely difficult at the beginning of the year. After all, the MLB season lasts the longest in comparison to any other major sport in America. Players can get injured, have major slumps, or get traded to another team.
Personally, I suggest waiting for a couple of months to play out before you go and spend a ton of money on MVP futures. However, we can go off projections and opinions to find the best options at this time for both MVP races.
Shohei Ohtani
In the American League, the odds start with Shohei Ohtani at +390. Ohtani is the only baseball player that can pitch and hit at a consistent level. Because he’s able to hit and pitch, he’s clearly the most valuable player. When we think of the most valuable player, we think of the guy that a team needs the most that has helped them win more than we thought they would be able to.
Of course, Ohtani fits the description. He hit 46 home runs, which was third in all of the MLB, and also knocked in 100 RBIs while also starting 23 games. In those 23 games, he went 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA and a WHIP of 1.09. There’s nobody in baseball that can put up these numbers. However, if something were to happen to Ohtani and he was shut down due to injury, other guys like his teammate Mike Trout and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. would be interesting candidates.
Mike Trout
Projections only believe Trout will play about 100 games this year due to his recent history of injury. However, if Trout was able to play a full and healthy season, Trout would be a 40-home run hitter and a guy that the Angels would rely on to make the postseason.
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It’s crazy that I’m talking about two players from the Angels right now and yet the Angels are never an MLB postseason contender. Maybe this is the year. Both of those two guys could make each other so much better and bring in so many runs batting next to one another.
Yordan Alvarez
A sleeper pick would be Yordan Alvarez. With Carlos Correa gone, the Astros need Alvarez to step up. At +2400, Alvarez is a guy that can be a 40 home-run hitter while also hitting for a solid average of about .290 like he did last year.
NL East
On the NL side, Fernando Tatis Jr. would’ve been my selection if he was able to start the season healthy. But now that he’s hurt, the race is wide open. Can Matt Olson become what Freddie Freeman was in Atlanta? It’s possible but it’ll be hard in the NL East with so many great pitchers.
The same could be said about Ronald Acuna Jr. (who also won’t play a full season), Juan Soto, and Pete Alonso. Therefore, a sleeper in my eyes would be Tyler O’Neill. He’s projected to hit about 35 home runs and will be batting between Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt. That’s crazy good protection and you can get O’Neill at +3800 to win the award.
Longshot MLB Bet: Yordan Alvarez to Win the AL MVP (+2400) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
Longshot MLB Bet: Tyler O’Neill to Win the NL MVP (+3800) at BetOnline
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
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