(Charles Rex Arbogast)
The 2015 Major League Baseball season is set to begin in a few days when the Chicago Cubs will welcome the St. Louis Cardinals to Wrigley Field for the April 5th opening night game. The following day the other 28 MLB teams will take to the field for the start of the baseball season.
We already predicted who will win each division and the 2015 World Series a while ago. This time around it is time to look at the hardware. We are talking about the American League and National League Most Valuable Player Awards. Predicting who will win each MLB award can be fun, sometimes an exercise in common sense, and on occasion an exercise in futility.
With that in mind, Jason Culley and Adam Solowiei got together and came up with who they believe are the likely winners of the awards. It might not be as clear cut as you may think. Without further ado, below are the 2015 Most Valuable Player predictions for the American and National Leagues.
 | JASON PICKS - JOSE ABREU | ADAM PICKS - MIKE TROUT |
 | JASON PICKS - GIANCARLO STANTON | ADAM PICKS - PAUL GOLDSCHMIDT |
American League MVP Prediction
Jason Culley Pick for American League MVP –
Jose Abreu, 1B, Chicago White Sox
He was tearing up American League pitching in the first half of his rookie season, hitting 29 home runs in the first 82 games. The second half of the season was a different story; he hit only seven homeruns but was more disciplined at the plate, batting .350. He finished the year with a .317 batting average, 36 homeruns and 107 runs batted in, finishing 4th in the MVP race and winning the American League Rookie of the Year Award. If the second year first baseman can put it all together in 2015, he can knock Mike Trout off his MVP pedestal.
Adam Solowiei Pick for American League MVP –
Mike Trout, CF, Los Angeles Angels
I know it is not exciting and I know it does not seem original but the reality is when it is the only answer it must be true. The inevitable outcome of the AL MVP race ends with Mike Trout holding the award. It is just that simple. Trout has been with the big boys for three years and has finished in the top-2 in MVP voting in all three including last year’s title. Nothing is a guarantee but the odds are more than favorable that Trout will scored 100 runs, drive in 100, hit .290 or higher, hit 30 home runs, and steal at least 15. Those are his low and that is already MVP worthy.
Loading ...National League MVP Prediction
Jason Culley Pick for National League MVP –
Giancarlo Stanton, RF, Miami Marlins
Last November, Giancarlo Stanton signed a 13 year, $325 million extension with the Miami Marlins. Even though Stanton did not play after September 11th last season, suffering injuries to his face after being hit by Milwaukee Brewers’ Mike Fiers, he was able to finish the season with MVP numbers. In 145 games he hit .288, with 37 homeruns and 105 runs batted in. If not for the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw and his dominating performance, Stanton would have won his first Most Valuable Player Award last year.
Adam Solowiei Pick for National League MVP –
Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Arizona Diamondbacks
I know how good Giancarlo Stanton and Andrew McCutchen are but this year will be the year Paul Goldschmidt takes the award. People will argue that he was hurt last year but that logic would rule out Giancarlo Stanton as well. Clearly that argument is flawed. Goldschmidt was the runner-up to McCutchen in 2013 and was having another MVP caliber season in 2014 before the injury. He is entering his prime and should be poised to win a close 2015 NL MVP race.
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