Mike Trout Opens as Heavy Favorite to Win 2019 AL MVP
- Mookie Betts won the AL MVP in 2018
- Mike Trout won the AL MVP in 2014 and 2016
- JD Martinez finished fourth in 2018 AL MVP voting in his first season with the Red Sox
Mike Trout has been installed as the big favorite to win the 2019 American League MVP Award, and for good reason. He won the award in 2014 and in 2016 and is in great position to capture it for the third time. That being said, there are other superstars in the AL that deserve respect and attention as well.
Let’s look at the 2019 American League MVP odds.
2019 AL MVP Odds
| Who Will Win the 2019 AL MVP? | Odds |
|---|---|
| Mike Trout | +135 |
| Mookie Betts | +500 |
| Aaron Judge | +1100 |
| Alex Bregman | +1600 |
| Jose Ramirez | +1800 |
| Jose Altuve | +2000 |
| Francisco Lindor | +2000 |
| Carlos Correa | +2000 |
| Giancarlo Stanton | +2500 |
| J.D. Martinez | +2800 |
| George Springer | +3500 |
| Khris Davis | +3500 |
| Gary Sanchez | +4000 |
| Jose Abreu | +4000 |
*Odds taken 03/05/19
If you’re debating who will win the AL MVP in a bar, Mike Trout is a wise choice. When sportsbooks are only offering you +135 to bet on him, however, it’s much less inviting.
The reality is there just isn’t any value in betting anyone at that number. As good as Trout is he’s only won the award twice, which means he can be beat. The smart play is finding where the better value is and for my money it lays with two members of the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox.
Can Mookie Betts Repeat as AL MVP?
Mookie Betts won the award last year coupling great defense with a .346 batting average, 129 runs, 32 home runs and 80 RBI. The 26-year-old is an absolute dynamo on the diamond and deserves to be the favorite for the award every bit as much as Trout. Betts, however, is paying +500, which is a much friendlier number.
There are a few things working in Betts’ favor aside from his immense talent. One is the East coast bias. Most of the Los Angeles Angels games are played after many voters have tucked in for the night, whereas Betts and the Boston Red Sox are constantly in prime time viewing situations. More opportunities to watch his skill give him more opportunities to impress.
Trout will be battling the folks that believe the MVP needs to be on a winner.
One other major consideration is the teams they play for. There’s little indication the Angels will be any better in 2019 than they have been in previous years, so Trout will be battling the folks that believe the MVP needs to be on a winner.
Betts plays on the Red Sox, who are expected to be in a summer long slug fest with the New York Yankees for the American League East title. He may be the best bet even without considering the added value that sportsbooks are offering.
JD Martinez an Underdog Worth Watching
JD Martinez signed with the Red Sox last offseason and was an absolute grand slam in his first season in Boston. He slugged 43 home runs and 130 RBI while hitting for a .330 average. He’s a total superstar that took full advantage of the hitter friendly confines at Fenway Park.
David Ortiz gushes over the work ethic of "psychopath" J.D. Martinez:https://t.co/26DsTO9b2R pic.twitter.com/NsxmV5kkzp
— NESN (@NESN) March 2, 2019
When you look at those numbers last year and compare them to Betts, it has to be considered at least a mild upset that he finished fourth in voting.
With the combination of his work ethic and talent, Martinez is likely to mash again in 2019 and should be a top contender for the award all while getting +2800 odds. Even if he isn’t your top choice to win the award, that number provides way too much value to completely ignore.
Ryan has been working at TSN for over eleven years, and is now a lead writer and content producer at That's Hockey. Over the years, he's launched and hosted TSN's first NCAAF podcast, The College Football Show, and been featured on the likes of TSN 1050, Sportscentre, and That's Hockey 2Nite.
