As we are about a week and a half into the 2021 MLB season, recapping the offseason.
The National League had a lot of movement this offseason. Nolan Arenado getting traded to the St. Louis Cardinals makes them strong contenders to win the division. The San Diego Padres continued their development by trading for two ace-quality pitchers, Blake Snell and Yu Darvish. the New York Mets finally got a superstar after they traded for Francisco Lindor and extended him to a 10-year, $341 million contract, and acquiring a solid starting pitcher in Carlos Carrasco as well. The Mets hope to make the playoffs for the first time since 2016. We cannot forget about the reigning National League Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer joined Los Angeles Dodgers, the 2020 World Series champion.
In the American League, the Houston Astros lost their long-time outfielder George Springer after he signed a five-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. Toronto added shortstop Marcus Semien on a one-year deal The White Sox continued to bolster their pitching by trading for starter Lance Lynn and signing closer Liam Hendriks.
The league has been shaken up and this could have an effect on who wins the awards. Here are the predictions for the big awards in each league for the 2021 MLB Season.
Mookie Betts will join the great Frank Robinson as the only player to win the MVP in both leagues. Betts will lead the Dodgers to their ninth consecutive NL West Division title and win both a Silver Slugger and a Gold Glove.
He is going to hit 30+ home runs and steal 30+ bases while contending for a batting title. He is a five-tool player and will put up very impressive numbers for Los Angeles. The reigning World Series champions are looking to repeat as champions and that is only going to happen if Betts performs like the MVP he is.
GLENDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 20: Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts (50) poses for a portrait during photo day on Thursday, Feb, 20 at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz. (Photo by Ric Tapia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Mike Trout will win his fourth AL MVP. This year will be different though because the Angels will make the playoffs as a Wild Card team. This could be the year they finally put everything together and are able to be successful and win more games than usual.
Trout could lead the league in home runs and OPS easily. He is an on-base machine and will do much better with a full season of having another All-Star, Anthony Rendon, in the lineup. Trout’s numbers are going to be mind-boggling, and he will continue to add hardware to his collection.
Jacob deGrom might be the safest pick for this award, since he won in 2018 and 2019, finishing third in 2020. deGrom is the best pitcher in baseball and will have an ERA right around 2.00 this season while tossing 200+ innings and striking out over 200 batters.
His velocity is continuing to rise, and his team has continued to build and bring in more talent around him. He will bring home his third Cy Young in the last four seasons and continue his pursuit to Cooperstown.
The Chicago White Sox’s ace Lucas Giolito will win his first Cy Young this season. Giolito will be close to the lead for the most wins by a pitcher in the American League. He is beyond dominant and is capable of carrying a team and being able to go all the way and throw complete games, which is something fairly rare these days.
Giolito, 26, will strike out 200 batters at minimum without an issue, but he is looking to make 2021 his first 200-inning MLB season. He will help the White Sox win the 2021 AL Central Division. There are other strong candidates throughout the AL, but Giolito is going to put it all together this season and become one of the better pitchers in baseball.
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