American League Award Predictions: Spring Training Edition
I recently wrote my National League Award predictions for this upcoming MLB season. Today, I will run down my award predictions for the American League. The American League champion Cleveland Indians will look to write a book of redemption after their heartbreaking loss to the Chicago Cubs in the World Series. The Toronto Blue Jays will be without Edwin Encarnacion, who signed with the Indians, for the first time since 2009. The New York Yankees have built for the future and we’ll see the first glimpses of it this year. All kinds of storylines are emerging as we move into the new season. Without further ado, here are my predictions for the American League Yearly Awards:
American League MVP- Josh Donaldson, 3B, Toronto Blue Jays
Josh Donaldson won it in 2015 and I believe he will do it again. Encarnacion is not there to provide protection but the Jays do have Kendrys Morales. Morales, along with other pieces like Troy Tulowitzki and Jose Bautista, will get on base for Donaldson and he’ll do the rest. I predict a 40 home run season to show that the Jays don’t need Encarnacion to be a great team.
American League Cy Young- David Price, LHP, Boston Red Sox
The Chris Sale trade did more good for David Price than more people realize. Price is used to having the whole world watch him. He was the go to guy anywhere he pitched (with a possible exception of Detroit). Now look at his situation following the trade. Sale is getting most of the attention, and Rick Porcello’s name is being floated around because he’s the AL Cy Young winner from 2016. Price’s name is rarely brought up. He can finally put all of that media and fan pressure out of his mind and focus on pitching his best baseball in a while. Price will have his best season since his Tampa days and will bring home the Cy Young.
American League Rookie of the Year- Andrew Benintendi, OF, Boston Red Sox
Benintendi’s name came up frequently on the August 1st trade deadline as a potential piece in a Chris Sale trade. He went nowhere except to Boston’s major league roster. An injury kept him from reaching rookie status, so he’ll have the opportunity to win this award in 2017. He will blow up offensively and take home this award. How easily he wins it is all dependent on how the Tampa Bay Rays play righty Jose De Leon. If De Leon gets enough innings, he may give Benintendi a run for his money. If not, Benintendi will win it in a landslide.
American League Manager of the Year- Terry Francona, Cleveland Indians
Francona won it last year and he has the best roster at his disposal in the AL this year. He’s the consensus favorite to win it in 2017. I have an honorable mention that could surprise a few people and that is Seattle Mariners skipper Scott Servais. This is a tricky award to predict in all honesty, so I’m going with the safe choice in Francona. I believe it will all come down to his usage of Andrew Miller. If Francona can use Miller like he did last year, and Miller thrives, this should be an easy win for Tito.
Featured Photo Credit: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
Want more predictions? You’re in luck! Tristin McKinstry, Jameus Mooney, and Isaiah Hansen gave five bold predictions for the upcoming MLB season and Devon Withers added one of his own. Check out the Twin Killing Podcast to hear those predictions!
