Major League Baseball

Rum Bunter's 2016 American League MVP

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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As we continue to dish out our 2016 Major League Baseball awards here at Rum Bunter next on the docket in the 2016 American League MVP.

Now that the 2016 Major League Baseball regular season has ended eyes can be pointed toward the offseason. The offseason includes, first and foremost, postseason play, free agency, trades, and award. Due to this here at Rum Bunter we are dishing out our 2016 awards for Major League Baseball.

Yesterday, Kris Bryant was named Rum Bunter’s 2016 National League MVP. Today we are naming our American League MVP. This was a race that was not closer, Rum Bunter’s 2016 American League MVP, by a landslide, is Angels’ center fielder Mike Trout.

Mike Trout previously won the American League MVP Award in 2014. However, he should have won it in 2012, 2013, and 2015 as well. Mike Trout has been the best all-around player in baseball since 2012 and he has played like it.

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It is very unlikely that Mike Trout will be named the American League MVP in 2016. This is due to the fact that the Anaheim Angels are a horrible team. Unfortunately, many voters believe that team success, or lack thereof, should factor into MVP voting. In my opinion, that is absolutely foolish.

In 2016 Mike Trout slashed .315/.441/.550/.991 with a .418 wOBA, 171 wRC+, a .235 ISO, 30 stolen bases, and a Major League leading 9.4 WAR. Trout also posted a career high 17.0 percent walk rate in 2016, which led to his .441 on-base percentage being a new career high. Trout’s .418 wOBA was second in the Major Leagues, behind David Ortiz, and his 171 wRC+ led the Majors.

2016 was the fifth consecutive season in which Trout led the American League in WAR. Furthermore, it was the fourth time in those five years he led the Major Leagues in WAR. Finishing second to only Bryce Harper in 2015.

Once again Mike Trout played great defense in 2016. In center field for the Angels he posted a .989 fielding percentage, seven outfield assists, and he had six defensive runs saved. While Trout’s defense is not on the same elite level that his offense is, it is still well above average.

Mike Trout is far and away the best player in baseball. There is no other player in the Majors that possesses the combination of elite hitting and top shelf defense that Trout does. In 2016 he was the best hitter in baseball, the best two-way player in baseball, and he is now Rum Bunter’s 2016 American League MVP.

Mike Trout is a very special player. He is undoubtedly a future Hall of Famer and will go down as one of the best to ever play the game. Due to this, we are lucky to be able to watch him year in and year out.

Honorable mention: Red Sox OF Mookie Betts, Astros 2B Jose Altuve

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