Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos should prepare to take a bow. He's on the verge of becoming the first general manager in over 30 years to acquire the subsequent season's Most Valuable Player in an offseason or spring training trade.
Third baseman Josh Donaldson, acquired from Oakland in November, is the front-runner to be named American League MVP. According to STATS LLC, here's the full list of MVPs traded between the previous season and Opening Day of the year in which they won:
1984, AL: Willie Hernandez was traded by the Phillies to the Tigers on March 24, 1984.
1981, AL: Rollie Fingers was traded by the Cardinals to the Brewers on Dec. 12, 1980 (after going from the Padres to the Cardinals earlier that offseason).
1972, AL: Dick Allen was traded by the Dodgers to the White Sox on Dec. 2, 1971.
1966, AL: Frank Robinson was traded by the Reds to the Orioles on Dec. 9, 1965.
1960, AL: Roger Maris was traded by the Athletics to the Yankees on Dec. 11, 1959.
1947, NL: Bob Elliott was traded by the Pirates to the Braves on Sept. 30, 1946.
1934, AL: Mickey Cochrane was traded by the Athletics to the Tigers on Dec. 12, 1933.
1929, NL: Rogers Hornsby was traded by the Braves to the Cubs on Nov. 7, 1928.
1914, NL: Johnny Evers was traded by the Cubs to the Braves on Feb. 11, 1914.
