MLB Awards Odds: Can Soto Win MVP With Yankees?

National League MVP Odds

Odds as of April 19

If Acuna repeats his 2023 season, he's all but guaranteed to rack up another MVP. The Braves' star outfielder hit 41 homers, led the league with 73 steals, and posted the NL's highest OPS. He was basically the best at everything. But he's no longer the chalk to win NL MVP, as another established star has stolen the thunder in the early portions of 2024.

His name is Mookie, and he's worth all your bets. Betts has been baseball's best hitter through the season's first few weeks, slashing .369/.470/.667 with six homers and 31 hits. His walk-to-strikeout ratio (16:14) is nuts, indicating this might be the most patient version of the slugger we've ever seen. There's no problem with betting Mookie as the chalk because he looks unstoppable. That said, I understand waiting his season out for an increase in value. 

NL MVP Value Pick: Shohei Ohtani (+900)

It's hilarious that we get to call Ohtani a 'value' pick but here we are. I know Ohtani isn't going to pitch in 2024, and that'll certainly hurt the two-way king's MVP chances. But, I think we're sleeping on just how good of a hitter he is. Last year he hit 44 homers in 135 games and posted a HIGHER OPS than NL MVP Acuna.

Just imagine what kind of numbers Ohtani can put up if he DHs for 160 games and only focuses on hitting. So far, the 29-year-old isn't on the same crazy homer pace as years prior, but his slash line is juicy, and that means something to MVP voters.

MLB MVP Award History

American League Cy Young Odds

Odds as of April 19

The AL Cy Young odds went for a ride after it was announced Gerrit Cole will miss the first two months of the year with an elbow injury. The reigning award winner plummeted down the oddsboard, buoying Corbin Burnes to the chalk spot.

AL Cy Young Value Pick: Cristian Javier (+4000)

I really thought Cristian Javier was going to compete for the Cy last year, as he posted a 3.16 FIP and amazing strikeout rates in 2022. Instead, he took a big step back — 4.58 FIP, 8.8 K/9.

But at +4000, this is pretty good value on a bounce-back candidate. Before the playoffs last year, we saw the 2022 Javier flash once again. In his last six starts of 2023, Javier posted a 3.42 FIP, 40 strikeouts in 30 innings, and allowed just four homers. If we get that Javier in 2024, he could get back in the AL Cy race.

So far, so good through two starts, as Javier started the 2024 season with a 1.54 ERA through four starts.

MLB Cy Young Award History

National League Cy Young Odds

Odds as of April 19

Zack Wheeler is the new leading man in the NL Cy Young odds after Spencer Strider's season-ending injury. Veteran starting pitchers are dropping like flies these days, so I'd stay away from anyone too high on the odds board, at least until the season progresses.

NL Cy Young Value Pick: Logan Webb (+1000)

Logan Webb might be the most underrated player in baseball right now. The Giants righty has hauled 560 innings over the last three seasons, posting a 3.07 ERA and 3.00 FIP in that time. Webb basically walks nobody, but an uptick in strikeouts would help his Cy Young candidacy. If his 8.1 K/9 from last year drifts closer to his 9.6 career-high from 2021, I like Webb to snatch the Cy in 2024.

MLB Cy Young Award History

American League Rookie of the Year Odds

Odds as of April 19

Evan Carter started the year favored in the AL ROTY odds. He came up late last season and immediately looked like one of the best players in baseball. In 23 regular season games, he hit five homers, posted a 1.058 OPS, and racked up 1.6 WAR. For context, that's an 11.2 WAR pace had he played a full 162 games — better than Ohtani, Trout, Judge, and all the other top players. Most impressively, he kept it up in the playoffs, too, with a .300 batting average and 10 extra-base hits in 17 postseason contests.

Yet, Carter began the '24 season on a 5-for-26 skid, thankfully adding eight walks to the mix, which pushed his OPS over .700. At the same time, however, Carter's teammate, Wyatt Langford, has looked solid. Langford's OBP numbers aren't great, but he socked some key extra-base hits in the first few weeks, setting up a neck-and-neck fight for the AL ROTY chalk that should last most of the season.

Add Colton Cowser (4 HRs, 15 RBIs, 1.229 OPS) to the mix, and we've got a hell of a race on our hands.

AL RotY Value Pick: Nolan Schanuel (+4000)

Schanuel is just a bizarre and tantalizing player, I think he could sneakily compete for this award. The key here is the on-base percentage. This is a guy who posted a .615 OBP in college last year, .505 in the minors, and .402 in the big leagues. He's a few homers away from being a new generation's Joey Votto. If he can do that for 160 games this year, he'll be so unique that voters will have to give him some Rookie of the Year love.

MLB Rookie of the Year Award History

National League Rookie of the Year

Odds as of April 19

The Dodgers don't just hand out $300 million to anybody. There's a reason they gave Yoshinobu Yamamoto a huge contract this year and he'll almost certainly justify that contract in year one. He probably only needs to be an SP2/3 to win the NL Rookie of the Year, but he has the potential to be much, much more.

For context, here's the opening line of Baseball America's Yamamoto scouting report: "In the long history of successful Japanese pitchers, none have been as decorated as Yamamoto."

NL RotY Value Pick: DL Hall (+6500)

I honestly find it really hard to bet against Yamamoto. He seems like he'll be an absolute stud for the Dodgers this year and, if he stays healthy, he should surely walk away with this award. So, if you're gonna make a value pick, let's look way down the board.

DL Hall could end up being a long-term reliever, but if he manages to win a spot in Milwaukee's rotation he's got as high of upside as any young pitcher in the league. He's a high-strikeout lefty, who's sliced his way through the minor leagues, and seemed to find something in MLB at the end of 2023. In 19.1 innings pitched for the Orioles last year, Hall posted a 3.26 ERA with 23 strikeouts to just five walks. If he keeps that up in a starting role, this bet will look like a genius pick in a few months.

MLB Rookie of the Year Award History

2024 AL Reliever of the Year Odds

Odds as of March 20

Josh Hader has dominated the Reliever of the Year Award for the last few seasons, picking it up three times in the National League since 2018. Now, he's got a chance to add an AL honor to his cabinet.

Despite Ryan Pressley locking down games for the Astros for the last few seasons, Hader has been announced as Houston's closer for the 2024 season. It's easy to see why. Hader has posted an ERA under 1.3 in two of the last three seasons, racking up 96 saves during the last three campaigns. If healthy and dealing, he's the most consistent lefty reliever in baseball and should walk away with this AL award.

Best Value Pick: Andres Munoz, Mariners (+1000)

Andres Munoz has been quietly electric for the last two seasons, posting an ERA under 3.0 with high strikeout totals since he became a full-time player in 2022. This season, he's set for a breakout. With Paul Sewald out of the way in Seattle, Munoz will be the Mariners closer and should shut down games all year long. After taking over the CL role from Sewald last year, Munoz finished the year with a 3.00 ERA and 12 saves in the second half.

Past AL Reliever of The Year Winners History

2024 NL Reliever of the Year Odds

Odds as of March 20

Devin Williams is slated to be the GUY once again in Milwaukee this year and is clearly the most talented reliever in the National League. He posted an insane 1.53 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and 36 saves last year, earning NL RPotY honors for the second time.

That said, I'm staying away from Williams in 2024 due to his short odds and potentially long road to returning from a serious back injury. Milwaukee could also trade him. The Brewers already sent Corbin Burnes packing to Baltimore before the season and seem like they're on the cusp of a rebuild. If Williams is traded at the deadline or mid-season this year to an AL team, he won't be able to win this award.

Best Value Pick: Camilo Doval, Giants (+1200)

Camilo Doval has been electric for the last three seasons, posting an ERA at or below 3.00 and high strikeout rates in every season. Last year, he led the league in games finished (60) and saves (39). They don't release the 'finalists' for RPotY voting, but I've gotta think Doval was close to winning the NL honor last season. So, with Hader out of the NL and Devin Williams not providing much value, Doval is an obvious value pick sitting fifth in the odds.

Past NL Reliever of The Year Winners History

2024 Home Run Leader Odds

Odds as of March 20

When healthy, Aaron Judge is the most feared power hitter in baseball. A season after posting an AL-record 62 homers, the Bronx Bomber banged 37 dingers in 106 games in 2023. He finished well off MLB's lead in the statistic, but his 55-homer pace would've put him right up there with the leaders had he played 160 games. Now, Judge has Juan Soto protecting him in the Yankees lineup, too.

Best Value Pick: Pete Alonso, Mets (+700)

Pete Alonso has played four full seasons at the MLB level. He's posted no fewer than 37 HR in any of those campaigns, broken 40 three times, and averaged 46.5 during the stretch. He's led baseball in HR once already, and now the Polar Bear enters a contract year looking to secure the bag. I'm expecting plenty of power from Alonso.

Past MLB HR Leaders History

*Shortened Season