By Chris Havlicek
Updated 2/28/24 3:32am ET
Major League Baseball is the only major American sport that hands out two MVP awards. There is one NBA MVP, one NFL MVP, and one NHL Hart Memorial Trophy winner, but there are two for our pastime.
This year, the American League and National League MVP Awards odds experienced a massive shift when a pair of superstars swapped leagues. Reigning AL MVP Shohei Ohtani joined the Los Angeles Dodgers via free agency and perennial candidate Juan Soto moved to the New York Yankees in a blockbuster trade.
AL MVP Award Odds:
Shohei Ohtani ran away with the award last year, given his hitting and pitching versatility. With him now shifting to the National League, the American League field feels more wide open this season.
Yankees star Aaron Judge is the consensus favorite at +550. His newly-minted Yankees teammate, Juan Soto, is second at +600. Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez is at +850, while Rangers shortstop Corey Seager is +1000. Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez sits at +1400, while Orioles cornerstone Adley Rutschman is +1600.
NL MVP Award Odds:
Ronald Acuna put it all together last year to claim the NL MVP Award. And he’s the favorite to repeat at +525. Last year’s runner-up, Mookie Betts of the Dodgers, is next at +650.
But now the entire N.L. has to contend with the arrival of Ohtani. However, the highest paid player in MLB history will not pitch this coming season so he only has the third-shortest NL odds at +900.
Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. (+1000) and two-time MVP Bryce Harper of the Phillies (+1100) round out the top 5.
Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock
