MLB Predictions for 2016 Awards

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Mar 15, 2016; Fort Myers, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher David Price (24) pitches against the New York Yankees during the first inning at JetBlue Park. Mandatory Credit: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports /

Opening Day is right around the corner, which makes now the perfect time to roll out our MLB award predictions for 2016.

Which players will be among the best in the game? Will any Boston Red Sox players be in the mix? If these are the types of questions you want answers for, you’ve come to the right place.

Preseason predictions often turn out to be completely off base, but part of the joy of being a fan is being able to debate which players are worthy of these accolades throughout the season. To do that we have to start somewhere, so we’re here to launch the debate with our far too early thoughts on who will take home the hardware this season.

Let’s get things started by projecting the race for the most coveted honor that a player can receive in MLB, the Most Valuable Player award.

Next: MVP

Sep 22, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa (1) throws out a runner at first base during the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

MVP

AL: Carlos Correa
Stats Prediction: .290 AVG., 30 home runs, 95 RBI, 25 steals

Correa narrowly edges out Mike Trout for the award by leading the Houston Astros to an AL West title. While Trout ends up with superior numbers, enough voters hold it against him that his Los Angeles Angels miss the postseason for the fourth time in his five year career to allow Correa to sneak by.

Think Correa is too young and unproven to already be considered the league’s most valuable player? Well, Trout finished as the runner-up for the award in his first full season, then won it the following year at the age of 21 – the age Correa is entering this season.

NL: Paul Goldschmidt
Stats Prediction: .310, 35 home runs, 125 RBI, 20 steals

He’s been putting up MVP caliber numbers over the past three years, finishing as the runner-up twice in that span. This is the year Goldschmidt finally cashes in with a trophy. Last year he finished second in the majors with a 1.005 OPS and tied for third with an 8.8 WAR.

He often goes overlooked because his Arizona Diamondbacks finished last season with a losing record, but they were the second-highest scoring team in the NL and enter this season with a stronger rotation, led by Zack Greinke and Shelby Miller. If Arizona at least makes a legitimate run at a playoff spot then Goldschmidt will be worthy of consideration for this award.

Next: Cy Young

Mar 14, 2016; Fort Myers, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher David Price (24) smiles in the dugout against the Pittsburgh Pirates at JetBlue Park. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Cy Young

AL: David Price
Stats Prediction: 19 wins, 220 innings, 2.50 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 225 K’s

The Red Sox are going to need their new $217 million man to be one of the league’s best pitchers if they hope to contend this season. Price has won the award before and finished as the runner-up last year. If he can help take the Red Sox from worst to first, it’ll only help his chances.

Price has plenty of history in the AL East and understands the pressures of pitching in a division loaded with deep lineups. He also owns a career 1.95 ERA covering 11 starts at Fenway Park, so it’s a good bet that he’ll find his new environment to his liking.

NL: Clayton Kershaw
Stats Prediction: 18 wins, 230 innings, 2.20 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 280 strikeouts

The most dominant pitcher on the planet should enter every season as the favorite for this award. Kershaw may have only finished third last season, but he won the award in three of the previous four seasons and won the MVP award in 2014.

Besides, it’s not as if Kershaw took a step back last season. His 2.13 ERA was still third best in the majors and he set a new career-high with 301 strikeouts to lead the league by a comfortable margin.

Next: Rookie of the Year

Oct. 14, 2014; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton plays for the Salt River Rafters during an Arizona Fall League game against the Surprise Saguaros at Salt River Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Rookie of the Year

AL: Byron Buxton
Stats Prediction: .250 AVG, 10 home runs, 35 RBI, 20 steals

The 22-year old outfielder struggled in his first MLB call-up, hitting a mere .209/.250/.326 over 129 at-bats. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2012 draft isn’t quite a polished hitter yet and could still struggle early on, but the upside is tremendous. Despite last year’s results deflating some of the hype surrounding Buxton, he remains the second best prospect ranked by MLB.com.

Even if Buxton’s bat isn’t ready yet, he is still an elite defensive player with blazing speed. The Minnesota Twins may need to send him back to Triple-A for more seasoning, but he’ll help this team at some point this season and could prove to be a difference maker in the second half of the season.

NL: Corey Seager
Stats Prediction: .300 AVG, 15 home runs, 70 RBI, 8 steals

The 21-year old shortstop impressed in a 27 game sample last year, slashing .337/.425/.561 in 113 plate appearances. We can’t expect that level of production over a full season, but his minor league track record shows he has the ability to hit for both average and power. Last year he racked up 58 extra-base hits across two minor league levels before making his MLB debut.

Seager is the top prospects in the game, according to MLB.com. He’s expected to be the everyday shortstop for the Dodgers to start the season, making him the runaway favorite for the league’s top rookie.

Next: Reliever of the Year

Feb 24, 2016; Lee County, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Craig Kimbrel (46) throws during the workout at Jet Blue Park. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports /

Reliever of the Year

AL: Craig Kimbrel
Stats Prediction: 45 saves, 1.80 ERA, 13.5 K/9

The new Red Sox closer should pile up plenty of saves with the support of one of the best offenses in the game. He collected 40+ saves with a sub-2.00 ERA for three straight seasons before moving to San Diego last year, where he had the worst season of his career. Yet his worst was still better than what most pitchers would consider their best. Expect him to bounce back with a minuscule ERA and one of the best strikeout rates in the league.

New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman will give Kimbrel a run for his money, but his 30-game suspension will limit his innings and save opportunities. Wade Davis from the Kansas City Royals will also be in the mix, but he can’t match Kimbrel’s dominant strikeout rate.

NL: Jeurys Familia
Stats Prediction: 44 saves, 2.10 ERA, 9.5 K/9

The award went to Mark Melancon last year, in part because voters overrate save totals and the Pittsburgh Pirates closer was the only pitcher in MLB to top 50 saves. Melancon had a great season, but Familia had him beat in ERA, WAR and strikeout rate.

Familia will be determined to bounce back from blowing three saves in the World Series last year, which will fuel him to another dominant season. It also doesn’t hurt his chances that top closers like Kimbrel, Chapman and Francisco Rodriguez bolted to the AL over the winter.

Next: Batting Title

Mar 5, 2016; Kissimmee, FL, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) bats during the fifth inning of a spring training baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Osceola County Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Batting Title

AL: Jose Altuve
Batting average prediction: .330

The 5-foot-6 second baseman may be small in stature, but always produces a large pile of hits. Altuve led the league in hits in each of the last two seasons, collecting at least 200 in each. He has a batting title under his belt already and finished third last season.

Reigning batting champ Miguel Cabrera will be his biggest challenger, but the 32-year old slugger battled injury issues last year and didn’t secure enough plate appearances to qualify until late in the season. That risk makes Altuve the safer bet. Xander Bogaerts could be in the mix again as well, but if he starts to hit for more power then it could change his approach at the plate at the expense of his batting average.

NL: A.J. Pollock
Batting average prediction: .325

Last year’s breakout season was one reason why Arizona had the NL’s second best offense. Pollock has hit over .300 in each of the last two seasons and was second in the league with 192 hits in 2015. He saw his power spike with a career-high 20 homers last season, so if that trend continues then a few more of those deep fly outs may turn into hits that clear the fence.

Dee Gordon won the award last year, but his .333 average was by far a career high. Prior to that he has a .265 average over the previous three seasons, casting doubt on whether or not he can keep up this breakout performance. He also plays in a pitcher-friendly stadium, while Pollock calls home to one of the better hitters parks in MLB.

Next: Silver Slugger and Gold Glove