2023 AL MVP Betting Odds
2023 AL MVP Betting Odds
Toronto Blue Jays super-star Vladimir Guerrero Jr put up some impressive numbers in the 2021 season. Guerrero smashed 48 home runs, had a combined 234 Runs + RBIs while hitting an impressive .311.
Despite such a monstrous season at the plate, Guerrero finished a very distant second place, in AL MVP voting, behind the unanimous award winner, Shohei Ohtani.
Ohtani had a truly historic season in 2021, putting up remarkable numbers both as a hitter and as a pitcher. His stats were so impressive that the only comparable player people could use as a reference was someone named George Herman “Babe” Ruth.
Anytime you are compared to Babe Ruth on the diamond, you are doing something right.
As a pitcher, Ohtani threw over 130 innings last year, striking out 156 and delivering a quality start in over 60% of his outings.
As a hitter, the Japanese sensation delivered 46 home runs and stole 26 bases, while also leading the AL in triples with 8.
It’s no wonder that the early MLB odds have the Angels’ two-way threat as the betting favorite.
2022 AL MVP Odds
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Shohei Ohtani – what more can we say about the season that Shohei Ohtani just put up? Anytime you are being compared to Babe Ruth as a baseball player you are doing something that very few have done before you.
Ohtani’s biggest issue, if it’s an issue at all, remains his ability to stay on the field. Prior to last season, the Japanese-born slugger had never played more than 106 games in a year. If he can stay healthy again in 2022, many expect he can and will repeat as AL MVP.
Mike Trout – Mike Trout is one of only six players in MLB history to win three AL MVP awards. His latest win was 2019 when Trout put up 45 home runs and 214 Runs + RBI despite only playing in 134 games.
There is no doubt that at the end of his career, Trout will be thought of as one of the greatest players of all time. However, after managing to play only 36 games last year, it would be a sensational comeback story if he could win the MVP again in 2022.
Vlad Guerrero Jr – As we already discussed above, Vlad’s offensive season in 2021 resembled something more like a video game than a major league baseball player.
With a .401 OBP, a .601 SLG %, and an OPS of 1.002, his numbers would have been good enough to win an MVP award, if Ohtani hadn’t turned into Babe Ruth last year.
Probably the most exciting thing about Vladdy for Blue Jays fans is that he accomplished those incredible numbers at the age of 22. Now that he has just turned 23 and hasn’t yet reached his prime, who knows what kind of numbers he is actually capable of.
Contenders
Aaron Judge – In 2018 Aaron Judge played 112 games. In 2019 the Yankee slugger played 102 games. In the shortened 2020 season, Judge played only 28 of 60 regular-season games. In 2021, after years of battling injuries, Judge played in 148 Yankees games and put together a very impressive year.
Talent has never been the issue with Judge, but staying on the field has been. If he can find a way to stay healthy for another 150 games this year, no doubt he will be in the AL MVP conversation.
Rafael Devers – In a lineup that also has Xander Bogaerts, Trevor Story, and JD Martinez, it is Rafael Devers who has the best odds of being named AL MVP to start this season. That obviously speaks highly of the skills Devers is bringing to the diamond each day.
In 2021, the Boston third baseman cracked 38 home runs and drove in 113, while hitting .279. Devers is 25 this season and may just be entering his prime years.
Wander Franco – Baseball fans had been hearing about up-and-coming Rays prospect Wander Franco for several years before he was finally called up to the major leagues halfway through the season in 2021. There was a lot of hype and pressure on a player who was only 20-years-old at the time.
Franco not only delivered on expectations he actually exceeded them and quickly earned an everyday job at shortstop and a spot near the top of the Rays batting order.
Maybe the most impressive stat from Franco’s rookie season was reaching base in 43 consecutive games. It will be interesting to see what he can accomplish now that he has turned the ripe old age of 21.
Longshots With Value
Bo Bichette – The fact of the matter is that after the 2021 season Bo Bichette had, the only reason his odds aren’t even lower to win the 2022 AL MVP award is that his teammate Vlad Guerrero Jr stole most of the spotlight.
Those who enjoy MLB player prop betting and fantasy baseball are all well aware of the crazy stat lines Bichette put up in what was his first chance to play in a 162 game MLB season.
Jose Ramirez – If you believe that Juan Soto of the Washington Nationals will see enough pitches to take a run at the NL MVP award, then maybe you might be interested in betting on Jose Ramirez for AL MVP.
On a team that is near the bottom of the league in total payroll, Ramirez stands out in that Guardians lineup like Soto does with the Nationals.
There are those who believe the Cleveland slugger doesn’t have enough talent around him to force opposition pitchers to throw him strikes.
There are others who believe the Guardians will be on the losing end of enough lopsided games that Ramirez may get to see a lot of fastballs while trailing by six runs in the 7th inning.
George Springer – Springer signed a big contract with Toronto before the start of the 2021 season and then promptly went out and hurt himself. Limited to only 78 games last year, the longtime Astros slugger still popped 22 home runs with an OPS over .900.
Anyone hitting in front of Bo Bichette and Vlad Jr is going to get some pitches to hit. Springer was great in Houston with a loaded lineup behind him. If he can stay healthy in Toronto, one would have to expect the same kind of production.
AL MVP Betting
Those who are successful at betting on AL MVPs are those who are able to recognize player potential and odds value before the betting public catches on.
With hundreds of player betting options available, AL MVP futures bets can be difficult to predict.
However, many bettors don’t judge themselves on cashing a winning ticket, but rather try to bet on potential MVP candidates before their odds are corrected by the general public.
Let’s use Blue Jays slugger Vlad Guerrero Jr as an example. At the beginning of last season, Guerrero was +2500 to win the AL MVP. By late June, the odds on Guerrero were all the way down to +105.
As we all know, Vladdy finished second in voting to the eventual MVP, Shohei Ohtani. But any bettor who bought Guerrero at +2500 and watched his odds plummet all the way to +105 definitely had a betting ticket with great value.
Recognizing players who are about to break out and whose odds are about to drop is the biggest skill set required when placing MVP futures bets.
Where Can You Bet AL MVP
As the sports betting industry continues to open up and legalize all across North America, betting on the AL MVP award winner has never been easier.
The first thing that is required for sports bettors is to always do their homework. Study player performance from previous years and have a list of player names who you think have a chance to contend.
A great resource that is often overlooked is looking at past odds on eventual award winners. This will give you an idea of how often preseason longshots win the award, in comparison to the suggested favorites and contenders.
Once you have a good idea of players who interest you, then a bettor should be looking at the odds offered by numerous sportsbooks. A bettor will also want to consider the welcome bonus and different promotions being offered by those different books.
There is a wide range of bonuses and promotions available and there will also be a wide range of odds on some of the players you want to target.
Picking the operator who provides you with the best odds available on the players you want to bet on is your first great strategy move when placing a futures bet.
Once you have selected the sportsbooks that make the most sense for you, then create your accounts and go ahead and place your bets.
As usual, we definitely recommend you track all your bets either with a spreadsheet or software designed to help you keep a record of your wagers.
Tracking your bets is the best way to stay within your money management plan and of course to learn from your past results.
Recent AL MVP Award Winners
| Year | Player | Team |
| 2021 | Shohei Ohtani | Angels |
| 2020 | Jose Abreu | White Sox |
| 2019 | Mike Trout | Angels |
| 2018 | Mookie Betts | Red Sox |
| 2017 | Jose Altuve | Astros |
| 2016 | Mike Trout | Angels |
| 2015 | Josh Donaldson | Blue Jays |
| 2014 | Mike Trout | Angels |
| 2013 | Miguel Cabrera | Tigers |
| 2012 | Miguel Cabrera | Tigers |
Most AL MVP Awards All Time
| Player | Total AL MVPs | Years |
| Mike Trout | 3 | 2014, ‘16, ‘19 |
| Alex Rodriguez | 3 | 2003, ‘05, ‘07 |
| Mickey Mantle | 3 | 1956, ‘57, ‘62 |
| Yogi Berra | 3 | 1951, ‘54, ‘55 |
| Joe DiMaggio | 3 | 1939, ‘41, ‘47 |
| Jimmie Foxx | 3 | 1932, ‘33, ‘38 |