Pretty much everything about the 2020 MLB season was unique, and the postseason awards, which will be announced this week, will be no different. Handing out hardware based on just 60 games is something new, and while it's hard to know what to make of the numbers compiled in such a small sample size, we can fairly use them to compare players and hence make picks for the award winners.
Several of the contests are quite compelling, notably the National League Cy Young and both MVP races, while others seem to be rather clear cut (should we just call him "Cy" Bieber?).
We surveyed a group of our writers, analysts and editors for their award choices and deliver the results here, along with MLB Insider David Schoenfield's look at all the leading candidates and insight from some of our voters on why they picked whom they did.
Jump to: MVP | Rookie of the Year | Cy Young | Manager of the Year
AL MVP: Jose Abreu, White Sox
Also receiving votes: Teoscar Hernandez, Blue Jays; Alex Verdugo, Red Sox; Liam Hendriks, Athletics; Hyun-Jin Ryu, Blue Jays; George Springer, Astros; Byron Buxton, Twins; Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox; David Fletcher, Angels; Dallas Keuchel, White Sox; Kyle Lewis, Mariners; Salvador Perez, Royals; Eddie Rosario, Twins.
The finalists: Jose Abreu, White Sox; DJ LeMahieu, Yankees; Jose Ramirez, Indians
What you need to know: This race looked a little more wide open than the NL race, although Abreu was the favorite after leading the league in RBIs (60), slugging (.617), hits (76) and total bases (148). Indeed, that RBI total led the majors and was the most through the first 60 games of a season since 2013 (Miguel Cabrera). Yes, Abreu had opportunities thanks to the lineup in front of him, but he hit .329 and slugged .714 with runners in scoring position. He gets bonus points as a leader of a team that cracked the playoffs for the first time since 2008 and finished over .500 for the first time since 2012. A knock against Abreu: He has little defensive value and much of his damage came against the Tigers (.429, 17 RBIs) -- that was more RBIs than he had combined against the Indians and Twins (14), the teams the White Sox were fighting for the division title.
Abreu's value is all at the plate, but LeMahieu actually led the AL in OPS thanks in part to a league-leading .364 batting average and .421 OBP. He also matched Abreu in leading AL position players with 2.8 WAR, while playing a solid second base (and filling in at third and first). One knock against LeMahieu is that he missed 10 games -- not a big deal in a normal season, but that's 17% of the season in a 60-game schedule. Like several Yankees this season, LeMahieu also benefited from a ridiculous home/road split, hitting .423 with eight home runs at home and .306 with two home runs on the road.
It's not a surprise that a Cleveland player made the final trio, but it's perhaps a bit of a surprise that it's Ramirez and not likely Cy Young winner Shane Bieber. Ramirez, who finished third in the MVP voting in 2017 and 2018, bounced back from an awful start in 2019 (hitting under .200 into the middle of June) and had another big season in 2020, hitting .292/.386/.607 with 17 home runs, 46 RBIs and a league-leading 45 runs. He also led all AL position players in WAR (3.4, with Anthony Rendon second at 2.7).
Also notable for his absence: Mike Trout, who will finish out of the top two in the MVP voting for just the second time in his career (he was fourth in 2017, when an injury limited him to 114 games). Trout remained one of the best hitters in the league, but some poor defensive metrics dragged down his Baseball-Reference WAR (he tied Abreu for third at FanGraphs).
Our picks: Abreu 5, Ramirez 5, LeMahieu 2, Shane Bieber 2
The case for Abreu: Among the top three in the balloting, it really comes down to what they did with the bat as there isn't enough consensus data to boost any of them based on defense. They created roughly an equal number of runs, though LeMahieu used markedly fewer outs to get close to Abreu and Ramirez. Still, it's Abreu's situational success that puts him over the top for me. For old-timers, it's his 60 RBIs. For RBI scoffers, it's his edge in win probability added and championship probability added. He was the heart and soul of the White Sox. -- Bradford Doolittle
The case for Ramirez: Depending on the measure, a man named Jose -- either Ramirez or Abreu -- was the best hitter in the AL this year. Their offensive production was incredibly close, and thus both warrant MVP consideration. Thing is, Ramirez played a far more difficult position at third base than Abreu's first, and he's a far better baserunner than Abreu. Those are separators. And that's why Ramirez is MVP. -- Jeff Passan
The case for LeMahieu: The biggest argument against LeMahieu is that he played in only 50 games, and I'm just not willing to punish the guy who was the most valuable player in the American League when he played for missing 10 games in a year filled with injuries across the sport. LeMahieu flirted with .400 before his thumb injury, ultimately hitting .364 with a .421 on-base percentage with power. He's the only one of the three finalists with an OPS over 1.000 and he was the one guy you just knew was going to throw out a couple of hits every game on a Yankees team that was among the most injury prone in the league. -- Dan Mullen
The case for Bieber: He wasn't a finalist, but I thought Bieber was clearly the best -- and most valuable -- player in the AL. I understand the reluctance to give the award to a pitcher, but that's no longer an automatic "no" since Justin Verlander and Clayton Kershaw both won MVPs in the past decade. With no clear dominant season from the position players, let's give it to a pitcher who did dominate. Bieber went 8-1 with a 1.63 ERA, capturing the major league pitching Triple Crown, becoming the first since Johan Santana in 2006 to lead both leagues in wins, ERA and strikeouts. Batters hit .167 against Bieber and he allowed no runs in five of his 12 starts. -- David Schoenfield
NL MVP: Freddie Freeman, Braves
Also getting votes: Trevor Story, Rockies; Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves; Dominic Smith, Mets; Yu Darvish, Cubs; Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals; Brandon Belt, Giants; Wil Myers, Padres; Max Fried, Braves; Ian Happ, Cubs; Dansby Swanson, Braves; Ryan Tepera, Cubs; Devin Williams, Brewers.
The finalists: Mookie Betts, Dodgers; Freddie Freeman, Braves; Manny Machado, Padres
What you need to know: If voters factored in postseason play, Betts would have probably won, but since only regular-season play is considered, Freeman loomed as the big favorite. Freeman hit .341/.462/.640, leading the NL in FanGraphs WAR (3.4), runs and doubles and ranking second to Juan Soto in average, OBP and slugging, and second to teammate Marcell Ozuna with 53 RBIs. He hit .423 with runners in scoring position, hit .344 with a 1.219 OPS in high-leverage moments, and ranked second behind the Giants' Mike Yastrzemski in win probability added.
One reason Freeman had his best season at the plate is that he continues to cut down on his strikeout rate -- he had more walks than strikeouts -- and was the seventh-toughest hitter in the majors to strike out in 2020, a great accomplishment for a power hitter. Freeman also played all 60 games -- and remember, he tested positive for COVID-19 early in July and detailed his harrowing experience, including one night when his temperature reached 104.5. That's not why he should win MVP honors, but it certainly is part of his extraordinary season.
Betts also was extraordinary in his first season with the Dodgers, hitting .292/.366/.562 with 16 home runs and 47 runs, and winning a Gold Glove for his outstanding defense in right field. Betts actually topped Freeman in Baseball-Reference WAR (3.4 to 2.9). Like Freeman, Betts was great in the clutch, hitting .439 with runners in scoring position and .314 in high-leverage situations. If you like your MVP to have a well-rounded game, Betts might be your choice, but Freeman holds the clear advantage with what he did at the plate.
Machado's inclusion as a top-three finisher is surprising, not because he didn't have a great season, but because teammate Fernando Tatis Jr. led the majors in headlines, highlight reels and star power the first half of the season. Of course, in 2020, "half" means one month, and while Tatis slumped in September (.208, four home runs), Machado remained consistent throughout the 60-game schedule. Tatis had the slight edge in FanGraphs WAR (2.9 to 2.6) while Machado led in B-R WAR (2.8 to 2.5). For what it's worth, neither fared that well against the Dodgers, the team the Padres were trying to beat in the NL West: Tatis hit .204 with two home runs in 10 games and Machado hit .237 with two home runs.
Our picks: Freeman 10, Betts 4
Why Freeman got the nod: It's a tough call between Freeman and Betts, but I'd give Freddie the slight edge based on his season at the plate and a couple of narrative considerations. As for the offense, hitting .341 with pop and a .462 OBP and more walks than strikeouts is self-explanatory. But the fact that he played in all 60 games after contracting COVID-19 is a great 2020 story. And while the Dodgers would still have won the NL West without Betts, I don't think you could say the same about the Braves without Freeman in the East. -- Bradford Doolittle
Lest one think a first baseman can't win MVP in the modern game, consider the case of Frederick Charles Freeman. Betts and Tatis Jr. and Machado and Trea Turner are more versatile players. Freeman's bat was just that much better. Soto was better offensively. He played just 13 fewer games. In the end, Freeman is the choice -- like Ramirez in the AL, not by much, but anything is enough. -- Jeff Passan
The case for Betts: Freeman had the higher FanGraphs WAR and Betts led in Baseball-Reference's version. Regardless, I don't feel comfortable relying so heavily on WAR in such a shortened season. Freeman was the better offensive player, but Betts wasn't far off. And Betts contributed far more value both in the outfield and on the bases. He also set the tone for the best team in baseball and was the biggest reason the Dodgers were finally able to break through and win the World Series. That's a quintessential MVP in my book. -- Alden Gonzalez
AL Cy Young: Shane Bieber, Indians
The finalists: Shane Bieber, Indians; Kenta Maeda, Twins; Hyun-Jin Ryu, Blue Jays
What you need to know: This was the easiest call on the board as Bieber was not only the heavy favorite, but a likely unanimous selection after becoming the first pitcher since Johan Santana in 2006 to lead the majors in wins, ERA and strikeouts. After finishing fourth in the Cy Young voting in 2019, Bieber came out of summer camp in top form, allowing no runs in his first two outings and four of his first six. He ended up with five scoreless outings in 12 starts (and another with just one unearned run) and double-digit strikeouts in eight starts as he finished 8-1 with a 1.63 ERA and 122 K's in 77⅓ innings.
Maeda and Ryu were teammates with the Dodgers in 2019, but Maeda was traded to the Twins in a deal that was tied to the Mookie Betts blockbuster while Ryu signed as a free agent with the Blue Jays. Maeda went 6-1 with a 2.70 ERA and a league-leading .202 OBP allowed (Bieber was second at .229). Ryu went 5-2 with a 2.69 ERA. Fine seasons, but Bieber was in a class by himself among American League starters.
Our picks: Bieber 14, everyone else 0
Why Bieber was unanimous: Of all the awards, this one is the easiest to figure. Bieber was arguably the most valuable player in all of baseball, with his 1.63 ERA and record-setting strikeout rate (14.2 K/9 IP), and surely the best pitcher. -- Eric Karabell
NL Cy Young: Trevor Bauer, Reds
The finalists: Trevor Bauer, Reds; Yu Darvish, Cubs; Jacob deGrom, Mets
What you need to know: This was an interesting are as you could make strong arguments for all three finalists. DeGrom was trying to join Greg Maddux and Randy Johnson as the only pitchers to win three consecutive Cy Young Awards. The Reds were one of just four franchises to never have a Cy Young winner (the Rangers, Rockies and Marlins are the others). Darvish looked like a bust his first year-plus with the Cubs after signing a big free-agent deal, but turned it around in the second half of 2019 and continued that success into 2020.
Bauer was probably the favorite after going 5-4 with a league-leading 1.73 ERA, a terrific 100-17 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 73 innings and an opponents' batting average of .159. Late in the season, with the Reds fighting for a playoff spot, Bauer beat the Brewers on short rest, allowing one run with 12 K's in eight innings. Digging deeper, he also benefited from facing an easy slate -- to be fair, most of the NL Central pitchers did, as no team in the division hit well in 2020. And in interleague games, Bauer got to face the weak-hitting Tigers twice and the Royals once, while facing the White Sox just once and not facing the Twins at all.
Darvish went 8-3 with a 2.01 ERA and a 93-14 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 76 innings. If we consider all runs (not just earned runs), he and Bauer match up even more closely than the ERAs indicate: Bauer allowed 17 runs in 73 innings, Darvish 18 in 76. Darvish also faced the White Sox twice and the Twins once -- beating the White Sox twice, with one run over 14 innings, including seven scoreless in his final start to help the Cubs win the division. Voters don't pay that much attention to wins anymore, but maybe Darvish's better win-loss record helps.
Plagued by his usual lack of run support, deGrom went 4-2 with a 2.38 ERA in 68 innings, with a league-leading 104 strikeouts. He did pitch in the tougher NL East, so that's a consideration, but at one point he made four starts in a row against the Marlins, the weakest-hitting team in the division. He also didn't carry quite the same workload as Darvish or Bauer. The most notable name missing from the top three: Braves left-hander Max Fried, who went 7-0 with a 2.25 ERA (although he pitched just 56 innings).
Our picks: Bauer 8, Darvish 5, deGrom 1
The case for Bauer: One NL starting pitcher finished the 2020 season with a sub-2.00 ERA. One had a sub-0.80 WHIP. Try not to overthink this. DeGrom showed us how little pitcher wins matter and that run prevention matters most. A case can be made for deGrom yet again, but Bauer did the best job of preventing runs and baserunners among NL hurlers. -- Eric Karabell
The case for Darvish: You can slice and dice this many ways, but it's probably a coin flip between Bauer and Darvish. I lean to Darvish for two main reasons: He allowed five home runs while Bauer allowed nine, and those three starts against the White Sox and Twins did mean he faced slightly tougher lineups on average than Bauer. (Darvish's opponents averaged 4.49 runs per game compared to 4.19 for Bauer.) -- David Schoenfield
AL Manager of the Year: Kevin Cash, Rays
The finalists: Kevin Cash, Rays; Charlie Montoyo, Blue Jays; Rick Renteria, White Sox
What you need to know: It would certainly have been interesting if Renteria had won -- after getting fired -- but Cash was the overwhelmingly likely pick. The manager with the best record doesn't usually win, merely because his team is often the most talented, but Cash guided the Rays to a division title over the deep-pocketed Yankees and finished with the American League's best record at 40-20. Along the way, the Rays overcame a rash of pitching injuries, as Yonny Chirinos, Brendan McKay, Colin Poche, Chaz Roe, Jalen Beeks and Andrew Kittredge all suffered season-ending injuries by the end of August, with at least five others spending time on the injured list. As a testament to Cash's creativity and ability to manage within games, 12 different Rays relievers recorded a save.
Renteria's White Sox finished 35-25, finishing above .500 for the first time since 2012 thanks to a high-powered offense. Renteria also got good work from a bullpen that finished seventh in the majors in ERA. Montoyo, in his second season with the Blue Jays, saw his club improve from 67-95 to 32-28. The Blue Jays had to deal with not being allowed to play in Toronto and therefore had their first 13 games on the road before their Triple-A park in Buffalo was ready. The Blue Jays had to use 12 different starting pitchers and multiple closers after Ken Giles went down early in the season.
Our picks: Cash 13, Montoyo 1
Why Cash was our overwhelming pick: Amid the most chaotic of circumstances, Cash helped turn the Rays around after a sluggish start, leading them to the World Series. Cash embodies many of the qualities analytically driven front offices look for out of the modern-day manager who can successfully work on the field and with the front office. While Cash's decision to take out Blake Snell in Game 7 of the World Series continues to draw criticism, the move aligned with the pattern of moves that got the team to the World Series in the first place, and certainly does not invalidate all of the successful decisions that helped get the team an opportunity to face off against the Dodgers in the first place. -- Joon Lee
NL Manager of the Year: Don Mattingly, Marlins
The finalists: Don Mattingly, Marlins; David Ross, Cubs; Jayce Tingler, Padres
What you need to know: Mattingly appeared to be the favorite, guiding the Marlins to their first winning season since 2009 and first playoff appearance since 2003 -- all while overcoming a teamwide COVID-19 outbreak that devastated the organization the first week of the season. As the Marlins saw their schedule delayed and then had to wait for players to return, Mattingly steered a makeshift roster through that first month, with the Marlins relying on minor leaguers and castoffs. Mattingly was forced to use 37 pitchers -- seven more than any other team.
In his first season guiding the Cubs, Ross won a division title with a 34-26 record, even though stars like Javier Baez, Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Kyle Schwarber all had substandard seasons by their standards. Ross had to adjust on the fly, changing his closer early in the season when Craig Kimbrel struggled, and also overcoming an injury to starter Jose Quintana, who made just one start. The Cubs started 3-1 -- and never relinquished first place.
Another first-year manager, Tingler took over a Padres team that had finished 70-92 in 2019 and hadn't finished over .500 since 2010. The team improved nearly 200 percentage points, finishing 37-23 for the second-best record in the National League behind the Dodgers. The Padres were 11-12, but back-to-back extra-inning wins over the Rangers turned things around, and they went 26-11 the rest of the way. Tingler got some great numbers out of three veterans who had struggled in 2019 -- Manny Machado, Eric Hosmer and Wil Myers -- as well as rookie Jake Cronenworth and second-year center fielder Trent Grisham.
Our picks: Mattingly 12, Tingler 1, Dave Roberts 1
Why Mattingly was our big winner: Tingler and Ross were solid finalists, but let's be real -- you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who didn't pick the Marlins to finish a distant fifth in the NL East. And that was before the COVID-19 outbreak that threw the team into turmoil and severely tested its depth. Maybe we all underestimated the talent level in Miami, but the storyline is way too strong for Mattingly to be denied. -- Steve Richards
AL Rookie of the Year: Kyle Lewis, Mariners
The finalists: Cristian Javier, Astros; Kyle Lewis, Mariners; Luis Robert, White Sox
What you need to know: This looked like a two-man race between center fielders Lewis and Robert. Both had parallel seasons, ranking among the league's best players through August -- that's all players, not just rookies -- before struggling in September. Lewis was hitting .360/.446/.568 with seven home runs through his first 30 games, but then hit .147 with four home runs over his final 28 games. Robert was hitting .298/.348/.612 with 10 home runs through August, but then hit .136 with one home run in September. In the final numbers, Lewis hit .262/.364/.437 with 11 home runs and 1.4 Baseball-Reference WAR, and he led all rookies in plate appearances, runs, walks, total bases and home runs (tied with Robert). Robert hit .233/.302/.436 with 11 home runs and 1.6 WAR. Do you prefer's Lewis edge in OBP or Robert's edge on defense?
The more interesting debate might be whom you would prefer long term. Robert is a power-speed combo guy who won a Gold Glove, is two years younger and had the much better Statcast measurements, ranking in the 56th percentile in hard-hit rate and 96th percentile in sprint speed. But Robert also ranked in the second percentile in swing-and-miss rate, and his tendency to chase out of the zone led to the big September slump. Lewis' hard-hit rate was in the 30th percentile, but while he walked a lot more often than Robert, he also struck out a lot. Given the age difference and top-shelf athleticism, I'd go with Robert, but he has to improve that plate discipline to become more productive offensively.
Our picks: Lewis 13, Robert 1
Why Lewis was our runaway pick: Lewis wasn't just the best, most productive rookie in the AL this year -- he was a great story, too. He dramatically improved his walk rate despite making the jump from Double-A to the major leagues, turned himself into a league-average center fielder when the thought was that he would transition full time to a corner-outfield spot and wowed people within the Mariners with the work he did to get looser and more fluid. At 25, the former No. 11 overall pick looks like someone who might stick as an above-average everyday player. -- Alden Gonzalez
NL Rookie of the Year: Devin Williams, Brewers
The finalists: Alec Bohm, Phillies; Jake Cronenworth, Padres; Devin Williams, Brewers
What you need to know: It was interesting to see the voting results here, as five or six players could have plausibly ended up with first-place votes. Cronenworth, 26, came to San Diego from the Rays as part of the Tommy Pham trade, was a pleasant surprise and the front-runner most of the season, starting at three positions and tearing it up in August. But he slumped down the stretch and finished at .285/.354/.477, with four home runs, 20 RBIs and 1.4 WAR.
Bohm, the third overall pick in the 2018 draft, didn't get called up until mid-August, but he hit .338/.400/.481, with four home runs and 23 RBIs in 44 games. The bat was impressive, but Bohm's defense suggested he's a future first baseman instead of a third baseman, and he was credited with 0.7 WAR.
The Brewers drafted Williams way back in 2013, and after some injuries and a shift to the bullpen, he reached the majors last season and emerged as the best reliever in the majors in 2020. He allowed just one run in 27 innings and struck out a remarkable 53% of the batters he faced, thanks primarily to an absolutely wicked changeup. Batters went 2-for-62 (.032) against the pitch with 41 strikeouts.
Others who could have gotten first-place consideration included Pirates third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes, who wasn't called up until September but hit .376 with five home runs in 24 games; Dodgers starter Tony Gonsolin, who went 2-2 with a 2.31 ERA in 46⅔ innings; and Braves starter Ian Anderson, who went 3-2 with a 1.95 ERA in six starts.
Our picks: Williams 12, Cronenworth 1, Gonsolin 1
Why Williams won big among our voters: Because Bohm got off to a late start and Cronenworth slumped over the last month, Williams was the one NL rookie (among the top three in the balloting) who performed from stem to stern. His impact was tremendous. In terms of win probability added, Williams ranked 11th among pitchers and in the top 20 of all players. Only three NL pitchers ranked above him, and none were rookies. And because the Brewers needed every ounce of that impact to get into the postseason, Williams led all MLB pitchers in championship probability added. If that's all too fancy for you, then consider that he struck out 53 batters and allowed one earned run. -- Bradford Doolittle
The case for Cronenworth: It's not just that Cronenworth led all NL rookies with 26 runs, 22 extra-base hits, 15 doubles, three triples and 82 total bases while ranking second with 48 hits, 18 walks and 20 RBIs. He played all over the infield for the Slam Diego sensation, hitting .285/.354/.477 with four homers in 54 games and providing strong offense from the utility role, which is of growing importance in the modern game. Cronenworth, 26, played a critical role in the success of one of the most exciting teams in the sport. -- Joon Lee
The case for Gonsolin: Nothing against the actual finalists for this award, but Gonsolin posted a legit 2.31 ERA and 0.836 WHIP over 46⅔ innings for the best team in baseball when it actually needed rotation help. L.A. got it. Clayton Kershaw was the lone Dodgers hurler with a higher WAR. Gonsolin deserves attention. -- Eric Karabell