The first eight weeks of the 2021 season have proved that, in spite of its problems, Major League Baseball still crushes the parity component. Despite the lack of an expanded postseason format, 24 teams are within six games of a playoff spot, while basically every division -- most notably the American League East and the National League West -- is providing tight races that should persist through the summer.
A lot of competitive teams means a lot of indispensable players. But which players are the most indispensable? Two months in, I thought it was a good time to identify each team's most valuable player thus far. "Value" is a relative term -- it means something different for 30 organizations. And while it's easy to just pull up each club's leader in wins above replacement, doing so -- particularly at this juncture, when defensive metrics can still deceive -- doesn't feel adequate.
These are the MVPs for each team not just for their stat lines, but for how important their contributions have been, based on the unique circumstances of their employer. There are several bona fide superstars on this list, of course. But there are also young players finally living up to their hype, established veterans who have recovered from awful seasons, unheralded difference-makers who deserve their due, minor league journeymen who came out of nowhere to contribute and, in one case, a player unlike anyone we have ever seen.
Here are the 30 players who have meant the most to their teams so far.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Kelly, just back from a stint on the injured list, carries a 1.078 OPS with more walks (23) than strikeouts (18) through 114 plate appearances. His 1.7 fWAR in 29 games nearly matches his total of 1.8 through 111 games in 2019. Kelly, the big piece in the Paul Goldschmidt trade of three offseasons ago, showed glimpses of breakout potential during that 2019 season, only to struggle mightily throughout the COVID-19-shortened season of 2020. At 26, he might be turning into one of the game's best catchers.
Atlanta Braves
The Braves have been a disappointment early on, but that has not extended to Acuna, who, at age 23, has taken another step toward potentially becoming the game's best all-around player. He leads the NL with 15 homers, has added six steals and sports a .990 OPS. But the numbers don't necessarily capture it. Acuna is just so darn cool. The events of May 19 were a perfect example. The Braves and the Mets were tied in the bottom of the ninth, with the Braves in danger of falling five games behind in the National League East. And Acuna -- yellow gear shining, red belt glistening, gold chain popping -- unleashed a monster home run to dead center. On his way to first base, he paid homage to Vince Carter with the "it's over" celebration.
Baltimore Orioles
Means went from an afterthought to an All-Star as a 26-year-old rookie in 2019, and since then has become one of the sport's best-performing starting pitchers. The surface numbers of 2020 -- 2-4 record, 4.53 ERA -- didn't pop, but Means experienced an uptick in velocity, didn't issue many walks and began to dominate toward the tail end of that season. That carried over into 2021, when Means has put up a 1.79 ERA with 64 strikeouts and 11 walks in 65 1/3 innings, adding a no-hitter -- one that should've been a perfect game -- while pitching for one of baseball's least-talented teams. The average exit velocity off him is 85.5 mph, fifth lowest in the majors.
Boston Red Sox
Bogaerts has quietly been among the game's best shortstops -- players, really -- for the past seven years. But the 2021 season has seen him get off to an especially awesome start for a Red Sox team that is exceeding expectations while playing in what is arguably baseball's most difficult division. Bogaerts is batting .343/.399/.594 with a 170 weighted runs created plus (wRC+), putting himself squarely in the MVP discussion now that Mike Trout (calf strain) will be out for a prolonged period of time. Not surprisingly, his line-drive percentage (25.4) is on pace for a career high.
Chicago Cubs
For those who forgot just how great Bryant can be, he has offered up a helpful reminder, with a .991 OPS that ranks sixth in the majors. It's the type of production akin to Bryant's scorching first three years in the big leagues, but also the type he's still capable of producing when healthy. Bryant paces a Cubs team that seems to be treading water, just in time to become one of baseball's most coveted trade pieces as he navigates through his final few months before free agency. He hasn't just been providing elite offense -- he has been doing so while playing five different positions for Chicago.
Chicago White Sox
The White Sox lost Eloy Jimenez to a ruptured pectoral tendon in late March and watched Luis Robert suffer a torn hip flexor in early May. With their highly anticipated season in flux, they needed someone to step up. And Mercedes -- a minor league journeyman who played a stint in low-level independent ball, went in the Rule 5 draft and made the team as a third catcher -- has dominated as the team's designated hitter, boasting an AL-leading .344 batting average. The list of White Sox contributors is quite long, but Mercedes is one of the best storylines of the year. And based on the comments from teammates after his infamous 3-0 home run, the team has clearly rallied around him.
Cincinnati Reds
After a disappointing first season with the Reds, Castellanos has been one of baseball's best hitters, accumulating 112 total bases and sporting a .359/.418/.671 slash line to form a devastating one-two punch with Jesse Winker. He has also been a lot of fun, inspiring a T-shirt for the way he got in the face of Cardinals pitcher Jake Woodford, then giving love to a fan who inspired a home run by telling him to "imagine that [commissioner] Rob Manfred's face was on the baseball." After a five-hit game on May 2, which included the walk-off, Reds reliever Amir Garrett said the following about Castellanos: "His mindset is on a whole different planet. He wants to be the best. He's never satisfied. I can see the difference from him last year and him this year."
Cleveland Indians
With Franmil Reyes out until July with an abdominal strain, Ramirez basically is Cleveland's offense right now. He has an .881 OPS and has homered in 6.3% of his at-bats. The rest of the team (minus Reyes): a .617 OPS and a home run percentage of 2.5. Cleveland ranks within the bottom 10 in runs per game despite Ramirez's production and will need a lot more of him going forward. Ramirez has finished within the top three in AL MVP voting in three of the past four years and could vie for the award again if the Indians somehow win the AL Central.
Colorado Rockies
The Rockies have a lot of holes, but McMahon can fill many of them. The 26-year-old left-handed hitter has spent a lot of time at second and third base this season, providing stellar defense at both positions, and can also play a good first base if necessary. On top of that, he sports an .834 OPS with 13 home runs while playing in every one of the Rockies' games this season. The Rockies have a lot to figure out moving forward, but McMahon stands as a solid building block for their future.
Detroit Tigers
The Tigers have a lot of promising young pitching in their pipeline, but Boyd, the elder statesman of their current rotation, has been the one stepping up thus far -- one year after being the sport's worst starting pitcher. Boyd has gone from a major-league-worst 6.71 ERA in 2020 to a 3.08 ERA through his first nine starts of 2021. He allowed 54 home runs from 2019 to 2020, at least 10 more than anybody else, but has allowed only two of them in 52 2/3 innings this year -- a rare bright spot for the rebuilding Tigers.
Houston Astros
Gurriel has followed his worst season with one that is on pace to be his best, with a .314/.385/.527 slash line, seven homers, 15 doubles and more walks (22) than strikeouts (19). His OPS is currently 248 points higher than it was during last year's pandemic-shortened season. The Astros' lineup is incredibly deep, even without George Springer, but they remain in contention largely because Gurriel and his 153 weighted runs created plus has added another dimension. The biggest key to Gurriel's resurgence has been his plate discipline: His chase rate of 28.4% easily on pace to be the lowest of his career.
Kansas City Royals
The Royals have a wave of talented young arms on the horizon, but Duffy -- amazingly one of five current Royals who were also on the championship team from 2015 -- has been their brightest. He was charged with just two earned runs in 30 innings through his first five starts and carried a 1.94 ERA through seven starts -- seventh lowest among qualified starters -- before landing on the injured list with what was ultimately diagnosed as a flexor strain in his left forearm. Duffy, who called the injury a "speed bump," is a free agent at season's end.
Los Angeles Angels
Ohtani, fully recovered from Tommy John surgery and finally unleashed as a two-way player, has proved to be one of the sport's fiercest sluggers, fastest runners and nastiest pitchers. He isn't just the MVP on a team that includes Mike Trout -- he's the MVP of the majors and one of the most uniquely talented players in the game's history. There is no other way to describe a man with a .958 OPS and 15 home runs in 187 plate appearances and a 2.37 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 30 1/3 innings.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers' lineup has been disrupted by injuries and underperformance from several star players, but Muncy has been a constant. He went through a dry spell recently, but his patient approach allowed him to consistently reach base regardless. Now he's riding a hot stretch, with 21 hits and five home runs over his past 48 at-bats, and his OPS is up to .996 for the season. His ability to cover first and second base -- the latter a necessity with Gavin Lux moving over to shortstop to fill in for the injured Corey Seager -- has also been a major benefit for the defending World Series champions.
Miami Marlins
The Marlins took a chance when they used Zac Gallen to acquire Chisholm from the D-backs in July 2019. Chisholm had struggled in Double-A, was noticeably raw, and Gallen represented the safer bet. So far, that gamble seems to be paying off. Chisholm, the blue-haired middle infielder from the Bahamas, has emerged as one of baseball's most electrifying players as a 23-year-old rookie. Coming off a rough 21-game stretch in the majors last year, Chisholm is batting .286/.350/.486 with nine stolen bases and 10 extra-base hits in 2021. The Marlins have been very good about developing pitchers. They need to hit on position players like this more often.
Milwaukee Brewers
We're taking Burnes, although you can easily go with another Milwaukee starting pitcher, Brandon Woodruff, here. Burnes went 127 consecutive batters before recording his first walk this season. He struck out 58 in the process, breaking records for strikeouts without a walk to begin a season (51 by Kenley Jansen in 2017) and strikeouts without a walk at any point in a season (56 by Curt Schilling in 2002). The latter mark was promptly broken by Gerrit Cole, but Burnes has been just as dominant. Despite getting roughed up a bit by the Padres on Tuesday, he owns a 2.33 ERA with a strikeout-to-walk ratio that looks like a misprint -- 14.37. He's throwing five pitches -- a cutter, a slider, a sinker, a curveball and a changeup -- that are all elite.
Minnesota Twins
Before suffering what was ultimately diagnosed as a Grade 2 hip strain on May 6, Buxton was finally putting it all together. He was named AL Player of the Month for April, was hitting .370/.408/.772, trailed only Trout in fWAR, was graded among baseball's best defensive outfielders and stood among very few positive developments from a wholly disappointing Twins team. Alas, injuries are taking their toll once again on Buxton. His return to the lineup can't come soon enough for Minnesota: Even after his three-week absence, nobody on the Twins is close to Buxton in fWAR.
New York Mets
You figured there was no way deGrom could get better, then you watched him throw his fastball in the triple digits during spring training and figured there was no way anyone could hit him in 2021, and well, you were basically right on the second thought. Before his brief stint on the injured list, deGrom had been charged with three earned runs -- three -- through 40 innings, a span in which he struck out 65 batters and walked just seven of them. In his return on Tuesday, he pitched five innings of one-run ball, struck out nine more hitters and averaged 99 mph with his fastball. His ERA (0.80), WHIP (0.60) and FIP (1.24) don't even seem real.
New York Yankees
The Yankees began this season with serious questions about their rotation. Their only certainty was Cole, owner of a $324 million contract. And Cole has acted as a stabilizing force, a pillar amid the team's early-season struggles who continues to flourish as the Yankees regain footing. Through 10 starts, Cole has six wins, a 1.81 ERA, 92 strikeouts and only eight walks in 64 2/3 innings, adding a ridiculous 1.73 FIP and 11.50 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He has come up just short of the AL Cy Young Award each of the past three years, and this year -- the year of unbridled pitcher dominance -- could be the one when he finally prevails.
Oakland Athletics
The A's are good because they get contributions from a wide range of players, but Laureano has arguably been their best through a season that began with a six-game losing streak and was followed shortly thereafter with 13 wins in a row. Laureano boasts an .844 OPS with 11 home runs and eight stolen bases, while providing his typical solid defense and infectious energy. His 138 weighted runs created plus is on pace for a career high.
Philadelphia Phillies
A lot has gone wrong for the Phillies in recent years, but Wheeler certainly hasn't. Since joining them as a free agent two offseasons ago, he sports a 2.65 ERA despite making 13 of his 21 starts at a ballpark where fly balls turn into home runs with relative ease. But Wheeler profiles well for Citizens Bank Park. On Sunday, he limited the Red Sox to one run and three hits in 7 1/3 innings, lowering his 2021 ERA to 2.38. When the week began, the only starting pitcher with a higher fWAR was Gerrit Cole.
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates have been a predictable mess. But Frazier has locked up second base, at least. He leads the majors in hits (62), is slashing .335/.401/.459 and trails only Marcus Semien and Jake Cronenworth in fWAR at his position. Frazier, amazingly superstitious, can be a free agent after the 2022 season and could be an intriguing trade candidate.
San Diego Padres
Darvish elevated himself during his age-33 season in 2020, vying for the Cy Young Award, and has been even better in his first year with the Padres. Ten starts in, he boasts a 1.75 ERA with 74 strikeouts and 13 walks in 61 2/3 innings. Four of his six pitches have produced slugging percentages below .200. The Padres' pitching staff has been great as a whole, but their starters have struggled to consistently pitch deep into games. Darvish has been the exception. He has completed at least six innings seven times.
San Francisco Giants
Injuries, most notably a balky hip that necessitated surgery, limited Posey to 219 games from 2018 to 2019, during which he homered only 12 times in 893 plate appearances. He then sat out the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, and, as he approached 2021, potentially the last year of his contract, some even wondered whether Posey might retire at season's end. Instead, Posey has returned to prime form, with a 194 weighted runs created plus that ranks third among players with at least 120 plate appearances. Just as important: He has helped steer a starting rotation that stands as one of the sport's most pleasant surprises this season.
Seattle Mariners
On a young Mariners team that has been no-hit twice and has been generally woeful on offense, Haniger has been one of few consistent contributors. After missing the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, he's posted a .257/.315/.546 slash line with 13 homers and 12 doubles in 203 plate appearances. His OPS: .862. The rest of the team's: .610. With Jarred Kelenic already up, Julio Rodriguez following, and Kyle Lewis and Taylor Trammell also on the organizational depth chart, Haniger, 30, probably won't factor into the Mariners' future. But he's controllable through the 2022 season and could be a nice trade candidate if the Mariners choose to go that route this summer.
St. Louis Cardinals
Maybe the air is a little thicker in Colorado than we think. Arenado, freed from exiled general manager Jeff Bridich and playing on a true contender, is playing as if he can finally breathe again. After a subpar first month with the Cardinals, Arenado is batting .329/.376/.647 with six homers and only eight strikeouts in May. His defense has been surprisingly subpar -- based on outs above average, at least -- but that's the last thing anyone should worry about with Arenado. His presence alone has clearly given that team -- that city -- a jolt.
Tampa Bay Rays
Joey Wendle, Randy Arozarena and Mike Zunino have provided important contributions offensively, but Glasnow has emerged as the staff ace, just as the Rays were hoping. Prior to a dud in Dunedin, Florida, on Friday, Glasnow held a 2.35 ERA through nine starts and had struck out nearly 40% of the hitters he had faced. This year, Glasnow has added a slider to his dominant fastball-curveball combination. It hasn't been as effective as his other two pitches -- that's an impossibly high bar to begin with -- but it's nonetheless producing a whiff rate above 40%.
Texas Rangers
Garcia got designated for assignment by the Cardinals in December 2019, was promptly dealt to the Rangers for cash, then was designated for assignment once again in February 2021 and outrighted to the minors after going unclaimed. The Rangers had an outfield logjam to begin the season, and Garcia, a 28-year-old from Cuba, didn't factor into their plans. Then Ronald Guzman tore his meniscus on April 12, and Garcia, who still has rookie eligibility, was finally in the big leagues. He hasn't stopped hitting since. His 15 home runs -- one of them a walk-off on Friday -- are tied for the second most in the majors, and his .940 OPS easily leads the Rangers. Garcia always hit the ball hard -- and played solid outfield defense -- but has adjusted to off-speed pitches and has seemingly become the heart and soul of a Rangers team in transition.
Toronto Blue Jays
It's easy to forget, given his relatively quick ascent to the major leagues, that the younger Guerrero is only 22. At first the victim of the unfair hype that surrounded him, Guerrero, as expected, has now emerged as one of the game's best hitters. He leads the majors in OPS, homers, weighted on-base average, weighted runs created plus and fWAR, slashing .337/.447/.674 with more walks (31) than strikeouts (29). Guerrero has always made hard contact. This year, he's matching that with a more patient approach. His chase rate has dropped to 18.9%, within the top 10% of qualified hitters.
Washington Nationals
It's time we appreciated this man a little more. Turner ranked sixth among shortstops with 17.1 fWAR from 2016 to 2020, even though four of the men ahead of him played in at least 89 more games during that stretch. During the COVID-19-shortened season in 2020, he contributed a 163 park-adjusted OPS. This year, the leadoff-hitting speedster is on pace for nearly 40 home runs. Turner is constantly overshadowed -- rightfully so -- by teammate Juan Soto and doesn't get mentioned nearly enough in a shortstop-rich era featuring Fernando Tatis Jr., Francisco Lindor, Corey Seager and Carlos Correa, among several others. But he is clearly worthy.