Baseball is back! Spring Training games are underway and that means the regular season is almost upon us. There were stars on the move this offseason that will make this upcoming campaign a whole lot more interesting. That’s even more so the case for the MVP races.
Specifically, the 2024 AL MVP race figures to be tight with one of baseball’s top stars moving over from the National League. With the 2023 AL MVP also switching leagues, that means there’ll be a new award winner this year. As we head into the upcoming MLB season, let’s take a look at the favorites for the hardware.
Best Odds to Win 2024 AL MVP
Aaron Judge (+550)
In 2022, Aaron Judge won the AL MVP after having one of the best seasons in MLB history. He hit an AL-record 62 home runs while driving in 131 runs. This came after he hit 39 home runs and drove in 98 in 2021, finishing fourth in MVP voting. Unfortunately, injuries derailed him in 2023, missing 76 games with a toe injury.
Despite the missed time, Judge was still able to put up good numbers, hitting 37 home runs with 75 RBI. Although he might not have overtaken Shohei Ohtani for MVP, the New York Yankees star would’ve had amazing numbers. Coming into 2024, it’s all about health like it has been many times before. If Judge stays healthy, the AL MVP could be his to lose.
Juan Soto (+600)
The biggest threat to Judge winning the AL MVP could be his own teammate, Juan Soto. Soto was a part of the biggest trade in the league this offseason as he was dealt to the Yankees. He played all 162 games last year for the San Diego Padres, hitting 35 home runs with 109 RBI, placing 6th in the NL MVP voting.
Soto is one of the best pure hitters in MLB and many are salivating at the fact that now he will be hitting at Yankee Stadium for 81 games. Add in the fact that he’ll have protection from Judge likely hitting right behind him and Soto could fight tooth and nail with his teammate for the award.
Corey Seager (+850)
Fresh off of winning a championship and being named World Series MVP, Corey Seager comes into this season with a good chance to add an AL MVP to his resume after finishing as the runner-up in 2023. He finished the year hitting .327 with 33 home runs and 96 RBI while having a 1.013 OPS.
Seager was near the top in just about every notable offensive category and he did all of it in just 119 games, making his second-place finish even more impressive. If he puts together a season like last year but in even more games, Seager will have a close battle with the two Yankee opponents for the AL MVP.
Yordan Alvarez (+950)
Like Soto, Yordan Alvarez is one of the best pure hitters in the game. He finished third in MVP voting in 2022 by hitting 27 home runs and 97 RBI with a 1.019 OPS. The Houston slugger was well on his way to surpassing that last season but it was plagued by injuries.
Nonetheless, he still put up great numbers when healthy, hitting 31 home runs and 97 RBI with a .990 OPS in 114 games. Alvarez comes into 2024 primed to have his best season yet and be in the log jam of what could be a close race in the American League.
Julio Rodriquez (+1200)
Julio Rodriquez will enter just his third MLB season in 2024 at the age of 23. In that time frame, he managed to win the AL Rookie of the Year in 2022 and finished fourth in the MVP voting in 2023. Last season, he hit 32 home runs with 103 RBI while winning the Silver Slugger award to go along with that fourth-place finish.
Coming into this year, he’s one of the favorites to win the AL MVP and according to these odds, might even be undervalued as so. Not only is he putting up incredible numbers across the board but he is only improving at his age, which could set up for an incredible season in 2024.
Next Best Odds:
Kyle Tucker (+1500)
Mike Trout (+2000)
Bobby Witt Jr. (+2000)
Gunnar Henderson (+2000)
Rafael Devers (+2200)
Vladmir Guerrero Jr. (+2200)
