Mike Trout and His Biggest Obstacles In Front of the 2016 MVP Award

By Taylor Barney

Nov 1, 2016

Sep 19, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) smiles to the bench after hitting a triple and driving in a run during the sixth inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

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Oct 18, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson (20) celebrates after hitting a home run during the third inning against the Cleveland Indians in game four of the 2016 ALCS playoff baseball series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /

Josh Donaldson

Toronto’s Josh Donaldson was able to win the MVP last year. This year his stats were close to his MVP season but were lacking in some major categories. He put up a .284 batting average, 37 home runs, 99 RBIs, a .953 OPS, a .4 defensive war and a total WAR of 7.4. The only stat that Donaldson was able to improve upon this year were his on base percentage and in turn his OPS. Granted he improved on both by a bit, he was walked 36 more times this year. Every other of the offensive stats of his went down.

Some argued last year that Donaldson shouldn’t have gotten the MVP award, so him not being able to put up similar numbers might be discouraging towards voters. Donaldson still had an amazing year that was close to resembling his MVP season last year and his team was able to make the playoffs, so I’d expect him to crack the top three in MVP votes this year.