Could the LA Angels win MVP, Cy Young, and ROTY in 2020?
The LA Angels could watch their division rival Houston Astros do something extremely unique this year, but in 2020, it could be the Angels accomplishing the same feat.
For the LA Angels, the only chance they have at a player winning a major award is Mike Trout winning the American League MVP. However, his injury late in the season opened the door for Alex Bregman, who could be ever more deserving of the award.
In Houston, they could complete a sweep of the major awards. If Bregman wins the MVP over Trout, they’ll all but secure. Between Gerrit Cole (who should win) and Justin Verlander, the Cy Young Award is essentially a lock in H-Town. First year phenom Yordan Alvarez is as good of a bet to win AL Rookie of the Year as any. For good measure, Astros’ skipper AJ Hinch has a decent case for Manager of the Year as well.
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It would be the first time in MLB history a team has swept the MVP, Cy Young, and ROTY. However, whether Houston does it this year or not, the Angels might have their own chance at history in 2020.
Obviously, Mike Trout would be their MVP in this scenario. He could still win the award this year, but it seems like Bregman caught enough fire at the end of the season to gain enough votes. However, if Trout can stay healthy and the Angels can win enough games, he’s the clear cut favorite for 2020.
The Cy Young gets a little interesting. In terms of in-house options, Shohei Ohtani is the only name with a legitimate shot. When he was healthy in 2018, he was an ace, no ifs ands or buts about it.
However, he would need to stay healthy and have a big enough workload to be considered, and neither of those are guarantees.
Instead, let’s look to who will likely win it this year. Gerrit Cole and the Angels have been linked together since…*checks watch*… approximately the Mesozoic Era. If the Angels can pry him away from their division rival Astros (and keep him from the desperate Yankees), they’ll have one of the favorites for the 2020 Cy Young as Cole tries to live up to the record-breaking contract he’ll be signing in the coming months.
And finally, Rookie of the Year. The Angels have already had two this decade in Trout and Ohtani, and Jo Adell is lined up to become the third in 2020. He’ll have some hefty competition, including the Rays shortstop Wander Franco (#1 prospect on MLB.com) and White Sox outfielder Luis Robert (#3). However, Adell is one of the many Halo prospects tearing up the Arizona Fall League, and could have an advantage if he can crack the Opening Day roster for the Angels.
And hey, for good measure, who’s to say the Angels can’t go for Manager of the Year too? If they can return to the playoffs in 2020, Joe Maddon will get a lot of the credit whether he deserves it or not. Only one team has won MVP, Cy Young, and Manager of the Year before (1983 White Sox), and the Halos could join that exclusive club in 2020.
So while the Astros may sweep the major awards this season for the first time in MLB history (along with a potential World Series), the Angels could very well do the same next year if this offseason goes as well as Halo fans are hoping.