And Manny Machado finished third in NL MVP voting in '20. Through 13 starts this season, he's sitting at 3.49, 1.21 and 11.7, respectively. Everybody has a bad year. Between those two years, his per-162 home run rate was just nine. The defense is still there, but the Twins would love 2019 Urshela at the plate. This past abbreviated season turned out to be a struggle offensively for both Gallo and the entire Texas lineup, but he did win his first Gold Glove on defense. He wouldnt spend 20 on the field. The White Sox dont necessarily need that guy, but somewhere in the middle would be a substantial improvement. He barely saw the field in 2019. Guardians: Triston McKenzie, RHPHeading into last year, you wondered whether the lanky, powerful McKenzie was going to become the next Cleveland pitcher to come up through their system and turn himself into an ace. But Gregorius put up the worst numbers of an already-sort-of-inconsistent career in 2021 (.639 OPS). The winners are determined by a vote of the 30 club beat reporters from MLB.com. Brewers: Christian Yelich, OFAgain: Yelich isnt bad by any stretch of the imagination. And he did all that despite the pressure of being the focal point of a blockbuster trade and then signing a jaw-dropping contract extension. NFL Comeback of the Year Odds Analysis. For more VegasInsider resources, check out our NFL Odds and NFL Futures Odds pages!. Nationals: Victor Robles, OFAt this point, weve all accepted that Robles is not, in fact, the next great Nationals prospect to turn into a superstar. But this was supposed to be a perpetual MVP candidate. Posey is now a two-time Comeback Player of the Year -- he also won the award in 2012 and is the only Giants player to win. From April 20 through the end of May, Tatis triple-slashed .359/.431/.845 with 14 homers and 12 steals in just 29 games, earning NL Player of the Month honors for May. Below, we look at the odds to be named the 2021 Comeback Player of the Year, with NFL picks, predictions and best bets. Mitch Haniger never saw the field in 2020 for the Seattle Mariners. Then, Darvish flipped an incredible switch. deGrom may not have won a third consecutive NL Cy Young Award in 2020, but hes still arguably the favorite to take home that award when he returns to the field in 21. He's nearly three years removed from being an All-Star, but the Mariners believe that with Haniger now full healthy he can once again be that caliber of player. We predict that Mondesi . Posey opted out of the 2020 season after he and his wife adopted twin baby girls who were born prematurely in July, leaving the Giants with a significant void behind the plate. If he makes the Leap in 2021 without missing a beat, his odds to win NFL Comeback Player of the Year just increased substantially from the +800 that you see above. Barkley played in 13 games in the 2021 season, but at a level well below what we were used to seeing from him. His OBP dropped more than 60 points from his 2020 season (and 50 from his 2019 season), and his walk rate plummeted while his strikeout rate skyrocketed. But, really, how could we not pick Trey Mancini here? He has the benefit of hitting in front of fellow superstar Anthony Rendon, who could also make a run at the AL MVP Award with a strong season. Even with Manny Pia here, hes still the primary catcher. But, we are down to three players, all deserving for a nomination. Despite both a slow start (Tatis was batting .118 as late as April 19) and missing 17 of the team's first 43 games (minor shoulder injury and a stint on the COVID-19 list), El Nino has hit 28 home runs and stolen 20 bags. But there are plenty of opportunities to change that in 2021. 2 prospect in the organization and No. He batted .309 and slugged .475, averaging 21 home runs per 162 games. American League Manager was the only one without a clear consensus, so let's start there. And baseball definitely was on the back burner when I was going through all that.. After he finished fourth in AL Cy Young voting in a stellar '19 season, Bieber climbed all the way to the top of the AL by winning the award in '20. The greater came a few months before that when his son was born. Cincinnati Bearcats legend Josh Harrison is having a fantastic 2021 campaign.. Harrison has been a stalwart down the stretch for the Oakland Athletics, hitting .288 over the last 40 games as the A's have competed for an AL Wild Card spot.. For the season, Harrison, who began the year in Washington with the hapless Nationals, is hitting .292 with 8 home runs and 58 RBIs. The right-hander struck out 97 over 72 1/3 innings in 20 -- ranking second in the AL behind only Cy Young winner Shane Bieber -- after fanning 228 in 19. Bieber showed just how lethal his repertoire can be after adding a cutter to create more separation between his fastball and breaking pitches. Luis Patio, MacKenzie Gore, Luis Campusano and Ryan Weathers all still have rookie eligibility. The 29-year-olds cancer is now in remission. There have only ever been four 50-HR/20-SB seasons in MLB history: Willie Mays in 1955, Brady Anderson in 1996, Ken Griffey Jr. in 1998 and Alex Rodriguez in 2007. PICK: HOUSTON ASTROS AL West Odds to Win Oakland Athletics +120 Houston Astros +120 Los Angeles Angels +300 Seattle Mariners +2600 Texas Rangers +4000 Odds by BetOnline.ag NL CENTRAL Christian Yelich One thing is . Amid the challenges of a global pandemic, Mancini underwent six months of chemotherapy treatments at John Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore. That's what makes Comeback Player of the Year so interesting. Comeback Player of the Year finalists RB Saquon Barkley, Giants. It . (2019, anyway.) The man mashed 10 home runs in 18 games during the 2020 postseason. BALTIMORE -- Even before the 2021 season began, murmurs projecting one of Major League Baseballs more prestigious offseason awards had already begun to circulate. Henry is a superior player, but quarterbacks have the upper hand in this award. The rebuilding Mariners believe they are posed to take a step forward this season and are hopeful the 29-year-old Haniger can spark their offense from the leadoff spot in the batting order. Both had a good share of struggles, but Skubal showed flashes of potential, including six innings of two-hit, one-run ball with six strikeouts against the Twins in a Sept. 5 no-decision at Target Field. 3 overall pick in the 2014 MLB drafta chance at the back end of the rotation. He went two games below .500 in his two seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies and finished two games below .500 with the Giants last year. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. 9 overall prospect in baseball per MLB Pipeline and he figures to be a big part of the Mariners youthful makeover. As Acua continues to combine his incredible power with good discipline, hell show why some consider him to be the games next Trout. I know there are other guys coming back from injuries, but to come back from [colon cancer] is amazing.. But if you think the big Canadian playing for the Purdue Boilermakers won't win and an upset will . Theres no telling what the 21-year-old shortstops ceiling is. Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) warms up in the bullpen as pitching coach Jim [+] Hickey looks on, before the team's spring training baseball game against the Houston Astros, Tuesday, March 9, 2021, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky). He now says he had a shoulder injury that was holding him back. The favorite to win NFL's Comeback Player of the Year may surprise you . But Im really thankful and feeling a lot of gratitude., after a year away battling -- and beating -- Stage 3 colon cancer. Instead, Trevor Bauer won on the strength of 11 excellent starts. Even though he hit for power in the minors, it's almost hard to believe he's even in the majors right now, let alone as an All Star. Mets: Dominic Smith, 1B/OFIn 2019 and 2020, Smith finally turned into the player of Mets fans dreams, getting on base regularly and showing considerable pop. After winning the 2019 AL Rookie of the Year award, Alvarez played in just two games with the Houston Astros last season. Perhaps the most remarkable part is he has managed this team through a litany of injuries and absences. Not even an offseason, halted Spring Training, shutdown period or short Summer Camp could disrupt Darvishs rhythm. NL Comeback Player of the Year 1 of 13 Stephen Strasburg Associated Press Fenn: Mike Soroka, Atlanta Braves Soroka is on track to return as early as mid-April after tearing his Achilles last. The award debuted in 2005. Dak Prescott (DAL) +170. But you certainly expect at least an above-average offensive season from him. But you certainly would expect more than a .203 average with two homers. White Sox: Dallas Keuchel, LHPKeuchel has the sort of stuff that has to be perfect: Weve seen him dominant and we've seen him get knocked around. Saquon Barkley has moved to second, as his odds dropped from -155 to +140 while his Giants were on bye. In five September starts, Castillo went 4-1 with a 2.20 ERA, 37 strikeouts and nine walks. Seattle Mariners: 83.5 wins Under -110 . The Orioles' Trey Mancini and the Giants' Buster Posey were named MLB's Comeback Players of the Year for 2021 on Monday. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File), The Early Returns Of Kevin Durant In The Phoenix Suns Offense, Bayern Munich Remain First But Must Switch Off Complacency Ahead Of PSG Fixture, New England Patriots Reportedly Set To Release Brian Hoyer, Leaving Two In The Quarterback Room, Liverpool Legend Roberto Firmino Reportedly Offers Himself To FC Barcelona, Brock Lesnar Reportedly Finishing Up Current WWE Run, Xavi Speaks On FC Barcelonas Defensive Masterclass Against Real Madrid Ahead Of Valencia Clash, Manchester City Ready To Sell Bernardo Silva To FC Barcelona And Name Asking Price - Reports, FC Barcelona And Real Madrid Presidents Met To Discuss European Super League Strategy Before El Clasico - Reports. The 2021 Major League Baseball season begins this week, and with it comes a new group of young players looking to make names for themselves in the majors. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip), Hickey looks on, before the team's spring training baseball game against the Houston Astros, Tuesday, March 9, 2021, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky), solo home run against the Houston Astros in the third inning of a baseball game in Seattle, in this Tuesday, June 4, 2019, file photo. He has slashed .259/.315/.436 while hitting 12 home runs and driving in 53 RBIs. Burnes managed to finish sixth in 2020 NL Cy Young Award balloting after his candidacy took a painful hit in his final regular-season start, when an oblique injury not only spoiled his bid to be the first Brewers pitcher to win an ERA title, but left him one-third of an inning -- thats right, one measly out -- shy of qualifying for the honor. On April 23, 1999, Fernando Tatis became the only player in MLB history to hit two grand slams in a single inning. Only three qualified pitchersin MLB history previously had a season with a ratio better than 10.0, the highest of which was Phil Hughes' mark of 11.6 in 2014. He put up a 1.022 OPS over his 23 games in the regular season, and when you combine his potential to put up excellent counting stats with his all-around game and his knack for performing in big moments, he could be chasing some other awards down the road, too. He set plenty of postseason rookie records along the way, too, but with his rookie status still intact through '21, Arozarena has to be the favorite for the AL Rookie of the Year Award, even with all of the young talent on the cusp across the big leagues. Per Baseball Reference, no qualified MLB pitcher has ever finished a season with an H/9 rate below 5.0. Here's a look at three futures picks to make during the dead zone of the NFL offseason His numbers fell off a cliff last year, providing 665 plate appearances of a .297 OBP with only two homers basically making just about as many outs as anyone in the sport. There is little reason to think he cant capture that title as soon as 2021. The Bills' safety is given very short +250 odds to win the award after announcing his goal is to return to the NFL after an extremely scary incident where his heart stopped on the field. As a hitter, Ohtani is easily one of the best in the majors, if not definitively the best. The designated hitter wound up having surgery on both knees. Each part of his triple-slash line is a bit below his previous career levels, but he's, like, two good games away from matching those averages. Christian McCaffrey (+700) 3. Hes still in the middle of this lineup, so hell have plenty of opportunities to rebound. Analyzing the betting odds for MLB's major awards, including Cy Young, MVP, Rookie of the Year and Manager of the Year. He's five home runs behind Shohei Ohtani and four stolen bases behind Whit Merrifield, so he probably won't wind up leading the majors in both categories. Can Byron Buxton deliver value on both sides of the ball? Those gruesome numbers should be a distant memory by the time the 21 season ends. Look beyond Skubals 5.63 ERA in eight games, and his 7.9 hits per nine innings, 10.4 strikeouts per nine and 3.36 strikeout-to-walk ratio suggest better times ahead for the lanky lefty -- probably sooner than later. Also Considered: Mitch Haniger, Seattle; Yordan Alvarez, Houston; Carlos Rodon, Chicago. The Yankees brought him to New York to be the best pitcher in baseball. D-backs: Madison Bumgarner, LHPHe finally made a (mostly) full season of starts in 2021, but he still was barely a league average pitcher. So, yeah, Gabe Kapler for NL Manager of the Year (to date) was a rather easy decision. Alcantara is missing more bats, as his strikeout percentage rose to 22.7, compared to 18 percent when he was an All-Star who logged 197 1/3 innings in 2019. Being the leader of America's Team certainly has its privileges, with more national TV games and chances of exposure. We all knew the Miami Marlins had one of the most intriguing pitching prospects in all of baseball. Mancini even competed in the Home Run Derby -- and nearly won it, before falling to Pete Alonso in the finals. Mancini is among many players poised to make a run at Comeback Player of the Year honors in 2021. Soto already became the youngest player to win the NL batting title when he hit .351 in his age-21 season in 2020. Its been a decade since any Padre has taken home a major award from the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Because he's so darn efficient, though, he still managed to go at least five innings in nine of those starts. Bregman had wrist surgery last November, so maybe that will turn him around. Take your pick as to who has the better chance of a breakout season in 2021. He barely saw the field in 2019. Also Considered: Kevin Gausman, San Francisco; Corbin Burnes, Milwaukee. Along the way, Mancini became the fastest player in Orioles history to amass 100 career home runs, started his own philanthropic foundation and became a spokesperson for colorectal cancer awareness. Coming off of an Achilles tear in 2021, Graham recorded a career-high 11.0 sacks in 2022. In other words, the Mariners have won eight more games than they "should" have, thanks to a ton of success in close contests. In his second start, he threw a no-hitter against Cleveland. Bregman finished a very close second to Trout in the 2019 AL MVP race after hitting .296 with 41 homers, 112 RBIs and 119 walks, all while leading the AL in bWAR (8.4). This year, Posey's home run total was his highest since 2015, and his OPS was his highest since 2012. He had trouble with walks, but he also only struck out six batters per nine innings -- far, far below what he was doing in the Minors. And Clayton Kershaw called Betts the best right fielder hes ever seen. He later became the first position player to record his first career hit in the postseason, and that ability came as no surprise considering the heralded hitting skills that some evaluators believe make him one of the best pure hitters in the Minor Leagues. Could that be an offseason adjustment that assures he retains his title? Mancini earned American League Comeback Player of the Year honors, it was revealed on MLB Network, for a 2021 campaign during which he re-established himself as one of the games better run producers after a year away battling -- and beating -- Stage 3 colon cancer. RAYS: Randy Arozarena, AL Rookie of the Year. But if the Padres are going to overcome the loss of Fernando Tatis Jr., it may just have to start with that starting pitcher. He is also still a bargain as his salary will be close to the major league minimum of $570,500 this season as he does not yet have the requisite service time to be eligible for salary arbitration. But it sure feels like it has been a while since he was finishing second in MVP voting? And that doesn't even include the back-to-back starts in late May in which his combined line against the Yankees and Cardinals was 12.0 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 23 K, nor the seven innings of one-hit ball that he threw against the Tigers in mid-June. He wasn't just the Rookie of the Year in 2021; it wasn't even close. Because of MLB's rookie eligibility rules being prorated given the shortened 2020 season, many players you grew familiar with a year ago are still rookie eligible, making the pool of . And as a baserunner, Ohtani has stolen 12 bases, putting him on pace for roughly 22 swiped bags by the end of the year. Mancini is among many players poised to make a run at Comeback Player of the Year honors in 2021. Perhaps Taillon, a hard worker and legitimate top-of-the-rotation pitcher in '18, will nab that award after tweaking his mechanics to protect his elbow. That also meant he didnt appear with the other qualifying pitchers as voters perused statistical leaderboards while filling out their ballots. Tigers: Matt Manning, RHPYou can never expect too much from a rookie, even one who came with as much hype as Manning did, but the larger concern with Mannings first season, which ended with a 5.80 ERA in 18 frustrating starts, was that his stuff wasnt particularly overwhelming. If he does, he could help the Phillies offset any potential losses to the lineup, including J.T Realmuto and/or Didi Gregorius, and win his second NL MVP Award. In the second year of a seven-year, $245-million contract, Strasburg has felt no ill effects from the surgery this spring. NL: Adam Wainwright, Cardinals Wainwright was nowhere near being thought of as a rotation mainstay, even after posting a 3.15 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in the abbreviated 2020 season. Presented annually to one player in each league since 2005, the Comeback Player of the Year Award aims to honor an individual who re-emerged on the field during each season. Haniger appeared in just 63 games in 2019 then missed the entire 2020 season. A star slugger from 2014-19, Martinez fell into a pothole he never could get out of in 20. But the Rays have seen him pull it off before. He underwent an operation to remove it on March 12, the day baseball shut down due to COVID-19. Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott was arguably the best player to be sidelined, with New York Giants RB Saquon Barkley, Carolina . And, by the way, Mancini singled in that first at-bat. By the end of the season, the 29-year-old first baseman had played in 147 games, batting .255 with 21 homers, 71 RBIs and 77 runs scored. Last year's postseason hero hasn't quite set the world on fire in 2021 like he did last October. Ahead are our picks for who'll take home the five biggest awards in the American League and National League: Comeback Player of the Year, Manager of the Year, Rookie of the Year, the Cy. He did that in just 89 games in 2019 and 50 in 2020, but stretched out to 145 in 2021, his slugging dropped a shocking 253 points. The As are happily rolling the dice to see what he might have left. RHP Chris Flexen. Who's to say he would've even been in the big leagues this year were it not for Sanchez's shoulder injury? Comeback Player of the Year is often a tricky one to nail down, because you have to consider both how impressive the player's season is and how unlikely his comeback was. For the most part, there was minimal debate. Martinez, AL Comeback Player of Year. MLB Awards: 2020 results, all-time winners. Comeback Player of the Year The Sporting News Pitchers & Players of the Year Hank Aaron Award Branch Rickey Award Hutch Award Lou Gehrig Award Babe Ruth Award Roberto Clemente Award Wilson Defensive Players of the Year All-MLB Team Considering his five-tool skill set, theres no reason to believe Tatis wont be in the forefront of the MVP discussion next year -- and in the future. That "best of all time" statistic might not even be his most impressive one, as he's also averaging 13.3 strikeouts per walk. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File). Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball. He's nearly three years removed from being an All-Star, but the Mariners believe that with Haniger now full healthy he can once again be that caliber of player. He may be leading off this year, so a step forward would be handy. It could be an award-worthy sort of combination. Kansas City believes that end-of-the-season burst has allowed Mondesi to turn a corner, and that he is capable of racking up at least 40 doubles, 10 triples and 20 homers, all while stealing 60-plus bases. Outside of FanDuel Sportsbook, the next best odds can be found at Caesars Sportsbook. . That didnt happen in 2021, thanks largely to control issues (4.4 walks per nine), but the stuff is still there. And during one three-game stretch in late May, the M's won three consecutive games saved by three different relievers. He signed a one-year, $11-million contract as a free agent in the offseason. Since the start of 2018, Cole leads all AL starters in fWAR, innings, wins and strikeouts and ranks second in ERA and FIP. The Baltimore Orioles hosted the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Grapefruit League opener at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla. Orioles first baseman/outfielder Trey Mancini stepped to the plate in the bottom of the first inning and received a big ovation from the socially distanced crowd. Let's dive into it all, starting with the odds courtesy of DraftKings and then some . JK Dobbins +1200. But its Tatis who seems like the best bet. A case in point came on the first day of Major League Baseballs exhibition season last month. AFC Playoff Order Buffalo Bills Cincinnati Bengals Kansas City Chiefs Indianapolis Colts Los []