Time to hand out our year-end awards:
Two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani was one of two unanimous MVP winners but only one man inspired a $700M deal. 2. Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves. 3. Mookie Betts, Dodgers.
Yankees ace Gerrit Cole led the league in almost everything and he looks likely to have a year added to his $324M deal (if he opts out, the Yankees can and presumably would keep him by adding that 10th year). 2. Blake Snell, Padres. 3. Logan Webb, Giants.
Acuña. The 40 homer-70-steal combo is tough to beat. 2. Ohtani. 3. Matt Olson, Braves.
Padres wunderkind Fernando Tatis Jr. seems to have taken to right field. 2. Dansby Swanson, Cubs. 3. Wander Franco, Rays.
Betts was good at shortstop, great at second and as good as anyone in right. 2. Ha-Seong Kim, Padres. 3. Whit Merrifield, Jays.
Free agent Josh Hader continued to be the best around. 2. Felix Bautista, Orioles. 3. Devin Williams, Brewers.
Skip Schumaker did an amazing job in South Florida. 2. Brandon Hyde, Orioles. 3. Dave Roberts, Dodgers.
Mike Elias rebuilt the Orioles into a dynamo on a dime. 2. Mike Hazen, Diamondbacks. 3. Chris Young, Rangers.