Players always have down years due to injuries or just straight-up playing bad baseball. Players who overcome these difficulties will get rewarded. Last year Liam Hendriks (AL) overcame cancer and Cody Bellinger (NL) bounced back after a bad season and won the Comeback Player of the Year award for their conferences. This year will be competitive
American League candidates:
#3 Alek Manoah, Toronto Blue Jays. Manoah had a wonderful year in 2022 but in 2023 everything went rock bottom. He had a 5.87 ERA, 87.1 IP, and a 3-9 win-loss record. He was also sent to the minor league on multiple occasions. Alek will be competing for the 5th spot on the Blue Jays rotation. If he can work his way back to his 2022 self the Blue Jays will have a nasty rotation.
#2 Giancarlo Stanton, New York Yankees. Stanton had the worst year in his career in 2023 hitting for .191/.275/.695 with 24 HRs and 61 RBIs. Stanton still has the power to hit moonshots that isn’t the issue. The Yankees acquired Juan Soto from the Padres and over the offseason Stanton got slimmer like his Marlin days. He should be able to put up decent numbers batting behind Aaron Judge and Juan Soto.
#1 Carlos Rodon, New York Yankees. Rodon had an elite 2022 season with the SF Giants. He signed a six-year $162M contract with the Yankees. He was very disappointing in 2023, having a 6.85 ERA, 64.1 IP, and a 3-8 win-loss record. The Yankees signed Marcus Stroman in the offseason so Rodon will have to perform if he wants to keep the second spot in the Yankees starting rotation.
National League candidates:
#3 Yu Darvish, San Diego Padres. Darvish had one of his best years in 2022 but then in 2023 injuries happened and he had a down year totaling a 4.56 ERA, 136.1 IP, and a 8-10 win-loss record. If Yu stays healthy he should have a good 2024 as the Padres look to stop the Dodgers elite lineup.
#2 Chris Sale, Atlanta Braves. Sale was in Boston for the last 7 years but got traded to the Braves after Boston decided to not bring him back after his disappointing 2023 season. Sale had a 4.30 ERA, 102.2 IP, and a 6-5 win-loss record. Being the 4th/5th starter in Atlanta will be a huge stress reliever for Sale after being Boston’s ace.
#1 Trea Turner, Philadelphia Phillies. Trea Turner signed a huge contract (11-years $300M) with the Phillies with huge expectations but did not meet them. Turner had a slash line of .266/.320/.459 and a career-high in strikeouts (150). He also played the worst defense of his career having a league-high 22 errors. The Phillies should expect Turner to be amazing after he ended last season strong.
The race for the award this year should be fun. What are your predictions?
