There has been a lot of talk regarding who should be the best player in the National League this season. But unlike recent years, there is no clear favorite in the race for the NL MVP.
Many experts pointed at Bryce Harper, but his injury cuts his season short. Kris Bryant has not been able to repeat what he did in 2016 when he won the NL MVP Award. Nolan Arenado has gotten attention, but the fact that he plays for the Rockies does not help him. And while Los Angeles Dodgers have been the better team in all of baseball this season, they have been so good it is hard to pick just one player from them.
However, there is one player that often gets overlooked in the conversation. And that’s Paul Goldschmidt, the first baseman for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
A Special Talent Often Overlooked
Year after year, “Goldy” gets overlooked in the conversation for best player in the league. But if we look at his numbers, we can see he is one of the best players in the league. This season, he ranks in the Top 10 in average (.314), OBP (.425), and slugging (.585). He also sits nearing the top in (1.010), home runs (29), and RBI (198). Only Arenado and Harper have had this kind of production over the past few years.
The one thing that plays against him is that he plays for the D’Backs. Because Arizona is not a team that is known for being a big market. If Goldschmidt played for a bigger team, such as the Cubs, the Nationals, or the Dodgers, there is no question he would be among the top candidates for the NL MVP.
Could He Get Any Votes?
Absolutely. In fact, Goldschmidt has finished in the Top 11 of the NL MVP voting in three of the past years. And in fact, he finished second in both 2013 and 2015. If the uneven year rules stay alive, then would have to be in the Top 3 once again this year. And that seems quite doable, considering the injury of Bryce Harper and the lackluster play of other candidates such as Bryant, Corey Seager, or Anthony Rizzo.
But will he win the Award? That’s a whole different question. Considering the D’Backs are not likely to do any better than a Wild Card spot in the NL, chances are he won’t get the award.
It’s going to be another year without Goldschmidt being the NL MVP. Even though he definitively deserves it.