The playoffs will start next week, and right now, the New York Yankees have the fifth-best record in the American League, in large part thanks to a 5-15 skid that nearly got them out of the postseason picture a couple of weeks ago. They have recovered and they have gotten healthier, setting themselves up for a deep run.
A team with a 32-23 record is usually good enough to have an MVP candidate or two, especially in a short season like the one being played at the moment. But do the New York Yankees have a bonafide, MVP-caliber player in 2020?
If one looks at the leaderboards, the quick answer may be yes. Luke Voit is currently leading the American League in home runs with 21 and has slashed .275/.335/.627 with a .398 wOBA and a 156 wRC+. However, he offers no defensive value and is only 13th in the old circuit in fWAR with 1.7. That means 12 hitters have contributed more to their respective teams.
The Yankees’ best player
DJ LeMahieu has a 2.2 fWAR, which is sixth in the American League. His slash line is a sweet .356/.415/.598, with a .428 wOBA and a 177 wRC+. He has been a truly elite force in the batters’ box and, unlike Voit, does contribute on defense. But DJLM seems to fall short as well, mostly because there are a couple of better candidates. Maybe if a thumb injury hadn’t robbed him a handful of games, the Yankees’ infielder would have a better chance.
What about pitchers? Gerrit Cole has a sparkling 2.84 ERA in 12 starts and 73.0 innings. He has been as dominant as ever, with an 11.59 K/9 mark. However, due to an elevated 3.87 FIP, he is only 12th among hurlers in fWAR in the American League, with 1.5.
As good as Voit, LeMahieu, and Cole have been for the Yankees in 2020, the team does not appear to have a clear-cut MVP candidate this season. LeMahieu is the WAR leader with 2.2, but five hitters (Jose Ramirez, Jose Abreu, Anthony Rendon, Mike Trout and Tim Anderson) and a pitcher (Shane Bieber) have a higher fWAR.
Two of those batters, Ramirez and Abreu, have significantly higher marks than LeMahieu, at 3.2 and 2.8, respectively. Bieber has accumulated 2.9 so far, 0.9 more than the second-ranked hurler. Those are your best candidates. All of them are in playoff teams, as well.