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2017 MLB award favorites heading into the season
It's no surprise that Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw is a preseason favorite for NL Cy Young and MVP. Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports

2017 MLB award favorites heading into the season

Spring training is underway across baseball, which means the 2017 MLB season is right around the corner. You know what that means — time to name the preseason favorites for baseball's biggest awards. Who are the front-runners for MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year? We're glad you asked.

 
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AL MVP: Mike Trout, CF, Angels

AL MVP: Mike Trout, CF, Angels
Kirby Lee / USA Today Sports Images

Trout has won the AL MVP in two of the last three seasons and finished top two in voting in each of the past five years. He's the overwhelming favorite to win the award again, averaging .310-33-96 with a .975 OPS over that time.

 
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NL MVP: Kris Bryant, 3B, Cubs

NL MVP: Kris Bryant, 3B, Cubs
Gary A. Vasquez / USA Today Sports Images

Bryant won NL Rookie of the Year in 2015 and followed up that performance by winning NL MVP last season. The Chicago lineup will remain strong and could be even better this season with Kyle Schwarber, a full year of Willson Contreras and the hope that Jason Heyward will rebound. That could mean even better counting stats than Bryant's 39 home runs and 102 RBI from last season.

 
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AL MVP: Mookie Betts, RF, Red Sox

AL MVP: Mookie Betts, RF, Red Sox
Rick Osentoski / USA Today Sports Images

Betts finished second in AL MVP voting last season and led the league in total bases. His athleticism jumps off the page, coming four stolen bases short of a 30/30 season and winning a Gold Glove for Boston.

 
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NL MVP: Corey Seager, SS, Dodgers

NL MVP: Corey Seager, SS, Dodgers
Richard Mackson / USA Today Sports Images

Seager was everything Dodgers fans could have hoped for in his rookie season, winning Rookie of the Year and finishing third in the NL MVP voting. He hit .308-26-72 in his age 22 season, so it's scary thinking what his ceiling could be.

 
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AL MVP: Francisco Lindor, SS, Indians

AL MVP: Francisco Lindor, SS, Indians
Tommy Gilligan / USA Today Sports Images

Lindor became a household name after his strong showing in the playoffs and finished ninth in AL MVP voting while winning a Gold Glove. He's the prototypical team leader at shortstop.

 
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NL MVP: Nolan Arenado, 3B, Rockies

NL MVP: Nolan Arenado, 3B, Rockies
Brad Mills / USA Today Sports Images

The Rockies have hopes of taking a playoff spot this season, and Arenado is a big reason why. He's now led the NL in home runs and RBI in consecutive seasons and produced a career-high .362 on-base percentage last season while winning his fourth straight Gold Glove. There's nothing he can't do.

 
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AL MVP: Jose Altuve, 2B, Astros

AL MVP: Jose Altuve, 2B, Astros
Troy Taormina / USA Today Sports Images

Altuve has become a formidable power threat despite his lack of height, hitting 24 home runs last season. He's now led the AL in hits for three straight seasons, winning the batting title in two of those years. Altuve finished third in the AL MVP voting last season.

 
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NL MVP: Clayton Kershaw, SP, Dodgers

NL MVP: Clayton Kershaw, SP, Dodgers
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports Images

While Kershaw threw only 149 innings last season due to a back injury, he was incredible when healthy. The 2014 NL MVP had a 1.69 ERA and only 11 walks while fanning 172 batters. Better health could easily net him another MVP award.

 
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AL MVP: Manny Machado, 3B, Orioles

AL MVP: Manny Machado, 3B, Orioles
Jonathan Dyer / USA Today Sports Images

Machado has become a star over the last two years, hitting 35-plus home runs in each of those seasons. He finished fifth in AL MVP voting last season after finishing fourth the previous year.

 
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NL MVP: Bryce Harper, RF, Nationals

NL MVP: Bryce Harper, RF, Nationals
Steve Mitchell / USA Today Sports Images

Harper was a major disappointment last season after winning the NL MVP in 2015, and a shoulder injury was likely much of the problem. He had trouble extending in his swing for much of the second half, but an offseason of rest should do him some good.

 
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AL Cy Young: Chris Sale, Red Sox

AL Cy Young: Chris Sale, Red Sox
Jasen Vinlove / USA Today Sports Images

The pressure is on Sale after Boston gave up a mammoth prospect package for him in the offseason. The former White Sox ace has never won the Cy Young, but he's finished top six in voting in each of the last five seasons.

 
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NL Cy Young: Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers

NL Cy Young: Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
Jerry Lai / USA Today Sports Images

Kershaw is the obvious choice for NL Cy Young if he's able to stay healthy. He's won the award three times over the last six years and finished fifth in voting last season despite making only 21 starts.

 
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AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander, Tigers

AL Cy Young: Justin Verlander, Tigers
Butch Dill / USA Today Sports Images

Remarkably, Verlander has won only one Cy Young Award in what has been an awesome career, and some (like girlfriend Kate Upton) would argue that he should have won over Rick Porcello last season. The Detroit ace got back on track, leading the AL in strikeouts for the fourth time in his career.

 
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NL Cy Young: Madison Bumgarner, Giants

NL Cy Young: Madison Bumgarner, Giants
Anthony Gruppuso / USA Today Sports Images

Bumgarner has won three World Series, but he's yet to put a Cy Young on his mantle. He finished fourth in NL Cy Young voting last season after throwing a career-high 226.2 innings and 251 strikeouts.

 
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AL Cy Young: Aaron Sanchez, Blue Jays

AL Cy Young: Aaron Sanchez, Blue Jays
Jonathan Dyer / USA Today Sports Images

Sanchez had a breakout year in 2016 with an AL-best 3.00 ERA and 15-2 record in 30 starts. His power sinker should allow continued success, though Sanchez needs to get over the 200-inning plateau to help his Cy Young prospects.

 
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NL Cy Young: Jon Lester, Cubs

NL Cy Young: Jon Lester, Cubs
Rick Scuteri / USA Today Sports Images

A world-class defense has really helped Lester since arriving to the Cubs in 2015, and he finished second to Max Scherzer in the Cy Young voting last season with a 2.44 ERA. His durability has been one of his biggest assets, so Lester is a safe choice to be in the running again.

 
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AL Cy Young: Corey Kluber, Indians

AL Cy Young: Corey Kluber, Indians
Gene J. Puskar / USA Today Sports Images

Kluber got back on track last year after winning the AL Cy Young in 2014, finishing third in the voting with a 3.14 ERA and 18 wins. He's fanned more than one batter per inning in three consecutive seasons.

 
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NL Cy Young: Max Scherzer, Nationals

NL Cy Young: Max Scherzer, Nationals
Geoff Burke / USA Today Sports Images

Scherzer is the defending NL Cy Young winner, his second time winning a Cy Young. His quest could be tougher this season due to a stress fracture in his finger that has already put him behind his teammates in spring training.

 
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AL Cy Young: James Paxton, Mariners

AL Cy Young: James Paxton, Mariners
Brad Rempel / USA Today Sports Images

Paxton showed increased velocity last season and should be considered a major sleeper for the AL Cy Young as a result. He has ace-like peripherals, with nearly one strikeout per inning and a sub-2.0 walks per nine innings rate.

 
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NL Cy Young: Noah Syndergaard, Mets

NL Cy Young: Noah Syndergaard, Mets
Steve Mitchell / USA Today Sports Images

Syndergaard claims he can throw even harder this year, which is a scary thought. The Mets' ace already hit triple digits on the radar gun and had a 2.60 ERA with well over one strikeout per inning last season.

 
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AL ROY: Andrew Benintendi, LF, Red Sox

AL ROY: Andrew Benintendi, LF, Red Sox
Kim Klement / USA Today Sports Images

Rarely have we seen a hitting prospect with as much polish upon arrival as Benintendi. The seventh overall pick in the 2015 draft, Benintendi hit .295 in 34 games with Boston last season after hitting .312 between High-A and Double-A. He will start in left field for the Red Sox.

 
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NL ROY: Tyler Glasnow, SP, Pirates

NL ROY: Tyler Glasnow, SP, Pirates
Jonathan Dyer / USA Today Sports Images

Glasnow has the early lead for the fifth starter job after a great first outing this spring. The elite pitching prospect had more than one strikeout per inning during his MLB debut last season in 23.1 innings.

 
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AL ROY: Yoan Moncada, 2B, White Sox

AL ROY: Yoan Moncada, 2B, White Sox
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports Images

Moncada probably needs a trade to break camp with Chicago, but it won't be long. The top prospect was included in the Chris Sale deal and showed his incredible athleticism with 15 home runs and 45 steals between High-A and Double-A in 2016.

 
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NL ROY: Robert Gsellman, SP, Mets

NL ROY: Robert Gsellman, SP, Mets
Brad Penner / USA Today Sports Images

Gsellman's ceiling could be limited, but he's already shown to be effective in his first time around the league last season. He had a 2.42 ERA in 44.2 innings and could win the fifth starter job if Zack Wheeler continues to have arm setbacks.

 
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AL ROY: Mitch Haniger, OF, Mariners

AL ROY: Mitch Haniger, OF, Mariners
Joshua Dahl / USA Today Sports Images

Seattle likes Haniger as much for his defense as his offense, and he's the front-runner for a job this spring. He came over from Arizona this offseason after hitting five home runs in 34 games last year during his MLB debut.

 
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NL ROY: Dansby Swanson, SS, Braves

NL ROY: Dansby Swanson, SS, Braves
Dale Zanine / USA Today Sports Images

The first overall pick in the 2015 draft, Swanson held his own in his MLB debut last season with a .302 batting average in 129 at-bats. His full talent might not show on the box score yet, but Swanson has a chance to be a star.

 
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AL ROY: Jharel Cotton, SP, Athletics

AL ROY: Jharel Cotton, SP, Athletics
Neville E. Guard / USA Today Sports Images

Cotton is a safe bet to win a rotation spot after posting a 2.15 ERA in five starts during his MLB debut last season. He has excellent command and a plus change-up, which has allowed him to regularly show high strikeout rates in the minors.

 
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NL ROY: Josh Bell, 1B, Pirates

NL ROY: Josh Bell, 1B, Pirates
Charles LeClaire / USA Today Sports Images

A very polished hitter, Bell hit .273-3-19 in 128 at-bats during his MLB debut last season, also walking 21 times. He hit a career-high 17 home runs between Triple-A and the majors last season, showing that his power is finally arriving.

 
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AL ROY: Jose De Leon, SP, Rays

AL ROY: Jose De Leon, SP, Rays
Kim Klement / USA Today Sports Images

De Leon has a great chance to win Tampa Bay's fifth starter spot after being traded in the offseason for Logan Forsythe. He's posted ace-like strikeout rates in the minors, with 12 strikeouts per nine innings over his career.

 
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NL ROY: Hunter Renfroe, OF, Padres

NL ROY: Hunter Renfroe, OF, Padres
Jake Roth / USA Today Sports Images

A former first-round pick, Renfroe's power showed up last season with 34 home runs between Triple-A and the majors. His declining walk rate is a concern, but the rebuilding Padres don't have much to lose by giving him a long look this season.

Seth Trachtman is a fantasy sports expert and diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan. He doesn't often Tweet, but when he does, you can find him on Twitter @sethroto.

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