Handing out the hardware before the season starts
MVP
American League
Alex Rodriguez, Yankees: The Tigers' Miguel Cabrera is tempting, particularly when you consider that it will be difficult for A-Rod to improve upon .314/.422/.645. But Cabrera will split votes with teammate Magglio Ordonez, and the Red Sox's David Ortiz will do the same with Manny Ramirez. With the Angels' Vladimir Guerrero seeing more time as a DH, A-Rod will be the choice for the fourth time in six years.
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Worth a thousand words:
National League
Ryan Braun, Brewers: He wasn't promoted until May 25 last season, yet finished with 34 homers and 97 RBIs. Project those numbers over 150 games, and you're looking at 45 and 129. Frankly, Braun might be capable of more.
Cy Young Award
American League
Roy Halladay, Blue Jays: A three-week stint on the DL after an emergency appendectomy might have cost him the award last season. One concern: Halladay threw 120 or more pitches five times after July 27, including four times in five starts in one late-season stretch. Caution, please.
National League
Johan Santana, Mets: One former Met makes a valid point: Few players succeed in their first season in New York. Santana, though, should prove an exception. He's only 29, and he's moving to a pitcher-friendly park in a pitcher-friendly league.
Rookie of the Year
American League
Evan Longoria, Rays: This year's Braun, only he will remain at third base long-term. The Rays will keep Longoria in the minors for at least three weeks to ensure that they get an extra year out of him before he becomes a free agent. After that, look out.
National League
Geovany Soto, Cubs: Reds right-hander Johnny Cueto, Brewers lefty Manny Parra and Soto's Cubs teammate, Japanese import Kosuke Fokudome, all could rate consideration. But Soto, a slugging catcher, will be an up-the-middle performer for a likely contender. Tough to beat.
Manager of the Year
American League
Terry Francona, Red Sox: Francona is overdue: He has won two of the past four World Series, but never been voted Manager of the Year. The award honors regular-season performance.
National League
Dusty Baker, Reds: Sabermetricians will howl, but Baker is inheriting a team on the rise. Manager of the Year voters love to reward turnarounds; the Reds, after winning 72 games under Jerry Narron and Pete Mackanin last season, could contend in the mediocre NL Central.
Best player traded at deadline
American League
Joe Blanton, A's: GM Billy Beane declined to move Blanton during the off-season, knowing full well that the right-hander likely would be the best starting pitcher available at the deadline. Any team that acquires Blanton could retain him through 2010, adding to the attraction — and the price.
National League
Jason Bay, Pirates: His value will rise only if he bounces back from a disappointing, injury-marred 2007 season, but few NL stars will be moved. Every team but the Pirates, Nationals, Marlins and Giants might still be in contention in July.
Breakout player
American League
Clay Buchholz, Red Sox: It was not a fluke when he threw a no-hitter in his second major-league start. Buchholz, one of the game's top pitching prospects, seems capable of anything.
Johnny Cueto, Reds: His performance faded at the end of spring training, and he faces the challenge of pitching at hitter-friendly Great America Ballpark. His talent, though, is immense.
Comeback player
American League
Travis Hafner, Indians: All right, he'd be coming back from "only" 24 homers and 100 RBIs. But Hafner is only 30, and looks ready to prove that last season was an aberration.
National League
Kerry Wood, Cubs: C'mon, why not?
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