3 Angels in top 10 in AL MVP odds

The Los Angeles Angels are regarded by many as playoff contenders in 2020, following the addition of All-Star third baseman and 2019 World Series champion Anthony Rendon during the offseason. He’ll join a lineup occupied by 2019 American League MVP Mike Trout and two-way threat Shohei Ohtani, who will be back in the rotation after a season off from pitching.

All three players are taking significant action in the AL MVP market. Trout is the overwhelming favorite at +125, with Ohtani (+2000) and Rendon (+2200) sitting as the sixth and seventh choices, respectively. We’ll figure out if any of them are worth a wager below.

Injuries are a concern for Trout

Trout’s odds are hardly appetizing, considering the length of time it will take for this wager to pay off. Injuries are a part of sports, and Angels fans have been acutely aware of that, as Trout missed 60 games between 2017 and 2018. He failed to win the MVP Award each time. Now that he has an MVP-caliber teammate beside him in the order, Trout’s stranglehold on the claim of best player in the AL can be called into question.

How will Rendon adjust to the AL?

Rendon led the majors in RBIs last year (126) with the Nationals, even though he suited up for only 146 games. Had he been healthy for the entire campaign, like 2019 NL MVP Cody Bellinger, Rendon might have had a stronger case for the award. His odds are much juicier than Trout's, but it’s anyone’s guess as to how Rendon will acclimate to AL pitching in his first full season away from Washington.

Ohtani's pitching makes him an intriguing choice

Ohtani put up respectable stats in his sophomore season (.286 batting average, 18 home runs, 62 RBIs), but they're not numbers worthy of an MVP selection. However, the 2018 AL Rookie of the Year can also make an impact on the mound, which may give him a leg up in the 2020 MVP race. Ohtani was 4-2 with a 3.31 ERA in 10 starts as a rookie (51 2/3 innings).

Rendon and Ohtani are live longshots to win AL MVP and could leech votes from Trout. This could set things up for Matt Chapman of the division-rival Athletics. 

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