The annual All-Star break in the Major League Baseball schedule is traditionally a time when bettors stop to take a look at the various props available for such things as the Most Valuable Player Awards for both the National and American Leagues.
There is still lots of baseball to be played this season but already emerging from the pack is last year’s MVP winner Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers who is ahead of his 2012 Triple Crown pace hitting .365 with 30 home runs and 95 runs-batted-in at the All-Star break.
“Miggy” Cabrera is currently listed at +150 to win the American League MVP which is baseball’s top individual honor and one that every player aspires to. Cabrera will have to keep it up if the Tigers are to be expected to stay ahead of Cleveland in the tight AL Central division.
As a long shot for the honor, consider Evan Longoria of the Tampa Bay Rays. Although hampered by a foot injury during the first half of the season and being snubbed by the All-Star game, Longoria must be counted as a contender for the MVP award. He is still one of the best two-way players in the majors and the Rays are knocking on the door of the AL East. Las Vegas oddsmakers are currently listing him at +1000 to take the MVP award.
Over in the National League it is looking like Yadier Molina of the St. Louis Cardinals is in the lead for MVP honors. Molina is once again the heart and soul of the Cardinals club and the All-Star catcher is currently leading the NL with an impressive .341 batting average so far in addition to everything that he has done behind the plate for the team. So, Molina is the favorite at the All-Star break…. currently listed at +250.
But wait a minute, close on his heels is yet another catcher in the form of the Giant’s Buster Posey listed at the break at +450 to take MVP honors. But shop around as some books are listing Posey as high as +1,200.
Also in contention in the AL are Chris Davis of the Orioles at +300 and ‘Big Papi’ David Ortiz of Boston at +800. Over on the NL side we find Paul Goldschmidt of the Diamondbacks at +300 and Joey Votto of Cincinnati at +350.
