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MLB Awards Watch: Top 5 NL MVP candidates thru April

By Gavin Lee

Apr 4, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado against the Arizona Diamondbacks during Opening Day at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado against the Arizona Diamondbacks during Opening Day at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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4. Yoenis Cespedes – NYM

Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

.294/.360/.676, 7 HR, 23 RBI, 0.9 fWAR

When Yoenis Cespedes was traded to the Mets mid-season last year, it’s like some sort of switch was flipped. In the 75 games he has played in a Mets uniform, the Cuban slugger has hit 24 home runs, driven in 67 and slashed .289/.343/.621.

He received NL MVP votes last year despite only playing in 57 games after switching leagues. This year has been even better, pushing that average closer to .300 and sitting near the top in HR, RBI and ISO. These marks come even with missing a few games due to a leg injury suffered after diving into the stands after a foul ball.  Cespedes made sure to prove there were no ill-effects in his return to the starting lineup on the 29th though, as he drove in six runs on two hits including a grand slam off Giants reliever

Mike Broadway

.

Cespedes, hitting 4th in the dangerous Mets’ lineup, should give himself a chance at a 120-plus RBI season and could finally result in him breaking into the top three for MVP votes.  With 113 home runs in three seasons and a month, I certainly wouldn’t count him out.

Next: Number 3

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