Winner: Nolan Arenado
Nolan Arenado cemented himself among the top players in baseball with last year’s campaign. In his four major league seasons, he has won four Gold Gloves at the hot corner, earned two All-Star selections, and finished top-10 in MVP voting twice. This is the year he finally ends up on top. Arenado is an all-around stud. He’s the rare player capable of hitting .300 with 40 home runs. He led MLB with 133 RBI last season, his second straight year with 130+. When you factor in the elite defense at third, Arenado is bound to have an excellent season that will certainly warrant MVP consideration.
Runner Up: Paul Goldschmidt
Paul Goldschmidt is the rare first baseman who does it all. He has excellent plate discipline, with a career .398 OBP. He hits a lot of home runs, as he hit 24 last season after 33 in 2015. Goldschmidt has also won two Gold Gloves at first base, in 2013 and 2015. What really sets him apart is his work on the base paths. Goldschmidt has never had elite speed, but he consistently steals a lot of bases. He stole 32 bases last season on 37 attempts, an 86 percent success rate. A first baseman with speed, power and a great eye? Yes, please. Look for Goldschmidt to earn his third MVP runner-up in the last five years.