Milwaukee Brewers: Who Deserves Team MVP, Cain or Yelich?
By Max Neibaur
The Milwaukee Brewers have two outstanding outfielders with Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich. Yelich might be the NL MVP, but Cain deserves the team MVP.
Milwaukee Brewers General Manager David Stearns acquired Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich during the 2017-18 offseason despite already having a loaded outfield. Many fans questioned his decision at the time.
The Brewers already had OF Ryan Braun who was unlikely to be traded.
They also had OF Domingo Santana who hit 30 home runs and amassed a 2.9 WAR in 2017. His slash line was .371/.505/.875 (OBP/SLG/OPS).
And, talented defensive fielders Keon Broxton and Brett Philips struck out too often, but they flashed big league talent. Broxton even went 20/20 despite his high strikeout rate.
All that being said, it is hard to imagine where the 2018 Milwaukee Brewers would be without Cain and Yelich.
Phillips got traded while Santana and Broxton spent most of 2018 in the minor leagues after slow starts. Without the presence of Cain and Yelich, Brewers General Manager David Stearns could not have made those moves.
On offense, with all due respect to 1B Jesus Aguilar, Cain and Yelich have led the charge. On defense, with all due respect to C Manny Pina and SS Orlando Arcia, Cain and Yelich have dazzled most.
LHP Josh Hader is he team’s most valuable pitcher, but he is not considered in this discussion for team MVP. Call him the team’s Cy Young.
On the surface, Yelich has more power than Cain, but Cain has more speed.
Deeper analysis of these players along with discussion of what can be seen by fans on a day-to-day basis will explain why Yelich might be a better NL MVP candidate even though Lorenzo Cain is the Milwaukee Brewers MVP.