Chicago White Sox: 3 legitimate AL MVP candidates

The Chicago White Sox are blessed with a lot of talent and players that play very well. It’s a team made up of guys that mean a lot to White Sox baseball. The Sox wouldn’t be in the position they are in now if it wasn’t for these guys.

What do you think of when you hear the words American League Most Valuable Player? When it comes to the Sox, I am sure that you think of White Sox greats such as Frank Thomas, Nellie Fox, and Dick Allen. Most recently, Jose Abreu took the honor.

A White Sox player has won the award just five times over the course of their long history. That’s hard to believe but it’s true. This is something that can change especially the way the White Sox have been playing.

On a team that leads the AL Central by a mile and has one of the best records in baseball, there must be someone that stands out as an MVP candidate.

There is. In fact, there are three players that stand out as possible MVP candidates for the White Sox in 2021. Two of them are obvious but one of them may not be. But all three are legitimate candidates that, with a fine finish to the season, could end up being the AL MVP.

The Chicago White Sox enjoyed having an MVP player and would like another.

White Sox fans would love to see another player from their team earn MVP honors. I will never forget how proud I was when I found out that Jose Abreu earned the AL MVP honor in 2020. I, myself, felt a little better, felt a little taller, and had some bragging rights.

How great would it be to have those feelings again? It’s not out of the question that it won’t happen. It very easily could. Let’s take a look at three Chicago White Sox players that have a shot at earning the American League’s most coveted trophy when the season comes to a close.

The Chicago White Sox looks to Jose Abreu for a lot of things which makes him their MVP.

Jose Abreu won last year’s AL MVP award thanks to his ability to come through in the clutch, his production, and for what he meant to the White Sox. This year, while his numbers may be down a little bit, he’s still the biggest factor in Chicago’s offensive success. And right now, he is just starting to come in and play at a high level.

Abreu is the definition of a “warrior” in baseball. We have seen him knocked down only to get back up again and play. He has survived collisions on the base paths, a bat was thrown at his knee and a hard slide into home hurt him a bit. Abreu has missed little time due to these injuries proving his resilience and desire to keep on playing and help his team win.

His statistics are not that bad right now. Through the 26th of July, Abreu has a slash line of .253/.335/.471. He has driven in a total of 75 RBI’s and has hit a home run 18 times. However, it’s much more than stats that make up the reason why Abreu should be considered for AL MVP again.

He’s the heart and soul of the team. Abreu is a leader a driver behind their success. He helps inspire this team to keep fighting and best of all, he leads by example. Plus, he can singlehandedly win games (as we saw most recently against the Minnesota Twins).

He’s easily the best player on the team and there is no doubt about that. Now that it appears he is in his groove, a strong finish to the season could provide him with his second AL MVP honor. You cannot rule Abreu out of the MVP conversation. He’s just too good and is poised to have a strong finish to the 2021 season which will only bolster his chances.

Tim Anderson is one of the true MVP candidates on the Chicago White Sox.

Yes, he may be a long shot for MVP but shortstop Tim Anderson has MVP qualities and should be considered for the honor. This All-Star has played extremely well for the White Sox in 2021. His defensive ability is second to none and should not be questioned. He has all the defensive tools needed to be a star shortstop and displays those skills in each and every game.

When you talk about leadership, like we did in the previous slide about Abreu, Anderson is one of the better leaders and motivators on the team. You see him out there cheering his teammates on, offering advice, and being one of the first to greet a teammate when they make a big play. His leadership ability cannot be denied.

Anderson is also quite smart both defensively and offensively. He knows a lot about the game. His recent hitting streak is a perfect example of his baseball intelligence. Anderson knows pitchers, knows their tendencies, and knows how to make contact with the ball. That’s why he’s been so good at the plate over the last few seasons. Through July 26th, Anderson’s slash line is .304/.339/.444.

Could Anderson be the MVP in the American League? It’s possible but it will be tough. With so many talented players in the league, it will be difficult but not impossible. If he can continue to play the way he has been, keeps producing at the plate as he’s been doing, and show his leadership qualities, he could be a dark-horse candidate for MVP.