Ranking the Top 5 AL MVP Candidates Based on Betting Price

1. Bobby Witt Jr. (+700) - Kansas City Royals

Players aren't just placed in the MVP category like most professional leagues. Their position is earned while delivering exceptional performances for an extended period. Bobby Witt Jr. is forcing people to take notice, cementing himself as a top contender for this year's award and beyond. 

Witt has been unstoppable to start the season. His .710 slugging percentage, 17 runs, and 44 total bases lead the league, with his four homers, 12 extra-base hits, and eight RBI also displaying favorably across the AL rankings. Those offensive metrics are complemented by speed, solid base running, and elite defending, making Witt Jr. the complete package. 

Altogether, Witt is flashing MVP potential in every facet of the game. The longer he keeps it up, the more his price will drop. Count us as believers in his ability to sustain his current form and move further up the betting board. 

4. Juan Soto (+300) - New York Yankees

Since he first arrived in the big leagues, Juan Soto has been touted as an MVP candidate. But the recently turned New York Yankees slugger has failed to live up to those expectations in most of those seasons. He may be the frontrunner now, but Soto appears destined for regression before the end of the season.

Soto is operating above normal ranges. His .544 slugging percentage is well ahead of his .524 career average and even further off his three-year average of .502. Further, only three of his 19 hits have left the park, putting him on pace for an underwhelming 32 home runs for the season. 

Soto landed in New York with much fanfare, finally living up to the hype. Although it's an undeniably successful start to the season, we don't think it will last. Now is not the time to back Soto in the AL MVP futures betting. 

3. Yordan Alvarez (+1400) - Houston Astros

An oblique injury may have cost Yordan Alvarez another top-three finish in MVP voting last year, but he's back with something to prove again in 2024. He's worth the investment for bettors looking to back a hard-hitting dark horse MVP candidate. 

In 2022, Alvarez finished third in MVP voting. That year, the Astros slugger put together a sterling 1.019 OPS with 97 RBI, 97 runs, and 37 homers. Subsequently, Alvarez nearly matched all of those totals in 2023. He totaled 97 RBI again, with 77 runs and 31 home runs, albeit in 21 fewer games. Consequently, he finished a distant 13th in MVP consideration. 

Alvarez is back to his usual antics early in 2024. So far this season, he's posted an elite .996 OPS, with 12 RBI, 11 runs, and four long fly balls. If he maintains this pace, that puts him on track for 122 RBI, 111 runs, and 41 homers, all of which would be career-bests. Arguably, Alvarez represents the best value on the board. 

2. Aaron Judge (+850) - New York Yankees

Despite a lackluster start to the season, Aaron Judge still finds himself as a top-three contender for this year's award. Although his metrics are underwhelming, he's a natural progression candidate and should see his stats and betting price climb over the coming weeks. 

Through the first 16 games of the season, Judge has a disappointing .778 OPS; however, he's turned a corner with his recent efforts. The former MVP has hits in four of his past five games, with all but one of those knocks going for extra bases. As a result, his run production metrics are on the rise and should continue to climb back up toward career norms. 

When healthy, Judge has consistently found himself as one of the top betting favorites in the MVP market. At his current offering, there is value in backing him to continue his upward trajectory and assert himself as one of the top players in the league. 

1. Bobby Witt Jr. (+700) - Kansas City Royals

Players aren't just placed in the MVP category like most professional leagues. Their position is earned while delivering exceptional performances for an extended period. Bobby Witt Jr. is forcing people to take notice, cementing himself as a top contender for this year's award and beyond. 

Witt has been unstoppable to start the season. His .710 slugging percentage, 17 runs, and 44 total bases lead the league, with his four homers, 12 extra-base hits, and eight RBI also displaying favorably across the AL rankings. Those offensive metrics are complemented by speed, solid base running, and elite defending, making Witt Jr. the complete package. 

Altogether, Witt is flashing MVP potential in every facet of the game. The longer he keeps it up, the more his price will drop. Count us as believers in his ability to sustain his current form and move further up the betting board.