Silver Slugger Awards Presented, Cards' Holliday Becomes Free Agent

By ESPN

Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz earned his seventh Silver Slugger Award in his final season as the top-hitting designated hitter in the American League.

Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera also was awarded his seventh Silver Slugger, while World Series champion and Chicago Cubs ace Jake Arrieta was among 11 first-time winners announced Thursday by Louisville Slugger.

The bat company presents the annual honors after voting is held by major league managers and coaches for the top hitter in each league at every position.

Baltimore Orioles right fielder Mark Trumbo highlighted the power hitters after belting an MLB-leading 47 home runs.

The Washington Nationals' Daniel Murphy, who finished with a .347 average, 25 home runs and 104 RBIs, earned the nod for National League second baseman over the Colorado Rockies' DJ LeMahieu, who won the NL batting title with an unadjusted-for-Coors Field .348 average.

The rest of the 18 winners were:

American League

• Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout

• Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts

• Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts

• Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez

• Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson

• Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve

National League

• Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo

• Rockies center fielder Charlie Blackmon

• Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado

• New York Mets left fielder Yoenis Cespedes

• Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos

• Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager

• Miami Marlins left fielder Christian Yelich

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Cardinals' Holliday Becomes Final Free Agent

 Outfielder Matt Holliday became the final free agent of 2016, formally leaving the St. Louis Cardinals when he and the team agreed to waive a provision in his contract that would have guaranteed his 2017 salary if he finishes among the top 10 in NL MVP voting.

The 36-year-old certainly will not finish among the top 10 when voting is announced Nov. 17, so the move makes him a free agent one week earlier. He hit .246 with 20 homers and 62 RBIs in 110 games, missing substantial time after his left thumb was broken when he was hit by a pitch on Aug. 11.

He was brought into the Cardinals' season finale to play left field in the ninth inning. He was given a standing ovation and taken out before the next pitch. On the start of the season's last weekend, the Cardinals said they planned to decline his $17 million option for 2017.

Holliday, who still gets a $2 million buyout, became a free agent Thursday, three days after the other 157 eligible players went free. He was held up because of the vesting provision.

A seven-time All-Star, Holliday was drafted by Colorado in 1998, traded to Oakland after the 2008 season and then dealt to St. Louis the following July.