Cubs' Bryant, Angels' Trout Named NL, AL MVPs

By ESPN

Chicago Cubs slugger Kris Bryant has been voted the National League MVP, capping off a historic season for the 24-year-old star.

Bryant received 29 of a possible 30 first-place votes.

Washington Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy was the runner-up. Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager, who was the unanimous winner of the NL Rookie of the Year award on Monday, finished third.

"This year has certainly been one of the best years of my life," said Bryant, who is set to get married in January. "I mean, winning a World Series, now this. It's just icing on the cake."

Voting by the Baseball Writers Association of America was completed by the start of the playoffs. The BBWAA has voted for the award since 1931.

Bryant was arguably the best offensive player on the best team in the game and showed exceptional defensive versatility by playing in both the infield and the outfield.

He hit .292 with 39 homers and 102 RBIs in just his second year in the majors, helping the Cubs to their first World Series title since 1908.

Bryant led the National League with a 7.67 WAR and was the only NL player in the top 10 in that category. He also ranked third in the NL in home runs (39), fourth in OPS (.939) and sixth in RBIs (102).

The 2015 NL Rookie of the Year, Bryant also led the league in runs scored with 121.

"Kris is just an impressive young man in every aspect,'' Cubs owner Tom Ricketts said. "[He] is very mature, professional, light-hearted, but serious at the same time. He's just kind of a dream player for any organization.''

Bryant becomes the Cubs' first MVP since Sammy Sosa won the award in 1998. The once-forlorn franchise enjoyed its best run in decades and also had two of the season's top MVP candidates, with Bryant's teammate, first baseman Anthony Rizzo, finishing fourth in the voting.

"If it wasn't for Anthony and his protection and guidance, I wouldn't have won this award," Bryant said. "I mean, he texted me, and I said the same thing to him. I said, 'If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have been able to do this.'"

Bryant joins Dustin Pedroia (2007-08), Ryan Howard (2005-06) and Cal Ripken (1982-83) as the only players to win Rookie of the Year and MVP honors in consecutive seasons. Ichiro Suzuki (2001) and Fred Lynn (1975) are the only players to win the awards in the same year.

Bryant also is the first player ever to win college player of the year, minor league player of the year, rookie of the year and MVP in successive seasons.

He was the unanimous NL Rookie of the Year after he hit .275 with 26 homers and 99 RBIs last season.

Mike Trout Named AL MVP

Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels has been named the American League MVP.

The announcement was made on MLB Network after voting from members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Boston Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts finished second and Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve was third.

"Ever since I was a kid I wanted to be the best player in everything I did, didn't matter what sport," Trout said in an ESPN interview after being named MVP. "But obviously, you work hard just to be in the conversation.

"There are a lot of great players across the country, across the world, that you're playing against each and every day. [You] put your mindset to that, just to work hard and be the best."

At just 25 years old, Trout now has his second MVP award -- he won his first in 2014. Trout is the sixth player to win two MVPs before the age of 26, according to Elias. Trout also has never finished lower than second in AL MVP voting in his five full years in the majors.

A five-time All-Star, Trout was one of the few bright spots for an Angels team that finished 21 games out of first place in the AL West.

The Los Angeles center fielder led the majors in runs scored (123), walks (116), on-base percentage (.441) and WAR (10.6). He finished second in the AL in OPS (.991) and tied for second in steals (30).

Betts was tied with teammate Dustin Pedroia for second in the AL in batting average (.318), ranked second in hits (214), tied for third in doubles (42) and was fourth in RBIs (113). He finished second in the majors in WAR (9.6) behind Trout.

Altuve led the AL in both batting average (.338) and hits (216), while he tied for second in steals (30), was third in WAR (7.7), tied for third in doubles (42) and ranked fifth in OPS (.928).

Trout received 19 first-place votes and 356 points, while the runner-up Betts received 311 points. Retiring Red Sox slugger David Ortiz got one first-place vote to finish sixth in his final year in the majors.

"A well-deserved honor for a player that puts his name in the MVP conversation year in and year out,'' Angels manager Mike Scioscia said of Trout in a release. "Mike is the consummate team player and deserves every accolade he receives on the field just as he should off of it for the person he is.''

Astros, Reddick Agree to Deal, Get Yankees' McCann

The Houston Astros and free-agent outfielder Josh Reddick have agreed on a four-year, $52 million contract, a source close to the situation told ESPN's Buster Olney.

The agreement, which is subject to a physical, was first reported by Yahoo! Sports and confirmed by ESPN.

In 155 combined games between the Oakland A's and Los Angeles Dodgers, Reddick hit .281 with 17 doubles, 10 home runs and 37 RBIs, while also providing steady defense in right field.

The New York Yankees traded veteran catcher Brian McCann and $11 million to the Houston Astros on Thursday for a pair of young minor league pitchers.

Houston sent right-handers Albert Abreu and Jorge Guzman to the Yankees. The Yankees are kicking in $5.5 million of the $17 million McCann will make in each of the next two seasons.

"It had to be the right fit," McCann said on a conference call. "It wasn't going to be just anywhere."

The Astros' busy day also included the signing of free-agent outfielder Josh Reddick to a deal that is reportedly for four years and worth $52 million. In Reddick, the Astros get a steady glove in right field, who in 155 combined games last season between the A's and Dodgers hit .281 with 17 doubles, 10 home runs and 37 RBIs.

McCann is a seven-time All-Star, but his playing time diminished in the second half of the season as rookie Gary Sanchez emerged as a power hitter behind the plate. Sanchez hit 20 home runs in just 53 games.

The 32-year-old McCann hit .242 with 20 homers and 58 RBIs this year.