Traded players winning the MVP

[Wade8813]

Seeing Teixeira do so well in his first game got me thinking. Players are often denied the MVP if their team didn't do well, since they didn't help their team win enough.

However, someone like Tex played most of the season on a losing team, and couldn't help either team as much as someone who was with the team for a full season.

So, should Tex (or anyone else traded at about the same time of year) be prevented from winning the MVP award?

[downstairs]

Personally, I never liked all the seemingly arcane interpretations of what an MVP is supposed to be. I wish they had called it "Player of the Year" and been done with it.

We all know a single player can only affect a team's season so much (especially non-pitchers, the ones that most often get an MVP). So if a player is on an predictably last place team, and they do indeed come in last... what is the player supposed to do? Play his heart out regardless. What more could he do?

In fact, you could almost say playing on a last place team and having an MVP caliber year is MORE of an indication that the player should be MVP. For one, its obvious his stats didn't come with much help (RBI because more men on base, HR because of better protection). And secondly, they guy didn't just "give up".

That being said, to touch on your question... I don't know. I would assume it has happened. I mean, think about it. Bottom feeders often dump their best players to contenders. Not because they're bad- but because of money, rebuilding, etc. A few of those "best" players have to have won an MVP.

[downstairs]

Not to drag on, but this really irks me.

I've always proposed that there be a "Player of the Year" and an "MVP". The POY should be the main award we all focus on. "MVP" should be up there with a "Sportsman of the Year" or "Comeback Player of the Year" type award. Its a niche award. Nice to have, but far too specific of a requirement to be that overarching of a deal.

The requirement for POY would be "The best player. Period."

The requirement for MVP should be "The guy who helped his team the most to win."

[philipthegreat]

I recall ernie banks winning it while playing for a last place 67-95 team.

[RuthMayBond]

Seeing Teixeira do so well in his first game got me thinking. Players are often denied the MVP if their team didn't do well, since they didn't help their team win enough.

However, someone like Tex played most of the season on a losing team, and couldn't help either team as much as someone who was with the team for a full season.

So, should Tex (or anyone else traded at about the same time of year) be prevented from winning the MVP award?It worked for Rick Sutcliffe and the Cy Young award

[Captain Cold Nose]

It worked for Rick Sutcliffe and the Cy Young award

That's the thing, if the trade is early enough in the season, like the Sutcliffe trade was, I think a traded player would have a legitimate case. With two-thirds of the season gone, Texeira's case wouldn't be as as strong as Sutcliffe's. It's not like he was putting up MVP numbers in the AL at the time of the trade.

[uberpsycho]

Couldn't agree more with downstairs.

Unfortunately, for the sake of "tradition", the dull minds that run baseball will never create an award that would replace the MVP award.

Plus you have to question how many journalists and fans would take it seriously.