The 2023 Major League Baseball season begins Thursday. This is the first time we're coming off a "normal" spring training since 2019 -- remember, the owners locked the players out last offseason and it moved Opening Day back -- so there are plenty of positive vibes to be felt.
In terms of individual players vibes, it's always fun to predict award winners. Not only is it a fun discussion for all of us, but there's a big market in the gambling community on awards futures. We'll throw some of the odds for those interested after our picks, but first let's check out the individual awards picks from the members of the CBS Sports MLB staff.
American League
Obviously the Ohtani picks all over that board jump out. Most of us had similar rationale: he already won the MVP when the Angels weren't in the playoffs, and if the Angels snap their drought this year, surely it's with a full year of two-way Ohtani. If that's the case, he's a very obvious pick. It seems most of us loved what we see in that short glimpse of the Orioles' Henderson, too.
National League
We really like the Padres, huh? It's rare when we see one team get two different picks for MVP and there's an argument to be made that Tatis could win that one over Soto and Machado, too. Rookie of the Year could also be a really fun one with some high-profile studs duking it out.
Betting Odds
(All odds via Caesars Sportsbook on March 27)
AL MVP
NL MVP
AL Cy Young
NL Cy Young
AL Rookie of the Year
NL Rookie of the Year
Jordan Walker: +250Corbin Carroll: +500Kodai Senga: +1000Miguel Vargas: +1000Ezequiel Tovar: +1200
