I was impressed at just how well Josh Donaldson has played this year. He has the beat WAR of any player on a playoff team:
Baseball Reference WAR leaders: Trout 9.1, Donaldson 8.1, Cano 7.4, Cabrera 7.3, Davis 6.1.
FanGraphs WAR leaders: Trout 10.2, Donaldson 7.7, Cabrera 7.7, Davis 6.4, Cano 6.0.
If one believes MVP is or the best player in baseball, Trout deserves it. If one believes that MVP is tied to team performance, Trout is out. If so, then Josh Donaldson deserves it.
BTW, here is what the letter to the MVP voters says:
Dear Voter:
There is no clear-cut definition of what Most Valuable means. It is up to the individual voter to decide who was the Most Valuable Player in each league to his team. The MVP need not come from a division winner or other playoff qualifier.
The rules of the voting remain the same as they were written on the first ballot in 1931:
1. Actual value of a player to his team, that is, strength of offense and defense.
2. Number of games played.
3. General character, disposition, loyalty and effort.
4. Former winners are eligible.
5. Members of the committee may vote for more than one member of a team.
You are also urged to give serious consideration to all your selections, from 1 to 10. A 10th-place vote can influence the outcome of an election. You must fill in all 10 places on your ballot. Only regular-season performances are to be taken into consideration.Keep in mind that all players are eligible for MVP, including pitchers and designated hitters.
