Oct 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) celebrates with shortstop Carlos Correa (1) after hitting a home run during the seventh inning against the Boston Red Sox in game one of the 2017 ALDS playoff baseball series at Minute Maid Park. Photo Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Two weeks after helping the Houston Astros to their first World Series title, second baseman Jose Altuve was named American League MVP, the Baseball Writers Association of America announced Thursday.
The 5-foot-6 Altuve claimed 27 of 30 first-place votes for 405 points to beat AL Rookie of the Year Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees. He matched Yankees shortstop Phil Rizzuto (1950) and Philadelphia Athletics pitcher Bobby Shantz (1952) as the shortest players to win the award.
Judge, the 6-foot-7 New York right fielder, finished with two-first place votes for 279 points. Cleveland Indians infielder Jose Ramirez (237 points) received the other first-place vote.
Altuve led the majors with a .346 batting average for his third career batting title, and hit 24 homers with 81 RBIs in 153 games. He also posted a .410 on-base percentage and was second in the majors with 204 hits, as he helped he Astros won 101 games in the regular-season.
–Giancarlo Stanton edged out Joey Votto in the fourth-closest balloting of all-time to become the first Miami Marlins’ player to be named National League MVP, the Baseball Writers’ Association of American announced.
Stanton received 302 votes, two more than Cincinnati Reds star Joey Votto. Both players received 10 first-place votes. Arizona Diamondbacks slugger Paul Goldschmidt was third (229) and received four first-place votes.
Stanton led the majors in homers (59) and RBIs (132) while batting .281 and slugging .631.
The two-point margin was the third closest in NL history. In 1979, the award was shared by Keith Hernandez of the St. Louis Cardinals and Willie Stargell of the Pittsburgh Pirates. There was a one-point margin 1944 when St. Louis shortstop Marty Marion edged Cubs outfielder Bill Nicholson.
–Nine free agents received qualifying offers and each player rejected them, the Player’s Association announced.
Chicago Cubs pitchers Jake Arrieta and Wade Davis, the Kansas City trio of first baseman Eric Hosmer, third baseman Mike Moustakas and center fielder Lorenzo Cain, pitchers Lance Lynn (St. Louis), Alex Cobb (Tampa Bay) and Greg Holland (Colorado) and Cleveland first baseman Carlos Santana received the one-year, $17.4 million qualifying offer on Nov. 6.
If these players sign with new teams, their former teams get an extra draft pick as compensation. A team that signs one of the players who didn’t accept a qualifying offer loses a draft selection, though it is not a first-round pick.
–The Chicago White Sox acquired minor league right-hander Thyago Vieira from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for international signing bonus pool money, the teams announced.
Vieira also made one appearance with the Mariners last season, retiring all three batters faced in his major league debut versus the Baltimore Orioles on Aug. 14. The 24-year-old became the fifth native of Brazil to play in the majors, joining Yan Gomes, Andre Rienzo, Paulo Orlando and Luiz Gohara.
