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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

McCutchen, Cabrera honored with MVP awards

Associated Press

Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen and Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera both coasted Thursday to Most Valuable Player awards.

McCutchen won the National League honor by a surprisingly wide margin after leading a baseball revival in Pittsburgh. He drew 28 of the 30 first-place votes from members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

McCutchen ranked among the N.L. leaders by hitting .317 with 21 home runs and 84 RBIs.

A season after posting the majors’ first Triple Crown in 45 years, Cabrera came back to lead baseball in hitting at .348 and finish second with 44 home runs and 137 RBIs.

Cabrera got 23 of 30 first-place votes, becoming the first player to win consecutive A.L. MVPs since Frank Thomas for the Chicago White Sox in 1993 and 1994.

McCutchen, third in MVP balloting last season, got 409 points. Arizona first baseman Paul Goldschmidt finished second with 242, while St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina received the other two first-place votes and came in third.

Angels outfielder Mike Trout got five first-place votes and came in second, 103 points behind Cabrera. Baltimore first baseman Chris Davis, who led the majors with 53 homers and 138 RBIs, was third. Davis and Oakland third baseman Josh Donaldson each received a first-place vote.

Proposal for new bidding system withdrawn

The league is withdrawing its proposal for a new bidding system with Japan, making it uncertain whether prized pitcher Masahiro Tanaka will be on the market this offseason.

MLB Chief Operating Officer Rob Manfred said Japanese officials had not acted quickly enough on MLB’s proposal for a new agreement and that a new proposal will be forwarded.

Manfred said MLB owners were concerned that bidding under the old system had raised prices to a level many clubs could not afford.

Without an agreement, Japanese players would not be able to sign with MLB until they had nine years of service time and could become free agents.