AL MVP Candidates Mid Season

We're now the All Star Break in Dream League Season 4, and the MVP candidates are starting to solidify. Here's a tally of where Fox Sports ranks the MVP Candidates.



1.

Darwin Floyd St. Louis Archies Age: 28 B/T: S/R Born: Cayuga, TX Position(s): SS/3B View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Floyd has been slowing down (only one home run in the week leading up to the break), but don't let that cold spell fool you--he's having a great season. The diminutive infielder is hitting .328 and leading the AL with 43 home runs and an OPS of 1.137. Anyone surprised to see Floyd up on this list, hasn't been paying attention. For the last three seasons he's been an All Star, and in Season 2, he took home the AL MVP hardware. Right now he's a safe bet to do it again especially with the Archies posting an impressive 61-35 record.



2.

Walt Halladay Scranton Miners Age: 25 B/T: R/R Born: Hodgdon, ME Position(s): DH/C View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Walt Halladay was the leading MVP candidate in the first quarter of the season, and though Scranton has cooled off (now has a 54-42 record after a blistering start), Halladay hasn't let up. With 38 home runs and 97 RBI, he's established himself as a force in the middle of the Scranton lineup. To win the MVP Award Halladay will have to continue to rake the ball--there are a lot of baseball purists out there (you know who you are) who won't vote for Halladay because he doesn't play in the field.



3.

Max Tejada Colorado Knockers Age: 30 B/T: R/R Born: San Juan De La Maguana, DO Position(s): 3B/1B/COF View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Rising from number five from the Quarterly MVP picks is Max Tejada. Yes, he plays in Coors Field. Yes, he plays in a loaded lineup. That said, you simply cannot ignore the production. 35 home runs. 115 RBI (leads league). A .323 average. Tejada has even pilfered 13 stolen bases in only 15 attempts. If Colorado finishes as the division leader in the AL West, and with a 9-1 record in their last 10 games and a six game lead, there's no reason to think they won't, Tejada will deserve MVP consideration.



4.

Grant Sparks Durham Bulls Age: 28 B/T: R/R Born: Stockton, KS Position(s): CF/CIF/2B/OF/DH View Hardball Dynasty Profile

Sure you know Grant Sparks. He's the guy with the hot head who's famous for punching water coolers in the dugout, throwing bats, and as of last month jawing it out with Durham law enforcement. What gets lost in the noise is how complete a talent Sparks is. Get this, through the All Star Break, Sparks already has 16 assists from the outfield. Only rocked-armed Wilfredo Felix has more (18). Throw in the fact Sparks has a legitimate shot of being a 40-40 guy (31 home runs to go along with 22 stolen bases), and the fact he plays for a 57-39 Duram team, and you have yourself a viable MVP candidate.



5.

Jacob Wilkerson St. Louis Archies Age: 32 B/T: R/R Born: Sutton, MA Position(s): P (SP2) View Hardball Dynasty Profile

When does it make sense to sign a 31 (now 32) year old pitcher to a four year $80 million dollars in guaranteed money despite the fact he's pitched in exactly one All Star game in the last three seasons? When it's Jacob Wilkerson. Wilkerson refuses to lose. In his 19 starts he's 11-0 with an ERA of 2.91 and a WHIP of 1.11. He's nearly holding opposing batters under the Mendoza line (.202) and has only allowed ten home runs all season. Pitchers rarely win the AL MVP award, and this year the competition is stiff--nonetheless Wilkerson deserves a vote or two this year.