Jon Heyman

Jon Heyman

 MLB

Shohei Ohtani, Gerrit Cole take home hardware in year-end MLB awards

By
Social Links for Jon Heyman
Published Dec. 28, 2023, 7:27 p.m. ET

Time to hand out our year-end awards:

Player of the Year

Two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani was one of two unanimous MVP winners but only one man inspired a $700M deal. 2. Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves. 3. Mookie Betts, Dodgers.

Pitcher of the Year

Yankees ace Gerrit Cole led the league in almost everything and he looks likely to have a year added to his $324M deal (if he opts out, the Yankees can and presumably would keep him by adding that 10th year). 2. Blake Snell, Padres. 3. Logan Webb, Giants.

Offensive Player of the Year

Acuña. The 40 homer-70-steal combo is tough to beat. 2. Ohtani. 3. Matt Olson, Braves.

Shohei Ohtani attends an NFL football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the New Orleans Saints.
Shohei Ohtani attends an NFL football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the New Orleans Saints. AP
Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole receives high-fives from his teamates in his teams dugout during game action against the Toronto Blue Jays in the eighth inning.
Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole receives high-fives from his teamates in his teams dugout during game action against the Toronto Blue Jays in the eighth inning. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST

Defensive Player of the Year

Padres wunderkind Fernando Tatis Jr. seems to have taken to right field. 2. Dansby Swanson, Cubs. 3. Wander Franco, Rays.

Ji-Man Choi #91 and Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres celebrate after defeating the Colorado Rockies 3-2 in a game at PETCO Park.
Ji-Man Choi #91 and Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres celebrate after defeating the Colorado Rockies 3-2 in a game at PETCO Park. Getty Images

Versatile Player of the Year (non-Ohtani division)

Betts was good at shortstop, great at second and as good as anyone in right. 2. Ha-Seong Kim, Padres. 3. Whit Merrifield, Jays.

Best Reliever

Free agent Josh Hader continued to be the best around. 2. Felix Bautista, Orioles. 3. Devin Williams, Brewers.

Best Manager

Skip Schumaker, right, shakes hands with Jazz Chisholm Jr., who scored on a single by Yuli Gurriel during the ninth inning of the team's baseball game against the New York Mets.
Skip Schumaker, right, shakes hands with Jazz Chisholm Jr., who scored on a single by Yuli Gurriel during the ninth inning of the team’s baseball game against the New York Mets. AP

Skip Schumaker did an amazing job in South Florida. 2. Brandon Hyde, Orioles. 3. Dave Roberts, Dodgers.

Best Exec

Mike Elias rebuilt the Orioles into a dynamo on a dime. 2. Mike Hazen, Diamondbacks. 3. Chris Young, Rangers.