An MLB insider speculated this week that if New York Mets star Francisco Lindor doesn’t secure the National League MVP award, it could be due to a “West Coast bias” rather than Shohei Ohtani being the superior player in 2024.
As of today, the Mets hold one of the NL Wild Card spots and are just two games away from securing home-field advantage in the Wild Card Round, a remarkable comeback after being considered sellers before the trade deadline.
Several Mets players have contributed to their strong second half, but none more than Lindor. The four-time All-Star is on track to surpass multiple career-best statistics in key hitting categories. Beyond his offensive prowess, Lindor’s defense and leadership have been crucial, making him a legitimate MVP contender in 2024. However, with the Los Angeles Dodgers excelling and Ohtani on track for a historic season, many expect Ohtani to take the honor.
New York Post insider Jon Heyman, though, believes the MVP race is a “toss-up” between Lindor and Ohtani. Lindor’s impressive stats (.268 AVG, 31 HR, 85 RBI, 102 R, 27 SB) are backed by his leadership and defense, key to the Mets’ resurgence. Both Baseball-Reference and Fangraphs have nearly identical WAR figures for Ohtani and Lindor, making the race even tighter.
Heyman also suggests that if Lindor doesn’t win, it might be due to a bias favoring the West Coast. He points out that, despite the long-standing belief in an East Coast bias, the MVP award has historically favored West Coast teams, citing 33 MVPs from West Coast franchises.
As the season wraps up, it remains to be seen how the final NL MVP votes will unfold later this year.
