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Could this be the year of Julio Rodriguez? It's never going to be a wild proclamation to make that claim. He's one of the most talented players in baseball and looks like a threat to hit 300 with 40/40 HR/SB at some point in the next couple of years. He was a top ten to start the season in 2023 in MVP odds and ended up finishing 4th overall behind only Ohtani, Seager, and Semien.
To start 2024, Julio is 5th in odds in most places that you look. He is behind Judge & Soto, Alvarez, and Seager. He's ahead of Rutschman & Henderson, Tucker, Trout, and Bobby Witt Jr. That seems like a fair spot for him to sit heading into the season. You know that there is going to be a ton of love for Judge and Soto, and rightfully so. Judge had one of the best offensive seasons ever when he won MVP, and Soto is one of the most talented hitters to ever step to the plate.
Even looking lower, there is some immense talent. The youth in Baltimore, another Houston guy, the uber-talented Bobby Witt Jr, and then some guy with a fish name who plays in California.
Could this be Julio's year? Ohtani is gone, and the Angels just aren't as good, although that hasn't stopped Mike Trout from haunting opposing pitchers' nightmares even if he is surrounded by AAA players. Let's start off with why he may not win, and finish with the reasons why he will.