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Joe Christensen's Sunday Insider: Breaktime is award time

With the All-Star break upon us, it's time to honor the best in both leagues, starting with two players traded for each other over the offseason.

Star Tribune

Last update: July 12, 2008 - 6:26 PM

Four days before Christmas, while Twins fans were busy following the latest Johan Santana trade rumblings, the Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers made a deal that drew little notice in the sports section.

The Reds sent Josh Hamilton to the Rangers for pitchers Edinson Volquez and Daniel Herrera.

Who knew that deal would produce an MVP candidate and a Cy Young Award candidate?

As baseball heads to the All-Star break, Hamilton is my pick for pre-break American League MVP, and Volquez gets the nod for the NL Cy Young.

The two could face each other Tuesday in the All-Star Game.

Which side got the better deal? Time will tell, of course, but besides the 25-year-old Volquez, the Reds also got Herrera, a 23-year-old reliever who entered Saturday with a 2.56 ERA at Class AAA Louisville.

You won't hear Rangers fans complaining. Hamilton, a recovering drug addict, is one of the best stories in baseball.

By season's end, these awards likely will change, but these are my picks, with statistics entering Saturday:

AMERICAN LEAGUE

MVP: Josh Hamilton (.313-21 HR-93 RBI)

To say Hamilton has carried the Rangers is strong because Ian Kinsler (.332-14-53) and Milton Bradley (.314-17-54) are almost as deserving.

A strong case also can be made for Chicago's Carlos Quentin (.273-21-66) and Jermaine Dye (.297-20-53).

But Hamilton's RBI total is eye-popping, and he sealed this selection with two more big home runs this week.

Cy Young: Cliff Lee, Indians (12-2, 2.31 ERA)

Oakland's Justin Duchscherer (10-5, 1.78) is the AL pitcher to watch, with his tiny ERA. Toronto's Roy Halladay (11-6, 2.71) has seven complete games -- more than twice the amount of the Twins staff combined -- and the Angels' Joe Saunders (12-5, 3.07) has been a big surprise.

But Lee has 106 strikeouts and only 20 walks. Though his team is all but finished, he has a chance to become Cleveland's first 20-game winner since Gaylord Perry went 21-13 in 1974.

Top rookie: Evan Longoria, Rays (.281-16-53)

There's a reason Tampa Bay gave this third baseman a six-year, $17.5 million contract less than a week after he reached the big leagues. He completed their nucleus for their amazing first-half run.

Honorable mention: Jacoby Ellsbury, Boston; Nick Blackburn, Twins

Top manager: Joe Maddon, Rays

He has made the Rays into believers, and that wasn't easy after all those years looking up to the Red Sox and Yankees.

Honorable mention: Ozzie Guillen, Chicago; Ron Gardenhire, Twins

NATIONAL LEAGUE

MVP: Hanley Ramirez, Marlins (.313-23-45)

A strong case can be made for Chase Utley (.292-25-69), but the Phillies also have recent MVPs Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard.

Lance Berkman (.347-22-70) and Chipper Jones (.373-18-50) have been terrific. But Ramirez is by far the best player on a team that is a playoff contender, against all odds.

Cy Young: Edinson Volquez (11-3, 2.36)

This was a tough choice because Volquez hasn't logged as many innings as Tim Lincecum (10-2, 2.66), Brandon Webb (13-4, 3.27) or Ben Sheets (10-3, 2.85).

Lincecum leads that foursome with 126 strikeouts, and Volquez leads it with 54 walks, so this should be an interesting second-half race.

Top rookie: Geovany Soto, Cubs (.287-16-55)

Fellow Cubs rookie Kosuke Fukodome has been as good as advertised, but Soto has made a tremendous difference behind the plate.

Honorable mention: Jair Jurrjens, Atlanta; Joey Votto, Cincinnati

Top manager: Tony La Russa, St. Louis

Few predicted the Cardinals would be making the NL Central a three-team race with the Cubs and Brewers.

Honorable mention: Fredi Gonzalez, Florida; Lou Piniella, Chicago

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