Trout, Bryant runaway choices as MVPs

Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels won the American League MVP award on Thursday for the second time in three years, while Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant was voted NL MVP in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

The Angels finished a disappointing fourth in the AL West, but Trout was his usual brilliant self, batting .315 with 29 homers, 100 RBIs and 30 steals.

A unanimous winner in 2014, Trout finished second in three of the past four years. He becomes the first MVP from a team with more losses than wins since Alex Rodriguez for the Texas Rangers in 2003.

"It humbles you, it's an outstanding honor," Trout said.

"It's an unbelievable feeling. I'm just trying to get better every year."

Bryant hit .292 with 39 homers and 102 RBIs in just his second year in the majors, helping the Cubs to their first World Series title since 1908.

The No 2 overall pick from the 2013 draft becomes just the sixth player to win rookie of the year and MVP.

"Obviously, I want to continue to get better and win more World Series. But it's all downhill from-here," he joked on a conference call with reporters.

"This year has definitely been one of the best years of my life. Winning the World Series, now this is just icing on the cake."

The Las Vegas native is the first NL MVP from the Cubs since Sammy Sosa in 1998 and the seventh overall for the once-forlorn franchise enjoying its best run in decades.

Voting by BBWAA members was completed before the start of the playoffs.

Bryant was a runaway winner, grabbing 29 of 30 first-place votes and 415 points.

Washington second baseman Daniel Murphy, who batted .347 for the NL East champions, was the runner-up with the other first-place vote and 245 points.

Trout received 19 first-place votes and 356 points in the AL voting. Mookie Betts, who batted .318 with 31 homers, 113 RBIs and 26 steals in 158 games for Boston, was second with 311 points, and AL batting champion Jose Altuve of Houston was third.

Retiring Red Sox slugger David Ortiz got one first-place vote and finished sixth in his final year in the majors.

Yankees deal McCann

Brian McCann still wanted to catch - a lot. So with his options limited in the New York Yankees' lineup, the seven-time All-Star gladly accepted a new opportunity in Houston.

McCann waived his no-trade clause and was sent, along with $11 million cash, to the Houston Astros on Thursday for minor league pitchers Albert Abreu and Jorge Guzman.

"It had to be the right fit for me," McCann said on a conference call. "It wasn't going to be just anywhere."

McCann's playing time diminished in the second half of the season as rookie Gary Sanchez emerged as a power hitter behind the plate. Sanchez hit 20 home runs in just 53 games.

"It was like nothing I'd ever seen before. He was the best player in the game," McCann said.

The 32-year-old McCann hit .242 with 20 homers and 58 RBIs this year.

"We entered the offseason with the acquisition of a catcher as a primary focus," Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said.

"Brian McCann is a great fit for the Astros as he is not only a good defensive catcher, he is also a left-handed hitter with proven run-producing ability.

"His experience and his ability to impact his teammates will be a significant benefit to our team."

(China Daily 11/19/2016 page9)