Mets MVP odds favor Robinson Cano over his blue and orange comrades

Robinson Cano is the New York Mets player with the best odds to win the National League MVP in 2019. Did the oddsmakers get this one right?

Ask an average New York Mets fan who they believe has the best MVP odds, chances are you’ll hear names like Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, and Michael Conforto. Especially bold fans may even say Brandon Nimmo or Pete Alonso. All are fine choices, but Vegas oddsmakers say Robinson Cano has the best chance at becoming the first MVP in Mets history.

Recent odds, per CBS Sports, have Cano listed at 40/1. I’ve also heard him at 50/1. Regardless of the specificities, through both mediums, he’s at the top.

These odds are equal to the ones bestowed on players such as Charlie Blackmon, J.T. Realmuto, Corey Seager, and former AL MVP, Josh Donaldson. Cano is in some good company and I’m not so sure too many average Mets fans see it this way.

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Through interactions on social media, where everyone is as well-informed as they come, Conforto is the guy many dream of winning the MVP. However, oddsmakers don’t see it this way. At 80/1, his chances are equal to teammates Jed Lowrie.

The only other Met on the list by CBS Sports has deGrom at 100/1. As a pitcher, it’s understandable.

deGrom’s Cy Young odds are much better, with a second-place ranking behind only Max Scherzer. Noah Syndergaard is fifth between Clayton Kershaw and Kyle Freeland. You can find our good friend Zack Wheeler a little further down the list tied with guys like Kyle Hendricks and Mike Foltynewicz.

I believe Cano will have a productive year for the Mets and could contend for a few MVP votes. Winning the whole damn thing is a bit much considering his age and slight decline in production. He’s now 36 and has only received MVP votes in one of his last four seasons.

Cano’s highest finish in the MVP vote occurred in 2010 as a member of the New York Yankees. After several productive years in the Bronx, Cano put together a season that landed him a third-place finish. His .319/.381/.534 slash line had a lot to do with it as did the 29 home runs and 109 RBI.

We can all agree Cano is unlikely to put up numbers like those again. However, during his five years with the Seattle Mariners, Cano batted .296/.353/.472. His OPS+ was actually three points better than it was during his Yankees years.

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Cano has yet to play a game that counts for the New York Metropolitans. Name recognition and what may ultimately turn into a Hall of Fame career will, at least in gambling circles, hold some weight this year.