MLB announced the three finalists in each league for Most Valuable Player yesterday. Alex Bregman, Marcus Semien, and Mike Trout finished in the top three in the American League, while Cody Bellinger, Anthony Rendon, and Christian Yelich topped the National League.

I had a vote in the separate Internet Baseball Writers of America (IBWAA) poll. In the AL, my three in order were Alex Bregman, Marcus Semien, and Mike Trout. While Trout posted the highest WAR, 0.1 more than Bregman, Bregman played twenty-two more games. Bregman was around to help his team more, and Trout did not have a chance to decline as the season wore on. Semien was great both offensively and defensively at a tough position, shortstop, and played every game of the season.

In the NL, my top three picks were Anthony Rendon, Cody Bellinger, and Christian Yelich. Yelich is in the same boat as Trout. He had the top WAR in the league, tied with Bellinger, but played 26 fewer games than Bellinger. On top of that, his team rallied without him to gain a wild card slot (although it’s possible they win the division if Yelich plays).

Rendon was 0.8 fWAR behind the two of them, and I will admit Rendon’s first place pick reflects my bias in liking the player. He did have a huge impact on the team, as the Nationals went 86-60 with him in the lineup (.589), 7-9 without him. He was also more consistent month to month than Bellinger, who started incredibly strong then faded.

I think Bellinger will win the trophy, but Rendon deserves a very high ranking.