Twins Daily 2023 Awards: Most Valuable Player

The 2023 season was out of the norm for the Minnesota Twins in that they carried more depth than the organization had previously shown an inkling to, and pitching became a strength fans haven’t seen in quite some time. Making a move to acquire pitching prior to the season, the Twins parted with their 2022 MVP in Luis Arraez. Pablo Lopez ultimately became everything the organization had hoped would be, and the deal looked like a good one for both sides.

Rocco Baldelli again had to manage through more than a few key injuries, and he had plenty of youth step in along the way to help the club hold serve. Holding off the Cleveland Guardians was a bit hairy at times, but Minnesota ultimately won the division going away.

Although the MVP in both leagues is often seen as a hitter’s award, it became too obvious to ignore the strength of Minnesota’s pitching this season. With Lopez finishing second in the voting, Sonny Gray earned the Twins Daily selection for the 2023 Minnesota Twins Most Valuable Player.

Acquired from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for former first round pick Chase Petty, Gray was a piece Derek Falvey thought that Rocco Baldelli’s starting rotation desperately needed. A proven veteran with a track record of strong performance, the hope was that Gray could lead a patchwork group.

In 2023, Gray did the leading and then some. Despite Lopez pitching on Opening Day for the Twins, it was Gray who spoke up during spring training and then continued to back it up all season. Talking about the short starts that became customary for Minnesota pitchers in 2022, Gray conveyed a desire to go deeper into games and have the starting pitchers impact more games. With a better overall group, it wasn’t a surprise at all that Baldelli found himself with a group that could save a bullpen.

Logging 184 innings across 32 starts, Gray blitzed by the 119 2/3 tally he posted last season. Remaining healthy for the duration of the season was certainly a big key, but the quality of performance was also substantial. Gray finished with a 2.79 ERA that was right in line with his 2.82 FIP. His 2023 ERA was the lowest total he has posted as a big leaguer since 2015, and the innings were higher than at any point since that same season.

Gray’s performance allowed him to make an All-Star appearance for the first time since the 2019 season, and he was more than a deserving participant as a pitcher for Minnesota. Joined by Lopez from the rotation, the pair enjoyed a nice week of celebration in Seattle at T-Mobile Park.

Over the course of his career, Gray has struck out 200 batters just one time (2019). His 183 strikeouts matched the same total from his 2014 season, and he sat down batters while keeping them from burning him with the big fly. Surrendering only eight home runs across nearly 200 innings of work is impressive, and the 0.4 HR/9 was not only a career best, but led the league as well.

Considering how dominant New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole performed this season, it was going to be difficult for Gray to find himself near the top of the American League Cy Young voting. Still, he will wind up with a deserving number of votes given the totality of his production. Not only did his 5.3 fWAR lead all Twins pitchers, but it was 3rd in all of Major League Baseball, and led the American League.

In the final year of a contract paying him $50.7 million over five years, Gray will be a free agent this offseason. It stands to reason that the Twins will unquestionably hand him a qualifying offer, estimated to be around $20 million for the 2024 season. Despite passing comments on retirement, this appears to be a prime opportunity for Gray to cash in on another multi-year deal, and how much he grabs from the open market has only gone up with each outing he has made for Minnesota.

It’s because of the performance Gray has shown this season that both he and Lopez become no-brainer decisions to start key games in the postseason. The Twins' strength has been on the mound all year, and their pitching racking up a major league record in strikeouts is a testament to that fact. While the lineup had plenty of key producers, especially down the stretch, finding consistency in the form of Gray has been unparalleled during 2023.

Join me in congratulating Sonny Gray on being named the Twins Daily Most Valuable Player for the 2023 season.

Final Balloting Points Tally

• Sonny Gray 87
• Pablo Lopez 72
• Max Kepler 56
• Royce Lewis 43
• Ryan Jeffers 33
• Edouard Julien 32