Top 10 American League MVP Candidates in 2016

10. OF Jose Bautista - Toronto Blue Jays

Projected Stat Line: .261 batting average, 34 HRs, and 101 RBI. Bautista is in a contract year, which is about all the motivation he should need to keep on bashing home runs. If he wants teams to commit to him on a multi-year deal into his 40s, he's going to have to keep producing at a high level. Nothing in the past few years has given any reason to believe he won't.

10. OF Jose Bautista - Toronto Blue Jays

Projected Stat Line: .261 batting average, 34 HRs, and 101 RBI. Bautista is in a contract year, which is about all the motivation he should need to keep on bashing home runs. If he wants teams to commit to him on a multi-year deal into his 40s, he's going to have to keep producing at a high level. Nothing in the past few years has given any reason to believe he won't.

9. 1B Chris Davis - Baltimore Orioles

Projected Stat Line: .270 batting average, 41 HRs, and 99 RBI. Davis got a huge deal with the Orioles and they're going to be asking a lot of him this season. His power numbers should stay in tact, but without much in the lineup outside of himself, Adam Jones and Manny Machado, his RBI numbers might dip a bit.

9. 1B Chris Davis - Baltimore Orioles

Projected Stat Line: .270 batting average, 41 HRs, and 99 RBI. Davis got a huge deal with the Orioles and they're going to be asking a lot of him this season. His power numbers should stay in tact, but without much in the lineup outside of himself, Adam Jones and Manny Machado, his RBI numbers might dip a bit.

8. OF Lorenzo Cain - Kansas City Royals

Projected Stat Line: .315 batting average, 24 HRs, and 101 RBI. Cain has slowly developed into a superstar and he's going to be even bigger and better for the Royals this season. The multi-talented hitter is primed for a breakout year, which could see him be in contention for the American League's highest honor.

8. OF Lorenzo Cain - Kansas City Royals

Projected Stat Line: .315 batting average, 24 HRs, and 101 RBI. Cain has slowly developed into a superstar and he's going to be even bigger and better for the Royals this season. The multi-talented hitter is primed for a breakout year, which could see him be in contention for the American League's highest honor.

7. 1B Miguel Cabrera - Detroit Tigers

Projected Stat Line: .312 batting average, 33 HRs, and 104 RBI. Cabrera is still one of the best sluggers in the game, if only he can stay healthy. He's entering the stage in his career when some start breaking down, keeping them from putting up elite numbers. If he stays in one piece, it's a good bet he will be in the top five of voting in 2016.

7. 1B Miguel Cabrera - Detroit Tigers

Projected Stat Line: .312 batting average, 33 HRs, and 104 RBI. Cabrera is still one of the best sluggers in the game, if only he can stay healthy. He's entering the stage in his career when some start breaking down, keeping them from putting up elite numbers. If he stays in one piece, it's a good bet he will be in the top five of voting in 2016.

6. OF J.D. Martinez - Detroit Tigers

Projected Stat Line: .295 batting average, 42 HRs, and 121 RBI. Martinez is the best player you don't talk much about, but you'll be talking about him plenty after the 2016 season. He appears primed to break out, especially if his complementary stars stay healthy. With raw power and a keen ability to drive in runs, Martinez is the top surprise candidate to take home the award.

6. OF J.D. Martinez - Detroit Tigers

Projected Stat Line: .295 batting average, 42 HRs, and 121 RBI. Martinez is the best player you don't talk much about, but you'll be talking about him plenty after the 2016 season. He appears primed to break out, especially if his complementary stars stay healthy. With raw power and a keen ability to drive in runs, Martinez is the top surprise candidate to take home the award.

5. 1B Jose Abreu - Chicago White Sox

Projected Stat Line: .310 batting average, 39 HRs, and 127 RBI. Abreu has been stellar for the White Sox in his first two seasons, but with Todd Frazier now hitting in the same lineup, he will be even better. Especially if the White Sox are more competitive this season, Abreu seems primed to be among the league's best hitters in 2016.

5. 1B Jose Abreu - Chicago White Sox

Projected Stat Line: .310 batting average, 39 HRs, and 127 RBI. Abreu has been stellar for the White Sox in his first two seasons, but with Todd Frazier now hitting in the same lineup, he will be even better. Especially if the White Sox are more competitive this season, Abreu seems primed to be among the league's best hitters in 2016.

4. 3B Josh Donaldson - Toronto Blue Jays

Projected Stat Line: .298 batting average, 36 HRs, and 123 RBI. Donaldson is the defending MVP and has a decent chance to repeat. Hitting in a great lineup certainly helps him out, but there are some young, multi-talented players ready to surpass him. In order for him to fend them off, he will have to improve upon an amazing 2015 campaign.

4. 3B Josh Donaldson - Toronto Blue Jays

Projected Stat Line: .298 batting average, 36 HRs, and 123 RBI. Donaldson is the defending MVP and has a decent chance to repeat. Hitting in a great lineup certainly helps him out, but there are some young, multi-talented players ready to surpass him. In order for him to fend them off, he will have to improve upon an amazing 2015 campaign.

3. SS Carlos Correa - Houston Astros

Projected Stat Line: .294 batting average, 31 HRs, and 102 RBI. Correa changes the game in every regard and for that, he will already be a top MVP candidate in his first full season in the bigs. He proved last year he's already a superstar at the major league level. Look for him to assert himself as one of the league's premier players in 2016.

3. SS Carlos Correa - Houston Astros

Projected Stat Line: .294 batting average, 31 HRs, and 102 RBI. Correa changes the game in every regard and for that, he will already be a top MVP candidate in his first full season in the bigs. He proved last year he's already a superstar at the major league level. Look for him to assert himself as one of the league's premier players in 2016.

2. OF Mike Trout - Los Angeles Angels

Projected Stat Line: .288 batting average, 38 HRs, and 111 RBI. Trout is the best all-around player in baseball today and has a great chance to win yet another MVP award in his 20s. If his stolen base numbers come back up in 2016, he should be considered the favorite to take home the hardware.

2. OF Mike Trout - Los Angeles Angels

Projected Stat Line: .288 batting average, 38 HRs, and 111 RBI. Trout is the best all-around player in baseball today and has a great chance to win yet another MVP award in his 20s. If his stolen base numbers come back up in 2016, he should be considered the favorite to take home the hardware.

1. 3B Manny Machado - Baltimore Orioles

Projected Stat Line: .293 batting average, 48 HRs, and 134 RBI. Machado has seemingly been in the league forever, but he's still not even in his mid-20s. This is the year for his breakout performance, much like last year was for Bryce Harper. With all of his potential, Machado has the best ability to put up the gaudy numbers capable of opening eyes and earning an MVP award in 2016.

1. 3B Manny Machado - Baltimore Orioles

Projected Stat Line: .293 batting average, 48 HRs, and 134 RBI. Machado has seemingly been in the league forever, but he's still not even in his mid-20s. This is the year for his breakout performance, much like last year was for Bryce Harper. With all of his potential, Machado has the best ability to put up the gaudy numbers capable of opening eyes and earning an MVP award in 2016.