Although most of us are examining the WBC odds right now, the Major League Baseball season is just around the corner, which means it’s time to start looking at the futures. There are plenty of MLB betting futures up right now and now is a good time to take a look at who will win the MVP this season. There is an MVP for both the American League and the National League each season, so here is a preview with a prediction and a runner-up for each League:

American League MVP: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers

We’re going with a long shot, but with Alex Rodriguez no longer a factor in the WBC odds or the MLB for about the first six weeks because of a hip injury, the race is wide open. Cabrera switched to the American League last year and it was a tough transition for him. Even so, in that lineup, he should post monster numbers this year. If the Tigers are competing, he’ll be among the front runners.

Runner Up: David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox

Speaking of players off a down year, the Red Sox Big Papi, David Ortiz, struggled last year and now has to move on without Manny Ramirez in the lineup. But that might help him even more because his bat could become more valuable, if he regains his sweet swing. Sportsbook bettors know that the Red Sox have Jason Bay and Kevin Youkilis protecting him, and Dustin Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury in front of him to get on base. Ortiz could have a monster year for the Red Sox and make a case for MVP.

National League MVP: Manny Ramirez, Los Angeles Dodgers

In the National League West, the Dodgers could legitimately win 100 games now that Manny Ramirez is finally on board. Without him, they were one of the worst-hitting teams in the Majors. Now, with him on board, they are going to be fairly productive and Ramirez is going to get a lot of the credit for that. He might not always care about winning or the team, but one thing he always does is hit. Bet on that.

Runner Up: Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals

Albert Pujols is not only a one-man wrecking crew for the St. Louis Cardinals, he makes the entire lineup significantly better. Last season, Ryan Ludwick hit 37 home runs. Troy Glaus, who was left for dead but sportsbook bettors, hit 27 home runs. And Rick Ankiel hit 25. That’s because nobody wants to pitch to Pujols, who is one of the best hitters in this game. If Pujols was not part of this lineup, not only would the team lose his production but everyone around him would drop significantly as well. If the Cardinals are competitive, which is a big if, Pujols will be an MVP candidate.