NEW YORK (AP) — Paul Goldschmidt of the St. Louis Cardinals was named the National League’s Most Valuable Player Thursday, marking the first time he’s won the prestigious award after being shut out twice in his career.
The first baseman received 22 of the 30 first-place votes and eight second basemen for 380 points from the Baseball Writers Association of America panel.
“It’s a great honor. But it’s not just about me,” Goldschmidt said in an interview with MLB Network. “What I want to say is that a lot of people have helped me.”
San Diego Padres’ third baseman Manny Machado finished second with 291 points after receiving seven first-place votes, 13 second, and seven-thirds.
Goldschmidt’s teammate with the NL Central Champion Cardinals, third baseman Nolan Arenado, finished third with 232 points. He was chosen first on one ballot, second on two, and third on 15.
Goldschmidt, 35, had a . 317 hitting ERA with 35 home runs, 115 RBIs and a league-high . 981 OPS this season. He had 41 doubles and scored 106 runs while posting . 404 on base percentage and leading with a . 578 batting average.
“I definitely think that as you get older, you have to adapt, and that’s something I tried to do. I tried to get ahead of her,” Goldschmidt said.
“You can’t try to do the same thing as the previous season. But of course, there’s a stigma that as a player gets older, he’s going to play worse. Nobody likes that. Nobody likes being told they can’t do something, and that’s something.” Definitely motivating.”
Goldschmidt, a seven-time All-Star nominee and four-time Gold Glove Award winner, was second in National League MVP voting in 2013 and 2015, and third in 2017, when he played for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Finished sixth last season with the Cardinals.
Machado batted . 298 with 32 home runs, 102 RBIs, and 898 OPS. He had 37 doubles and scored 100 points with the Padres, who advanced as a wild card to the postseason.
Arenado had a 0.23 batting ERA with 30 home runs and 103 RBIs, and once again shone defensively at third base to win his tenth consecutive Gold Glove. He had 42 doubles and had a . 891 OPS.
Thanks to the efficiency of Goldschmidt and Arenado, the Cardinals finished 93-69 and have won their second division title the past four seasons.
In the wild card round, the Cardinals were swept at home by the National League champion Philadelphia Phillies.
Voting took place before the postseason.
