Miguel Cabrera is The Sporting News’ 2012 Player of the Year after being picked by 108 of the 203 players to vote.
Mike Trout was second with 71 votes. No one else got more than five votes, and surprisingly enough, the player with five was Adrian Beltre. Likely NL MVP Buster Posey received just two votes.
Getting one vote apiece were Gio Gonzalez, Derek Jeter and Craig Kimbrel. Yes, someone thought a closer who threw 62 innings was the best player in baseball this year.
The choice of Cabrera means Tigers have won the award in back-to-back seasons. Justin Verlander was the players’ choice in 2011.
For what it’s worth, TSN’s POTY has won his league’s MVP award every year since 2005. Andruw Jones got the nod for hitting 51 homers that year, but Albert Pujols edged him in the NL MVP balloting. The BBWAA MVP awards will be announced Nov. 15.
