Pete Crow-Armstrong’s dominant 2026 regular season has driven the overwhelming trader consensus for NL MVP, as the Cubs center fielder posted a .280/.372/.570 line with 45 home runs, 41 stolen bases, 119 runs scored, and 10.6 fWAR while excelling defensively in center field. He became the seventh player in MLB history to reach the 40/40 club, led the league in several rate and volume categories, and earned Baseball America’s Player of the Year honor. Shohei Ohtani’s injuries limited his two-way impact and dropped him from contention, leaving the rest of the field far behind in implied probability. The award, voted on after the World Series, centers on regular-season value, though any unexpected emphasis on postseason play or unforeseen voter shifts could theoretically alter the outcome.