Yankees 2017 MVP and the rest of their regular season awards

The BRP

It takes a lot of guys willing to get their uniforms dirty to make a successful season. And most of them never make the All-Star Game or become the face of baseball. But no team can do well without a lot of those role players playing at a high level in often limited opportunities.

Fortunately, in 2017, the Yankees have had a bunch of them.

Runners-Up

Todd Frazier

Ronald Torreyes

WAR: 0.3

We don’t see Little Toe too much anymore but we will before this season ends if no more than to honor his effort in 2017. Torreyes has to be the easiest player on the team to root for, getting every inch of talent out of his limited inches.

But before he gave way to more talented players, Toe put up a slash of .286/.307/.362 in 304 at-bats. The Yankees could not have made it through all those first half—and second half—injuries and slumps without the steady and sometimes spectacular play of Ronald Torreyes.

Austin Romine

WAR: -0.6

Romine’s WAR and slash (.219/.275/.292) eliminate him from any chance of winning this award. But his never back down, tough as Munson attitude at least nominates him for it.

That and his superlative defense. Romine has a .998 fielding percentage in 2017. Only one catcher in the AL with minimum 60 games played has a higher average: Bruce Maxwell, Oakland, 1.000%.

Romine knew he wasn’t going to get that many chances to shine. But he never ever gives one of those chances away. And he gives up his body every day only to end the season with his medicine cabinet more full than his trophy case.

The Yankees farm system has produced a number of good young catchers. Some of them are having more success on other teams. But Romine has managed to remain on the Yankees, while others were traded. Or faded. That’s the role Romine has relished most.