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Looking at the numbers alone, Justin Morneau had an MVP-caliber year. While hitting .321, he smashed 34 homers with 130 RBI and played a central role in the Minnesota Twins winning the AL Central.
Morneau also might’ve been the third-best player on the team.
Johan Santana spun his way to a Cy Young, and young star Joe Mauer continued emerging as a superstar. Santana led the majors with 19 wins, a 2.77 ERA and 245 strikeouts, and Mauer hit an MLB-high .347.
Even beyond them, Derek Jeter and David Ortiz arguably had better years than Morneau. The rivals from the New York Yankees and Red Sox, respectively, hit .343 with a Gold Glove season at shortstop (Jeter) and paced the AL in homers, runs and walks (Ortiz).