Chicago Cubs: Is there a legitimate MVP candidate on this team?

Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

With 52 games to play, the Chicago Cubs are making believers out of people. And it’s not just Cubs’ fans anymore. The four-game sweep of the defending World Champs has made them the talk of the baseball world. The kids are growing up right before our eyes. Jake Arrieta is a full-blown Cy Young candidate. Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber could easily be the 2015 version of Jerome Walton and Dwight Smith (Who’s who is yet to be determined) in the Rookie of the Year race. So is there a legitimate candidate for the Most Valuable Player on this team?

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The award has been watered down at times, often being more of a most “outstanding” than valuable. Several Cubs are making an impact down the stretch, and while their numbers aren’t as eye-popping as some–they are most definitely valuable to the Cubs and the playoff push that is a year ahead of schedule. So even if they don’t show up on the ballot for NL MVP, the following are making their case as the Cubs’ MVP.

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