Despite missing playoffs MLB insider believes Goldschmidt MVP-worthy

Everybody loves a good return on their investment.

The Arizona Diamondbacks feel they’ve gotten it after agreeing to a five-year $32 million contract extension back in March with first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. The immediate results included 36 homers, 125 runs batted in, a .302 average and stellar defensive play finishing second to only Todd Helton in fielding percentage.

That runaway candidate doesn’t exist

The scary part is the best is likely yet to come from the strapping 26-year old who quickly became every pitcher’s worst nightmare.

Now the question is are Goldy’s gaudy numbers good enough to win the National League MVP on a non-playoff team which sputtered to an 81-81 finish?

One baseball insider believes he’s got a decent chance for one reason.

“When you look at the National League MVP candidates,” ESPN’s Pedro Gomez told Pros2Preps.com in a recent phone interview. “That runaway candidate doesn’t exist and I think that, when the voters look at that objectively…he could sneak in.”

He believes if Dodgers’ ace Clayton Kershaw would have won his no-decisions he would be a serious contender for both the Cy Young Award and MVP. The other post-season team’s high-profile players like Pittsburgh’s Andrew McCutchen, St. Louis’ Matt Carpenter and Atlanta’s Freddie Freeman won’t wow voters unanimously like Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera did last year when he won the triple crown and the Tigers made the playoffs.

Goldschmidt’s numbers stack up with the best in the National League. He joined Mel Ott and Eddie Mathews as the only three players in National League history with a .300 average, 35 home runs, 100 RBI, 100 runs scored and 99 walks during their 25-year-old-season or earlier.