Scioscia: MVP award depends on team success

With the American League MVP race having intensified over the past few weeks, Mike Trout didn't exactly get a vote of confidence from his bench boss.

Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia said that he believes an MVP's production is integral to a team, and carries more significance if he's on a contender.

"I definitely think there needs to be a value on how you've affected a team's performance,” Scioscia told Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register.

"Being a contender says a lot to what a player brings to that team. When you are on a contender, your production has more impact on a team's success. On the other side, you don't have any success."

While Scioscia didn't say Trout wasn't deserving of the award, his philosophy would imply his star outfielder would have a hard time getting votes, as the Angels are 56-74 and out of playoff contention. Josh Donaldson, the reigning 2015 AL MVP, was on a Blue Jays team that won 93 games, captured the AL East division, and made the playoffs for the first time since 1993.

Even with the Angels occupying last place in the AL West, Trout has continued to solidify his place among the game's best, as he has the AL's best WAR at 7.2 (and sits 2nd in the majors). Additionally, his wRC+ is tops in the league at 167, and his OBP is second-best (.432) only to Joey Votto.

But despite Trout's efforts, Scioscia says team-based results will always influence the vote.

"There have been Cy Young winners who have not thrown the ball as well as guys who finished fifth, because maybe they didn’t have the same defense or the same catcher. There are only so many circumstances a player can control," Scioscia said.