MVP awards are hard to come by in any league, but you could argue that baseball is the hardest of them all. There are so many stats to consider for batters, from batting average, on base percentage, slugging percentage, home runs and more ... and that's just on offense.

There are some familiar names at the top of the list, but there's also plenty of value to be found further down the odds board. While the current favorites are some of the biggest stars in the game, baseball is a long season and there's plenty of time for a longshot to play his way into contention.

1. Aaron Judge (+137)

The Yankees, led by Judge, have exceeded expectations through the first two months of the season and Judge's odds reflect that. The slugger finished fourth in AL MVP voting in 2021 and is looking to improve upon that this season. Judge obviously doesn't have the two-way abilities of a Shohei Ohtani, but he plays for the league's most popular team and is in the biggest market in the country. Putting up massive numbers and leading the Yankees to a postseason berth would certainly go a long way toward him winning the award.

2. Mike Trout (+359)

Ohtani's teammate looks to compete with him for the trophy he's won three times already. The 2021 season marked Trout's first without finishing in the Top 5 of the MVP voting since his first year in the league (2011), but he also played in just 36 games and was still named an All-Star. Trout, when healthy, is always in the MVP conversation and if the Angels are in contention late in the year that will seemingly only help his case.

3. Shohei Ohtani (+374)

The reigning AL MVP is looking to be the first repeat winner since Miguel Cabrera went back-to-back from 2012-13. Ohtani put a spin on the award -- and all of baseball -- last season that we haven't seen since the likes of Babe Ruth. Ohtani was both a star at the plate -- 46 home runs and a league leading eight triples -- and on the mound -- 3.18 ERA and 156 strikeouts.

An encore of last season will be tough, but Ohtani is playing well and showing that last season wasn't a fluke. Oddsmakers still like him to make it tough for the other candidates and his ability as a two-way player will always keep him in the conversation when discussing the league's most valuable players.

With the three stars claiming the top spots on the AL MVP odds board, here's a look at the next group of players who could be of value in the market.

• Jose Ramirez (+1100)

• Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (+1800)

• Rafael Devers (+2049)

• Yordan Alvarez (+2500)

• Byron Buxton (+3939)