Three players were named on the most recent installment of Major League Baseball’s Hall of Fame ballot. Last Monday, Adrián Beltré, Joe Mauer and Todd Helton passed the 75% voting threshold needed to be inducted into Cooperstown, enshrining their names in baseball forever.

Oftentimes, in an MLB offseason, there are multiple “winners” and “losers.” Usually, whether your team “won” or “lost,” its offseason is based on the front office's activity or lack thereof. Teams make noteworthy trades or sign big-name players to bolster their lineup or pitching rotation — or they don’t.

Major League Baseball has some close award races for this season and here is a look at the candidates for each of those races.

By all accounts, I fall into the “new age” category of baseball writers and thinkers. I frequent Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs often, I believe in the value of analytics and sabermetrics and I know more about WAR (wins above replacement) and Twitter than I do about lefty/righty matchups and scouting. “Moneyball” is my favorite movie, for goodness’ sake.