Five MLB Players Who Went from MVP Talks to Out of the League

by Jeremy Block - 9/30/2025

It's always wild to see a player go from potential MVP to "where are they now?"—especially when they fade into oblivion faster than a one-hit wonder. We’re talking about players who, at one point, were the face of their team, maybe even the league.

They had all the tools, all the hype, and for a second, it seemed like they could do no wrong. And then, out of nowhere, they were out of the league quicker than a bat flip after a grand slam. Here's a look at five MLB players who went from MVP awards and talks to completely vanishing from the game.

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Ryan Howard

The Philadelphia Phillies thought they had the next Barry Bonds in Ryan Howard in 2006—a slugger with a ceiling so high it looked like he could hit baseballs into another stratosphere. With 58 home runs and 149 RBIs, Howard’s 2006 season was history in the making, and he was quickly becoming the face of the league.

But the problem with big power hitters is that there’s always a clock ticking. Howard’s game, built around strength, started to break down as injuries took their toll. His ability to stay on the field and maintain his dominant batting faded quickly.

By 2016, Howard was reduced to a part-time player with a .196 average, and the Phillies were ready to move on. Just a few years after MVP talks and media surrounding him, Howard was essentially out of the game, proving just how fast the tides can change in baseball.

Joba Chamberlain

Back in 2008, the baseball world was losing its mind over Joba Chamberlain. Standing at a monstrous 6'3", 245 lbs, and throwing 100 mph heat, Chamberlain quickly made a name for himself, lighting up radar guns like he had a direct line to God. He finished with a 2.60 ERA and 118 strikeouts in just 100 innings pitched, putting himself in the MVP conversation. The Yankees’ next big thing? Absolutely. But here’s the problem with relievers: they shine bright and burn out even faster.

Chamberlain’s 2008 season was the best we’d ever see from him. Going into 2009, his ERA spiked to 4.75, he set a career-high with 12 hit-by-pitches, and things only got uglier from there. Injuries and inconsistent performance caught up with him fast, and by 2013, Chamberlain was out of the league—just another “what if” story. A hard fall from the “future ace” hype to a name lost in the shuffle.

Stephen Strasburg

If you followed baseball at all in 2019, then Stephen Strasburg is a name you won’t forget. The Nationals’ ace had one of the most dominant seasons of his career, capped off with a World Series MVP and leading Washington to its first-ever championship. With a 3.32 ERA and 18 wins, Strasburg was playing like a future Hall of Famer. But, as it often goes in baseball, the high didn’t last long.

After that title run, injuries and inconsistency slowly chipped away at Strasburg’s career. His ERA spiked like a diabetic’s blood pressure on Halloween, and it became clear his body wasn’t built for the long haul. By 2022, Strasburg made just one start, posting a brutal 13.50 ERA. After that, he was done. From World Series hero to major question mark, Strasburg's drop off was rapid and hard to watch.

Mark Prior

In the early 2000s, Mark Prior was supposed to be the next big thing in baseball. The Cubs thought they’d struck gold with a young pitcher who would lead their rotation and help springboard the team into playoff contention for years to come—and for a bit, they weren’t wrong. In just his second year in the majors, 2003, Prior posted a 2.43 ERA, 245 strikeouts, and a 7.4 WAR—finishing 9th in MVP voting.

But just like that, Prior’s career went from soaring to crashing. After his breakout performance in 2003, injuries started piling up. His shoulder issues never allowed him to maintain the dominance he showed early on. And by 2006, his ERA never dipped below 3.60, and he was barely recognizable from the pitcher he once was.

In the end, Prior made just seven starts in '06 before he was out of baseball entirely, wrapping up his career after only five seasons. From MVP talks to out of the game before hitting 30—Prior’s fall was as unfortunate as can be.

Don Baylor

In 1979, Don Baylor was the face of the American League, putting together a season that had everyone thinking they’d just found the next superstar. With the California Angels, Baylor posted career highs—139 RBIs, 36 home runs, and a .296 batting average—earning him the MVP award. But after that? Yeah, it’s all downhill from there.

The MVP talks quickly turned into, 'Whatever happened to Don Baylor?' After his monster year in '79, he struggled to stay consistent. His batting average dropped into the low .200s, and he never again recorded over 160 hits. Sure, he had a few decent seasons here and there, but injuries and a string of inconsistent performances across the '80s became the usual for him. Baylor stuck around for a few more years, until retiring in 1988, but his 1979 season remained the highlight of a career that never quite reached the consistent MVP caliber everyone once thought he had.

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Start:	September 30, 2025 @ 9:30 PM
Expert:	Strike Point Sports
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Five MLB Players Who Went from MVP Talks to Out of the League

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