By Associated Press - Wednesday, November 16, 2011

NEW YORK — There was little question Justin Verlander would unanimously win the AL Cy Young Award. Now, the far more intriguing question: Will he take the MVP, too?

“Do I think it’s possible? Yes. Would I like to win it? Of course,” he said during a conference call. “It’s kind of a weird scenario.”

No starting pitcher has won the MVP trophy since Roger Clemens in 1986, with Dennis Eckersley the last reliever to get it in 1992. Many say pitchers shouldn’t win the MVP, period, contending they already have their own award.

But Verlander’s season — he won the pitching version of the Triple Crown, led Detroit to its first division crown in 24 years and drew every first-place vote Tuesday in the Cy Young race — has ratcheted up the debate in a crowded MVP field that includes Curtis Granderson, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jose Bautista, Miguel Cabrera and more.

Bolstering the case for all pitchers, Verlander pointed to the “tremendous effect we have on the day of our game.”

If he doesn’t win, Verlander said he’d like to see Granderson, his former teammate, get the award.

Verlander breezed to the Cy Young.

He led the majors in wins by going 24-5 and topped baseball with 250 strikeouts. His 2.40 ERA was the best among AL pitchers who qualified for the title.

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