NEW YORK

M-V-P: Most Versatile Pirate.

Andrew McCutchen was all that and more.

One of the game’s most dynamic talents, McCutchen coasted to the National League Most Valuable Player award by a surprisingly wide margin Thursday after leading a baseball revival in Pittsburgh with his speed, power and defense.

The center fielder received 28 of 30 first-place votes from a Baseball Writers’ Association of America panel to finish far ahead of Arizona first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina in a race that many thought would be tight.

“I’m floating right now,” McCutchen said in Pittsburgh. “But I definitely didn’t expect it to be a landslide with those other guys — Goldschmidt and Molina. They were great candidates and I didn’t know what to expect.”

Miguel Cabrera took the AL prize for the second straight year, once again winning by a comfortable gap over Angels outfielder Mike Trout.

A season after posting the majors’ first Triple Crown in 45 years, Cabrera came back to lead baseball in hitting at .348 and finish second with 44 home runs and 137 RBIs.

“To even be mentioned and to be in it with him is definitely an honor for me,” said McCutchen, who grew up emulating Ken Griffey Jr.

Cabrera got 23 of 30 firstplace votes, becoming the first player to win consecutive AL MVPs since Frank Thomas for the Chicago White Sox in 1993 and 1994.

“This is unbelievable,” Cabrera said. “I’m so excited right now.”

McCutchen ranked among the NL leaders by hitting .317 with 21 home runs and 84 RBIs. He also scored 97 runs, stole 27 bases and had a .404 on-base percentage.

The 27-year-old with the long, flowing dreadlocks helped the Pirates stop a record streak of 20 losing seasons and make the playoffs for the first time since 1992.

Drafted 11th overall in 2005 out of a Florida high school — the landmark moment in turning around the moribund Pirates — McCutchen didn’t pay much attention to all the losing that was going on in Pittsburgh as he worked his way through the minors.

McCutchen, third in MVP balloting last year, got 409 points this time. Goldschmidt finished second with 242, while Molina received the other two firstplace votes and came in third.

Cabrera won the AL MVP last year after hitting .330 with 44 homers and 139 RBIs. The 30-year-old third baseman from Venezuela topped Trout 22-6 in firstplace votes in that balloting.

Trout got five first-place votes this time and came in second, 103 points behind Cabrera. The difference was 81 points last season, when Trout was AL Rookie of the Year.

Baltimore first baseman Chris Davis, who led the majors with 53 homers and 138 RBIs, was third. Davis and Oakland third baseman Josh Donaldson each received a first-place vote.

“I think all three guys deserve this trophy,” Cabrera said.

Despite an assortment of injuries that slowed him down the stretch, Cabrera took his third AL batting title in a row. He also drew a $1 million bonus for winning a second MVP during his current contract with Detroit.

The Tigers have virtually owned the major postseason awards during a three-year run of success. Justin Verlander was the MVP and Cy Young winner in 2011, Cabrera took the MVP last season and Detroit ace Max Scherzer won this year’s Cy Young Award on Wednesday.

“I’m on the right team,” Cabrera said.

Hard to argue that. Even though Boston beat St. Louis in the World Series, no one on the Red Sox or Cardinals won any of the major BBWAA awards.