By IVES GALARCEP

The MLS season is almost here and it’s time to start thinking about who the best of the best in MLS are heading into the league’s 18th season.

The writing staff at SBI got together and voted on who we see winning the league’s major awards in 2013, and while some of the picks aren’t all that surprising, some offer interesting insight into who we see shining in MLS this year.

From the MVP race, which many believe will feature Robbie Keane and Graham Zusi, to the Newcomer of the Year race, which will likely include new playmakers in Portland and New York, there is plenty to debate and a wide variety of opinions on just who will and won’t impress this season.

Here are the SBI staff selections for the 2013 MLS Awards:

SBI Staff Picks for 2013 MLS Awards

(Ives’ picks in bold)

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

1. ROBBIE KEANE

2. Graham Zusi

3. Federico Higuain

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

1. ANDREW FARRELL

2. Gyasi Zardes

3. Kyle Bekker

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

1. DIEGO VALERI

2. Juninho Pernambucano

3. Claudio Bieler

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER

1. BENNY FEILHABER

2. Juan Agudelo

3. Chris Schuler

COACH OF THE YEAR

1. PETER VERMES

2. Dom Kinnear

3. Frank Klopas

(Caleb Porter)

DEFENDER OF THE YEAR

1. OMAR GONZALEZ

2. Matt Besler

3. Victor Bernardez

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MLS BEST XI

FIRST TEAM

JIMMY NIELSEN

MATT BESLER

OMAR GONZALEZ

VICTOR BERNARDEZ

GRAHAM ZUSI

OSVALDO ALONSO

LANDON DONOVAN

DWAYNE DEROSARIO

MAURO ROSALES

ROBBIE KEANE

CHRIS WONDOLOWSKI

———————

SECOND TEAM

MICHAEL GSPURNING

JAY DEMERIT

AURELIEN COLLIN

JAMISON OLAVE

CHRIS PONTIUS

BRAD DAVIS

OSCAR BONIEK GARCIA

DAX MCCARTY

KYLE BECKERMAN

EDDIE JOHNSON

THERRY HENRY

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(FEDERICO HIGUAIN)

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What do you think of the staff selections? Which do you agree with the most? Which pick surprised you the most?

Share your thoughts below.