Don't even need to go back 20 years. Rick Porcello won in 2016 with a 22-4 record & 4.7 WAR season, while Verlander & his 7.4 WAR (but only a 16-9 record) had to settle for 2nd place. If you really want to note the big change, note how despite having lead the NL most of the season in wins, Kyle Hendricks was never seriously considered a candidate.