{"id":175128,"date":"2025-09-28T10:26:21","date_gmt":"2025-09-28T10:26:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/175128\/"},"modified":"2025-09-28T10:26:21","modified_gmt":"2025-09-28T10:26:21","slug":"is-aaron-judge-or-cal-raleigh-the-mvp-handing-out-mlbs-2025-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/175128\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Aaron Judge or Cal Raleigh the MVP? Handing out MLB’s 2025 awards"},"content":{"rendered":"

It has been a regular season where down is up, up is down, improbability becomes inevitability. We\u2019ve had epic collapses, historic comebacks, teams who gave up at the trade deadline only to start winning, and teams who were all-in fall apart.<\/p>\n

That little Midwest team that could wound up with the best record in baseball.<\/p>\n

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The juggernaut in Hollywood that was supposed to ruin baseball scrambled simply to win their division.<\/p>\n

We barely had a .300 hitter in the National League. There will be no 20-game winner, and a 10-game winner will win the NL Cy Young<\/p>\n

ASTROS: Houston dynasty comes to an end. Its downfall was coming.<\/a><\/p>\n

There were a record-tying four 50-home run hitters, a record six 30-30 players, and not a single no-hitter.<\/p>\n

And while the postseason begins Tuesday, debates will be raging all October on who deserves to walk away with the individual hardware.<\/p>\n

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American League MVP\"Cal<\/p>\n

Cal Raleigh acknowledges the fans at T-Mobile Park after hitting his 60th home run.<\/p>\n

While the entire baseball world is arguing who deserves the MVP between New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge and Seattle Mariners<\/a> catcher Cal Raleigh, let us provide a friendly reminder.<\/p>\n

It is called the Most\u00a0Valuable\u00a0Player Award. It is not the\u00a0Best\u00a0Player award.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a difference.<\/p>\n

If we voted solely on who was the league\u2019s best player, determining who had the superior stats, we should have given the MVP award to Barry Bonds every year of his career.<\/p>\n

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He did wind up winning seven.<\/p>\n

In 1991, Bonds was easily the game\u2019s best player, producing a league-leading 8.0 WAR along with 25 homers, 116 RBI and a .924 OPS. Atlanta third baseman Terry Pendleton had a fine year, but his numbers paled in comparison with his 6.1 WAR, 22 homers, 86 RBIs and a .880 OPS.<\/p>\n

So, guess who won the MVP?<\/p>\n

Yep, the guy who helped lead Atlanta\u2019s rise from last to first and reach the World Series.<\/p>\n

In 1988, Darryl Strawberry had one of his finest seasons ever for the powerful New York Mets<\/a>, hitting a league-leading 39 homers with 101 RBIs, a .545 slugging percentage and .911 OPS. Los Angeles Dodgers<\/a> outfielder Kirk Gibson hit 25 homers with 76 RBIs to go along with a .473 slugging percentage and .860 OPS.<\/p>\n

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The MVP? The clubhouse leader who told his new Dodger teammates that he wasn\u2019t about to put up with their losing mentality, and led them to the World Series championship.<\/p>\n

If you want to go by sheer statistics, no one has been better than Judge. He leads the league in virtually every statistical category but home runs and RBI. He leads the league with a .331 batting average, .458 on-base percentage, .691 slugging percentage, 1.149 OPS and 136 runs.<\/p>\n

Judge, who has 53 home runs, is already guaranteed to become only the third player in baseball history to hit at least 50 home runs and win a batting title, joining Jimmie Foxx and Mickey Mantle. He is undoubtedly is one of the greatest Yankees in history and may also be the finest role model in the entire sport. One day, he\u2019ll be enshrined in Cooperstown.<\/p>\n

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But he shouldn\u2019t be the 2025 MVP.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh is congratulated by teammates Randy Arozarena and Julio Rodriguez after hitting a two-run home run against the Detroit Tigers at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on March 31, 2025, for his first home run of the 2025 MLB season.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh is congratulated by teammates Randy Arozarena and Julio Rodriguez after hitting a two-run home run against the Detroit Tigers at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on March 31, 2025, for his first home run of the 2025 MLB season.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh is congratulated by Randy Arozarena after hitting a solo home run against the San Francisco Giants in the third inning at Oracle Park in San Francisco on April 6, 2025. It was Raleigh’s second home run of the 2025 season.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh rounds the bases after his two-run home run during the eighth inning against the Texas Rangers at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on April 11, 2025, for his third home run of the year.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh celebrates in the dugout with teammates after hitting his fourth home run of the 2025 MLB season, a solo home run against the Texas Rangers at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on April 12, 2025.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners gestures after hitting a home run during the first inning against the Texas Rangers at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on April 13, 2025. The two-run blast marked Raleigh’s fifth home run of the year.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on April 16, 2025, in Cincinnati. It was Raleigh’s sixth home run of the 2025 MLB season.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh hits a solo home run during the seventh inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on April 16, 2025, in Cincinnati. Raleigh’s second home run of the night marked his seventh on the season.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh rounds the bases after hitting a home run during against the Cincinnati Reds on April 17, 2025, at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, for his eighth home run of the year.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh hits a home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in the first inning at the Rogers Centre in Toronto on April 20, 2025. The two-run round-tripper was Big Dumper’s ninth home run in 2025.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners celebrates his solo home run against the Miami Marlins during the first inning at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on April 27, 2025, for his 10th long ball of the year.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners runs the bases after a home run in the fourth inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on May 2, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. The solo shot was Raleigh’s 12th homer of the 2025 MLB season.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners celebrates with teammates at the dugout after hitting a grand slam against the Texas Rangers in the fifth inning at Globe Life Field on May 2, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. Raleigh’s second home run of the game was also his 12th on the year.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh hits a home run against the New York Yankees during the eighth inning at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on May 12, 2025. The two-run blast marked Raleigh’s 13th homer of the season.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners is congratulated by Julio Rodriguez after hitting a two-run home run \u2014 his 14th homer of the year \u2014 against the San Diego Padres during the sixth inning at Petco Park on May 16, 2025, in San Diego.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh celebrates after hitting a solo run home run during the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on May 17, 2025. Raleigh tallied his 15th homer of the year.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners hits a solo home run \u2014 his 16th homer of the 2025 MLB season \u2014 off Brandon Eisert of the Chicago White Sox during the sixth inning at Rate Field on May 21, 2025, in Chicago.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh reacts after hitting a two-run home run against the Houston Astros during the seventh inning at Daikin Park in Houston on May 23, 2025, for his 17th homer of the year.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh hits his 18th home run of the 2025 MLB season, a solo homer during the first inning against the Washington Nationals at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on May 27, 2025.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh celebrates in the dugout after hitting his second solo home run of the night against the Washington Nationals during the fifth inning at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on May 27, 2025. The two-homer game put Raleigh at 19 on the year.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Cal Raleigh runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on May 30, 2025, giving the Seattle Mariners catcher 20 home runs in the 2025 MLB season.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh hits a two-run home run against the Minnesota Twins during the eighth inning at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on May 30, 2025. Raleigh’s second homer of the night marked his 21st of the season.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners designated hitter Cal Raleigh runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Minnesota Twins during the third inning at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on May 31, 2025, to give Raleigh 22 homers in 2025.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners hits a solo home run during the seventh inning of a game against the Minnesota Twins at T-Mobile Park on June 1, 2025, in Seattle, marking his 23rd homer of the year.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners reacts to hitting his 24th home run of 2025 after hitting a two-run homer during the fifth inning against the Baltimore Orioles at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on June 5, 2025.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh hits a home run in the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, on June 7, 2025. The three-run blast marked Raleigh’s 25th homer of the year.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh circles the bases after hitting his second home run of the night against the Los Angeles Angels on June 7, 2025, at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California. The multi-homer game gave Raleigh 26 home runs on the season.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Fans and the Seattle Mariners dugout watch a grand-slam home run by catcher Cal Raleigh against the Boston Red Sox during the second inning at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on June 17, 2025, for his 27th home run in 2025.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh hits a home run \u2014 his 28th of the season \u2014 against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field in Chicago on June 20, 2025.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run against the Chicago Cubs during the seventh inning at Wrigley Field in Chicago on June 20, 2025. Raleigh’s second homer of the game gave him 29 on the season.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners celebrates with teammate Jorge Polanco hitting a home run during the ninth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on June 21, 2025, in Chicago, for his 30th home run of the 2025 MLB season.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners designated hitter Cal Raleigh celebrates with shortstop J.P. Crawford after hitting a home run against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field in Chicago on June 22, 2025. The two-run blast marked Raleigh’s 31st home run of the year.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Minnesota Twins in the ninth inning at Target Field on June 23, 2025, in Minneapolis, for Raleigh’s 32nd homer in 2025.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh hits a solo home run \u2014 his 33rd homer of the year \u2014 against the Kansas City Royals during the seventh inning at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on June 30, 2025.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners designated hitter Cal Raleigh rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on July 4, 2025, to give Raleigh 34 homers in the 2025 MLB season.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners designated hitter Cal Raleigh hits a solo home run during the sixth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on July 4, 2025. Raleigh’s second homer in the game marked his 35th on the season.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners watches his eighth-inning two-run home run against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on July 8, 2025, in New York, giving “Big Dumper” 36 long balls in 2025.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners celebrates his home run with teammates while playing against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on July 11, 2025, in Detroit. The eighth-inning blast marked Raleigh’s 37th homer of the year.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners designated hitter Cal Raleigh hits a grand slam against the Detroit Tigers in the ninth inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on July 11, 2025. Raleigh’s second home run of the game was his 38th of the season.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Cal Raleigh hits a solo home run against the Milwaukee Brewers during the sixth inning at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on July 22, 2025, for the Seattle Mariners catcher’s 39th homer of the year.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners designated hitter Cal Raleigh hits a home run \u2014 his 40th in 2025 \u2014 against the Los Angeles Angels during the sixth inning at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, on July 26, 2025.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh hits a home run during the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, on July 27, 2025. The seventh-inning solo shot marked Raleigh’s 41st home run of the season.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh hits his 42nd home run of the 2025 MLB season, a solo homer against the Texas Rangers during the fifth inning at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on July 31, 2025.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run against the Tampa Bay Rays at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on Aug. 8, 2025. The eighth-inning blast was Raleigh’s 43rd homer in 2025.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh hits a three-run home run \u2014 his 44th homer of the season \u2014 against the Tampa Bay Rays during the third inning at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on Aug. 9, 2025.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Tampa Bay Rays at T-Mobile Park on August 10, 2025, in Seattle. The first-inning homer marked Raleigh’s 45th of the 2025 MLB season.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Cal Raleigh rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the New York Mets during the third inning at Citi Field in New York on Aug. 15, 2025, giving the Seattle Mariners catcher 46 homers on the year.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh hits a two-run home run against the New York Mets in the 2025 Little League Classic at Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on Aug. 17, 2025. It was Raleigh’s 47th home run of the season.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh hits a two-run home run during the first inning against the Athletics at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on Aug. 24, 2025, to give Raleigh 48 homers on the season.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the second inning against the Athletics at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on Aug. 24, 2025. Raleigh’s second homer of the game marked his 49th of the 2025 MLB season.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh hits a solo home run against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. The home run is the 50th of the season for Raleigh.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh hits a home run during the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida, on Sept. 2, 2025, to give “Big Dumper” 51 long balls in 2025.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners hits a solo home run in the ninth inning against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Sept. 6, 2025, in Atlanta, for his 52nd homer of the season.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners runs to second base after hitting a three-run home run against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park on Sept. 7, 2025, in Atlanta. The ninth-inning homer was Raleigh’s 53rd of the season.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners hits a two-run home run, tying him with Mickey Mantle at 54 for the most hit by a switch hitter in a season, during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at T-Mobile Park on Sept. 14, 2025, in Seattle.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners celebrates in the dugout after hitting a home run against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Sept. 16, 2025. Raleigh’s 55th home run broke Mickey Mantle’s 1961 single season home run record by a switch hitter.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh is congratulated by left fielder Randy Arozarena after hitting a home run in the fourth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on Sept. 16, 2025. It was Raleigh’s 56th homer of the season.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the third inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park in Houston on Sept. 20, 2025. The solo shot gave Raleigh 57 homers in the 2025 MLB season.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park in Houston on Sept. 21, 2025. Raleigh’s 58th home run of the season broke Ken Griffey Jr.’s single season franchise home run record.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners flips his bat and watches his solo home run, his 59th of the season, during the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on Sept. 24, 2025.<\/p>\n

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Every Cal Raleigh home run from Seattle Mariners catcher’s 2025 MLB season in photos<\/p>\n

Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners celebrates his solo home run, his 60th of the season and second of the game, during the eighth inning against the Colorado Rockies at T-Mobile Park on Sept. 24, 2025, in Seattle.<\/p>\n

This award belongs to Raleigh, who has defied the imagination with his historical season, going where no catcher has ever gone before.<\/p>\n

When you\u2019re putting your name alongside Babe Ruth with 60 home runs, eclipsing Mickey Mantle for the most home runs as a switch-hitter and shattering the record for most homers by a catcher, you deserve the ultimate recognition as the Sultan of Squat. Only Judge and Roger Maris have hit more homers in American League history, and they played their home games at Yankee Stadium with a short right-field porch, not a T-Mobile Park in Seattle, where home runs go to die.<\/p>\n

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\u201cAs a catcher, you come off the field at the end of the day, you\u2019re mentally and physically exhausted,\u201d Mariners manager Dan Wilson, a former catcher, said after Raleigh\u2019s 60th\u00a0homer. \u201cFor him to do what he\u2019s done offensively and to do what he does behind the plate, I honestly don\u2019t think we\u2019ve seen this before.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

You\u2019re talking about a guy who plays the most demanding position in baseball, who must spend valuable time each day in pitchers\u2019 meetings, and who still became only the fourth player in AL history to hit 60 homers to go along with his 125 RBIs.<\/p>\n

But it’s not just the statistics that define Raleigh\u2019s MVP candidacy. It\u2019s his clubhouse leadership. His Gold Glove defense. His ability to bring out the best from his pitching staff. And, oh yeah, he also led the Mariners to their first AL West division title in 24 years.<\/p>\n

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Simply, the Mariners are sitting home in October once again without Raleigh.<\/p>\n

If the Mariners had indeed missed the playoffs again, Judge would be the overwhelming favorite. But Raleigh has personally turned the Mariners into a legitimate World Series championship threat. His impact is similar to what Christian Yelich means to Milwaukee Brewers. They don\u2019t have the best record in baseball without him. The Phillies aren\u2019t the same without Kyle Schwarber in that clubhouse.<\/p>\n

The Yankees, of course, are likely on the outside looking in without Judge, too. He\u2019s their captain. He\u2019s their inspiration. They go only as far as Judge will take them.<\/p>\n

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Yet, in this year, no one has been more valuable than Raleigh, he just happens to be performing when most of the country is already asleep playing in the Pacific Northwest.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s put it this way, if Raleigh was a catcher for the Yankees and Judge was playing right field for the Mariners, you think we\u2019d even be having this discussion?<\/p>\n

The actual MVP vote by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, which will be announced Nov. 13, will be close, with Judge a slight favorite because of his superior offensive stats. Yet, considering there are only two voters from the 15 American League cities, with Judge and Raleigh surely capturing every first- and second-place vote, and opinion so divided, don\u2019t be surprised if the outcome is historic.<\/p>\n

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For only the second time in history, accomplished in 1979 when Keith Hernandez and Willie Stargell tied for first in the 1979 NL MVP race, we could realistically have co-MVPs.<\/p>\n

Now, wouldn\u2019t that send everyone home happy?<\/p>\n

First: Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners<\/p>\n

Second: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees<\/p>\n

Third: Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Guardians<\/p>\n

National League MVP<\/p>\n

As long as he stays healthy and doesn\u2019t go into the first funk of his life, we might as well name the MVP award after Los Angeles Dodgers DH\/starter Shohei Ohtani. The dude is going to win it every single year, and should be a unanimous choice once again leading the league in OPS, slugging, runs scored, total bases and extra-base hits to go with 56 home run<\/p>\n

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And, oh yeah, he also pitches, with a 2.87 ERA and 11.9 strikeout rate per nine innings.<\/p>\n

Really, the only drama every year in the MVP race is who gets to be the runner-up.<\/p>\n

This year, it\u2019s easily Schwarber. If it wasn\u2019t for Ohtani\u2019s heroics, Schwarber would fit the true definition of an MVP.<\/p>\n

First: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers<\/p>\n

Second: Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies<\/p>\n

Third: Juan Soto, New York Mets<\/p>\n

AL Cy Young<\/p>\n

Just a friendly reminder when you\u2019re driving to Las Vegas and stopping for gas in Kingman, Ariz., this is the home of Tarik Skubal<\/a>.<\/p>\n

He is about to become only the fourth left-handed pitcher in baseball history to win back-to-back Cy Young awards, joining Sandy Koufax, Randy Johnson and Clayton Kershaw.<\/p>\n

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The man was do dominant that he went 13-2 with a 1.86 ERA with 212 strikeouts and 24 walks during a 26-game stretch, the best in baseball history.<\/p>\n

First: Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers<\/p>\n

Second: Garrett Crochet, Boston Red Sox<\/p>\n

Third: Max Fried, New York Yankees<\/p>\n

NL Cy Young<\/p>\n

It\u2019s unfathomable that Paul Skenes was at the Air Force Academy training to be a pilot in 2022 as a catcher and pitcher on Air Force\u2019s baseball team.<\/p>\n

Here he is today, the most dominant pitcher on the planet.<\/p>\n

You know you\u2019re doing something great when you can be the first unanimous Cy Young winner in baseball history without a winning record, as Jayson Stark of The Athletic points out.<\/p>\n

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Skenes finished the season with a 10-10 record and 1.97 ERA.<\/p>\n

Skenes, who still wants to serve in the military in some capacity when his playing career is over, has made 55 starts in his two-year career, and has given up just 70 runs, for a 1.96 ERA.<\/p>\n

Unreal.<\/p>\n

First: Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates<\/p>\n

Second: Cristopher Sanchez, Philadelphia Phillies<\/p>\n

Third: Freddy Peralta, Milwaukee Brewers<\/p>\n

AL Rookie of the Year<\/p>\n

Well, we\u2019re going to have a unanimous winner for this award, too, this time with Nick Kurtz of the Athletics, who is a few years away from having his face splashed across billboards across the Las Vegas strip.<\/p>\n

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Kurtz is having a rookie season for the ages, hitting .291 with 35 home runs and a 1.001 OPS, accomplished only by Aaron Judge in 2017, Albert Pujols in 2001 and Rudy York in 1937, according to Jayson Stark. Kurtz has a .617 slugging percentage, and is only the seventh rookie in history to have a .600 slugging percentage or higher while having at least 450 plate appearances.<\/p>\n

First: Nick Kurtz, Athletics<\/p>\n

Second: Jacob Wilson, Athletics<\/p>\n

Third: Roman Anthony, Boston Red Sox<\/p>\n

NL Rookie of the Year<\/p>\n

This one is a close call, but Atlanta\u2019s Drake Baldwin gets the slight nod over Chicago Cubs starter Clade Horton.<\/p>\n

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Baldwin, the first African-American catcher to have at least 300 plate appearances in a season since four-time Gold Glove winner Charles Johnson since 2004, is hitting .274 with 19 homers, 80 RBIs and an .808 OPS. Baldwin would also become only the third catcher since Hall of Famer Mike Piazza in 1993 to win the award.<\/p>\n

Baldwin\u2019s stiffest competition is Horton, 11-4, 2.67 ERA, who was sensational for the Cubs in the second half, going 8-1 with a 1.03 ERA, 0.78 WHIP), before his fractured rib this past week.<\/p>\n

The biggest difference separating the two?<\/p>\n

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Baldwin has been with Atlanta since opening day and has played in 122 games entering Saturday. Horton made his debut May 10, and has pitched just 118 innings in 23 games.<\/p>\n

First: Drake Baldwin, Atlanta<\/p>\n

Second: Cade Horton, Chicago Cubs<\/p>\n

Third: Isaac Collins, Milwaukee Brewers<\/p>\n

AL Manager of the Year<\/p>\n

Just like his team, Steven Vogt comes out of nowhere to win this award for the second year in a row, with one of the finest managerial performances in recent history.<\/p>\n

They were 15 \u00bd games out of first place in July. They were still 12 \u00bd games out a month ago.<\/p>\n

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They lost all-world closer Emmanuel Clase and starter Luis Ortiz to gambling investigations that ended their seasons. They traded their ace and former Cy Young award winner Shane Bieber at the deadline just when he was ready to return from Tommy John surgery.<\/p>\n

And here they are, going 32-20 since the trade deadline, and on the threshold of winning the AL Central title in the greatest comeback in baseball history.<\/p>\n

First: Stephen Vogt, Cleveland Guardians<\/p>\n

Second: John Schneider, Toronto Blue Jays<\/p>\n

Third: Dan Wilson, Seattle Mariners<\/p>\n

NL Manager of the Year<\/p>\n

Come on, did anyone in the world predict the Brewers would have the best record in baseball? Did anyone even pick them to win the NL Central? Will anyone underestimate Brewer manager Pat Murphy and the entire organization ever again?<\/p>\n

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Murphy will make history, joining Hall of Famer Bobby Cox as the only NL managers to win consecutive awards,<\/p>\n

And it won\u2019t even be close.<\/p>\n

First: Pat Murphy, Milwaukee Brewers<\/p>\n

Second: Clayton McCullough, Miami Marlins<\/p>\n

Third: Oli Marmol, St. Louis Cardinals<\/p>\n

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Andruw Monasterio of the Milwaukee Brewers is dunked with gatorade after a walk-off single in the 10th inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at American Family Field on Sept. 13, 2025, in Milwaukee. The win clinched a 2025 MLB postseason berth for the Brewers.<\/p>\n

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Andruw Monasterio of the Milwaukee Brewers is dunked with gatorade after a walk-off single in the 10th inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at American Family Field on Sept. 13, 2025, in Milwaukee. The win clinched a 2025 MLB postseason berth for the Brewers.<\/p>\n

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Brandon Marsh and Walker Buehler of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrate clinching the NL East division with a win over Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Sept. 15, 2025, in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

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David Robertson and Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrate clinching the NL East division with a win over Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Sept. 15, 2025, in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

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First baseman Bryce Harper and the Philadelphia Phillies celebrate after clinching the NL East division title at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Sept. 15, 2025.<\/p>\n

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Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber celebrates clinching the NL East division with a win over Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Sept. 15, 2025, in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

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Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with Harrison Bader after clinching the NL East division title after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-5 at Dodger Stadium on Sept. 15, 2025, in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

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Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong celebrates with teammates after defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates to secure a spot in the 2025 MLB playoffs at PNC Park on Sept. 17, 2025.<\/p>\n

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Chicago Cubs first baseman Michael Busch celebrates with a victory cigar after defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates to secure a spot in the 2025 MLB playoffs at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Sept. 17, 2025.<\/p>\n

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Outfielder Seiya Suzuki and manager Craig Counsell of the Chicago Cubs celebrate the team’s 8-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates to clinch a spot in the 2025 MLB playoffs on Sept. 17, 2025, in Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n

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Outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Chicago Cubs poses for a photo as he celebrates the team clinching a spot in the 2025 MLB playoffs on Sept. 17, 2025, after an 8-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n

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Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell celebrates the team clinching a spot in the 2025 MLB playoffs on Sept. 17, 2025, after an 8-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n

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Justin Turner of the Chicago Cubs smokes a cigar to celebrate the team clinching a spot in the 2025 MLB playoffs on Sept. 17, 2025, after an 8-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.<\/p>\n

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The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw waves to fans as he exits the game against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on Sept. 19, 2025, in Los Angeles. The Dodgers clinched a postseason berth in the win over the Giants but honored Kershaw instead of celebrating.<\/p>\n

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Sal Frelick of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrates clinching the 2025 NL Central division title with a win over the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on Sept. 21, 2025, in St. Louis.<\/p>\n

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Abner Uribe of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrates clinching the 2025 NL Central division title with a win over the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on Sept. 21, 2025, in St. Louis.<\/p>\n

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Sal Frelick of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrates clinching the 2025 NL Central division title with a win over the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on Sept. 21, 2025, in St. Louis.<\/p>\n

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A photo of former broadcaster Bob Uecker is displayed in the Milwaukee Brewers clubhouse after the Brewers clinched the 2025 NL Central division title with a win over the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium on Sept. 21, 2025, in St. Louis.<\/p>\n

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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrate clinching a 2025 MLB playoffs berth at Kauffman Stadium on Sept. 21, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri.<\/p>\n

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Kevin Gausman and George Springer of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrate clinching a 2025 MLB playoffs berth at Kauffman Stadium on Sept. 21, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri.<\/p>\n

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Max Scherzer of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates with teammates after they clinched a 2025 MLB playoffs berth at Kauffman Stadium on Sept. 21, 2025, in Kansas City, Missouri.<\/p>\n

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Toronto Blue Jays players celebrate with manager John Schneider in the locker room after clinching a spot in the 2025 MLB playoffs with a win over the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Sept. 21, 2025.<\/p>\n

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Toronto Blue Jays players celebrate in the locker room after clinching a spot in the 2025 MLB playoffs with a win over the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Sept. 21, 2025.<\/p>\n

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Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Trey Yesavage and teammates celebrate in the locker room after clinching a spot in the 2025 MLB playoffs with a win over the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Sept. 21, 2025.<\/p>\n

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Manny Machado of the San Diego Padres celebrates after defeating the Milwaukee Brewers to clinch a berth in the 2025 MLB playoffs at Petco Park on Sept. 22, 2025, in San Diego.<\/p>\n

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Manny Machado of the San Diego Padres celebrates after defeating the Milwaukee Brewers to clinch a berth in the 2025 MLB playoffs at Petco Park on Sept. 22, 2025, in San Diego.<\/p>\n

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San Diego Padres first baseman Luis Arraez and catcher Freddy Fermin celebrate after the Padres clinched a spot in the 2025 MLB playoffs by beating the Milwaukee Brewers at Petco Park in San Diego on Sept. 22, 2025.<\/p>\n

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San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado and infielder Jose Iglesias celebrate after the Padres clinched a spot in the 2025 MLB playoffs by beating the Milwaukee Brewers at Petco Park in San Diego on Sept. 22, 2025.<\/p>\n

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San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt celebrates with players after the Padres clinched a spot in the 2025 MLB playoffs by beating the Milwaukee Brewers at Petco Park in San Diego on Sept. 22, 2025.<\/p>\n

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Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees celebrates in the locker room after clinching a 2025 MLB playoffs spot in a walk-off win against the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 23, 2025, in New York.<\/p>\n

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Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees celebrates with Jose Caballero in the locker room after clinching a 2025 MLB playoffs spot in a walk-off win against the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 23, 2025, in New York.<\/p>\n

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Jasson Domi\u00adnguez of the New York Yankees celebrates in the locker room after clinching a 2025 MLB playoffs spot in a walk-off win against the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 23, 2025, in New York.<\/p>\n

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The New York Yankees celebrate in the locker room after clinching a 2025 MLB playoffs spot in a walk-off win against the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium on Sept. 23, 2025, in New York.<\/p>\n

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Randy Arozarena of the Seattle Mariners celebrates after beating the Colorado Rockies to clinch a 2025 MLB playoffs berth at T-Mobile Park on Sept. 23, 2025, in Seattle.<\/p>\n

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Victor Robles of the Seattle Mariners celebrates after beating the Colorado Rockies to clinch a 2025 MLB playoffs berth at T-Mobile Park on Sept. 23, 2025, in Seattle.<\/p>\n

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Seattle Mariners manager Dan Wilson celebrates after defeating the Colorado Rockies to clinch a 2025 MLB playoffs berth at T-Mobile Park on Sept. 23, 2025, in Seattle.<\/p>\n

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J.P. Crawford of the Seattle Mariners smokes a cigar after beating the Colorado Rockies to clinch a 2025 MLB playoffs berth at T-Mobile Park on Sept. 23, 2025, in Seattle.<\/p>\n

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Third baseman Eugenio Suarez, manager Dan Wilson and outfielder Julio Rodri\u00adguez of the Seattle Mariners celebrate after winning the AL West division title with a win over the Colorado Rockies at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on Sept. 24, 2025.<\/p>\n

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Julio Rodri\u00adguez and Victor Robles of the Seattle Mariners celebrate after winning the AL West division title with a win over the Colorado Rockies at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on Sept. 24, 2025.<\/p>\n

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The Seattle Mariners celebrate after winning the AL West division title with a win over the Colorado Rockies at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on Sept. 24, 2025.<\/p>\n

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Seattle Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena douses catcher Cal Raleigh after winning the AL West division title with a win over the Colorado Rockies at T-Mobile Park in Seattle on Sept. 24, 2025.<\/p>\n

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Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts celebrates with his team after they won the NL West Division crown at Chase Field on Sept. 25, 2025.<\/p>\n

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Shohei Ohtani celebrates with his Los Angeles Dodgers teammates after clinching the National League West title against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Sept. 25, 2025.<\/p>\n

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The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate their National League West championship after a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Sept. 25, 2025.<\/p>\n

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The Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates in the locker room after winning the National League West title after a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Sept. 25, 2025.<\/p>\n

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Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Hyeseong Kim of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate in the locker room after defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-0 to clinch the NL West division title at Chase Field on Sept. 25, 2025 in Phoenix.<\/p>\n

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Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates in the locker room after defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-0 to clinch the NL West division title at Chase Field on Sept. 25, 2025 in Phoenix.<\/p>\n

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Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates in the locker room after defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-0 to clinch the NL West division title at Chase Field on Sept. 25, 2025 in Phoenix.<\/p>\n

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Alex Call, Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate in the locker room after defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-0 to clinch the NL West division title at Chase Field on Sept. 25, 2025 in Phoenix.<\/p>\n

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The Boston Red Sox’s Ceddanne Rafaela celebrates clinching a playoff spot with teammates at Fenway Park on Sept. 26, 2025.<\/p>\n

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The Boston Red Sox’s Ceddanne Rafaela celebrates clinching a playoff spot with teammates at Fenway Park on Sept. 26, 2025.<\/p>\n

Around the basepaths<\/p>\n

\u2013 There should be a handful of managerial openings in the days to come, with the expected retirement of Brian Snitker in Atlanta and the interim tags coming to an end for Miguel Cairo of the Washington Nationals and Tony Mansalino of the Baltimore Orioles<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Yet, the most intriguing scenario is in San Francisco.<\/p>\n

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The Giants, one of baseball\u2019s most underachieving teams \u2013 particularly after acquiring Rafael Devers from the Boston Red Sox \u2013 could part ways with manager Bob Melvin, who just had his 2026 option exercised in July.<\/p>\n

And if Melvin is fired, guess who could wind up to be Buster Posey\u2019s top choice to replace Melvin?<\/p>\n

Yep, Bruce Bochy, the man who led the Giants to three World Series championships, with Posey as his catcher, whose contract expires after the season with the Texas Rangers<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

It would be the most dramatic managerial change since Tony La Russa came out of retirement to manage the Chicago White Sox.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf there’s one thing about Buster Posey it’s that I don’t think he’s OK with losing, I don’t think he’s okay with even being .500,” Giants ace Logan Webb told reporters after his final start. \u201cI’m not going to play his job because that’s not my job, but I don’t think he’s OK with this. I don’t think there’s a lot of people OK with this in this clubhouse.”<\/p>\n

\u2013 Could Astros manager Joe Espada and GM Dana Brown pay the price after Houston missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016?<\/p>\n

Advertisement<\/p>\n

One Astros executive, when asked by USA TODAY Sports whether they could be dismissed \u2013 with Brown having a club option that has yet to be picked up \u2013 simply said that all departments, on the baseball and business side, are currently being evaluated.<\/p>\n

Espada\u2019s job security would seem more tenuous than Brown\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\u2013 The Tigers plan to give manager A.J. Hinch a contract extension. The deal was close to being finalized a few weeks ago, but with the Tigers\u2019 collapse, the timing simply wasn\u2019t right.<\/p>\n

The deal should be consummated after the postseason, but in the meantime, if the Astros indeed are looking for a manager, they could touch base for a possible reunion.<\/p>\n

\u2013 The Cincinnati Reds were close to acquiring Diamondbacks first baseman Josh Naylor at the trade deadline before he went to the Seattle Mariners and became instrumental in their resurgence. Naylor is hitting .299 with nine homers, 33 RBIs and a .831 OPS for the Mariners, and believe it or not, has stolen 19 bases without being caught.<\/p>\n

The Mariners will make every attempt to sign Naylor as a free agent this winter.<\/p>\n

\u2013 Agents and rival executives believe that the Baltimore Orioles will be the most aggressive team looking for pitching this winter, with the Mets, Cubs, Alanta, Red Sox, Tigers and Giants also in the mix.<\/p>\n

\u2013 Whose reputation took a bigger hit this year, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch for their collapse or Mets GM David Stearns for their ugly swoon?<\/p>\n

\u2013 My boldest prediction before opening day? That Mets, despite their $340 million payroll, would miss the postseason. It may happen. The Mets\u2019 pitching staff has been horrendous, using a major-league record 46 pitchers, with only 13 quality starts in the second half.<\/p>\n

\u2013 My worst prediction? The Texas Rangers would return and win the World Series. They have been riddled with injuries, but their offense was a complete mess, leading to the most frustrating season of manager Bruce Bochy\u2019s Hall of Fame career.<\/p>\n

\u2013 Pretty cool scene in Anaheim when every player in the Angels dugout was on the top step to give veteran starter Kyle Hendricks a standing ovation when he walked off the mound Friday night after 108 pitches \u2013 the most since 2022\u2013 knowing it likely could be the final pitch of his fabulous career.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s the teammate that everybody will remember for years and years and years,” Angels interim manager Ray Montgomery told reporters, \u201cand not because of what he did on the field. I don\u2019t think any of that will matter. Just who he is as a person and who he is as a professional. He\u2019s made a lasting impact on everybody in that room, including me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2013 Kudos to Atlanta for the classy move signing pitcher Charlie Morton so that he could finish his career in Atlanta on Sunday \u2013 after being drafted in 2002 \u2013 when he\u2019ll start for the final time in his career.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were trying to think of the best possible way to make it a special day since we did bring Charlie back and he\u2019s meant so much to the organization,\u201d Atlanta manager Brian Snitker told reporters. \u201cIt\u2019s something you can control if he\u2019s an opener, and do a nice thing by honoring him and his career and what he\u2019s meant to, not only us, but to baseball.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2013 Cardinals ace Sonny Gray, who exercised his full no-trade rights this season, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch he\u2019s now open to being traded with the Cardinals expected to further tear down their roster in a rebuild.<\/p>\n

\u201cI came here to win,\u201d said Gray<\/a>, who is owed $35 million in 2026. \u201cI signed here two years ago with the expectation of winning and trying to win, and that hasn\u2019t played out that way. I want to win. And I expect to win.\u201d<\/p>\n

Prediction: Gray winds up with Atlanta.<\/p>\n

\u2013 The Washington Nationals, who hired Boston Red Sox assistant GM\u00a0Paul Toboni\u00a0to be their new head of baseball operations, have told their scouts they would know by Oct. 1 if their contracts will be renewed.<\/p>\n

\u2013 The Colorado Rockies<\/a> not only are finishing with the second-worst record in the modern era, but are on the verge of having the worst starting rotation in baseball history with a 6.67 ERA entering Saturday, eclipsing the 1996 Detroit Tigers\u2019 6.64 ERA. It is two full runs higher than any other team in baseball.<\/p>\n

\u2013 Cal Raleigh joined a host of catchers who wish MLB was not implementing the ABS challenge system next year, with a chorus of players convinced it\u2019s designed to increase the offense, as well as being a tool for professional gamblers.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not a fan of it,” Raleigh, who was one of four players on the competition committee, told reporters. \u201cI\u2019ve said it before, just some parts of the game I think you don\u2019t mess with, but it is what it is,\u201d Raleigh said. \u201cI get it from the fans\u2019 sake and bringing that excitement to it. I understand it from the fan perspective them wanting to implement that.\u201d<\/p>\n

But as a catcher?<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just diminishing the position a little bit, a position that\u2019s already diminished as it is.” Raleigh told reporters. \u201cYou just take another thing away from catchers. And you just hate to see that part of the game go away a little bit.<\/p>\n

\u2013 Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado, who rejected trade overtures from the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels, now says he\u2019ll be much more amenable to a trade this winter and has no real interest in staying in St. Louis.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve got to let some of these young guys grow and become players and see what they have,\u2019\u2019 Arenado told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch<\/a>, “and there\u2019s no doubt that I\u2019m in the way of that. I don\u2019t know what\u2019s going to happen, but obviously I do believe change is coming as it should.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2013 Diamondbacks right fielder Corbin Carroll finished his season as one of only three players in history to hit 30 homers, steal 30 bases and hit 15 triples in the same season. He joins Willie Mays and Jimmy Rollins.<\/p>\n

\u2013 Mariners first baseman Josh Naylor became only the fourth first baseman to hit at least 30 homers and steal 30 bases in one season, joining Joe Carter, Jeff Bagwell and Paul Goldschmidt.<\/p>\n

\u2013 While Ha-Seong Kim had a fabulous stint after being claimed by Atlanta on Sept. 1, with speculation that he\u2019s leaning on declining his $16 million player option in 2026 to become a free agent, it\u2019s still highly likely he leaves. Atlanta wouldn\u2019t have picked up the $2 million in his contract for only a few weeks of work if they didn\u2019t have assurances he\u2019d be staying.<\/p>\n

\u2013 The woeful Colorado Rockies drew 2.4 million fans this year despite finishing with the second-worst record in modern-day history, but it\u2019s still their lowest season attendance since 2007.<\/p>\n

\u2013 The Cardinals\u2019 average attendance this year was just 27,778 a game, their lowest in a non-COVID year since 1995. They sold nearly a million fewer tickets than just two years ago.<\/p>\n

\u2013 The Arizona Diamondbacks used a stunning 42 pitchers this season, the most in franchise history, with nine starters, 33 relievers, and 17 recording saves, the most in MLB history.<\/p>\n

\u2013 Congratulations to Boston Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman<\/a>, who kept his fabulous streak alive.<\/p>\n

He has been in the big leagues 10 years. This will be his 10th\u00a0postseason.<\/p>\n

Follow Nightengale on X: @Bnightengale<\/a><\/p>\n

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB awards 2025 featuring Aaron Judge, Cal Raleigh MVP prediction odds<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It has been a regular season where down is up, up is down, improbability becomes inevitability. We\u2019ve had…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":175129,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[435],"tags":[465,49085,7679,9012,15835,7676,495,505,3966,3959,4003,49,14572,496,48,12414,508,3961,9105,3983,472,491,4021,479,490,14252,8303,3990,10164,3986,14261,1443,7505,20076,89336,24929,13992,1509,42679,463,506,487,23465,13648,3981,493,462,468,475,3980,4012,89335,13055,42507,504,1498,509,1493,4015,5886,470,27353,482,13988,82,14577,3982,34334,489,3992,507,3968],"class_list":["post-175128","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mlb","tag-aaron-judge","tag-albert-pujols","tag-alex-bregman","tag-american-league","tag-angels","tag-astros","tag-athletics","tag-atlanta","tag-baltimore-orioles","tag-boston-red-sox","tag-buster-posey","tag-ca","tag-cade-horton","tag-cal-raleigh","tag-canada","tag-charlie-morton","tag-chicago-cubs","tag-chicago-white-sox","tag-christian-yelich","tag-cincinnati-reds","tag-clayton-kershaw","tag-cleveland-guardians","tag-colorado-rockies","tag-corbin-carroll","tag-detroit-tigers","tag-diamondbacks","tag-drake-baldwin","tag-emmanuel-clase","tag-freddy-peralta","tag-garrett-crochet","tag-ha-seong-kim","tag-houston","tag-isaac-collins","tag-jacob-wilson","tag-jimmy-rollins","tag-jose-ramirez","tag-josh-naylor","tag-juan-soto","tag-kyle-hendricks","tag-kyle-schwarber","tag-logan-webb","tag-los-angeles-dodgers","tag-luis-ortiz","tag-max-fried","tag-miami-marlins","tag-milwaukee-brewers","tag-mlb","tag-national-league","tag-new-york-mets","tag-new-york-yankees","tag-nick-kurtz","tag-nl-cy-young","tag-nolan-arenado","tag-ops","tag-paul-skenes","tag-phillies","tag-pittsburgh-pirates","tag-rafael-devers","tag-roman-anthony","tag-san-francisco","tag-seattle-mariners","tag-shane-bieber","tag-shohei-ohtani","tag-sonny-gray","tag-sports","tag-st-louis","tag-st-louis-cardinals","tag-stephen-vogt","tag-tarik-skubal","tag-texas-rangers","tag-toronto-blue-jays","tag-washington-nationals"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/175128","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=175128"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/175128\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/175129"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=175128"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=175128"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=175128"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}