Major League Baseball finalists for the 2026 awards season have been unveiled by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, featuring a fresh category for relief pitchers alongside the traditional MVP, Cy Young, and Rookie of the Year honors. The three finalists for each league were revealed via a live broadcast on MLB Network, with winners set to be announced during the week of November 9, beginning with the rookies.
American League MVP Race Brings Sluggers and Defenders Together
Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Álvarez anchors the American League Most Valuable Player finalists after setting career highs with 42 home runs and 106 RBIs. Álvarez led all eligible hitters with a .316 batting average, a .432 on-base percentage, and a .601 slugging percentage, nearly capturing the first MLB Triple Corona since Miguel Cabrera accomplished the feat in 2012.
Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero joins Álvarez as a finalist after playing all 162 games of the 2026 season. Caminero posted a .884 OPS with 42 home runs and 101 RBIs, earning his second All-Star selection. Bobby Witt Jr., shortstop for the Reales, rounds out the American League trio; while his offensive output dipped from his runner-up finish behind Aaron Judge in 2024, his steady bat and elite defense kept him among the top three.
National League MVP Finalists Showcase Power and Versatility
Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong enters the National League MVP ballot as a leading candidate after joining the exclusive 40-40 club with 45 home runs and 41 stolen bases. Crow-Armstrong posted a .280/.372/.570 slash line while leading all major leaguers in Statcast’s Outs Above Average and Defensive Runs Saved. Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani seeks his fourth MVP award despite injuries limiting his mound work to 85 innings and 2/3, where he maintained a 1.79 ERA and 95 strikeouts alongside 30 home runs at the plate. Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang completes the group, batting .268 with 21 home runs, 100 RBIs, and 19 stolen bases while anchoring a club that secured 103 regular-season victories.
2026 MLB “Big Four” BBWAA Awards Predictions:Rookie of the Year (ROTY)AL – Kevin McGonigle DETNL – Sal Stewart CIN Manager of the Year (MOTY)AL – Will Venable CWS NL – Pat Murphy MIL Cy Young (CY) AL – Cam Schlittler NYYNL – Jacob Misiorowski MIL Most Valuable…
Cy Young Finalists
Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Dylan Cease leads the American League Cy Young finalists following a 2.40 ERA and a career-best 34.9% strikeout rate across 169 innings in his debut season in Toronto. He is joined by Cleveland Guardians rookie left-hander Parker Messick, who posted a 2.56 ERA with 193 strikeouts in 186.1 innings, and New York Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler, who paced the junior circuit with a 1.95 ERA. In the National League, Atlanta Braves left-hander Chris Sale secured his ninth career Cy Young finalist nod with a 2.16 ERA and 200 strikeouts, while Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sánchez returns as a finalist.
Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Finalists
Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle highlights the American League rookie finalists. Messick earns a dual nomination as both a Cy Young and Rookie of the Year finalist after logging the heaviest workload by a rookie starter since Sandy Alcántara in 2019. Boston Red Sox left-hander Payton Tolle rounds out the American League rookie group with 171 strikeouts over 148.2 frames.
For the National League, New York Mets outfielder Carson Benge launched 20 homers and stole 22 bases in his debut campaign. St. Louis Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt combined elite infield defense with 17 home runs and 14 stolen bases.
Winner Announcement Schedule
The BBWAA will roll out the official results during the week of November 9. Rookie of the Year winners for both leagues will be announced on November 9, followed by the Cy Young and Reliever of the Year awards on November 11, and the Most Valuable Player awards concluding the announcements on November 12.
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