The finalists for the 2026 major honors—Most Valuable Player, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, Reliever of the Year, and Manager of the Year—have been officially revealed by Major League Baseball alongside the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA).
It is worth noting that all voting concluded prior to the postseason kickoff, with ballots submitted before playoff action commenced. Consequently, these recognitions strictly reflect regular-season performance. No additional balloting occurs following the announcement of these top contenders. The term “finalists” can be somewhat deceptive; the votes are already counted, and the league is merely publicizing the top three finishers in each category to generate anticipation ahead of the ultimate reveal.
Additionally, the BBWAA has introduced a fresh honor this year: Relief Pitcher of the Year for both circuit leagues. While MLB has traditionally presented the Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year and Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year, this marks the initial instance of the BBWAA incorporating a dedicated award for relief pitchers.
Below is the schedule for unveiling the award recipients:
Monday, Nov. 9: Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Awards
Tuesday, Nov. 10: Manager of the Year Awards
Wednesday, Nov. 11: Cy Young Awards
Wednesday, Nov. 11: Relief Pitcher of the Year Awards
Thursday, Nov. 12: Most Valuable Player Awards
Here are the featured nominees.
American League MVP
Yordan Alvarez, Astros: Maintaining full health across the campaign, he lived up to every expectation. Over 158 appearances, Alvarez compiled 34 doubles, 42 home runs, 106 RBI, and 105 runs scored, while pacing all of MLB in the slash line categories with .316/.432/.601 (190 OPS+). Furthermore, he topped the big leagues in both total walks and intentional free passes.
Junior Caminero, Rays: At just 22 years old, he suited up for all 162 contests, guiding Tampa Bay to the top record in the American League. He produced a line of .276/.360/.524 (144 OPS+) along with 42 homers, 101 RBI, 100 runs scored, and a 5.7 WAR. In doing so, he set a franchise benchmark, becoming the first player in Rays history to land in the top five of MVP voting.
Bobby Witt Jr., Royals: Witt has now secured a top-seven finish for four consecutive years and a top-four placement in three straight campaigns, having claimed runner-up honors in 2024. This year, he registered a .281/.359/.441 slash line (125 OPS+), adding 33 doubles, 18 home runs, 54 RBI, 94 runs, 45 stolen bases, and 6.7 WAR.
American League Cy Young
Dylan Cease, Blue Jays: During his debut campaign following a lucrative contract with Toronto, Cease stood out as a premier highlight for an otherwise struggling club. He posted an 11-6 record alongside a 2.40 ERA (184 ERA+), 1.10 WHIP, and 239 punchouts across 169 innings, generating 5.5 WAR and earning the starting nod in the All-Star Game.
Parker Messick, Guardians: Pitching in 32 games, Messick compiled a 12-9 record, 2.56 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 193 strikeouts over 186 ⅓ frames, aiding Cleveland in capturing their third consecutive AL Central title. Historically, only eight pitchers have claimed both Rookie of the Year and Cy Young honors throughout their careers, with Fernando Valenzuela (1981) remaining the lone player to sweep both in a single season.
Cam Schlittler, Yankees: Building upon a strong secondary half and postseason run in 2025, Schlittler continued his stellar development. In his age-25 campaign, he recorded a 14-6 mark, 1.95 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and 239 strikeouts over 193 ⅔ innings, serving as the anchor for New York’s rotation through numerous roster injuries while pacing the American League in ERA and WAR.
American League Rookie of the Year
Kevin McGonigle, Tigers: Selected in the first round of the 2023 draft out of high school, McGonigle earned a roster spot out of spring training and immediately excelled. He represented Detroit at the All-Star Game in his hometown of Philadelphia and wrapped up the year with an AL-leading 7.1 WAR. Over 707 plate appearances, he posted a .278/.376/.420 mark (126 OPS+) featuring 28 doubles, five triples, 18 home runs, 72 RBI, 97 runs, and 12 steals, all while delivering solid defensive play at shortstop and third base.
Parker Messick, Guardians: The left-hander logged brief action in 2025 while preserving his rookie eligibility for 2026, where he thrived. Across 32 starts, Messick put together a 12-9 record with a 2.56 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 193 strikeouts across 186 ⅓ innings, driving Cleveland to its third straight division crown in the AL Central.
Payton Tolle, Red Sox: Standing 6-foot-6, the left-handed starter was taken in the second round in 2024. After a difficult brief stint of under 20 innings last year, he put together a breakout performance. Making 26 starts, he registered a 9-6 record, 3.03 ERA (135 ERA+), 1.10 WHIP, and 171 strikeouts across 148 2/3 innings.
American League Relief Pitcher of the Year
Bryan Baker, Rays: Following five seasons of modest usage, the 31-year-old experienced a dominant breakout. Baker topped MLB with 41 saves while recording a stellar 1.44 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 63 strikeouts over 62 ⅓ frames for the top-seeded squad in the AL.
Cade Smith, Guardians: Matching Baker for the major-league high with 41 saves, Smith delivered an exceptional campaign in his first full year handling ninth-inning duties. He logged a 1.95 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and 107 strikeouts over 74 relief innings for the postseason-bound club.
Louis Varland, Blue Jays: Entering his fifth big-league season, Varland hit his stride, putting up a 1.27 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 97 punchouts across 78 innings. Taking over closer duties in late April, he successfully converted 35 of 37 save opportunities.
American League Manager of the Year
Kevin Cash, Rays: After failing to reach the postseason in 2024 and 2025—and navigating displaced games following hurricane damage to their home park—Cash guided Tampa Bay to 98 victories. The team captured a competitive division title and locked up the top record in the American League.
Chad Tracy, Red Sox: Stepping into the managerial role following Boston’s sluggish 10-17 opening stretch, Tracy guided the team to a 77-58 finish and a postseason spot. The midseason resurgence was highlighted by a remarkable run where the Red Sox secured victories in 32 out of 37 games.
Will Venable, White Sox: Assuming managerial duties in 2025 for a franchise coming off a modern MLB-record 121 losses, Venable guided Chicago through a 102-loss campaign before engineering a 24-win improvement this season to clinch a playoff berth. Driven largely by internal growth rather than massive external acquisitions, his squad orchestrated an impressive turnaround.
National League MVP
Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs: Having previously shown glimpses of elite potential, Crow-Armstrong delivered a complete breakout in 2026. He batted .280/.372/.570 (156 OPS+) with 31 doubles, five triples, 45 homers, 107 RBI, 119 runs, and a 9.8 WAR. He topped Major League Baseball in WAR, runs, and home runs, while leading the Senior Circuit in slugging, OPS, and OPS+, becoming just the seventh player in history to enter the 40-40 club.
Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers: The four-time MVP appeared on track for a fifth honor early on before late-season injuries slowed his momentum. Nevertheless, he batted .275/.377/.512 with 26 doubles, four triples, 30 home runs, 81 RBI, 89 runs, 11 steals, and 3.2 WAR. As a pitcher, he posted an 8-2 record with a 1.79 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 95 strikeouts across 85 ⅔ innings, producing an additional 3.2 WAR.
Brice Turang, Brewers: Despite remaining largely under the radar nationally without an All-Star selection, Turang opened 2026 competing for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. During the regular season, he compiled a .268/.366/.450 slash (124 OPS+) with 37 doubles, three triples, 21 home runs, 100 RBI, 102 runs, and a 7.3 WAR, establishing himself among baseball’s top elite defenders.
National League Cy Young
Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers: The immense potential long envisioned for Misiorowski materialized into a historic campaign. Across 30 starts, he registered a 1.80 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, and 252 strikeouts in 174 ⅔ innings. He earned a 16-5 record for MLB’s top-performing team, capturing the major-league lead in ERA, WHIP, and strikeouts.
Chris Sale, Braves: After capturing his inaugural Cy Young award at age 35 in 2024, the veteran southpaw delivered even sharper rate statistics despite being limited to 27 starts. Sale compiled a 14-9 record, 2.16 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, and 200 strikeouts against just 31 walks over 162 ⅔ innings.
Cristopher Sánchez, Phillies: Sánchez established himself early via an impressive 50 ⅔ consecutive scoreless innings streak, eventually taking the mound as the NL All-Star Game starter in Philadelphia. He concluded the year at 18-7 with a 2.91 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 231 strikeouts across 207 innings, leading all MLB pitchers with an 8.1 WAR.
National League Rookie of the Year
Carson Benge, Mets: Drafted in the first round in 2024, Benge secured an Opening Day spot and produced a .282/.346/.430 line alongside 20 home runs, 22 stolen bases, and 4.3 WAR.
Sal Stewart, Reds: Stewart presents a classic traditional vs. modern metrics debate. Though registering a modest 1.8 WAR, he launched 32 home runs and drove in 111 runs, placing him in exclusive historical company. He is just the 15th rookie in MLB history to reach 30 home runs and 100 RBI; each of the previous eight players to accomplish the feat captured Rookie of the Year honors (the only non-winners predated the award or shared the achievement in the same year, like in 1950).
JJ Wetherholt, Cardinals: Bolstered by exceptional defensive metrics, Wetherholt accumulated a 4.5 WAR across 139 contests while batting .242/.339/.365 with 17 home runs, 14 stolen bases, and 89 runs scored.
National League Relief Pitcher of the Year
Jhoan Duran, Phillies: In his first complete campaign with Philadelphia, Duran successfully converted 33 out of 35 save opportunities, registering a 1.82 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and 84 strikeouts over 59 ⅓ innings.
Mason Miller, Padres: Working 70 innings in 66 outings, Miller posted a stellar 1.67 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, and 129 strikeouts. He picked up five victories while converting 38 of 41 save opportunities.
Trevor Megill, Brewers: While Milwaukee often eschewed a set closer role, Megill anchored the bullpen by converting 30 of 33 save chances, compiling a 2.63 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and 69 strikeouts across 61 2/3 innings.
National League Manager of the Year
Don Mattingly, Phillies: Beginning the campaign as bench coach, Mattingly assumed control of a struggling 9-19 squad after Rob Thomson’s departure. The team instantly surged, posting a 79-55 record under Mattingly and securing another postseason berth despite their initial 10-game deficit under .500.
Pat Murphy, Brewers: Repeat winners of this award are rare, as voters typically reward managers whose teams most surpass predictions—a tough standard to replicate. Yet Murphy is now aiming for a third straight honor. After guiding Milwaukee to a franchise-record 97 wins and MLB’s top record in 2025, he broke that record in 2026 with 103 wins while again securing baseball’s top overall record.
Walt Weiss, Braves: Following a disappointing 76-86 record in 2025 during Brian Snitker’s final season, Weiss took the helm during the offseason. He led Atlanta to a 94-68 campaign, restoring the franchise to the top of the NL East after a two-year absence.
