Why Cal Raleigh Should Have Won 2025 Al Mvp Over Aaron Judge Msn

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 18, 2025, 2:59 PM

why cal raleigh should have won 2025 al mvp over aaron judge msn

Despite breaking records and leading MLB in both home runs and RBIs during the 2025 season, Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh fell short of winning the American League MVP award on Thursday night. Raleigh finished second in the AL MVP voting to Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, who had a tremendous season himself. Judge finished with 17 first-place votes and 13 second-place votes from the BBWAA as Raleigh garnered 13 first-place votes and 17 second-place votes. While Judge’s season in itself was MVP-worthy, there’s an argument to be made that Raleigh was more deserving of the award for his campaign in 2025. Since Judge was announced the winner, let’s break down two key reasons Raleigh was snubbed. It’s not just that Cal Raleigh led the league in both home runs and RBIs, it’s that he put up historic offensive production for a catcher.

Sure, Raleigh’s batting average was lower than Judge or any other catcher that’s won MVP, but he hit significantly more home runs than any catcher in league history. Despite breaking records and leading MLB in both home runs and RBIs during the 2025 season, Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh fell short of winning the American League MVP award on Thursday night. Raleigh finished second in the AL MVP voting to Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, who had a tremendous season himself. Judge finished with 17 first-place votes and 13 second-place votes from the BBWAA as Raleigh garnered 13 first-place votes and 17 second-place votes. While Judge’s season in itself was MVP-worthy, there’s an argument to be made that Raleigh was more deserving of the award for his campaign in 2025. Since Judge was announced the winner, let’s break down two key reasons Raleigh was snubbed.

It’s not just that Cal Raleigh led the league in both home runs and RBIs, it’s that he put up historic offensive production for a catcher. Sure, Raleigh’s batting average was lower than Judge or any other catcher that’s won MVP, but he hit significantly more home runs than any catcher in league history. Aaron Judge didn't have even one MVP at this time in 2022, so the likelihood that he could have three by the end of this year is a remarkable feat by a remarkable player. The odds are against it, however at +180. This is a fact, at least according to .css-wrcrjw{margin:0;font-size:1.6rem;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:Proxima Nova,Proxima Nova Fallback Helvetica,Proxima Nova Fallback Arial;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;letter-spacing:0rem;line-height:1.92rem;color:var(--br--palette-foreground__link__secondary__default-mainChannel);font-size:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;white-space:normal;}.css-3nqh9c{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:rgba(var(--br--palette-primary-mainChannel) / 0.4);margin:0;font-size:1.6rem;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:Proxima Nova,Proxima Nova Fallback Helvetica,Proxima Nova Fallback Arial;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;letter-spacing:0rem;line-height:1.92rem;color:var(--br--palette-foreground__link__secondary__default-mainChannel);font-size:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;white-space:normal;}.css-3nqh9c:hover{text-decoration-color:inherit;}.css-lu48cp{margin:0;font:inherit;color:var(--br--palette-primary-main);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-color:rgba(var(--br--palette-primary-mainChannel) / 0.4);margin:0;font-size:1.6rem;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:Proxima Nova,Proxima Nova Fallback Helvetica,Proxima Nova Fallback Arial;font-weight:700;font-style:normal;letter-spacing:0rem;line-height:1.92rem;color:var(--br--palette-foreground__link__secondary__default-mainChannel);font-size:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;white-space:normal;}.css-lu48cp:hover{text-decoration-color:inherit;}DraftKings. Their favorite for the American League MVP is Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh at -220, which is a cue for New York Yankees fans to line up their standard talking points:

These are valid across the board. And for what it's worth, ESPN's Jeff Passan passed along word that most of the players believe Judge is the right pick for AL MVP. Yet, we can give you four reasons why Big Dumper himself should be the AL MVP. The American League MVP will be revealed Thursday and it's going to be either Aaron Judge of the Yankees or Cal Raleigh of the Mariners (sorry José Ramirez). Regardless of who wins, there will be complaints. Team Judge and Team Raleigh are dead set in their opinions.

In addition to the stats, two factors are involved here. One is fatigue -- voter fatigue, but fans get it too. The other is the historical element. Let's talk about those in a second. First, the stat lines: Raleigh: .247/.359/.589, 169 OPS+, 24 2B, 60 HR, 125 RBI, 110 R, 14 SB, 7.4 WAR

Judge: .331/.457/.688, 215 OPS+, 30 3B, 2 3B, 53 HR, 114 RBI, 137 R, 12 SB, 9.7 WAR Judge has won two of the last three AL MVPs, including last year. It's human nature to grow tired of seeing the same dude winning an award over and over. There's a reason the only player to have ever won more than three MVPs is Barry Bonds (Shohei Ohtani will join the list this year), but even with Bonds, voter fatigue cost him multiple... Albert Pujols probably missed out on at least one MVP because the writers got bored. Roger Clemens and Randy Johnson should have won more Cy Youngs but, again, people just get tired of the same name being called every November.

The American League MVP race between Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh was one of the closest in recent memory, and its outcome showed how uncertain baseball still is about what “value” really means. Judge’s elite metrics secured the trophy, but the debate around Raleigh’s record-breaking season made it clear that voters remain divided between raw production and total contribution. Judge’s third MVP award came by a margin of just 20 points, earning 17 first-place votes to Raleigh’s 13. Two more flipped ballots would have resulted in a tie. The conversation wasn’t about who was more talented, but about how baseball defines value in an era that can measure almost everything. Judge’s case was built on dominant production.

He led baseball with a .331 average, a .457 on-base percentage, and a .688 slugging mark. He hit 53 home runs and posted a 9.7 WAR, placing him just ahead of Raleigh and Shohei Ohtani. His 204 OPS+ ranked among the best in modern history, matching the kind of efficiency Barry Bonds produced during his peak seasons. Those numbers carried the vote. Many saw Judge’s consistency and command of the strike zone as enough to outweigh positional factors. His performance met every definition of “most productive,” which for many voters still means “most valuable.”

Raleigh became the first catcher in MLB history to reach 60 home runs, breaking single-season records for both his position and for switch-hitters. He caught 1,072 innings and did not allow a passed ball, while leading the Mariners to their first ALCS since 2001. His 9.1 WAR ranked third in baseball, right behind Judge and Ohtani. Editor's note: This story originally published on Sept. 27, 2025. The sentiment remains.

Everybody ... chill. *inhales AL MVP discourse … recoils in exasperation* *looks around … leans in for more and smiles* With the 2025 MLB season complete, the AL MVP race remains one of the most compelling storylines of the year. The two front-runners, Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge and Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, were padding their résumés as the clock ticked down.

On the final Friday of September, Judge went deep for the 52nd time in an 8-4 victory over the Orioles that kept the Yankees in contention for the AL East. It was his 84th extra-base hit of the year. Out west, Raleigh went 2-for-5 with a double in the Mariners' 3-2 loss to the Dodgers. It was his ... 84th extra-base hit of the season. The next day, Judge hit home run No.

53. Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh had historic seasons, but only one could win the AL MVP. Steph Chambers / Getty Images By Tyler Kepner, Chandler Rome, Britt Ghiroli and Zack Meisel Plenty has changed about baseball. Little has changed about how voters are supposed to determine the league’s Most Valuable Player.

From the official guidance given by the BBWAA: There is no clear-cut definition of what Most Valuable means. It is up to the individual voter to decide who was the Most Valuable Player in each league to his team. The MVP need not come from a division winner or other playoff qualifier. The rules of the voting remain the same as they were written on the first ballot in 1931:

Why Cal Raleigh Should Have Won 2025 Al Mvp Over Aaron Judge Msn

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