Major League Baseball and the Baseball Writers’ Association of America have officially revealed the top three finalists for the 2026 regular-season major awards. The honors cover Most Valuable Player, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year, and the newly established Relief Pitcher of the Year award in each league.
Voting for all categories was submitted prior to the start of the postseason, meaning playoff performances do not impact the results. The league is revealing award winners across four consecutive days, beginning on Monday, Nov. 9 with the Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Awards, followed by Manager of the Year on Nov. 10, Cy Young and Reliever of the Year on Nov. 11, and MVP on Nov. 12.
American League Award Nominees
Houston Astros outfielder Yordan Alvarez, Tampa Bay Rays infielder Junior Caminero, and Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. are the finalists for the American League MVP. Alvarez played 158 games, posting a .316/.432/.601 slash line with 42 home runs and 106 RBIs. Caminero batted .276 with 42 home runs and 101 RBIs in 162 games to help Tampa Bay secure the best record in the AL. Witt Jr. completed another strong season, hitting .281 with 18 home runs, 45 stolen bases, and a 6.7 WAR.
In the AL Cy Young category, Toronto Blue Jays starter Dylan Cease, Cleveland Guardians rookie Parker Messick, and New York Yankees left-hander Cam Schlittler were named the top three candidates. Cease went 11-6 with a 2.40 ERA and 239 strikeouts, Messick delivered a 12-9 record with a 2.56 ERA over 186 1/3 innings, and Schlittler led the AL in both ERA at 1.95 and pitcher WAR while recording 239 strikeouts.
Messick is also a finalist for AL Rookie of the Year alongside Detroit Tigers infielder Kevin McGonigle and Boston Red Sox starter Payton Tolle. McGonigle posted an AL-leading 7.1 WAR with 18 home runs and 12 steals. Tolle registered a 3.03 ERA and 171 strikeouts over 148 2/3 innings.
The inaugural AL Relief Pitcher of the Year award will go to either Bryan Baker of the Rays, Cade Smith of the Guardians, or Louis Varland of the Blue Jays. Baker and Smith tied for the major league lead with 41 saves each, while Varland saved 35 games with a 1.27 ERA. Meanwhile, Kevin Cash of the Rays, Chad Tracy of the Red Sox, and Will Venable of the White Sox are the AL Manager of the Year finalists.
National League Award Nominees
The National League MVP race features Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter and pitcher Shohei Ohtani, and Milwaukee Brewers infielder Brice Turang. Crow-Armstrong joined the 40-40 club, hitting 45 home runs while stealing bases and leading the majors with a 9.8 WAR. Ohtani hit 30 home runs while also posting an 8-2 record with a 1.79 ERA on the mound before minor injuries limited him late in the season. Turang hit .268 with 21 home runs, 100 RBIs, and elite defense yielding a 7.3 WAR.
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski highlights the NL Cy Young finalists after leading the majors in ERA at 1.80, WHIP at 0.80, and strikeouts with 252 over 174 2/3 innings. Atlanta Braves veteran Chris Sale (14-9, 2.16 ERA, 200 strikeouts) and Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sánchez (18-7, 2.91 ERA, major-league-leading 8.1 pitcher WAR) complete the group.
New York Mets outfielder Carson Benge, Cincinnati Reds infielder Sal Stewart, and St. Louis Cardinals infielder JJ Wetherholt are up for NL Rookie of the Year. Stewart hit 32 home runs and drove in 111 runs, placing him among 15 rookies in baseball history to reach those milestones. Benge hit 20 home runs with 22 steals, while Wetherholt posted a 4.5 WAR.
For NL Relief Pitcher of the Year, Philadelphia’s Jhoan Duran, San Diego’s Mason Miller, and Milwaukee’s Trevor Megill were nominated. Miller posted a 1.67 ERA with 129 strikeouts and 38 saves. The NL Manager of the Year finalists include Philadelphia’s Don Mattingly, Milwaukee’s Pat Murphy, and Atlanta’s Walt Weiss.
The award winners will be announced live on their respective scheduled dates, concluding with the Most Valuable Player awards on Thursday, Nov. 12.
