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2h ago

Cal Raleigh Edges Aaron Judge in AL MVP Straw Poll of MLB Executives

A survey of team decision-makers now tilts toward Seattle’s catcher by a single vote, signaling increased emphasis on positional value.

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Mariners Cal Raleigh and Yankees Aaron Judge with a baseball diamond in the background.

Overview

  • An MLB.com poll of front-office executives gave Raleigh a 7–6 edge over Judge with one tie, a nonbinding snapshot that reflects current sentiment rather than the official vote.
  • Raleigh leads the AL with 56 home runs and 118 RBIs while catching daily, with elite framing (87th percentile) and a top-10 defensive value ranking by FanGraphs.
  • Judge trails in homers but still tops the league in key value metrics, including runs, walks, total bases, OPS+, bWAR and fWAR, and he sits at 48 home runs and 103 RBIs.
  • Judge has logged extensive time at DH after an elbow injury but has recently returned to the outfield, while Raleigh has set single-season marks for homers as a switch-hitter and in games as a catcher.
  • With roughly a week left and a Mariners–Astros series starting with the AL West tied, performances down the stretch could sway perceptions before 30 voters cast official MVP ballots after the season.