Cal Raleight vs Aaron Judge: When the MVP is not necessarily the best player

The Yankees captain has found a true opponent in the persecution of his third most valuable player prize in the Mariners receiver.

Aaron Judge is the best batter of the Major Leagues. That is an idea that will find very little resistance given the quality that the captain of New York Yankees from his arrival to MLB and its development as a batter. When looking for an example of the perfect combination between power and contact, at the time when little is hit, in statistical terms, Judge It is the first name that will lead the list.

That is why it is not surprising that, with such an offensive combination, added to a defense that will have it as a prize candidate Gold glove In the gardens, Judge Be the man to win when it comes to the prize of Most valuable player of the American League.

For Judgeeverything seems to align: talent as a player, franchise and history. It is unlikely that there is a candidate like him.

On the other hand, there is a receiver called Cal Raleightwho together with Seattle Mariners They pursue a post in the postseason. Raleigha guy who has shown that, in addition to having a solid defense in the receiver, he can hit and with that he has surprised everyone in 2025 with his power, leading, at least for the moment, the Major Leagues In the Department of Cuadragular, a position that has maintained for several months while making history for the receivers, pursuing the brand of more home runs for a cathcher, in possession of Salvador Pérez Since 2018.

Raleigh It is a pure batter of power. It is not a batter who has large batting average numbers, in fact, his average for life is .225 and the .247 that he holds in 2025 is the highest in his entire career, but this has not been a normal year for the receiver, according to the standards of his career.

Raleigh You have three things on your side, when we talk about the award MVP of the American League. The first, is its position as a receiver, the second, the lead of home runs and the story that can be achieved with the same and the third, to play in the T-Mobile Park in Seattle, a stadium that unlike the Yankee Stadium of JudgeIt is a paradise for pitchers.

Raleigh It is not a better player than Judge, under practically no metric, but what it is, is a story that could dethrone the current MVP And demonstrate that sometimes, the best player is not always the most valuable.

Define al Most valuable player of MLB It is complex, since multiple factors enter and there is no clear criterion that defines voting, but something that voters like are good stories, especially those that are inscribed within the history of the story of MLB and if Raleighfor some reason, you can do something that no receiver has done before, it would be difficult for voters to not lean on it, above any number or statistics that establish Aaron Judge.

TRUE, Raleigh It is not the batter or the player who is Aaron Judgewe cannot pretend to fool ourselves with that, but again, without a clear voting criterion, making history in a position like the receiver could be the element that defines this year’s vote, for more good season I have “The judge”

Judge remains a favorite for the award MVP of the American Leaguebut if there is an opportunity to reward history, above performance, it is probably 2025. Not always the best player is the most valuable and that can define the award this campaign.