The New York Yankees are no strangers to MVP debates, but manager Aaron Boone left no doubt where he stands. After Aaron Judge launched his 52nd home run of the season in Friday’s 8-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles, Boone praised his superstar as the “clear-cut MVP” of the American League.
Judge’s late-season surge has put him firmly in the conversation with Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, who has taken the league by storm with a record-shattering 60-homer campaign. Both have legitimate cases, but Boone is adamant that his right fielder deserves the hardware.
Boone’s Case for Judge
The numbers support Boone’s bold claim. Judge enters the final weekend of the season, slashing .330/.457/.683 with a league-best 1.140 OPS. He leads the majors in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging, OPS, and both versions of WAR (9.2 rWAR and 9.8 fWAR). His 52 home runs and 111 RBI have fueled a Yankees team that clawed out of a midseason slump and now sits tied for first in the AL East at 92 wins.
Judge has been unstoppable in September, hitting .447 with eight homers and 13 RBI in his last 15 games. That production has carried New York’s push for the division crown and positioned him as the face of a playoff-bound roster still aiming for the league’s top seed.
Meanwhile, DraftKings lists Judge as a +180 underdog for the award, trailing Raleigh, who is the betting favorite at -220.
Raleigh’s Historic Push
Of course, Boone’s comments don’t erase the monster season happening 3,000 miles away. Cal Raleigh has hit 60 home runs, the most ever by a catcher, and already four clear of Salvador Perez’s previous record. The switch-hitting slugger also passed Mickey Mantle’s best single-season mark by a switch-hitter and Ken Griffey Jr.’s top totals in a Mariners uniform.
Seattle has ridden Raleigh’s bat to 90 wins and the AL West title, securing the No. 2 seed in the postseason. If voters prioritize history, Raleigh’s candidacy is undeniable—he’s on the verge of breaking Judge’s own American League record of 62 homers set in 2022.
Bleacher Report highlighted that Raleigh has faced 290 different pitchers this year, with none facing more than 10 times, while producing power in a home ballpark not typically friendly to hitters. His defensive workload also enhances his case, as he has caught 120 games and provided significant framing and throwing value.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that most players around the league believe Judge is the right pick, but the historic context surrounding Raleigh has made the race tighter than ever.
The MVP race may come down to interpretation. Judge’s statistical dominance and leadership for a first-place Yankees team echo the formula that made him a unanimous MVP in 2022. Raleigh’s unmatched power at a premium defensive position gives him the kind of narrative momentum voters rarely ignore.
The BBWAA will decide in November. Until then, the debate rages on as the Yankees and Mariners prepare for October. Boone, though, has already made his stance clear: Judge is the rightful MVP.
Yankees’ Manager Calls Aaron Judge the ‘Rightful MVP’ in AL Race