Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh has been named a finalist for the 2025 Baseball Writers' Association of America American League Most Valuable Player Award, alongside New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge and Cleveland Guardians third baseman José Ramírez. The winner will be announced on November 13 on MLB Network. Raleigh's record-setting season positions him as a strong contender in a closely contested race.
The BBWAA announced the AL MVP finalists on Monday, recognizing Raleigh's exceptional 2025 performance. At 28 years old, Raleigh became the seventh player to hit 60 or more home runs in a season, setting franchise records for the Mariners by surpassing Ken Griffey Jr.'s 56 homers from 1997 and 1998. He also established marks for most home runs by a switch-hitter, topping Mickey Mantle's 54 from 1961, and by a catcher, exceeding Salvador Perez's 48 from 2021.
Raleigh's stats included a .247 batting average (147-for-596), 110 runs, 24 doubles, 60 home runs, 125 RBIs—an AL best—14 stolen bases, .359 on-base percentage, .589 slugging percentage, and .948 OPS. He played in all but three games, including 128 behind the plate, contributing to the Mariners' first AL West title since 2001 with a 90-72 record under manager Dan Wilson. Raleigh earned his first All-Star start for the American League and became the first catcher and switch-hitter to win the Home Run Derby.
The race between Raleigh and Judge has been tight, with Raleigh's 60 homers and durability contrasting Judge's league-leading .331 average, .457 OBP, .688 SLG, 1.145 OPS, and 53 homers. Judge led the AL in WAR at 10.1 (FanGraphs) and 9.7 (Baseball Reference), while Raleigh ranked second at 9.1 and 7.3. Judge missed time due to a right flexor strain in July, serving as DH in 56 games, compared to Raleigh's 38.
This marks Raleigh's highest career finish, improving from 18th in 2023 and 12th in 2024, and the first Top 3 for a Mariner since Ichiro Suzuki's 2001 win. He is also a Silver Slugger finalist and recently won MLB Players Association Player of the Year and Sporting News MLB Player of the Year awards.
Wilson, in his first full season, is a finalist for AL Manager of the Year alongside Toronto's John Schneider and Cleveland's Stephen Vogt, with that winner announced November 11.