The 2024 MLB season officially wrapped on October 30, when the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees in Game 5 of the World Series. While the…
BBWAA Awards 2024: Full List of Finalists Announced and Reaction
Nov 12, 2024
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 30: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers in action against the New York Yankees during Game Five of the 2024 World Series at Yankee Stadium on October 30, 2024 in New York City. The Dodgers defeated the Yankees 7-6. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
The Baseball Writers Association of America announced its finalists for the MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year and Manager of the Year awards on Monday. Below, we'll list out the finalists and break down their respective résumés.
AL MVP
Your 2024 @officialBBWAA AL Most Valuable Player Award finalists:
Aaron Judge led all of baseball in homers (58), RBI (144) and OPS (1.159). He is the overwhelming favorite to win this award.
In many years, Bobby Witt Jr. might have been the choice after hitting .332 with 32 homers, 109 RBI, 211 hits, 125 runs, 31 steals and a .977 OPS. He led all of baseball in batting average and hits.
Finally, Judge's teammate on the New York Yankees, Juan Soto, hit .288 with 41 homers, 109 RBI, 128 runs and a .989 OPS. It was a fantastic season, but he'll likely finish third in the running.
NL MVP
Your 2024 @officialBBWAA NL Most Valuable Player Award finalists:
Shohei Ohtani is the resounding favorite to win this award after becoming first player in MLB history to ever record a 50-50 season. In total, he hit .310 with 54 home runs, 130 RBI, 134 runs, 59 stolen bases and a whopping 1.036 OPS while leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to the best record in baseball and a World Series title.
Francisco Lindor was excellent in 2024, hitting .273 with 33 homers, 91 RBI, 107 runs, 29 stolen bases and a .844 OPS. So was Ketel Marte (.292 with 36 homers, 95 RBI, 93 runs, .932 OPS). But neither was Ohtani. It's his award and we all know it.
Emmanuel Clase was brilliant for the Cleveland Guardians out of the bullpen this season, notching an AL-leading 47 saves to go along with a 4-2 record, 0.61 ERA, 0.65 WHIP and 66 strikeouts in 74.1 innings. He would be the first reliever to win the Cy Young Award since Éric Gagné did so for the Dodgers in 2003.
Seth Lugo went 16-9 in 33 starts for the Kansas City Royals in 2024, posting a 3.00 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 181 strikeouts across 206.2 innings. He was a workhorse for the Royals as they returned to the postseason.
Tarik Skubal is the favorite for the award after tying for the MLB lead in wins (18), leading all of baseball with 228 strikeouts to go along with an AL-best 2.39 ERA. He added a 0.92 WHIP across 192 innings.
The NL Cy Young may end up being one of the tightest races of them all.
Chris Sale is the frontrunner after sharing the MLB lead for wins with 18 and leading the sport with a 2.38 ERA. He also led the National League in strikeouts (228) and finished with a 1.01 WHIP in 177.2 innings.
Zack Wheeler is his tightest competition after leading the National League in WHIP (0.95) to go along with a 16-7 record, 2.57 ERA and 224 strikeouts in 200 innings. Sale has the slight statistical edge, but Wheeler's 22.1 extra innings of work is worth consideration.
And then there is Paul Skenes, who finished his rookie season with an 11-3 record to go along with a 1.96 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 170 strikeouts in 133 innings. Had he been called up sooner, he may have posted astronomical stats. As it stands, he probably doesn't have the full body of work to win the award this year, but it appears as though many will be in his future.
AL Rookie of the Year
Your 2024 @officialBBWAA AL Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award finalists:
Colton Cowser had a fantastic season for the Baltimore Orioles, hitting .242 with 24 homers, 69 RBI, 77 runs and a .768 OPS.
Then there were the pair of Yankees on the list, starting pitcher Luis Gil (15-7 with a 3.50 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 171 strikeouts in 151.2 innings) and catcher Austin Wells (.229 with 13 homers, 55 RBI and a .718 OPS).
NL Rookie of the Year
Your 2024 @officialBBWAA NL Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award finalists:
Let the debate over whether a pitcher or everyday player is more valuable to his team. Skenes' numbers are hard to deny, however.
Jackson Chourio was fantastic in 2024 in his own right, hitting .275 with 21 homers, 79 RBI, 80 runs, 22 steals and a .791 OPS. A star has been born.
And Jackson Merrill helped ease the offseason departure of Juan Soto, hitting .292 with 24 homers, 90 RBI, 77 runs, 16 stolen bases and a .826 OPS. There isn't a wrong option in this category—all three would be deserving winners.
AL Manager of the Year
Your 2024 @officialBBWAA AL Manager of the Year finalists:
A.J. Hinch led the Detroit Tigers back to the postseason for the first time since the 2014 season, going 86-76 overall.
Matt Quatraro ended the Kansas City Royals' eight-year playoff drought himself, guiding the team to the exact same record as the Tigers and a Wild Card berth.
And Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt led his team to a 92-70 record and the team's second AL Central crown in the past three years in his first year on the job.
NL Manager of the Year
Your 2024 @officialBBWAA NL Manager of the Year finalists:
Carlos Mendoza led the New York Mets to an 89-73 record and a Wild Card berth after a dramatic final day of the season. The Mets also reached the NLCS, losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Pat Murphy led the Milwaukee Brewers to a 93-69 record and an NL Central crown, the team's third in the past four years.
Mike Shildt led the San Diego Padres to a 93-69 record in his first season at the helm for the team after the team's disappointing and underachieving 2023 campaign.
Yankees' Updated Payroll for 2025 Roster After Gerrit Cole Contract Decision
Nov 4, 2024
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 30: Gerrit Cole #45 of the New York Yankees pitches in the second inning during Game 5 of the 2024 World Series presented by Capital One between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 in New York, New York. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Gerrit Cole made the strange decision to opt out of his contract with the New York Yankees before deciding to remain with the team... on the exact same four-year, $144 million contract he opted out of in the first place, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Per that report, "Discussions on a potential contract extension will continue. Essentially, it's the same as if Cole did not opt out."
Well OK then. So, that bizarre decision aside, where does this leave the team's payroll heading into the 2025 season?
Per Spotrac, the Yankees currently have $186.4 million in adjusted payroll allocations and $235 million in projected payroll expenditures when taking into account arbitration and pre-arbitration estimates. That's already a hefty sum, and that's before taking into account the astronomical cost it will take to keep Juan Soto if the Yankees are able to re-sign him.
The belief is that the floor—yes, the floor—for a Soto deal is 10 years and $500 million, meaning that to retain him, the Yankees will need to add at least $50 million to their payroll projections for next season, which would bring them up to around $285 million. And that might be on the low end of predictions regarding Soto's contract—he's going to have a vibrant market.
That is doable, of course—the Yankees sat at $309.4 million this past season, second in baseball behind only the New York Mets ($317.7 million). The Yankees have enough money coming off the books to pay Soto big money, though it may mean the team will have to cut some financial corners to address other needs on the roster.
Taking that approach, would the Yankees simply be mirroring the flashy and powerful but fundamentally unsound group that reached the World Series this past season, losing the Fall Classic in part due to terrible defense and head-scratching mental lapses?
Perhaps. But players like Soto—who just turned 26, by the way—don't come around often, and pairing him with Aaron Judge gives the Yankees the most dynamic star duo in the sport. They don't have much choice but to at least make a good-faith effort to re-sign him.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 01: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers speaks during the 2024 World Series Celebration Show at Dodger Stadium on November 01, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Major League Baseball announced its Silver Slugger finalists on Monday, with players like Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, the New York Yankees pair of Aaron Judge and Juan Soto and Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. highlighting the list.
Here are the finalists for the 2024 National League Silver Slugger Awards.
Ohtani and Judge, the overwhelming favorites to be named the NL and AL MVP winners, respectively, are virtual shoo-ins to be named Silver Sluggers as well.
Ohtani, 30, just had a historic season, becoming the first player in MLB history to ever record a 50-50 season, hitting .310 with 54 home runs, 130 RBI, 134 runs, 59 stolen bases and a whopping 1.036 OPS.
Should he return to pitching next season, it's possible he won't be such a menace on the basepaths, making his 2024 campaign a truly unique effort.
Judge, 32, remained the sport's most prolific home-run hitter, finishing the 2024 season with a .322 batting average to go along with MLB-leading marks in homers (58), RBI (144) and (OPS) 1.159.
Witt is a virtual lock to win a Silver Slugger as well, despite tough competition from Gunnar Henderson (.281, 37 homers, 92 RBI, 21 stolen bases, 118 runs, .893 OPS) at shortstop. In most seasons, Witt would have been a viable AL MVP after hitting .332 with 32 homers, 109 RBI, 211 hits, 125 runs, 31 steals and a .977 OPS, all while leading the Royals to the postseason for the first time since 2015. His batting average and hits led all of baseball.
Judge, however, almost assuredly will spoil Witt's MVP chances, though the 24-year-old appears to be well on his way to compiling a fantastic career, with many awards to come.
Soto, 26, feels like a safe bet to join Judge as a Silver Slugger after hitting .288 with 41 homers, 109 RBI, 128 runs and a .989 OPS. It was arguably the best season of his career, and came at the perfect time, as he'll hit free agency this winter and is on pace to earn the next massive contract in the sport.
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Gerrit Cole Says 'This Is Like as Bad as It Gets' After Yankees Lose MLB World Series
Oct 31, 2024
Gerrit Cole didn't try to hide his feelings after the New York Yankees' defensive implosion in the fifth inning of Game 5 of the World Series helped spur the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 7-6 win and their eighth title in franchise history.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Cole put this loss at the top of his personal list of defeats.
"This is like as bad as it gets," Cole said.
The Yankees looked like they were going to cruise to victory and force a Game 6 back in Los Angeles. They jumped out to a 5-0 lead by scoring in each of the first three innings, including back-to-back homers from Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the first.
Cole held the Dodgers lineup to no hits and two walks on just 49 pitches through four innings. Enrique Hernández broke up the no-hitter with a leadoff single in the fifth.
That was when the floodgates opened because Tommy Edman's liner to center field should have been an easy out, but it hit off the thumb of Aaron Judge's glove to put runners on first and second.
Will Smith reached on a fielder's choice when Anthony Volpe attempted to get a force out at third base, but he hopped the throw and Chisholm was unable to get the ball in his glove.
Cole looked like he would escape the situation by striking out Gavin Lux and Shohei Ohtani, but Anthony Rizzo waited back on Mookie Betts' weak grounder with two outs and was unable to get to the bag in time for the out.
We take another look at how the 5th inning unraveled for the Yankees, ultimately leading to 5 runs for the Dodgers pic.twitter.com/Znsfiljd0R
The Dodgers would score five unearned runs in the inning to tie the game. After the Yankees retook the lead in the sixth on Giancarlo Stanton's sacrifice fly, the Dodgers loaded the bases with no outs to start the eighth against Tommy Kahnle.
Yankees closer Luke Weaver came in trying to escape the damage, but he gave up two sac flies that put the Dodgers back on top. New York was unable to plate another run over its final two turns at-bat, ending the game and the 2024 MLB season.
Per MLB.com's Sarah Langs, the five-run comeback for the Dodgers is the largest ever in a World Series-clinching game.
The Yankees are the only MLB team to:
blow a 5+ run lead allow 5+ unearned runs commit 3+ errors commit catcher's interference commit a balk
...all in the same game, regular season or postseason (since earned runs became an official stat in both leagues in 1913).
This was the second time in the series that the Yankees blew a lead. They were up 3-2 Game 1 in the eighth inning before the Dodgers tied it and eventually won in the 10th on Freddie Freeman's walk-off grand slam.
Cole is still searching for his first World Series title. This was his second appearance in the Fall Classic and first since 2019 when he was with the Houston Astros when they lost to the Washington Nationals in seven games.
The Yankees haven't won a World Series since 2009.
Aaron Judge: Yankees 'Lucky' to Have Juan Soto Ahead of Free-Agent Contract Decision
Oct 31, 2024
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 14: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Yankees jokes with Aaron Judge #99 during the 4th inning of Game One of the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians at Yankee Stadium on October 14, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
In the aftermath of a disappointing end to their 2024 season, the focus for the New York Yankees now shifts to hoping they can keep Juan Soto as he prepares to hit free agency for the first time in his career.
Following their 7-6 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series, Aaron Judge said the Yankees were "lucky" to have Soto this year and experssed hope they can keep him going forward.
Aaron Judge was asked if he's thought about tonight possibly being Juan Soto's last game as a Yankee:
"We were definitely lucky to have him here and it would be great to keep playing with him because he's definitely a special player." pic.twitter.com/hrXXf5nK7h
There is no reason the Yankees can't keep Soto, but there are questions of whether or not ownership will want to take that financial leap. Spotrac estimates they already have $249.5 million in salary commitments for next season when including arbitration projections.
MLB's competitive balance tax for 2025 is set at $241 million. If Soto's deal ends up being close to $50 million in annual value, the Yankees would be paying close to $300 million before factoring in penalties for being over the CBT for the fourth straight year.
Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner told reporters in May that the team's current payroll was "simply not sustainable for us financially" because of the tax penalties they had to pay.
Steinbrenner did make those comments long before the Yankees made a run to the World Series for the first time since 2009, but he's also been far more financially conservative with payroll than his father, George, since taking over day-to-day operations of the club in November 2008.
Everyone expected Soto would do well for the Yankees when he was acquired from the San Diego Padres in December 2023, but he managed to exceed a lot of the hype. The four-time All-Star hit .288/.419/.569 with a career-high 41 homers in 157 games during the regular season.
Soto added to his Yankees lore with a fantastic postseason performance. He hit .327/.469/.633 in 14 games and became a New York icon with his go-ahead home run in the 10th inning of Game 5 of the ALCS against the Cleveland Guardians that sent the Yankees to the World Series.
Of course, Soto's high level of production combined with being just 26 years old means he is going to cash in with a huge contract this offseason.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic and Fox Sports recently said on Foul Territory that Soto's average annual salary on his next deal is "going to start with a five."
"Soto's AAV (average annual value) is going to start with a five" 💰@Ken_Rosenthal weighs in on the future contract of Juan Soto, who turns 26 on Friday - which is also Game 1 of the World Series 🎂 pic.twitter.com/G011FWWMMb
Per The Athletic's Jim Bowden, executives around MLB anticipate Soto's deal will land somewhere between $550 million and $650 million in total value.
Shohei Ohtani is currently the only player with an average annual salary of at least $45 million and total value contract worth more than $430 million.
The pairing of Soto and Judge was the most productive duo in MLB. Their combined 20.3 FanGraphs' wins above replacement was the highest by any teammates in 2024.
It would seem foolish to break them up at this point after the season both of them had, but the Yankees are going to have to fight if they want to keep Soto in 2025 and beyond.
Aaron Boone Talks Juan Soto's Contract: 'I Hope He's Here Forever' with Yankees
Oct 31, 2024
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 30: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Yankees bats during Game 5 of the 2024 World Series presented by Capital One between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 in New York, New York. (Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone hopes the team breaks out the checkbook for Juan Soto this offseason.
"I hope he's here forever, but I also know I'm excited for him and what the next few months are for him," Boone told reporters when discussing the impending free agent after Wednesday's World Series loss. "But from my standpoint, I couldn't have asked for better."
He isn't the only one who hopes Soto returns, as Aaron Judge said, "I think everybody in this room wants him back. ... He just does a lot of the little things that people don't notice that truly make him one of the best players, if not the best player in the game."
For his part, Soto said he was "open to listen to every single team" while adding that he would like to sign with a winning club.
The Yankees were a winning club after trading for him last offseason.
They reached the World Series in large part because of his individual excellence, as he slashed .288/.419/.569 with 41 home runs, 109 RBI and a league-best 128 runs before hitting .327 with four home runs in 14 postseason games.
It was another head-turning season for someone who is just 26 years old with a resume that features a World Series title, a batting title, four Silver Sluggers and four All-Star Games.
That combination of skill, proven production and age means Soto is in line to receive a massive deal this offseason.
New York has always been known as a team willing to spend what it takes to have some of the league's best players, and this past season was no different. The New York Mets were the only team with a higher payroll in 2024, and Soto could end up deciding between the two teams in the Big Apple.
Boone made his preference clear, which was anything but a surprise after Soto's impressive season.
