MLB awards finalists revealed: See top three for MVP, Cy Young and more

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MLB awards finalists revealed: See top three for MVP, Cy Young and more

Casey L. Moore, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Mon, November 2, 2026 at 11:29 PM UTC ·

3 min read

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Major League Baseball 's biggest individual honors are one step closer to being handed out.

Awards season is officially underway as the finalists for some of the game's most prestigious honors are being revealed. The contenders for MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year and Reliever of the Year include many of the players and managers who helped define the 2026 season.

Here's a look at the finalists for MLB's biggest 2026 awards. The winners will be announced during the week of Nov. 9:

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Milwaukee bursts with pride for Brewers championship parade — Photos

Ivan Lara, left, Benji, 7, center and Kaysie Torres, left, all from Racine, show their team spirit while waiting for the Milwaukee Brewers parade along N. Jackson St., in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Oct. 30, 2026. The Brewers won the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays in game 5.

(Angela Peterson, Angela Peterson/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Bobbie Hernandez, left and her sister Annie, right, from Milwaukee show their team spirit while waiting for the Milwaukee Brewers parade along N. Jackson St., in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Oct. 30, 2026. The Brewers won the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays in game 5.
(Angela Peterson, Angela Peterson/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Tim Crispy dressed as Milwaukee Brewer player, Aaron Ashby makes an appearance with parade fans while waiting for the Milwaukee Brewers parade along N. Jackson St., in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Oct. 30, 2026. The Brewers won the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays in game 5.
(Angela Peterson, Angela Peterson/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

A large police presense is seen along the parade route for the Milwaukee Brewers on N. Jackson St., in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Oct. 30, 2026. The Brewers won the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays in game 5.
(Angela Peterson, Angela Peterson/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Milwaukee Brewer fans wait for the Milwaukee Brewers parade along N. Jackson St., in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Oct. 30, 2026. The Brewers won the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays in game 5.
(Angela Peterson, Angela Peterson/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

People set up around the Bob Uecker mural for the Milwaukee Brewers World Series parade and rally in Milwaukee on Oct. 30, 2026.
(Madeline Heim / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

People line up to get into the Milwaukee Brewers World Series rally at Maier Festival Park in Milwaukee on Oct. 30, 2026.
(Bill Schulz / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

National League MVP finalists

Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF, Cubs —.280 BA/.372 OBP/.570 SLG, 45 HR, 107 RBI, 41 SB, 119 R in 161 games ( Gold Glove winner )
Shohei Ohtani, SP/DH, Dodgers —8-2 with 1.79 ERA in 14 starts; .275/.377/.512, 30 HR, 81 RBI in 139 games
Brice Turang, 2B, Brewers —.268/.366/.450, 21 HR, 100 RBI, 102 R in 151 games (Gold Glove winner)

American League MVP finalists

Yordan Alvarez, DH, Astros —.316 BA/.432 OBP/.601 SLG, 42 HR, 106 RBI, 105 R in 158 games
Junior Caminero, 3B, Rays —.276/.360/.524, 42 HR, 101 RBI, 100 R in 162 games
Bobby Witt Jr., SS, Royals —.281/.359/.441, 18 HR, 54 RBI, 45 SB, 94 R in 143 games (Gold Glove finalist)

National League Rookie of the Year finalists

Carson Benge, RF, Mets —.282 BA/.346 OBP/.430 SLG, 20 HR, 22 SB, 86 R in 156 games (Gold Glove finalist)
Sal Stewart, 1B, Reds —.263/.330/.457, 32 HR, 112 RBI, 87 R, 15 SB in 162 games
JJ Wetherholt, 2B, Cardinals —.242/.339/.365, 17 HR, 14 SB, 89 R in 139 games (Gold Glove finalist)

American League Rookie of the Year finalists

Kevin McGonigle, SS/3B, Tigers —.278 BA/.376 OBP/.430 SLG, 18 HR, 72 RBI, 97 R, 12 SB
Parker Messick, SP, Guardians —12-9 with 2.56 ERA, 193 Ks in 186.1 IP (32 starts)
Payton Tolle, SP, Red Sox —9-6 with 3.03 ER, 171 Ks in 148.2 IP (26 starts)

American League Manager of the Year finalists

Kevin Cash, Rays —98-64, won AL East, won AL pennant, lost World Series
Chad Tracy, Red Sox —87-75, lost in AL wild-card round
Will Venable, White Sox —84-78, lost in AL division series (60-102 record in 2025)

National League Manager of the Year finalists

Don Mattingly, Phillies —88-74, lost in NL wild-card round
Pat Murphy, Brewers —103-59, won NL Central, NL pennant, won World Series
Walt Weiss, Braves —94-68, won NL East, lost in NL division series

American League Cy Young Award finalists

Dylan Cease, Blue Jays —11-6 with 2.40 ERA, 239 Ks in 169 IP (29 starts)
Parker Messick, Guardians —12-9 with 2.56 ERA, 193 Ks in 186⅓ IP (32 starts)
Cam Schlittler, Yankees —14-6 with 1.95 ERA, 239 Ks in 193⅔ IP (33 starts)

National League Cy Young Award finalists

Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers —16-5 with 1.80 ERA, 252 Ks in 174⅔ IP (30 starts)
Chris Sale, Braves —14-9 with 2.16 ERA, 200 Ks in 162⅔ IP (27 starts). Gold Glove finalist
Cristopher Sanchez, Phillies —18-7 with 2.91 ERA, 231 Ks in 207 IP (33 starts)

American League Reliever of the Year finalists

Bryan Baker, Rays —41 saves, 1.44 ERA and 0.91 WHIP in 62⅓ IP
Cade Smith, Guardians —41 saves, 1.95 ERA and 0.96 WHIP in 74 IP
Louis Varland, Blue Jays —35 saves, 1.27 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in 78 IP

National League Reliever of the Year finalists

Jhoan Duran, Phillies —33 saves, 1.82 ERA and 0.99 WHIP in 59⅓ IP
Trevor Megill, Brewers —30 saves, 2.63 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 61⅔ IP
Mason Miller, Padres —38 saves, 1.67 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in 70 IP

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB awards finalists revealed: See top three for MVP, Cy Young and more

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