Aaron Judge and Juan Soto named AL MVP finalists, while Yankees also have ROY finalists

Aaron Judge is viewed as the big favorite to win his second AL MVP award, but he’s got familiar company among the finalists.

The Yankee captain’s 2024 teammate, Juan Soto, was named by MLB as a top three finalist for the award, along with Kansas City Royals’ shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.

It’s a tighter race for the AL Rookie of the Year award, where Yankees’ teammates Luis Gil and Austin Wells are among the finalists, with Baltimore Orioles’ outfielder Colton Cowser.

Rookie of the Year balloting will be revealed on Nov. 18, while the MVP award will be announced Nov. 21.

AL MVP race

New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto (22) reacts with outfielder Aaron Judge (99) after Judge dropped a fly ball during the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers during Game 5 of the 2024 MLB World Series on Oct. 30, 2024, at Yankee Stadium.

Judge captured his first MVP in 2022, the year he broke Roger Maris’ AL record for homers, with 62.

This season, his first on a pennant winner, Judge led MLB with 58 home runs and 144 RBI to go along with .322 batting average and a league-leading 1.159 OPS.

Soto’s sensational first year in pinstripes included a career-high 41 homers to go with 109 RBI and a .989 OPS.

Of course, Soto is now the most sought after slugger in free agency, with the Yankees and Mets expected to be in the finals for his services for 2025 and beyond – possibly at a $50 million-or-higher annual salary.

Ownership and executives from both New York clubs are expected to meet personally with Soto and his agent Scott Boras in the coming days, with Yankees manager Aaron Boone mentioning Monday that he’ll be part of the pinstriped traveling party to Southern California.

AL Rookie of the Year race

Oct 18, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Yankees pitcher Luis Gil (81) reacts in the third inning against the Cleveland Guardians during game four of the ALCS for the 2024 MLB playoffs at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Dermer-Imagn Images

The right-handed Gil was recently named by Baseball Digest as that publication’s AL Rookie of the Year, finishing with a 15-7 record and 3.50 ERA, with 171 strikeouts in 29 starts.

Gil, 26, made the Yankees’ rotation out of spring training, filling a vacancy created by Gerrit Cole’s elbow nerve irritation, and he initially replaced the ace’s Cy Young Award output from 2023.

Over his first 14 starts, Gil posted a 9-1 mark and a 2.03 ERA, winning both the AL Pitcher and Rookie of the Month awards for May.

In his final 15 starts, Gil went 6-6 with a 5.15 ERA, having well surpassed his previous professional innings threshold; this was his first full season after Tommy John surgery.

After starting the year in a catching platoon with Jose Trevino, the lefty-hitting Wells became the regular receiver, batting .229 with 13 homers, 55 RBI and a .718 OPS in 115 games.

The lefty-hitting Cowser was a steady offensive and defensive presence for Baltimore, playing mostly left field and posting a .768 OPS with 24 homers and 69 RBI in 153 games.

Voting on these awards, conducted by two members of the Baseball Writers’ Association in each AL city, considers only the regular season; ballots are submitted before the playoffs begin.