Front Office Poll Shows Cal Raleigh Leading Aaron Judge in 2025 AL MVP Race

The 2025 AL MVP race is intensely competitive between New York Yankees' Aaron Judge and Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh, with recent polls showing Raleigh narrowly leading among MLB front office executives. Raleigh's positional value as a catcher and record-breaking power hitting, including 56 home runs, have boosted his case, despite Judge's superior overall offensive statistics and leadership qualities. Judge, hampered by an elbow injury limiting him mostly to DH duties, still leads the league in runs, walks, total bases, OPS+, and WAR metrics, underscoring his dominance. Yankees bullpen pitcher Luke Weaver and MLB insiders acknowledge the difficulty in choosing between the two, with some leaning toward Judge for his consistent excellence and leadership, while others value Raleigh's all-around impact at a demanding defensive position. The upcoming Mariners-Astros series could be pivotal for the MVP race, as both teams are tied for first in the AL West. Overall, the MVP decision reflects a close contest between offensive output, defensive value, and team impact, highlighting the unique contributions of both candidates.