The 2026 season is over, and the debriefing shall commence. My preferred way to begin is by handing out awards to some of the players who made the season what it was.
How many awards? Thinking back to the 40 I issued last year, two words come to mind: how pretentious. I can’t monopolize people’s time like that anymore. There are no more lineups to set. No more pickups to make. Any time I take up here is time better spent watching playoff baseball or even YouTube.
So instead of 40 this year, I’ve reduced it to … OK, to 35, which is still pretentious, but I’m genuinely trying to represent all of the principal actors from this season. Some of these awards are serious business. Others are a bit silly. All are final, so if you have any complaints, bring them to your mother.
In case you’re wondering about my picks for standard awards like MVP, Cy Young and Rookie of the Year, I’ll share them right at the top here, but they’re not as interesting as what follows.
AL MVP: Yordan Alvarez, OF, HOU
NL MVP: Pete Crow-Armstrong, OF, CHC
AL CY: Cam Schlittler, SP, NYY
NL CY: Jacob Misiorowski, SP, MIL
AL ROY: Kevin McGonigle, 3B/SS, DET
NL ROY: Sal Stewart, 1B/3B, CIN
You see? Boring. Now, let’s get to the good stuff.
Best Value, hitter edition
Best Value, pitcher edition
Biggest Breakthrough, midseason edition
Best Midseason Comeback (tie)
What’s Dead May Never Die award
The One Who Fantasy Footballers Won’t See Coming
The One Who Nobody Saw Coming
Don’t You Forget about Me award
Mr. Look Who Finally Decided to Show Up
