AL Reliever of the Year7 of 10

The Three Finalists (announcement on Nov. 11)

Bryan Baker, Tampa Bay Rays (41 saves, 62.1 IP, 1.44 ERA, 3.07 FIP, 0.91 WHIP, 9.1 K/9, 2.9 bWAR)

Cade Smith, Cleveland Guardians (41 saves, 74.0 IP, 1.95 ERA, 2.18 FIP, 0.96 WHIP, 13.0 K/9, 2.9 bWAR)

Louis Varland, Toronto Blue Jays (35 saves, 78.0 IP, 1.27 ERA, 1.83 FIP, 1.00 WHIP, 11.2 K/9, 3.6 bWAR)

Expected Winner: Bryan Baker

Before we try to project a winner in this biggest toss-up of the 10 awards, could we just marvel for a moment at the sheer unexpectedness of two of the three players on this list?

Baker entered 2026 with a career 3.86 ERA and just four saves. Last July, the Orioles traded him to the Rays for a draft pick, fresh off a disastrous “four batters faced, four earned runs allowed” performance in a loss. He ended up blowing six saves that season, despite pitching in just 22 save/hold situations.

Varland’s ascension to dominance was even more improbable, entering this season with a 4.66 ERA and nary a save in his career. The Blue Jays turned to him in darn near every game during their 2025 postseason run, but he was never expected to become their closer.

Throw Texas’ Jacob Latz in there, too, as the unofficial No. 4 pitcher on this list. The only save he had prior to this season was one of those “pitched the final three innings of a blowout” situations, but he also became an All-Star closer out of nowhere.

Even Smith only became a closer last season because of Emmanuel Clase’s expulsion from MLB, and he merely went 13-for-17 in save situations with a 2.79 ERA after inheriting the job.

Without further ado, though, we’ll go with Baker. Because while Varland had arguably the most dominant season of the bunch, Baker was the impenetrable force for the American League’s best squad.

He had a few blown saves early in the year, all three coming in situations where he entered in the eighth inning. He converted each of his final 30 save chances, though, with a 0.82 ERA from May 17 onward. (Not even including his postseason run of 10 scoreless innings with two hits allowed.)