Why Giants’ Buster Posey emphatically believes Mariners’ Cal Raleigh is AL MVP originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
From one MVP catcher to … another? It’s no secret who Buster Posey believes is most deserving of the American League honor this season.
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The Giants president of baseball operations, and 2012 National League MVP, joined KNBR 680’s “Murph & Markus” on Thursday, and among the many questions asked pertaining to his team, also was asked to share his thoughts on Seattle Mariners star catcher Cal Raleigh’s impressive 60-homer 2025 MLB season.
“It’s incredible,” Posey said of Raleigh. “He’s a Florida State alum like myself. I don’t know Cal that well. I had a chance to talk to him a little bit earlier this season when they were in town playing. I’m glad I don’t get to vote on the MVP race on this one, because I know which way my vote would be going.
“To do what he’s done behind the plate, to lead the staff, the grind of being behind the plate [and] to hit 60 homers and to do it in meaningful games down the stretch, I think it’s immeasurable his value to that team and just truly a season for the ages.”
Raleigh finished the regular season batting .247/.359/.589 with 60 home runs, 125 RBI and a .948 OPS in 159 games for the AL West-winning Mariners, who secured their first division title in 24 years.
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The race for the AL MVP award will come down to Raleigh and New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, who batted .331/.457/.688 with 53 home runs, 114 RBI and a 1.144 OPS in 152 games.
While Judge clearly has the better percentage splits than Raleigh, it appears that Posey believes the catcher’s work behind the plate and his importance to Seattle’s elite pitching staff should put him over the top.
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