There’s always that one guy who ruins the party—towering presence, booming stats, and a knack for stealing the spotlight. Just when it looked like the American League MVP race was open for fresh blood, along comes Aaron Judge with his bat swinging and narrative locked in. And somewhere in the heartland, a $288 million superstar keeps grinding, wondering what it’ll take to outshine baseball’s biggest headline.
Aaron Judge is always the favorite when it comes to winning the MVP awards, but it seems like there is one name that could challenge him this season. During his podcast, Ben Verlander was discussing some of the best players in baseball right now. There came up the name of Bobby Witt Jr.
Ben Verlander thinks that Witt Jr.’s only challenge to win the MVP this season is Aaron Judge. “I think Bobby Witt Jr. could win unless Aaron Judge keeps hitting a million homers. Bobby Witt Jr. is my pick to win the AL MVP award.” Well, to some extent, Ben Verlander might be right.
In 2024, he played his 3rd full season with a batting average of .332. Bobby Witt Jr. ended the season with 32 home runs and 109 RBIs. But this can’t be compared to Aaron Judge’s numbers from last season – 58 home runs and 144 RBIs.
Despite that, not only Verlander, but some ESPN folks also believe this. In this year’s top 100 players, Bobby Witt Jr. was ranked second behind Shohei Ohtani, while Aaron Judge was ranked behind Mookie Betts at 4th.
Though this MVP speculation did not sit well with fans, looking at the predictions, it is quite likely. But then again, not everyone’s swinging with Yankee Stadium dimensions and MVP voter nostalgia.
Still, Witt Jr. is the full-package player putting up elite numbers without the New York spotlight, even though he might not have Aaron Judge’s home run fireworks. If consistency, speed, and all-around brilliance still matter in the MVP race, the league might need to clear room on the throne. Because the kid in KC isn’t just knocking—he’s kicking the door down.
After Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s signing, an analyst praises Bobby Witt Jr.
Baseball isn’t always fair, but sometimes it’s funny. One team drops half a billion like it’s spare change, while another pulls off a masterstroke without the fireworks. In a league where timing is everything and price tags grow faster than batting averages, one front office might’ve just played 4D chess. Enter: Bobby Witt Jr., the Royals’ not-so-secret weapon in the contract game.
$500 million is not a small amount, even for the Blue Jays. But sometimes, a bargain deal can also keep a superstar. FanSided’s Caleb Moody praised the Royals for how Witt’s deal compares to Guerrero’s. “Looking at Guerrero’s extension, not only does Witt’s $288.7 million pale in comparison to the $500 million he’ll get, but the Royals have far more room for roster flexibility in the immediate future,” he pointed out.
Moody is making sense, isn’t he? With the performance Witt Jr. gives, this is a deal that most trams wish they had. In the 2024 season, Bobby Witt Jr. played a total of 161 games, putting more than the number of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.‘s last season. Guerrero Jr. ended the season with a batting average of .323 with 30 home runs and 103 RBIs.
And that’s the twist—Witt didn’t just outperform Guerrero, he did it on a budget. While Toronto wrote a check the size of a small GDP, Kansas City quietly secured elite production at a discount. It’s not just a win on paper; it’s a masterclass in timing and value. Who knew the Royals were playing Moneyball in 4K while others were still buffering?
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