Morosi hopes MVP voters see Cal’s value

Cal Raleigh is on track for a season that would be etched in the MLB record books.

The Seattle Mariners catcher is on pace for a whopping 58 home runs, which would shatter the previous single-season record for catchers of 48. He leads the AL with 19 home runs. And this year he’s started to become a more presence at the plate, sporting career-high clips with a .256 batting average and .371 on-base percentage.

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With those sort of offensive numbers plus the defensive prowess the 2024 AL Platinum Glove winner possesses, Raleigh has all the tools of an MVP candidate. But could he actually win the award?

MLB Network’s Jon Morosi weighed on Raleigh’s MVP prospects during a conversation with Seattle Sports Wyman and Bob on Wednesday.

“I think he’ll get some votes on ballots. Now, does that mean he’ll finish first? Hard to say,” Morosi said. “But I’ll say this, we have not seen many catchers in the American League in recent years put up numbers like what Cal Raleigh is doing. … He is one of the most valuable players in the American League.”

Raleigh’s numbers and the impact he brings on a nightly basis behind the plate would potentially make him an MVP frontrunner in many seasons, but his competition in the race is about as stiff as possible in the form of reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge. The Yankees slugger is just one home run behind Raleigh, and he’s hitting .395 with a .492 OBP.

However, what Raleigh does working with the M’s pitching staff gives him a unique case, Morosi said.

“As someone that voted for the MVP before, I would look quite favorably upon his argument if, of course, the Mariners win the division (and) if he continues to have this level of production,” Morosi said, “because his impact is not just on the offensive side (with) the home runs. The defensive value to this team is something truly extraordinary.”

That may not be enough to overcome what Judge is doing in New York. Ultimately, Morosi hopes the voters properly value the contributions Raleigh makes to the Mariners.

“What I would stress to all the voters … is that the catching position is the one spot where you really cannot just go on wins above replacement, what the numbers say,” Morosi said. “You really have to watch this guy’s team play and understand how important he is to properly fill out your ballot. And I just hope that everybody really takes a look at the context in which Raleigh is putting up these extraordinary numbers.”

Hear the full conversation at this link or in the audio player near the top of this story. Listen to Wyman and Bob weekdays from 2-6 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app. 

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