Handing out MLB's 2024 awards: Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge earn MVPs for all-time seasons

PHOENIX — We were entertained all season by one of the greatest shows on Earth with Shohei Ohtani hitting homers and stealing bases nearly every day – yet wondering whether Aaron Judge’s season was even better.

We were mesmerized by rookie Paul Skenes’ coming out party in Pittsburgh, and fascinated by the pitcher with the unusual name (Tarik Skubal) who dominated in Detroit.

We witnessed the Detroit Tigers’ stunning comeback from the dead, while wondering whether they should send flowers to the Minnesota Twins for their epic choke job at the end.

We watched a team slash its payroll by $100 million, dumping several of the game’s biggest stars, only for the San Diego Padres to morph into a team that just may win its first World Series.

We didn't have a 100-game winner, but for the first time saw a 121-game loser .

We saw a baseball stadium close its doors in Oakland , while wondering if we’ll really see 160-degree temperatures on that artificial turf in Sacramento.

It has been 186 days since opening day, but just when you thought it was last call Sunday, the lights are staying on for another day, extending the National League wild-card drama until Monday.

While we wait to see who emerges from the scrum to fill out the postseason, and fascinated to see how Ohtani performs in his first postseason, here are our 2024 award winners, leaving you readily agreeing or screaming into the night.

NL MVP: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers

Remember the silly debate that surfaced a few weeks ago whether New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor should be the MVP because he also plays defense while Shohei Ohtani only hits homers and steals bases.

Anyone still trying to make the argument?

Ohtani, with the greatest season by a DH in history, has turned this year into his own personal PlayStation. He not only makes history by becoming the first to hit 50 home runs with 50 stolen bases, but is getting even better as the year goes on, hitting a major league-leading 25 homers and major league-leading 35 stolen bases since the All-Star break.

The only other player in history to lead MLB in homers and stolen bases after the All-Star break is the late, great Willie Mays in 1955.

The remaining question now is whether Shohei Ohtani will go where no NL player has gone since 1937, and become the first player in the National League since Joe “Ducky" Medwick to win the Triple Crown.

He already has the home run title with 54 homers, to go along with his 58 stolen bases.

He already has won the RBI title with 130 RBI.

He enters Sunday hitting .310, with Luis Arraez of the Padres the only one with a higher batting average at .314.

It’s safe to say we’ll never see a pitcher recovering from Tommy John surgery put up these kind of numbers ever again.

AL MVP: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees

Bobby Witt Jr. had one of the greatest seasons by a shortstop in MLB history, leading the Kansas City Royals to the playoffs after losing 106 games last season.

If you’re going to start a franchise, he would be every GM’s unanimous pick.

Unfortunately, he’s going to have the best season by an MVP runner-up since Barry Bonds finished second to San Francisco Giants teammate Jeff Kent in 2000.

Simply, no one in baseball had a better regular season than Aaron Judge, who not only shifted to center field, but hit 58 homers with 144 RBI and a .458 on-base percentage. He joins Babe Ruth, Hack Wilson, Jimmie Fox, Mickey Mantle, Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire as the only players to hit 50 or more homers with an on-base percentage above .450.

Case closed.

NL Cy Young: Chris Sale, Atlanta

The most surprising aspect of Chris Sale’s career is that he has never won a Cy Young award.

Seven times he finished in the top 6 in Cy Young voting, and received MVP votes in four seasons.

That will change in November.

Sale, at the age of 35, completely dominated the NL, winning the pitching triple crown, leading the league with 18 victories, a 2.38 ERA and 225 strikeouts. The only other pitchers that age to accomplish that feat are Walter Johnson (1924), Roger Clemens (1998) and Randy Johnson (2002), according to STATS Perform.

Remarkably, Sale won more games (18) in one year than he did in the previous five seasons in Boston, and pitched more innings (177⅔) than the previous four years.

Apologies to Zack Wheeler of the Phillies, but Sale’s dominance brings him his first Cy Young award.

AL Cy Young: Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers

The town of Kingman, Arizona, used to be known as the spot on the map where you stop and get gas on your drive to Las Vegas.

These days? It’s the home of Tarik Skubal , the likely unanimous AL Cy Young winner.

He led the league in victories (18), ERA (2.39) and strikeouts (228), while yielding a slash line of .159/.214/.220 with only three extra-base hits.

And when the Tigers needed him the most down the stretch, he was at his finest, going 6-0 with a 1.94 ERA in his final nine starts.

NL Rookie of the Year: Jackson Merrill, San Diego Padres

This may be the most intriguing award race of them all, with so many sensational rookies this year, particularly with Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes already becoming one of the faces of baseball.

Skenes was nothing short of sensational (11-3, 1.96 ERA, 133 innings, 170 strikeouts), becoming the first rookie to have a sub-2.00 ERA with more than 20 starts in a season since Reb Russell (1.90 ERA) in 1913.

Yet, while Skenes put up the glossy numbers in 23 starts, no rookie in baseball was more valuable to his team than Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill, producing the greatest rookie season in Padres history.

This is a guy who was a 21-year-old shortstop who had played in only 46 games above Class A, never having played the outfield in his life.

And he was the Padres’ most valuable player this season. He hit .292 with a .824 OPS, including four game-tying or go-ahead homers in the eighth or ninth inning in a 10-game span, and played sensational defense.

Skenes was dazzling, and must-watch TV, but he played in 23 games, and the Pirates are tied for last place in the NL Central.

Merrill played 155 games, was instrumental in the Padres’ top spot in the wild-card race. If not for Merrill, the Padres would be sitting home in October, just like the Pirates.

AL Rookie of the Year: Colton Cowser, Baltimore Orioles

Wait, wasn’t Jackson Holliday supposed to win this award?

No matter, the award still will go to an Oriole, with Cowser leading AL rookies in virtually every offensive category. And, oh yeah, he’s an exceptional defensive outfielder, recording more outs above average than the rest of the Orioles combined.

It was a close call, but we’ll go with the everyday player over Yankees starter Luis Gil, despite having 17 starts in which he permitted no more than one run, the most by a rookie starter since George McQuillan in 1908.

NL Manager of the Year: Pat Murphy, Milwaukee Brewers

Sure, there’s a strong case to be made for Mike Shildt of the San Diego Padres. Atlanta’s Brian Snitker has somehow kept his team alive with more injuries to stars than any team in baseball.

Yet, when you trade your Cy Young award winner at the start of spring training, lose four-fifths of your starting rotation, play the entire first half without All-Star closer Devin Williams, lose your best player, Christian Yelich for the season in August, and still run away with the NL Central with the second-smallest payroll in the division, you’re a miracle worker.

Pat Murphy, in his first full season as manager at the age of 65, sure made folks in Wisconsin forget all about ol’ what’s-his-name in Chicago.

Murphy will be the first Brewers manager to win the illustrious award.

AL Manager of the Year: Matt Quatraro, Kansas City Royals

Sure, rookie manager Stephen Vogt did a masterful job stepping into future Hall of Famer Terry Francona’s shoes and leading the Cleveland Guardians back to the playoffs.

While the Detroit Tigers front office punted on the season, and traded away Jack Flaherty and three other veterans at the deadline, manager A.J. Hinch circled the wagons and got his kiddie corps to believe what their front office didn’t. It was one of the most stunning performances by any manager over a two-month stretch, going 31-11 down the stretch.

But when you take a small-market team that lost 106 games last year, and turn them into a playoff team in one of the most dramatic turnarounds in baseball history, Quatraro deserves all of the glory.

NL Executive of the Year: A.J. Preller, San Diego Padres

You’re instructed to slash $100 million from your payroll. You’re forced to trade Juan Soto, let Cy Young winner Blake Snell walk and can’t stop All-Star closer Josh Hader or veteran starters Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha from walking out the door.

But instead of wallowing, Preller shopped at a flea market while his competitors were shopping on Rodeo Drive. He dipped into his farm system with trades for Dylan Cease and Luis Arraez and made a slew of shrewd moves that have the Padres back in the playoffs in America’s finest city.

AL Executive of the Year: J.J. Picollo, Kansas City Royals

When Picollo took over the Royals two years ago, he didn’t talk about needing a five-year plan.

He didn’t moan about being in a small market with no chance to win. He wasn't fazed by losing 106 games last year.

He hired 30 new people in the baseball operations department, went out, scoured the free agent market for starting pitching, and grabbed Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha. He picked up veteran players Hunter Renfroe, Adam Frazier and Garrett Hampson. And when they needed help over the summer, snagged Lucas Erceg, Tommy Pham, Paul DeJong, Yuli Gurriel and Robbie Grossman.

They have 19 players on their roster who weren’t around on opening day in 2022, and for the first time since 2015 will be playing in October.

Best free agent signing: Shota Imanaga, Chicago Cubs

There were plenty of teams that went to Japan to scout him, but not a single one believed he was more than an aging No. 4 or No. 5 starter.

He was too old. His command wasn’t great. And his fastball was considered only average.

The Cubs signed Imanaga to a four-year, $53 million contract.

It may have been the franchise’s best investment since signing Andre Dawson to that $500,000 contract in 1987.

Imanaga went 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA, with the fourth-lowest walk percentage in baseball, striking out 174 batters in 173.1 innings.

Oh, and that other Japanese pitcher who had every MLB executive salivating over him, signing a 12-year, $325 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers?

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, 25, went 7-2 with a 3.00 ERA, pitching only 90 innings after missing nearly three months with a strained rotator cuff.

Best trade: Chris Sale, Atlanta

The franchise that sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees, gave away Mookie Betts to the Dodgers, struck again when the Boston Red Sox traded Chris Sale to Atlanta.

It was the fleece of the year with Atlanta not only getting Sale for struggling infielder Vaughn Grissom, but the Red Sox also sent $17 million to Atlanta, covering Sale’s entire salary.

Atlanta would have been dead and buried by July without Sale.

The Red Sox might have made the playoffs if they hung onto him.

Around the basepaths

– The St. Louis Cardinals, who will announce a series of personnel moves on Monday with Chaim Bloom taking on a greater role, plan to shop veteran starter Sonny Gray while reducing payroll.

Gray, who signed a three-year, $75 million contract last winter, has a full no-trade clause, with the Cincinnati Reds expected to be among the teams aggressively pursuing him.

– Skip Schumaker, who officially informed the Marlins and his players that he had no interest in returning before departing Friday for a family emergency, is the No. 1 target of the Cincinnati Reds. Former Cubs manager David Ross also is expected to be interviewed.

– It’s time that Carlos Beltran, a special assistant with the New York Mets, receives interviews from teams seeking a manager. He’d be a good fit with the White Sox if they don’t retain Grady Sizemore.

– While the Pittsburgh Pirates released Rowdy Tellez last week just four plate appearances short of reaching a $200,000 bonus, another team shelled out $250,000 at a time they’re looking to cut costs.

The Chicago White Sox, who set the all-time record with 121 losses, permitted veteran Chris Flexen (3-15, 4.95 ERA) to make a final start this past week. He pitched 6⅓ shutout innings, giving him exactly 160 innings for the season, triggering a $250,000 incentive.

In what has been a living nightmare for the White Sox, kudos to GM Chris Getz and interim manager Grady Sizemore for doing the right thing.

– There are plenty of rumors circulating about Twins manager Rocco Baldelli’s future after the team's collapse – losing 26 of their last 38 games – but the Twins plan to bring him back, although several coaching changes will be made.

“I hadn’t experienced anything like that in my baseball years," Baldelli said after being eliminated from playoff contention, “and I don’t intend to experience it again ... This will bother me forever."

– The Detroit Tigers are the only postseason team that hasn’t sent a single pro scout on the road to prepare reports for their upcoming opponents.

– The Milwaukee Brewers are keeping a close eye on St. Louis Cardinals veteran first baseman Paul Goldschmidt if the Cardinals opt not to bring him back. They still believe there’s plenty left in the tank.

– White Sox starter Garrett Crochet says he’s interested in signing a long-term contract extension, but the White Sox still fully intend to trade him this winter, with the Philadelphia Phillies among the teams expressing interest.

– How fortunate are the Royals to be in the same division as the White Sox this season?

They went 12-1 against the White Sox and had a losing record (73-75) against everyone else entering Sunday.

– While pitchers and some of the leading orthopedic surgeons have wondered whether the pitch clock and the ban on using foreign substances have led to more injuries.

The truth, according to MLB studies, is that this season has the lowest injury rate among pitchers since 2018.

– Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy, despite rumors that he could step down, is definitely coming back in 2025 for the final season of his contract.

– Gabe Kapler, who managed the Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants, is expected to remain in the Marlins’ front office as an assistant GM and won’t return to the field for his third managing gig.

– If All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso doesn’t return to the Mets, rival executives believe he will wind up in Seattle or with the Cubs.

– Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Willy Adames’ price tag continues to go up when he hits free agency in November. He has 32 homers with 111 RBI and 21 stolen bases, becoming one of only four shortstops in MLB history to hit 30 homers, drive in 100 runs and steal 20 bases.

– The Tigers traded starter Jack Flaherty and reliever Andrew Chafin at the July 30 deadline, and after they played Aug. 10, were eight games under .500 and 10 games back in the wild-card race.

Their playoff chances sat at 0.2%, according to Fangraphs.

Today, after going 31-11, they are headed to the postseason for the first time in 10 years.

– Only two managers who led their teams to this year’s postseason have previously been a full-time manager in another organization:

• Tigers’ A.J. Hinch (Arizona and Houston)
• Padres’ Mike Shildt (St. Louis).

Meanwhile, there are three rookie managers who will be in the postseason, with the possibility of a fourth:

• Pat Murphy, Milwaukee Brewers
• Joe Espada, Houston Astros
• Stephen Vogt, Cleveland Guardians
• Carlos Mendoza, New York Mets*

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(This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy.)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Handing out MLB's 2024 awards: Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge earn MVPs for all-time seasons