The Baseball Writers Association of America has officially announced its finalists for the coveted MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, and Manager of the Year awards. A closer examination of the finalists reveals intriguing performances from players and managers alike as the 2024 season comes to a close.

In the American League, the finalists for the MVP award are Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees, Juan Soto, also of the Yankees, and Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals. Judge had a standout season, leading MLB with 58 home runs, 144 RBIs, and an impressive OPS of 1.159. Despite Witt Jr.'s remarkable performance, hitting .332 with 32 home runs and 109 RBIs, Judge is widely considered the frontrunner. Soto added his remarkable stats to the mix with a .288 batting average, 41 home runs, and 109 RBIs, though he is likely to finish third in the MVP race behind Judge and Witt Jr.

Over in the National League, Shohei Ohtani is the clear favorite for the MVP award, having recorded a historic 50-50 season with 54 home runs, 130 RBIs, and 59 stolen bases, all while maintaining a batting average of .310. His contributions helped lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to both the best record in baseball and a World Series Championship. Francisco Lindor and Ketel Marte are the other finalists, with Lindor hitting .273 with 33 home runs and 91 RBIs, and Marte posting a .292 average with 36 home runs and 95 RBIs, although neither matched Ohtani's unparalleled achievements.

For the AL Cy Young Award, the finalists include Emmanuel Clase of the Cleveland Guardians, Seth Lugo of the Kansas City Royals, and Tarik Skubal. Clase excelled in the bullpen, earning 47 saves with an impressive 0.61 ERA. Lugo demonstrated reliability with a 16-9 record and a 3.00 ERA over 33 starts. Tarik Skubal stands out as a strong contender, tying for the MLB lead with 18 wins while also leading the league with 228 strikeouts and finishing with a 2.39 ERA, making him the favorite for the award.

In the National League, Chris Sale, Paul Skenes, and Zack Wheeler are the finalists for the Cy Young Award. Sale leads the National League in wins and ERA, while Wheeler's outstanding WHIP of 0.95 and strikeouts make him a formidable competitor. Paul Skenes, in his rookie season, put together an impressive 11-3 record alongside a 1.96 ERA, making him a notable contender, even if his limited experience may affect his chances.

The finalists for the AL Rookie of the Year include Colton Cowser of the Baltimore Orioles, Luis Gil of the New York Yankees, and Austin Wells, also of the Yankees. Cowser posted a solid season, hitting .242 with 24 home runs, while Luis Gil impressed on the mound with a 3.50 ERA over 151.2 innings. Catcher Austin Wells had a reasonable season as well, rounding out the list of impressive rookie performances.

In the National League Rookie of the Year race, the finalists are Jackson Chourio, Jackson Merrill, and Paul Skenes. Both Chourio and Merrill had exceptional seasons, contributing significantly to their teams. The debate will center around whether Skenes, a pitcher, or the everyday players possess more value in the award consideration.

The Manager of the Year finalists in the American League feature A.J. Hinch of the Detroit Tigers, Matt Quatraro of the Kansas City Royals, and Stephen Vogt of the Cleveland Guardians. Each manager led their respective teams to playoff appearances, with Hinch guiding the Tigers to an 86-76 record and Quatraro ending an eight-year playoff drought for the Royals. Vogt's leadership took the Guardians to a 92-70 record and a second AL Central title in three years.

For the National League, the managerial finalists are Carlos Mendoza of the New York Mets, Pat Murphy of the Milwaukee Brewers, and Mike Shildt of the San Diego Padres. Mendoza helmed the Mets to an NL Wild Card berth and an 89-73 record, while Murphy secured another NL Central title for the Brewers. Shildt, in his first season, led the Padres to a respectable 93-69 record after previous struggles.