It’s not always easy to predict the winners of MLB’s highest-profile awards: While some favorites live up to expectations, other players often come out of nowhere to earn major honors.
How will things play out in 2026? We asked 57 MLB.com experts to predict who will win this season’s Baseball Writers' Association of America Awards for MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year and Manager of the Year in each league.
Here’s who our writers picked to claim this year’s biggest awards.
Most Valuable Player
American League: Bobby Witt Jr., Royals
An all-around star, Witt missed out on the 2024 AL MVP Award because of an incredible year at the plate from Aaron Judge. The Kansas City shortstop finished fourth in MVP balloting in 2025, behind only Judge, Cal Raleigh and José Ramírez. This year, our voters project it will be Witt’s turn to take home the hardware -- but they think it will be close.
Witt, who had a .295/.351/.501 slash line with 23 homers and 38 steals in 2025, was picked to beat out Judge -- by only one vote! -- to win AL MVP. MLB’s best defender by Outs Above Average last season, Witt certainly has the talent to do it, but he’ll have to put up a campaign comparable to his outstanding ’24 and hope Judge doesn’t eclipse him once again.
Others receiving votes: Judge, Julio Rodríguez, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Roman Anthony, Nick Kurtz, Ramírez, Gunnar Henderson
National League: Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers
Ohtani has won three straight MVP Awards and four in the past five seasons, so it stands to reason he was the runaway favorite here. Among other NL candidates, only Juan Soto received multiple votes -- and it still wasn’t close.
It’s hard to pick against Ohtani, who broke his own single-season franchise record for home runs with 55 in 2025, a year after creating the 50-50 club with 54 dingers and 59 steals in 2024. Oh, yeah: He also pitched 47 excellent innings with 62 strikeouts last season and is on pace for a regular workload on the mound in ’26. Barring injury or a major dropoff in production, Ohtani is on track for a fourth straight MVP Award, which would tie Barry Bonds (2001-04) for an MLB record.
Others receiving votes: Soto, Elly De La Cruz, Fernando Tatis Jr., Kyle Schwarber, Ronald Acuña Jr.
Cy Young Award
American League: Garrett Crochet, Red Sox
Only ONE vote separated Crochet from Tarik Skubal, the winner of the past two AL Cy Young Awards for the Tigers. Crochet, the 2025 Cy runner-up, took his game to the next level in his first year with the Red Sox, posting a 2.59 ERA with an MLB-best 255 strikeouts in an AL-leading 205 1/3 innings.
Is there room for Crochet to improve even more? He might have to in order to unseat Skubal, who had a 2.30 ERA over the past two seasons. Part of the Red Sox’s revamped rotation, Crochet should be one of MLB’s elite starters even if he doesn’t claim his first Cy Young.
Others receiving votes: Skubal, Jacob deGrom, Bryan Woo, Max Fried, Hunter Brown, George Kirby, Cole Ragans
National League: Paul Skenes, Pirates
Rookie of the Year in 2024. Unanimous NL Cy Young honoree in 2025. Skenes has lived up to expectations every step of the way, so it’s little surprise he was our voters’ runaway choice to repeat as the NL’s Cy Young winner in ’26. Skenes has a remarkable 1.96 ERA through his first two Major League seasons, posting a 1.97 ERA in ’25 with 216 K’s in 187 2/3 frames.
The right-hander could surpass 200 innings for the first time in ’26, but even if he doesn’t, he enters the season as the clear NL Cy Young favorite. And given how Skenes’ career has played out so far, there’s little reason to expect anything but further excellence.
Others receiving votes: Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Cristopher Sánchez, Ohtani, Logan Webb, Freddy Peralta, Cade Horton
Rookie of the Year
American League: Kevin McGonigle, Tigers
As of Monday, McGonigle -- MLB Pipeline’s No. 2 overall prospect -- was still fighting for a spot on the Tigers’ Opening Day roster. The middle infielder, who possesses the best hit tool among this season’s crop of top prospects, batted .305 with 19 home runs and a .991 OPS at three Minor League levels (Single-A, High-A and Double-A) in 2025.
McGonigle has addressed questions about his defensive prowess throughout spring camp, proving himself capable with the glove as well as the bat. He may have to start the season at Triple-A Toledo, but if so, he might not be in the Minors for long. The 37th overall pick in the 2023 Draft is set to make a major impact whenever he reaches the big leagues.
Others receiving votes: Trey Yesavage, Samuel Basallo, Carter Jensen, Tatsuya Imai, Chase DeLauter, Walker Jenkins, Kazuma Okamoto, Max Clark, Munetaka Murakami
Note: Yesavage will start the season on the injured list due to a right shoulder injury, which was announced after votes were cast.
National League: Konnor Griffin, Pirates
Our voters cast their ballots before Griffin was reassigned to Minor League camp on Saturday, so it might be a little harder for the young shortstop to claim the 2026 NL ROY honor. But if anyone can do it, it’s MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 overall prospect, who could still reach the big leagues with a strong start in the Minors this spring.
Griffin, who had four home runs and a .749 OPS in Spring Training, beat out Mets right-hander Nolan McLean by a single vote in our poll, and Cardinals infielder JJ Wetherholt wasn’t far behind. With the tools to be an all-around star, Griffin will have to make it up to the Majors before too long if our voters’ prediction comes true. If not, he’ll certainly be one of the favorites to win ROY in 2027.
Others receiving votes: McLean, Wetherholt, Bubba Chandler, Carson Benge, Sal Stewart
Manager of the Year
American League: Craig Albernaz, Orioles
The Orioles experienced a down year in 2025 after making the postseason in both 2023 and 2024, so perhaps a new skipper can lead them to success once again. Baltimore hired Albernaz, who served under Stephen Vogt as the Guardians’ associate manager, as part of a productive offseason: The O’s also signed first baseman Pete Alonso; traded for pitcher Shane Baz and outfielder Taylor Ward; and made a host of other moves to improve their roster.
Most of the pieces from Baltimore’s 101-win ’23 squad -- such as shortstop Gunnar Henderson and catcher Adley Rutschman -- are still in place, and it’s now up to Albernaz to try to put everything together. If he can, the Orioles have enough talent to put themselves in position for another postseason berth.
Others receiving votes: Matt Quatraro, Dan Wilson, Mark Kotsay, A.J. Hinch, Alex Cora, Skip Schumaker, Will Venable, John Schneider, Joe Espada
National League: Craig Counsell, Cubs
Ten of the NL’s 15 managers earned votes in our poll, but it was another Craig who led the way: Counsell, in a close vote over Pirates skipper Don Kelly. In 2025, Counsell led the Cubs to a 92-70 record and an NL Wild Card berth, with Chicago losing a tight five-game NLDS to the Brewers, the club Counsell previously managed.
Counsell skippered Milwaukee to the postseason for four straight years from 2018-21 and again in 2023 before leaving to manage the Cubs, who posted a winning record in 2024 before making the playoffs last season. With third baseman Alex Bregman, starter Edward Cabrera and several new bullpen arms in the fold, Chicago has a chance to challenge for the NL Central crown under Counsell’s leadership.
Others receiving votes: Don Kelly, Carlos Mendoza, Clayton McCullough, Tony Vitello, Torey Lovullo, Craig Stammen, Terry Francona, Walt Weiss, Rob Thomson