Top 2025 MLB MVP Contenders: Can Anyone Challenge Ohtani & Judge?

Are this year’s MVP Awards sewn up yet again for Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani?

Last year’s winners of the awards respectively for American League MVP and National League MVP are presumed to be the favorites yet again. That doesn’t necessarily mean that this will come to fruition. We’ll have a look at the most likely contenders for the award in each league.

National League: Juan Soto (NYM), Corbin Carroll (ARI), Mookie Betts (LAD), Matt Olson (ATL)

Betts was on course to potentially win the MVP Award last year before getting injured. His plate patience was excellent, and Betts was spraying the ball to all parts of the park. As he’s gotten older, Betts has become even more of a legitimate HR threat.

Carroll is our bet to bounce back and be the integral cog in Arizona’s offense. He’ll set the table for an offense that should be among the best in all of baseball. He’s far too talented to have another year where he slumps massively at the plate. If that happens again to Carroll, you could start to worry a bit.

Olson is the bopper for Atlanta. He’ll be the premier bat in the heart of the order for a club that was decimated by injury last year. Assuming Ronald Acuna gets back fully healthy, Olson should have plenty of opportunities to drive runners in. Another year in both Atlanta/the National League should help to continue his transition positively from his days in Oakland.

No MVP list would be complete without the 765 million dollar man. Soto got Mets’ fans all lathered up when hitting a HR during his first at-bat during Spring Training. He has experience hitting in the National League, and with a lineup featuring Pete Alonso, Francisco Lindor, and Mark Vientos, Soto should be in line to feast with run production.

American League: Bobby Witt Jr. (KC), Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR), Corey Seager (TEX), Gunnar Henderson (BAL)

Witt Jr. will surely rack up a couple of these awards if last year was any indication. He carried the Royals into the playoffs, and it was the contention of more than a handful of pundits that he should’ve won the award over Judge.

Seager is a pure hitter. We’ve seen it throughout his time in both LA and in Texas. The Rangers have the look of a team that can win the AL West this year. Should this happen, a healthy Seager will be a big reason for that. He’ll be further protected in the lineup by acquisitions Cody Burger and Joc Pederson.

Henderson is one of baseball’s biggest budding stars. It’s been well chronicled how talented Baltimore’s lineup collectively is. Henderson is the straw that stirs the drink for the Orioles. He’s a power hitter that can also hit for average. Pitchers across the league will surely make adjustments as to how they pitch Henderson. It’ll then be incumbent upon the youngster to adjust in his own right — something we think he’ll do without fail.

Guerrero  Jr. is in a contract year. He failed to come to an agreement with the Blue Jays on an extension despite numerous chances to do so. There’s a thought that Toronto may have lowballed him during contract talks. He’ll want to prove Toronto wrong by having a monster year in what likely will be his swan song. Once he hits free agency, a host of teams will be all over Guerrero Jr.