Louis Varland of Blue Jays wins first BBWAA AL Reliever of the Year award

Louis Varland, the closer for the Toronto Blue Jays, has been named the first-ever American League Reliever of the Year by the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA). Varland led all qualified relievers with a 1.27 ERA in the 2026 season and recorded 35 saves, ranking fifth in the league. He posted 87 strikeouts over 78 innings and was essential to the Blue Jays' bullpen, particularly after joining the team from the Minnesota Twins during the 2025 trade deadline. This award, separate from the previously existing Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman awards, recognizes regular-season contributions only. Varland bested competitors Cade Smith and Bryan Baker for the inaugural honor.

• 12:27 AMCBS MLB — Blue Jays closer Louis Varland named American League Reliever of the Year in first-ever BBWAA award