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Red Sox feature five players among ESPN’s top MLB award contenders

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 24, 2026, 2:51 PM

Last updated Aug 24, 2026

Red Sox feature five players among ESPN’s top MLB award contenders

Summary

The Boston Red Sox have five players highlighted in ESPN's latest MLB Awards Watch. Willson Contreras and Ceddanne Rafaela rank among the top five American League MVP candidates, while Payton Tolle and Jake Bennett are included in the Rookie of the Year top 10. Veteran pitcher Sonny Gray also appears eighth in the AL Cy Young race. Contreras has performed well since joining the Red Sox, while Rafaela’s recent strong performance supported the franchise's postseason ambitions. The recognition underscores the depth and potential of Boston's roster amidst their playoff pursuit.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Status Watch

•Contreras ranks fourth in AL MVP standings with a 129.5 AXE rating.
•Rafaela ranks fifth in AL MVP standings with a 129 AXE rating.
•Tolle is fifth and Bennett is tenth in the AL Rookie of the Year standings.
•Sonny Gray is eighth in the AL Cy Young race with 16 wins.
•Boston completed a series sweep over the Giants, improving to 71-59.

Latest Updates

2:51 PMYahoo Sports — Red Sox place five players among ESPN’s top MLB award contenders

What they're saying

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Boston placed two players in the AL MVP top five and two pitchers in the Rookie of the Year top 10 in ESPN’s latest awards evaluation.
— Yahoo Sports

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