One of the key components of the Cleveland Guardians’ success is that everyone on the roster contributes in some way. They do not rely on one or two players, which was proven beyond a doubt this season, as third baseman Jose Ramirez had an uncharacteristic down year.
So, after winning the AL Central for a third straight time, it may be difficult to select a team MVP from a long list of candidates. There is no runaway choice, with many players deserving of consideration.
With that in mind, analyst Chris Oldach named outfielder Angel Martinez as the Guardians MVP during the 2026 season.
“Angel Martinez. From an offensive standpoint, he’s been your most consistent guy. In a situation where this team struggled for most of the year to score runs, anytime they got a big win or a big hit, to me, it was always Angel Martinez who got it for you,” Oldach said.
Who has been the Guardians MVP this season? @TheOGPAW says Angel Martinez! pic.twitter.com/kjGO4iv38S
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) September 30, 2026
Shortstop Brayan Rocchio might want a word with Oldach about his choice, but Martinez does have a very good case. In his second full MLB season, the 24-year-old set career highs with 18 home runs, which led the Guardians, and 62 RBIs, which were third behind Rocchio and rookie outfielder Chase DeLauter.
Martinez’s .254 batting average, .465 slugging percentage, and .756 OPS were also career bests. He played in just 114 games, limited by a foot fracture, which makes those totals even more impressive.
He also had some important hits down the stretch as the Guardians rallied to overtake the Chicago White Sox for the division title. That included a homer for the only run of the game in a 1-0 victory against the Boston Red Sox that clinched a playoff berth.
But based on clutch performances alone, it would be hard to top what Rocchio did for the Guardians this season. He led the team in RBIs while batting ninth in the order, and he had four walk-off hits, including two in September.
He had a historic game with a grand slam and a walk-off homer against the Detroit Tigers. Then, in a critical game against the White Sox, his walk-off double kept Cleveland from falling further behind in the divisional race.
Martinez and Rocchio certainly deserve to be among a group that includes DeLauter, second baseman Travis Bazzana, outfielder Steven Kwan, starting pitchers Gavin Williams and Parker Messick, and closer Cade Smith. The fact that the list of contenders contains that many names speaks volumes about the Guardians’ makeup as a team.
Now, they must continue to work together taking on either the White Sox or Houston Astros as their opponent in the ALDS, which begins on Saturday.
NEXT: Insider Names Which Guardians Rookie Made The Most Progress
