Mason Miller, Louis Varland win first BBWAA reliever of the year awards

San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller and Toronto Blue Jays closer Louis Varland have been named the winners of the first-ever Baseball Writers Association of America Reliever of the Year award. According to CBS Sports, the BBWAA introduced the award this year and will hand it out annually alongside Rookies and Managers of the Year, Cy Young, and MVPs. This new accolade is separate from the Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman Awards, which are voted on by a panel of former relievers. Ballots were submitted by BBWAA members before the beginning of the playoffs, meaning only regular-season contributions were considered.\n\nYahoo Sports reported that Mason Miller was named the unanimous NL Reliever of the Year after recording a career-high 38 saves. CBS Sports noted that Miller pitched to a 1.67 ERA with 129 strikeouts in 70 innings, leading all pitchers with 3.9 WAR. MLB.com added that Miller posted a 47.4 percent strikeout rate and averaged a 101.4 mph fastball velocity. Miller completed his first full season with the Padres after being acquired from the Athletics at the 2025 trade deadline in a six-player deal that sent shortstop Leo De Vries to Oakland, per CBS Sports. Miller beat out the Brewers' Trevor Megill and Phillies' Jhoan Duran for the award.\n\nIn the American League, Blue Jays right-hander Louis Varland won the inaugural AL Reliever of the Year award, according to the BBWAA. Varland posted a 1.27 ERA, which led qualified relievers, and his 3.1 WAR was tops in the AL, as reported by CBS Sports. He struck out 87 batters in 78 innings and recorded 35 saves. The BBWAA noted that Varland was listed on 27 ballots and secured the victory with 16 first-place votes, while Cade Smith of the Guardians was the only reliever named on all 30 ballots. The Blue Jays acquired Varland from the Minnesota Twins at the 2025 trade deadline. Varland beat out the Guardians' Cade Smith and Rays' Bryan Baker for the BBWAA award. Additionally, MLB.com reported that Bryan Baker won the Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year honors, while Miller also collected the Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year honor at the MLB Awards.