Congratulations are in order for Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, who took home yet another award on Wednesday. 

The 'Big Dumper' was named as the Player of the Year by his peers in the MLB Players Association. This 'Players Choice Award' is the second of this type that Raleigh has won, as he was also named the MLB Player of the Year by the Sporting News last week. The hope is that this is a precursor to the American League MVP Award, which Raleigh is seen as a favorite for alongside Aaron Judge.

Raleigh's season

Simply put, Raleigh put together the best season we've ever seen by a catcher. His 60 home runs shattered the previous catcher record of 48 (Salvador Perez). He also had the most home runs ever by a switch-hitter (54 was previous high, Mickey Mantle) and had the most home runs ever by a Mariners player (Ken Griffey Jr., 57).

While those records won't be everything in whether or not he can beat Judge for the MVP, it should factor in a bit. If Raleigh were to win the MVP, he would be the first Mariners player since Ichiro Suzuki in 2001.

Griffey also won the MVP in 1997.

Advocating for Cal

Speaking at the end of season news conference last week, Mariners front office leader Jerry Dipoto gave his reasoning as to why Raleigh should win the MVP.

Per Aaron Levine of FOX 13:

Finally, Jerry Dipoto on Cal Raleigh for MVP.

"I think (Aaron Judge) is an unbelievable player - cruise into the Hall of Fame, first ballot. But I can't imagine he did more to help his team get to where they needed to get to than Cal, on every front." #Mariners

Judge's year

The most consistently feared slugger in the American League for the last several years, he hit .331 this season to win the American League batting title. He had 53 homers in 152 games, also posting a .457 on-base percentage. He had 114 RBIs, while Raleigh had 125, which led the American League.

Judge has won two of the last three American League MVP Awards.

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