It’s one of the more fun debates of the MLB season – who is most likely pulling away with the MVP?

From the American League races of Mike Trout vs. Miguel Cabrera to Aaron Judge vs. Shohei Ohtani, we have a new contender in the sweepstakes this season.

The Big Dumper.

Cal Raleigh has swept the nation with his performance this season with the Seattle Mariners.

From making his first All Star appearance to winning the Home Run Derby, to currently leading all of Major League Baseball with 56 home runs. Raleigh has always been a power hitter, but he’s taken it to a new level this year, and on top of his MLB leading home runs, he leads the American League in RBIs.

But there’s one force that’s in his way to capture his first ever MVP.

When he steps on the field, all in fact rise out of their seats.

The Judge.

It’s hard to argue that in the past five seasons, Judge has been one of, if not the best player in baseball. 

Two time MVP, seven time All Star, four time Silver Slugger, the list goes on.

It’s truly remarkable the power he has, and the ability to get on base. In three out of the past four seasons, he’s hit over .300, and in those seasons, he’s also hit at least 45 home runs.

And there’s a strong chance that he can hit 50 this season. So, if you’re keeping track that could be three of the past four seasons of 50 dingers or more.

For as many homers that they’ve hit, Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire couldn’t even do that.

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com took a poll amongst over a dozen baseball executives to see who they think is the MVP, and it’s actually a lot closer than you think.

Seven of the executives think Raleigh should take home the award, six think Judge, one called it a coin flip.

Just from an offensive perspective, even though Raleigh leads the league in home runs and RBIs, you can argue that Judge’s MLB leading .328 average suggests that he’s more than just a power hitter.

However, according to Feinsand, certain execs who lean toward Raleigh, favor the positional value he carries as a catcher more.

One exec said, “Had Judge continued the Bonds-like start he got off to, I might think differently. But as is, I'd go with the all-around monster year from the guy playing the most demanding position on the field."

But one seems to think that Judge is that much more important to the Yankees than Raleigh is to the Mariners.

“I would lean towards Judge because I think he’s had the better overall season in terms of quality of performance. The home run total and positional advantage would go to Raleigh, but outside of that, I think you can put Judge ahead across the board. And as weird as it might sound, I actually think the Yankees would miss him more than the Mariners would miss Raleigh. I can’t believe I’m saying that, but I think Judge is that important to them.”

Both sides equally have a respectable argument, but only one can win.

Scratch that.

You can have a co-MVP, but it’s so rare that the only time in baseball history that it happened was in 1979 when Keith Hernandez and Willie Stargell took it home.

So because of that, you get a feeling that a co-MVP isn’t in the cards.

The MVP Award will be awarded in late November, after the World Series is complete.