Blue Jays legend Josh Donaldson weighs in on Aaron Judge vs Cal Raleigh MVP result

Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh enjoyed incredible campaigns in 2025, ending the regular season with a total of 113 home runs between themselves. The two sluggers competed with each other in one of the most fascinating battles for the AL MVP award in recent memory. Ultimately, it was Judge that came out on top.

On Friday's episode of the "Hold My Ball Podcast," Toronto Blue Jays legend Josh Donaldson explained why he thinks Judge deserved to win, despite the record-breaking year Raleigh enjoyed.

"He (Cal Raleigh) broke the record for home runs as a catcher in a season," Donaldson said (Timestamp: 2:30). "Going back to a couple years ago, when (Aaron) Judge hit 60 (home runs), once he hit 60, it was a wrap, no matter what. Because I think Shohei (Ohtani) was still in the AL at the time. That kind of like solidified Judge. I feel like what Cal did offensively, from a catching standpoint, obviously it's never been done before. "But with that being said, Judge's year was still so much superior, which is crazy. That's just how good he is. I don't want to say he gets the Barry Bonds treatment, but everybody knows, going into the game, not to let Judge beat you. And yet, he still ends up beating you. Nobody was really pitching around Cal, not to take anything away from him. I think, if you put him (Cal Raleigh) in the NL, he beats Shohei."

Donaldson also has an AL MVP award to his name, which he won in 2015 after his first season with the Toronto Blue Jays.

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Despite joining Yankees royalty in exclusive club, Aaron Judge continues striving towards his "main focus"

With this year's AL MVP win, Aaron Judge has become only the fourth Yankee to ever win the prestigious prize three or more times, joining the legendary trio of Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle.

Despite this achievement, the 33-year-old remains as focused on ever on his ambition of winning a World Series title.

As insider Bryan Hoch reported via X shortly after Judge's award win, so strong is the seven-time All-Star's desire of winning his first ring, that he is willing to "trade" every individual accolade he has in exchange for it.

"I think I’d trade every award I’ve gotten and every All-Star appearance for an opportunity to win a championship. That’s my main focus. That’s why I wake up every day,” Aaron Judge told Bryan Hoch.

After a disappointing 2025 season saw them bow out in the ALDS, Aaron Judge and company will be looking to go all the way in 2026.

Edited by Raghav Mehta