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Louis Varland named BBWAA American League Reliever of the Year

Louis Varland named BBWAA American League Reliever of the Year
Photo credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
Michael Coyle
Nov 12, 2026, 06:00 ESTUpdated: Nov 11, 2026, 23:23 EST
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The American League’s best reliever belongs to the Toronto Blue Jays. 
On Wednesday night, Blue Jays closer Louis Varland was named the 2026 BBWAA American League Reliever of the Year, beating out Bryan Baker of the Tampa Bay Rays and Cade Smith from the Cleveland Guardians. 
Across 71 games in 2026, Varland went 5-6 with a 1.27 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. Varland recorded 35 saves in 37 opportunities, struck out 97 batters, and limited opponents to a .196 average across 78 innings pitched. 
Varland took home 16 first-place votes, four second-place votes, five third-place votes, one fourth-place vote, and one fifth-place vote to finish with 146 points, 13 points ahead of Smith, who finished second in the voting. 
Originally acquired by the Blue Jays from the Minnesota Twins on July 31, 2025, alongside Ty France in exchange for Alan Roden and Kendry Rojas, Varland recorded a 4.94 ERA across 23 outings to close the 2025 regular season. After working in 15 playoff games, in which Varland recorded a 3.94 ERA, Varland entered the 2026 campaign as one of the setup relievers for closer Jeff Hoffman. 
After Hoffman got off to a rough start through April, and Varland opened the year with 11 straight outings without allowing an earned run, manager John Schneider opted for a change in the closer’s role. 
Varland picked up his first save on April 21 during a 4-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels. After Hoffman worked himself into a jam, Varland entered with the bases loaded and one out, and needed only one pitch to induce a 4-6-3 double play off the bat of Nolan Schanuel to ensure a Blue Jays victory. 
From that moment on, Varland recorded 24 straight saves, and posted an ERA of 2.40 or better in each of the five months that followed. 
Varland will enter the 2027 season as the Blue Jays’ undisputed closer, and with being under contract until the completion of the 2030 season, the 28-year-old has a chance to work his way up Toronto’s all-time saves leaderboard. 
Along with Varland, both Spencer Miles and Tyler Rogers received votes for AL Reliever of the Year. Miles received two fifth-place votes and Rogers received one fourth-place vote, tying them both for 11th overall.

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