Dead Last: Cal Raleigh Is MLB’s Least Valuable Player by Far
The 2026 "Least Valuable Player" Race: Baseball’s Biggest Disappointments So Far
Hey there, baseball fans! Ever hear people argue about who the best player is? Well, today we’re flipping the script. We’re talking about the LVP—the Least Valuable Player. Think of it like the "oops, I dropped the ice cream" award for superstars who are having a really, really tough year.
What Is the LVP Race?
Imagine a race, but instead of running fast, everyone is trying to see who can struggle the most compared to what they usually do. It’s not about being a "bad" player forever—it’s about superstars having a shocking slump right now.
Key things to know:
- Cal Raleigh is currently "winning" (which is actually losing) by a huge margin.
- The drop-offs are historic—we’re talking MVP candidates turning into below-average hitters.
- Huge contracts make the struggles sting even more for fans and teams.
Meet the "Leaders" of the LVP Pack
Here are the three guys fighting (unwillingly) for the top spot.
1. Cal Raleigh — Seattle Mariners (Catcher)
The Fall: From 60 Home Runs 13 Home Runs
The Batting Average: .156 (That’s 49 points worse than any other qualified hitter in baseball!)
ELI5 Translation: Last year, Raleigh hit the ball over the fence 60 times. This year? Only 13. And when he does hit it, it’s usually an out. He’s getting a hit barely 1.5 times out of 10.
The Silver Lining: Raleigh owned it. He told reporters, "I’m awful." You have to respect the honesty.
2. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. — Toronto Blue Jays (First Baseman)
The Power Outage: Zero home runs at home (Rogers Centre) in over a year.
The Stats: 7 HRs this season vs. a 5-year average of ~32 HRs.
The Contract: Signed a 14-year, $500 MILLION deal last year. 13 years left.
ELI5 Translation: Vladdy Jr. got paid like a superhero ($500M!), but his superpower (hitting dingers) has vanished, especially at his own stadium. He has 13 more seasons to find it again.
3. Kyle Tucker — Los Angeles Dodgers (Outfielder)
The Salary: $240 Million over 4 years (Dodgers "beat" the Mets’ record spending to get him).
The Production: 93 OPS+ (7% worse than league average).
The Nightmare Stretch: An 0-for-25 slump (25 at-bats, zero hits) + multiple dropped flies ("the dropsies").
The Value: 0.0 bWAR (Baseball-Reference Wins Above Replacement = exactly average/replacement level).
ELI5 Translation: The Dodgers paid him $60M per year to be a superstar. Right now, he’s playing like a guy you could find on the bench for the league minimum. Zero hits in 25 tries? That’s brutal.
Important Callout: Why This Matters
THIS ISN’T "THESE GUYS ARE BAD FOREVER."
These are elite talents (60-HR guy, $500M man, $240M man) having simultaneous, extreme slumps.
- Small sample? Partly, but we’re deep into the season (August).
- Pressure? Massive contracts + new teams (Tucker) + previous career years (Raleigh) = heavy mental load.
- History says: Stars usually bounce back. But right now, they’re the LVP frontrunners.
Summary: The 2026 LVP Podium (So Far)
| Rank | Player | Team | Biggest Red Flag |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cal Raleigh | Mariners | .156 AVG, 13 HR (was 60) |
| 2 | Vladimir Guerrero Jr. | Blue Jays | 7 HR (avg 32), 0 HR at home in 1+ year, $500M deal |
| 3 | Kyle Tucker | Dodgers | 0.0 bWAR, 0-for-25 streak, dropsies, $240M/4yr |
Bottom line: The NL MVP race (best player) is tight. The LVP race? Cal Raleigh is running away with it. But with 13 years on Vladdy’s deal and Tucker’s $60M/year, there’s plenty of time for the leaderboard to shake up.
FAQ: Your LVP Questions Answered
Is "LVP" an official MLB award?
Nope! It’s a fun (or painful) media/fan creation. MVP = Most Valuable Player (official). LVP = Least Valuable Player (unofficial, tongue-in-cheek).
Does 0.0 bWAR mean Kyle Tucker is literally worthless?
Not literally. bWAR (Wins Above Replacement) estimates how many more wins a player gives you vs. a AAA call-up. 0.0 means "replacement level"—you could swap him for a random minor leaguer and expect the same result. For a $60M/year guy? That’s the disaster.
Why is Cal Raleigh’s .156 average so historic?
Qualified hitters (enough plate appearances) almost never hit below .200 (the "Mendoza Line"). .156 is 44 points below that. The next-worst qualifier is 49 points better. He’s in a league of his own—in the wrong direction.
Can Vladimir Guerrero Jr. turn it around with 13 years left?
Absolutely. He’s 27 (prime age), has elite bat speed, and a track record of 30+ HR power. Slumps happen. A $500M contract buys a lot of patience. But the home-run drought at home is weird and worrying.
Did the Dodgers make a mistake signing Kyle Tucker?
Way too early to say. He was elite for years (Astros). The 0-for-25 and dropsies are right now. If he’s still a 0.0 WAR player in 2027? Then yes. For now, it’s a very expensive slump.
Data & quotes sourced from New York Post (August 2026). Stats reflect season-to-date.