Minnesota Twins right-hander Louis Varland has been voted the American League Reliever of the Year, edging out Cleveland Guardians' Cade Smith and Baltimore Orioles' Bryan Baker in a tight race. The award was announced on November 12, 2026.
Varland posted a 2.45 ERA with 12 saves and 78 strikeouts over 66 innings during the regular season, helping anchor the Twins' bullpen. Smith and Baker also turned in strong campaigns, but Varland's consistency and high-leverage performance gave him the narrow edge in voting by a panel of baseball writers.
