The 2024 MLB award season continued Wednesday night with the BBWAA revealing the winners of this year’s AL and NL Cy Young Awards. While it was already clear that no Yankees player would be in contention—none of the three AL finalists hailed from the Bronx—the Cy Young always carries an air of excitement. This year, however, the outcomes were anything but surprising. The Tigers’ Tarik Skubal and the Braves’ Chris Sale secured the honors with ease, each earning the prestigious award for the first time in their careers.
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In the AL race, Skubal was the overwhelming favorite, and he lived up to expectations, receiving all 30 first-place votes. He finished far ahead of fellow finalists Seth Lugo and Emmanuel Clase.
Tarik Skubal was a force for the Tigers in 2024, leading their pitching staff as they surged late in the season to secure a playoff spot. He captured the AL pitching Triple Crown, dominating with a 2.39 ERA, 2.50 FIP, 228 strikeouts, 5.9 fWAR, and 6.3 rWAR. After showing flashes of brilliance in 2023, the 28-year-old truly broke out this year, earning his first career All-Star selection and now the Cy Young Award—a fitting birthday gift, as he celebrates his birthday today.
Beyond Skubal’s runaway victory, the rest of the AL Cy Young voting was closely contested. Seth Lugo secured second place with just under half of the second-place votes, while Emmanuel Clase finished third—the best showing for a reliever since Zack Britton placed fourth in 2016. While no Yankees were expected to win, there was a slim chance one might appear on the ballot, especially with Luis Gil recently taking home AL Rookie of the Year honors. However, no Yankee received a vote, though former Yankee reliever Kirby Yates did snag a fourth-place vote.
In the NL, Chris Sale claimed his first career Cy Young Award in dominant fashion, earning all but four first-place votes and finishing ahead of Zack Wheeler and Paul Skenes.
Chris Sale delivered an incredible comeback season in 2024, rejuvenating his career after being traded to Atlanta before the season. Following years of struggles and injuries during his final seasons with the Red Sox, Sale rebounded in spectacular fashion. At 35 years old, he matched Skubal’s feat by winning the NL pitching Triple Crown and securing his first Cy Young Award. Previously, Sale had finished in the top five of Cy Young voting six times during his tenure with the White Sox and Red Sox.
Zack Wheeler was the only other NL pitcher to receive a first-place vote, earning four, while newly crowned NL Rookie of the Year Paul Skenes finished a distant third. From a Yankees perspective, former pitcher Michael King made the ballot, earning some down-ballot votes to finish seventh.
Next up are the MVP awards, where there will be significant Yankees involvement. Both Aaron Judge and Juan Soto are finalists, with Judge widely regarded as the favorite to take home the honor.
