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NEW YORK On Sunday night, just before he was getting ready to eat dinner in his Chelsea penthouse, Aaron Judge picked up his phone and called Anthony Volpe. The Yankees had just romped the Orioles, 11-3. Judge went 2-for-4 at the plate with a home run. Ben Rice and Jasson Dominguez left the yard, too. The Yankees offense, which leads the American League in runs scored, collected 15 hits and batted .417 with runners in scoring position in their Sunday afternoon win against Baltimore. A couple of hours later, the Yankees announced a gutsy move. They reinstated Volpe from his rehab assignment and, instead of calling him up to the major-league roster, they demoted him to Triple-A Scranton. "Whatd they say?" Judge asked Volpe on the phone. "How are you feeling? Whats going on? Hows the shoulder feeling, really?" Judge said he spoke to Volpe for 3040 minutes. The Yankees captain wanted to check in on the 25-year-old shortstop, who had just lost his job to Jose Caballero. "That was tough," Judge told me on the field at Yankee Stadium on Monday. "Anthony's my guy. But I know he's going to be more motivated than ever to come back here. The team's been doing well. Caballero at shortstop has been doing just an amazing job, defensively and offensively. So, it's kind of a tough position to be put in where, you know, how are you gonna change things up?" After the Blue Jays eliminated the Yankees from the playoffs last October, Volpe underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. It was an injury that had bothered Volpe all year, with club officials explaining that the labrum tear was part of the reason he hit .212/.272/.391 and posted an OPS+ of 82. The team announced he would miss the start of the season, and Caballero would take over until Volpe completed his rehab. Initially, at least, the Yankees plan was always to bring Volpe back to the big leagues. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said as much, multiple times this season, when he was asked about Volpes rehab progress. At Volpes end, hed said his shoulder felt great. He spent a few days with the Yankees on the days off from his rehab schedule last month. Taking into account how staunchly the Yankees over the past three years have defended Volpes performance and future impact on the club, all signs pointed to the shortstop patrolling the middle of the infield by May. So, what changed? Caballero, after a slow start to the season, started ripping the cover off the ball. The 29-year-old infielder, whom the Yankees traded for at last years deadline, entered Monday hitting .324/.370/.544 with four home runs, eight stolen bases, eight RBI and 12 runs scored over his last 19 games. Hes also been a vacuum at one of the most demanding positions in baseball. Caballero leads all MLB shortstops with 7 Defensive Runs Saved. In terms of range, Caballeros 3 Outs Above Average are ranked in the 94th percentile. "It doesnt change how we feel about Anthony, and the kind of player we think he is and will be," Boone said on Monday, explaining the organization's decision. "But, in this moment of time, we felt like this was absolutely the right thing to do. A lot of that has to do with, we have a lot of really good players right now competing for real roles and real spots. I think that competition ultimately is going to be a great thing for us. "So, right now, I think this is the right choice for us. I think its the right thing to do even for Anthony." While Caballeros stock started to rise over the past few weeks, the Yankees have become a machine. Their offense, as previously mentioned, is clicking on all cylinders. Yankees hitters lead the AL in slugging percentage, RBI, walk rate and stolen bases. Their starting pitching leads the majors in ERA, WHIP, WAR, strikeouts and opponent batting average. Their bullpen, while not as dominant as its been in recent years, is still ranked sixth in the majors in ERA. On Monday, the Yankees completed a sweep of the Orioles in a four-game series. New Yorks 24-11 record is the best in the AL and the second-best in the majors, trailing only the Atlanta Braves. Its possible that bringing up Volpe now wouldve created a tense environment in the Bronx. Fans wouldve expected Volpe to play at the same edgy and high-energy level as Caballero. Even in the clubhouse, replacing Caballero with Volpe would not have been a seamless transition. "It's a surprise," Judge said of his reaction to Volpes demotion. "But then also, Caballero is rolling, you know? So that's the biggest thing. How the team's flowing right now, its kind of tough to move some things around." That was Judges way of suggesting he agrees with the Yankees decision to keep Volpe in the minors, for now. The slugger told Volpe that hes a big piece of the puzzle moving forward. Judge reminded Volpe that the Yankees reached the World Series in 2024 with him as their shortstop. Volpe had some big hits against the Dodgers in that Fall Classic, including a grand slam that gave the Yankees the lead in Game 4. Coming through at the plate in the postseason is actually Volpes high-water mark. Even last October, the shortstop batted .364 (4-for-11) with a home run and two RBI in the Wild Card Series against the Red Sox, helping the Yankees advance to the ALDS. But, while Volpe has shown flashes of what could end up being a bright future, his inconsistency at the plate over the course of the long season has been a problem. After three years, 472 games and 1,886 plate appearances, Volpe has a career OPS+ of 83. "It's acknowledging where we are as a club right now," Boone said. "It doesn't mean somebody's better or worse. I think Anthony's going to be a really good player and have a long career in this league. His next step as a player is gaining that consistency offensively. Even through some of his struggles, I think he's been a way better player than some of the narratives around him sometimes are." Sure, some of the narratives that circulated online and on talk-radio shows painted Volpe as the worst player Yankees fans have ever seen. Thats simply not the case. Its easy to overlook that, despite his rough rookie year, Volpe still posted a 20/20 season. But, over the years, the Yankees were unwilling to even entertain the idea that Volpe, who was promoted to the majors after just 21 games in Triple-A, was likely not ready to be declared the long-term solution at shortstop. So, demoting Volpe is a complete reversal of how the organization has operated. After the Yankees missed the playoffs in 2023, general manager Brian Cashman defended Volpe and his player-development processes in a curse-laden outburst with reporters at the GM meetings. Boone, too, used to get irritated at repeated questions about Volpes lack of performance. The Yankees stuck with him to the point of stubborn, almost unreasonable, support of the shortstop. At no point during his young career was Volpe sent down to the minors. Until now. The Yankees are showing a noticeable shift in urgency and intensity this season. They demoted former Rookie of the Year Luis Gil after he struggled through four starts this season. They designated veteran outfielder Randal Grichuk for assignment. Third baseman Ryan McMahon has had a short leash at the hot corner. This season, the Yankees have preferred to play the hot hand, highlighted by infielder Amed Rosario performing well and forcing himself into the mix. Demoting Volpe is the clearest sign yet that the Yankees are moving differently this year. Boone on Monday even appeared open to the idea that Volpe might have to switch positions, particularly with George Lombard Jr., the Yankees' No. 1 overall top prospect, joining Volpe in Triple-A Scranton. Judge said he'd like to see Volpe back up with the Yankees even if his role is as "a utility guy." And even Judge, who tends to tip-toe around questions about front-office decision-making, has noticed the shift in urgency. "Well, we got a good ball club, you know, it's good to be urgent," Judge said. "Because us, as players, man, we're up there, we're fighting for our lives every single day. We're trying to win every single ball game. So to see it from the management side, where it's like, Hey, we're not gonna mess around here with some moves. Were gonna do whatever's best for the team. So, you know, you appreciate seeing that as a player. But, I let those guys handle that." Deesha Thosarcovers Major League Baseball as a reporter and columnist for FOX Sports. She previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow her on Twitter at@DeeshaThosar.

Wrestler Vinesh Phogat has been notified by the International Testing Agency (ITA) for a missed out-of-competition doping test dating back to December 18, 2025, marking her first whereabouts failure in the last 12 months.

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Cowboys, Jerry Jones survived pre-franchise tag 'trade scare' involving star wideout originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.George Pickens officially put pen to paper on his franchise tag with the Dallas Cowboys last month. ESPNs Jeremy Fowler reported this week that his agent, David Mulugheta, explored the market during draft weekend to understand his value better before the tag was finalized.Shan Shariff and Bobby Belt recently broke down the situation on 105.3 The Fan, saying:He wants a long-term contract. So this isn't an ideal situation for him, but he signed the tag because it locked him into $27 million in guaranteed money. I'm told he really does like Dallas. He's been working with Dak Prescott this offseason. He's expecting to have another big year, but it sounds like he's going to have to do one more year to get that big payday down the road.So now that he signed the tender, he's good with the Cowboys. They should move forward. I'm not expecting a trade or new deal at this point, but it was sticky there for a couple of weeks where he was trying to figure out what his market could look like because they wouldn't negotiate.According to a report from Jeremy Fowler, George Pickens' agent, David Mulugheta, "looked around" during draft weekend to gauge his market before signing the franchise tag. @1053SS and @BobbyBeltTX run through the entire report pic.twitter.com/dH3krpNEEQ 105.3 The FAN (@1053thefan) May 4, 2026Much like Prescott did earlier in his career in 2020, Pickens is witnessing a situation that could lead to a bigger deal later. The Cowboys and Pickens have until July 15 to reach a multi-year extension. If they dont, he will play the upcoming season under the one-year tag, with a potential 2027 franchise tag costing the Cowboys $32.76 million if they go that route again.Pickens is coming off a magnificent season in 2025 with 93 catches, 1,429 receiving yards, and 9 touchdowns. Despite the contract situation, the Cowboys leadership has remained firm, with executive Stephen Jones stating the team has no intention of trading him. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer even views him as a key piece of the offense alongside CeeDee Lamb.More NFL news:Cowboys star draws bold take from NFL analyst amid $27.3M situationDak Prescott leads Cowboys stars in a runway moment that quietly raised $4 millionDak Prescott pulled into wild Cowboys fan curse on SteelersSaints still have an Alvin Kamara decision to makeWhat's going on with Aaron Rodgers and the Cardinals?

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FOX Sports, FOX One and Indeed, the world's No. 1 job site and a prominent hiring platform, announced on Tuesday morning a nationwide search to fill the position of"FOX One Chief World Cup Watcher Hired Through Indeed." Thejob, which will pay $50,000, entails the individual watching all 104 matches of the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup in 4K on FOX One, which is the official streaming platform of the tournament, from their personal office, which will be a "custom-built, dream viewing space" glass cube in the middle of Times Square, New York. "This FIFA World Cup will be a historic tournament that calls for an equally historic hire," FOX Sports President of Marketing Robert Gottlieb said in a press release. "One engaged applicant will get the job of a lifetime to experience and celebrate every story, every nation and every exhilarating moment that defines the beautiful game." The "FOX One Chief World Cup Watcher Hired Through Indeed" will share social content to engage with fans while watching the games in a watch-party setting. "As a leading global hiring platform, matching candidates and employers is at the core of what we do," Indeed Chief Marketing Officer James Whitemore said in a statement. "Its how we help people find jobs faster and how employers hire more efficiently. This partnership with FOX Sports is a great example of our mission to help people get jobs." To be considered for the role, applicants should update or create an Indeed profile to include any relevant experience and skills and share a short video detailing why they're the ideal person for the job. Applications will be accepted through May 17. The hired applicant begins on Saturday, June 6, which is one week before the tournament commences, and their role ends on Sunday, July 26, one week after the tournament concludes. On June 6, the hire will be publicly revealed during FOX's broadcast of the New York Yankees hosting the Boston Red Sox. "This is an iconic event and FOX One is here to meet the moment for the fans. This innovative partnership will give one diehard fan the opportunity to showcase their passion and share the excitement of the FIFA World Cup in this new bespoke role," FOX Direct to Consumer CMO Brian Borkowski said in a statement. "We look forward to sharing the thrill of every moment on the pitch through the lens of a devoted World Cup watcher and highly engaging streaming experience."

During the clash at the Wankhede Stadium, Rohit Sharma achieved a historic IPL landmark, surpassing RCB batting maestro Virat Kohli.

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With April officially behind us, MLB announced its first batch of monthly awards, celebrating the individuals in each league who have gotten off to the fastest starts in 2026. This week, were taking stock in the three major awards races, acknowledging who has performed the best in the early going while also recognizing who is in the strongest position to remain relevant in the push for these accolades throughout the duration of the season. First up, a look at the Most Valuable Player landscape, and whether the first month-plus of action has given us any reason to believe Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani wont three-peat as the best players in their respective leagues. Its not just that these two megastars have claimed MVP honors in each of the past two seasons, but at least one of them has won the award in each of the past five seasons. Will that finally change in 2026? Lets get to it.AL MVPThe contendersAaron JudgeThe standard Judge has set as Maybe The Best Right-Handed Hitter Ever invites a level of scrutiny that no one else could possibly be held to, but it is worth noting that his OPS merely starts with a 1.0 (1.057) instead of a 1.1 as it has over the previous three seasons (1.117). By this point last year, Judges offensive output was already miles ahead of the rest of the league, setting the tone for another historic season culminating in his third AL MVP award. He hasnt separated himself to the same degree this year, but Judge, who turned 34 last month, has generally looked like his otherworldly self as the captain of the AL-best Yankees, and maintains a share of the league lead in homers (14) to no ones surprise. If we are going to nitpick, itd be pointing out that Judges strikeout rate (27.1%) is a tick elevated and he is not currently jockeying for a batting title the way he has been the past few seasons. Otherwise, the most glaring obstacle in Judges path to a three-peat is the unlikely reality that he doesnt even lead his own team in OPS. Which brings us to Ben RiceAfter proving plenty last year in his first full season as a key cog in the Yankees lineup, Rice has upgraded his game across the board to become one of most dangerous bats in the sport. His underlying data was already terrific, but there was still some question about whether the lefty-hitting Rice would be an everyday player or still be shielded against certain southpaws, whom he was notably less effective against last season. That skepticism extended all the way into the start of this season when Rice sat against four of the first six lefty starters the Yankees faced, even as he had gotten off to a ridiculously hot start. By now, though, theres little doubt, as Rice has demolished righties (.333/.455/.718) and lefties (.367/.457/.867), cementing himself as the Yankees No. 2 hitter ahead of Judge. With designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton on the injured list and veteran first baseman Paul Goldschmidt showing minimal signs of impact in his age-38 season, there is zero reason Rice shouldnt be in the lineup every day. Rice leads all qualified hitters with a 224 wRC+ (1.214 OPS), which surely wont sustain, but speaks to his ascent to worthy co-star status alongside Judge atop the lineup.Theres a long way to go to stay relevant in the MVP discussion, but there is recent precedent of a non-Judge Yankee earning due respect from voters, as Juan Soto finished third in his lone year in the Bronx. Regardless of where Rice finishes on MVP ballots, his rise from 12th-round pick out of Dartmouth to this caliber of major-league mashing is one of the best stories in baseball.Yordan AlvarezIf Rices rapid rise to the top of the offensive leaderboards has come as a shock, Alvarezs return to such statistical territory has been anything but. Injuries may have derailed Alvarez and the Astros in 2025, but everything he had demonstrated with the bat in his career prior suggested that Alvarez was one of the best hitters on the planet. And this year, now healthy, he seems to have gotten even better, dropping his strikeout rate to a career-low 11.7% and improving his batted ball profile to enable more consistent slugging. He leads the AL in hits and total bases, and perhaps most encouragingly considering his history, Alvarez has been durable, starting all 36 of Houstons games batting second.Without much defense or baserunning value added Alvarez has made eight starts in left field, and 28 at DH he will need to continue to rake at an outlier level to stay in the MVP mix for the whole season. Thats what he did in 2022 en route to a third-place finish behind Judge and Ohtani, but those efforts were magnified coming for a dominant Houston team that would eventually win the World Series. The 2026 Astros do not appear to be on nearly as promising a trajectory, but if Alvarez can continue to dominate at the plate to this degree, his case should be taken seriously, whether Houston continues to wilt or climbs its way back into a playoff race.In the huntMike TroutFor all the injuries that have limited Trouts playing time over the past half-decade, the most discouraging thing about Trouts 2025 was that for the first time in his career, he was healthy but not special. His 130 games marked the most he had played in a single season since 2019, but his strikeout rate spiked to a career-high 32%, his OPS was a career-low .797 and he played zero games in center field. All of it screamed that a sharp if unwelcome decline was officially in progress or so we thought. Trout has returned to center field in 2026 in his age-34 season, and his bat looks rejuvenated as well, restoring him toward the top of the WAR leaderboards where he has resided for the bulk of his legendary career.Trout has started all but one game batting second for the Angels (31 in center, four at DH), and has markedly improved his contact rates from the troubling marks he showcased a year ago, lowering his strikeout rate to a more palatable 23.6% while walking at a career-high 21.7% clip. Trout is also crushing the ball when connecting, running a 23.5% barrel rate that ranks fourth in MLB behind only Aaron Judge, James Wood and Juan Soto. Playing for a bad Angels team (13-23 entering Tuesday) hasnt prevented Trout from being a part of past MVP discussions, so if he can stay healthy one of the biggest ifs we have in the sports this slug-happy, on-base machine version of Trout is fully capable of hanging around the MVP race, even if he doesnt offer the speed or defense that he used to.Bobby Witt Jr.It took until his 28th game of the season for Witt to hit his first home run of the season and hes added only two more since but the Royals superstar shortstop is such a difference-maker in every other aspect of the game that he still ranks as one of the most valuable players in the American League. While his 112 wRC+ lags behind the other star position players atop the fWAR leaderboard, Witts spectacular glovework at shortstop has made him the second-most valuable defender in baseball behind only Pete Crow-Armstrong. The standout defense at a premium position plus impact baserunning (he has already stolen 11 bags in 13 tries) ensures Witt will remain a part of this conversation regardless of any sort of power outage at the plate. As for his chances of actually winning MVP as many expect he will at some point, that will certainly require an uptick in offensive output and a Kansas City surge up the standings. Theres still time for both to happen, but right now, another strong placement on the ballot looks likelier than Witt claiming the award.Shea LangeliersLangeliers has been by far the most consistent and productive player for a first-place As team looking to make some noise after a multi-year rebuild and move to a new city. Hes not quite on a Cal Raleigh-esque pace, but Langeliers leads all catchers in homers with 10, and his 176 wRC+ ranks fourth in the American League behind only Rice, Alvarez and Judge. The pure power isnt anything new Langeliers 82 long balls from 2023-2025 ranked second among backstops behind only Raleighs 124 but the overall production has taken an impressive leap, which could thrust him into MVP consideration rather than just the you know whos pretty underrated? discussions he has occupied for years.Yandy Daz, Junior Caminero, Jonathan ArandaIf the Rays maintain their unexpected push toward being one of the teams to beat in the AL, one of their top hitters could become the face of their surprising success. That could be a familiar veteran like Daz, whose batting title earned him a sixth-place MVP finish in 2023, and who is again hovering near the top of the AL leaderboards in batting average and on-base percentage. Perhaps Aranda, a first-time All-Star last year and current RBI leader in the AL, continues to prove the potency of his left-handed bat. Or maybe its Caminero, the electric 22-year-old who mashed his way to 45 homers and a ninth-place MVP finish last season. All three have a path toward being in the discussion if the Rays keep winning, but their current numbers pale in comparison to the competition, so theres also a lot of work to do.Kevin McGonigle, Munetaka MurakamiWell talk more about these two when we dive into the Rookie of the Year races later this week, but both merit a brief mention here. McGonigle already looks like the Tigers best all-around player, and if he is the driving force behind Detroits first division title since 2014, expect him to be in the MVP discussion as well. As for Murakami, the strikeouts may soar to stratospheric levels, but if the Japanese sensation can challenge for the home run title as the star slugger on a notably more competent White Sox club? That could carry a sizable narrative heft that propels Murakami into MVP conversations.(Davis Long/Yahoo Sports) NL MVPThe contendersShohei OhtaniWith four MVPs already in his trophy case, Ohtani appears to be more focused on claiming the elusive Cy Young Award for the first time. A side effect of the quest may be lesser production offensively, but even if Ohtanis bat declines to a more mortal level of good, that production combined with a Cy Young-caliber season would still make him the MVP favorite, barring some historic showings from his competition.That said, it will be interesting to see who else in the loaded Dodgers lineup could vie for MVP votes, especially with prior winners Freddie Freeman (.754 OPS) and Mookie Betts (on IL) not exactly at the forefront, and a slow start from lucrative free-agent addition Kyle Tucker (.711 OPS). The first few weeks introduced a stunning possibility in Andy Pages, but he has cooled off dramatically, with a .556 OPS and zero home runs over his past 19 games. Instead, the most dependable offensive engine has been mainstay Max Muncy, who received down-ballot votes in 2018, 2019 and 2021, but has fallen behind his more famous peers in the lineup in terms of MVP recognition in recent years. That could change in 2026, as Muncys .969 OPS ranks third in the NL.Matt OlsonTo some degree, Olson has become more synonymous with his streak of consecutive games played (818 and counting) than his actual performance. His start to 2026 should serve as an emphatic reminder that he is not just an ironman, but one of the best power hitters of his generation. Olson reached 300 career home runs Monday in Seattle, launching his NL-leading 12th of the season in a rare loss for the MLB-best Braves (25-11). Atlantas resurgence has been one of the biggest stories of the season and Olson has been at the center of it, leading MLB in RBI, runs scored, doubles and total bases, looking more like the version of himself that finished fourth in NL MVP voting in 2023 when he led MLB with 54 homers. If the Braves keep thriving to this degree, this could be Olsons best chance to break into the inner-circle of MVP candidates, perhaps even pushing Ohtani if Atlanta can seize the top seed in the NL away from the defending champs.Olson has not been alone in Atlantas efforts to build an early cushion atop the NL East, and several other Braves bats deserve acknowledgement. Second-year backstop Drake Baldwin has been fabulous in his follow-up to his Rookie of the Year campaign, Ozzie Albies is delivering quite the bounceback and Michael Harris II is hitting the ball harder than ever while playing excellent defense in center field. Olson is the lock, but the Braves are trending toward several MVP vote-getters and that might not even include former MVP Ronald Acua Jr., who has yet to heat up. Good times in Atlanta.Elly De La CruzAfter finishing eighth in NL MVP voting in his second major-league season, De La Cruz trended in the wrong direction in Year 3, which is a hilarious thing to say about someone who played all 162 games and hit 22 home runs while stealing 37 bases as a shortstop. But that was a fair assessment considering what De La Cruz had demonstrated early in his career, which hinted that he could make a run at multiple MVP awards rather than settle for down-ballot consideration. This season has been a positive step back toward fulfilling the enormous hype, as De La Cruz looks better at the plate than ever before while continuing to play outstanding defense. The switch-hitters dramatic improvement batting right-handed this season could be the key to unlocking his MVP potential, as De La Cruz is now dangerous no matter who he is facing, affording ample more chances to change the game with his power and/or speed. A 30 HR/30 SB season seems all but certain if not 40/40 and from a possible Gold Glove shortstop? Sounds like an MVP candidate to me.Nico HoernerThe Cubs are another team off to a blistering start with multiple position players who could claim to have the most compelling MVP case on the roster, but well give Hoerner the nod here for now. Strictly offensively, Seiya Suzuki (173 wRC+) and Ian Happ (146 wRC+) have been more impactful. But Hoerner too is swinging a hot bat (career-high 135 wRC+) while providing unrivaled defense at second base and outstanding baserunning, amounting to an all-around package of skills that have him ranked fourth in the NL in fWAR behind only Olson, De La Cruz and Brice Turang. A crucial component of Chicagos success on both sides of the ball, Hoerner is validating Chicagos decision to sign him to a $141 million extension before he could reach free agency this coming winter.Brice TurangTurang had Team USA players and coaches buzzing during the World Baseball Classic, and hes continued to shine in the early going for the Brew Crew. A speedster with strong contact skills but minimal pop earlier in his career, Turang has found his power stroke in a big way, and is suddenly a full-blown wrecking ball in the batters box. He ranks in the upper echelon in xwOBA, average exit velocity and hard-hit rate, and has a ridiculous 18.8%walk rate, all while playing wonderful defense at the keystone. Milwaukee (18-16) may not be off to as strong of a collective start as it would like, but Turangs continued ascent toward superstardom should not be ignored. This guy is outrageously good.In the huntCorbin CarrollIts been a safe bet in recent years that a D-backs hitter or two will be involved in the periphery of the MVP discussion, with Carroll and second baseman Ketel Marte the most frequent candidates. While Marte has been one of the bigger disappointments thus far, Carroll has been outstanding as hoped, all the more impressive considering he missed nearly all of spring training due to hamate surgery. Carrolls strong start and prior track record of elite play earns him the official mention here among the Snakes MVP candidates over Aprils NL Player of the Month Ildemaro Vargas, the 34-year-old utilityman enjoying the hot steak of his life. I dont think Vargas is going to win NL MVP, but I would be delighted to be wrong.CJ AbramsLike De La Cruz, Abrams is another shortstop on pace for a 30 HR/30 SB season, but he ranks on the opposite end of the defensive spectrum, with abysmal advanced metrics punishing his WAR totals and hampering his overall value added. Both Abrams and James Wood are remarkable talents headlining the Nationals lineup, but both have serious volatility in their profiles (the whiffs, in Woods case) that are likely to limit their chances at being in MVP discussions until those shortcomings in their games are cleaned up.Jordan WalkerNow this is the Walker a lot of us hoped he could be after his stellar showing as a 21-year-old rookie in 2023. But Walker was so bad the past two seasons that it felt increasingly unlikely that he was going to live up to the sky-high promise from his prospect days. Instead, Walker has burst back on the scene as a bona fide slugger for St. Louis in Year 4, pummeling the baseball with authority, ranking in the 95th percentile or above in xwOBA, average exit velocity, barrel rate and bat speed. Even if the strikeouts are elevated, this is the kind of right field power bat Walker was supposed to be, and his re-emergence has changed the complexion of the Cardinals lineup for the better.Mickey MoniakCool, a former No. 1 overall draft pick is leading the NL in OPS (min. 100 plate appearances) whats the big deal? Its been a winding road for Moniak since being taken with the top pick out of a San Diego high school a decade ago, but hes found a home in Colorado, where he has maximized his left-handed swing to tap into some serious power. Hes doing almost all of his damage against right-handers and mostly at altitude, but hes been so incredibly productive in those opportunities that he deserves a shoutout here, even if he is the least likely within this article to actually receive votes by the end of the season.