NEW YORK -- The verdict is in. The chatter that followed the Yankees through September and into October has been answered: Aaron Judge was named the American League Most Valuable Player on Thursday night.

It is the third MVP Award of Judge’s career, coming after the Bombers’ captain edged Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh in a historic battle.

Judge finished with 355 points and 17 of 30 first-place votes cast by members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Raleigh received the remaining 13 first-place votes and 335 points. The Guardians’ José Ramírez finished third with 224 points.

For the Yankees, it is the outcome they expected all season. They’d be preparing for a game and look up at the clubhouse TVs to see talking heads arguing that Raleigh’s historic 60-homer season w

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