Top AL relievers up for annual Mariano Award

Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman redefined the ways a dominant reliever could impact a game, ushering in a new era of how managers perceived the utility of their bullpens. This fall, baseball will recognize the relievers who are following in those superstars’ footsteps.

The Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year Award and the Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year Award presented by The Hartford will be handed out before Game 4 of the World Series. Both legendary closers are expected to be on hand for the ceremony.

Balloting was conducted among a panel of eight all-time great relievers in order to determine the recipients of the Rivera (AL) and Hoffman (NL) Awards.

Rivera and Hoffman, who spent their entire careers in one league en route to the top of the respective all-time saves lists, were joined as voters by the three relievers who rounded out the top five in career saves entering 2016 — Lee Smith, John Franco and Billy Wagner — as well as Hall of Famers Dennis Eckersley, Rollie Fingers and Bruce Sutter. The eight voters ranked the top three AL relief pitchers based solely on regular-season performance, using a 5-3-1 weighted point system.

The Rivera and Hoffman Awards debuted in 2014, replacing MLB’s Delivery Man of the Year Award — which was presented to one winner in all of baseball from 2005-13. Greg Holland of the AL and Craig Kimbrel of the NL took home inaugural honors, followed in ’15 by the AL’s Andrew Miller and the NL’s Mark Melancon.

So who will the AL’s winner be in 2016? …

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