The New York Yankees are headed to the World Series thanks to the heroics of two sluggers in Game 5 and throughout the American League Championship Series – Giancarlo Stanton and Juan Soto. Stanton hit the game-winning two-run home run in the sixth inning and Soto sealed the victory with his three-run bomb in the tenth inning.

Only one of them could receive the honor of being named ALCS MVP, and that award went to Stanton. In addition to the trophy, he received a $250,000 bonus. The 13-year, $325 million contract he signed, which began in 2015, includes the following bonuses: $50,000 each for the Gold Glove, Silver Slugger and All-Star appearances, $100,000 dollars for winning league MVP, $250,000 for LCS MVP and $500,000 for World Series MVP. Since signing the contract, he has been named an All-Star three times and won both the National League MVP and a Silver Slugger Award in 2017. Combined with the 2024 ALCS MVP Award, his bonus earnings total $550,000.

Stanton only had four hits in the five-game series, but all four were key home runs. He singled off Erik Sabrowski in the seventh inning of Game 1, extending the Yankees’ lead to 5-1. In the eighth inning of Game 3, he hit a home run off Cleveland’s star player Emmanuel Clase, giving New York a 4-3 lead, although the Guardians would win the game 7-5. His three-run shot off Cade Smith in the fourth extended their lead to 6-2. In yesterday’s decisive game, he tied the score at 2-2 with a two-run dinger against Tanner Bibee, who was in the sixth inning.

The Yankees wouldn’t be American League champions without his four home runs, but whether or not he deserved the ALCS MVP is another question. He finished the series 4-18 with three walks, giving him a batting line of .222/.333/.889. However, Soto went 7-19 with three home runs, a double and four walks, hitting .368/.478/.895.

As captivating as Stanton’s home runs were, it was Soto’s blast that won the game yesterday. According to Win Probability Added, Soto was responsible for 0.81 wins in the series, while Stanton is credited with 0.60 wins.

Soto is finishing up his final year as an Arbiter before becoming next offseason’s highly anticipated free agent. He is playing this season on a one-year, $31 million contract. No bonuses were reported as part of his deal.

Statistically, Soto was more deserving of the ALCS MVP Award than Stanton, but only one of those players could have received a financial reward for winning. Stanton should give Soto a nice gift for earning his rightful honor — not that he needs someone to buy him something after he signs a roughly $500 million contract this winter.

Before that can happen, Stanton, Soto and the rest of the Yankees will be trying to win the World Series – and Stanton will be trying to trigger that $500,000 World Series MVP bonus.