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The BBWAA announced the nominees for their major postseason awards on MLB Network tonight, and as expected defending NL MVP Ryan Braun was selected as one of five candidates for the award again in 2012.
Braun joins Padres third baseman Chase Headley, Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen, Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina and Giants catcher Buster Posey among the candidates, with the winner to be announced on Thursday, November 15. Braun is the only player who finished in the top ten in MVP voting last season to be nominated for the award this season:
| Rank | 2011 NL MVP Voting |
| 1st | Ryan Braun |
| 2nd | Matt Kemp |
| 3rd | Prince Fielder |
| 4th | Justin Upton |
| 5th | Albert Pujols |
| 6th | Joey Votto |
| 7th | Lance Berkman |
| 8th | Troy Tulowitzki |
| 9th | Roy Halladay |
| 10th | Ryan Howard |
Aramis Ramirez did not make the list of five nominees, but it's still possible he could finish in the top ten in the voting.
The BBWAA also announced three nominees each tonight for the Rookie and Manager of the Year Awards and the Cy Young. No Brewers were among the nominees for any of those awards, meaning Norichika Aoki's fringe candidacy for RoY is over.