With the start of Spring Training just weeks away, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Hall of Fame voting results:
The results of this year’s Hall of Fame vote will be announced today at 5pm CT. Anyone who receives 75% of the vote or more will join infielder Dick Allen and outfielder Dave Parker as part of the 2025 Hall of Fame class. Headlining this year’s class is outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, who has a chance to become just the second unanimously-elected Hall of Famer in baseball history behind Mariano Rivera. Another newcomer to the ballot who has a chance to be elected is southpaw CC Sabathia, while closer Billy Wagner is entering his tenth and final year of eligibility but stands a strong chance of election after garnering 73.8% of the vote last year. Ryan Thibodaux’s BBHOF Tracker records all publicly revealed ballots and estimates that 50% of the total ballots are currently publicly available. If the rest of the votes were to perfectly mirror the publicly revealed ballot, Suzuki, Sabathia, Wagner, and Carlos Beltrán would all be elected this cycle.
2. Will Profar’s market begin to heat up?
The top remaining outfielder on the market, switch-hitting slugger Anthony Santander, signed a five-year deal with the Blue Jays yesterday that guarantees him $92.5MM. Santander coming off the market could have significant implications for final top remaining outfielder on the board, Jurickson Profar. Profar had an excellent platform season with San Diego, slashing .280/.380/.459 in what was by far the all-around best performance of his career, but the All-Star’s inconsistent track record heading into his age-32 season seems to be giving clubs pause in free agency.
That’s led to a quiet market, but with Santander off the board it’s plausible that some of his rumored suitors could shift their focus from one switch-hitting corner outfielder to another. The Angels, Tigers, and Red Sox were all connected to Santander, to varying degrees, and have yet to land an alternative via free agency or trade. Profar has reportedly seeking a three-year deal this winter. A return to the Padres may not be a realistic, as San Diego is facing a major budget crunch and would likely have to clear other salary commitments in order to make room for him.
3. MLBTR Chat Today:
With spring training just a few weeks away, we’re nearing the point where the baseball offseason starts to give way to preseason excitement even as major free agents remain unsigned and team needs remain unfulfilled. Whether you have questions about what’s left for your team to do this winter or a trade proposal in the back of your mind, MLBTR’s Steve Adams will be here to answer your questions during a live chat scheduled for 2pm CT. You can click here to ask a question in advance, join in live once the chat begins, or read the transcript once the chat is complete.
Now THIS is pod racing!
If by some miracle the Yankees unload DJL and Stroman, can Profar still play 3B? Or possibly start in LF until Dominez is ready for full time in the Majors.
As a SD fan and a fan of JP generally, I’d say no chance on 3b. He moved out of infield due to the yips early on in his career that almost derailed him until SD put him in LF out of desperation. Now, he has developed into a serviceable LF so if you need that, I’d say go get him.
The guy is mearly passable in LF. Not even an option for 3B at the company softball game.
stymee – That’s an understatement.
Some people here rag on Yoshida as the worst OF’er in MLB history, but he grades higher than 16 other players including Profar.
Yoshida’s DRS in 2023 was -4 while Profar’s was -10
His UZR was -2.3 while Profar’s was -2.6
His Range was -8 while Profar’s was -13
His rARM was +1 while Profar’s was -3
His OOA was -8 while Profar’s was -14
The list goes on and on, Yoshida is FAR from the worst OF’er in MLB.
Fpg, you do realize all of that for Yoshida is absolutely awful, right? That someone else was worse does not mean he should ever step in the OF again. To make matters worse he had shoulder surgery and hasn’t thrown a baseball since. He will have to be a DH to start the season at the very least.
I just realized you are using 2023 when Profar played most of his home games at Coors. In 2024 his numbers were better.
mlbnyyfan the Yankees shouldn’t get a player just to get a player. That’s how teams wind up having to get rid of players like Stroman and DJ to open a spot or clear payroll. If it’s not a clear upgrade, they should just go with what they have and look to the trade deadline for help if it’s still needed. Who knows, Paraza might be good if given the chance.
@mlbnyfan
How do you determine when he’s ready? Who’s to day he’s not ready now? He would’ve been a starter last year of he was healthy. In 53 games at AAA he’s hit with an OPS around .890. He’s ready. I don’t think you can sigh Profar to a multi year deal blocking JD.
Also the title of a great song by a band called mom jeans
The Dodgers will sign Profar.
Any ex Padre, the Dodgers sign.
MLB is a joke.
He’s kind of irrelevant
Dodgers don’t have a roster limit.
I don’t know what they are talking about.
In all seriousness, Chris Taylor?
Pads snatch up Tayor if he dfa’d
keep seething and coping
Because I’d like to see Taylor with the Padres?
That’s coping?
no, calling MLB a joke bc the Dodgers signed a couple Padres players
I see one joke. Towinagain. Have you taken your meds today? Is there someone we can contact to get you some help?
Did Ichiro single handedly blow two postseasons? Mariano DID and was still unanimous. Because he is the best closer yet. So if Ichiro is NOT unanimous then there’s a problem.
Apples to oranges
Have a banana, you need the potassium.
RotiniRick: Mariano Rivera WAS a “rotting APPLE” as a starting pitcher. Yet, when given the opportunity to come into the game with a 1-3 run lead he’s (arguably) “the best closer of all time. Ichiro on the other hand was a “sweet (hitting) ORANGE” when he came to the United States. His hitting prowess was overlooked by many, including myself, for the longest time. My main distaste of Ichiro (when he arrived in 2001) was that I disagree with the sentiment that a professional VETERAN foreign player is classified as a rookie. I initially looked at him as an overrated singles/doubles hitter. However, his overall ability/performance over time is unmistakably unmatched. He’s definitely a “1st ballot” HOF’er and I believe that he should be voted in unanimously.
@prosp
My point was not their worthiness or the unanimous decision. My point was the comparison between a RP and an OF. Appreciate your viewpoint though and tend to agree with it.
pretty sure batters can’t blow postseasons bud….. also pretty sure that’s a stupid reason to argue against being unanimous
Actually, yes they can. Beltran taking a called third strike comes to mind.
And where the heck am I arguing against Mariano being unanimous? Huh?
Because he’s the best closer yet. What, you think that’s not true?
Great moogily oogily.
You can’t blow the game by watching a pitch go by. If that’s the case then nearly every postseason game ever has been “blown”
If it’s the final pitch and you take a called third strike? And you’re one of the best postseason hitters in history? And earlier in the game your teammate made one of the greatest catches in postseason history? Yes, you blew it.
hayzee – You always bring a *unique* perspective, I’ll give you that ;O)
Have you considered starting a podcast?
I think it would have to be called an oddcast.
hayzee – Love it!
All I have to say is Andruw Jones better make the hall of fame next year. He is beyond worthy. Any of you who say he isn’t…. well, you’re just stupid.
Wife beater. No thanks.
No disrespect to Rivera, but I’d argue it was dubious he was the first unanimous selection.
I don’t think any of the “I won’t vote for any first-time ballot guys” writers would have seriously argued the likes of Griffey and Gwynn weren’t deserving. Seems that cute little practice isn’t a thing anymore with ballots being public.
Informed – There’s been heavy bias throughout the history of MLB voting, and HOF voting is no exception.
Think about this: Teddy Ballgame got only 93% of the vote, Willie Mays got only 95%.
Power corrupts.
True, Fever. Mays and Stan Musial were left off of 23 ballots. Greg Maddux was snubbed by 16 voters and even Hank Aaron failed to get votes from 9 people.
Many players prior to Mariano should have been unanimous. Once over the 75% or whatever it is, the number should be irrelevant.
It honestly befuddles me how teams can wait this long to fill out their teams especially those with glaring holes. I get not every team is built the same and some teams unsuccessfully either try to bid or trade and we may never even hear about it, but even towards the end now, teams only hurt themselves by waiting. Both the quality of player has dropped and you give these guys less and less time to prepare. It works out for no one.
Like for my Yanks, we still, in theory, need another IF, OF, backup catcher, and at least one lefty.
I’d say of all of these a lefty is imperative as we have no lefty relievers on the 40 man. We could leave backup catcher to Ben Rice or Alex Jackson, and of course we have DJ, Orlando, Peraza for the IF, Everson Pereira could get a look with Grisham for the two backup OF spots if we’re giving the keys to LF to Jasson. But man I’d feel a heck a whole lot better if we at least added one more bat somewhere.
themoth.org/stories/my-first-day-at-the-yankees
For your listening pleasure if you haven’t heard this before.
Agents and players tend to lower their asking price late winter, so there is that
Is Billy Wagner famous? It is the Hall of Fame. Billy was excellent at his job, but famous? Most Valuable? No, he was just excellent at his job. Not a famous player I’d expect to see on a plaque in the Hall of Fame
Best left handed closer of all time not good enough for you?
I mean if we keep adding rando qualifiers to hof feasibility where does it end? Best switch hitting backup catcher?
Tom Brunansky
Gregg Zaun/Dioner Navarro hate should not be tolerated on this website. Sandy Leon woke up just minding his own business and caught a stray. That’s not fair to Sandy.
Best regular season closer of all time. He could unretire today, come back and give up 100 straight hits to 100 straight batters and have the same lifetime baa as Mariano. He was gross.
Dave Righetti would like a word…
While being “famous” certainly helps, it isn’t a prerequisite for entry. Mike Mussina was as quiet as they come and always kept to himself. He wanted nothing to do with baseball after retirement and tends to his farm and works on his car collection.
Moose was quiet, he was really good, wish he’d stayed on and got a ring in 2009 to cap his career, but famous, no. Ron Guidry was famous, Dwight Gooden was famous, they captivated a city in 78 and 86 respectively and were touted long after. I’d take Louisiana Lightning being famous and hall worthy over Billy Wagner 100 times over.
Billy Wagner was legitimately superb, what are you on about?
If Wagner had been a Yankee, he’d been inducted in the first three years of his eligibility.
Ichiro went 19 years without making enough impact for his team to as much as win a pennant.
Ridiculous. All that says is the rest of those teams were too heavy for him to carry by himself.
Tell Ernie Banks he’s not welcome then.
Yeesh.
That’s one bad take, Harry
Utter coalpost.
Ichiro had 3,089 hits and started his career at 27 years and 162 days. Give him those 5-6 “lost” years and he’s over 4,000 and maybe even topping Pete Rose.
I wish the Braves were in on profar. I don’t see a world where it happens cause it seems we are trying to reset the tax threshold and we don’t have the most wiggle room there (plus I think we need a SP and reliever more than him). But id love to give him a 3 year deal with opt outs. But Braves don’t really do opt outs either … blah.
Braves look like they will give Kelenic another chance in LF. It’s risky. But with a healthy Acuna & Harris, Kelenic doesn’t have to do much, bat 9th and try not to whiff too much.
Unfortunately for Profar, everything about last seasons screams outlier. You have to go all the way back to 2018 to find anything even resembling what he did in 2024. HIs best bet is probably signing a 1 year prove it deal to show that 2024 wasn’t a fluke and then maybe he can get a 3 or 4 year payday.
Kid – 2024 was his “prove it” year and he “proved it”. At least as any other player would be perceived. At 32 after that year (maybe it was an outlier) now is his shot at a 3 year deal – he may have to lower his sights on the AAV from 15 down to 10-12 or get creative with opt outs, etc., but someone should bite on a 3 year deal for JP.
If he had a longer history of performing at that level, sure, but so far this is a one-off year and no team is going to gamble on a term contract without him at least showing he can do it for more than 1 year.
Soon to be 32 and four teams later, he’s not looking for another “prove it” one-year contract. He had a hot first half and tailed off in the second which is his biggest knock. A three-year with an opt-out after one is more likely to be signed.
Profar is a sizeable risk. He had a good first 5 months last season. The true Jurickson Profar showed up in crunch time in September and October when he crashed.
Dale Murphy still not in the Hall of Fame is a little crazy. Allen had 1 MVP…Murphy has 2. Murphy has more home runs and hits. Both have seven all star appearances. Allen was ROY but so was Chris Coghlan so…I’m not counting ROY. I am a Phillies fan and love Allen/think he’s deserving. I’m just asking why not Murphy too? I also liked Murphy in a Phillies uniform although he was pretty much done by then. I put both Allen and Murphy in the category of Jim Rice, Harold Baines and Tim Raines. So sooner or later the veteran’s committee should open the door to the Hall for Murphy.
There’s an old Bill James Baseball Abstract (had to be late 80’s, I think) that talks about the potential change-in strike-zone related issues he had/would have. He had a 7,7 BWAR season in 1987, He had a decent 1988, then the bottom dropped out though 1993. Lifetime B-WAR 46.5 , not a lot of “milestone” numbers. I don’t know if that gets him there, even if the formula is flawed.. Not going to argue with whatever committee may see fit to put him in,
If you had the chance to see both of them play, there was no comparison as a hitter between Allen and Murphy. Dick Allen was an absolute monster at the plate, and Dale Murphy at his peak was a very good hitter, that all of a sudden was not a very good hitter.
Murphy led the NL in homers and rbi in back to back seasons (1984-85). He won the MVP in back to back seasons (1982-83). He also led the ML in homers and rbi for a ten year span from 1981-19990. I did see both of them play. Allen hit 47 less career homers. You’re shorting Murphy because you’re a Phillies homer.
I have no axe to grind here. Saw them both at their peaks; like Dale Murphy a whole lot, but still consider him to be borderline Hall of the Very Good, just below HoF. Compare the eras…not vastly different in time but Allen was there when pitching dominated. OPS+ 156 vs. 121 for Murph.
If Murph had not dropped off so suddenly and too soon, his career numbers would have gotten him there along with the peak. Two or three more peak years and the conversation would not occur.
But Allen was a feared hitter in a way that few ever have been.
Didn’t Dave Parker have a pretty big drug problem?
Yes he did.
Yeah, he did. We can make several lineup cards of MLB HOF’ers who had major vices from bigotry, adultery, drugs, alcohol, assault, etc. Some of these players overcame their vices while others did not.
My concern is Parker may have had an advantage being coked out of his mind. And gosh he’s not exactly a slam dunk HOFer without any of the drug concerns.
Who are the remaining top free agents from the top 50 and a little beyond.
I looked at few days ago and there were 19 guys left from the list but that was before Scott, Minter, Santander and I believe 1 more guy signed. Yeah hopefully they show the updated list soon.
Maybe an add on to that article (at the top or bottom) with just the guys that are left?
Yeah they usually do that every year hopefully it’s coming soon. A lot of the big names are gone but there’s still a lot of talent left unsigned. Yates is another I think was in the top 50 now signed.
Why have the yankees not got bregman? Perfect fit for them
If Billy Wagner doesn’t make it into the Hall we riot (by which I mean we voice our dissatisfaction anonymously and peacefully in this website’s comment section).
We should riot. Lord Orange Emperor will pardon us.
Love to see Ichiro (unanimous, reflecting cultural changes in the sport and intrinsic value), Wagner (among the top of his “profession” for a very long time, and that under 1 WHIP for a career is amazing) and CC (for many things, including sheer doggedness)
An emphatic “Yes” on Suzuki…”No”,on the others.
If Ichiro isn’t unanimous, I don’t know who is (Mo, I know)