Rivera was a lock to go into Cooperstown, though most expected that he’d still fall shy of unanimous enshrinement. That won’t be the case, however, as Major League Baseball’s all-time leader in saves (652), games finished (952) and ERA+ (205) was too clear a Hall of Famer for any voter to ignore. In addition to those three staggering numbers, Rivera retired with an 82-60 record, a 2.21 ERA, and an 1173-to-286 K/BB ratio in 1283 2/3 innings of regular-season work. Rivera was named to a whopping 13 All-Star teams over the course of a career that spanned parts of 19 seasons.

Of course, much of Rivera’s legacy is tied to his postseason heroics; the game’s premier reliever ratcheted up his penchant for domination in October (and November), pitching to a ludicrous 0.70 ERA with 110 strikeouts against 21 walks in 141 postseason innings. Rivera appeared in 96 postseason contests and racked up a workload that was roughly equivalent to two full regular seasons, and he somehow managed to limit opponents to just 11 earned runs in that time. He won five World Series rings with the Yankees and was named both an ALCS MVP and a World Series MVP during his illustrious career. It’s rare that players can be described with absolutism in a game as subjective as baseball, but it’s virtually unequivocal that Rivera is the best relief pitcher the game has ever seen.

Halladay, tragically, was taken from this world far sooner than his family, friends, former teammates and legions of fans could’ve imagined. The former Blue Jays and Phillies ace, a two-time Cy Young winner and eight-time All-Star, was killed when his single-engine plane crashed into the Gulf of Mexico on Nov. 7, 2017. Halladay’s widow, Brandy, offered the following statement on behalf of her late husband:

Being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame is every boy’s dream.  To stand on that stage in Cooperstown and deliver your acceptance speech in front of baseball’s most enthusiastic fans is something that every baseball player aspires to achieve, and Roy was no exception.  But that was not Roy’s goal.  It was not his goal to have those three letters after his signature.  His goal was to be successful every single day of his 16-year career.  Tonight’s announcement is the end result of that effort.  If only Roy were here to personally express his gratitude for this honor, what an even more amazing day this would be.  I would like to extend special thanks to the baseball writers for the overwhelming percentage of votes that Roy received in his first year on the ballot.  It means so much to me, Braden and Ryan.

It’d be difficult to argue that Halladay isn’t a deserving candidate. Beyond his Cy Youngs and All-Star nods, the right-hander pitched to a 203-105 record with a career 3.38 ERA, a 2117-to-592 K/BB ratio, 20 shutouts and 67 complete games. At a time when baseball was moving further and further away from allowing pitchers to throw a full nine innings, Halladay stood out as a throwback who led the league in complete-game efforts in seven of his 16 seasons — including five in a row from 2007-11. Baseball-Reference and Fangraphs both valued his brilliant career at 65 wins above replacement. And while Halladay doesn’t have the lengthy postseason track record of Rivera — he logged a 2.37 ERA in 38 playoff frames — I’d be remiss not to mention the masterful no-hitter he pitched against the Reds in his postseason debut back in 2010. Halladay issued just one walk in an otherwise perfect showing, putting on a masterful display and further establishing himself as a big-game pitcher on a national stage.

The 56-year-old Martinez will be a controversial addition for some onlookers, given that he spent the vast majority of his career as a designated hitter. There’s little denying, however, that the Mariners franchise icon is one of the best pure hitters Major League Baseball has ever seen. Martinez won two American League batting titles, thrice led the league in on-base percentage and hit better than .300 in 10 separate seasons.

In all, Martinez retired as a .312/.418/.515 hitter with 309 home runs, 514 doubles, 15 triples, 2247 hits, 1219 runs scored and 1261 runs batted in. While his counting stats fall shy of what some consider to be Hall of Fame benchmarks (e.g. 500 home runs, 3000 hits), Martinez was consistently elite on a rate basis right up until the final season of his career. The seven-time All-Star was 47 percent better than a league-average hitter in the estimation of park- and league-adjusted stats like OPS+ and wRC+ (147 in each). Beyond that, he was the pinnacle of consistency, tallying an OPS+ of 140 or better in all but three seasons from 1990-2003 (with those three seasons including an injury-shortened ’93 campaign, the strike-shortened ’94 campaign and a 2002 season in which he posted a 139 OPS+).

Like Martinez, the 50-year-old Mussina perhaps falls shy of some long-considered “standard” Hall of Fame benchmarks, but he was a consistently excellent pitcher during the game’s all-time offensive peak. “Moose” retired with a 270-153 record, a 3.68 ERA and a 2813-to-785 K/BB ratio in 3562 2/3 innings of regular-season ball. A five-time All-Star who won seven Gold Glove Awards and had six top-five Cy Young finishes, Mussina was a true workhorse for the Orioles and Yankees over an 18-year career that included a decade-long peak during which he posted a cumulative 129 ERA+. Mussina topped 200 innings in nine straight seasons from 1995-2003, and he padded his Hall of Fame resume with another 139 2/3 innings of 3.42 ERA ball in the postseason.

Some may be surprised to be reminded that Mussina never won a World Series, as he joined the Yankees for the first time in the season immediately following their 1998-2000 threepeat and retired a year before their ’09 return to the top of the mountain. Nevertheless, Mussina was a consistent rotation stalwart who thrived in the midst of the steroid era while spending the entirety of his career pitching in the game’s toughest division.

4:48pm: According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, the Yankees declined to offer arbitration to Type A free agents Andy Pettitte, Bobby Abreu, and Mike Mussina (and all other free agents). Peter Abraham and Ed Price may have had this on the web earlier; it was close. 

The Abreu decision comes as a surprise; until this morning most believed the Yankees were willing to risk a one-year deal with him to have a chance at the two draft picks.  Abreu is certainly more attractive to potential suitors now.  Abraham has Brian Cashman saying the Yanks remain engaged with Abreu and Pettitte.

Another note from Heyman: the Yankees have not ruled out signing Manny Ramirez.

WEDNESDAY: According to Ken Rosenthal, Mike Mussina is retiring to spend more time with his family.  He goes on out top, with a 20 win season in 2008.  The Yankees were already operating under the assumption he would retire.

Moose finishes with 270 wins and a 3.68 career ERA.  Is he Hall of Fame material?

• The Yankees will offer arbitration to Bobby Abreu, according to Jon Heyman.  No surprise there.
• King says the Yankees are preparing an offer for A.J. Burnett, "perhaps a five-year deal worth about $80 million."  Burnett’s agent says they’re just discussing parameters.  It would be a strong offer, dwarfing the Blue Jays’ four years, $54MM.  ESPN’s Buster Olney believes a fifth guaranteed year will ultimately result in the winning bid for Burnett.
• The Yankees may make an offer to Derek Lowe soon; they’ve reached out to Scott Boras regarding him.  Other Lowe suitors: the Dodgers, Red Sox, Mets, and Rangers.  O’Brien adds that the Yanks expressed interest in Mark Teixeira to Boras (despite the Nick Swisher acquisition).  The Orioles are also in on in Tex.
• King talked to a "baseball exec" who sees the Cubs re-signing Ryan Dempster at four years, $52MM.
• Andy Pettitte’s agent doesn’t want a pay cut from this year’s $16MM.
• The expectation is still for Mike Mussina to retire; we may know this week.
• The Yankees aren’t in on Jake Peavy, as evidenced by Kevin Towers’ comments last night.  Rick Sutcliffe and Mark Grace have been pitching the Cubs to Peavy, though the hangup seems more about which players the Chicago would send to San Diego.
• The Yanks have an offer of about six years, $140MM on the table for C.C. Sabathia, and he’s mulling it over (somewhere).

• Pitcher Kelvin Jimenez was claimed off waivers by the White Sox.  The Blue Jays had claimed him from the Cardinals previously.
• The Yankees hope Mike Mussina decides whether he’s retiring soon. He says it might be this week.
• Aaron Gleeman runs through the more affordable middle relief options.
• Roch Kubatko had the scoop yesterday – Scott Proefrock, formerly of the Orioles, is the new assistant GM for the Phillies.
• Trey Hillman is familiar with Kenshin Kawakami, but it’s not known whether the Royals are interested.
• Peter Abraham is wary of five free agents the Yankees might consider.
• Mark Cuban is in hot water for alleged insider trading.
• Ben Davis is apparently pitching these days, and he’ll try to crack the Reds’ Double A rotation.

• Viva El Birdos tries to put a price on Rick Ankiel, and decides now is the time to trade him.  Ankiel, a Scott Boras client, is eligible for free agency after the ’09 season.
• Derrick Goold runs through the lefty reliever options for St. Louis on his blog.  It doesn’t seem like Trevor Hoffman is on the Cardinals’ radar.  Hoffman wants to remain a closer, so he won’t be going to San Francisco either.
• Brian Cashman explains that $6MM for one year of Damaso Marte was too much, but $12MM over three years works.  Ken Davidoff still doesn’t get it.
• Mike Mussina will make his decision early next week.
• Tony Massarotti runs through best and worst case scenarios for the Yankees and Red Sox.
• Jeff Zrebiec names ten possible free agent targets for the Orioles.
• Omar Minaya spilled the beans to WFAN’s Mike Francesa.  He’s not interested in Ben Sheets, but will make an offer to Pedro Martinez.
• The Twins seem more likely to make trades than sign free agents, according to Joe Christensen.
• Could Ted Turner buy back the Braves?

• Perrotto lists the Yankees loading up on starting pitching, landing C.C. Sabathia and Derek Lowe, while the Dodgers land Manny Ramirez after doubling their initial offer to four years, $100MM.
• Perrotto says the Nationals will land Mark Teixeira, as they could be prepared to offer Teixeira – a Maryland native – ten years, $200MM. Turning down that kind of money would certainly be difficult.
• Perrotto has Adam Dunn landing on the North Side of Chicago and having an adventurous time in right field for the Cubs. According to these predictions, he’ll be joined by Ryan Dempster and Kerry Wood – neither of whom are going anywhere.
• Perrotto feel Andy Pettitte won’t be back with the Yankees, and feels that he will either take a below-market contract from his hometown Astros or retire. He also pegs Mike Mussina to likely retire, but agrees he’ll be back with the Yankees if he does indeed make a run at 300 wins.
• Other predictions from Perrotto: Raul Ibanez  and Francisco Rodriguez to the Mets, Milton Bradley to Toronto, Orlando Cabrera to Minnesota, Casey Blake back to Cleveland, A.J. Burnett to the Orioles, Brian Fuentes to the Angels, Nick Punto to St. Louis, Randy Johnson to the Angels, Jason Giambi to Oakland, and Orlando Hudson to the Mets.
• The list of players who will end up back with their current teams: Ben Sheets, Bobby Abreu, Pat Burrell, Jamie Moyer, and Jason Varitek, on a two-year $20MM contract, courtesy of Scott Boras.

• Derek Jeter talked to C.C. Sabathia about what it’s like to play for the Yankees but says he’s not "trying to sell anyone on New York."
• According to Newsday’s Kat O’Brien, Andy Pettitte isn’t looking for a long-term deal. He’s waiting to hear from the Yankees, who know that "one year’s fine" for Pettitte. Brian Cashman said this week he’s looking to bring Pettitte back, and that was before Pettitte said he was looking for a one-year deal.
• Peter Abraham has news on Mike Mussina. Mussina told Joe Girardi at the end of the season that he expected to retire.

• Joel Sherman of the New York Post notes buzz about Robinson Cano going to the Dodgers amid Yankee interest in Russell Martin and Matt Kemp.  He admits it’s unlikely.
• Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News talked to one big league exec about whether Mark Teixeira could handle the pressures of New York.
• Brian Cashman says nobody has asked him about Kei Igawa, who has three years and $12MM left on his contract.
• Cashman would not rule out the possibility of bringing back both Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte.
• Mark Hale of the New York Post talked to Mariano Rivera, who would definitely like the Yankees to sign C.C. Sabathia.  Why wouldn’t he?

10:26am: The latest Yankees hot stove buzz…

• According to Joel Sherman and George King of the New York Post, the Yankees inquired with the Brewers on Mike Cameron.  The Yanks would be willing to send Melky Cabrera and pitching to Milwaukee.  The Yankees are also talking to other teams about Wilson Betemit.
• The Yankees are only willing to do a one-year deal for Andy Pettitte, who has said he wants to return.  The Yanks plan to see what Mike Mussina wants to do first.  It seems they’ll bring back one of Mussina/Pettitte and sign two free agent starters out of C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Derek Lowe.
• For Lowe, the Yankees might have to butt heads with the Mets.  Scott Boras has already discussed Lowe with both clubs.  Peter Abraham thinks the Yankees and Mets could also compete for Oliver Perez or Burnett if Sabathia signs elsewhere.
• Ken Davidoff is not buying the Hideki Matsui three-team trade scenario.

12:15pm: It’s about time we check in with Yankees links.

• The Yankees will make their record-breaking pitch to C.C. Sabathia.  If it fails, they’ll move on to A.J. Burnett, Derek Lowe, and Oliver Perez.
• Joel Sherman says the Yankees could get involved on Manny Ramirez, but only if they fail to sign Mark Teixeira and manage to trade Hideki Matsui.
• Sherman says the Yanks are in on the catching market just to be safe, engaging the Rangers about Gerald Laird and Jarrod Saltalamacchia.  They’ll also "keep tabs" on Ivan Rodriguez.  If the Yanks find another club that values Robinson Cano highly and offers pitching, he could be traded and Orlando Hudson signed.  None of this stuff seems likely.
• Peter Abraham believes the Yanks are working on an extension with Damaso Marte.
• Buster Olney says some of Mike Mussina’s friends believe that the longer it takes for him to decide on 2009, the more likely it is he pitches. 
• Peter Abraham believes Phil Hughes or Ian Kennedy will be traded before next season, but Brian Cashman has not lost faith in Hughes.

4:44pm: We know Andy Pettitte wants to pitch in 2009, and he prefers the Yankees.  However, the Yanks want to hear from Mike Mussina before they talk to Pettitte.  Further complicating matters, Ken Davidoff says Pettitte may desire a two-year deal.

Davidoff figures the Astros will try to jump in and sign Pettitte.  The Astros seem to have room in the budget for one free agent starter.

• C.C. Sabathia is the Yankees’ top offseason target, and they’ll make him an offer beyond Johan Santana’s $137.5MM.  Heyman also sees the Yanks pursuing A.J. Burnett, Derek Lowe, and Oliver Perez (with Ben Sheets a less likely target).  Heyman’s sources believe the Yanks could even attempt to sign three free agent starters.
• The Yankees aren’t counting on Mike Mussina, and may wait on him before considering Andy Pettitte.
• Contradictory note from Heyman: the White Sox have no plans to try to keep Joe Crede or Juan Uribe, but might consider bringing Uribe back as a utility man.
• Heyman dismisses vague rumors about Hideki Matsui trade talks.

Davidoff wrote Thursday that “it would be a shocker” to see the Yankees offer Teixeira a contract of 10 years and $200MM.  Last year, Tex turned down an eight-year offer from the Rangers worth around $140MM.

According to Peter Abraham, Mike Mussina’s agent, Arn Tellem, arrived in Pennsylvania to talk with Mussina about his future. Abraham speculates that Mussina will announce his retirement "sometime soon." In September, Mussina said if he comes back he would play three more years to try and reach 300 wins.

• Mike Mussina’s agent, Arn Tellem, will travel to his client’s Pennsylvania home this week to talk about the pitcher’s future.  The general vibe is that Moose will retire, but he may file for free agency after the World Series to keep his options open.  I imagine the Yankees would like to resolve this quickly.  Currently, GM Brian Cashman is not counting on Mussina.
• Tellem told King that Jason Giambi would like to stay in New York if they’ll have him.  While it may not be the ideal solution, 30 home run bats are rare and it’s worth considering.
• King says the Yankees "haven’t been wild" so far about chasing Mark Teixeira.  Tex hasn’t even filed for free agency yet, so there’s still plenty of time to get wild.
• The Yankees are counting on a healthy Jorge Posada behind the dish in ’09.