Baseball Hall of Fame - 2026 Edition

All Categories >> Sports >> Baseball

12/31/2025 12:47 am

Matt's Archive

Rate this Blog

Yours:

Total:

Rated 2 times.

It's time for my Twenty-Third annual "If I had a Hall of Fame Vote" post.

My previous ballots:
2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 - 2008 - 2009 - 2010 - 2011 - 2012 - 2013 - 2014 - 2015 - 2016 - 2017 - 2018 - 2019 - 2020 - 2021 - 2022 - 2023 - 2024 - 2025

A few reminders:
1. Voters can vote for up to ten players.
2. I'm a "Big Hall" guy so I voted for ten.
3. I reserve the right not to have reasonable explanations for any or all of my selections.
4. To be inducted, players need to be named on 75% of the ballots cast.
5. The real results will be announced on January 20th.

Eligible Players:

Holdovers from last year - Bobby Abreu, Carlos Beltran, Mark Buehrle, Felix Hernandez, Torii Hunter, Andruw Jones, Dustin Pedroia, Andy Pettitte, Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez, Francisco Rodriguez, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Omar Vizquel, David Wright

First-timers - Ryan Braun, Shin-Soo Choo, Edwin Encarnacion, Gio Gonzalez, Alex Gordon, Cole Hamels, Matt Kemp, Howie Kendrick, Nick Markakis, Daniel Murphy, Hunter Pence, Rick Porcello

Go to Baseball Reference for player stats.

My Ballot:

Bobby Abreu - Eligible since 2020; 6th time on my ballot ('21-'26)
Carlos Beltran - Eligible since 2023; 4th time on my ballot ('23-'26)
Mark Buehrle - Eligible since 2021; 4th time on my ballot ('23-'26)
Cole Hamels - Eligible since 2026; 1st time on my ballot ('26)
Felix Hernandez - Eligible since 2025; 2nd time on my ballot ('25,'26)
Andruw Jones - Eligible since 2018; 7th time on my ballot ('20-'26)
Manny Ramirez - Eligible since 2017; 7th time on my ballot ('20-'26)
Alex Rodriguez - Eligible since 2022; 5th time on my ballot ('22-'26)
Chase Utley - Eligible since 2024; 3rd time on my ballot ('24-'26)
David Wright - Eligible since 2024; 1st time on my ballot ('26)

Dropped from last year's ballot:
CC Sabathia (Elected)
Ichiro Suzuki (Elected)

Added this year:
Cole Hamels (First year eligible)
David Wright (First time in Top 10)

Eligible, and voted for in the past, but not this year:
Andy Pettitte ('23)

	Jon - 3610 Posts 12/31/2025 @ 04:46:43 AM
I could see Felix Hernandez getting in eventually. That said, Johan Santana had a shorter career by a good bit and still edged Felix in bWAR (51.7 to 49.8), Cy Young Awards (2 to 1), ERA titles (3 to 2) and Gold Gloves (1 to 0). Felix rates higher in fWAR (45.6 to 54.0, I didn't realize their different equations could produce such a different result) and in most counting stats. For what it's worth, regardless of which WAR measurement you use, Santana peaked at a higher level, even if by only a slight amount in fWAR (at least doing a quick glance at highest season and highest 3 seasons). All that said, this isn't an anti-Felix post, and I know Matt already knows this, but it's crazy how quickly and decisively Johan was dropped from the actual writers' ballot considering how great he was and how well his resume stacks up against others who did not meet such an unceremonious fate at the hands of the bbwaa. Here's hoping the veterans committee at least gives him proper consideration when that time comes.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.

	Matt - 4105 Posts 01/21/2026 @ 03:03:03 PM
Carlos Beltran and Andrew Jones elected. They join Jeff Kent, who was elected earlier by the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee. https://baseballhall.org/news/carlos-beltran-andruw-jones-elected-to-hall-of-fame-by-bbwaa https://baseballhall.org/discover/slugging-second-baseman-jeff-kent-earns-hall-of-fame-election		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.
Matt screwed with this 2 times, last at 01/21/2026 3:03:51 pm

	Jeremy - Pie Racist 02/01/2026 @ 12:25:11 AM
MLB HOF should elect Bill Belichick.		Rate this comment Yours: Rated 0 times.