"A year ago, I wrote of the 2025 candidates for the Hall of Fame, "This year's ballot is probably the weakest since the early 2000s." Well, the 2026 edition is probably even weaker. The 2025 ballot at least featured newcomers Ichiro Suzuki and CC Sabathia, who were elected along with Billy Wagner. Pitcher Cole Hamels is the only newcomer to the ballot in 2026 with more than 50 career WAR."
"Here's one way to look at it. The 2026 ballot features 27 players worth a combined 1,282 WAR, with 11 exceeding 50 career WAR. The 2013 ballot featured 37 candidates. The top 27 that year were worth 1,672 combined WAR and included 16 players who exceeded 50 career WAR. The kicker: Nobody made it that year. That said, 10 players from that ballot have since been elected to the Hall of Fame."
The Baseball Writers' Association of America will announce Hall of Fame voting results Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET. Two center fielders aim to join Contemporary Era Committee electee Jeff Kent in the Class of 2026. The 2026 BBWAA ballot is weaker than recent years, featuring only one newcomer with more than 50 career WAR: pitcher Cole Hamels. The ballot includes 27 players with a combined 1,282 WAR and 11 players exceeding 50 career WAR, compared with the 2013 ballot's top 27 totaling 1,672 WAR and 16 players above 50 WAR. Only Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones appear to have realistic chances of election this year, though several others may eventually reach the Hall. Voting rules require 75% for election, 5% to remain on the ballot, a maximum of 10 votes per writer, and a 10-year maximum ballot tenure. Last year Beltrán received 70.3% in his third year and Jones received 66.2% in his eighth; Beltrán polls strongly on publicly revealed ballots.
Read at ESPN.com
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