Billy Wagner is happy that the “nightmare” is almost over.
By Tuesday night, the former All-Star reliever will either be headed to the Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2025 or removed from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot forever, after 10 failed attempts to registration in Cooperstown.
Wagner, who spent four seasons with the Mets, received 73.8 percent of the vote last year. He therefore had five votes left to reach the 75 percent threshold necessary for induction. If Wagner is not elected this time, his hopes will rest on selection by an era committee, starting in 2027.
It’s a stress Wagner didn’t need.