With spring training just a few weeks away, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on in the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Hall of Fame voting results:
The results of this year’s Hall of Fame voting will be announced today at 5 p.m. CT. Whoever gets 75% of the vote or more will join the infielder Dick Allen and outfielder David Parker as part of the Hall of Fame class of 2025. The headliner of this year’s class is outfielder Ichiro Suzukiwho has a chance to become the second unanimously elected Hall of Famer in baseball history behind Mariano Rivera. Another newcomer to the ballot who has a chance of being elected is the left-hander. CC Sabathiawhile being closer Billy Wagner is entering his tenth and final year of eligibility but has a strong chance of being elected after receiving 73.8% of the vote last year. Ryan Thibodaux’s BBHOF Tracker records all publicly revealed ballots and estimates that 50% of total ballots are currently publicly available. If the rest of the votes were to perfectly reflect the publicly revealed ballot, Suzuki, Sabathia, Wagner and Carlos Beltran would all be elected this cycle.
2. Will the Profar market start to heat up?
Best remaining outfielder on the market, strikeout hitter Antoine Santandersigned a five-year contract with the Blue Jays yesterday that guarantees him $92.5 million. Santander’s exit from the market could have significant implications for the board’s last remaining outfielder, Jurickson Profar. Profar had a great platform season with San Diego, slashing .280/.380/.459 in what was by far the best overall performance of his career, but the All-Star’s inconsistent track record heading into his season at 32 years seems to give clubs a break when it comes to free agency.
This has led to a quiet market, but with Santander off the board, it’s plausible that some of his suitors could shift their attention from one corner outfielder to another. The Angels, Tigers and Red Sox were all linked to Santander, to varying degrees, and have yet to find an alternative via free agency or trade. Profar is reportedly seeking a three-year contract this winter. A return to the Padres may not be realistic, as San Diego is facing a major budget crisis and would likely have to clear other salary commitments in order to make room for him.
3. MLBTR Chat Today:
With spring training just weeks away, we’re approaching the point where baseball’s offseason begins to give way to the excitement of preseason, even as major free agents remain unsigned and needs teams are not satisfied. Whether you have questions about what’s left for your team to do this winter or a trade proposal in mind, MLBTR’s Steve Adams will be there to answer your questions during a live chat scheduled for 2 p.m. CT. You can click here to ask a question in advance, participate live once the chat begins, or read the transcript after the chat is over.
