Bonds and Clemens making some slow gains

Hall of Fame voters are still sharply divided on Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. The electorate is changing, however, and that could be good news for both.

Hall of Fame voters are still sharply divided on Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens.

The electorate is changing, however, and that could be good news for both.

Bonds and Clemens inched past the 50 percent mark for the first time Wednesday, each appearing on about 54 percent of ballots cast by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. For a fifth straight year, Bonds and Clemens fell short of the 75 percent needed for induction, but their support is slowly climbing.

Jeff Bagwell, Tim Raines and Ivan Rodriguez were elected to the Hall on Wednesday.

Bonds and Clemens remain on the outside looking in because of drug suspicions, but they could continue to gain ground as more new voters are welcomed into the process.

“I think, just generationally, people in their 20s and 30s look at this different than people in their 50s and 60s,” said Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star, a first-time voter who supported Bonds and Clemens. “Maybe we’re missing something — I’m not one of these people that thinks, like, I’m right and they’re wrong. It’s just different viewpoints.”

A writer can receive a Hall of Fame vote when he or she has been an active member of the BBWAA for 10 consecutive years, so newcomers are always on the way. In 2015, the Hall of Fame eliminated voters who had been inactive for more than 10 years — a move that further boosted the influence of newer voters.

Bonds and Clemens are back on the ballot next year, along with newcomers such as Chipper Jones, Jim Thome, Andruw Jones, Scott Rolen, Johan Santana and Omar Vizquel.

Betances arbitration

The New York Yankees plan to go to salary arbitration with reliever Dellin Betances, which would be the team’s first hearing in nearly a decade.

Eligible for arbitration for the first time, Betances submitted a proposed $5 million salary last week and the Yankees filed at $3 million. A hearing before three arbitrators will be scheduled for next month.

“We’re not going to reach a resolution with Dellin,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. “Based on all our discussions it was clear that the different perspectives were such a wide bridge.”

New York renewed Betances at the major league minimum $507,500 last year. A setup man for the first four months, he took over as closer after the trades of Aroldis Chapman to the Chicago Cubs and Andrew Miller to Cleveland.

Trumbo deal with O’s

The Baltimore Orioles have agreed to a $37.5 million, three-year contract to keep major league home run champion Mark Trumbo, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press.

Trumbo hit 47 home runs last year and became a free agent. The 31-year-old did not accept the Orioles’ qualifying offer of a $17.2 million, one-year contract, wanting to test the market. Uncertain whether he would return, the Orioles acquired outfielder Seth Smith from Seattle earlier this month.

Marlins-Reds trade

The Miami Marlins traded two of their top pitching prospects to acquire immediate rotation help.

Miami obtained 14-game winner Dan Straily from the Cincinnati Reds for three minor leaguers, including right-handers Luis Castillo and Austin Brice, both highly regarded prospects in the Marlins’ thin system. Outfielder Isaiah White was also dealt to Cincinnati.

Straily had the best year of his career in 2016, when he went 14-8 for the lastplace Reds with a 3.76 ERA and 162 strikeouts in 34 games.

Brewers sign Feliz

Free agent right-hander Neftali Feliz has signed a one-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers, who are looking for a closer in the bullpen. Feliz’s deal, which was announced by the team, is worth $5.35 million, with $1.5 million in performance bonuses.