Who’s Hall-bound?
We assess active players, from those at Cooperstown’s doorstep to others with work to do.
After Mariano Rivera and friends were inducted July 21 in Cooperstown, New York, the only certainty is that Derek Jeter, in his first year of eligibility, might match Rivera’s 100% voting approval in 2020.
So go ahead and dream, current players. You too might have a date in Cooperstown down the road.
Here’s a look at today’s major league players who should draw Hall of Fame attention in the coming years. Statistics through July 21.
WRITE YOUR SPEECH Albert Pujols
Career: .301 BA, 648 HRs, 2,040 RBI, .932 OPS, 100.4 WAR Sure, the 39-year-old Pujols has slowed down. But that doesn’t diminish his total picture. He’s a three-time NL MVP, a two-time World Series winner and a 10time All-Star.
Mike Trout
Career: .306 BA, 272 HRs, 727 RBI, .999 OPS, 70.4 WAR
2019: .301 BA, 30 HR, 75 RBI He’s already won two AL MVP awards and finished second four times. An eight-time AllStar, if he stays healthy, should have a chance to break many records.
Max Scherzer
Career: 168-87, 3.16 ERA, 60 WAR
The veteran right-hander has three Cy Youngs and five AllStar nods. He’s led the National League in strikeouts the past three seasons.
Justin Verlander
Career: 216-127, 3.37 ERA, 67.2 WAR
The trade from Detroit to Houston rejuvenated the right-hander and moved him into serious Hall consideration. The eighttime All-Star has a Cy Young Award, an MVP, an AL Rookie of the Year and an ALCS MVP. And, oh yeah, a World Series title.
TRENDING UPWARD Miguel Cabrera
Career: .315 BA, 470 HRs, 1,672 RBI, 69.4 WAR
Clutch hitter who has a World Series ring, a World Series MVP, two regular-season MVPs and 11 trips to the All-Star Game.
Clayton Kershaw
Career: 161-71, 2.41 ERA, 66.7 WAR
Forget his so-so postseason performances. The man is 90 games over .500 and has struck out 2,383 hitters. Three Cy Youngs and an NL MVP Award are examples of the eight-time All-Star’s brilliance.
CC Sabathia
Career: 251-157, 3.71 ERA, 63.7 WAR
Earning his 250th victory and passing the 3,000-strikeout milestone in his final season has Sabathia staring upward. He won’t be a first-ballot pick, but he shouldn’t have to wait long. He will try to add a second Yankees World Series title to his Cy Young, ALCS MVP and six AllStar appearances.
Yadier Molina
Career: .282 BA, 150 HRs, 895 RBI, 38.9 WAR Offensive stats tell only part of the story. Molina, a nine-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner, is arguably the best defensive catcher and signal caller since Johnny Bench. Having won two World Series, he’s a clutch hitter.
Madison Bumgarner
Career: 115-90, 3.08 ERA, 35.7 WAR
Bumgarner has the postseason resume of three titles, a World Series MVP and an NLCS MVP. At 29, however, he still has a lot of pitching to do, for who knows what team. He can use a turnaround season to remind fans (and voters) that he’s still around.
David Price
Career: 150-78, 3.27 ERA, 39.9 WAR Don’t dismiss Price’s chances. Except for pitching at Yankee Stadium, the five-time All-Star has survived quite well in the rough and tumble AL East. He won a Cy Young with the Tampa Bay Rays and a World Series with the Boston Red Sox. There’s still some life in his 31year-old arm.
Craig Kimbrel
Career: 31-20, 1.96 ERA, 339 saves, 20.1 WAR
How much his late start this season affects Kimbrel’s Hall chances remains to be seen. He was a Rookie of the Year, won a World Series with the Red Sox and has appeared in seven All-Star Games.
Bryce Harper
Career: .277 BA, 201 HRs, 591 RBI, 28.8 WAR
Let’s not forget that Harper, who might not be living up to his Philadelphia Phillies contract, is only 26. And he’s already an MVP, a Rookie of the Year and a six-time All-Star.
Manny Machado
Career: .281 BA, 200 HRs, 579 RBI, 36.3 WAR
The other high-priced free agent of last offseason is starting to settle in with the San Diego Padres. He was a fourtime All-Star and a two-time Gold Glove winner in Baltimore. If he continues his pace, he merits consideration for the Hall.
TRENDING DOWNWARD Robinson Cano
Career: .302 BA, 317 HRs, 1,255 RBI, 68.6 WAR
Cano’s Hall chances probably ended with his 80-game suspension last season for testing positive for a banned substance. Even with a World Series ring, All-Star MVP, two Gold Gloves and eight All-Star Games, many voters won’t consider him.
Felix Hernandez
Career: 169-132, 3.38 ERA, 50.4 WAR
Earlier in his career, King Felix look like a lock for the Hall of Fame. But injuries have knocked him for a loop. He might need another good season or two to send him to Cooperstown. He has a Cy Young, has gone to six All-Star Games and was team MVP seven times.
MORE WORK TO DO Chris Sale
Career: 107-71, 2.98 ERA, 45.1 WAR
This season has been a bummer for the seven-time All-Star. He needs to get back on track quickly, before the images of his excellent contributions to Boston’s latest World Series victory fade.
Aroldis Chapman
Career: 32-26, 2.25 ERA, 261 saves, 16.9 WAR
How much longer can the 31year-old throw 100 mph? He could use a Yankees World Series title to go with the one he won with the Chicago Cubs. The six-time All-Star has 8,531 career strikeouts. He’ll need considerably more for Hall induction.
Giancarlo Stanton
Career: .268 BA, 306 HRs, 779 RBI, 39.8 WAR
This season has been a washout because of injuries. If you think Stanton, who’ll turn 30 in November, is still Hall worthy, you better root for his 2017 form, when he hit 59 homers and drove in 132 runs with the Miami Marlins, to return. Needs another MVP season, or two.
Edwin Encarnacion
Career: .262 BA, 409 HRs, 1,226 RBI, 34.1 WAR Encarnacion has 30 more homers and 166 more runs batted in than Nelson Cruz, a player of similar talent. Cruz has hit for the better average, by 12 points. Encarnacion needs to improve his average to become a legit candidate.
Buster Posey
Career: .303 BA, 138 HRs, 663 RBI, 41.5 WAR
All those years of catching have taken a toll on the Giants catcher. He can only hope the voters remember his early days, when San Francisco won three titles and Posey was a Rookie of the Year, an MVP and a six-time All-Star.