The Big Questions About the 2024 BBWAA Hall of Fame Ballot

The FanGraphs Newsletter, November 21, 2023 [READ IN BROWSER]( November 21, 2023 If you were hoping for a return to larger Hall of Fame classes after a lean few years for candidates on the BBWAA ballot, this is your year. After the writers elected just two candidates in the last three cycles — nobody on the 2021 ballot, then David Ortiz and Scott Rolen in the two years since — it’s extremely likely we’ll get multiple honorees this year, a reminder of the unprecedented flood of 22 honorees in seven years from 2014–20. The list of newcomers is headed by 3,000-hit club member Adrián Beltré and six-time All-Stars Joe Mauer and Chase Utley, while the top two returnees, Todd Helton and Billy Wagner, are both within reach of the magic 75% threshold. It’s officially ballot season, as the BBWAA unveiled its [26-candidate slate]( on Monday. Over the next six weeks Jay Jaffe will profile all of the ones likely to wind up on voters’ ballots ahead of the December 31 deadline, with a small handful of profiles trickling into January. He'll be examining their cases in light of my Jaffe WAR Score (JAWS) system, which he's used to break down Hall of Fame ballots in an annual tradition that’s almost old enough to drink. The series debuted at Baseball Prospectus (2004-12), then moved to SI.com (2013-18), which provided Jaffe an opportunity to go into greater depth on each candidate. In 2018, he brought the series to FanGraphs, where my coverage has become even more expansive. [Learn More]( [JAWS and the 2024 Hall of Fame Ballot: Todd Helton]( After a slow start to his candidacy, the great Rockies first baseman is poised for election. | by Jay Jaffe [40-Man Roster Deadline Reaction and Analysis: National League]( Breaking down which National League prospects got roster spots and which were left unprotected ahead of next month's Rule 5 Draft. Plus, a flurry of non-tender deadline activity. | by Eric Longenhagen [James Paxton Expects To Be Better Next Year]( Currently a free agent, the 35-year-old left-hander is another year removed from Tommy John surgery. | by David Laurila [What Do You Get the Team That Has Everything? Reynaldo López, Apparently]( The Braves fortified their bullpen (or possibly their rotation) as they seek to improve on this year's pitching-light squad. | by Ben Clemens [2024 ZiPS Projections: Washington Nationals]( The Nats have a long way to go to get out of the NL East basement. | by Dan Szymborski [Free Lance Right-Hander Finds Gainful Employment]( Don't eat out, we have innings at home. | by Michael Baumann 🎧 [Effectively Wild Episode 2087: Best in Sho]( [DOWNLOAD THE FANGRAPHS APP]( [FanGraphs & Effectively Wild Merch Is Now Available at BreakingT!]( [ORDER HERE]( [Here is one free-agent target for each team]( by Mark Feinsand, MLB [What does Ohtani want? The mystery at the center of an unprecedented free agent pursuit]( by Zack Meisel and Andy McCullough, The Athletic ($) [What's next for this stacked starting pitching market]( by Buster Olney, ESPN ($) [Tanner Dodson: Rule 5 Draft Starting Pitcher Sleeper]( by Colby Morris, Pitcher List [@fangraphs]( [FanGraphs]( [FanGraphs]( [RSS]( [FORWARD]( [SUBSCRIBE]( Copyright © 2023 FanGraphs Inc, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you subscribed to the FanGraphs Newsletter. Our mailing address is: FanGraphs Inc 1200 N Hartford St. Apt 312Arlington, Va 22201 [Add us to your address book]( Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](