Dean's 2025 MLB Hall of Fame Ballot
A Blog By Dean
Hello and welcome to my second annual “Dean Ciriaco Hall of Fame Ballot Breakdown.” I will throw my ballot down below from last year so you can all see where my head was at.
As you know, Helton, Beltre, and Mauer all got in. Billy Wagner was just a few votes away while Jones actually sat at 61.9% falling being Gary Sheffield. Chase Utley was a measly 28% and as you will see below, I decided to take him off my ballot this year. I understand the bias in putting Pedroia in and keeping Utley off, but it’s my list so back off!
Billy Wagner
First, I will start with my dear friend(we have DM’d), Billy Wagner. I wrote a whole blog on why he should be in the Hall of Fame. So, I will link that here. Check it out if you want to see why I want him in above anyone else.
Andruw Jones
This will be the second time I vote for Andruw Jones. A lot of people on X were going after me for voting Jones and not going for Sheffield. Again, I am not going to vote for someone who was linked to steroids. I understand the complexity of Sheffield’s situation, but he will not be getting my vote.
Positives
10 straight Gold Gloves
434 Home Runs
Peak seven-year WAR which puts him with some of the GOAT CF’s including Mays, Cobb, Speaker, Mantle, DiMaggio, Snider, and Trout
Negatives
Huge drop off
No MVP
No World Series
Struck out A LOT
Hit over .280 only once in career.
CC Sabathia
Positives:
251 Wins: A rare achievement in the modern era of pitching. I believe that 250 will now become the old 300 as we see starters pitching less and less.
3,093 Strikeouts: One of only 19 pitchers to surpass 3,000 strikeouts.
All are in the Hall with the exceptions of Clemens, Schilling, Verlander, and Scherzer.
2007 AL Cy Young Winner
6 All-Star Appearances
Postseason Heroics: Key piece of the 2009 Yankees’ World Series title, including an ALCS MVP performance.
Negatives:
High ERA (3.74): Above the average for many Hall of Fame pitchers. He would have the third highest of all time.
Late-Career Struggles: His effectiveness declined in his final seasons.
No Sustained Dominance: Outside of his Cy Young season, he never really led the MLB in any pitching category. Even during his 5 year peak I do not think anyone would have said he is the best pitcher in the league.
Carlos Beltran
Positives:
435 Home Runs: One of the most powerful switch-hitters in baseball history.
4th All-Time amongst switch hitters. Trails only Mantle, Murray, and Jones. All of whom are in the hall.
9 All-Star Appearances
3 Gold Gloves
8-time 20/20 Season
4th All-Time behind Bobby Bonds, Barry Bonds, and Bobby Abreu.
Career WAR of 70.1: Places him firmly among Hall of Fame-level outfielders.
Postseason Numbers: .307 batting average, 16 home runs, and a 1.021 OPS in the playoffs.
Negatives:
Sign-stealing Scandal: Role in the 2017 Astros cheating scandal has clouded his legacy.
This is why I did not vote for him last year.
No MVP Award: Despite excellent seasons, he never secured an MVP trophy.
Dustin Pedroia
I will acknowledge that this is a homer pick. But it is my list, so back off.
Positives:
2008 AL MVP: Proved himself as the best player in baseball that year.
4 Gold Gloves: Elite defensive second baseman.
3 World Series Titles (2007, 2013, 2018): Most of anyone on this list.
Career .299 Batting Average
Rookie of the Year (2007)
WAR 7: This is one of two analytical stats made to compare HOFers. Pedroia sits at 16th all-time. The only players ahead of him that are not HOFers are Utley and Cano. He has a better WAR7 than a number of old time HOFers as well.
JAWS: Pedroia’s JAWS is 46.5. Again, this puts him smack in the middle of a number of HOF 2B. The only players ahead of him are Lou Whitaker, Bobby Grich, Chase Utley, and Willie Randolph.
If you know ball, then you know that Whitaker and Randolph will get in eventually on some committee. Grich is also one of those players that in the age of saber metric’s has ben labeled as a snub.
What I am trying to say, is that the idea that Pedroia stands no chance at Cooperstown is unjust. Will he get in? Probably not. Injuries derailed those chances.
Negatives:
Injury-Plagued Career: Knee injuries significantly shortened his prime.
Only 1,805 Career Hits: Limited career totals due to injuries.
Short Peak
Ichiro
There is no negatives here. He should be in with 100% of the vote.
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