Here’s what’s happening in the baseball world today:
1. Hall of Fame Ballot Reveal
The Hall of Fame vote results will be shared at 5 PM CT today. To get in, a player must receive at least 75% of the votes. This year, second baseman Jeff Kent will be joining the class of 2026. Among those on this year’s ballot is lefty Cole Hamels, though he won’t make it in on his first try. Outfielder Manny Ramirez is in his final year on the ballot but is likely to miss out due to his past involvement with PEDs, just like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens did. Currently, around 54% of the ballots are publicly available, according to Ryan Thibodaux’s BBHOF Tracker. If the final results follow this trend, outfielders Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones could be voted in.
2. Rays Stadium Update
The Rays, now with new ownership, are pushing to leave Tropicana Field for a new stadium. Today, the Hillsborough College Board of Trustees will vote on a plan to partner with the Rays for a new stadium on their Dale Mabry campus. This proposal would not only include a stadium but also upgrades to the college’s facilities. It’s just the first step in what will be a long negotiation process, but it’s a significant move toward a new home for the team.
3. Phillies Media Update
The Phillies have officially reunited with catcher J.T. Realmuto. The team’s president, Dave Dombrowski, and manager, Rob Thomson, will discuss this and the future of the team at a media event over Zoom today at 10 AM local time. This comes after the Phillies almost struck a deal with star infielder Bo Bichette. While they’ve focused on keeping their key players this offseason, their interest in Bichette suggests they might still be open to substantial roster changes.
As baseball fans, we’re always looking forward to how these stories will unfold. Each reveal can shift the landscape of the league, so stay tuned!
