Preview of the 2024 Hall of Fame Candidates

The newest members of baseball’s hall of fame are Scott Rolen and Fred McGriff. They will be enshrined in Cooperstown this summer. A preview of the 2024 hall of fame candidates shows a few former Mets on the ballot, as well as one former star who seems to be a lock to be elected in his first year of eligibility.

Adrián Beltré

Let’s start with Adrián Beltré, the former Dodger, Mariner, and Ranger (who also spent one season with the Boston Red Sox in 2010). He had 3,166 hits, 477 home runs and 93.5 Wins Above Replacement (WAR)–third-most among third basemen behind only Mike Schmidt and Eddie Mathews.

While it’s not common for a player to receive the necessary 75% of the vote in his first year on the ballot, Beltré dominated at his position for many of his 21 seasons. He was a four-time all star, and won five gold gloves. He likely will get the votes for induction in 2024.

Billy Wagner

One former Met to watch when the 2024 votes are counted is closer, Billy Wagner. Wagner jumped from 51% of the vote in 2022 to 68.1% in 2023. The fireballing lefty from Virginia was one of the dominant closers of his era with 422 saves, a 2.31 ERA and 11.9 strikeouts per nine innings. He will be in his ninth year on the ballot next year, meaning he has two chances remaining at election. Wagner ranks sixth on the all-time saves list, and from the late 1990s through 2007 was one of the best in the game.

Todd Helton

Todd Helton, the former Colorado Rockie, barely missed getting “the call” in 2023, netting 72.2% of the vote.The Rockies’ great slugging first baseman, who had 369 home runs and 2,519 hits, was a .316 lifetime hitter, and the 2000 MLB batting champion. He needs only 2.8% more of the vote in his sixth year. With 11 more ballots with his name next year, and he’ll be in. Helton, despite “Coors Field bias”, deserves to be in Cooperstown and will likely have his day next January.

Carlos Beltrán, David Wright, José Reyes

Three of the core players from the mid-2000s Mets will be up for election in 2024, with Carlos Beltrán in his second year of eligibility, and David Wright and José Reyes both in their first year. Beltran had nine all-star seasons, 435 home runs, 2,725 hits and a cumulative 70.1 WAR as great switch-hitter. In 2023, he received 46.5% of the vote. His connection to the Astros’ cheating scandal clearly factored into this percentage, but as time goes on, the sign-stealing caper may fade more into history, and Beltrán may be able to secure his rightful spot in the baseball shrine.

Wright, the sentimental choice of Mets fans, had a very good career that was cut short by spinal stenosis. Wright was a seven-time All-Star, two-time Gold Glove winner, and two-time Silver Slugger who hit .296 with 242 home runs. He head a career WAR of 49.2. Had Wright been able to play at full strength from 2015 (when he was first sidelined and missed most of the season) through 2020 (when he would have turned 38 years old), he would have had a very good chance at induction in Cooperstown.

Reyes, though he will be on the ballot, will not have a chance at being elected into the hallowed hall. Reyes had 517 stolen bases, and posted a 37.5 career WAR. He won the 2011 batting title while he with the Mets. He left via free agency after that season, and returned in 2016 after stints in Miami, Toronto, and Colorado. Reyes also was involved in a domestic violence incident, which contributed to his release by the Rockies.

Other Notables

Alex Rodriguez, who belted 696 home runs and had over 3,00 hits, received just 35.7% of the vote in 2023, his third year of eligibility. A-Rod, who had multiple issues with performance-enhancing substances, is active in baseball, working on ESPN Sunday night telecasts with Michael Kay. He seems to be in decent standing with MLB, but not so with the writers who hold his Hall of Fame fate.

Joe Mauer and Chase Utley (ever popular with Mets fans) will be on the ballot for the first time in 2024. Mauer’s achievements include three batting titles, three Gold Gloves, four All-Star selections and the 2009 AL MVP award. Mauer was a .306 career hitter, with a 55.2 career WAR. His WAR number ranks favorably against that of other catchers in the hall.