Perrotto: Explaining My 2025 Hall of Fame Ballot

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. That’s what the song says.

However, December is also one of the most interesting times of the year if you cover baseball.

The Winter Meetings bring plenty of intrigue with its player transactions – and 10 times as many rumors. For those fortunate to be a member of the Baseball Writers Association for 10 consecutive years, there is the honor of voting for the Hall of Fame.

It’s an honor I don’t take lightly. Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is life-changing and there is no higher honor in baseball.

Ballots must be postmarked by Dec. 31 and mine has already been mailed. It is the only piece of mail I make sure to hand deliver to the post office each year.

Electors can vote for as many as 10 candidates.

First, I checked the boxes next to six players I voted for last year – Carlos Beltran, Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez, Francisco Rodriguez, Omar Vizquel and Billy Wagner.

Ramirez and Alex Rodriguez both served PED-related suspensions during their careers. There have been disturbing allegations against Vizquel since his playing days, though he has never been charged with any crimes.

Yet I don’t believe you can magically erase history. Ramirez was one of the greatest right-handed hitters of his generation, Alex Rodriguez had 696 home runs and 3,115 hits and Vizquel won 11 Gold Gloves and is the best defensive shortstop I’ve seen in 37 years of covering ball.

Beltran played a major role in the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal in 2017, but also hit 435 homers and stole 312 bases.

I used to hold closers to a higher standard and have voted for just a few over the years. However, today’s bullpen-dominant game has given me a better appreciation for what Francisco Rodriguez (437 career saves) and Wagner (422) accomplished.

I have also changed my opinion by voting for Andruw Jones for the first time in his eighth time on the ballot. Jones’ career nosedived after he left Atlanta, but he was one of the game’s most dynamic players during his 12 seasons with the Braves – winning 10 Gold Gloves – and I don’t think I previously put enough stock into that.

The holdovers who didn’t make my cut again were Bobby Abreu, Mark Buehrle, Torii Hunter, Andy Pettitte, Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and David Wright. All were impactful players but not Cooperstown-worthy.

There were 14 first-time candidates: Carlos Gonzalez, Curts Granderson, Felix Hernandez, Adam Jones, Ian Kinsler, Russell Martin, Brian McCann, Dustin Pedroia, Hanley Ramirez, Fernando Rodney, CC Sabathia, Ichiro Suzuki, Troy Tulowitzki and Ben Zobrist.

I voted for only one player on that list, but first the tough calls.

Sabathia, who had 251 wins and 3,093 strikeouts, leads the list, I can’t get past his 3.74 ERA and 1.259 WHIP, though I reserve the right to change my mind.

Injuries knocked Pedroia off his path to Cooperstown. Innings pitched did the same for Hernandez. Nevertheless, I’d like to recognize King Felix for being a highly entertaining interview subject.

Martin is not a Hall of Famer, but I respect how he helped the Pirates end their streak of 20 consecutive losing seasons and reaching the playoffs during his two years with them in 2013 and 2014. He was a good player, a consummate professional and helped a young team learn how to win.

The one newcomer who got a checkmark on my ballot was Suzuki.

Suzuki did not make his MLB debut until he was 27 in 2001 with the Seattle Mariners. Yet he amassed 3,089 hits, played in 10 All-Star Games and won 10 Gold Gloves while playing 19 seasons.

No player from Japan has made a bigger impact in the United States. I don’t like his 107 OPS+ but his uniqueness and imprint on the game can’t be discounted.

So, here’s my ballot:

Carlos Beltran

Andruw Jones

Manny Ramirez

Alex Rodriguez

Francisco Rodriguez

Ichiro Suzuki

Omar Vizquel

Billy Wagner