Hall of Fame Honors: Rays and Phillies Shine

The baseball community is abuzz with key developments surrounding the Hall of Fame, the Tampa Bay Rays, and the Philadelphia Phillies. Here’s what to watch today.

Hall of Fame Honors: Results Awaited

This evening at 5 PM CT, the results of the Hall of Fame voting will be revealed. The voters’ decision will determine which players, if any, will join Jeff Kent in the 2026 Hall of Fame class. To gain induction, a candidate must secure at least 75% of the votes.

This year’s ballot features several newcomers, including left-handed pitcher Cole Hamels, although he is unlikely to be inducted on his first try. Veteran outfielder Manny Ramirez, entering his final year on the ballot, is expected to fall short due to past performance-enhancing drug use, just like other steroid-era players such as Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. According to Ryan Thibodaux’s BBHOF Tracker, which tracks publicly disclosed ballots, 54% of total ballots have been revealed.

• If the remaining votes reflect the current publicly available ballots, Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones may be elected this cycle.

Rays Stadium Update

The Tampa Bay Rays are taking steps toward relocating from Tropicana Field. Following a change in ownership, the team is focused on finding a new stadium site. Today, at 4 PM local time, the Hillsborough College board of trustees will vote on a memorandum of understanding with the Rays. This agreement pertains to a proposed stadium at the college’s Dale Mabry campus, along with facility upgrades.

While this vote is just the first step in a lengthy process, it represents significant progress for the Rays as they look to secure a new home after leaving Tropicana Field.

Phillies Media Availability

The Philadelphia Phillies have officially announced the return of catcher J.T. Realmuto. A Zoom media session will take place at 10 AM local time, featuring Realmuto, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, and manager Rob Thomson.

This virtual press conference offers a valuable opportunity to gain insights into the team’s offseason strategies. Their focus has primarily been on retaining players, exemplified by the signing of Realmuto and a near-deal with star infielder Bo Bichette just prior to Realmuto’s official signing. This suggests the Phillies are considering both continuity and potential roster changes this winter.