Hall of Fame Honors; Rays, Phillies Clash
All eyes are on the baseball world today with key events unfolding. In particular, excitement is building around the Hall of Fame ballot reveal and two major updates involving the Tampa Bay Rays and Philadelphia Phillies.
Hall of Fame Honors: Ballot Reveal Today
The 2026 Hall of Fame class will be partially determined today at 5 PM CT. A player must receive 75% of the votes to be inducted. This year’s ballot features notable newcomers, including southpaw Cole Hamels. However, he is not expected to gain entry in his first year.
Outfielder Manny Ramirez is in his final year on the ballot, facing likely exclusion due to past performance-enhancing drug (PED) use. He joins other steroid era players like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens in missing induction.
According to Ryan Thibodaux’s BBHOF Tracker, about 54% of the ballots have been publicly revealed. If remaining votes align with current trends, outfielders Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones could also join the Hall of Fame this year.
Tampa Bay Rays’ Stadium Update
The Rays continue their efforts to move from Tropicana Field, now under new ownership. A critical vote is set for 4 PM local time today regarding the proposal for a new stadium at Hillsborough College’s Dale Mabry campus.
- The board of trustees will consider a memorandum of understanding with the Rays.
- The proposal includes building a stadium and upgrading campus facilities.
- This is the first in a series of necessary votes and negotiations.
This vote represents a significant step toward a new home for the Rays if it progresses further.
Phillies Media Availability with J.T. Realmuto
The Philadelphia Phillies have confirmed their reunion with catcher J.T. Realmuto. Alongside Realmuto, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and manager Rob Thomson will meet with the media over Zoom at 10 AM local time.
This press conference is likely to reveal the team’s offseason strategy. Although Realmuto’s signing is a key move, the Phillies recently fell short in pursuit of star infielder Bo Bichette. This indicates their willingness to retool, focusing primarily on retaining existing players while exploring potential significant changes to the roster.
