Baseball fans have a busy day ahead with several key events scheduled in the sports world. At the forefront is the much-anticipated announcement of this year’s Hall of Fame ballot results, set to take place at 5 PM CT. Any player receiving 75% or more of the votes will be inducted into the 2026 Hall of Fame class alongside second baseman Jeff Kent. This year’s ballot features newcomers, most notably southpaw Cole Hamels, although he will not be inducted on his first ballot. Outfielder Manny Ramirez enters his last year on the ballot but is expected to miss induction due to his history with performance-enhancing drugs, akin to players like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens who have faced similar fates. Current tracking data indicates that 54% of the ballots are publicly available, and if the final vote reflects these early results, outfielders Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones could also secure a spot in the Hall this year.
In other news, the Tampa Bay Rays are progressing with their plans to relocate from Tropicana Field, despite changes in ownership. A significant vote is scheduled for 4 PM local time today by the Hillsborough College board of trustees regarding a memorandum of understanding with the Rays. This agreement could pave the way for a new stadium at the college’s Dale Mabry campus, along with necessary upgrades to the school’s facilities. While this is only the start of a lengthy negotiation process, it signals positive movement toward finding a new venue for the Rays.
Lastly, the Philadelphia Phillies are making headlines with the official re-signing of catcher J.T. Realmuto. Following this announcement, Realmuto, along with president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and manager Rob Thomson, will be available for a media session via Zoom at 10 AM local time. This presser is expected to shed light on the team’s offseason strategy, particularly after missing out on a deal with star infielder Bo Bichette shortly before finalizing Realmuto’s contract. The Phillies’ approach this offseason appears focused on retaining key players, though their interest in Bichette indicates a willingness to explore broader roster changes in the future.
As the day unfolds, fans can look forward to crucial updates that could reshape the landscape of baseball as they know it.