Building a case
Freddie Freeman is currently the best first baseman in the National League and has played 1,406 games in 11 seasons. During that span, he has 240 home runs, 858 RBI, a .295 batting average, a pair of Silver Sluggers and was the 2020 NL MVP. He is only 31 and will be able to add to his Baseball Hall of Fame resume for years to come.
Having 300 saves is a big milestone for a closer. With 348 career saves, Craig Kimbrel has blown by that mark. With the Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres and Boston Red Sox, he was one of the best closers in the league and beyond dominant, finishing top nine on the Cy Young ballot five times.
Kimbrel has not been as good as he was since joining the Chicago Cubs, but will definitely have a shot at Cooperstown if he reverts to his high-caliber closer form and adds a few more 30-save seasons.
Jose Altuve is an interesting situation because of the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal. He is only 31 and already has more than 1,600 hits with a .311 average. He has won an MVP, a Gold Glove, five Silver Sluggers and has been named to six All-Star games. The second half of his career will decide his Hall of Fame fate.
Kenley Jansen has surpassed 300 saves as well. Like Kimbrel, Jansen has won a World Series title. He has been dominant for the Los Angeles Dodgers since 2012. Known as one of the best closers in the National League, Jansen needs to get closer to 500 saves if he wants a chance at the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Jansen has been dominant on the Dodgers since his 2012 season. Known as one of the best closers in the league, Jansen needs to get closer to 500 saves if he wants a chance at the Hall. Jansen averaged 37 saves a season from 2017-19 and barring any shortened seasons would get near the 500 mark with five seasons at that pace.
Madison Bumgarner will be considered for the Baseball Hall of Fame because, like Posey, he won three World Series. Bumgarner was also dominant in all of them and is known as one of the greatest postseason pitchers of all time.
He is under contract with the Arizona Diamonbacks through the 2024 season. The three-time All-Star needs to add more wins to his resume and keep his ERA close to the 3.20 mark he currently holds.
Giancarlo Stanton’s biggest issue is staying healthy. He is still a force to be reckoned with when he is able to perform at his usual level. Stanton is 31 and already has 312 home runs. His career OPS is .905. Now that he will primarily be a designated hitter, he should be able to stay healthy and hit put up seasons in the high 30s for home runs with New York Yankees.
Yankee Stadium could help him reach 500 home runs if he stays healthy, which would put him in the conversation.
DJ LeMahieu just recently was spotted on the Cooperstown radar. He has multiple batting titles, three Gold Gloves, two Silver Sluggers and has been named to three All-Star games. However, being a second baseman does not help his case; just look at Jeff Kent.
LeMahieu has 1,294 career hits, but just signed a six-year contract with the Yankees. If he performs like an MVP candidate (he has finished third and fourth respectively the last two seasons) over the length of this contract than he will definitely be considered a candidate. It is all about staying healthy.
Aroldis Chapman is turning 33 and could be built to last in the league for years to come. He has one World Series title and 276 career saves. If he keeps racking up saves like he did from 2012-19 until he is 36 or 37. If we see that Chapman until he is 36 or 37, then he will most certainly be in discussion. Without that continued performance, it becomes less likely.