Hold onto your hats, baseball fans, because the countdown to spring training has officially begun! In just a month, pitchers and catchers will descend upon their training sites, marking the return of the crack of the bat and the roar of the crowd. As players start showcasing their offseason gains and declaring they're in the best shape of their lives, the excitement—and anxiety—for the upcoming season will reach a fever pitch.
But here's where it gets controversial: While we eagerly await the first pitch, the free agent market remains in turmoil. Shockingly, four of the top five and six of the top 10 players from Ben Clemens’ prestigious Top 50 Free Agents list are still unsigned. Among them? A trio of former Astros stars: Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman, and Framber Valdez. What’s holding up their deals? And what does this mean for the teams chasing a championship? It’s a situation that’s sparking heated debates across the baseball world.
Adding to the intrigue, the 2026 Baseball Hall of Fame election results will be unveiled on January 20. Jay Jaffe has been tirelessly dissecting the ballot in his must-read player profiles, but this is the part most people miss: today, we’re flipping the script and exploring the best pitchers who never even sniffed a Hall of Fame vote. Why were they overlooked? And does the Hall need to rethink its criteria?
In this edition of the FanGraphs Weekly Mailbag, we’re diving deep into these topics and more. Michael Baumann takes a closer look at Chandler Simpson’s potential, Davy Andrews examines whether inducing popups is a skill or just luck, and Dan Szymborski breaks down which players have the most unpredictable ZiPS projections. It’s a treasure trove of insights for any baseball enthusiast.
But wait—there’s a catch. This exclusive content is only available to FanGraphs Members. If you’re not already a member, now’s the time to join. Not only will you gain access to this mailbag, but you’ll also unlock ad-free browsing, unlimited articles, customizable data tools, enhanced projections, and much more. It’s the ultimate way to support our team and elevate your baseball experience.
Ready to join the conversation? Become a member today and don’t forget to send your burning questions to mailbag@fangraphs.com for a chance to be featured in an upcoming edition. Let’s debate, discuss, and dive into the game we all love. What’s your take on the unsigned free agents? Do you think the Hall of Fame voting process needs an overhaul? Let us know in the comments!
