Assessing the other candidates on the Hall of Fame ballot

In the past week we discussed the holdover candidates, Ken Griffey Jr., Jim Edmonds, Trevor Hoffman, and Billy Wagner. But there are a few other new first-timers on the ballot. The rest of the players that could see votes are listed here. Personally I don't think any of them will receive more than a few handful courtesy votes and none of them should obtain the minimum 5% threshold to carry over to 2017.

Jason Kendall (41.5 bWAR; 35.9 JAWS; 39.8 fWAR)

Kendall played fifteen years, mostly with the Pittsburgh Pirates after being their first round selection in 1992. He made three All-Star Games and was third in Rookie of the Year voting in 1996. His first five years in the league were very good (314/402/456, 121 OPS+), but he was never really that good again. He finished at 288/366/378, 95 OPS+, 99 wRC+.

Troy Glaus (37.9 bWAR; 35.3 JAWS; 34.4 fWAR)

Glaus was the third overall pick in the 1997 draft by the Anaheim Angels and debuted in 1998. He was a power bat early on, and led the AL in home runs in 2000 with 47. From 2000 to 2003 he amassed a 259/370/519 slash, 129 OPS+, 134 HR and 371 RBI. He appeared in four All-Star games and achieved two Silver Sluggers. But after 2003, he was more pedestrian. He finished his 13 year career with a 254/358/489 line, 119 OPS+, 120 wRC+, 320 HR and 950 RBI.

Mike Hampton (29.0 bWAR; 27.3 JAWS; 28.0 fWAR)

Hampton originally came up with the Seattle Mariners but was traded t othe Houston Astros very early on. In 1998 he had a breakout year (3.36 ERA, 123 ERA+) but it was 1999 when he made his money. He finished 22-4, with a 2.90 ERA (155 ERA+). But his FIP in both years was a bit higher than it should have been. As he was approaching free agency, the Astros dealt him to the New York Mets. In 2001, he signed the richest free agent deal to play for the Colorado Rockies and promptly imploded. After two bad seasons, he went to Atlanta, where he was much serviceable except for the two complete seasons he missed in 2006 and 2007. He finished at 148-115, with a 4.06 ERA, 4.27 FIP.

Hampton did make two All-Star teams, finished second in Cy Young voting in 1999 and achieved one Gold Glove and five Silver Sluggers. He did hit 16 HR in his career.

Luis Castillo (28.9 bWAR; 26.4 JAWS; 28.4 fWAR)

Castillo debuted with the Florida Marlins when he was just 20 years old in 1996. The second baseman arrived with speed to burn and not much of a bat. He led the league in steals twice, and finished with 370 in his career. His bat did improve, breaking 0.300 eight times with the Marlins, Twins and Mets. He made three All-Star Games and received three Gold Gloves as well.

Randy Winn (27.5 bWAR; 26.1 JAWS; 28.1 fWAR)

Winn played for five different teams in his career, mainly with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and San Francisco Giants. He made one All-Star team and finished with a  284/343/416, 99 OPS+, 100 wRC+.

Garret Anderson (25.6 bWAR; 24.2 JAWS; 24.0 fWAR)

Not quite as heralded as Glaus, Anderson ended up with a very solid career. He finished second in Rookie of the Year in 1995, made three All-Star teams, had two Silver Sluggers and finished in MBP voting twice, with him being fourth in 20002. He led the league in doubles twice (2002, 2003) and finished with a 293/324/461, 102 OPS+, 100 wRC+, 287 HR and 1365 RBI.

Mike Lowell (24.8 bWAR; 24.1 JAWS; 26.0 fWAR)

Lowell is one of the few New York Yankee prospects that was traded away and had a decent career. He spent seven years with the Marlins and five with the Red Sox. He made fours All-Star teams, nabbed one Gold Glove, one Silver Slugger and finished in MVP voting twice, with the high being fifth in 2007. He had a 279/342/464, 108 OPS+, 108 wRC+, 223 HR, and 952 RBI.

Mark Grudzielanek (26.3 bWAR; 23.4 JAWS; 23.2 fWAR)

Grudzielanek started with the Montreal Expos in 1995 and made an All-Star team in 1996. He led the league in doubles in 1997 and then was dealt to the Dodgers in 1998. He finished off his career with stops with the Cubs, Cardinals, royals, and then with our own Indians in 2010. He finished with a 289/332/393, 90 OPS+, 91 wRC+.

Mike Sweeney (24.7 bWAR; 23.2 JAWS; 21.1 fWAR)

Sweeney was a 13 year member of the Royals who also played with the Mariners, Phillies and A's. He received MVP votes thrice and was on five All-Star teams. He finished with a 297/366/486, 118 OPS+, 117 wRC+, 197 HR, 837 RBI.

David Eckstein (20.8 bWAR; 19.9 JAWS; 16.8 fWAR)

Eckstein was originally drafted by the Red Sox but was claimed by the Angels on waivers in 2000. He finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting in 2011, received MVP votes in 2002 and 2005, and made two All-Star squads. He played just 10 years, with the Angels, Cardinals, Blue Jays, Diamondbacks, and Padres. He finished with a 280/345/355, 87 OPS+, 92 wRC+.

Brad Ausmus (16.4 bWAR; 15.7 JAWS; 17.2 fWAR)

Ausmus is another Yankee farmhand who got away. He was lost to the Colorado Rockies in the expansion draft. He was traded to the Padres and then spent most of his career with the Astros and Tigers, finishing off his 18 year career with the Dodgers. He received three Gold Gloves and made one All-Star game. He finished at 251/325/344, 75 OPS+, 76 wRC+.

Final ballot

I have now covered all 32 options for this year's ballot. After reading up on each of them, this is how I would vote (if I was so asked to do so).

That means I have no room for Edgar Martinez. Larry Walker and Billy Wagner also got a lot of consideration, but eventually I left them off.