FanGraphs Weekly Mailbag: January 10, 2026
Get ready for some baseball excitement! In just a month, pitchers and catchers will be gearing up for spring training, marking the return of the sport's familiar rhythms. As the season approaches, the anticipation for what's to come intensifies, along with the usual boasting about being in the best shape of one's life.
In the meantime, we've got plenty to keep us satisfied until the big game begins. Four of the top five and six of the top 10 players on Ben Clemens' Top 50 Free Agents rankings remain unsigned, including a trio of former Astros teammates: Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman, and Framber Valdez. The 2026 Baseball Hall of Fame election results will be announced on January 20, with Jay Jaffe's comprehensive player profiles providing valuable insights as always.
Today, we'll explore the Hall of Fame through the lens of the best pitchers who never received a Hall of Fame vote. Michael Baumann delves into Chandler Simpson's performance, Davy Andrews examines the skill of inducing popups among pitchers, and Dan Szymborski explains the players with the widest variance in their ZiPS projections. Before we dive in, remember that this mailbag is exclusive to FanGraphs Members.
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