Which of today's MLB players have the best chance?

Trying to handicap Baseball Hall of Fame candidates is as difficult as trying to pick the winner of the Kentucky Derby.

After Mariano Rivera and friends are inducted Sunday in Cooperstown, the only certainty is that Derek Jeter, in his first year of eligibility, might match Rivera’s 100 percent voting approval in 2020.

So go ahead and dream, current players. You too may have a date in Cooperstown down the road.

If Aaron Judge stays healthy and Pete Alonso keeps hitting homers, anything is possible.

Here’s a look at today's Major League players who should draw Hall of Fame attention in the coming years.

We’ve broken them down to: Write Your Speech (overwhelming favorites), Trending Up, Trending Down, and those who still have work to do.

Sure, the 39-year-old has slowed down. But that doesn’t diminish his total picture. A three-time NL MVP, a two-time World Series winner and a 10-time All-Star, he’s in elite company.

He’s already won two AL MVP awards and finished second four times. An eight-time All-Star, if he stays healthy, should have a chance to break many records.

The veteran righthander has a complete Hall resume: three Cy Youngs and five All-Star nods. He’s led the National League in strikeouts the past three seasons and has developed a reputation for being a big-game pitcher.

The trade from Detroit to Houston rejuvenated the righthander and moved him into serious Hall consideration. The eight-time All-Star has a Cy Young Award, an MVP, an AL Rookie of the Year, and an ALCS MVP. And, oh yeah, a World Series title.

This season: .000 (0-for-6), in two games when Mariners played in his native Japan.

The ideal lead-off hitter who also stole 509 bases in his career. A 10-time All-Star, he won the AL Rookie of the Year and MVP in his first season. A two-time batting title winner who, combined with his career in Japan, had more than 4,000 career hits.

Clutch hitter is bound for Cooperstown. He also has a World Series ring, a World Series MVP, two regular-season MVPs and 11 trips to the All-Star Game.

Forget his so-so postseason performances. The man is 90 games over .500 and has struck out 2,373 hitters. Three Cy Youngs and an NL MVP Award are examples of the eight-time All-Star’s brilliance.

Earning his 250th victory and passing the 3,000-strikeout milestone in his final season has CC staring upward. He won’t be a first-ballot pick, but he shouldn’t have to wait long. He would love to add a second Yankees World Series title to his Cy Young, ALCS MVP and six All-Star appearances.

Offensive stats only tell part of the story. Molina, a nine-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner, is arguably the best defensive catcher and signal caller since Johnny Bench. Having won two World Series, he’s a clutch hitter (ask Mets fans).

Bumgarner has the postseason resume of three titles, a World Series MVP and an NLCS MVP. At 29, however, he still has a lot of pitching to do, for who knows what team. He can use a turnaround season to remind fans (and voters) that he’s still around.

Don’t dismiss Price’s chances. Except for pitching at Yankee Stadium, the five-time All-Star has survived quite well in the rough and tumble AL East. He won a Cy Young with the Tampa Bay Rays and a World Series with the Boston Red Sox. There’s still some life in his 31-year-old arm.

How much his late start this season affects Kimbrel’s Hall chances remains to be seen. He was a Rookie of the Year, won a World Series with the Red Sox, and has appeared in seven All-Star games. In his favor, more relievers are being considered for Cooperstown.

Let’s not forget that Harper, who may not be living up to his Philadelphia Phillies contract, is only 26. And he’s already an MVP, a Rookie of the Year and a six-time All-Star. If this is merely an adjustment season after switching teams, watch out.

The other high-priced free agent of last offseason is starting to settle in with the San Diego Padres. He was a four-time All-Star and a two-time Gold Glove winner in Baltimore. If he continues his pace, he merits consideration for the Hall.

Cano’s Hall chances probably ended with his 80-game suspension last season for testing positive for a banned substance. His less-than-fulfilling start to his Mets career doesn’t help. Even with a World Series ring, All-Star MVP, two Gold Gloves and eight All-Star games, many voters won’t consider him.

Earlier in his career, King Felix look like a lock for the Hall of Fame. But injuries have knocked him for a loop. He may need another good season or two to send him to Cooperstown. He has a Cy Young, has gone to six All-Star games, and was team MVP seven times.

This season has been a bummer for the seven-time All-Star. He needs to get back on track quickly -- before the images of his excellent contributions to Boston's latest World Series victory fade into the background.

How much longer can the 31-year-old throw 100 mph? He could use a Yankees World Series title to go with the one he won with the Chicago Cubs. The six-time All-Star has 651 career strikeouts. He’ll need considerably more for Hall induction.

This season has been a washout because of injuries. If you think Stanton, who’ll turn 30 in November, is still Hall worthy, you better root for his 2017 form, when he hit 59 homers and drove in 132 runs with the Miami Marlins, to return. Another MVP season, or two, is necessary.

Encarnacion has 31 more homers and 161 more runs batted in than Nelson Cruz, a player of similar talent. Cruz has hit for the better average, by eight points. The newest Yankee needs to improve his average to become a legit Hall of Fame candidate.

All those years of catching have taken a toll on the Giants catcher. He can only hope the voters remember his early days, when San Francisco won three titles and Posey was a Rookie of the Year, an MVP and a six-time All-Star.

Source: Northjersey.com

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