FanGraphs Weekly Mailbag: January 10, 2026

Thrilling information, everybody! In nearly a month’s time, pitchers and catchers will probably be reporting to their respective spring coaching websites, with the rhythms of the sport starting as soon as once more. And with the beginning of mitts popping and best-shape-of-my-life boasting, the hopes and fears of baseball to return will probably be renewed.

Till then, we’ve got loads of issues to offer us Licensed Baseball Sickos our repair. 4 of the highest 5 and 6 of the highest 10 gamers on Ben Clemens’ High 50 Free Brokers rankings stay unsigned, together with a trio of former Astros teammates in Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman, and Framber Valdez. Additionally coming quickly: the outcomes of the 2026 Baseball Corridor of Fame election, which will probably be introduced on January 20. As all the time, Jay Jaffe has been overlaying the poll high to backside along with his indispensable collection of participant profiles.

We’ll speak a bit of little bit of Corridor of Fame as we speak, however by the lens of the perfect pitchers who by no means obtained a Corridor of Fame vote. Additionally on this mailbag, Michael Baumann digs into Chandler Simpson, Davy Andrews seems at whether or not inducing popups is a ability for pitchers, and Dan Szymborski explains which sorts of gamers have the widest variance of their ZiPS projections. Earlier than we proceed, although, I’d wish to remind you that this mailbag is unique to FanGraphs Members. In the event you aren’t but a Member and wish to hold studying, you may join a Membership right here. It’s one of the simplest ways to each expertise the location and help our workers, and it comes with a bunch of different nice advantages. Additionally, when you’d wish to ask a query for an upcoming mailbag, ship me an e mail at mailbag@fangraphs.com.