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Box-Toppers Baseball
@boxtoppers.bsky.social
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Tracking & ranking Major League Baseball players & teams based on baseball box score statistics. Since 1995.
Website: https://Box-Toppers.com
Newsletter: http://boxtoppers.substack.com
Member: @ibwaa.bsky.social
Editor: @shawnplank.bsky.social
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Box-Toppers Baseball @boxtoppers.bsky.social · 28d
Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones were voted to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

How did they fare in Box-Toppers points over their careers? And were they among Box-Toppers’ four choices on the 2026 Hall of Fame ballot?

Details: www.box-toppers.com/blog/2026/1/...

#Mets #Astros #Braves #HallOfFame
boxtoppers.bsky.social
Justin Verlander returns to Detroit with 250.0 career Box-Toppers points—4th most since '95 and 2nd among this year's FAs. 📉

We’re also breaking down the B-T impact for Zac Gallen, Marcell Ozuna, and more as camps open. ⚾️

Analysis: www.box-toppers.com/blog/2026/2/...

#Tigers #Dbacks
A graphic showing the top 10 career Box-Toppers points leaders since 1995, featuring Justin Verlander at #4 with 250.0 points.
February 17, 2026 at 1:44 PM
boxtoppers.bsky.social
Germán Márquez, 30, & #Padres agree to 1-year deal.
His 53.9 career Box-Toppers points are 25th among active NL pitchers.
Best year: 2021 with #Rockies, 17.4 B-T points, 7th overall, 5th among NL pitchers.
But he had just 1.7 pts in 2025 with COL & after 0.0 pts in 5 total games over 2023-24.
February 15, 2026 at 3:03 PM
boxtoppers.bsky.social
Nick Castellanos, 33, picked up by #Padres after release from #Phillies.
His 52.7 career Box-Toppers points earned from 2014-25 is 1st among active NL outfielders going into 2026.
He led NL batters in 2021 (11.5 pts) with #Reds.
But he had just 2.0 pts in 2025 with #Phillies.
mlbtraderumors.bsky.social MLB Trade Rumors @mlbtraderumors.bsky.social · 4d
Two days after being released by the #Phillies, Nick Castellanos looks for a fresh start with the #Padres:
www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/02/padr...
February 15, 2026 at 2:50 PM
boxtoppers.bsky.social
Happy #GalentinesDay! ❤️🌵🥛
#Dbacks agree to reunite with Zac Gallen, 30, on 1yr/$22M deal on Feb. 13.
He earned 12.7 Box-Toppers points in 2025 with ARI, 11th among NL pitchers & 2nd among offseason free agents (behind Ranger Suárez’s 15.8): www.box-toppers.com/blog/2025/12...
February 14, 2026 at 2:28 PM
boxtoppers.bsky.social
Nathaniel Lowe, 30, agrees to a minor league deal with #Reds.

Lowe earned 7.0 Box-Toppers points in 2025 with #Nationals and #RedSox, finishing the season 15th among AL batters.

He ranked 5th on B-T’s list of offseason free agent batters: www.box-toppers.com/blog/2025/12...
February 14, 2026 at 2:01 PM
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Chris Bassitt, 36, agrees to 1yr/$18.5M deal with #Orioles.

He earned 7.0 Box-Toppers points in ’25 w/ #BlueJays, 41st among AL pitchers & 12th among offseason free agents.

His 59.5 B-T pts from 2021-25 are 2nd among offseason free agents over that span: www.box-toppers.com/blog/2025/12...
February 12, 2026 at 11:51 AM
boxtoppers.bsky.social
Miles Mikolas, 37, agrees to 1yr/$2.25M deal with #Nationals.
His 7.0 Box-Toppers points in 2025 with #STLCards were 39th among NL pitchers & 14th among all offseason free agents: www.box-toppers.com/blog/2025/12...
February 12, 2026 at 11:32 AM
boxtoppers.bsky.social
Justin Verlander, 42, signed by #Tigers, 1yr/$13M.
His 250.0 career Box-Toppers points is 4th-most since 1995.
He earned 148.0 B-T points with DET from 2006-17.
He ranks 2nd among offseason free agents in career B-T points, behind Max Scherzer (256.7): www.box-toppers.com/blog/2025/12...
February 10, 2026 at 8:13 PM
boxtoppers.bsky.social
Marcell Ozuna, 35, to sign 1yr/$12M deal with #Pirates.
Ozuna led NL batters in Box-Toppers points in 2019 (12.0) & 2020 (4.5).
His 5.7 B-T points in 2025 with #Braves was 7th among offseason free agent batters, 10th among NL designated hitters: www.box-toppers.com/blog/2025/12...
February 10, 2026 at 12:00 PM
boxtoppers.bsky.social
Framber Valdez, 32, agrees to 3yr/$115M deal with #Tigers.
His 11.7 Box-Toppers points in 2025 are 5th among offseason free agents & were 13th among AL pitchers.
His 58.1 B-T points over 2021-25 are 3rd among offseason agents over that span.
Details: www.box-toppers.com/blog/2025/12...
February 7, 2026 at 2:52 PM
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Which teams are building the brightest future? 🏗️💎

#Marlins lead the way with 3 players on the 2025 Box-Toppers All-Rookie Team.

#Athletics, #Cubs & #Yankees have 2 each.

Check out the full roster of the game’s most impactful newcomers: www.box-toppers.com/blog/2026/2/...
February 4, 2026 at 6:57 PM
boxtoppers.bsky.social
The 2025 Rookie Pitching Reset 📉⚾️

After 2024, when the top 5 rookie arms averaged 14.0 Box-Toppers points, the 2025 class dropped to 9.1.

2025 leader Jacob Lopez (11.4) would’ve missed the Top 3 in 2024, trailing Imanaga, Gil & Skenes.

B-T’s All-Rookie roster: www.box-toppers.com/blog/2026/2/...
February 4, 2026 at 2:42 PM
boxtoppers.bsky.social
Carlos Santana, 39, to sign 1yr/$2M deal with #Dbacks.
His 48.4 career Box-Toppers points were 5th among active 1Bs at the end of 2025.
Best season—2014 with CLE, 5.7 B-T points.
Recent seasons:
2024 w/ #Twins 5.0 B-T pts, 4th among AL 1Bs.
2025 w/ #Guardians, #Cubs, 2.0 B-T pts.
February 4, 2026 at 11:41 AM
boxtoppers.bsky.social
The 2025 Box-Toppers All-Rookie Team is LIVE! ⚾️🏆

From Drake Baldwin’s dominant year to Jacob Lopez’s high-impact starts for the Athletics, see which newcomers provided the most value in 2025.

📊 Plus: Why Baldwin is the ONLY rookie on our overall All-Star squad.

www.box-toppers.com/blog/2026/2/...
February 3, 2026 at 2:27 PM
boxtoppers.bsky.social
Avisaíl García, 34, announces retirement.
He earned 30.9 career Box-Toppers points from 2013-22, 163rd among all OFs since 1995.
Best season—2017 with #WhiteSox, 6.7 B-T points, 7th among AL OFs.
Final season: Played 18 games for #Marlins in 2024.
February 3, 2026 at 11:27 AM
boxtoppers.bsky.social
Reports: Eugenio Suarez, 34, signs with #Reds on 1yr/$15M deal.
Suárez was Box-Toppers’ 2nd-ranked offseason free agent batter, earning 7.5 B-T points in 2025 with #Dbacks & #Mariners, finishing season 11th among AL batters: www.box-toppers.com/blog/2025/12...
February 2, 2026 at 11:59 AM
boxtoppers.bsky.social
Rafael Palmeiro is 1 of only 7 players with 500 HRs & 3,000 hits. While his projected 107 career Box-Toppers points show elite consistency, he fell off the Hall ballot in just 4 years.

A B-T look at "Former Future Hall of Famers": www.box-toppers.com/blog/2026/1/...

#Orioles #Rangers #HOF
Line graph spotlighting Rafael Palmeiro’s short Hall of Fame voting trajectory. The line starts at 11% in 2011 and drops below the 5% minimum threshold by 2014, resulting in his removal from the ballot. A caption notes that despite being a member of the elite 500-HR and 3,000-hit club with a projected 107 Box-Toppers points, his HOF candidacy was the fastest to collapse under the PED blockade.
February 1, 2026 at 12:51 AM
boxtoppers.bsky.social
Mark McGwire hit 70 HRs in 1998, but his Hall case never cleared the fence. While his projected 129 career Box-Toppers points put him among elite batters, he peaked at 23.7% support.

A B-T look at "Former Future Hall of Famers": www.box-toppers.com/blog/2026/1/...

#STLCards #Athletics #HOF
Line graph spotlighting Mark McGwire’s Hall of Fame voting trajectory. The line shows a steady decline, starting around 23% and ending at 12.3% in his final year. A caption notes that despite a projected 129 career Box-Toppers points—placing him among the game’s most elite batters—the 20-year PED blockade kept him well below the 75% threshold for induction.
January 31, 2026 at 9:43 PM
boxtoppers.bsky.social
Sammy Sosa—the only player to hit 60 HRs 3 times—earned 113.2 career Box-Toppers points since 1995, 16th among all batters, but never even reached 20% support in his 10 years on the Hall ballot.

A B-T look at "Former Future Hall of Famers": www.box-toppers.com/blog/2026/1/...

#Cubs #HOF
Line graph spotlighting Sammy Sosa’s 10-year Hall of Fame voting trajectory. The line is remarkably flat, starting at 12.5% in Year 1 and peaking at just 18.5% in Year 10 (2022). A caption highlights his unique historical feat of three 60-home run seasons and his 113.2 Box-Toppers points since 1995 (16th among batters), noting that despite these elite stats, he never neared the 75% induction threshold.
January 31, 2026 at 6:22 PM
boxtoppers.bsky.social
Gary Sheffield earned 124.1 Box-Toppers points since 1995, 11th among all batters. But despite a late surge to 63.9% on the Hall ballot, he fell short of induction.

A B-T look at "Former Future Hall of Famers": www.box-toppers.com/blog/2026/1/...

#Marlins #Dodgers #Braves #Yankees #HOF
Line graph spotlighting Gary Sheffield’s Hall of Fame voting trajectory. The line shows very low support for his first six years (under 15%) before a dramatic "late surge" in his final four years, peaking at 63.9% in Year 10 (2024). A caption notes that despite ranking among the top 15 batters since 1995 with 124.1 points, the 75% threshold remained out of reach.
January 31, 2026 at 2:09 PM
boxtoppers.bsky.social
David Robertson, 40, announces retirement.
He earned 44.0 career Box-Toppers points from 2010 to 2024, 35th among all closing pitchers since 1995.
Best year—2015 with #WhiteSox, 8.0 B-T pts, 3rd among AL closers.
His 179 career saves were 8th among active players at end of 2025.
January 31, 2026 at 12:42 PM
boxtoppers.bsky.social
Roger Clemens earned 164.8 Box-Toppers points since 1995. His projected 312 career points would rank 2nd in the past 40 years—yet he peaked at 65.2% support for the Hall of Fame.

A B-T look at "Former Future Hall of Famers": www.box-toppers.com/blog/2026/1/...

#RedSox #Yankees #BlueJays
Line graph spotlighting Roger Clemens’ Hall of Fame voting trajectory. His line shows a steady rise that peaked at 65.2% in his 10th year on the ballot, failing to reach the 75% threshold for induction. A caption highlights his 164.8 points since 1995 and his massive 312-point career projection, which would rank second among all pitchers in the last 40 years.
January 31, 2026 at 1:04 AM
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Manny Ramírez ranks 3rd among batters in career Box-Toppers points since 1995 (166.2), but only earned 38.8% support from Hall of Fame voters in his 10th & final year on the ballot in 2026.

A B-T look at Former Future Hall of Famers: www.box-toppers.com/blog/2026/1/...

#Indians #RedSox
Line graph spotlighting Manny Ramírez's Hall of Fame voting trajectory. His specific line is highlighted, showing him at 38.8% support in 2026, his 10th and final year on the ballot. Seven other lines representing players tied to PEDs are shown, all trending well below the 75% induction threshold. A caption notes that despite ranking #3 among batters in career Box-Toppers points since 1995 with 166.2, he was not elected to the Hall.
January 30, 2026 at 10:03 PM
boxtoppers.bsky.social
Barry Bonds: 152.2 career Box-Toppers points since '95. His projected 230 points would lead all batters in the past 40 years—yet he peaked at 66% support for the Hall of Fame.

A B-T look at "Former Future Hall of Famers": www.box-toppers.com/blog/2026/1/...

#SFGiants #HOF
Line graph spotlighting Barry Bonds’ Hall of Fame voting trajectory. His line shows a steady climb that peaked at 66.0% in his 10th and final year (2022), well short of the 75% induction threshold. A caption notes that his projected career total of 230 Box-Toppers points would lead all batters in the last 40 years, highlighting the massive gap between his production and his HOF support.
January 30, 2026 at 6:43 PM
boxtoppers.bsky.social
Though he ranks 2nd among batters in career Box-Toppers points since 1995 (187.0), Álex Rodríguez only received 40% support from Hall of Fame voters in 2026, his 5th year on the ballot.

A B-T look at Former Future Hall of Famers: www.box-toppers.com/blog/2026/1/...

#Yankees #Mariners
Line graph spotlighting Álex Rodríguez’s Hall of Fame voting trajectory. His specific line is highlighted, showing him at 40% support in 2026, his fifth year on the ballot. Seven other lines representing players tied to PEDs are shown in the background, all trending well below the 75% induction threshold. A caption notes that despite ranking #2 among batters in career Box-Toppers points since 1995 with 187.0, his progress toward Cooperstown remains stalled.
January 30, 2026 at 3:39 PM