Yes, a former Blue Jay made the HOF today in the latest vote.
No, not the 2 time Cy winner. No, not the guy who hit over 450 HR. The guy who helped a lot in 1992 then was traded for the final piece to win the 1992 WS - Jeff Kent.
Not a shocker that he made it - quite a few predicted it as he never seemed to get the PED stink that his teammate did in SF. He holds the record for most home runs hit by someone playing at 2B. Alfonso Soriano hit more overall, but many while playing in the OF. Kent hit the vast majority of his 377 while at 2B. Here he mainly played 3B. He was drafted by the Jays in 1989 in the 20th round. Funny thing is he didn't lead the Jays draftees that year in bWAR - that goes to John Olerud (3rd round, 58.1 to Kent's 55.4). That same draft saw Frank Thomas go in round 1 (73.8 bWAR and HOF status for years now), round 4 saw Jeff Bagwell drafted by Boston (79.9 bWAR and HOF), 13th Jim Thome by Cleveland (72.9), 17th Brian Giles by Cleveland (51.1), that's it for 'WOW' 50+ WAR guys that year who signed (43rd round had Jason Giambi who didn't sign). Jays drafted up to round 75 that year, Astros kept going to 87 (!). A bit of overkill on both parts imo.
So as a Jay Kent was looking good in '92 with a 110 OPS+ playing nearly everyday at 3B plus some at 2B, 1.3 bWAR before being traded for David Cone. Worked out for the Jays, but the Mets got little - 8.4 bWAR over 5 years. They traded him (plus others) for Carlos Baerga and Álvaro Espinoza. Cleveland traded him a few months later for Matt Williams (multiple other players involved). THus he ended up in SF where he'd make his mark - 3 All-Star Games, 1 MVP, 3 more times top 10 MVP, 31.6 bWAR over 6 years with 3.5 to 7.2 bWAR each year - twice in the 7's with over 100 RBI each year (helps to have Bonds walk before you nearly everytime). He left for Houston as a free agent and did better than I recalled there - 2 years, 6.7 bWAR and made an ASG. Then off to his final destination in LA with the Dodgers, 2 good years (over 2 WAR) 2 bad ones (sub 1 WAR) before hanging up the cleats in his age 40 season.
The Giants lost faith in him after a spring training incident - he claimed that he had broken his wrist after slipping and falling while washing his truck; ensuing media reports indicated that, in reality, Kent had crashed his motorcycle while performing wheelies and other stunts, in direct violation of his contract. It was a big story at the time. He also was thought of as a guy who played baseball purely for the money - much like Anthony Rendon. Guys who just were so talented they didn't need to love the game like Vlad to be amazing at it. Just focused enough to make it their job with enough work ethic to do it well.
So, congrats to the ex-Jay for making it (14 of possible 16 votes) before Delgado could - he came up 3 votes shy in 2nd place with 9 of 16 votes, 12 needed to get in. Mattingly had 6 as did Dale Murphy. 5 or fewer votes, thus close to being permanently removed from the ballot were everyone else (Bonds, Clemens, Gary Sheffield and Fernando Valenzuela) who, if they fail to get 5 again will never be allowed to be voted on again.
No, not the 2 time Cy winner. No, not the guy who hit over 450 HR. The guy who helped a lot in 1992 then was traded for the final piece to win the 1992 WS - Jeff Kent.
Not a shocker that he made it - quite a few predicted it as he never seemed to get the PED stink that his teammate did in SF. He holds the record for most home runs hit by someone playing at 2B. Alfonso Soriano hit more overall, but many while playing in the OF. Kent hit the vast majority of his 377 while at 2B. Here he mainly played 3B. He was drafted by the Jays in 1989 in the 20th round. Funny thing is he didn't lead the Jays draftees that year in bWAR - that goes to John Olerud (3rd round, 58.1 to Kent's 55.4). That same draft saw Frank Thomas go in round 1 (73.8 bWAR and HOF status for years now), round 4 saw Jeff Bagwell drafted by Boston (79.9 bWAR and HOF), 13th Jim Thome by Cleveland (72.9), 17th Brian Giles by Cleveland (51.1), that's it for 'WOW' 50+ WAR guys that year who signed (43rd round had Jason Giambi who didn't sign). Jays drafted up to round 75 that year, Astros kept going to 87 (!). A bit of overkill on both parts imo.
So as a Jay Kent was looking good in '92 with a 110 OPS+ playing nearly everyday at 3B plus some at 2B, 1.3 bWAR before being traded for David Cone. Worked out for the Jays, but the Mets got little - 8.4 bWAR over 5 years. They traded him (plus others) for Carlos Baerga and Álvaro Espinoza. Cleveland traded him a few months later for Matt Williams (multiple other players involved). THus he ended up in SF where he'd make his mark - 3 All-Star Games, 1 MVP, 3 more times top 10 MVP, 31.6 bWAR over 6 years with 3.5 to 7.2 bWAR each year - twice in the 7's with over 100 RBI each year (helps to have Bonds walk before you nearly everytime). He left for Houston as a free agent and did better than I recalled there - 2 years, 6.7 bWAR and made an ASG. Then off to his final destination in LA with the Dodgers, 2 good years (over 2 WAR) 2 bad ones (sub 1 WAR) before hanging up the cleats in his age 40 season.
The Giants lost faith in him after a spring training incident - he claimed that he had broken his wrist after slipping and falling while washing his truck; ensuing media reports indicated that, in reality, Kent had crashed his motorcycle while performing wheelies and other stunts, in direct violation of his contract. It was a big story at the time. He also was thought of as a guy who played baseball purely for the money - much like Anthony Rendon. Guys who just were so talented they didn't need to love the game like Vlad to be amazing at it. Just focused enough to make it their job with enough work ethic to do it well.
So, congrats to the ex-Jay for making it (14 of possible 16 votes) before Delgado could - he came up 3 votes shy in 2nd place with 9 of 16 votes, 12 needed to get in. Mattingly had 6 as did Dale Murphy. 5 or fewer votes, thus close to being permanently removed from the ballot were everyone else (Bonds, Clemens, Gary Sheffield and Fernando Valenzuela) who, if they fail to get 5 again will never be allowed to be voted on again.
