In fact, there's not a new candidate that appears likely to reach the 75 percent required for election now or in the future. It's also because there's a group of returning candidates that haven't been fully embraced by the voters. Curt Schilling had his strongest showing yet in 2020 at 70 percent.

Derek Jeter came within one vote of being a unanimous pick for the Hall of Fame while Larry Walker also earned baseball's highest honor on Tuesday. The longtime New York Yankees captain appeared on 396 of 397 ballots cast by the Baseball Writers' Association of America, falling just shy of the standard set when longtime Yankees teammate Mariano Rivera became the first unanimous selection last year. Jeter's 99.7% moved above Ken Griffey Jr. (99.3%) for the second-highest.

The 48-year-old Martinez called out Fiers on Saturday, saying Fiers is “a bad teammate” for exposing the Astros, according to WEEI. If he was to do it when he was playing for the Houston Astros I would say Mike Fiers has guts. But to go and do it after you leave the Houston Astros because they don't have you anymore, that doesn't show me anything," Martinez said.

The former Boston Red Sox pitcher called Fiers a "bad teammate" for exposing the Astros for cheating after he left the team, rather than taking a stand while he was still in Houston. LIVE stream the Celtics all season and get the latest news and analysis on all of your teams from NBC Sports Boston by downloading the My Teams App. "If he was to do it when he was playing for the Houston Astros I would say Mike Fiers has guts," Martinez told WEEI's Rob Bradford, Lou Merloni and Mike Mutnansky at the Red Sox' "Winter Weekend" event in Springfield, Mass.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is focused on football right now, but admits he wouldn't mind giving baseball a shot again. Murray, 22, says he would “love to” eventually play both sports at the same time, according to the Arizona Republic. While that's an accomplishment shared by only a few select athletes — Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders — Murray also fits the bill.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray still has aspirations to play baseball. Murray, in fact, would like to play professional football and baseball at the same time -- just not right now. "I think I could," the 22-year-old Murray told the Arizona Republic of being a two-sport star.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray still has aspirations to play baseball. Murray, in fact, would like to play professional football and baseball at the same time -- just now right now. "I think I could," the 22-year-old Murray told the Arizona Republic of being a two-sport star.

The Houston Astros received one of the harshest punishments in Major League Baseball history earlier this week after the league published its report on the team's illegal sign stealing during the 2017 season, and one member of the media is blaming the whistleblower. Oakland Athletics pitcher Mike Fiers, who played for the Astros in 2017 before joining the A's in 2018, was the first player to confirm to The Athletic that Houston used technology to steal signs from opposing teams. ESPN baseball analyst Jessica Mendoza ripped Fiers on Thursday's episode of "Golic & Wingo" for exposing the Astros' cheating.

Former major league pitcher Tim Hudson is Auburn's new pitching coach. Auburn announced Wednesday that Hudson will be a volunteer assistant and pitching coach for the program, where he once starred as a two-way player. Hudson played 17 years in the major leagues with Oakland, Atlanta and San Francisco before retiring in 2015.

Tony Kemp, a left-handed-hitting infielder and outfielder, was acquired by the Oakland Athletics from the Chicago Cubs on Monday for minor league infielder Alfonso Rivas. The versatile Kemp began last season with Houston, where he played from 2016-2018. On Monday, Astros manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow were fired after the pair were suspended by Major League Baseball for the team's use of electronics for sign-stealing during Houston's run to the 2017 World Series title and again in the 2018 season.

Tony Kemp, a left-handed-hitting infielder and outfielder, was acquired by the Oakland Athletics from the Chicago Cubs on Monday for minor league infielder Alfonso Rivas. The versatile Kemp began last season with Houston, where he played from 2016-2018. On Monday, Astros manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow were fired after the pair were suspended by Major League Baseball for the team's use of electronics for sign-stealing during Houston's run to the 2017 World Series title and again in the 2018 season.

Following a career year, Oakland Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien was rewarded Friday with a $13 million, one-year contract that avoids arbitration and gives him a raise of $7.1 million. Semien played all 162 games for the first time in 2019 to help the A's win 97 games for a second straight season and the AL's top wild card. He finished third in MVP voting after putting up several personal bests: 33 homers and 92 RBIs while hitting .

Following a career year, Oakland Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien was rewarded Friday with a $13 million, one-year contract that avoids arbitration and gives him a raise of $7.1 million. Semien played all 162 games for the first time in 2019 to help the A's win 97 games for a second straight season and the AL's top wild card. He finished third in MVP voting after putting up several personal bests: 33 homers and 92 RBIs while hitting .

Former major league pitcher Ed Sprague Sr., a right-hander who played eight seasons with four different teams, has died. The Oakland Athletics announced Friday that Sprague had died but didn't provide further details. ''The A's organization is deeply saddened by the passing of Ed Sprague Sr., an original member of the 1968 Oakland A's team and the 1969 club,'' the team said in a statement.

Former major league pitcher Ed Sprague Sr., a right-hander who played eight seasons with four different teams, has died. The Oakland Athletics announced Friday that Sprague had died but didn't provide further details. “The A's organization is deeply saddened by the passing of Ed Sprague Sr., an original member of the 1968 Oakland A's team and the 1969 club," the team said in a statement.

The Toronto Blue Jays and starter Matt Shoemaker have agreed on a one-year, $4.2-million deal, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. The 33-year-old starter signed a one-year, $3.5-million contract with the Blue Jays last winter and was available for arbitration, but the two sides have signed a new contact before a potential hearing. He was an early surprise for the 2019 Toronto rotation, but unfortunately for Shoemaker and the team, he had his season cut short after tearing his ACL during an awkward rundown against the Oakland Athletics on April 20.

You know what they say: "Chicks dig the long ball." They should stop saying that. Nonetheless, we love home runs -- especially when we're able to measure how far they go thanks to the Statcast era.

Veteran right-hander Tyson Ross has reached agreement on a $1.75 million minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants that includes an invitation to big league camp at spring training. A person with direct knowledge of the deal confirmed that Ross was set to join San Francisco, speaking on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press on Friday because the contract wasn't yet official. Ross can earn up to another $1.75 million in performance bonuses for games started and a potential $500,000 for relief appearances.

Veteran right-hander Tyson Ross has reached agreement on a $1.75 million minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants that includes an invitation to big league camp at spring training. A person with direct knowledge of the deal confirmed that Ross was set to join San Francisco, speaking on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press on Friday because the contract wasn't yet official. Ross can earn up to another $1.75 million in performance bonuses for games started and a potential $500,000 for relief appearances.

Next up: number 13: Baseball Adds a Second Wild Card The final day of the 2011 season brought with it some of the best drama Major League Baseball had seen in some time. In both leagues two teams each — the Rays and Red Sox in the AL, the Braves and Cardinals in the NL — were tied for a Wild Card spot. In four other games home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs was at stake.