MLB Contemporary Era 2025 Ballot: Bonds, Clemens, and Mattingly in the Spotlight

On Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee announced the players on this year’s ballot, which includes big names like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens.

The committee, which meets every three years, focuses on players who were not elected during their time on the primary Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) ballot and who played since 1980. It has been the ticket into the Hall of Fame for players such as Fred McGriff, who was elected the last time the committee met in 2022.

This year, the ballot includes Bonds, Clemens, Don Mattingly, and Dale Murphy, all of whom appeared on the previous ballot but failed to receive enough votes for induction into the Hall. Joining them this year are Carlos Delgado, Jeff Kent, Gary Sheffield, and Fernando Valenzuela.

For a player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, they must receive votes from at least 75 percent of the 16 members on the committee. The meeting will take place during this year’s Winter Meetings in Orlando, Florida, on Dec. 7, 2025. Any player chosen for induction will join the 2026 class when they are enshrined on July 26, 2026.

With that in mind, here is my opinion of who should and should not get the nod in this year’s voting.

Barry Bonds

Few players have a stronger Hall of Fame case than Barry Bonds, who would have been a unanimous first-ballot selection if not for his link to the Mitchell Report and PED allegations.. While he denies ever knowingly taking PEDs, the accusation and his prominent inclusion in the Mitchell Report have kept him out of the Hall of Fame for far too long.

The Hall of Fame will always feel incomplete without Major League Baseball’s home run king. With 762 home runs, a 162.9 bWAR, 2,935 hits, and a record 2,558 walks, Bonds has every statistical marker of a Hall of Famer. Seven MVP awards, 14 All-Star appearances, eight Gold Gloves, and a lifetime .298 batting average further cement his case.

Yet will voters finally see past the steroid era? The short answer is no. Bonds received fewer than four votes during the last committee meeting, and it is unlikely he will reach the 12 needed for election this quickly. In time, Bonds will make it to Cooperstown, but it will not be this year.

Roger Clemens

Clemens is in the same conversation as Bonds. Both can rightfully be called among the greatest ever at their positions, both dominated from the 1980s through the early 2000s, and both were accused of using PEDs.

With seven Cy Young Awards, one MVP Award, 354 wins, 4,672 strikeouts, and a 138.7 bWAR, Clemens’ resume is as impressive as any pitcher in history. Unfortunately, the same PED cloud that follows Bonds will continue to keep Clemens out. He also received fewer than four votes in the last committee meeting, and that will likely hold him back again. He should be in, but he will have to wait a few more years.

Gary Sheffield

Once again, the Mitchell Report looms large. Gary Sheffield was named in it as well, though he was never a guaranteed Hall of Famer even without the PED link.

Sheffield’s 509 career home runs immediately stand out, a number that usually secures a Hall of Fame spot. However, unlike many sluggers before him, Sheffield never won an MVP Award and was not a standout defensively. His lower bWAR reflects those defensive shortcomings.

Still, the power numbers are hard to ignore. With 2,689 hits and consistent offensive production, Sheffield deserves strong consideration. Unfortunately, the shadow of PEDs will once again make it difficult for him to get in this year, especially with Bonds and Clemens still ahead of him on most voters’ lists.

Jeff Kent

Finally, a player not linked to steroids. Kent, who played alongside Bonds in San Francisco, was outspoken about PED use during his career. The power-hitting second baseman finds himself on this ballot for the first time since dropping off the BBWAA list in 2023.

Kent’s 377 career home runs are the most ever by a second baseman. He also won the 2000 MVP Award, hitting .334 with 33 home runs and 125 RBIs that season. Over his career, Kent posted a strong .290/.365/.500 slash line, but his 55.4 bWAR and five All-Star selections are modest compared to other Hall inductees.

He has a solid case but likely will not make it this year. His vote total, however, will be worth watching as a gauge of future support.

Don Mattingly

The Yankees have no shortage of Hall of Famers, and Don Mattingly deserves to join that list. He was on the last Contemporary Baseball Era ballot in 2023 and led all vote-getters with eight, putting him in a strong position for 2025.

In his 14-year career, which was cut short by back issues, Mattingly won nine Gold Gloves, three Silver Sluggers, and was a six-time All-Star. His .307 career batting average and his stellar 1985 MVP season (.324/.371/.567) highlight a brilliant peak.

Mattingly may not have the career totals of a sure-fire inductee, but his dominance in the 1980s and his strong showing last time out suggest this could be his year.

Dale Murphy

Only 14 players in MLB history have won back-to-back MVP Awards. Dale Murphy is one of them, taking home the honors in 1982 and 1983 while leading the league in RBIs both seasons.

Murphy’s peak was excellent, but his career totals fell short of traditional Hall standards. His 46.5 bWAR is below the usual Hall range of 50 to 80, and his production declined sharply in the latter half of his career. Still, his six All-Star appearances and character within the game keep him a sentimental favorite.

Murphy received six votes in the last committee vote and remains a strong candidate. This could be the year he finally breaks through.

Carlos Delgado

Carlos Delgado was one of the premier sluggers of his era but was often overshadowed by the steroid-fueled power around him. The longtime Blue Jay hit 473 home runs and drove in 1,512 runs across 17 seasons.

Delgado was a two-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger who finished top five in MVP voting twice. His offensive numbers were impressive, but his defense (minus-17.9 dWAR) and a relatively low 44.4 bWAR work against him.

He deserves consideration, but his lack of awards and defensive impact likely keep him on the outside for now.

Fernando Valenzuela

Few players captured fan imagination like Fernando Valenzuela during “Fernandomania” in 1981. That rookie season saw him throw 11 complete games, eight shutouts, and win both Rookie of the Year and Cy Young honors.

Valenzuela was a durable workhorse for much of the 1980s, throwing 20 complete games in 1986. However, his production fell off later in his career, and he never regained his early dominance.

With a 41.4 bWAR, his statistical case is weak, but his cultural impact was enormous. While his induction would be a fan favorite, it will not happen this year.

Bottom Line

This year’s Contemporary Baseball Era ballot is stacked with talent and controversy. Bonds and Clemens remain the best players outside Cooperstown, but the steroid stigma will likely keep them waiting. Mattingly and Murphy, on the other hand, appear to have the clearest paths to induction when the committee meets on Dec. 7 in Orlando.

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