If Carlos Beltrán deserves a spot in the baseball Hall of Fame – which seems likely – it may lead to his induction without being tied to a specific team cap.

During his impressive 20-year major league career, Beltrán made a lasting impression on nearly all seven teams he played for, showcasing talent at an All-Star or superstar level at various points.

From a young prospect blossoming into a star in Kansas City to a pivotal player in Houston’s postseason journey, and from seven productive years with the New York Mets – five of which were All-Star seasons – to his later career, Beltrán consistently contributed to each franchise.

Of course, his journey wasn’t flawless; he put in strong efforts with a San Francisco Giants team that struggled to defend its World Series title in 2011, resulting in the loss of promising pitcher Zack Wheeler.

Additionally, Beltrán’s career concluded in Houston, where he became a World Series champion, but also faced criticism for his involvement in the team’s sign-stealing scandal, which ultimately led to their downfall after being caught.

While his legacy is not overly complicated, it certainly warrants deeper examination.

The reasons for induction

Let’s begin with the fundamental statistics: Only 20 players in the history of Major League Baseball have matched Beltrán’s impressive tally of 435 home runs alongside at least 2,700 hits. All players in this group are either already in the Hall of Fame, waiting for their time on the ballot (like Miguel Cabrera and Albert Pujols), or associated with performance-enhancing drugs (like Barry Bonds, Rafael Palmeiro, and Alex Rodriguez). When looking at adjusted OPS, Beltrán ranks tied for 18^th among these 20 players, nestled between Andre Dawson and Adrian Beltre – not exactly bad company.

Moreover, Beltrán was not only a dominant player but also a three-time Gold Glove-winning center fielder, arguably the best switch hitter of his time, and a nine-time All-Star. His career WAR of 70.1 places him tied with Hall of Famer Scott Rolen for 69^th all-time, and just a notch below the honored Gary Carter.

In terms of modern players above Beltrán on this list, only two who haven’t been linked to PEDs and are eligible for Hall election remain unrecognized: Bobby Grich and Lou Whitaker, the latter often viewed as a significant omission.

Though Beltrán didn’t secure a World Series championship until his final season in Houston, his playoff performance is remarkable: Across 65 postseason games, he achieved a .307/.412/.609 batting line, belting 15 home runs in 215 at-bats. His first postseason experience in Houston, following a trade from the struggling Royals in June 2004, was nothing short of extraordinary: He hit eight home runs, accumulated 11 extra-base hits, and posted a 1.157 OPS, leading the Astros to victories over Atlanta and pushing St. Louis to a decisive seventh game in the NLCS for a shot at the World Series.

The reasons against induction

Some strict voters may look at the statistics and categorize Beltrán as “borderline,” which for some could lead to a definite no vote.

While this viewpoint might be overly severe, Beltrán faced increased criticism, particularly after his initial three seasons with the Mets ended with injuries limiting him to just 64 and 81 games in his final two seasons with the team.

Other considerations

Beltrán has been less visible in baseball since 2020, when he lost his position as Mets manager before even beginning his first spring training, following the exposure of his involvement in the 2017 Astros sign-stealing scandal. At that time, he worked closely with the bench coach Alex Cora to orchestrate the scheme.

Beltrán, only two years younger than Cora, has not yet received another chance to manage, while both Cora and former Astros manager A.J. Hinch have resumed their coaching careers after Cora’s firing and Hinch’s one-year suspension.

While it’s hard to believe Beltrán’s role in the scandal will drastically affect his Hall of Fame chances, it is likely to cost him votes from the stricter voters, particularly those who take a firm stance against suspected or confirmed PED users in the Hall.

Voting patterns

Currently, this marks Beltrán’s third year on the Hall of Fame ballot, achieving 46.5% in his debut in 2023 and increasing to 57.1% on his second attempt. As of now, he is receiving support from 80.6% of the 133 publicly available ballots tracked by Ryan Thibodaux, surpassing the 75% threshold needed for induction, though this support might decrease when the traditionally more conservative private ballots are counted.

Conclusion

As indicated by the polling data, Beltrán seems to be very close to being inducted in 2025. If he doesn’t succeed this time, he will still have seven additional chances on the ballot, and the likely evolution of voter perspectives may favor him even more.

Beltrán’s supporters shouldn’t rush to book accommodations for summer 2025 just yet, but that day seems inevitable – regardless of which team’s cap he may or may not wear.