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Best retired MLB players not in the Hall of Fame
Jim Rogash / Getty Images

Best retired MLB players not in the Hall of Fame

The Baseball Hall of Fame class of 2018 will be announced in January with a select few finalists earning their bronze likenesses in Cooperstown. What about the ones who don't make the cut?

With the steroid-era players littering the ballot lists yet struggling to make their way in, there is no shortage of big names whose numbers suggest greatness but whose perceived transgressions — or something else entirely — have prevented their enshrinement. Here, we list the best retired players who are eligible for enshrinement but are not in the Hall of Fame.

 
1 of 29

Buddy Bell, 3B/OF

Buddy Bell, 3B/OF
Stephen Dunn / Getty Images

Bell hasn't received much Hall of Fame consideration, but his career 66.1 WAR is worthy. He was great defensive player, winning six consecutive Gold Gloves from 1979-84, and hit 201 homers for his career.

 
2 of 29

Barry Bonds, OF

Barry Bonds, OF
Jed Jacobsohn / Getty Images

Bonds has the greatest offensive numbers in the history of baseball, but he's clouded by PED accusations. He won seven MVP Awards, made 14 All-Star appearances, and is the career leader in home runs and walks. He's also the single-season home run leader. Bonds was also an exemplary defensive player, winning eight Gold Gloves.

 
3 of 29

Kevin Brown, SP

Kevin Brown, SP
Stephen Dunn / Getty Images

Brown's lack of wins and journeyman status over his career really hurt his candidacy, but he was one of the most dominant pitchers of his era. Throwing a wicked sinker, Brown won 211 games and posted a 3.28 ERA. He finished top three in Cy Young voting twice and made six All-Star appearances.

 
4 of 29

Roger Clemens, SP

Roger Clemens, SP
Al Bello / Getty Images

Clemens had an incredible 24-year career, winning 354 games, seven Cy Young Awards and one MVP. He's also third all time in strikeouts, trailing only Nolan Ryan and Randy Johnson. Like Barry Bonds, Clemens' Hall of Fame future is likely blocked by accusations of PED use.

 
5 of 29

Jim Edmonds, OF

Jim Edmonds, OF
Elsa / Getty Images

It's a shame that Edmonds didn't get enough votes in his first year on the ballot to remain on it, as he's deserving of Hall of Fame consideration. His all-around game as a center fielder made him one of the best players at his position during his career, with eight Glove Gloves and a career .903 OPS.

 
6 of 29

Dwight Evans, OF/1B

Dwight Evans, OF/1B
Focus on Sport / Getty Images

One of the best hitters of his era and a great defensive player, Evans had 385 career home runs and 1,391 walks. He also won eight Gold Gloves.

 
7 of 29

Vladimir Guerrero, OF

Vladimir Guerrero, OF
Kirby Lee / Getty Images

Vlad has an interesting case on his hands. In an era defined by PED use, his name has never been linked to steroids, while he fell 51 home runs short of the magic 500 number, his numbers are still otherworldly. The 2004 AL MVP, Guerrero made nine All-Star Games on the strength of his .318 average and .931 OPS to go along with an electrifying arm and tremendous all-around game in his youth. With many of his contemporaries clouded by PED suspicion, it should be interesting to see if Vlad benefits and gets the call to the Hall.

 
8 of 29

Orel Hershiser, SP

Orel Hershiser, SP
Stephen Dunn / Getty Images

Hershiser won 204 games over his career and made three All-Star appearances early in his career with the Dodgers. He had a remarkable 1988 season, with a 59-inning scoreless streak that led to the NL Cy Young Award.

 
9 of 29

Trevor Hoffman, RP

Trevor Hoffman, RP
Stephen Dunn / Getty Images

Probably the best closer ever not named Mariano Rivera, Hoffman is second all time in saves with a 2.87 career ERA. He made seven All-Star teams and finished second in the Cy Young voting twice. He received 67.3 percent of the vote this year, so he may be tabbed for the Hall in the near future.

 
10 of 29

Tommy John, SP

Tommy John, SP
Focus on Sport / Getty Images

Some believe John should be in the Hall of Fame solely for the elbow surgery that bears his name. He was also a great pitcher with 288 career wins, a 3.34 career ERA and finished second in the Cy Young voting twice.

 
11 of 29

Jeff Kent, 2B

Jeff Kent, 2B
Steve Grayson / Getty Images

The 2000 NL MVP, Kent finished his career with 377 home runs, more than any other player who played the majority of his career at second base. While he was never a standout defender, he was a star at the plate, evident by his .290 career average and 1,518 RBI. He also made five All-Star Games and took home four Silver Slugger awards in his career. Kent only received 16.6 percent of the vote in 2016.

 
12 of 29

Kenny Lofton, OF

Kenny Lofton, OF
Al Bello / Getty Images

Lofton's Hall of Fame credentials don't jump out, especially because he had his best seasons at the beginning of his career. However, he had a great career, leading the AL in stolen bases five seasons in a row and making seven consecutive All-Star appearances. He finished with 622 career stolen bases and a .299 batting average.

 
13 of 29

Edgar Martinez, DH

Edgar Martinez, DH
Stephen Dunn / Getty Images

Does a full-time DH deserve consideration for the Hall? If the answer is yes, then Martinez certainly deserves the nod. He posted a .933 OPS for his career, won two batting titles and made seven All-Star appearances.

 
14 of 29

Fred McGriff

Fred McGriff
Focus On Sport / Getty Images

A five-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger winner, Fred McGriff was a tremendous hitter over his 19-year career. He finished with 493 home runs, 1,550 RBI and .284 average, leading the league in homers twice. His 52.4 WAR is nothing to sneeze at either, but the Crime Dog hasn’t received much Hall love to date.

 
15 of 29

Mark McGwire, 1B

Mark McGwire, 1B
Elsa / Getty Images

An admitted PED user, Big Mac received only 12.3 percent of Hall of Fame votes in 2016. However, he helped revitalize baseball by hitting 70 home runs in 1998 and finished his career with 583 home runs. He also had 1,317 career walks, finishing with a .982 OPS.

 
16 of 29

Mike Mussina, SP

Mike Mussina, SP
Chris Trotman / Getty Images

Mussina is one of most underrated pitchers of his era because he wasn't a strikeout pitcher, yet he was still one of the most effective pitchers in a hitter's era. Moose ended with 270 wins, a 3.68 ERA, five All-Star appearances and added seven Gold Gloves.

 
17 of 29

Rafael Palmeiro, 1B

Rafael Palmeiro, 1B
Jed Jacobsohn / Getty Images

It seems unlikely Palmeiro will ever make the Hall of Fame after testing positive for PEDs during his career, but his numbers are deserving. He had 569 career home runs and hit .288. Palmeiro also made four All-Star appearances and won three Gold Gloves at first base.

 
18 of 29

Tim Raines, OF

Tim Raines, OF
Andrew D. Bernstein / Getty Images

Raines fell more than 5 percent short of the required 75 percent of votes for the Hall of Fame in 2016, but it's clear that the writers are finally coming around on his résumé. He had a .385 career on-base percentage and ranks fifth all time in stolen bases. His prime took place with the Montreal Expos, where he made seven consecutive All-Star appearances.

 
19 of 29

Manny Ramirez, OF

Manny Ramirez, OF
Jim Rogash / Getty Images

Based on numbers alone, Manny Ramirez is a shoe-in as one of the greatest right-handed bats of all time: 555 home runs, 1,831 RBI, .312 average, .411 OBP, .585 slugging, .996 OPS, 69.2 WAR,12 All-Star appearances, a battle title and a World Series MVP. However, his link to PEDs, including a 50-game suspension, and aloof personality put his enshrinement in jeopardy. His talent is undeniable, but his entire persona is not.

 
20 of 29

Pete Rose, OF/1B/3B/2B

Pete Rose, OF/1B/3B/2B
Focus on Sport / Getty Images

Baseball's all-time hits leader has a lifetime ban for betting on baseball, but he'd certainly be in the Hall if not for his off-field issues. Charlie Hustle retired with 4,256 career hits and made 16 career All-Star appearances.

 
21 of 29

Bret Saberhagen, SP

Bret Saberhagen, SP
Rick Stewart / Getty Images

Saberhagen's career was up and down, but it's difficult to look past two Cy Young Awards. His career 59.1 WAR would be better than some current Hall members.

 
22 of 29

Curt Schilling, SP

Curt Schilling, SP
Elsa / Getty Images

It's likely just a matter of time before Schilling finds his name in the Hall after a legendary career. He finished second in the Cy Young voting three times and made six All-Star appearances, finishing with 216 wins and a 3.46 ERA. Of course, Schilling will be best remembered for his playoff heroics with the Red Sox in 2004 and a 2.23 ERA in the postseason.

 
23 of 29

Gary Sheffield, OF

Gary Sheffield, OF
Jim McIsaac / Getty Images

Shef was an incredible all-around hitter during his career, but he hasn't seen much Hall of Fame support yet. The outfielder finished his career with 509 home runs, more walks than strikeouts and a .907 career OPS. While he never won the MVP, Sheffield finished top three in the voting three times and made nine All-Star appearances.

 
24 of 29

Lee Smith, RP

Lee Smith, RP
Rich Pilling / Getty Images

Smith helped carve out the official closer role during his career and retired as the all-time leader in saves. He's still third all time behind Mariano Rivera and Trevor Hoffman with his 478 career saves, leading the league in that category four times in his career. Smith also finished with a sub-3.00 ERA and 71 wins as a relief pitcher.

 
25 of 29

Sammy Sosa, OF

Sammy Sosa, OF
Stephen Dunn / Getty Images

Sosa took the baseball world on a wild ride in 1998 alongside Mark McGwire, hitting 66 home runs and winning MVP. He hit 609 career home runs, made seven All-Star appearances and hit at least 40 homers seven times. However, Sosa hasn't received much support for the Hall of Fame under suspicion of using PEDs by the writers.

 
26 of 29

Luis Tiant, SP

Luis Tiant, SP
Focus on Sport / Getty Images

Tiant finished his 19-year career with 229 wins and a 3.30 ERA, leading his league in the category twice. His 66.1 career WAR puts him among the elite pitchers of his era.

 
27 of 29

Alan Trammell, SS

Alan Trammell, SS
Stephen Dunn / Getty Images

Trammell retired after the 1996 season and hasn't come very close to the required 75 percent of the ballots. His numbers at shortstop are still impressive, with three Silver Sluggers and six All-Star appearances. He hit .285 for his career.

 
28 of 29

Larry Walker, OF

Larry Walker, OF
Brian Bahr / Getty Images

Arguably the greatest Canadian-born player ever, Walker was a terrific all-around outfielder for the Expos, Rockies and Cardinals. He won the MVP with the Rockies in 1997 and won three batting titles. He also made five All-Star appearances and added six Gold Gloves.

 
29 of 29

Lou Whitaker, 2B

Lou Whitaker, 2B
Focus on Sport / Getty Images

The argument for Whitaker is a 74.9 career WAR, better than many Hall of Famers. The former Tiger won the Rookie of the Year in 1978, made five All-Star appearances and also had three Gold Gloves. He finished his career with 244 home runs.

Seth Trachtman is a fantasy sports expert and diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan. He doesn't often Tweet, but when he does, you can find him on Twitter @sethroto.

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