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We are diligently working away at Notinhalloffame on revising our Football lists…
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Mark Trumbo was the 2011 runner-up for the American League Rookie of the Year to Tampa’s Jeremy Hellickson, and in that year, the Angels’ First Baseman hit 29 Home Runs.
Trumbo would not be a balanced player, but he did have a solid power game over his career. He went to the All-Star Game in 2012 and had 30-plus HR years in 2012 and 2013. Traded to Arizona in 2014 and to Seattle the year after, Trumbo struggled with those teams, but he enjoyed a renaissance with the Baltimore Orioles, the team he was traded to before the 2016 Season.
His first year in Baltimore was by far Trumbo's best. He smacked a league-leading and career-best 47 Home Runs, went to his second All-Star Games, and earned his only Silver Slugger. Trumbo's skills eroded after that, but he still hammered 218 Home Runs over a ten-year career.
Mark Reynolds was arguably a one-tool player, as he had power, but not much else.
Playing 12 seasons with stays in Arizona, Baltimore, Cleveland, New York (AL), Milwaukee, St. Louis, Colorado, and Washington, Reynolds smacked 298 Home Runs and had 1,283 Hits, but batted only .236 and struck out a whopping 1,927 times, including leading his respective league four years in a row (2008-11). Reynolds was also a poor fielder and had a lifetime bWAR under 10.
Putting it bluntly, he will be fortunate to get on the ballot.
After multiple attempts to escape Cuba to play baseball in North America, Kendrys Morales was finally successful in late 2004. The Los Angeles Angels signed Morales, and the switch hitter would debut for the team in 2006, though it was not until 2009 where he proved his worth as a bona fide Major League Player in a 34 Home Run and 108 RBI year.
2009 would be his best year, as he would struggle with injuries afterward, most notably, breaking his leg when he celebrated a home run by jumping up to stomp on home plate. He missed the entirety of 2010 because of it, and it was the catalyst for the rest of his career. Morales still managed to belt 213 Home Runs, and he would also play with Seattle, Minnesota, Kansas City, Toronto, Oakland, and New York (AL). Notably, he had a very good year in 2015 with the Royals, helping them win the World Series while earning his only Silver Slugger and Edgar Martinez Award as the top Designated Hitter.
Jason Vargas can be best be described as a journeyman Starting Pitcher, completing his career with a .500 record (99-99) with stops in Florida, New York (NL), Seattle, Los Angeles (AL), Kansas City, and Philadelphia.
His best year was in 2017 when he was a surprise American League leader in Wins (18) as a Royal. Vargas also was an All-Star that year.