While I think Altuve will eventually get in I feel like they will conveniently overlook / forget to hold the cheating scandal against Beltran while the younger stars from the team will continue to bear the brunt of the ire. Altuve and Correa being here long term probably more than Springer and Bregman. No matter how dumb I think that is.
George Springer’s Age 36 season gives me hope for Altuve’s. Altuve has done a good job at keeping himself physically fit. He hasn’t let himself go like a lot of older players have in the past… I’m thinking of Beltran on his last stop in Houston. Andrew Jones in Los Angeles. Etc.
HOF? I would say he is 60/40 sometime in first five seasons, and first ballot totally unlikely if he were to retire today, That goes to 80/20 in first five, and 50/50 first ballot with two more average seasons and at least one more good playoff run. That goes to 99/1 in first five and 80/20 (maybe 90/10) first ballot if he gets to 3000. (remember, it took Biggio until the third try, although he was only two votes off on the second)
He's a no-doubt HOF if his career ended today, I don't care how many voting cycles it takes. How much do the voting muppets use the cheating scandal (which by all accounts he never participated in) against him? That's the only question.
And it is important to note, he isn't retiring today. Unless somebody says if they retired today, they are generally projecting out. As the best 2B of this generation, he absolutely should be.
If Altuve reaches, it's post 2029. He needs the production and health. It could possibly become Biggio situation -- below average BA, chasing 3000. Craig had more defense to lean on. Altuve has DH and Yordan.
MVP 2x WS champ 2x MLB Sporting News POY 3x batting title (led the league in hits 4x, led the league in SB twice) 8.1 WAR led the league in 2017 ALCS MVP SSx 7 GG He goes in the HOF regardless of how many more hits he gets.
