Let’s start taking a deeper look at candidates on this year’s Hall of Fame ballot. We’re going to start with the two pitchers appearing on the ballot for the first time, neither of whom I think receives the requisite 5% needed to reappear again next year.

Both were fine pitchers, but neither should be included in the Hall of Fame.

The Chicago White Sox used the 38th overall pick in the 2004 Draft to select Gio González out of high school (Miami, FL). The left-hander was traded three times before making his MLB debut four years later with the Oakland Athletics. His four seasons with the A’s (2008-2011) totaled 535.1 IP with a 3.93 ERA (105 ERA+) and an All-Star appearance (striking out the only batter he’d face, Jay Bruce).

With the A’s being stubborn about spending to retain their players and the Nationals seeking to upgrade their rotation, the two teams agreed to a trade in December 2011. González and minor league right-hander Robert Gilliam (who never pitched above Double-A) were dealt to Washington. Four players went back to Oakland in the deal: right-handers A.J. Cole and Brad Peacock, catcher Derek Norris, and left-hander Tommy Milone. The Nationals promptly signed González to a five-year, $42 million extension (with two team options).

González had arguably his best season that first year in Washington. He made 32 starts, going 21-8 with a 2.89 ERA (138 ERA+) with 207 strikeouts (9.3 K/9, 25.2 K%) over 199.1 IP. He’d make the All-Star team again and finished third in NL Cy Young voting (behind R.A. Dickey and Clayton Kershaw).

His seven seasons with the Nationals included an 86-65 record and 3.62 ERA (112 ERA+) over 1253.1 IP (including a sixth-place finish in Cy Young voting in 2017).

González then spent parts of two seasons with the Brewers before returning to the White Sox for a final season. Overall, he finished with a 131-101 record and a 3.70 ERA (111 ERA+) over 1933.0 IP. Per Baseball Reference, he totaled 29.8 WAR.

The Detroit Tigers used the 27th overall pick in the 2007 Draft to select Rick Porcello out of high school (West Orange, NJ). The right-hander made his MLB debut two years later. He’d go 14-9 with a 3.96 ERA (114 ERA+) over 170.2 IP that first season, finishing third in AL Rookie of the Year voting (behind Andrew Bailey and Elvis Andrus) and getting the ball in the Tigers’ tie-breaker playoff game after finishing the season in a tie with the Twins (Minnesota won the game in 12 innings).

Porcello spent the first six years of his career with Detroit, going 76-63 with a 4.30 ERA (97 ERA+) over 1073.1 IP.

Detroit traded Porcello to Boston in December 2014 ahead of his final season of arbitration eligibility. The Tigers received outfielder Yoenis Céspedes, left-hander Gabe Speier, and right-hander Alex Wilson. The Red Sox signed Porcello to a four-year, $82.5 million extension the following April.

Porcello’s first season in Boston was rough, as he struggled on the mound when healthy and spent some time on the IL for the first time in his career (triceps inflammation). Year 2, however, proved to be the best season of his career. Porcello went 22-4 with a 3.15 ERA (142 ERA+) over 223.0 IP with a league-best 5.91 SO/BB ratio. He won the AL Cy Young Award that year, narrowly defeating his former teammate Justin Verlander (who actually had more first-place votes, but two writers left him completely off their ballots).

Porcello was 73-55 with a 4.43 ERA (102 ERA+) over 964.0 IP during his five years in Boston, while helping the team win the 2018 World Series. He then finished his career with the Mets, going 1-7 with a 5.64 ERA (76 ERA+) in 59.0 IP during the COVID-shortened 2020 season.

Overall, Porcello was 150-125 with a 4.40 ERA (99 ERA+) over 2096.1 IP. He totaled 18.8 WAR.