RedTeamGo-- You're right.... Cabrera is HALL worthy right now.
Was looking at Fangraphs and Oliver's five year projection for Votto.
Per their projections--
After 2018 Votto's career numbers will be
AVG OBP SLG OPS HR RUNS RBI HITS VOTTO CAREER AFTER 2018 (PER FANGRAPHS) .304 .418 .508 .927 252 931 908 1707
Those numbers AFTER 2018--based on today's ALL-TIME leader board
BA -- Top 160 All-time
HR-- Top 200 All-Time
RBI-- Top 350 All-Time
SLG--Top 80 All-Time
OBP--Top 25 All-Time
OPS--Top 45 All-Time
Per FanGraphs--
the highest BA he will have is .299
the highest HR will be 21
the highest RBI will be 80
I think this fangraph projection is a bit more critical than I would be--especially since it is only based on 600 Plate appearances and 143 game seasons)
But, if indeed these numbers are a reflection of what could happen...
Then All-Star appearances drop off (which for whatever reason HOF voters look to.
Votto will be hard pressed to win any silver sluggers, MVP's, and will not be in the running for any of the triple crown categories.
So, Votto's case will be one of sabremetrics... one in which they will point to the only argument they would have...OBP and OPS.
If this is the case--and these are his career numbers when he is entering into year 35-- then it is hard for me to imagine him improving through the final five years of his contract and boosting his career numbers to a HOF worthy individual.