Baseball Connection

Freddie Freeman has been a lifelong Brave and it's hard to imagine him playing elsewhere. However, he's currently a free agent and didn't receive the offer he was looking for from the Braves before the lockout began. Freeman is reportedly looking to sign within 48 hours of the lockout's end, so it will come quickly. Other teams like the Blue Jays and Yankees are interested. Will the Braves pay up, will he take a hometown discount, or will he sign elsewhere?

Joey Gallo struggled in his short stint with the Yankees in 2021. He came over after the trade deadline to jolt the offense but never really found his footing. Gallo says the shift is partially to blame and that MLB should ban it. Does he have a point? Joe Kelly is a free agent but he's looking to reunite with the Dodgers. The Dodgers could use his services, too. All this on today's episode.

The Rangers are rapidly making their way out of a rebuild. After completing some mega-deals, they have their sights set on winning now. Their plan has taken a slight twist with top 3B prospect Josh Jung undergoing labrum surgery which will sideline him for about 6 months. Josh Reddick will be joining former big leaguers Pablo Sandoval and Keon Broxton on their Mexican League squad. MLB has said regular season games will be canceled if a deal isn't reached by February 28. All this (and more) on today's episode.

Matt Olson is on the Padres' radar. They'll have to trade for him but doing so will mean a hike in their luxury tax bill unless they're able to trade Eric Hosmer and/or Wil Myers. Olson will be a coveted target on the trade market once the transaction freeze lifts. The Cardinals have their eye on the 1B market in anticipation of the universal DH. Who would they bring in to as a 1B/DH alongside Goldschmidt? All this on today's episode.

Oliver Perez will give add one more year to his playing career, but it will take place in Mexico. Perez' career has been built on getting left handed hitters out. He's been quite good add it, which allowed him to play in the big leagues for 19 seasons. Although Spring Training is on hold, teams have began minicamps. We take a look a Tigers minicamp and an update regarding former No. 1 overall pick, Spencer Torkelson.

Rollie Fingers has perhaps the most facial hair in baseball history. The well groomed handlebar mustache is his trademark and something he has never been willing to part with. He felt so strongly about it that he declined an ultimatum from the Cincinnati Reds to shave or stay home, which effectively ended his Hall of Fame career. What is the history behind baseball's facial hair policies? All this (and more) on today's episode.

Tommy Pham is open to a position change. He's specifically open to playing first base and welcomes the idea of a reunion with Tampa Bay. Pham has been an outfielder his whole MLB career. Pham's peripheral stats point to him being a bounce-back candidate with the bat this year, and he'll need just that. The Mariners want a big righty bat to play 3B. Could Kris Bryant or Josh Donaldson fill that role? All this (and more) on today's episode.

The Mets are going all in this year and have already stacked their roster. Starling Marte is their shiny center field new acquisition but Brandon Nimmo might have something to say about that. Could Aaron Judge be entering his final year in Yankee pinstripes? All this (and more) on today's episode.

Winning a Cy Young Award is the ultimate single-season accomplishment a pitcher can have. It means you were the best pitcher in the league. Most teams would want to keep a Cy Young winner, but there have been a few times when pitchers (including future Hall of Famers) were traded in the offseason immediately after winning the award. When and why did this happen? All this on today's episode.

Juan Soto declined a massive extension from the Nationals which was worth 13 years, $350 million. Soto plans to wait until free agency in 3 years where he could earn an even larger payday. Was this a smart play or a risky gamble by the young superstar? All this (and more) on today's episode.