Baseball Connection

2021 Opening Day Preview

The Nationals get to play in front of their fans for the first time since being crowned champs in 2019. Darvish makes his first start in Padres brown. Which matchups are you looking forward to as we kick off the 2021 season?

Lindor Extended For 10 Years, $341 Million | 5 Nats Out For Opening Day

The Mets have their shortstop of both the present and the future. Negotiations came down to the wire, but Francisco Lindor agreed to a 10 year, $341 million extension. Lindor will become the highest paid shortstop in baseball history. The Nationals will be down by 5 players on Opening Day due to health and safety protocols.

Lindor Playing Hardball? | White Sox Promote Vaughn | Rangers DFA Rougned Odor

We're approaching the deadline for the Mets and Francisco Lindor to reach an extension. Some believe the Mets' offer is their best and final. Will Linor accept it? Andrew Vaughn will be in the MLB to start the year for the White Sox. Rougned Odor has been designated for assignment. Once seen as the Rangers' future at 2B, Odor's high strikeout rate and low on-base skills have made him worth very little.

Dobnak's Unlikely Journey | Pausing The Sixto Show

Randy Dobnak was Uber driving to supplement his income from independent league ball just a few years ago. He's now agreed to a five-year extension with the Twins that will secure him for life. Sixto Sanchez will begin the season at the Marlins' alternate site. Will Lindor accept the Mets' latest offer?

Mark Appel Is Eyeing A Comeback

Mark Appel, the #1 overall pick in the 2013 MLB Draft, is preparing to make a comeback attempt with the Phillies. Appel is considered one of the biggest busts in baseball history and actually stepped away from the game 3 years ago. What motivated him to return? All this on today's episode.

MLB To Crack Down On Pitchers Doctoring Baseballs

MLB has said it will crack down on the use of foreign substances on baseballs. Doctoring the baseball is a technique as old as the game itself. We've seen many pitchers get caught using substances like pine tar before. MLB will monitor spin rate data and install compliance officers at each stadium to ensure that these rules are strictly enforced. The idea is to maintain greater offensive output and create more balls in play.

Gio Gonzalez Hangs 'Em Up | Eloy Jimenez Out For Year?

Gio Gonzalez has hung up his spikes after a stellar 13-year MLB career. He was often underrated, but the lefty was an innings-eater who brought tremendous value to several organizations. Eloy Jimenez is out for 5-6 months with a torn pectoral tendon. How will the White Sox replace his bat? All this (and more) on today's episode.

McCullers Extended | The Yankees' OF Glut | Ke'Bryan Hayes

Lance McCullers Jr. has agreed to a 5-year, $85 million extension with the Astros. It'll kick in next season and tie McCullers to Houston through 2026. The Yankees have carried an abundance of outfielders over the past few years. They're receiving offers for Mike Tauchman, but will they bite? Ke'Bryan Hayes turned down the Pirates' extension offer. He's set to play his first full year in the MLB.

Bader Out 4 Weeks | Teheran Makes Tigers Roster | A McCullers Extension?

As we enter the final stretch of Spring Training, teams are putting the finishing touches on their rosters. Julio Teheran made the Tigers rotation after a strong Spring. Harrison Bader will be out at least 4 weeks, so which Cardinals outfielder will replace him? The Astros are in deep talks with Lance McCullers Jr. regarding an extension.

Brent Honeywell Returns | Rays Top Prospect Makes Recovery

After 4 surgeries and 3.5 years since his last professional appearance, Brent Honeywell returned to the mound. It was just a Spring Training outing, but he'll take it. A former top-15 prospect, Honeywell is making his way back from a serious string of injuries that stalled his career. He and the Rays hope for him to make his MLB debut later this season.