#mlb

#mlb

The arrangement is a formal memorandum of understanding that sets up how the league and the CFTC will work together. The two sides plan to monitor trading activity, exchange information, and look for any signs of manipulation tied to baseball-related event contracts.

This week, Brett and I start with our reactions to the robot umps - we like the idea, but are so-so on the execution so far. I'm curious to see if anyone else has the same take as me.

Last season, the Angels were on FanDuel Sports Network West, owned by Main Street Sports. The company has been in a rough financial spot for a while and recently missed some payments to teams. In response, the Angels and the eight other teams who were signed with Main Street terminated their deals last month. Six of those clubs will now have their broadcasts handled by Major League Baseball itself, though the Angels are (for now) one of the holdouts.

It's almost time for Spring Training, which means baseball season is just around the corner! Looking at the 2026 World Series odds, unsurprisingly, the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees are among the favorites to win baseball's biggest prize. But baseball is unpredictable, and anything can happen over the course of 162 games.

Martinez was traded to the Blue Jays in 1981, thinking it was going to be the end of his playing career. The veteran catcher got a second wind and wound up playing in 454 games over the next six years with the Blue Jays, producing a 3.5 bWAR with 35 home runs. One of his most memorable moments came on July 9, 1985 when he broke his leg and severely dislocated his ankle

The Twins have claimed right-hander Jackson Kowar off waivers from the Mariners, according to announcements from both clubs.

The New York Mets have acquired All-Star right-hander Freddy Peralta in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers, sources told ESPN's Jeff Passan on Wednesday night. Top prospects Jett Williams, an infielder, and Brandon Sproat, a right-handed pitcher, are headed to Milwaukee, sources said. Speaking earlier Wednesday, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns strongly hinted that the Mets, one of baseball's busiest teams this offseason, weren't done.

When you have momentum like we have that you've worked as hard as we have to get, you know that is a force that puts people in a frame of mind that they should understand they need to make an agreement, OK? Despite that momentum, we have a couple of issues that we hear about from our fans all the time: blackouts and the perception that some teams are not competitive. We got to address those issues. How we figure out the way to address those issues is the challenge of the bargaining process, and jumping to the idea that it's going to be salary cap, no salary cap is a premature thing to do. To maintain the momentum we all understand we have, I think we need to address those two issues and I think we'll figure out a way to do it.

The Mets and free agent infielder Bo Bichette are in agreement on a three-year contract, reports Will Sammon of The Athletic. He'll be guaranteed a hefty $126MM on that short-term pact, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Bichette can opt out after the first and second season of the contract, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic adds. There's no deferred money in the contract, which is still pending a physical.

The Cubs have completely rebuilt their bullpen after saying goodbye to 2025 stalwarts Brad Keller and Drew Pomeranz, adding Maton, Hunter and Milner. But their biggest addition comes at third base, where Bregman takes over for Matt Shaw. Shaw showed promise in the second half as a rookie, but he's not Bregman, who brings leadership and championship experience to the mix to go along with his hitting prowess.

With spring training less than a month away, it's time to evaluate what each MLB team has accomplished this winter and what's left on their agendas. Below, we tackle the state of the American League East, arguably the best division in the majors, with at least four of the five clubs considered early World Series contenders. On one end, the defending AL champions Toronto Blue Jays have invested the most money in free agency this winter after years of losing out on top talent.

As America's pastime with a history of more than 150 years, baseball has provided our country with decades of entertainment and enjoyment, an important form of intergenerational and familial connection, and a source of strength and consistency during difficult times,

Main Street, which holds 29 NBA, NHL and MLB teams in its portfolio and broadcasts their games under the name FanDuel Sports, emerged from a lengthy bankruptcy proceeding at the start of 2025 but finds itself in deep financial trouble again. Recent reports from Sports Business Journal stated that the company will dissolve at the end of the current NBA and NHL seasons if it does not execute a sale to another platform.

Ten-year MLB veteran Andy Kosco passed away earlier this month. He was 84 years old. Kosco played in 658 games for the Twins, Yankees, Dodgers, Brewers, Angels, Red Sox, and Reds from 1965-74. Primarily a corner outfielder, he appeared at all three outfield positions, as well as first and third base. Born October 5, 1941 in Ohio, Kosco grew up a multi-sport star but ultimately chose baseball, signing his first professional contract with the Tigers in 1959.

After a handful of decent outings to open his career, the righty was slowed by an arm issue that ended up being an aneurysm in his throwing shoulder. Surgery knocked him out until the final month of the 2021 season. He was hammered for nine earned runs over 12 innings once he returned to the mound. Arihara made it back up with the Rangers the following year, but posted a 9.45 ERA across 20 innings.

Teams pay escalating penalties for exceeding the threshold in consecutive seasons. The Dodgers, Mets, Yankees, Phillies and Rangers have all paid the tax in at least three straight years - subjecting them to the highest escalator fees. The Astros went over the line for the second straight season. The Blue Jays, Padres and Red Sox had gotten below in 2024 and are categorized as first-time payors.

As the hot stove season plays out and we wait to see where the top remaining free agents sign, MLB teams are already looking ahead to how they'll use a major rule change coming to the sport in the new season. After more than a decade of the video review challenge system being used for plays on the bases, MLB is set to do the same for balls and strikes. Beginning in 2026, the batter, catcher or pitcher will be allowed to challenge a ball/strike call made by the home plate umpire, utilizing a system that's been in use in the minor leagues for several seasons.

Flexen, 31, parlayed his first KBO stint into a two-year, $4.75MM contract with the Mariners. That contract included a club/vesting option that Flexen vested at $8MM with a strong performance in 2021-22, when he tossed a combined 317 1/3 innings of 3.66 ERA ball. His 16.5% strikeout rate was well below average, but Flexen showed good command (6.8% walk rate) and did a decent job avoiding hard contact.

The Los Angeles Dodgers addressed their bullpen by adding All-Star closer Edwin Díaz on a three-year, $69 million contract that includes more than $13 million in deferrals and a $9 million signing bonus. The $23 million average annual value (AAV) of the contract set a new record for relievers, surpassing the $20.4 million mark Díaz received in his last deal with the New York Mets.