Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a breakup of baseball lookalikes, minor league free agent draft eligibility, and more players who unretired after becoming coaches, then break down the latest baseball broadcasting developments, Rob Manfred’s recent comments (about his priorities and future, an offseason signing deadline, and regular-season structure), Tarik Skubal’s historic arbitration case, and, inspired by sensational hockey streaming series Heated Rivalry (which they discuss without spoilers), when an active MLB player might publicly come out.

Audio intro: Benny and a Million Shetland Ponies, “Effectively Wild Theme (Horny)”
Audio outro: Beatwriter, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to MLBTR on Fitzgerald
Link to Sojo article
Link to Campbell hiring
Link to TV network news
Link to MLBTR on TV networks
Link to TV network news 2
Link to Entertainment Strategy Guy
Link to streaming revenue info
Link to more on streaming revenue
Link to Manfred on a signing deadline
Link to Rooker tweet
Link to Harper sales article 1
Link to Harper sales article 2
Link to Manfred’s tournament comments
Link to MLBTR on Skubal
Link to The Athletic on Skubal
Link to Passan on Skubal
Link to Ben on arbitration
Link to MLBTR on Kepler
Link to Heated Rivalry
Link to hockey culture article
Link to Outsports article
Link to Take Me Out wiki
Link to EW Episode 1776
Link to Unwritten Rules
Link to Manfred’s diversity comments
Link to Venezuela article

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about how the on-ramp for learning about sports analytics has changed since they were students, follow up on players who unretired after becoming coaches, break down the Edward Cabrera trade (and the Michael Lorenzen signing), and then discuss the remaining top-10 free agents (Kyle Tucker, Alex Bregman, Framber Valdez, Cody Bellinger, Bo Bichette, and Ranger Suárez) from three perspectives: where they’d have the biggest impact, where would be most fun for them to sign, and where they will sign.

Audio intro: Garrett Krohn, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Philip Bergman, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Rice job listing
Link to Andres class article 1
Link to Andres class article 2
Link to Sabermetrics 101 MOOC
Link to Mota article
Link to Quirk bio
Link to Chambliss bio
Link to “Conformity Gate”
Link to Ben on Mass Effect 3
Link to Baumann on Cabrera
Link to Cabrera pitch values
Link to worst fastballs
Link to Andrews on Lorenzen
Link to FG top 50 FA
Link to Petriello on Tucker
Link to Gelb on Bichette
Link to IF fielding value
Link to team payrolls
Link to team SP depth charts
Link to team positional projections

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Daniel Vogelbach becoming a Brewers hitting coach and coach-hiring trends, analyze and phact-check Tommy Pham’s pitch for “PhamGraphs,” react to the Kazuma Okamoto signing and the Blue Jays embracing their big-market potential (in contrast to the Giants), and take the temperature of the pretty tepid stove (phollowed by a phollow-up on Pham).

Audio intro: The Spaghettis, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Ian Phillips, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Vogelbach news
Link to Brewers coaching staff
Link to last year’s Vogelbach hiring
Link to Vogelbach promo
Link to article on PhamGraphs
Link to negativity bias wiki
Link to team batting LI
Link to batter opp_DRA-
Link to team batter opp_DRA-
Link to lineup construction study
Link to DRA- explainer
Link to DRC+ explainer
Link to Canha’s BP player card
Link to Pham’s BP player card
Link to August Pham incident
Link to EW Episode 2363
Link to PH PA leaders
Link to Eric on Okamoto
Link to NPB HR since 2019
Link to MLBTR on Okamoto
Link to MLBTR on Takahashi
Link to FG payroll page
Link to FG post on Mahle
Link to team SP projections
Link to FG top 50 FA
Link to Ben on pennant complacency
Link to Harbaugh firing
Link to latest Hang Up and Listen
Link to Albies TikTok

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Ben Lindbergh, Meg Rowley, and Ben Clemens banter about the Astros signing Tatsuya Imai to a smaller-than-expected deal. Then (18:20) they continue a cherished podcast tradition by conducting the 13th annual Effectively Wild Minor League Free Agent Draft, in which they select 10 minor league free agents each and compete to see whose roster will accumulate the most combined MLB playing time in 2025 (followed by a postscript at 1:31:23).

Audio intro: Cory Brent, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Guy Russo, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to guest appearances sheet
Link to FG post on Imai
Link to MLBTR on Imai
Link to Feinsand tweet
Link to The Athletic on Imai
Link to minor league free agents
Link to MLBTR on MiLB FA
Link to last year’s draft
Link to MiLB FA draft wiki
Link to EWStats page
Link to dynasty FA draft sheet
Link to Brebbia on EW
Link to MLBTR on Baddoo
Link to 2025 MLB average SP
Link to MiLB IP leaders
Link to Can’t Hardly Wait scene
Link to this year’s draftees
Link to first Stathead query
Link to second Stathead query
Link to Boob McNutt
Link to Mutt and Jeff
Link to Gink and Boob
Link to Bucco Bricks tweet
Link to Lile’s Reddit response
Link to MLB.com on Lile
Link to car service jingles
Link to Conjunction Junction
Link to “certain point of view” scene
Link to “Old Ben” clip
Link to Slate on prediction markets
Link to Bloomberg on prediction markets
Link to Sporcle quiz

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about the potential risk to sports prediction markets pose and then (24:00) discuss at least one listener-nominated topic about each American League team that wasn’t previously covered on the show in 2025.

Audio intro: Justin Peters, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Ted O., “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to MLBTR on Rendon
Link to Bloomberg on prediction markets
Link to The Athletic on prediction markets
Link to FoS on the Blackhawks
Link to story about MLB memo
Link to Slate on prediction markets
Link to Slate on prediction markets 2
Link to Royals stadium story
Link to 1922 article on Fowler
Link to AL stories spreadsheet
Link to Ella Black series

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a smattering of recent transactions and then (20:17) discuss at least one listener-nominated topic about each National League team that wasn’t previously covered on the podcast in 2025.

Audio intro: Luke Lillard, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Sean .P, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to MLB.com on Soderstrom
Link to MLBTR on Soderstrom
Link to MLBTR on Refsnyder
Link to The Athletic on Refsnyder
Link to “the grink” tweet
Link to Fowler SABR bio
Link to 1925 article on Fowler
Link to NL stories spreadsheet

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Ben Lindbergh talks to two pitchers who topped out at Triple-A in 2025, which was a demotion for one and a promotion for the other. First, he brings back Rangers pitcher Declan Cronin, the only major leaguer alum of Ben’s high school, to discuss a setback of a season that included a mysterious hip injury, compromised mechanics, diminished stuff, a cutthroat release and, finally, Tommy John surgery. Along the way, they cover the urge to play through injuries, joining the Rangers after being unceremoniously jettisoned by the Marlins, what tearing a UCL feels like, the incentives that lead to elbow problems, Declan’s plan to bounce back from a challenging year, MLB-NWSL romances, and competing with other players for wedding dates. Then (1:05:45), Ben talks to White Sox pitcher/sportswriter Duncan Davitt about becoming a journalist on the side, being on both ends of interviews, being blacked out of baseball broadcasts, the plight and importance of local media, his deceptive delivery, being traded and making a 40-man for the first time, what he has to do to earn a call-up, whether pitchers wear protective cups, and much more.

Audio intro: Ian Phillips, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Jonathan Crymes, “Effectively Wild Theme 2”

Link to “TK” journalism term
Link to MLBTR on Soderstrom
Link to Regis High School wiki
Link to Declan’s first pod appearance
Link to Declan’s second pod appearance
Link to article about baseball weddings
Link to Declan t-shirt
Link to MLBTR on Declan’s TJ
Link to list of TJ surgeries
Link to cascade injury article
Link to MLBTR on Declan’s deal
Link to team RP WPA
Link to team RP WAR
Link to staff page at Tread
Link to Tyler Zombro wiki
Link to Paige Monaghan wiki
Link to Paige’s wedding post
Link to Dansby/Mallory article
Link to Peña/Grosso engagement
Link to Duncan strikeout reel
Link to Register feature on Duncan
Link to Sox Machine feature on Duncan
Link to Duncan’s wedding post
Link to Rays prospect ranking
Link to traded prospects ranking
Link to minor league IP leaders
Link to Ben on deception
Link to Indianola IA website
Link to Indianola wiki
Link to J.D. Scholten appearance
Link to Indianola IA sports page
Link to Duncan’s boys’ basketball article
Link to Duncan’s girls’ basketball article
Link to Duncan on the offseason
Link to Duncan on the trade
Link to Duncan on the 40-man
Link to Duncan on Triple-A
Link to Duncan on big league belief
Link to Laurila’s notes column
Link to Ben on the gap in 2025
Link to Ben on the gap in 2015
Link to Davenport on the gap
Link to MLB.com on Abbott Elementary
Link to Schwarber’s 4-HR game
Link to MLB survey question

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Ben Lindbergh, Craig Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus, and Joe Sheehan of The Joe Sheehan Baseball Newsletter break down teams’ last-minute Christmas shopping—including the White Sox signing Munetaka Murakami, the Padres signing Michael King and Sung Mun Song, the Orioles trading for Shane Baz, the Red Sox trading for Willson Contreras, a three-team trade involving the Pirates, Rays, and Astros, Jeff McNeil and Matt Strahm swaps, and the Yankees’ hibernation—plus banter about the quasi-retirement of Craig’s nemesis, Joe Kelly, the future of NPB, a report about Emmanuel Clase’s mid-game phone use, and supporting independent media. Then (1:11:40) they conduct an in-depth debate about the respective merits of human umpiring, the challenge system, and full ABS.

Audio intro: Harold Walker, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Tom Rhoads, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Kelly’s podcast
Link to Dubuque on the challenge system
Link to Craig on the challenge system
Link to Joe on the challenge system
Link to previous podcast discussion
Link to Seitz decision wiki
Link to Joe on the Seitz decision
Link to over/under draft results
Link to Baumann on Murakami
Link to Rosenblum on Murakami
Link to Longenhagen on Murakami
Link to Craig on Murakami
Link to Sarris on Murakami
Link to Ben on Murakami in 2022
Link to Sato story
Link to FG post on King
Link to FG post on Song
Link to FG post on Baz
Link to Craig on Baz
Link to team SP projections
Link to Joe on three-team trade
Link to FG post on three-team trade
Link to FG post on Contreras
Link to FG post on Strahm
Link to Strahm’s beer stance
Link to Bowlan info
Link to FG post on McNeil
Link to Lindor/McNeil drama
Link to Clase report
Link to Dylan phone ban
Link to Molina framing montage
Link to framing technique evolution
Link to Molina on EW
Link to Craig on the K-Zone
Link to Tango on challenge tactics
Link to Five and Dive
Link to subscribe to BP
Link to subscribe to Joe
Link to MLBTR on O’Hearn
Link to Posnanski MVP post
Link to A’s ballpark update
Link to Rian Johnson post

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Ben Lindbergh brings on ESPN senior MLB insider Jeff Passan to discuss the ins and outs of the newsbreaking business—how he reports and announces news, how newsbreaking in baseball differs from newsbreaking in other sports, conflicts of interest, the ills of social media, work-life balance, aging, his flirtation with switching to the basketball beat, and more—plus Jeff’s thoughts on ESPN’s relationship with MLB, the biggest surprises and questions of this hot stove season, and the outlook for a lockout. Then (1:06:55) Ben talks to The Athletic’s Sam Blum about what he learned from covering the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Tyler Skaggs against the Angels, which was settled just before the jury reached a verdict.

Audio intro: Nate Emerson, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial: Grant Brisbee, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Kite Person, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Jeff’s last EW appearance
Link to Jeff’s newsbreaking origins
Link to Jeff’s gravy tweet
Link to aging research
Link to article about aging
Link to Woj comments
Link to Schefter comments
Link to Shams comments
Link to Shams profile
Link to Shams vs. Woj feature
Link to Passan NBA report
Link to exhibit 49 info
Link to more exhibit 49 info
Link to ESPN-MLB deal
Link to ESPN-NFL deal
Link to ESPN evolution
Link to Jeff’s trade tweet
Link to news about Jeff’s son
Link to The LAT on the settlement
Link to Sam on the settlement
Link to Sam on Trout
Link to MLB testing change

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about an “oppo taco” mention in Wake Up Dead Man, a run on free-agent relievers and the lack of late-inning options remaining on the market, when big free agents actually tend to sign, the Nationals’ youth movement in the front office and on the coaching staff, and the stacked USA WBC pitching staff, plus follow-ups on several subjects.

Audio intro: Ian H., “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Liz Panella, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Rian Johnson clip
Link to MLB.com on Weaver
Link to Williams message
Link to FG post on Keller
Link to Arizona gulls
Link to MLBTR on May
Link to Jimmy trailer
Link to Buzzfeed post on Jimmy
Link to remaining FA RP
Link to Nats youth story
Link to Nats youth story 2
Link to Nats youth tweet
Link to MLBTR on DeBartolo
Link to Butera quote
Link to Nats ticket settlement
Link to scouts lawsuit
Link to ump age study
Link to Sheehan research
Link to Raleigh award tweet
Link to USA WBC roster
Link to 2023 roster
Link to Trout WBC story
Link to announced players post
Link to Ben on WBC injuries
Link to Ben on more WBCs
Link to Grinch oral history
Link to roast beast
Link to MLBTR on Kim’s offer
Link to “Big Smooth” article
Link to Pomeranz post
Link to Calcaterra on the HoF
Link to ineligible list wiki

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