Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Warren Schaeffer staying on as Rockies manager, the Mets’ and Rangers’ Brandon Nimmo–Marcus Semien swap, and their memories, thoughts, and feelings concerning Alex Rodriguez, inspired by the new, three-part HBO docuseries Alex vs. A-Rod. Then (58:35) they talk to the co-directors/EPs of Alex vs. A-Rod, Gotham Chopra and Erik LeDrew, about how the docuseries sausage was made and their insights into A-Rod’s psyche.

Audio intro: Jonathan Crymes, “Effectively Wild Theme 2”
Audio outro: Gabriel-Ernest, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to MLBTR on Schaeffer
Link to Baumann on the trade
Link to Alex vs. A-Rod trailer
Link to stream Alex vs. A-Rod
Link to Alex vs. A-Rod IMDb page
Link to Gotham’s IMDb page
Link to Erik’s IMDb page
Link to latest HUAL episode
Link to Munch King bag
Link to “gun” etymology
Link to 1993 Levy article
Link to Secret Santa sign-up

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Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about Aaron Judge having been teammates with both Taylor Ward and Tyler Wade, a revelation about the late-season health of Elly De La Cruz, and the hidden value of multiposition players such as Mauricio Dubón, then (38:22) answer listener emails about the terms “baseball lifer” and “double-barrel action,” when bases-loaded situations are separate, how to count innings, a weird double play, how to classify switch-hitters, non-switch-hitters who should consider switch-hitting, and whether wealth can buy a good farm system.

Audio intro: The Gagnés, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Justin Peters, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Elly injury info
Link to September Elly episode
Link to AA quotes on Dubón
Link to 2025 FRV leaders
Link to Kostka thread on Grayson
Link to double play clip 1
Link to double play clip 2
Link to double play clip 3
Link to Rendon homer story
Link to Popkins origin story
Link to listener emails database
Link to Narduzzi clip
Link to Narduzzi story
Link to Secret Santa sign-up

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Ben, Meg, Michael Baumann, Ben Clemens, and Chris Hanel congregate to review the results of the 2025 minor league free agent draft (11:45) and recap their 40 bold preseason predictions (19:01), following quick games of “2025 College World Series Starting Pitching Matchup or First Amendment Supreme Court Case” (2:58) and “Cedar Rapids Kernel or Character in the Star Wars Universe” (7:42).

Audio intro: The Shirey Brothers, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Daniel Leckie, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to free agent draft episode
Link to draft history
Link to preseason predictions episode
Link to predictions game history
Link to EWStats site
Link to EWStats on Bluesky
Link to listener leaders
Link to Chris’s website
Link to Secret Santa sign-up

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Ben and Meg banter about the benefits of baseball supporting longer careers than some other sports (inspired by LeBron James becoming the first NBA player to make it to a 23rd season), the Mariners re-signing Josh Naylor, four free agents accepting qualifying offers, the Orioles and Angels swapping Grayson Rodriguez and Taylor Ward, whether teams will find/develop the next Kyle Hendricks, MLB’s unveiling of its new/old broadcast partners, and some news about the WPBL.

Audio intro: Alex Ferrin, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Harold Walker, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to LeBron gamer
Link to B-Ref seasons leaderboard
Link to FG post on Naylor
Link to Passan’s Pirates report
Link to We Tried Tracker return
Link to Baumann on the QOs
Link to over/under draft tracker
Link to FG post on O’s-Angels trade
Link to Judge’s former teammates
Link to Judge/Wade sighting
Link to xkcd comic
Link to Laurila on Hendricks
Link to Bloom quote
Link to Toboni quote
Link to Ben on Arraez
Link to MLB rights release
Link to Marchand on the rights deals
Link to Marchand on the rights deals 2
Link to WPBL news 1
Link to WPBL news 2
Link to Ben on the OWL
Link to Hot Stove League on Netflix
Link to initial praise of the show
Link to first recap pod
Link to Secret Santa sign-up

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Ben and Meg banter about Based Boras vs. Borscht Belt Boras and a few corny quips they overlooked, then discuss end-of-season awards (Aaron Judge vs. Cal Raleigh, Paul Skenes vs. Cristopher Sánchez, Skenes as a paid pitchman, José Ramírez MVP shares, Shohei Ohtani’s dog vs. Judge’s dogs, repetition among award winners, groupthink among voters, WAR preference, bringing back old-school awards, and more) before touching on the news that Padres ownership is exploring a sale. Then (1:13:43) Michael Mountain joins Ben to Stat Blast about team rivalries.

Audio intro: Josh Busman, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Nate Emerson, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Boras/exec comments
Link to BP Boras quip ranking
Link to AL MVP results
Link to Ben on Judge and Raleigh
Link to NL MVP results
Link to AL Cy results
Link to NL Cy results
Link to Skenes reaction
Link to Skenes reaction article
Link to Skenes Raising Cane’s spot
Link to Skenes on EW
Link to Posnanski on retro awards
Link to Ohtani dog video
Link to Judge dog video
Link to Baumann on voting and WAR
Link to award share wiki
Link to Ramírez award share
Link to pitch-fixing fallout article
Link to MLBTR on the Padres sale
Link to rivalry scores data
Link to CTV Barger video
Link to Mense hiring
Link to Secret Santa sign-up

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Ben and Meg banter about a hotel-lobby shrine to Addison Barger and Scott Boras wordplay at the GM meetings, Stat Blast (25:50) about Paul DePodesta’s comeback, POBO percentage, postseason questions, and Mike Greenwell, and (1:01:07) conduct the 11th annual free agent contract over/under draft, plus a Boras postscript.

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

Link to Barger story
Link to Marriott love story
Link to Boras quote round-up
Link to Boras on Skubal
Link to Boras on Alonso
Link to Boras on Bregman
Link to Boras on Bellinger
Link to Boras on Kim
Link to Boras on EW
Link to Ben on the Rockies
Link to over/under draft history
Link to MLBTR Top 50 FA
Link to Secret Santa sign-up

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Ben and Meg break down the federal indictment of Emmanuel Clase and Luis L. Ortiz, including the documentary and statistical evidence of their alleged pitch-fixing, the implications for the sport and sports gambling, the unanswered questions, the dark comedy, and more (plus a real-time reaction to an MLB betting reform and an answer to an email about parenting in the age of ubiquitous sports-betting ads).

Audio intro: Ted O., “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Jonathan Crymes, “Effectively Wild Theme 2”

Link to government press release
Link to indictment
Link to NBA story
Link to Ben’s article
Link to pitches reel
Link to Shoeless Joe info 1
Link to Shoeless Joe info 2
Link to MLB press release
Link to Pages pitch
Link to postseason pitch
Link to Secret Santa sign-up

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Ben and Meg banter about the Rockies reportedly hiring Paul DePodesta as their new head of baseball operations, another managerial hiring, MLB’s World Series ratings bonanza, the resurgence of the splitter, the Royals extending Salvador Perez, and more. Then (44:30) they bring on Ben Clemens to discuss his ranking of this offseason’s top 50 free agents, the strengths and weaknesses of the class as a whole, some notable free agents from Kyle Tucker on down, players he’s high/low on, and how the specter of a future work stoppage might affect this hot stove season.

Audio intro: Philip Bergman, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial: Moon Hound, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Xavier LeBlanc, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to MLBTR on DePobo
Link to report on “finalists”
Link to Colorado tax measure
Link to Passan’s Stammen tweet
Link to Tingler report
Link to WBC exhibitions
Link to MLB ratings release
Link to article on Canadian ratings
Link to MLB/NBA ratings comparison
Link to Sarris on splitters
Link to Andrews on splitters
Link to splitter usage by year
Link to Neyer on splitters/forkballs
Link to Salvy extension post
Link to MLBPA investigation story
Link to banned agent story
Link to Other Ben’s FA ranking
Link to MLBTR on Bieber
Link to Tango on Bieber
Link to Secret Santa sign-up
Link to Plot Hole or Not Hole

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Ben and Meg banter about the slightly shorter-than-usual duration of the offseason, how big the WBC will be, and a few managerial hirings. After that (41:53), they talk to FanGraphs lead prospect analyst Eric Longenhagen about Munetaka Murakami and this offseason’s most promising free agents from international leagues, what we’ve learned about Roki Sasaki and the factors that predict MLB success for NPB/KBO players, and MLB’s winter moratorium on amateur scouting.

Audio intro: Philip Bergman, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio interstitial: Moon Hound, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Xavier LeBlanc, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to manager hirings/firings
Link to most managers for one GM
Link to Rockies update 1
Link to Rockies update 2
Link to Ben on ex-player GMs
Link to Eric on IFA
Link to Ben on Murakami/Sasaki
Link to scouting moratorium news
Link to EW on the moratorium
Link to Secret Santa sign-up
Link to Plot Hole or Not Hole

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Ben and Meg banter about all the highlights of World Series Game 7, with a side of World Series Game 6, break down the appeal of the now-completed postseason, and discuss what teams might take away from the success of 2025’s pennant winners.

Audio intro: Guy Russo, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Sean .P, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to Ben’s post-G7 story
Link to cWPA data
Link to Dan S. on the Dodgers
Link to Neil Paine on the Dodgers
Link to Passan on Yamamoto/Rojas
Link to Tango on IKF
Link to Andrews on the bench-clearing
Link to Ohtani’s G6 double
Link to postgame Mattingly moment
Link to 2015 Theo quote

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