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Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Yoshinobu Yamamoto #18 of Team Japan reacts while pitching during Game 8 of Pool B between Team Japan and Team Australia at Tokyo Dome on Sunday, March 12, 2023 in Bunkyo City, Japan.

The Dodgers Got Their Man, Again

Ray Ratto

San Francisco Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi speaks during a news conference at Oracle Park in the Nick Peters interview room on Tuesday, October 1, 2019 in San Francisco, CA.

The Giants Have A Problem And It’s Not San Francisco

Kathryn Xu

Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Angels in the fourth inning at Dodger Stadium on July 07, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

Embracing The Dark Heart Of Shohei Ohtani’s Contract

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels watches a game against the Detroit Tigers at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 16, 2023 in Anaheim, California.

Shohei Ohtani’s Free Agency Drove The Ball Writers Batty

David Roth

Shohei Ohtani sits on the bench during a September Angels game in 2023.

Shohei Ohtani Just Got Super-Duper Paid

<a href="https://twitter.com/cdgoldstein">Craig Goldstein</a> is the editor-in-chief of Baseball Prospectus and the co-host of <a href="https://www.baseballprospectus.com/show/five-and-dive/">the Five &amp; Dive podcast</a>.

Craig Goldstein

Juan Soto, then of the San Diego Padres, high-fives a teammate during a road game against the Giants.

How Does Juan Soto Keep Getting Traded?

Never Say Aloud The Name Of Shohei Ohtani Or Surely You Will Perish!

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 17: Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels in the dugout while playing the Detroit Tigers at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 17, 2023 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by John McCoy/Getty Images)

How Mad Would You Be If Shohei Ohtani Re-Signed In Anaheim?

General manager Jerry Dipoto of the Seattle Mariners looks on prior to the game between the Cleveland Guardians and the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on Thursday, March 30, 2023 in Seattle, Washington.

The Mariners Are Making Mariners Moves Again

Tom Ley

Henry Kissinger looking like a little goblin while watching a Yankees fan

Yankees Honor Least Evil Fan

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 27: Former MLB player Alex Rodriguez commentates prior to Game One of the World Series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on October 27, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

Another Hall Of Fame Ballot, Another Chance To Get It Wrong

Atlanta Braves pitcher Kyle Wright throwing a pitch against the Washington Nationals in a September 2023 road game.

What Do The Kansas City Royals Know About Shoulders?

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 13: Oakland Athletics fans display signs during a reverse boycott game against the Tampa Bay Rays at RingCentral Coliseum on June 13, 2023 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Brandon Vallance/Getty Images)

MLB Approves The Las Vegas A’s

Brian Cashman sitting at a Bloomberg training terminal and giving a goofy thumbs up at a charity event in 2022.

Brian Cashman’s Tantrum Has Earned Him Beef With Giancarlo Stanton’s Agent

Jason Benetti looks on from the White Sox broadcasting booth.

White Sox Lose The Broadcaster Who Made Their Games Tolerable

Brian Cashman Has Absolutely Had It Up To Here

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 04: Craig Counsell #30 of the Milwaukee Brewers before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks during Game Two of the Wild Card Series at American Family Field on October 04, 2023 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)

Managers Matter

Pitching coach Brent Strom meets with Zac Gallen during Game Five of the World Series.

I Hate The Third Time Through The Order!

Lauren Theisen

PHOENIX, AZ - NOVEMBER 01: Kevin Ginkel #37 of the Arizona Diamondbacks reacts during Game 5 of the 2023 World Series between the Texas Rangers and the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Wednesday, November 1, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. Edits by Defector; The Gink is surrounded by various colors.

The Defector World Series MVP Is The Gink

The Texas Rangers celebrate on the field after winning the World Series.

The Rangers Are The Big-Spending Heroes Of The 2023 Season

Dan McQuade was a founding member of Defector. He died in January 2026.

Dan McQuade

A Rod reacts in semi-horror as a Cookie Monster drone flies toward him

This Is So Stupid

Former MLB Players Impressed By Stuffed Cookie Monster Taped To A Drone: “Amazing Technology”

Ryne Nelson Was An Excellent Janitor

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 31: Josh Jung #6 of the Texas Rangers slides into home plate to score a run on a wild pitch in the second inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks during Game Four of the World Series at Chase Field on October 31, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

We Were Spared A Double Bullpen Game But Little Else

Dave McKenna

WASHINGTON, D.C. - CIRCA 1966: First Baseman Frank Howard #9 of the Washington Senators bats during an Major League Baseball game circa 1966 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.. Howard played for the Senators from 1965-71. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Frank Howard

Frank Howard Was The Only Senator Who Mattered

Jon Gray #22 of the Texas Rangers pitches in the seventh inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks during Game One of the World Series at Globe Life Field on October 27, 2023 in Arlington, Texas.

MLB