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Defector

Staff Writer
Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19

Chris Thompson

Carlos Santana plays guitar on stage, with the Giants logo drawn onto his t-shirt.

This Is So Stupid

Béisbol!

Kathryn Xu

A screenshot of the Netflix broadcast of the Opening Night match between the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants.

Netflix Baseball Looks Like Shit

Barry Petchesky

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 06: A general view of the San Francisco Giants playing agains the Atlanta Braves at Oracle Park on June 06, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Netflix Is Loading Up The Clown Car For Opening Night

Ray Ratto

Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees arrives to the spring training game against the Chicago Cubs on March 23, 2026 in Mesa, Arizona. He's got big goofy shades on.

Baseball Is Almost Back, And Almost Gone

Lauren Theisen

Commissioner of Major League Baseball Rob Manfred

It’s Gambling

Samer Kalaf

Team USA looks on after losing to Venezuela in the WBC final

Good Riddance To Red Asses

Luis Paez-Pumar

Members of Team Venezuela celebrate on the podium after the 2026 World Baseball Classic Championship game presented by Capital One between Team Venezuela and Team USA at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 in Miami, Florida.

Viva Venezuela, A Champion At Last

MIAMI, FL - MARCH 17: Aaron Judge #99 of Team USA looks on during the pre-game ceremony prior to the 2026 World Baseball Classic Championship game presented by Capital One between Team Venezuela and Team USA at loanDepot Park on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/WBCI/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Team USA Lost For The Troops

Tom Ley

Manager Mark DeRosa #9 takes the game ball from Paul Skenes #30 of Team USA during the 2026 World Baseball Classic WBC game

Mentally Ill Former Navy SEAL Inspires Team USA To WBC Final

Vinnie Pasquantino #9 of Team Italy is showered with ice water by Jakob Marsee.

Nobody’s Having More Fun Than The Italians

HOUSTON, TEXAS - MARCH 7: Manager Mark Deosa of the United States stands for the national anthem before a World Baseball Classic Pool B game between Great Britain and the United States at Daikin Park on March 7, 2026 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Houston Astros/Getty Images)

Mark DeRosa Might’ve Boned This Big-Time

Randy Arozarena #56 of the Mexico in action during the 2026 World Baseball Classic game between Mexico and the United States.

Even At The World Baseball Classic, The Mariners Cannot Escape Themselves

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - MARCH 07: Luis Vázquez #8 of Team Puerto Rico celebrates after his team's 4-3 victory against Team Panama at Hiram Bithorn Stadium on March 07, 2026 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

The World Baseball Classic Is Already Producing Some Classic World Baseball

Shohei Ohtani #16 of team Japan warms up during the 2026 World Baseball Classic exhibition game.

World Baseball Classic, Or Assic?

Ryan Lambert looks happy coming off the mound in a minor league game.

Mets Prospect Might Be 80 Percent Egg At This Point

Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno in attendance for an opening day game between the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on April 5, 2024 in Anaheim.

Arte Moreno Is Done Pretending To Care

Patrick Dubuque is a writer and editor at Baseball Prospectus.

Patrick Dubuque

Phillippe Aumont of Team Canada pitches during Game 3 of Pool C between Team Great Britain and Team Canada at Chase Field on Sunday, March 12, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona.

A Season For Hope

Executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association Tony Clark talks to the media prior to Game 1 of the 2023 World Series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Texas Rangers.

MLBPA Chief Tony Clark Is Stepping Down 10 Months Before Baseball’s CBA Expires

Bryce Harper Is Still Grouchy About Dave Dombrowski’s Loose Ponderings

Kelsey McKinney

nick castellanos in a black tanktop on the field during warm ups

The Phillies Can Never Make Me Hate Nick Castellanos

The Tigers Need More Than Nostalgia From Justin Verlander

Francisco Lindor #12 of Team Puerto Rico celebrates with teammates after scoring in the fifth inning of Game 10 of Pool D between Team Puerto Rico and Team Dominican Republic at loanDepot Park on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 in Miami, Florida.

The World Baseball Classic Has An Insurance Problem

Buster Posey, President of Baseball Operations of the San Francisco Giants prepares for a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on September 15, 2025.

Major League Baseball Is Determined To Rain On Its Own Parade

David Roth

Kyle Tucker of the Chicago Cubs celebrates a hit in Game Four of the National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field on October 9, 2025.

It’s Nice To Have A Process, But It’s Better To Have Money

Munetaka Murakami #5 of the Chicago White Sox celebrates signing his first Major League Baseball contract by holding up a sock.

MLB