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This is Defector, a new sports blog and media company. We made this place together, we own it together, we run it together. Without access, without favor, without discretion, and without interference.

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Defector

New Defector Merch For Your Baby

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Merch v3

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Patrick Redford

Newly acquired Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani puts on his jersey for the first time as Chairman of the Los Angeles Dodgers Mark Walter looks on during a press conference on December 14, 2023 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

ohtani-jersey

Early Reviews Suggest That MLB’s New Jerseys Suck Ass

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Lauren Theisen

Washington Nationals v San Diego Padres

The Padres Squandered The Greatest Gift

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Ray Ratto

OAKLAND, CA - JULY 19: Owner John Fisher of the Oakland Athletics stands in the stands during the game against the Houston Astros at the Oakland Coliseum on July 19, 2016 in Oakland, California. The Athletics defeated the Astros 4-3. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** John Fisher

Houston Astros v Oakland Athletics

Look Who’s Come Crawling Back To Oakland

Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman, seen doing a kind of triumphant here-I-am gesture at the opening of The Sphere in September of 2023.

Sphere Opening Night

Las Vegas Mayor To John Fisher: Maybe Try Staying In Oakland

Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Brent Suter high fives fans as he walks around the field with players to end their season at Coors Field on October 1, 2023 in Denver, Colorado.

Colorado Rockies v Minnesota Twins

It’s Time To Fixate On How Your Favorite Baseball Team Will Disappoint You

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Chris Thompson

John Fisher’s Wandering Athletics Are Slipping Free Of Reality

John Angelos Got Everything He Wanted

Adrian Beltre jokes around during batting practice prior to the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at T-Mobile Park on Saturday, July 8, 2023 in Seattle, Washington.

SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game

Unanimity Is The Wrong Benchmark For Hall-Of-Fame Angst

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Barry Petchesky

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Defector At The Movies

Harold Lloyd Terrifying Babe Ruth With Bad Driving Is Now In The Public Domain

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

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.

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

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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.

Los Angeles Angels v Los Angeles Dodgers

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.

Detroit Tigers v Los Angeles Angels

Shohei Ohtani’s Free Agency Drove The Ball Writers Batty

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David Roth

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

Shohei Ohtani Just Got Super-Duper Paid

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


Craig Goldstein

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

San Diego Padres v San Francisco 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.

Cleveland Guardians v. Seattle Mariners

The Mariners Are Making Mariners Moves Again

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Tom Ley

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

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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)

World Series – Arizona Diamondbacks v Texas Rangers – Game One

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.

Atlanta Braves v Washington Nationals – Game One

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)

Tampa Bay Rays v Oakland Athletics

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.

Annual Charity Day Hosted by Cantor Fitzgerald and The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund

MLB