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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.

Defector

Ray Ratto

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

Kathryn Xu

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

This Year’s Japanese Baseball Free Agents Might Just Be Guys

Patrick Redford

OAKLAND, CA - SEPTEMBER 21: Former first baseman Mark McGwire of the Oakland Athletics stands on the field during the team"u2019s Hall of Fame ceremony before the game against the Texas Rangers at the RingCentral Coliseum on September 21, 2019 in Oakland, California. The Oakland Athletics defeated the Texas Rangers 12-3. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)

Podcasts

The Real Story Of Baseball’s Steroid Era Is A Labor Story

David Roth

Edwin Diaz reacts with Pete Alonso of the New York Mets during the ninth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field on April 17, 2025. Alonso's kind of whapping Diaz on the butt with his glove.

They’re Outta Here

Lauren Theisen

Pete Alonso #20 and Edwin Diaz #39 of the New York Mets celebrate after defeating the Washington Nationals

The Mets Are Going To Look A Lot Different Next Year

<p><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif">Marc Normandin currently writes on baseball’s labor issues and more at </span><a style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif" href="http://marcnormandin.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://marcnormandin.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1758998321491000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1ZpjG5RUFwdpapWqR1u4bd">marcnormandin.com</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif">, which you can read for free but support </span><a style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif" href="https://www.patreon.com/marcnormandin">through his Patreon</a><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif">. His baseball writing has appeared at FOX Sports, SB Nation, Defector, Global Sport Matters, Deadspin, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, Sports on Earth, The Guardian, The Nation, FAIR, and TalkPoverty, and you can read his takes on video games at Retro XP and Endless Mode.</span></p>
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Marc Normandin

ob Nutting of the Pittsburgh Pirates talks with Adam Frazier #26 before the game against the New York Yankees during the home opener at PNC Park on April 4, 2025. He's got weird little sunglasses on. He looks like he's in a disguise somehow.

Why MLB’s Cheapest Teams Are At Least Trying To Seem Like They’re Trying

New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo (9) sprinting to first base on a walk.

Brandon Nimmo Will Now Do His Sprinting To First Base In Texas

Tarik Skubal warming up during the ALDS against the Seattle Mariners; in the background, out-of-focus camera flashes resemble a field of twinkling stars.

Now Is The Time To Fantasize About Your Loser Club Trading For Tarik Skubal

osh Naylor #12 of the Seattle Mariners reacts after grounding out to end the first inning.

The Mariners Are Acting Like A Team That Wants To Win A World Series

Emmanuel Clase #48 of the Cleveland Guardians celebrates the team's 8-6 win over the Athletics.

What’s One Rigged Pitch?

Chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta of the Cleveland Browns stands on the field prior to a game on December 17, 2017 against the Baltimore Ravens.

November Is When The Colorado Rockies Do Their Best Work

<p>Columnist. Author of many <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Drew-Magary/e/B001JS8R52/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_book_1">fine works of literature</a>, including <em>Point B</em>. Handsomest man in the world.</p>


Drew Magary

A man is seen using the OpenAI ChatGPT artificial intelligence chat website in this illustration photo on 18 July, 2023.

Funbag

Am I A Shitty Person For Using AI At Work?

Max Scherzer #31 of the Toronto Blue Jays acknowledges the fans as he exits the game during the fifth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game seven of the 2025 World Series at Rogers Center on November 01, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. (

Living And Dying With Max Scherzer

Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on during Game Five of the 2025 World Series. The background of the fans in the seats is indistinct, but Ohtani is in focus.

Game 3 Is The Legend, But The Blue Jays Are For Real

<p>Staff Writer</p>
<p>Find me on Signal @DefectorChris.19</p>


Chris Thompson

The Blue Jays Make The Dodgers Look Fake And Silly

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays reacts after the final out of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game four of the 2025 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 28, 2025 in Los Angeles, California

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Is A Canadian Hero

Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after hitting an RBI double

The Blue Jays Won’t Let Shohei Ohtani Do That Again

Freddie Freeman #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers rounds the bases after hitting a walk-off home run in the 18th inning during Game Three of the 2025 World Series presented by Capital One between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Monday, October 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.

If You Went To Sleep, Sorry But You Are Not Forgiven

Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Los Angeles Dodgers points to the sky after pitching a complete game and winning Game Two of the 2025 World Series.

They Can’t All Be Yoshinobu Yamamoto

<p>Former Defector intern, now freelancer.</p>
<p>For professional inquiries or tips please write lucybl00m@protonmail.com or yuck.20 on Signal.</p>
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Lucy Bloom

TORONTO, ONTARIO - OCTOBER 20: Manager Dan Wilson #6 of the Seattle Mariners takes the ball from Bryan Woo #22 during a pitching change in the seventh inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in game seven of the American League Championship Series at the Rogers Centre on October 20, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario.

How Not To Run A Bullpen

Kurt Suzuki, left, takes questions after being announced as the new manager of the Los Angeles Angels by General Manager Perry Minasian during a press conference at the stadium in Anaheim, CA on Wednesday, October 22, 2025. He looks kind of freaked out.

Congratulations Kurt Suzuki, You Get To Manage The Opossum House

George Springer of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates while rounding the bases after hitting a three-run home run to take the lead in the seventh inning during Game Seven of the American League Championship Series. He's like 18 inches off the ground and everyone in the stands is freaking out.

More Of This, Please

Manager Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers looks on against the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS. He's been doing a lot of "looking on."

Dave Roberts Can Afford To Take It Easy

New York Mets manager Bobby Valentine and catcher Mike Piazza applaud

The MLB App Won’t Stop Forcing Me To Remember 9/11

Cal Raleigh #29 of the Seattle Mariners prepares to bat in the first inning, in front of the backdrop of the CN Tower.

baseball