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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

Kathryn Xu

Konnor Griffin #75 of the Pittsburgh Pirates warms up prior to a spring training game.

Is Konnor Griffin Actually 19 Years Old? Let’s Discuss

David Roth

Vince Velasquez of the Philadelphia Phillies prays before he pitches against the New York Mets during a game at Citi Field on July 11, 2018.

Podcasts

Chartreuse And Root Beer, With Kelsey McKinney

Lauren Theisen

Justin Verlander #35 of the Detroit Tigers poses for a photo

Justin Verlander’s Had Better Days

Ray Ratto

Athletics OF Lawrence Butler reacts after striking out during the MLB game between the Athletics and the Atlanta Braves on March 30th, 2026.

The Sacramento Athletics Are A Wind Farm

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


Chris Thompson

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

This Is So Stupid

Béisbol!

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

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

Commissioner of Major League Baseball Rob Manfred

It’s Gambling

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

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

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

<p>Patrick Dubuque is a writer and editor at Baseball Prospectus.</p>


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

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

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)

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

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

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.

baseball