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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

Israel Daramola

Where Does Tua Tagovailoa Go From Here?

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<div>Abigail Segel is a contributing writer at Defector. She is also an editor for The IX Soccer and the Equalizer. Her work has been published in the Guardian and the Montreal Gazette.</div>
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Abigail Segel

Soccer

The NWSL Offseason Put Important New Faces In New Places

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

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

<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

Kathryn Xu

itcher Roki Sasaki puts on his jersey during a Los Angeles Dodgers press conference.

Maybe The Dodgers’ Competitors Could Show Some Self-Respect

<p>Jen Ramos Eisen is a Central California-based minor league baseball writer.</p>


Jen Ramos Eisen

of Team Japan pitches during the 2023 World Baseball Classic Semifinal game against Team Mexico in 2023.

All Of MLB Is Chasing Roki Sasaki

Barry Petchesky

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 28: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Yankees reacts after grounding out against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third inning during Game Three of the 2024 World Series at Yankee Stadium on October 28, 2024 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

A Guide To Yankees Fans’ Juan Soto Cope

Tom Ley

Blake Snell #4 of the San Diego Padres looks on during the sixth inning of a game against the Colorado Rockies at PETCO Park on September 19, 2023 in San Diego, California.

Blake Snell’s Contract Looks Like Trouble

Blake Snell #4 of the San Diego Padres pitches in the fourth inning against the Colorado Rockies on September 19, 2023 at Petco Park in San Diego, California.

Nobody’s Buying Blake Snell

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

Saquon Barkley #26 of the New York Giants stretches prior to an NFL divisional round football game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on January 21, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Running Backs Are Hosed

DeAndre Hopkins holds his helmet during a game between the Patriots and Cardinals.

DeAndre Hopkins Willingly Agrees To Catch The Rare Titans Pass

Samer Kalaf

The Grizzlies Are Done With Dillon Brooks

Carlos Correa congratulated by his former, and now future, Minnesota Twins teammates after a September 2022 home run.

I’d Rather Have Carlos Correa

Aaron Judge leaving the field at Yankee Stadium in the ALCS.

In The Long Run, We Are All Dead

Xander Bogaerts Is A Padre Because All That Money Has To Go Somewhere

The Phillies Might As Well Keep Spending

Giri Nathan

Zion Williamson poses at Pelicans media day.

Zion Williamson Will Remain A Pelican After All

Kalyn Kahler

The Patriots Are Signing Everyone Because Most Other Teams Can’t

Did The NFL Salary Cap Actually Need To Go Down This Year?

Brad Hand walks off after getting the last out of an exhibition game in Pittsburgh, in July.