This week, Jake, Gabe, and Scott talk to one of the last remaining beat writers left covering the St. Louis Cardinals. Jeff Jones of the Belleville News Democrat (@jmjones) is currently in Jupiter, Florida, obtaining minute-by-minute accounts of players as they prepare for the 2026 MLB season.
We cover topics like Jeff’s recent story about 6 Cardinals players getting engaged this offseason as a Valentine’s Day relevant topic, the Cardinals’ spring battles, and how Jeff sees certain areas of the roster shaking out, Chaim Bloom’s first offseason leading the Cardinals, and the current state of local news coverage and what the future might look like for coverage.
Next week, we will be joined by a pair of new guests: Nate Heininger and Ben Smorka of the “Talking About Birds” podcast. If you have never heard of or listened to their show, they are cousins who combine comedy and everyday topics with Cardinals baseball and even play fun games at the end of their episodes, usually involving some sort of trivia or cheesy idea Nate has concocted that is making Ben shake his head in frustration or disbelief. They’re a very Abbot and Costello-style comedy duo that also combines analytics and Cardinals baseball, and they will join us next week.
North Carolina Pitcher Folger Boaz (36) winds up for the pitch against Arizona in the Super Regionals held in Chapel Hill on June 7, 2025. The North Carolina Tarheels and the Arizona Wildcats met in game two of the NCAA Division 1 Super Regionals in Chapel Hill, N.C. on June 7, 2025. | Steven Worthy / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
For the third year running, Scott Forbes and the Diamond Heels opened their season with a sweep at Boshamer Stadium, this one coming against Indiana. Each game was different from the rest, and we got a pretty good look at a lot of the guys, new and old, who are going to feature heavily for this team as the season continues.
The Friday game followed a pretty familiar script to UNC fans who watched a lot of last season. For four and a half innings, both starting pitchers stymied the opposing lineups. Jason DeCaro went 5.0 scoreless, allowing 2 hits and walking 3 while striking out 7. His counterpart, Tony Neubeck, threw 4 scoreless innings, with just one hit and 3 walks to 2 strikeouts. He was pulled after 62 pitches and UNC jumped on his replacement, Reagan Rivera. In the fifth, the Heels got 3 of the first 4 men on base via two singles and a walk before a Jake Schaffner sac fly opened the scoring and a Gavin Gallaher triple on the next at-bat brought in two more runs. Indiana scratched back with a two-run 6th against Caden Glauber, who came in to replace DeCaro. Glauber is a freshman that Forbes has been talking about as somebody who will contribute a lot of innings this year like Ryan Lynch and Walker McDuffie did last year, but he didn’t have as auspicious a debut as either. He showed some real stuff, running the fastball up to 96 with good movement, but struggled to throw strikes. He walked the bases full around two outs before giving up a 2-run single. After Walker McDuffie recorded the 3rd out of the inning, the Heels struck back, putting together a 6-spot in the bottom of the sixth that put the game away. It started by taking advantages of some Indiana mistakes before extra-base hits from Tyler Howe, Colin Hynek, and Jake Schaffner finished the job, making the score 9-2.
From there, the big story was Boston Flannery, who came in to begin the 7th. The highly-recruited Flannery had thrown just 6 innings the last two years and had struggled to throw strikes in all his previous appearances, but there had been talk out of the program that he had turned a corner and was ready to be a contributor. Indeed, he looked by far the best he ever has in Tar Heel blue. He finished with a line of 2.1 IP, 2 K, 2 BB, and 0 ER, though Indiana did get across two runs in the 9th thanks to an error in the field.
The other two games were played as a doubleheader on Saturday, and they were wildly different both from Friday’s game and from each other. The first started with a little more action than Friday’s, with Jake Schaffner leading off for UNC with a single, stealing second, and eventually coming around to score on an Erik Paulsen single. On the other side, Folger Boaz looked nigh unhittable for 2 innings before giving up an equalizing run in the 3rd via a hit batter and a double. He bounced back, though, and ended with a line of 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 hits, 6 K, 2 BB, and one hit batter. The Heels again took the lead in the 5th via an Erik Paulsen 3-run home run, the Heels’ first of the year, and again sealed it with a six-run 6th that featured runs coming in via HBP, walk, and fielding error. A Rom Kellis double and another error in the field for the Hoosiers in the 7th were enough to give UNC a run-rule victory, 12-2.
Indiana finally took a lead in the first inning of the second leg, getting a couple of singles off Ryan Lynch and manufacturing a run. It didn’t last very long, as the Heels got one back in the 2nd on a Tyler Howe single. That could have been a bigger inning, as the Heels had the bases loaded with one out, but failed to capitalize in what was a microcosm of the game for UNC. Lynch settled in and spun a pretty similar start to his fellow starters: 5 IP, 3 hits, 1 ER, 6 K, 2 BB, 1 HBP, but his offense didn’t give him any run support, stranding runners nearly every inning. Glauber got another opportunity after Lynch and got out of the 6th quickly before getting in trouble again in the 7th with two 2-out walks. That high-leverage situation got us our first look at Matthew Matthijs since his season-ending injury last year, and he induced a ground ball that should have ended the inning if not for a throwing error from Schaffner. The Hoosiers made good on their lifeline with a 2-run single that gave them a 3-1 lead before Matthijs got out of the inning. He retired the next 6 batters he faced, giving his team a chance, and after a 1-2-3 8th, the Heels got the first 2 batters on in the 9th. Owen Hull nearly walked it off with a fly ball to center, but Boshamer Stadium just held it in, and Macon Winslow hit a soft fly ball to short, putting the pressure on pinch hitter Lee Sowers to bring his teammates home. What happened next, well…
After the way last season ended, I’m sure UNC fans are more than sympathetic to something like this. UNC tied the game on that error but couldn’t scratch the last run over, and the game went to extras. The Heels shut down the Hoosiers in the 10th and loaded the bases with 2 outs, but couldn’t get over the hump, then retired Indiana in short order again in the 11th. Macon Winslow came up to lead off the bottom of the inning and walked it off with a homer off the scoreboard, his first as a Tar Heel. The Heels finished the game having stranded 15 runners and batting 2/17 with runners in scoring position, but they did end up with the sweep. I suppose it’s good that they already had the series won, so that botched throw to first doesn’t end up meaning too much for either team in the bigger picture.
UNC plays two midweek games for each of their first three weeks of the schedule. This week, they’ll host Richmond on Tuesday and Longwood on Wednesday before their yearly home/neutral/away series against ECU this upcoming weekend. Kyle Percival, who did not throw against Indiana, will start Tuesday’s game, while Wednesday’s starter has not yet been announced.
Batting Leaders (among players with 2 PA/game and 75% of games played)
Batting Average: C/DH Colin Hynek, .500
On-Base Percentage: Hynek, .615
Slugging Percentage: Hynek, .800
Home Runs: C/DH Macon Winslow and 1B Erik Paulsen, 1
Runs Batted In: Paulsen, 5
Hits: Hynek and SS Jake Schaffner, 5
Runs: Winslow and 3B Cooper Nicholson, 4
Stolen Bases: Hynek and Schaffner, 1
Pitching Leaders (in the future, this will be among players with 1 IP/game; for now, I’ll set the line at 2 IP)
ERA: Jason DeCaro, Boston Flannery, and Matthew Matthijs, 0.00
Strikeouts: DeCaro, 7
Innings Pitched: DeCaro, Folger Boaz, and Ryan Lynch, 5.0
Wins: DeCaro and Boaz, 1
Saves: none
Batting Average Against: Matthijs and Flannery, .111
Jeff “Doc” Holliday at his first St. Louis Cardinals game in the early 1970’s. | Photo, Doc Holliday
Busch Stadium is one of the anchors of my childhood. My family was never able to be a part of any playoff or World Series games, but there are still several moments that have stuck with me for decades.
When you talk about Busch Stadium, you have to be specific about which one you’re talking about. Many refer to Busch Stadium I which really was Sportsman’s Park that was renamed in 1953 when Anheuser-Busch bought the park. Busch Stadium II opened in 1966 and was a multi-purpose stadium until it was demolished for the stadium the St. Louis Cardinals have now which is Busch Stadium III.
I’ll kick this off with the first game I ever attended which was in the early 1970’s in Busch Stadium II. The Cardinals were playing the Montreal Expos and the team had a signing session before the game with Al Hrabosky who was the Cardinals closer at the time. I was blown away when I walked up to the table where Al was sitting and he called me “Jeff” (my real first name) and then signed an autograph for me. I wondered how Al could have known my name and didn’t remember I was wearing my St. Louis Cardinals t-shirt at the time that had my name on it. Duh.
My other major Busch Stadium II memory was in 1998 when my friends and I were sitting on the first base side of the field seats when Mark McGwire was kicked out of the game during an August game against the Braves. That was the game when fans littered the field with food and anything not tied down in protest. Thanks again for that moment, rookie umpire Sam Holbrook. I was also in the left field stands a day before McGwire hit home run number 60 with a glove on my hand, but nothing to show for it.
The last St. Louis Cardinals game I attended was on Nolan Arenado Bobblehead Day in April of 2022 which was ironic since that was the game when Nolan chose to serve his suspension for his role in a bench-clearing brawl against the Mets. I don’t have any great memories of that day as we got smoked by the Arizona Diamondbacks although Miles Mikolas pitched a great game. The player that subbed for Nolan at third base that game was a guy I had never heard of previously – Brendan Donovan. I remember Donovan made an error that day, but Harrison Bader made an epic sliding catch in center.
What are your most memorable days at Busch Stadium? I can’t wait to hear your stories.
Welcome to Larissa’s Lessons, a weekly takeaways series in which some combination of Karen, True and Dylan will break down the biggest takeaways from the weekend’s games. We love an alliteration and puns around here, so be prepared for some word play.
Because the Tigers are playing a ridiculous number of games in a weekend and most of aren’t televised, this will be a look at more of a big picture of a bunch of games as opposed to a recap of each game. Once the home opener comes around in March, this will likely go in a different direction, but we’ll see!
Defense wins championships
This week’s games were defined by Mizzou’s ability (or lackthereof) to shutdown their opponents’ bats. The most frustrating loss came against NC State, where the Tigers gave up 13 runs. In that game the Mizzou pitchers allowed 10 hits and 10 walks as the Wolfpack paraded around the bases. A similar situation happened against #7 UCLA, where Mizzou led 5-1 through four innings before giving up five runs and the lead, ultimately falling at the hands of the Bruins.
By contrast, Marissa McCann pitched a complete-game shutout in the win against Florida Atlantic. Against Duke she struggled, but Natalie Touchet and Abby Carr pitched 5.2 innings and allowed no runs to allow Mizzou to win 5-4 after its offense started rolling. This week the Tigers allowed 2.0 runs in wins and 6.8 in losses.
Both McCann and Cierra Harrison have ERAs approaching five, struggling against some of the elite competition the Tigers have seen across these first two weeks. Mizzou should look at giving Abby Carr a bigger piece of the rotation within the pitching staff, as she currently has a 1.26 ERA and a 2-1 record in 16.2 innings pitched. She’s clearly the strongest piece of the Tigers bullpen. I believe using Carr as a consistent starter (at the very least in the midweek) will take some of the burden off McCann and Harrison and allow the freshman to gain much-needed experience if she hopes to become the true ace of the staff sometime in the future.
Kayley’s offensive explosion
Kayley Lenger has been an irreplaceable part of the starting lineup due to her defensive capabilities as an outfielder. She threw out a runner in both the FAU and Duke games in a perfect demonstration of her value:
However, her defensive prowess have not always translated to offensive efficiency. As a junior last season, Lenger finished the year batting .217 with a .342 on base percentage. Her offense has been much improved through 11 games this season, currently batting .300 with .417 on base percentage. “Bruiser” (Editor’s note: we are making this happen) once again leads the team in hit by pitches at 3, bringing her up to 32 in her career thus far.
“(Lenger’s) really focused and she’s bought in. She has a great relationship with [hitting coach] Jake Epstein,” Anderson said at Monday’s media session.
This week Lenger finished with three hits including a 2-RBI home run during the loss to NC State. The senior has stepped up big-time for a team that has needed her help both offensive and defensively.
Playing down (and up) to opponents
If you take a look at Mizzou Softball’s schedule, it doesn’t take long to see that Mizzou has some strong wins, but also some pretty bad losses. The Tigers, currently at 4-7, have three ranked wins against then-No. 21 Liberty, No. 23 FAU and No. 22 Duke. These aren’t the highest ranked wins in the world but they are still resume-building wins that Mizzou needs.
On the other hand, the Tigers have fallen against five unranked opponents (Penn State, South Alabama, UCF, NC State and Northwestern) and they weren’t very pretty losses.
Mizzou coach Larissa Anderson wasn’t scared to say exactly what she saw during her midweek press conference.
“We had some highlights, we had a handful of lowlights,” she said. “We got to have some players that need to step up. We had opportunities to be able win a majority of our games.”
It’s clear the Mizzou is playing to the level of its opponent but if one thing is for sure: it has the talent to beat the top teams. If the Tigers are able to find some consistency across all three facets, there’s a good chance they can find a groove.
This upcoming week will be a good test as Mizzou plays five unranked games. If the Tigers are able to come out of the weekend undefeated against Houston, McNeese State and Louisiana, they’ll be back on track for improvement from last season. That would also put them back above .500 which is the most important part.
McCann emerging as the team’s ace (for now)
This might not remain the case but junior Marissa McCann is making her case to be Mizzou’s ace this season. She leads the Tigers in innings pitched this season and despite her struggle against Duke, she’s had some really strong outings. McCann went the distance against FAU in a ranked victory for the Tigers over the weekend.
On the stat sheet Abby Carr has a stronger resume — and it might be just a matter of time until she takes over as Mizzou’s top pitcher — but McCann has been the one in the tight situations like starting against Duke in a rivalry game.
“McCann has every pitch in her repertoire,” Anderson said. “From a determination standpoint, we need her to have the confidence that every game she throws she can win. And she can.”
I don’t think Mizzou’s pitching has to be the Achillies heel of the team, but it’ll have to gain some consistency if it wants to stay in the hunt for the tournament. Letting up 14 runs against an unranked NC State team isn’t ideal, but it’s early so HCLA knows what she needs to work on.
Offensive & Pitching Leaders thru 5 games
Kayley Lenger: .300 BA | .884 OPS | 30 AB | 5 R | 9 H | 2 2B | HR | 5 RBI | .467 SLG% | 3 BB | 3 HBP | 7 K
Sidney Forrester: .290 BA | .888 OPS | 31 AB | 2 R | 9 H | 2 2B | HR | 5 RBI | .452 SLG% | 7 BB | 7 K
Abby Hay: .286 BA | .918 OPS | 35 AB | 4 R | 10 H | 3 2B | 2 HR | 9 RBI | .543 SLG% | 5 BB | 5 K
Madison Uptegrove: .286 BA | .722 OPS | 36 AB | 4 R | 10 ZH | 4 2B | 6 RBI | .389 SLG% | 3 BB | 11 K
Overall, the team is batting just .2227 (down from .238 last week) with a .707 OPS. They’ve scored 50 runs, had 68 hits, 19 doubles (that seems good!), and 6 homers. They’re slugging just .357. They’ve walked 48 times but also struck out whopping 73. Their on-base % is .350.
Abby Carr: 1.26 ERA | 1.20 WHIP | 16.2 IP | 10 H | 4 R | 3 ER | 10 BB | 13 K | 4 XBH | .172 Opp BA
Marissa McCann: 4.78 ERA | 1.33 WHIP | 26.1 IP | 31 H | 21 R | 18 ER | 4 BB | 12 XBH | 6 HR | .301 Opp BA
Cierra Harrison: 4.87 ERA | 1.82 WHIP | 18.2 IP | 28 H | 14 R | 13 ER | 6 BB | 14 K | 9 XBH | 5 HR | .346 Opp BA
Overall, the team ERA is 3.63 through 11 games and 79 IP. They’ve allowed 86 hits, 54 runs (41 earned), 32 walks, 58 strikeouts, 11 doubles, 4 triples, and 13 home runs. Opponents are batting .283 against them.
What’s to Come
Now that the Florida trip has concluded, the Tigers will head to Lake Charles, La. this weekend for another five game road trip. Here’s who they’re facing and how their seasons have started:
Houston (Feb 20 at 1pm, Feb 21 at 1:30pm): 8-1 overall | W 6-3 v. Pitt | W 12-4 v. Lafayette (DH) | L 2-10 v. Penn State (DH) | W 10-9 v. Michigan | W 7-0 v. Incarnate Word
The Cougars are on a two-game win streak after a 4-1 weekend at home for the Houston Invitational
Houston is hitting .295 as a team with a 1.098 OPS. They’ve whacked 22 home runs this season and worked 44 walks to only 27 strikeouts. Maddie Hartley is currently leading the offense in hitting .500, with a massive 1.927 OPS.
The pitching staff has a 3.08 ERA and holding its opponents to a .229 batting average. Neveah Brown (1.94 ERA, 21.2 IP, .111 Opp BA) and Gigi Solis (2.17 ERA, 9.2 IP, .297 Opp BA) lead the staff.
The Cougars earned its 800th career win in program history after a 9-1 run-rule victory over Fairfield on February 7.
McNeese State (Feb 20 at 6pm, Feb 21 at 4pm): 7-4 overall | W 12-11 & L 3-8 v. #21 Ole Miss (DH) | W 11-9 & L 5-7 v. Austin Peay | L 3-5 & W 14-4 (5 in.) v. UIC
McNeese is coming off of a 3-3 weekend in the Ragin’ Cajuns Invitational and the Carl Vincent Insurance Invitational.
McNeese is hitting .352 with a 1.026 OPS. They’ve worked 59 walks to just 31 strikeouts, and have quite a few players hitting above .350, including Corine Poncho (.364 BA), Nyiah Fontenot (.368 BA), Maddie Taylor (.464 BA) and Rylee Cloud (.500 BA). These three players rarely strike out and each have at minimum 10 hits and 10 runs scored.
If McNeese has a significant weakness, it is their pitching staff, who has a whopping 5.50 ERA, with opponents hitting .317 against them. They’ve given up 18 home runs this season, along with 19 doubles, which presents a great opportunity for the Tigers to get their bats moving.
Louisiana (Feb 22 at 11am):6-3 overall | L 2-5 & W 8-5 v. #21 Ole Miss | W 5-1 & W 23-0 (5 in.) v. Texas A&M- Corpus Christi | L 5-6 v. Prairie View A&M
The Ragin’ Cajuns are coming off a 3-2 weekend in the team’s home tournament.
Louisiana is hitting a massive .351 with a 1.041 OPS so far this season, with 15 HR, 74 hits and 86 runs scored. They also don’t really strike out, working a 37 BB : 27 K ratio.
Their pitching is just okay, with a 3.56 ERA in 61 IP. They’re holding opponents to a .252 BA, and have given up just 17 extra base hits (7 HR).
Feb 17, 2026; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays infielder Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) talks with manager John Schneider (14) during spring training at Bobby Mattick Training Center at Englebert Complex. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images | Jonathan Dyer-Imagn Images
There isn’t a lot of news coming out of the Jays camp yet.
The first spring game is this Saturday, 1:00 Eastern, against the Phillies. We get a lot of games with the Phillies, as their spring home is about a 15-minute drive from Dunedin.
The big baseball news is that Tony Clark is resigning as the executive director MLB Players Association. There are allegations that he has been pocketing licensing money, which some people frown upon. The US Department of Justice is investigating him. The timing isn’t good as MLB and the Players are starting long negotiations for the next CBA (which sounds very likely to cost us some baseball in 2027).
John Schneider had a speech for his players at the start of camp:
Schneider told the press that Vlad will be more of a leader now that Bo is gone. That sounds silly to me. I guess you have to talk to the press a lot, and you are going to say some silly stuff. The good part is that the team has a number of good leaders on the team. I’d think that George Springer and Kevin Gausman are as much leaders as anyone on the team.
Shi Davidi tells us that the Jays were looking to add more strikeouts to their pitching staff and that Ponce and Cease will do that, as well as having Bieber for a full (ish) season. We were sixth in the majors in strikeouts last year, but adding Ponce, Cease, and having Yesavage for the season could push them to the top of the strikeout leaderboard
I like this quote:
“They’re funny, man, both of them,” Gausman said of Ponce and Cease. “They’re both weird and I think the best pitchers in the game are a little weird.”
If you want to see Kazuma Okamoto (who told reporters that he was very serious and very manly), Keegan Mathson posted some video:
It looked like Kazuma Okamoto took Cody Ponce deep to left field.
Some debate behind the screen. George Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. were lobbying for the home run. Okamoto called it foul. #BlueJayspic.twitter.com/4zSqh6L0Ws
Just a housekeeping note, I’m going to be on holiday mid-March to mid-April. We are going to Japan. I’m hoping to get to watch some baseball over there. Unlike last year, we should have internet service most of the time, but we could use an extra voice or two to help out Tom M keep this place going. If you would like to volunteer, send me an email.
If Milwaukee is ready to part ways with Giannis Antetokounmpo this offseason, the Lakers reportedly have big interest in being at the forefront of trade talks.
At least one Western Conference executive believes if the Bucks intend to shop their nine-time All-Star following the end of the 2025-26 season, the Lakers view him as the “big prize,” according to ESPN.
The Lakers would reportedly have big interest in trading for Giannis Antetokounmpo if he’s made available this offseason. Getty Images
And, the outlet added, Lakers sources believe they’d be “on a very short list” of teams Antetokounmpo would like to be sent to if he is indeed getting moved this summer.
Of course, whether or not Antetokounmpo is available is a big if.
The Lakers stood relatively pat at the trade deadline earlier this month. NBAE via Getty Images
He’s been with the Bucks for all 13 of his NBA seasons, and while there’s been loud chatter recently that he’d prefer to play for a team in serious championship contention, Milwaukee could always find a way this offseason to retool around him and keep him on the roster.
A Lakers potential offer of three future first-round picks, though, could help sway things, ESPN reported.
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Los Angeles chose to stand relatively pat at the trade deadline earlier this month, making just one minor move for guard Luke Kennard — which does set them up for bigger possible acquistions at the conclusion of the season.
Luka Doncic could be paired up with Giannis Antetokounmpo if the Lakers make a deal with Milwaukee this summer. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
LeBron James’ future with the team will certainly impact any moves the team makes.
The future Hall of Famer and the Lakers were reportedly headed for divorce, but ESPN claimed Tuesday the Lakers would welcome him back if he wanted to return in 2026-27.
There are still plenty of games left for the Lakers this year, but barring a huge playoff run, the real fireworks for the Lakers in 2026 might not begin until the summer.
‘I’m trying to figure out if I can actually do this’
Woods says he could play in this year’s Masters
Tiger Woods has confirmed he has been asked to captain the USA team at the Ryder Cup next year. Woods, who has not played competitively since the 2024 Open Championship, has also somewhat remarkably left the door open to teeing up in the Masters this year.
With the USA still reeling from defeat by Europe at Bethpage in September, thoughts have turned towards attempts to reclaim the Ryder Cup in Ireland. Woods is the PGA of America’s first choice as captain. The 50-year-old will determine whether he believes he can commit sufficiently to the role.
Steve Borthwick’s response to stinging defeat in Scotland is to hand a first start to English rugby’s young tyro
A week can be a long time in the Six Nations, never mind in politics. One minute England are contemplating title showdowns in Paris, the next they face a must-win game against Ireland to remain in contention. A swift riposte to the defeat in Scotland last weekend is required urgently and Steve Borthwick’s team selection reflects the management’s desire for a significant gear change.
It has clearly played straight into the hands of Henry Pollock, whose ambition to start for England is about to be realised after seven caps off the bench. His promotion reflects the need to re-energise all involved in the Murrayfield meltdown, as does the starting return of Tom Curry and Ollie Lawrence, Tommy Freeman’s shift back to the wing and Marcus Smith’s bench resurrection.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 09: Rob Refsnyder #30 of the Boston Red Sox is congratulated by teammates after he hit a three-run home run against the Athletics in the top of the first inning at Sutter Health Park on September 09, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Rob Refsnyder was one of the worst players in MLB from 2015-2021. He’s now a crucial member of the Mariners’ title run.
Refsnyder posted -1.0 fWAR in the seven years that followed his MLB debut in 2015. It wasn’t just one bad season but the slow accumulation of negative value across several years and teams. He was 31 years old with a career 71 wRC+ and no discernible skills when he signed a minor league deal with the Red Sox in 2022, his ninth organization in 10 years.
Then he got good:
From 2022 to 2025, Refsynder posted a 124 wRC+ in 936 plate appearances. Sure, he wasn’t a full-time player, averaging fewer than 250 plate appearances a season. But he found his niche as a short-side platoon option, with a 155 wRC+ against lefties, sixth best in MLB.
“I really don’t know why [it’s taken so long]. I mean, I’ve never stopped working along the way. I’ve always understood that I had to be objective and recognize when my swing wasn’t good, or that my results weren’t good. I’ve always known that I had to improve as a hitter.”
Just before Christmas, the Mariners gave Refsnyder his first real payday, a bit more than $6 million for one year; modest by the standards of free agency, but still a near doubling of his career earnings at the age of 35, now with his 11th organization.
He’s become crucial, too. One of the biggest concerns for the Mariners’ roster right now is the handedness of their lineup. They have six everyday players:
Three lefties: Josh Naylor, Brendan Donovan, J.P. Crawford
Two righties: Julio Rodríguez, Randy Arozarena
One switch hitter: Cal Raleigh
Then they have three spots up for grabs. The top options are all lefties: Dom Canzone, Luke Raley, Cole Young and Colt Emerson each provide big upside with a variety of skillsets. The righty options are likely lesser: Victor Robles, Ryan Bliss, Leo Rivas and Andrew Knizner have more tenuous futures in MLB. Refsnyder provides necessary length against lefties while offering positional versatility, having played six positions throughout his career.
To be clear, the Mariners aren’t projected to be bad against lefties. Rodríguez, Raleigh, Arozarena and now Refsnyder are a competitive group on their own. Even with the handedness concerns, the Mariners are still projected 10th in MLB with a 106 wRC+ against lefties. That’s a bit worse than their projected 114 wRC+ against righties (second only to the Dodgers’ extraordinary mark of 121), but it’s still enough to make them one of the top lineups in MLB. That’s to say, Mariners’ weaknesses at this point are relatively minor; “handedness” is the type of thing only great teams get to worry about.
While Refsnyder doesn’t quite move the needle, he’s not really meant to. His inclusion on this roster is a sign the Mariners are serious about contending in 2026. He’s spent a decade desperate to get better anyway he can. It seems the Mariners are finally on board.
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 16: Mike Conley #10 of the Minnesota Timberwolves looks on during the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on January 16, 2026 in Houston, Texas. User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It was all but official about two weeks ago at the NBA trade deadline.
Now, it’s official.
As reported by numerous sources, Mike Conley is returning to the Minnesota Timberwolves. For those of you curious about the timeline and why this signing is just happening now, here’s a general breakdown.
February 3 @ 1:24 pm: Mike Conley traded to the Chicago Bulls as part of a salary dump for the Wolves to get under the first apron.
February 4 @ 1:56 pm: Conley traded to the Charlotte Hornets as part of the Coby White transaction.
February 5 @ 8:55 am: Wolves trade for Ayo Dosunmu.
February 5 @ 2:15 pm: Conley waived by the Hornets.
February 6 @ 10:15 am: Conley reported to re-sign with the Wolves after buyout.
February 17 @ 11:52 am: Officially signed with the Wolves.
Why was there an 11-day delay in Conley coming back to rejoin his team? Essentially, it was a simple dollars and cents situation. The Wolves waited to re-sign him after the All-Star break because his prorated veteran minimum rate now affords Minnesota to sign another minimum player in addition to Conley. Had they signed him back on February 6th, the Wolves likely would have been capped at 14 players instead of the option of adding a 15th due to their cap situation.
Something like that.
On to basketball. Though the veteran has seen his play spiral downwards this season, but what he brings to Minnesota goes much beyond what happens on the hardwood. The former NBA All-Star (2021) and All-Defensive Team (2013) point guard has been a cliché “locker room presence” that has helped guide Minnesota to two straight Western Conference Finals. Players like Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert have openly talked about wanting the 38-year-old back.
It will be interesting to see how Wolves Head Coach Chris Finch handles his return. It’s no secret that Finch would trust Conley with his life. However, the addition of two-way dynamo Ayo Dosunmu, increased consistency from Bones Hyland, and the imminent return of Terrence Shannon will likely interfere with Finch’s desire to run Conley onto the court.
Someone will have to sacrifice.
In this current season, Conley has averaged the seventh most minutes (18.5) on the team despite being 11th in Win Shares per 48 minutes. He’s suffering career lows across the board. Conley’s 32.1% mark from beyond the arc is his worst ever, despite a career-high in three-point rate. A once undeniably reliable float game is now unrecognizable, shooting a horrendous 32.6% from two-point range on a not nice 6.9% mark within three feet of the hoop.
In the meantime, almost everyone is happy to see Conley back in a Wolves uniform despite his flaws on the court. Let’s turn those tears of sadness into tears of happiness. As Ricky Rubio once said, “Change this face, be happy!”
Baseball: World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers minority owner Magic Johnson talks to the media following victory vs Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. Game 7. Toronto, Canada 11/1/2025CREDIT: Erick W. Rasco (Photo by Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X164793 TK1)
Declarations from the uninformed aside, it was a bit of an ask for the agency working with Zero Emissions Transit, the non-profit running the Dodgers Gondola project, to kill the project.
The writing was on the wall when the vote on this project was placed on the Consent calendar at the Metro Board meeting. Consent calendars generally include noncontroversial items or those a governing body wants to vote on with little to no debate.
While the Los Angeles City Council voted 12-1 to urge L.A. Metro to terminate the project in the weeks before the meeting, there was uncertainty about whether Mayor Bass would approve or veto the resolution, given that she sits on the Metro Board. We finally have an answer as to what she did: nothing.
“The way the council feels is important to me,” Bass told The Times. “But, if a member from that district is passionate about a project, then the other members are in support of that.
“There is much more time for things to be worked out. I just did not feel that it was appropriate to stop it now.”
The backers of the Dodgers Gondola project must still obtain approval from various local and state agencies before the LA City Council has the final say. The project was projected to cost $500 million in 2023; it is an open question how much it will cost now. While the Bass Compromise of 2024 states that no public funds will be used for the project, the project’s financing plan has not yet been made public.
Accordingly, it seems increasingly likely that Metro will use its bus fleet rather than the Gondola during the rapidly approaching 2028 Olympic Games, given the near impossibility of obtaining all required approvals and completing construction in time.
As it stands, the project will limp on in the background as the 2026 Spring wears on until its next reckoning at a relevant agency.
Johnson’s September Remarks to LASEC
As an aside, it is time to address comments by Magic Johnson that largely went unnoticed by the Dodgers fanbase before the recent rounds of votes on the status of getting to and from Dodger Stadium. Specifically, Johnson was a speaker at the 11th Annual Dodgers All-Access Gala, hosted by the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission (LASEC).
Senior Editor of Dodger Blue Matt Borelli first reported Johnson’s comments back in September. Unfortunately, I could find no video of Johnson’s comments to the LASEC, so we will have to rely entirely on Mr. Borelli’s reporting:
Dodgers part-owner and Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson recently conceded that the Dodger Stadium parking lots will likely always be an issue.
“There’s so many memories about coming to this stadium,” Johnson began in response to a fan’s question at the 11th annual Dodgers All-Access event.
“Thank God that we kept this stadium. You go to a lot of new ballparks, but they don’t have what we have. It’s special. You know who you’re sitting next to. We’re never going to solve the parking thing, so let’s not talk about it. We can’t solve it.
“Every minute that we’re in the car, it’s worth it when we get here and watch this game. Now, we all have the same issue going home, so we ain’t going to solve that either. Don’t ask me about those two situations. They haven’t solved it since we’ve been here, we’re not going to solve it because we’re the owners now.
“But, what would you rather have? A competitive team winning the division every year, or going home early? Getting to the park earlier, easier. I think I’d rather have the team that’s won our division 11 out of 12 years. Two World Series, been to the World Series four times. I think I’d rather have that and I’ll deal with the other things.
“But when we go to other cities like New York and Atlanta, that traffic is bad too. Everybody thinks we’re the only ones that have bad traffic. Like I said, I’m going to take that as long as we’re winning.”
[emphasis added.]
For starters, even in the most charitable light, Johnson’s statement about the parking lots is wrong and borders on nonsensical. By that logic, Johnson’s statement, if hypothetically applied to other aspects of running Dodger Stadium, amounts to learned helplessness (and arguably negligence), which is unacceptable regardless of the circumstances.
While I vehemently disagree with what Johnson said, if forced to play Devil’s Advocate, I can see where he is coming from on a single point.
Dodger Stadium has certain traffic issues inherent to its location and construction. When you build a stadium on a hill next to a residential neighborhood, with various bottlenecks of traffic on the hill, with freeway layouts that would not even pass muster in the computer game SimCity in a major metropolitan area, traffic is a given.
However, simply saying you cannot solve it or saying fans and ownership should not talk about it, while implicitly supporting the Dodgers Gondola project by having a gondola car on stadium property for nearly three years now, is laughable.
In the above hypotheticals, ownership would likely be pilloried by the press and the fanbase, and rightfully so. Moreover, we have a concrete example to the contrary; ownership implemented subsequent remedial measures to prevent further falling concrete, and, by all accounts, even with how loud Dodger Stadium was during the 2025 postseason, there were no additional incidents.
Short of herculean and borderline impossible efforts by the City and County of Los Angeles, not to mention using multiple state and federal agencies, while Johnson does have a point about there being issues getting to and from Dodger Stadium, things can be done, provided there is buy-in from multiple stakeholders, including the citizen neighbors of Dodger Stadium.
If this series of essays has had a fault, it has been being too focused on why the Gondola Project is generally a bad idea and less on alternatives or conversations that the city and team should be having. While the City of Los Angeles waits for the Gondola Project to reemerge into the public sphere, the next series of essays on this topic shall focus on certain unsaid truths, alternatives like Dodger Stadium Express, and what could and should be done about what most would say is the worst part about being a Dodgers fan: getting to and from Dodger Stadium.
DENVER, COLORADO - AUGUST 16: Kris Bryant #23 of the Colorado Rockies looks on in the dugout wearing a customized hat for MLBs Players Weekend during a game between the Colorado Rockies and the San Diego Padres at Coors Field on August 16, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Spring training for the Rockies this year is surprisingly full of hope on multiple levels, but for Kris Bryant, last year’s struggles continue.
Bryant has been plagued with injuries since arriving in Colorado, but the most severe has been a debilitating degenerative lower back condition. Somedays Bryant is unable to lift even simple household items, let alone swing a bat and run the bases.
“Some days it’s hard to grab the toothpaste in front of me,” he told the media on Tuesday. “It’s not like that every day, but those days it’s like you just wish you had some type of answer.”
Bryant reported to the Colorado Rockies complex in Scottsdale, Arizona today with the rest of the position players in preparation for the first full team workout of the spring. He is entering the fifth season of a seven-year, $182 million contract signed prior to the 2022 season following the departure of franchise stalwarts Nolan Arenado and Trevor Story.
The former National League Rookie of the Year, MVP, and World Series champion vowed the struggling Rockies could turn things around with his help when he first arrived. Now, after playing just 170 games to the tune of -1.6 wins above replacement, that vow has evaporated and Bryant is unsure of his own future.
Bryant has undergone multiple treatments since his diagnosis, including a spinal ablation and multiple rounds of physical therapy. However, he hasn’t performed any baseball activities since he was shut down last April and his progress has been limited.
“Usually in the progression you start with the exercises, then you move to running,” Bryant said. “Any time my feet hit the ground, I just feel like I could probably fall over.”
While Bryant isn’t ready to give up on returning to baseball just yet, it’s difficult to foresee him back on the field when he describes the pain he experiences every day.
“There are a lot of different sensations I’m feeling,” he said. “It just feels like I’m being electrocuted in my whole body. It’s not ideal. It’s pretty miserable. Maybe this is part of old age, even though I’m not even old.”
#Rockies Kris Bryant talked to media this morning here in Scottsdale. Here he talks about pain and next steps. pic.twitter.com/CWa8H9bR5J
The 34-year-old Bryant is starting the season on the 60-day injured list and will likely return home to Las Vegas later this week to continue his treatments and search for a way to alleviate his pain. However, Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer suggested he will still have a presence with the club, even if he isn’t playing.
“KB has done so much in this game, and he has gone through so many experiences; of course, he can help young players when he’s around,” Schaeffer said. “It’s to the benefit of the young players, just his willingness to talk with them about hitting in certain situations and how to handle their business on a daily basis. He’s been through it at a very high level. He’s done big things in this game. There’s no taking that away and there’s huge value in that.”
Schaeffer also made sure the media knew Bryant has the team supporting him.
“I know there are various opinions out there, but it’s really hard for him to not be able to play, to want to play, and just not be able to feel good,” he said. “It affects him at home. He wants to be a father to his kids, and he’s having a tough time even bending over. It’s just a really hard thing to go through.
“Everybody in our clubhouse is going to support Kris Bryant.”
Despite a clear desire to return to baseball, Bryant has also avoided—at least publicly—addressing his future in depth.
“I honestly try not to let myself get there, because when you’re going through it every single day, you just try to make it day to day,” he said. “A lot of people out there with chronic pain, you don’t want to think so far in the future because you’re just trying to get through the day. So I haven’t let myself get there.”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 12: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers looks on during a game against the Dallas Mavericks at Crypto.com Arena on February 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Wally Skalij/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The union between LeBron James and the Lakers has been a long and prosperous one, but with no contract for next season and retirement questions swirling, what happens next is a mystery.
LeBron will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and he can either retire as a Laker, go to another team, or return to LA for another season.
Retirement will be entirely up to LeBron, and so far, he hasn’t decided whether that’s the route he wants to take. If James wants to play for other teams, he will most certainly find a franchise that will take him. The Cavs, for example, would reportedly “gladly welcome” LeBron back.
When it comes to the Lakers, his desire to return is clear. LA has been his home for eight years, and his son plays for the team. If the Lakers make the right trades this summer, it could be the best place for him to pursue his fifth title.
If James wants to play a 24th season, he would be welcomed back in L.A., sources told ESPN.
Pelinka declared before the start of this season that he would love it if James retired a Laker, and, sources told ESPN, that sentiment was meant to reflect a 2026 retirement or a 2027 retirement, if James intends to extend his career.
While rumors swirl, the Lakers have consistently said they’d welcome LeBron back if that’s what he wants.
LeBron is in a rare position where he truly has all the options available and can pick whichever one is best for him. The Lakers are known for treating their stars right and making an effort to ensure things end on good terms.
LA signed Kobe Bryant to a two-year, $48.5-million contract extension back in the summer of 2013 when few thought that was the right financial decision. However, it mattered to the franchise that Bryant remain in LA and also for him to be the highest-paid player.
While LeBron’s scenario is different, it is similar. James is a legend in his own right, helped LA win a championship and has been the face of the franchise during most of his tenure.
Whether his career concludes this season, next season, or in a couple of years, the Lakers ideally want it to be a happy ending. And, if LeBron wants one more dance in LA, the Lakers will gladly oblige.
KANSAS CITY, MO - OCTOBER 29: Buster Posey #28 and Madison Bumgarner #40 of the San Francisco Giants celebrate after defeating the Kansas City Royals to win Game Seven of the 2014 World Series by a score of 3-2 at Kauffman Stadium on October 29, 2014 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) | Getty Images
We all have regrets. That includes baseball teams like the Royals, who have the moves that didn’t pan out, the moments that didn’t go their way, the pivotal decisions that could have worked out differently.
Time travel stories and alternate histories are some of my favorite genres of fiction. What if a man decides to take the subway instead of a cab, does he miss meeting the love of his life? If a butterfly flaps its wings in China, does that lead does that somehow lead to a tornado halfway across the world? Small choices can echo in ways we never anticipate.
Baseball is like that, too. A draft pick goes one slot earlier. A manager sticks with a pitcher one batter too long. A front office pulls the trigger on a trade, or decides not to. A runner is held up, or maybe he’s sent and is thrown out.
Royals history is full of “sliding door” moments. What moment in Royals history would you change? Would it be Game 7 of the 2014 World Series? Would you pull Dan Quisenberry in the 1980 World Series? Or perhaps you’d like to change a small transaction that could have allowed the team to be competitive in seasons that didn’t pan out. Re-do a draft? Pull the trigger on a trade? Keep a manager who was fired?
BRONX, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 21: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees speaks to the media as Hal Steinbrenner looks on during a press conference at Yankee Stadium on December 21, 2022 in Bronx, New York. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Yankees almost always have one of the highest payrolls in the sport. Even as the Mets and Dodgers have shown them that there’s another level to spending, the Yankees routinely are big players in free agency, and some of the greatest free agent signings in history have signed on to play in the Bronx.
Some of those signings, as you’ve seen earlier in this series, were the Yankees trying to retain their own talent. A downside to the way the Yankees operate is that a lot of their stars hit free agency. Bernie Williams, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, and Robinson Cano had all hit free agency in the 25 years prior, and while the first three were all retained, Robbie Cano went to Seattle for a contract that didn’t age well.
So when Aaron Judge declined an extension offer in spring training and bet on himself, only to put up one of the greatest seasons in modern history, the Yankees were forced into winning a bidding war for an MVP superstar hitting free agency. There were some tense moments along the way, but Judge was wooed back to his chambers in the end.
Aaron Judge Signing Date: December 7, 2022 Contract: 9 years, $360 million
We all know the story of Judge’s path to free agency, but for the sake of posterity, here’s a quick refresher. A three-sport athlete in high school, the 6-foot-7 behemoth attended Fresno State and flashed incredible raw tools that made him a first-round pick in 2013.
After being a low-level top-100 prospect in the minors, Judge was promoted to the majors on August 13, 2016, as the corresponding move to Alex Rodriguez’s retirement. He would homer in his first at-bat in a memorable moment with Tyler Austin, but otherwise struggled in his first cup of coffee in the bigs.
An offseason of uncertainty was all there would be for his career, as he snagged the starting right field spot in spring training and had one of the greatest rookie seasons in MLB history, smashing a then-rookie record 52 home runs and coming second in a controversial AL MVP race.
A few injury-plagued seasons and a healthy, solid 2021 season later, Judge was one year away from free agency. He was one of MLB’s best hitters and a very good defender in right field when healthy, but the health was still a question, as was the fact he was going to be 31 at the start of his next contract. How would his body hold up?
After almost no contract negotiations prior, things heated up prior to the 2022 season. Judge and the Yankees nearly went to a messy arbitration, but avoided it (unlike a certain team from Detroit with their star in 2025). After unsuccessful negotiations that spring, Judge shut down the possibility of an in-season extension and Brian Cashman made a bold move: going public with a contract offer.
Barring a significant change in the next few hours, Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees will not strike a contract extension before his deadline of first pitch today, sources tell ESPN. The Yankees have proposed a deal for more than $225 million, but the sides remain apart.
Was a seven-year, $213 million pact a fair deal for Judge’s resume entering the 2022 season? I think you can make the case, but this was an interesting leverage ploy for the long-tenured GM, trying to get fans to side against Judge and provide a negotiating cushion if the hulking all-star faltered and came back to the table.
This ploy… did not work. Despite a slow April by his standards, Judge unlocked something new with his game, going from a perennial 40-home run, 5-6 WAR hitter to the best hitter in the world overnight. 62 home runs, 11 WAR, his long-awaiting first AL MVP award. A man who was known early in his career for striking out way too much nearly won the Triple Crown, that’s how sensational he was.
This was, objectively, a disaster for Yankees’ brass. By going public in spring, they hurt their relationship with Judge and his agent, Page Odle, and now would have to pay up for a player who had suddenly become the best free agent in a generation.
There were several suitors. Fortunately, one of them wasn’t newly-minted Mets’ owner Steve Cohen, for whatever reason. In hindsight, maybe Cohen should’ve used his tremendous wealth to go after Judge instead of giving Justin Verlander even more AAV at the exact same time.
The most logical suitor? His hometown San Francisco Giants, who he grew up rooting for as a kid. They wanted to make a big free agent splash, and he was the logical choice. They were willing to give him the godfather offer, nine years and $360 million. It would be the biggest free agent contract in MLB history.
The second big suitor was the late Peter Seidler and the San Diego Padres, who met with Judge at December’s Winter Meetings. An official offer being given out is disputed, but several reports in the years since have suggested that Judge was presented with a deal worth over $400 million. While Seidler’s relentless desire to make his team better, regardless of market size, is admirable, Judge never seemed that interested.
There was relative silence aside from this on Judge’s free agency early on. That was until Tuesday night, when Jon Heyman shocked the baseball world… with a typo.
“Arson Judge” was quickly deleted and corrected, but the message stood. Judge was heading to San Francisco. Mass panic ensued… for about five minutes. Heyman corrected and apologized for jumping the gun. Nobody knows who leaked the information to Heyman, but for those who were online during that time, it was potentially the most panic-inducing few minutes in Internet history for Yankees fans.
The Yankees had an eight-year, $320 million offer on the table for Judge, but with better offers from the Giants and Padres on the table, he wasn’t accepting that. Impatient, and probably fearful after the Heyman news, Hal Steinbrenner called Judge from Italy, wanting to get this done right now. Using his unbridled authority, he went around Cashman and directly offered Judge the ninth year and the captaincy. For the first time since Jeter hung up the cleats in 2014, the Yankees had a captain. Judge agreed to the deal, which was announced Wednesday morning.
On a personal note, I remember exactly where I was when I got the notification. I was in a high school history class. My history teacher was also a big Yankees fan, and we had talked about the team and Judge’s free agency before and after class. After he talked about the anniversary of Pearl Harbor to start the class, I blurted out that Judge had re-signed. It was definitely bad timing, and that’s on me, but it’s something that I’ll remember as part of the frantic process for a long time.
Judge is well on his way to not only having his No. 99 retired and enshrined in Monument Park, but being a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Despite Dodger Stadium severely injuring his toe in 2023, Judge has picked up two more MVPs and logged back-to-back 10 WAR seasons in his first three seasons of the nine-year deal, while continuing to be the face of baseball’s most historic franchise.
See more of the “50 Most Notable Yankees Free Agent Signings in 50 Years” series here.
