In-Season Tournament: Yes or No?
I read today on MLBTR that there have been some discussions about having an in-season baseball tournament. I see no need for this myself. Isn’t that what the post-season is all about? The best in baseball playing each other? Besides, they already have the WBC once every three…
I read today on MLBTR that there have been some discussions about having an in-season baseball tournament. I see no need for this myself. Isn’t that what the post-season is all about? The best in baseball playing each other?
Besides, they already have the WBC once every three years. Baseball does not need to become more like the NBA. There is talk of expansion to 32 teams, which I see as a need to balance both leagues. They could then split into four-team divisions regionally.
But playing a tournament during the season? Unneeded in my opinion. As long as there are large market teams with virtually unlimited resources, there will not be total parity in the league. Teams like the Dodgers and Yankees, Cubs and Red Sox, will always be able to fill holes better than some others in free agency, and player development.
And they will continue to pay penalties to the rest of the league for doing business that way. Teams in the lower tier of the league, will have to find creative ways to compete. Remember though that the Brewers, who play in Milwaukee, not exactly a huge market, had the best record in the MAJORs last year during the regular season.
Not sure what the future holds, but one thing I do know is that an in-season tournament for MLB teams is not something that I would look forward to. It makes no sense to me at all, especially since it makes the post-season longer. We have the WBC every three years. We don’t need an NBA type game.
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Discussion (82)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow revealed that trades involving outfielders Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu weren’t likely to happen during the offseason. “It was never likely in my mind,” Breslow said Saturday, via MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. “We’ve got really talented outfielders. When teams call, that’s what other executives point to. They’re young, they’re controllable, they’re dynamic, they’re talented and can impact games in multiple ways. It’s really nice to be able to say they’re also members of the Boston Red Sox.”
Jan. 10: Andy Ibáñez’s deal is for $1.2MM, according to Romero. He can also earn up to $100k in performance bonuses.
makes too much sense to me.
It’s the political way of saying, they were on the market, but what we wanted in return, no team was willing to do so.
A dope fiends says what
I would be shocked if anybody would take Miller. Potential was beyond good! Results have not been pretty. Although a team like Tampa Bay might be an option. They seem to have the magic touch! I would rather have Hoerner than Shaw, but I like your idea Mark! Basically it would be Teo for Tucker. Still don’t want Bichette in Philadelphia!
Portland
How about Nico Hoerner for Teo and Kim? or Throw in Miller. It would be great to get younger and have a .300 hitter on the team.
70 million of Bregman’s contract is deferred. He also has a full no trade and no opt outs. Reds signed Michael Toglia to a minor league deal. I am curious. Does the Dodgers signing of two over 30 utility type players mean they are moving on from Kike? Seems logical. But neither of those guys look like an upgrade over any player already on the roster.
I don’t believe he goes to the Giants.
Teo is NOT going to be traded because you need his right handed power bat to balance the lineup with the left handed hitters of Ohtoni,Freeman and Muncy. I also read Teo is coming into camp in excellent physical shape.
cool! I’m wrong a lot!
Andy Pages doesn’t have the metrics that wow you, but he was one of just six players in 2025 to have 70+ R, 25+ HR, 85+ RBI, 10+ SB, and a .270+ AVG. The other five were Judge, JoRam, Ohtani, Machado, and Bellinger.
Teo stays at least one more year. He never really recovered from his injury last season, same as Freeman and Edman. Kike was also injured, and it seems to have affected him a lot. Freeman is not going to play for team Canada in the WBC, seems he had some sort of setback. I think he will get more days off this year, another reason Ward and Rushing are on the roster, both can play first. Teo, Pages and Betts give LA three RH thumpers with 20 HR plus power. Betts should be much better this year considering he never really recovered after losing all that weight while he was ill. But they still need one more legitimate bat.
I don’t see him going to SF either. It’s a lousy park for hitters and he’s from Tampa (nice warm weather). Probably wouldn’t want to spend his summers in cold, foggy SF). That said, money talks………………………..and so we wait.
As a 23-year-old rookie, Andy Pages hit .248 with 13 HR and 46 RBI and put up a .712 OPS. As a 24-year-old Sophomore, he hit .272 with 27 HR, 86 RBI, and put up a 774 OPS. His progress was evident. He dropped his strikeout % from a decent 24.4% to a better 21.6%. The area he needs to improve the most in 2026 is walk percentage. League average is 8.4%, Freddie Freeman is 3 points higher. Pages was at 4.6%. If he can double his walk %, he will be a borderline superstar with an OPS over .850. He’s young, and he can do it. In fact, I expect it.
One article has Shaw moving to 2b after the Bergman deal. But if not, it would be a great pick-up for the Dodgers. Keep Max away from lefties and sliders away and give him some days off. Shaw is also a step forward to some youth. Great fix all around.
How would trading Teo affect Pages? Teo has been a calming influence for Andy. Just a thought. Something is about to happen! I can feel it in my bones! Something big! Something that we don’t expect! Wait and see!
Jay Jaffe takes a lovely look at the career of Mat. Kemp: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/jaws-and-the-2026-hall-of-fame-ballot-matt-kemp/
Per JIM Duquette: A League source confirmed to me that the three main teams involved in the Tucker negotiations (Tor, LAD, NYM) have all met with the player, either in person or over Zoom, as part of the recruiting process for a star player. Will be interesting to see if any of the 3 teams increase their offers soon to separate themselves from the other
Feeling Tucker right now
Ward needs a single at-bat before we can count on him.
My Western bias leans to Portland, former home of The Battered Bastards of Baseball–a fine documentary every fan should find and watch. My global bias leans to Montreal…. but Nashville sounds fun.
Tucker to Toronto…. or Chavez Ravine??
If I ran the Cubs, I’d pass on Teo and angle for Hope or de Paula. The contracts for Happ and Suzuki run thru ’26, I think, so a top OF prospect due in ’27 would fit nicely. I’d prefer Shaw to Hoerner. Yes, our Max needs an heir apparent. Plus, he’s been prone to injury, so Shaw might be more than a platoon partner. The Cubs might want to get Hope back. It would be funny if they demanded Hope and Ferris….