ANNOUNCEMENTS

There will be no live Mayday! later today, but stay tuned for an exciting announcement about the future of the show.

Our next BONUS video for paid subscribers will be live soon. I interview my former teammate and current Mets reliever Robert Stock about his new pitching model and all things pitching analytics.

I developed something new… Percentile! Can you guess the player based on the advanced metrics provided in this Wordle-style game? Try it out here!

New merch is live! Want to throw cheese? Well, you only need to LET IT EAT!

NEW STUFF

🎧 LISTEN 🎧

Mayday! the Podcast

Jose Fernandez makes history in his MLB debut

A tough day for umpires

ABS strategies for specific umpires

And more!

Early reactions to ABS

Best rookie performances

Bo Bichette’s slow start

And more!

Ranking the top 10 rotations!

Listen to all the new episodes here!

📺 WATCH 📺

Major League Baseball has a new partnership and NO... it's not sports betting. It's likely worse... (16 mins)

The ABS is adding a lot to the game right now, but should players be scouting the umpires to prepare? I think so. Let me explain... (21 mins)

It's hard to be an MLB umpire, especially right now. Also, prospects are getting paid, pitchers are dominating, and a rookie got a scare. Let's jump into the news! (13 mins)

The rookie phenoms have come out swinging, a veteran stumbles out of the gate in Flushing, and the ABS shows us that one umpire is exactly who we thought he was. Let’s jump right in... (31 mins)

The regular season is here, so it’s time to make our extremely well researched and very likely to happen predictions for the 2026 MLB season. Let's run it... (15 mins)

📝READ📝

My producer, David Korn, wrote about Dave Roberts’ Opening Day comments about this being his best Dodgers team yet.

Mayday

Dave Roberts says this is his best Dodgers team yet. Is it?

The Los Angeles Dodgers have the chance to become one of baseball’s all-time great dynasties. Coming off of back-to-back World Series titles and another excellent offseason headlined by the signings of Edwin Diaz and Kyle Tucker, Dave Roberts made quite a claim…

Read more

2 days ago · 5 likes · 3 comments · David Korn

My writer, Henry Neiman, wrote about the Mariners giving their top prospect, Colt Emerson, a new extension.

Mayday

Vitamin SEA: Colt $95

Colt Emerson, you are buying dinner for the team tonight…

Read more

16 hours ago · Henry Neiman

Henry also reacted to the Mariners Opening Day loss.

Mayday

Vitamin SEA: Opening Day Jitters

Baseball is back! The Mariners already have lost a game that they should have won. It’s like they never left…

Read more

7 days ago · Henry Neiman

STAT OF THE WEEK - Sweet Spot

Colloquially, a player who hits the ball solidly is said to have gotten the “sweet spot” of the bat on the ball. The sweet spot classification quantifies that as a batted-ball event with a launch angle ranging from 8 to 32 degrees.

A player’s sweet spot percentage -- or how often he produces a batted-ball event in the launch angle sweet-spot zone of 8-32 degrees -- is presented on Statcast leaderboards under LA SwSp%.

Sweet spot percentage can be used in concert with hard-hit rate -- the percentage of a player’s batted balls that have an exit velocity of 95 mph or higher. (via MLB)

More Shows to Check Out

Foul Territory: Live on YouTube - Every day at 2:00 p.m. ET/11:00 a.m. PT

Sunday Sliders with Trevor and Dani Wexelman on MLB Network Radio, SiriusXM channel 89 and on the SiriusXM app - Sundays at 1:00 p.m. ET/10:00 a.m. PT

Colt Emerson, you are buying dinner for the team tonight.

The Mariners just set the record for the largest contract given to a player who hasn’t set foot in the majors yet, handing out an 8-year, $95 million deal with incentives up to $130 million to Colt Emerson, the #1 prospect for the Mariners and the #7 prospect overall. The previous record was held by the Brewers’ Jackson Chourio, with 8yr/$82mil. Emerson’s deal also includes a ninth year club option and a full no-trade clause.

Is this a good deal? Are the Mariners taking a huge risk on a guy with no major league time yet? Who even is this Colt Emerson guy anyway besides an objectively cool name?

Last season, across three levels of minor league ball, Emerson slashed .285/.383/.458 with 16 home runs, an 11.8% walk rate, and a 17.5% strikeout rate. Emerson sees the ball well and has consistently performed over three levels of minor league ball, and is already raking to start the year in AAA Tacoma.

Colt Emerson is in a great place to fit in the new Mariners look. JP Crawford, bless his heart, is getting old and is in the last year of his contract, so this contract for a young, highly touted shortstop prospect is all but the nail in the coffin for JP next season. We here in Seattle all wish the best for the captain but recognize when it is time for the younger generation to step in.

It has been a good few weeks for minor league contracts, with the Brewers locking up their own SS prospect Cooper Pratt for 8yr/$50mil. Teams are trusting in their young talent and I’m glad the Mariners are part of it. Seattle has an extremely strong pool of talent waiting in the minor leagues, especially on the pitching side with dual aces in Ryan Sloan and Kade Anderson, but Colt Emerson is the true star on offense. Locking down the shortstop of the future is a great move, and showing that the team is willing to hand out contracts is a good look.

If (when) Colt gets called up this season, it might throw some confusion into the infield. Daniel Kramer reported that the plans would be to keep JP Crawford at shortstop this season, while having Colt Emerson play third base, leaving Brendan Donovan as a floating island. He has to play every day but there’s no secure spot in the field for him? If this Emerson contract means his ascension to the big leagues is soon, I worry for the well-being of Mariners fans watching Crawford, Emerson, Donovan, and Cole Young get mixed and matched every day. It’s good to have the problem of too much talent, but it is still a problem.

Confusion aside, Colt Emerson is a real talent who I am excited to see make his big league debut probably soon. The hype around him is building rapidly, and I’m holding my breath hoping he’s a Julio Rodriguez and not a Jarred Kelenic.

Go M’s,

Henry “I hate losing to the Yankees” Neiman

The Los Angeles Dodgers have the chance to become one of baseball’s all-time great dynasties. Coming off of back-to-back World Series titles and another excellent offseason headlined by the signings of Edwin Diaz and Kyle Tucker, Dave Roberts made quite a claim to NBC Sports’ Bob Costas ahead of Opening Day.

“On paper, this is the best team we’ve had,” Roberts said.

The 2024 and 2025 Dodgers are widely considered some of the best teams in baseball history. Could the 2026 Dodgers really be better?

The only player who had meaningful contributions in the 2025 postseason who is not back is lefty reliever Anthony Banda, who the Dodgers sent to the Minnesota Twins for international bonus pool money. Righty reliever Kirby Yates and outfielder Michael Conforto, who were both left off of the postseason rosters after disappointing regular seasons, also left in free agency.

Yates and Conforto were effectively replaced by Diaz and Tucker. The bullpen was one of the only potential weak spots for the Dodgers, with Roki Sasaki filling in admirably as a temporary stopgap, racking up three saves during their postseason run. With Diaz, a three-time All-Star and one of the game’s best closers, that is no longer a concern.

The third outfield spot that Conforo held down for most of 2025, but was taken over by utilityman and postseason hero Kiké Hernandez down the stretch, is now Tucker’s. Tucker is a four-time All-Star, and when healthy, is a bonafide MVP candidate. Last year, in the first half before being slowed down with a broken finger and calf strain, Tucker hit .280 with a .882 OPS, 17 home runs and 22 steals.

Even before Tucker, the Dodgers lineup was silly. With him, they have the potential to start seven All-Stars. Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Teoscar Hernandez, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith, Max Muncy and Tucker.

The starting rotation might be even better. Yoshinobu Yamamoto reached another level last season, putting the Dodgers on his back during the World Series with his other-worldly MVP performance that included a Game 2 complete game, six innings of one-run ball in Game 6 and 2 ⅔ innings of scoreless relief to close out Game 7 on no days rest. Two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell, who is dealing with left shoulder inflammation, should be back sometime in May. Tyler Glasnow is healthy and his curveball is looking especially sharp. Ohtani had a strong spring training on the pitching side, tossing 4 ⅓ scoreless innings in his first appearance and striking out 11 last week in an Freeway Series exhibition start against the Los Angeles Angels.

The biggest question mark in the rotation, and the potential key for this truly being Roberts’ best Dodgers team, is Sasaki. Sasaki has had a fascinating start to his MLB career. Forgoing the traditional posting process to sign a minor league deal and get to MLB earlier than most Japanese players, Sasaki had an up-and-down, injury-plagued regular season. He pitched to a 4.46 ERA in 10 appearances (eight starts), but ended up playing a crucial role in the Dodgers makeshift bullpen throughout the postseason, appearing in nine games, throwing 10 ⅔ innings, recording three saves and giving up just one run.

Sasaki is back in the Dodgers rotation in 2026. But, there are legitimate concerns after a disappointing spring training performance. In four spring starts, Sasaki had a 15.58 ERA with 15 walks in 8 ⅔ innings, clearly struggling with his command.

Some of those concerns were alleviated, at least for now, after Sasaki’s regular season debut on Monday. He threw four innings of one-run ball, struck out four and walked two in a 4-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians. That line may not jump off of the box score, but it showed marked improvement over what Sasaki looked like in the Cactus League. His four-seamer reached 99.5 mph, his new cutter showed promise and he proved that he can contribute to a stacked Dodgers pitching staff. If Sasaki is able to build off of his season debut, the Dodgers rotation could be historically great.

For more on Roki Sasaki, check out this video from Trevor May:

The other potential concern for the Dodgers is their age. Freeman is 36, Muncy is 35, Betts and Teoscar Hernandez are 33. That is a lot of mileage in the middle of the Dodgers lineup.

Betts especially is a prime candidate to regress. As a player who relies on his athleticism and is a slim 5’9”, based on body type alone, it would make sense for Betts’ game to not age very well. He had a career-worst offensive performance last season, leading many to wonder if his transition to playing shortstop full-time took a toll on his hitting. Betts’ hard-hit rate, barrel rate and sprint speed have all dramatically decreased and his bat speed was in the 10th percentile last season. His .258/.326/.406 line were all career lows.

There is an argument that Betts’ offensive struggles were caused by the stomach illness he dealt with last spring training that caused him to lose 20 pounds. He had a much stronger .892 OPS over his last 47 games of the regular season, and an article from The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya earlier this spring indicates that Betts is swinging much better than he did last year.

This group has the potential to be Roberts’ best, but that is not a guarantee. The additions of Diaz and Tucker help, but uncertainty surrounding Sasaki and the potential regression of the offensive core are real problems. And of course, they would need to stay healthy.

Even if this ends up not technically being Roberts’ best team on paper, the 2026 Dodgers still have an enviable amount of talent, and should at least be considered the favorites to win the World Series until proven otherwise.

After a long offseason and a WBC where no Mariners did much of anything, the season is finally here. Every Opening Day there will be people lining up on Twitter to overreact to what the team looks like on the first game of the season. Let’s have a quick group therapy session to talk out our feelings and go through all the knee-jerk reactions you might be having right now.

Is Brendan Donovan the best free agent signing ever?: Known power hitter Brendan Donovan going deep in his first AB in a Mariners uniform was pretty amazing, and the writing was on the wall for his fast start. He hit .413 in Spring Training and looked comfortable doing it. He’s going to be a real treat this season.

Is Julio going to have ANOTHER slow start?: Plenty of people went hitless last night, not just Julio. “God’s gift to Spring Training” Cole Young notched a handful of strikeouts too, Cal and Naylor both struggled, give Julio a few games at least before we chalk it up to the same old, same old.

Is the bullpen going to be ok?: Yes. We didn’t see Brash or Munoz (even though we should’ve). We can’t worry about the bullpen after seeing multiple innings of Legumina.

Is Dan Wilson messing things up already?: I mean I can’t say that I’m thrilled that we had the bullpen management that we did, but this is what we’re used to. Dan Wilson makes odd bullpen decisions all the time, it’s not something new to freak out about, we knew this stuff happens.

Is Dom Canzone the second coming of Barry Bonds?: Yes. Hide your spouse, hide your children, stay inside because baseballs will be raining from the sky like a Biblical plague. We are all living in the Can-Zone. He is the one true baseball player, and will lead us to the promised land (if we can get more guys on base).

Opening Day is always a time to predict the whole season based on one game. Half the fanbases scream “We’re gonna win it all!” and the other half scream “The season is over already!”. I hope we can all at least wait a week before calling our shot. In all fairness, I didn’t love what I saw from the top of our lineup besides Donovan, and I would’ve preferred some cleaner innings from the bullpen. But Logan looked great out there besides one bad inning, and the marine layer is clearly not stopping the Mariners from hitting home runs. When Luke Raley and Dom Canzone are putting the bulk of the offense on their back, you have to feel decent about the depth of the lineup. I predicted the Mariners to repeat as division winners, and one loss isn’t shaking that. George Kirby is on the bump tonight, I’ll be at the game tomorrow for Cal bobblehead night, life is good. Welcome back, baseball.

Go M’s,

Henry “I’m gonna miss Rick Rizz a lot and I haven’t processed it yet” Neiman

ANNOUNCEMENTS

We have a new show! Every Tuesday and Thursday during the season, check out “The Mayday Update,” where my producer, David Korn, and I will break down the day’s biggest stories. “The Mayday Update” will be available on the More Mayday Youtube page and on the Mayday podcast feed.

Our latest BONUS video for paid subscribers is live! I share my personal insights on the state of the MLBPA after Tony Clark stepped down/Bruce Meyer was named as his replacement and what it means for the upcoming CBA negotiations. Check it out here.

I developed something new… Percentile! Can you guess the player based on the advanced metrics provided in this Wordle-style game? Try it out here!

The next live Mayday! will today at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT on the Trevor May Baseball Youtube page and on Twitch.

There is a new Mayday! schedule. On Wednesdays at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT, we will be live for one hour on the Foul Territory Youtube page and on Twitch and will have a more scripted program. On Fridays at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT, we will be live for one hour on the Trevor May Baseball Youtube page and on Twitch and will be more interactive.

New merch is live! Want to throw cheese? Well, you only need to LET IT EAT!

NEW STUFF

🎧 LISTEN 🎧

Mayday! the Podcast

11 bold predictions for the 2026 season

Pete Crow-Armstrong’s extension

How to fix Roki Sasaki

And more!

Listen to all the new episodes here!

Rates & Barrells

Previewing our favorite pitchers

Logan Webb’s tough performance against the Yankees

Previewing the first weekend of the season

And more!

Listen to all the new episodes here!

📺 WATCH 📺

Have you ever wondered why spring training results are good predictors for regular season success for some teams/players, and not for others? No? Well you better start, because thats what this video is about... (12 mins)

Tyler O’Neill goes for seven straight Opening Day homers, a couple of young studs make their teams, and my take on how to fix Roki Sasaki! Let's get into it… (17 mins)

Bonus video for paid subscribers: With the ousting of Tony Clark last month, the MLB players association is missing more than just a figurehead, they lost their communicator. Let’s discuss… (22 mins)

📝READ📝

My producer, David Korn, wrote about Mason Miller. Check it out!

STAT OF THE WEEK - Swing Length

Swing length is a metric intended to identify if a batter has a short or long swing.

It is calculated in terms of feet the bat traveled during the swing, specifically laid out like this: The total (sum) distance (in feet) traveled by the barrel of the bat in X/Y/Z space, from the start of bat tracking data (generally around 150 ms), up until impact point. (via MLB)

The average swing length is 7.3 feet, and the seasonal average spread goes from just under six feet to more than eight-and-a-half feet – or more than 40 inches from most to least.

Shorter than average swings: .258 BA / .359 SLG / .268 wOBA / 19% whiff rate

Longer than average swings: .235 BA / .422 SLG / .282 wOBA / 30% whiff rate

More Shows to Check Out

Foul Territory: Live on YouTube - Every day at 2:00 p.m. ET/11:00 a.m. PT

Sunday Sliders with Trevor and Dani Wexelman on MLB Network Radio, SiriusXM channel 89 and on the SiriusXM app - Sundays at 1:00 p.m. ET/10:00 a.m. PT

Next Live Mayday! - Today at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT

Watch on: Twitch | Trevor May Baseball YouTube (Friday) | Foul Territory YouTube (Wednesday)

This piece is not about whether or not Team USA manager Mark DeRosa should have used San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller with the World Baseball Classic final against Venezuela tied at two in the ninth inning. This is about the unprecedented, dominant run that Miller has been on since the end of the 2025 regular season.

Armed with a four-seam fastball that can reach over 104 miles-per-hour and a wipeout slider, Miller has some of the best stuff the game has ever seen.

Going back to Sept. 8, in regular season, postseason, and World Baseball Classic games, Miller has not allowed a hit (as first noted by Just Baseball Media’s Peter Appel on Twitter). The last player to get a hit off of Miller? Former Colorado Rockies first baseman Warming Bernabel, who hit a soft ground ball into right field in the eighth inning during a Padres 10-8 win on Sept. 6.

That is 50 at-bats without allowing a hit. In those 50 at-bats, Miller has 39 strikeouts.

What is so impressive is Miller has turned it up when the games mattered most, like down the stretch during the Padres’ NL West push, the Wild Card round against the Chicago Cubs and in the World Baseball Classic against Brazil, Italy, Canada, the Dominican Republic.

Miller made two appearances in the postseason. In Game 1, He came in to pitch the seventh with the Padres down 2-1 and struck out Seiya Suzuki, Carson Kelly and Pete Crow-Armstrong. In Game 2, he recorded five outs on five strikeouts, once again coming in to start the seventh against Suzuki, Kelly and Crow-Armstrong and coming back out for the eighth, punching out Dansby Swanson and Moises Ballesteros before hitting Michael Busch with a pitch and exiting.

During his Game 2 at-bat against Kelly, Miller made postseason history with a 104.5 mph fastball, the fastest recorded postseason pitch since pitch-tracking began in 2008.

In the World Baseball Classic semifinal against the Dominican Republic, Miller came in to pitch the ninth with a slim 2-1 United States lead and struck out Junior Caminero, allowed a walk to Julio Rodriguez, and then, with Rodriguez representing the tying run on second after advancing on a wild pitch, struck out Oneil Cruz and Geraldo Perdomo to send Team USA to the finals.

Entering his third full season, the 27-year-old Miller looks to be getting better every time he steps on the mound. His fastball velo has consistently been ticking up. After being traded to the Padres at the deadline last season, he had a 0.77 ERA with a 17.4 SO/9 while being used in a Swiss Army Knife-type of role.

With former Padres closer Robert Suarez signing with the Braves, Miller could be in line for a more traditional ninth inning role this season. But new Padres manager Craig Stammen could still opt to use Miller against specific lineup pockets earlier in games and save one of his many other elite bullpen options, like Adrian Morejon, Jason Adam, Jeremiah Estrada or Wandy Peralta.

Miller already has a reputation as one of, if not the best arms in baseball. The Padres valued him highly enough to ship off an 18-year-old Leo De Vries, the No. 3 prospect in baseball at the time according to MLB Pipeline. He earned the closer role for a stacked Team USA.

It is going to be a must-watch occasion whenever Miller pitches.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Our latest BONUS video for paid subscribers is live! I share my personal insights on the state of the MLBPA after Tony Clark stepped down/Bruce Meyer was named as his replacement and what it means for the upcoming CBA negotiations. Check it out here.

I developed something new… Percentile! Can you guess the player based on the advanced metrics provided in this Wordle-style game? Try it out here!

The next live Mayday! will on Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT on the Foul Territory Youtube page and on Twitch.

There is a new Mayday! schedule. On Wednesdays at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT, we will be live for one hour on the Foul Territory Youtube page and on Twitch and will have a more scripted program. On Fridays at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT, we will be live for one hour on the Trevor May Baseball Youtube page and on Twitch and will be more interactive.

We have a second YouTube channel for even more videos focusing more on baseball culture and the side of the internet where baseball lovers spend their time. Go subscribe to More Mayday now!

New merch is live! Want to throw cheese? Well, you only need to LET IT EAT!

NEW STUFF

🎧 LISTEN 🎧

Rates & Barrells

Breaking down Venezuela’s win over Team USA

The best performances from the WBC Final

Lance Brozdowski joins to talk all things pitching

And more!

Listen to all the new episodes here!

📺 WATCH 📺

Bonus video for paid subscribers: With the ousting of Tony Clark last month, the MLB players association is missing more than just a figurehead, they lost their communicator. Let’s discuss… (22 mins)

Have you ever wondered what DECEPTION actually means for a pitcher? Like, how do you even know if someone is deceptive, or if they are just BETTER? I think I'm on the way to cracking the code. Let me explain... (16 mins)

I break down Sam Antonacci’s decoy play for Team Italy and answer your questions about the World Baseball Classic. (14 mins)

The internet is on one once again! Italy shows their support for their WBC team, a Czech player gets all the love, and more. Let's hop right in... (8 mins)

From not knowing how pool play works to hand shake snubs, these were some of the best stories of the WBC! Let's jump right in... (23 mins)

STAT OF THE WEEK - Jump

Jump is a Statcast metric that shows which players have the fastest reactions and most direct routes in the outfield. It’s defined as: “How many feet did he cover in the right direction in the first three seconds after pitch release?” (via MLB)

Jump can be broken down into three components.

• Reaction: Feet covered (in any direction) in the first 1.5 seconds. Think of it like a way to measure first step.

• Burst: Feet covered (in any direction) in the second 1.5 seconds. Think of it like a way to measure acceleration.

• Route: Compares feet covered in any direction to feet covered in the correct direction over the full three seconds.

More Shows to Check Out

Foul Territory: Live on YouTube - Every day at 2:00 p.m. ET/11:00 a.m. PT

Sunday Sliders with Trevor and Dani Wexelman on MLB Network Radio, SiriusXM channel 89 and on the SiriusXM app - Sundays at 1:00 p.m. ET/10:00 a.m. PT

Next Live Mayday! - Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT

Watch on: Twitch | Trevor May Baseball YouTube (Friday) | Foul Territory YouTube (Wednesday)

Go read all of the great reporting by the journalists mentioned above:

Who is Bruce Meyer? The MLBPA’s interim head is known for his blunt negotiating style - The Athletic

Read more

ANNOUNCEMENTS

I developed something new… Percentile! Can you guess the player based on the advanced metrics provided in this Wordle-style game? Try it out here!

Our next BONUS video for paid subscribers will be published on Sunday! I will share my personal insights on the state of the MLBPA after Tony Clark stepped down/Bruce Meyer was named as his replacement and what it means for the upcoming CBA negotiations. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss it!

The next live Mayday! will be today at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT on the Trevor May Baseball Youtube page and on Twitch.

There is a new Mayday! schedule. On Wednesdays at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT, we will be live for one hour on the Foul Territory Youtube page and on Twitch and will have a more scripted program. On Fridays at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT, we will be live for one hour on the Trevor May Baseball Youtube page and on Twitch and will be more interactive.

We have a second YouTube channel for even more videos focusing more on baseball culture and the side of the internet where baseball lovers spend their time. Go subscribe to More Mayday now!

New merch is live! Want to throw cheese? Well, you only need to LET IT EAT!

NEW STUFF

🎧 LISTEN 🎧

Mayday! the Podcast

Reacting to The Athletic’s recent fan poll

Do fans want a salary cap?

What do fans think about gambling?

And more!

Listen to all the new episodes here!

Rates & Barrells

Italy and Canada top their pools

Previewing the WBC quarterfinals

Predictions

And more!

Listen to all the new episodes here!

📺 WATCH 📺

Baseball Savant dropped a new set of stats and I unveil some new stats of my own. Let's jump in... (17 mins)

The Athletic released the results of their fan poll and there’s a lot to break down. Let’s discuss… (28 mins)

📝READ📝

My producer, David Korn, wrote about some of the best position battles happening in spring training.

STAT OF THE WEEK - World Baseball Classic Tiebreakers

Although it did not end up mattering for Team USA, here are the World Baseball Classic tiebreakers for teams with the same record in pool play (via MLB):

• The team that won the games between the teams tied shall be given the higher position. If three or more teams are tied and one of those teams won its games against all other teams it is tied with, then it will be placed in the higher spot. Similarly, if one of those tied teams lost its games against all other teams it is tied with, then it will be placed in the lowest spot.

• The tied teams shall be ranked in the standings according to the lowest quotient of fewest runs allowed divided by the number of defensive outs recorded in the games in that round between the teams tied.

• The tied teams shall be ranked in the standings according to the lowest quotient of fewest earned runs allowed divided by the number of defensive outs recorded in the games in that round between the teams tied.

• The tied teams shall be ranked in the standings according to the highest batting average in games in that round between the teams tied.

• Standings shall be determined by the drawing of lots, conducted by WBCI.

More Shows to Check Out

Foul Territory: Live on YouTube - Every day at 2:00 p.m. ET/11:00 a.m. PT

Sunday Sliders with Trevor and Dani Wexelman on MLB Network Radio, SiriusXM channel 89 and on the SiriusXM app - Sundays at 1:00 p.m. ET/10:00 a.m. PT

Next Live Mayday! - Today at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT

Watch on: Twitch | Trevor May Baseball YouTube (Friday) | Foul Territory YouTube (Wednesday)

Every year there are position battles and surprise performances that happen on the back fields in Florida and Arizona that determine how paying time shakes out. It is almost impossible to keep track what is going on at every camp, so here is a primer on some of the most intriguing position battles to follow in spring training and the World Baseball Classic, along with predictions on who will end up winning each job.

Cincinnati Reds First Base: Sal Stewart, Nathaniel Lowe, Spencer Steer, Christian Encarnacion-Strand

The Cincinnati Reds made a surprising run to the postseason last year, had a quietly productive offseason headlined by a reunion with Eugenio Suarez and are poised to once again make noise in what could be a weak NL Central.

There are a lot of options for the Reds at first base. Sal Stewart is the Reds’ No. 1 prospect and the No. 22 prospect in baseball per MLB Pipeline. Spencer Steer will certainly be an everyday player for the Reds, but can also play second base, third base and the corner outfield spots. Christian Encarnacion-Strand looks like a longshot for the job, but has shown some promising flashes at the plate when healthy over the last three seasons. Nathaniel Lowe was a non-roster invitee to spring training and is on a minor league deal, but won a Gold Glove in 2023, a Silver Slugger in 2022 and hit 18 home runs last season between the Washington Nationals and Boston Red Sox.

In all likelihood, Reds manager Terry Francona will give the 22-year-old Stewart, the top prospect and guy with the most potential, the job. And that would be very warranted. In just 18 games in the Major Leagues last season, Stewart hit five home runs during the Reds’ frantic postseason push. Stewart already has two home runs in six games this spring. The hit tool is elite. But, keep an eye out for Lowe. Lowe was very solid after being picked up by the Red Sox for their stretch run, recording a .790 OPS in 34 games. He would also provide the Reds lineup with a much-needed left-handed bat.

Prediction: Sal Stewart

Red Sox No. 5 Starter: Johan Oviedo, Payton Tolle, Connelly Early, Patrick Sandoval, Kutter Crawford

The Boston Red Sox focused on run prevention this offseason and added three high-caliber starting options, Ranger Suarez, Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo, through free agency and trades. Now, they have arguably the most pitching depth in the Major Leagues. Garrett Crochet, Suarez, Gray and Brayan Bello look locked in for the first four spots, but the fifth spot is completely up for grabs.

The potential options for that fifth spot? Oviedo, Payton Tolle, Connelly Early, Kutter Crawford and Patrick Sandoval. Oviedo could be in the driver’s seat for the fifth spot given what the Red Sox traded for him (Jhostynxon “The Password” Garcia, then the team’s No. 3 prospect), but he has experience pitching out of the bullpen. Tolle and Early are both 23, supremely talented and showed very promising flashes last season, but could be better served developmentally starting the season in the minor leagues as starters. Crawford and Sandoval both missed last season with injuries, but are proven Major League starters.

Based on a combination of health and experience, it would make sense for Oviedo to get the nod in the rotation to begin the season. But do not be shocked if Tolle forces way into the mix. In a three-inning relief appearance on Wednesday against the Yankees, Tolle only allowed one hit and one walk while striking out seven, even topping 100 mph on the radar gun.

Prediction: Johan Oviedo

Rays closer: Garrett Cleavinger, Griffin Jax, Edwin Uceta (maybe Joe Boyle!)

It looks like there will be a significant talent gap between the Tampa Bay Rays and the rest of the AL East. But, if there is one thing the Rays are known for, it is making the most out of what they have in-house and finding creative ways to piece together just enough to win games. One unit that could help keep the Rays competitive in a loaded division is their bullpen. The closer spot is still up in the air after Pete Fairbanks signed with the Miami Marlins, but there are a lot of potential leverage arms that manager Kevin Cash could use in the ninth inning.

While Cash has alluded to using a closer-by-committee approach, there are three names, along with one high-upside longshot, that will likely get the majority of the Rays’ save opportunities. Garrett Cleavinger, Griffin Jax and Edwin Uceta are the clear choices to close games, but Joe Boyle should not be counted out. Cleavinger and Jax are both representing the United States at the World Baseball Classic. If Team USA makes a deep run, both of the Rays relievers will have ample opportunities to throw against some of the world’s best given the WBC’s pitch count rules and the reliance teams often have to have on their bullpen. Uceta is dealing with a shoulder injury, and it is still up in the air whether or not he will be available for Opening Day, but he should be in the mix as well if healthy.

Cleavinger has the most closing experience of the three and had the best numbers last year, recording a 2.35 ERA and a strong 12.0 SO/9. But let’s talk about Boyle for a second. While his numbers do not look like anything special at first glance, he has some of the most electrifying stuff in baseball. At 6’8”, 250 pounds, Boyle regularly throws over 100 with his fastball velocity in the 96th percentile and has a slider that could develop into a true putaway pitch. Boyle will almost certainly not start the year with many high-leverage opportunities, but if his control improves and he earns the trust of Cash, he could certainly work his way into the mix.

Prediction: Garrett Cleavinger

Nationals catcher: Harry Ford. Keibert Ruiz

The Washington Nationals are in the thick of a rebuild under new president of baseball operations Paul Toboni. One of Toboni’s first moves at the helm of the Nats was trading for reliever Jose A. Ferrer to the Seattle Mariners for catching prospect Harry Ford, who is currently the No. 71 prospect in baseball and the Nationals’ No. 3 prospect according to MLB Pipeline and was blocked at the Major League level by Cal Raleigh.

Ford, who just turned 23, has had a great spring training both with the Nationals and as one of the key players for Great Britain at the World Baseball Classic. Ford hit home runs for Great Britain in their exhibition against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday and in their first game in pool play against Mexico on Friday. Keibert Ruiz, however, is the incumbent, but has dealt with some significant injuries and is running out of time to live up to the potential many saw in him when he was one of the centerpieces of the trade that sent Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2021.

If Ford keeps mashing for Great Britain, it will be difficult for new Nationals manager Blake Butera to keep him off the field. But, the previous Nationals regime clearly believed in Ruiz, signing him to an eight-year, $50 million contract ahead of the 2023 season. Ford earning the starting job would be a very clear indication of Toboni’s influence on the new Nationals roster.

Prediction: Harry Ford

Mets right field: Carson Benge, Tyrone Taylor, MJ Melendez, Brett Baty, Mike Tauchman

The New York Mets outfield will look very, very different this season. Brandon Nimmo is out after being traded to the Texas Rangers for Marcus Semien. Juan Soto is moving from right field to left field. Luis Robert Jr. was acquired via trade from the Chicago White Sox to play center field. That leaves right field wide open.

23-year-old Carson Benge is the No. 16 prospect in baseball and the Mets’ No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline and has earned rave reviews from manager Carlos Mendoza so far. Before a disastrous 2025 season that saw him get demoted to Triple-A, MJ Melendez had a very solid first three seasons of his career with the Kansas City Royals and is looking to turn things around with the Mets. Forced out of the infield after Semien and Bo Bichette were brought in, Brett Baty has been getting reps in right field this spring. Mike Tauchman could also be in the mix, but the veteran seems like a longshot to earn a consistent role and could be more valuable as a bench piece. Same goes for Tyrone Taylor, who will likely be on the Major League roster as a defense-first guy who can play all three outfield positions at an elite level.

At this point, Benge looks to be the favorite to earn the job. He shot through the minors last season and has no real flaws in his game. If Mendoza thinks Benge is ready, the job should be his. If not, do not be surprised if Melendez gets a chance. In 11 spring at-bats, Melendez has four hits, two home runs and a double. If Melendez’s hot start fizzles out, Mendoza can always go to the safe option and start the season with Taylor in right until he feels Benge is ready.

Prediction: Carson Benge

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Our latest BONUS video for paid subscriber is live! I chat with my former pitching coach with the Twins and current Georgia head coach Wes Johnson about the state of amateur baseball and all sorts of nerdy pitching topics. Check it out here.

The next live Mayday! will be today at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT on the Trevor May Baseball Youtube page and on Twitch.

There is a new Mayday! schedule. On Wednesdays at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT, we will be live for one hour on the Foul Territory Youtube page and on Twitch and will have a more scripted program. On Fridays at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT, we will be live for one hour on the Trevor May Baseball Youtube page and on Twitch and will be more interactive.

We have a second YouTube channel for even more videos focusing more on baseball culture and the side of the internet where baseball lovers spend their time. Go subscribe to More Mayday now!

New merch is live! Want to throw cheese? Well, you only need to LET IT EAT!

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Mayday! the Podcast

Jurickson Profar fails drug test, suspended for 162 games

World Baseball Classic primer

Games to watch during WBC pool play

And more!

What you need to know about the new automated balls and strikes system

Will this actually help the game?

Who will benefit most from ABS?

And more!

Listen to all the new episodes here!

📺 WATCH 📺

Jurickson Profar is caught cheating again, one of the best commentators finally gets his call up, and everything you need to know about the World Baseball Classic. Let’s get into it... (14 mins)

This weeks Q&A was awesome. Let's just hop right in. (31 mins)

Giancarlo Stanton’s arms continue trying to leave the rest of his body and a Padres pitcher needs medicated wipes. Let’s talk about it... (7 mins)

The WBC is happening right now and the Olympics, with baseball as an event, returns to American soil in 2028, converging on Los Angeles, California. You may have heard of it, as it is currently the home of the best show in baseball. Hell, their best player is literally named “Sho.” The best MLB plays WANT to play, but theres one huge problem.. the MLB season. Can the league make it happen anyways? Let’s talk about it... (13 mins)

The strike zone has changed pretty drastically ahead of the wide roll out of the new ABS for the 2026 MLB season. I got into what those changes are and who might benefit the most from them. Let's jump in... (24 mins)

📝READ📝

My producer, David Korn, wrote about Giancarlo Stanton’s injury history and if he should consider retiring after his latest admission about the seriousness of his elbow issues.

I was featured in an article by Newsday’s Laura Albanese about how Mets pitcher Robert Stock and I are creating pitching models using AI. Check that out here!

STAT OF THE WEEK - Barrel

The Barrel classification is assigned to batted-ball events whose comparable hit types (in terms of exit velocity and launch angle) have led to a minimum .500 batting average and 1.500 slugging percentage since Statcast was implemented Major League wide in 2015.

But similar to how Quality Starts have generally yielded a mean ERA much lower than the baseline of 4.50, the average Barrel has produced a batting mark and a slugging percentage significantly higher than .500 and 1.500, respectively. During the 2016 regular season, balls assigned the Barreled classification had a batting average of .822 and a 2.386 slugging percentage.

To be Barreled, a batted ball requires an exit velocity of at least 98 mph. At that speed, balls struck with a launch angle between 26-30 degrees always garner Barreled classification. For every mph over 98, the range of launch angles expands. (via MLB)

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Next Live Mayday! - Today at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT

Watch on: Twitch | Trevor May Baseball YouTube (Friday) | Foul Territory YouTube (Wednesday)

When he is on the field, New York Yankees designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton is still one of the best hitters in baseball. But at what point are the injuries too much?

A quote from Stanton to NJ.com’s Randy Miller has understandably gone very viral.

“I can’t open a bottle,” Standon said. “I can’t open a bag of chips … a bag of anything. That’s the way it is.”

What?

Did Stanton really just admit that to a reporter on the record? But that is not all he said.

Stanton, who is entering his age-36 season, missed two-and-a-half months to start last season with epicondylitis, more commonly known as tennis elbow, in both elbows. Miller began his conversation with Stanton by asking about his elbows.

Here is his full response.

“That’ll never be the case,” Stanton said. “Not while I’m in this line of work. You have your good days and bad days, just like your mood and everything.”

Enough is enough. If Stanton’s elbow injuries have not improved, he is in this much constant pain and does not believe it will improve while he is still playing, he should think about retiring.

Stanton even admitted to Miller that surgery would fix the problem, but he was not willing to consider it because of the chance of it negatively impacting his swing.

“You get the surgery and you can go back to being in the general population in a few months, but my job is to put some of the most force into a batted ball,” Stanton said. “That’s not going to be fixed in surgery, and I don’t care what any doctor says because they don’t know what’s going on. What’s written [about my elbows] is what me and the Yankees give you.”

It is admirable to a certain extent to see Stanton pushing through this much to still try and get on the field. Not only is Stanton dealing with injuries to both elbows, but is still clearly impacted by some sort of lower body issue and is one of the least mobile players in MLB.

He had the fourth-slowest sprint speed in all of baseball at 23.5 feet per second and the slowest home to first time at 5.22 seconds according to Baseball Savant. Stanton is also realistically no longer able to play the outfield at a Major League level. Those deficits were especially clear when he had to be stuck in the field for 20 games last season when Aaron Judge was returning from a shoulder injury and unable to throw.

Stanton has two years of team control plus a club option for the 2028 season left on his infamous 13-year, $325 million contract and is still a very valuable hitter. In just 77 games last year, less than half of a season, Stanton hit .273/.350/.594 with a ridiculous158 OPS+ along with 24 home runs and 66 RBI. Stanton crushed seven postseason home runs during the Yankees’ run to the World Series in 2024.

No one is doubting he can still hit. But from the Yankees’ perspective, especially for someone as injury-prone as Stanton who has not played a full season since 2021, it may be better for them as well to be able to have the DH spot open based on the rest of their roster.

Judge will turn 34 in April and has dealt with his share of injuries and could benefit from some consistent DH opportunities. That would in turn open up more outfield opportunities for Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones (Jones hit two home runs during the Yankees’ spring training matchup against the Atlanta Braves on Thursday). It would also give Ben Rice, who has spent time at catcher and first base, a more natural spot in the lineup.

Stanton is 47 home runs away from 500. He has not won a World Series. He still has two years left on his contract. He is still hitting at an elite level.

If Stanton’s injuries have gotten so bad to where they are impacting his ability to perform daily tasks and he is freely admitting those issues to the media, the conversation about a potential early retirement unfortunately must be had.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Our latest BONUS video for paid subscriber is live! I chat with my former pitching coach with the Twins and current Georgia head coach Wes Johnson about the state of amateur baseball and all sorts of nerdy pitching topics. Check it out here.

The next live Mayday! will be today at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT on the Trevor May Baseball Youtube page and on Twitch.

There is a new Mayday! schedule. On Wednesdays at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT, we will be live for one hour on the Foul Territory Youtube page and on Twitch and will have a more scripted program. On Fridays at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT, we will be live for one hour on the Trevor May Baseball Youtube page and on Twitch and will be more interactive.

We have a second YouTube channel for even more videos focusing more on baseball culture and the side of the internet where baseball lovers spend their time. Go subscribe to More Mayday now!

New merch is live! Want to throw cheese? Well, you only need to LET IT EAT!

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Mayday! the Podcast

Konnor Griffin’s big day at the plate

The Nationals have a new pitching philosophy?

Will MLB players play in the 2028 Olympics?

And more!

Ranking the top 10 offseasons

Who made the best signings and trades?

The Pirates are on the list?

And more!

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Rates & Barrells

Max Scherzer returns to the Blue Jays

Shohei Ohtani’s pitching outlook

Early spring training trends

And more!

Listen to all the new episodes here!

📺 WATCH 📺

Everyone knows that in order to be a great baseball player, you have to have a couple screws loose. But how many is the perfect amount? How do you know if it’s gone a little too far? Well, look no further than these 11 gentlemen to get your question answered... (19 mins)

Brandon Nimmo opens up about his trade to the Rangers, the USA starters talk workload for the WBC and much more on deck for this week’s edition of Spring Storylines. Let's get into it... (13 mins)

The big leagues have long been where players have been expected to make many of their own in game decisions. In recent years that has changed, sometimes dramatically, just like everything else. This season, we seem to have two perfect examples of how these changes are going to be implemented. Let me explain… (24 mins)

The offseason is over. But who won? Let's get into it... (15 mins)

📝READ📝

My producer, David Korn, wrote about some of the most underrated moves from this offseason that you may have forgotten about.

STAT OF THE WEEK - ABS Challenges

Challenge rate is “rate of challenges out of challengeable pitches,” defined as bad outcome non-swings with challenges remaining. (So, called balls against pitchers/catchers; called strikes against batters.)

Expected challenges are based on a model that includes pitch location, number of remaining challenges, runners on, and ball/strike/out situation.

Using that model, we can compare actual challenges vs. expected challenges and also actual overturns vs. expected overturns, converted into a single outcome. One of the best AAA challengers in 2025, Jamie Westbrook, won +5.4 more challenges than expected and lost -2.7 fewer than expected (when fielders challenged him), resulting in +8.1 overturns vs. expected, an excellent mark. (via Baseball Savant)

More Shows to Check Out

Foul Territory: Live on YouTube - Every day at 2:00 p.m. ET/11:00 a.m. PT

Sunday Sliders with Trevor and Dani Wexelman on MLB Network Radio, SiriusXM channel 89 and on the SiriusXM app - Sundays at 1:00 p.m. ET/10:00 a.m. PT

Next Live Mayday! - Today at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT

Watch on: Twitch | Trevor May Baseball YouTube (Friday) | Foul Territory YouTube (Wednesday)

What about some of the transactions that have flown more under-the-radar and may not have gotten as much national attention?

Here are four underrated moves you may have forgotten about or overlooked that still have a chance to make a significant impact this season.

1. Red Sox trade for Caleb Durbin

Full trade:

Red Sox receive: INF Caleb Durbin, INF Andruw Monasterio, INF Anthony Seigler, Competitive Balance Round B Draft pick

Brewers receive: LHP Kyle Harrison, INF David Hamilton, LHP prospect Shane Drohan

The Boston Red Sox had to pivot their entire offseason after failing to re-sign Alex Bregman. Instead of running it back with Bregman, signing one of the other premier free agent bats or swinging a trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks for Ketel Marte, the Red Sox focused on run prevention. Step one was bringing in Ranger Suarez on a five-year, #130 million deal to be the Red Sox’s number two starter, giving Boston one of the best and deepest rotations in baseball. Step two was improving their infield defense.

That is where Caleb Durbin, the 5’7” infielder who finished third in National League Rookie of the Year voting last season and played a crucial role on the 97-win Milwaukee Brewers, comes in. Last season, Durbin spent the majority of his time at third base. Coming up, he was primarily a second baseman, but was blocked there by platinum glover Brice Turang. Durbin is in the 29th percentile for arm strength, which helps explain his average defense at third last season. I expect that with a full season at second, Durbin can become a plus defender and will help elevate the Red Sox’s elite pitching.

Durbin has elite bat-to-ball skills–95th percentile in squared-up rate, 96th percentile in whiff rate and 98th percentile in K rate–and it did not take a lot for the Red Sox to acquire him. If the defense improves with a more consistent role at second base, Durbin could be one of the steals of the offseason.

2. Orioles trade for Taylor Ward

Full trade:

Orioles receive: OF Taylor Ward

Angels receive: RHP Grayson Rodriguez

We will forgive you if this trade slipped your mind. It happened just about two weeks after the World Series, and Taylor Ward is one of the most under-appreciated players in baseball. And in case you have not been paying attention to what has been going on in Anaheim lately, Ward is coming off of a 36-homer, 103-RBI season and over the last four seasons has quietly been one of the better hitters in all of baseball.

There are real injury concerns with Grayson Rodriguez, and while he is talented, being able to move him for a proven bat like Ward is an absolute win for the Baltimore Orioles and will help give them one of the absolute best lineups in baseball. The AL East has been in a bit of an arms race this offseason, and this is the move that kick-started it all. With Ward, new signee Pete Alonso and Gunnar Henderson, Colton Cowser and Jordan Westburg returning, the Orioles have five guys who are legitimate 30-homer threats.

This is the type of offseason Orioles fans have been clamoring for. They finally spent some money on Alonso, but Ward might end up being just as important of a piece in the lineup.

3. Braves trade for Mauricio Dubon

Full trade:

Braves receive: UTIL Mauricio Dubon

Astros receive: INF Nick Allen

Mauricio Dubon has become one of my favorite players in baseball. Super-utility players are extremely valuable, and there are few better than the Honduran-born Dubon, a two-time utility Gold Glove award winner who has started games at every position except pitcher and catcher for the Houston Astros over the last two seasons. For a Braves team that has been bit by the injury bug the past few seasons, and already has been with an early injury to presumed starting shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, Dubon’s versatility will be even more useful.

If the Braves are completely healthy, Dubon likely does not find his way into the starting lineup. But with Kim sidelined for at least the first month of the season, Dubon will begin his Braves’ career as the team’s starting shortstop according to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman. After that, Dubon could also see some time in right field, which would allow the Braves to spell Acuna, who has missed significant time the last two seasons recovering from a torn ACL, and give him some opportunities to DH. One spot Dubon may not spend much time at is first base, where Olson has played 162 games at the past four seasons.

Dubon is not going to wow anyone at the plate, but with the Braves he should not need to. He had a very respectable .720 OPS with 10 home runs in 2023 and is in the 90th percentile for whiff rate and 97th percentile for K rate. The Braves missed the postseason last year. In a loaded NL East with a new-look Mets team and the always dangerous Philadelphia Phillies, competing for the division title will be a tall task. But players like Dubon are crucial for winning teams, and Dubon is a winning player.

4. Tigers sign Kenley Jansen

Contract details: One year, $9 million with a $12 million club option for 2027

The Detroit Tigers have notably spent the past few seasons without a set closer, with manager A.J. Hinch piecing together his relievers and utilizing what people have dubbed “pitching chaos.” Now, he has another arm at his disposal, Kenley Jansen, a potential future Hall of Famer and the current active saves leader. Jansen never really relied on velocity to get outs, so even at 38, he is still one of the better late-inning pitchers in baseball.

Last season with the Angels, Jansen had 29 saves with a 2.59 ERA in 62 appearances. This year with the Tigers, Jansen will have a lot more competition for the ninth inning. Will Vest led Detroit in saves last season with 21. Kyle Finnegan has closing experience with the Washington Nationals and got a few opportunities last year after a midseason trade. The young Troy Melton projects to be a starter down the road, but with a full rotation could be a factor in the bullpen if the Tigers choose to put him on the Major League roster instead of keeping him in AAA to get more starts.

While the Tigers rotation has stolen all of the headlines this offseason after they kept Tarik Skubal and signed Framber Valdez and Justin Verlander, their bullpen could be just as good. This will be year number 17 for Jansen, and with high expectations in Detroit, he might just be called upon to get some very important outs down the stretch.

Missed anyone? Let us know in the comments what your favorite underrated move from this offseason was!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Our latest BONUS video for paid subscriber is live! I chat with my former pitching coach with the Twins and current Georgia head coach Wes Johnson about the state of amateur baseball and all sorts of nerdy pitching topics. Check it out here.

The next live Mayday! will be Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT on the Foul Territory Youtube page and on Twitch.

There is a new Mayday! schedule. On Wednesdays at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT, we will be live for one hour on the Foul Territory Youtube page and on Twitch and will have a more scripted program. On Fridays at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT, we will be live for one hour on the Trevor May Baseball Youtube page and on Twitch and will be more interactive.

We have a second YouTube channel for even more videos focusing more on baseball culture and the side of the internet where baseball lovers spend their time. Go subscribe to More Mayday now!

New merch is live! Want to throw cheese? Well, you only need to LET IT EAT!

NEW STUFF

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Mayday! the Podcast

Tony Clark’s resignation

What MLBPA leadership is saying about Clark

Calling pitches from the dugout

And more!

Why a salary cap would not work in MLB

What could help with parity other than a hard salary cap

And more!

Five big storylines to watch out for ini the 2026 season

How the new managers will perform

What will ABS really look like

And more!

Listen to all the new episodes here!

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Bonus video for paid subscribers: Professional baseball has changed immensely since I was drafted in 2008. The minor leagues have shrunk, the draft has half as many rounds, and the tech boom has more players showing skills that were unheard of just ten years ago. Getting to the professional level asap used to be the name of the game, but that also is changing… my former pitching coach with the Twins and current Georgia head coach Wes Johnson and I discuss… (30 mins)

MLBPA Union Chief Tony Clark has blindsided the baseball world, myself included, by resigning unexpectedly amid a federal probe into financial misconduct and an internal investigation that alleges impropriety with a union employee, that happens to also be his sister-in-law. Yikes. A lot to unpack here, so let's jump in... (10 mins)

To salary cap or not to salary cap? Ken Rosenthal has some answers and I think you may find some of them interesting. It turns out that much of the framework already exists for solving MLB's biggest issues. But will the players and owners go for any of it? Let's discuss... (28 mins)

The WBC is almost here. These are my Top 5 Power Rankings & Predictions completely based on nothing. Lets get into it... (17 mins)

Nick Castellanos is no longer a Phillie and it might be because he brought a beer into the dugout... (15 mins)

I learned a lot in my time in professional baseball and until recently, I wasn't able to articulate it as effectively as I wanted to. Now that I've had some time to sit with it all, I'm ready to lay it all out so that someone else might find it useful. Either way, here we go... (24 mins)

Spring Training has started and there are new faces, new pitches, and new stories to follow everywhere. Here are 5 stories you should be paying attention to in Spring Training and beyond in 2026. Lets jump right in... (25 mins)

STAT OF THE WEEK - Hard-hit Rate

Statcast defines a ‘hard-hit ball’ as one hit with an exit velocity of 95 mph or higher, and a player’s “hard-hit rate” is simply showing the percentage of batted balls that were hit at 95 mph or more.

Why 95 mph? Because that’s when exit velocity begins to “matter.” Another way of saying that is that balls hit at 40 mph or 70 mph will affect your average exit velocity differently, but in terms of outcomes, they’re just two varieties of weakly hit balls. For true production, you need to get to 95 mph. (via MLB)

More Shows to Check Out

Foul Territory: Live on YouTube - Every day at 2:00 p.m. ET/11:00 a.m. PT

Sunday Sliders with Trevor and Dani Wexelman on MLB Network Radio, SiriusXM channel 89 and on the SiriusXM app - Sundays at 1:00 p.m. ET/10:00 a.m. PT

Next Live Mayday! - Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT

Watch on: Twitch | Trevor May Baseball YouTube (Friday) | Foul Territory YouTube (Wednesday)

Professional baseball has changed immensely since I was drafted in 2008. The minor leagues have shrunk, the draft has half as many rounds, and the tech boom has more players showing skills that were unheard of just ten years ago. Getting to the professional level asap used to be the name of the game, but that also is changing… let me explain.

Refer a friend

Read more

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Stay tuned for our second BONUS video for paid subscribers! I will chat with my former pitching coach with the Twins and current Georgia head coach Wes Johnson about the state of amateur baseball and all sorts of nerdy pitching topics. Make sure to become a paid subscribe so you don’t miss the next video!

Our first BONUS video for paid subscribers is live! I shared some of my insights about what might have gone wrong in the Mets clubhouse this past season. Check it out here.

The next live Mayday! will be today at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT on the Trevor May Baseball Youtube page and on Twitch.

There is a new Mayday! schedule. On Wednesdays at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT, we will be live for one hour on the Foul Territory Youtube page and on Twitch and will have a more scripted program. On Fridays at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT, we will be live for one hour on the Trevor May Baseball Youtube page and on Twitch and will be more interactive.

We have a second YouTube channel for even more videos focusing more on baseball culture and the side of the internet where baseball lovers spend their time. Go subscribe to More Mayday now!

New merch is live! Want to throw cheese? Well, you only need to LET IT EAT!

NEW STUFF

🎧 LISTEN 🎧

Mayday! the Podcast

Red Sox trade for Caleb Durbin

Luke Weaver brings his Yankees bag to Mets spring training

World Baseball Classic predictions

And more!

Listen to all the new episodes here!

Rates & Barrells

Latest Spring Training news

Garrett Crochet’s new changeup

Developing new pitches

And more!

Listen to all the new episodes here!

📺 WATCH 📺

Baseball is back baby! As the players report to spring training, we always get a ton of news and this year is no different. The Red Sox add an infielder, the injuries reports are flying in, and new Mets reliever Luke Weaver did something truly disrespectful. Lets jump right in... (12 mins)

Big news before report day! Framber Valdez has a home, the Mariners get just a little bit better again, and Tarik Skubal breaks arbitration in a a GOOD WAY. Let's jump into it... (24 mins)

📝READ📝

My producer, David Korn, wrote about the Pirates offseason and what they did, or did not do, and what it could mean for their future.

STAT OF THE WEEK - Ideal Attack Angle

Statcast classifies the ideal attack angle for a swing as between 5° and 20°. A hitter’s ideal attack angle rate is the percentage of his competitive swings that fall within the 5-20° attack angle range.

Attack angle refers to the vertical direction that the sweet spot of the bat is traveling at the moment of contact with the baseball (or the point where the bat and ball cross paths, in the case of a swing-and-miss). (via MLB)

An attack angle of 5-20° is considered “ideal” because swings that are within that range at the point of contact result in the most offensive value for the hitter. Swings in the ideal attack angle range are much more likely to produce line drives and fly balls, resulting in significantly higher slugging percentage and more extra-base hits.

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Foul Territory: Live on YouTube - Every day at 2:00 p.m. ET/11:00 a.m. PT

Sunday Sliders with Trevor and Dani Wexelman on MLB Network Radio, SiriusXM channel 89 and on the SiriusXM app - Sundays at 1:00 p.m. ET/10:00 a.m. PT

Next Live Mayday! - Today at 3:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. PT

Watch on: Twitch | Trevor May Baseball YouTube (Friday) | Foul Territory YouTube (Wednesday)

The Pittsburgh Pirates have often been seen as a hopeless franchise. They play in one of the smallest markets, have one of the poorest owners and have not earned a postseason berth since 2015. Even though the Pirates have been lucky enough to land a generational talent like Paul Skenes, the conversation surrounding his future is usually focused on potential trades and the belief that he will inevitably be too expensive for the Pirates to sign once he eventually reaches free agency.

But this offseason, there has been a palpable difference in the way the Pirates have operated. When they signed first baseman/outfielder Ryan O’Hearn to a two-year, $29 million deal in December, it was the first multi-year deal the team has given to a free agent since starting pitcher Ivan Nova was signed to a three-year, $26 million contract in 2016.

Even though O’Hearn’s $29 million is still just below Francisco Liriano’s franchise record $33 million free agent contract that he signed in 2014, the Pirates have still had a net positive offseason. The Buccos made meaningful additions and have at least reportedly made good faith efforts to try and sign some of the big name free agents.

Here’s a quick recap:

In a three-team trade with the Tampa Bay Rays and Houston Astros, the Pirates acquired two-time All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe and speedy outfielder Jake Mangum from the Rays in exchange for sending pitcher Mike Burrows to the Astros.

The Pirates sent righty Johan Oviedo to the Boston Red Sox for outfield prospect Jhostynxon Garcia, aka “The Password,” who is now ranked as the team’s No. 5 prospect per The Athletic’s Keith Law.

In free agency, the Pirates agreed to deals with O’Hearn, lefty reliever Gregory Soto (one-year, $7.75 million), right-hander Jose Urquidy (one-year, $1.5 million) and the recently acquired designated hitter Marcell Ozuna (one-year, $12 million), who is just one season removed from a 39 homer and .924 OPS season in which he finished fourth in NL MVP voting.

This is a significant improvement. Lowe and Ozuna have legitimate 30+ home run power. Mangum provides elite defense and baserunning. The 23-year-old Garcia could quickly become a fan-favorite and has a very promising offensive profile. No one would argue that Soto and Urquidy are in their primes, but they are veterans who have been a part of winning teams and can help stabilize a young pitching staff.

Despite these additions, the more relevant indicator about the Pirates’ desire to be competitive has been the players they failed to sign. Throughout the offseason, they have reportedly been connected to top free agents Kyle Schwarber, Eugenio Suarez and Framber Valdez.

After Schwarber signed back with the Philadelphia Phillies for five years and $150 million in December, Alex Stumpf, formerly of MLB.com, reported that the Pirates offered him a four-year, $125 deal. Stumpf also reported that the Pirates offered Suarez a one-year, $15 million contract, the same figures that he ended up accepting with the Cincinnati Reds. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported that the Pirates “emerged as one of the most aggressive clubs” during the late stages of Valdez’s free agency before he eventually signed a three-year, $115 million contract with the Detroit Tigers.

Does this mean anything though? The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Noah Hiles does not necessarily think so. He recently made an appearance on Foul Territory, and was asked by A.J. Pierzynski about the Pirates potentially needing to overpay for top free agents because of the organization’s reputation and said, “you don’t get credit for offering the same thing everyone else is.”

I disagree.

The offer the Pirates reportedly made to Schwarber was legitimate. It had a higher average annual value (AAV), $31.25 million, than what he ended up signing with the Phillies, $30 million. Before the offseason began, MLB Trade Rumors’ very well respected contract predictions had Schwarber signing a five-year, $135 million contract, which had just one more year and a significantly lower AAV than what the Pirates offered. The $125 million is also more than triple Liriano’s record free agent contract.

In Suarez’s case, they offered the same one-year, $15 million terms that he ended up getting from the Reds. That likely means that unless they offered something significantly more than the Reds, they were never going to get him. Suarez had already spent seven seasons in Cincinnati, and the hitter-friendly Great American Ballpark is certainly a great place to play a “prove-it” campaign before entering free agency again next offseason.

The specific details regarding the Pirates’ pursuit of Valdez are not known. While there is a chance that the Pirates could have exaggerated their pursuit to the media in order to gain favor with their fans, it does make sense that they could try and capitalize on Valdez’s slow market. The Pirates certainly had the money. Valdez ended up signing with the Tigers for less than the Pirates reportedly offered Schwarber.

The NL Central is looking like one of the weaker divisions in baseball. The Chicago Cubs stayed about the same, swapping Kyle Tucker for Alex Bregman. The Milwaukee Brewers should be competitive like they always are, but lost a lot of talent, even for them, trading away Isaac Collins, Freddy Peralta, Tobias Myers and Caleb Durbin, among others. Even with Suarez, the Reds remain flawed. The Cardinals had a firesale this offseason, moving on from Willson Contreras, Sonny Gray, Nolan Arenado and Brendan Donovan.

There is no reason why the Pirates can not compete for the postseason.

But more importantly, Pirates fans should be optimistic about how the front office has been willing to invest in this team. Players like Skenes do not come around very often. This offseason has shown that there is not only a chance that the Pirates could build a contender around Skenes over the next four seasons before he is expected to enter free agency after the 2029 season, but that they could have a chance to sign him long term.

The Pirates were supposedly willing to open the checkbook for an aging designated hitter like Schwarber and someone like Valdez who has some very real question marks surrounding him, especially after his infamous “cross-up” this past season. It is much more justifiable to spend on a player like Skenes who is already a fan favorite, a consensus top-two pitcher in baseball and one of the most marketable athletes in the world.

Whether it is with the Pirates or another team, Skenes will likely end up signing one of the largest contracts in MLB history. Before this offseason, there was no reason to expect the Pirates to have much of a chance at re-signing or extending Skenes or signing any other big time free agents. But, they tried, and even though they were unsuccessful this time, there is at least a chance they could hit on someone, including Skenes, over the next few years.

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Ins:

Josh Naylor (resigned for 5 years): A+ move. I’ve talked at length about how good this is.

Jose Ferrer (trade with Nationals): B+. The Mariners clearly see Ferrer as an elite reliever, trading away Harry Ford for him. Losing Ford isn’t actually that bad though (I’ll get into it later). Bullpen help was a need, as having to rely too heavily on Munoz, Brash, Bazardo, and Spier was what ultimately ended last season. Additionally, the bullpen needed another lefty with the loss of Ferguson. A good pickup in a place of need.

Rob Refsnyder (1-year deal): B. Refsnyder is a solid depth piece and a sure platoon guy for how he crushes lefties. I look forward to his short but entertaining highlight reel.

Andrew Knizner (1-year deal): D. This guy is nothing. I’d honestly prefer we resign Mitch Garver over this guy. Obviously he’s a backup catcher but there’s no reason to use a roster spot on a guy who will obviously not produce. Confusing pickup.

Cooper Criswell (trade with Mets): B-. This is a solid project guy.

Brendan Donovan (trade with Cardinals): A. While the price to get him was steep, losing a few top prospects is a worthy trade to get one of the most consistent hitters at the 2nd base position. Donovan brings a .281 average over his four years in St. Louis, along with Gold Glove caliber defense. A truly strong 2nd baseman to shore up a large hole left by Jorge Polanco. A very needed move and a very good sign that the front office cares about winning.

Outs:

Jorge Polanco (Mets): D-. Devastating loss. Polanco was the clutch hero and a severely underrated part of the Mariners machine all season. Losing him means losing a steady bat, a 2nd base glove, and a lot of fans’ hearts. Good luck in New York Polo, we thank you deeply for your service.

Harry Ford (Nationals): A-. I know I said we wasted a spot on Knizner but honestly the backup catcher is a waste entirely, Cal Raleigh takes away any need for a good backup catcher and the Mariners traded Ford away when they could get the most value from him. Nice knowing you, Prince Harry.

Caleb Ferguson (Reds): B+. Whatever, man. He wasn’t great for us.

Gregory Santos (Giants): B+. He really could’ve been good for us if he wasn’t hurt the entire time he was a Mariner. Unfortunate how it went.

Eugenio Suarez (Reds): C-. This one stings. I know he didn’t play the best in his second stint with the Mariners, but Geno is and will forever be a legend in Seattle. His contract for the Reds felt like one that the Mariners could have matched, and with a hole remaining at 3rd base, the loss of Geno is a tough pill to swallow.

Ben Williamson (Rays): B-. Williamson was a solid player at times last year, and I expected him to be the starting third baseman going into the year until the Donovan trade. Williamson was a great glove and a middling bat, but showed enough promise for me to be excited to give him a chance. Not having him puts third base into question, but if losing him is what it took to get Donovan, I would make that trade any day.

The Mariners are probably not as good as they were at the end of last season, but they are decidedly better than they were at the start of last season. Rowdy Tellez, Ryan Bliss (miss him), and Luke Raley all started on Opening Day last year. The main question mark remaining is 3rd base, and if I had to guess, the current plan is to either move Donovan there or give Cole Young a shot at it. Colt Emerson will probably start the year in AAA, but could be called up at any moment. While the loss of Polanco and Suarez definitely sets the Mariners back going into the 2026 season, the team is still in a really good place and feels to be in a position to make another run at October. Final offseason grade: B+.

Go M’s,

Henry “Dylan Moore got signed by the Phillies and I’m so sad about it” Neiman