caulfield12

I mean a lot of different entities will want to get involved with the Sox at lower price points on sponsorships/advertising/promotions before things really take off. Hard to be much lower than the Rays and A's in revenue production in a first tier city like Chicago.

Probably better than Hill overall and younger. Solid minor league numbers...blocked in SD.

https://www.purplerow.com/2022/6/5/23154573/sunday-rockpile-german-marquez-fastball-issue-pitch-shape It's really about getting away from Coors/losing culture and putting solid defenders behind him in a bigger park in terms of how it plays at night. Same thing Mets are arguing about Luis Robert. But four years of struggle will take a LOT to undo. Also, four years since Buehler was really right, from mid season 2022 onwards. Second TJS. https://blogs.fangraphs.com/can-anyone-fix-walker-buehler-anyone/ https://www.espn.com.au/mlb/story/_/id/47958615/ex-dodger-walker-buehler-signs-nl-west-rival-padres

If Mune is anything CLOSE to his NPB level, all bets are off...

https://www.gaslampball.com/san-diego-padres-analysis-commentary/53585/padres-add-bounceback-candidates-over-weekend https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/mlb-padres-sign-all-star-and-gold-glove-winner-ty-france-for-his-san-diego-return/ar-AA1WtM5Q 1B DH France Castellanos Sheets util Song and Miguel Andujar Laureano Merrill Tatis Machado Bogaerts Cronenworth Fermin/Campusano All comes down to starting pitching/Musgrove's TJS recovery.

It's also disheartening to see disjointed hitting mechanics like this from a consensus Top 3 fielding talent. It's going to take a lot more than the Vargas April 22nd swing change to get his mechanics to playable in Kanny. That said...there are growing reasons for optimism on the offensive side, after three long years. At any rate, time will tell. It would be huge plus for the rebuild if either Carlson OR Acuna lived up to their god-given physical tools on both sides of the ball.

Toto Bidet alert!

Shohei $100 million plus individually, per season $75-125 million to the Dodgers from Japanese sponsors Bryce Harper $10 million individually <<< $10 million Although Matsumoto might have surpassed that Or think of it like Eileen Gu to all the US Winter Olympians $100-125+ million from 2019 to today...individually. 2.3 million young girls in China taking up winter sports L.Vonn/Chloe Kim/Schiffrin/Stolz etc $5-7 million each

rapyuta robotics caddi inc. fuji blommer chocolate ajinomoto health and nutrition n.a. ana airways toto mizuno One of the things that made this possible, is with our great partners in the front row,” Crane said. He then asked Takayuki Inoue, the chief marketing officer of Daikin, to stand up. “Thank you, sir.” "Daikin, a Japanese HVAC company, is entering the second year of a 15-year naming rights deal with the Astros stadium that will pay the team more than $140 million, according to someone familiar with the terms. For most MLB teams, naming rights are the most valuable corporate asset they can sell. In the case of the Astros, the team may have received something more valuable than money—an assist in making the first major free-agent splash of 2026." Of course, the Imai signing works well for Daikin, too. While it’s unclear exactly what Inoue’s role was in the free agent process—a rep for the company didn’t immediately respond to an inquiry—there are obvious benefits for a Japanese company to have a Japanese star playing in the venue that bears its name. Daikin was mentioned multiple times, by multiple people, during Monday’s press conference, and Inoue reportedly took part in the official photos with Imai afterwards—all things that likely delight a high-paying partner. The Daikin Park partnership, announced in November 2024, appears to have helped shift the team’s entire approach in Asia. Crane spoke Monday about his team’s scouting presence in Tokyo, Seoul and Taiwan, all of which are recent developments." sportico.com

Japan thus perceived Russia as the biggest obstacle in its on-land expansion strategy and started its "Gashin Shotan" movement (persevering through hardship for the sake of revenge). It ferociously scaled up its armed forces, vying with Russia for hegemony. "Defeated in the Sino-Japanese War, China signed the April 1895 Treaty of Shimonoseki, ceding part of the Liaotung Peninsula to Japan. Within the week, however, Russia, Germany, and France intervened to block Japan from taking possession. This "retrocession" of the peninsula forced upon the Japanese caused a public outcry against the "triple intervention" and is mentioned several times in the following chapters. The essay's actual title, "Gashin shotan ron," referred to the slogan used by the Japanese government to counter public criticism of its handling of the affair and alluded to a prince in ancient China who was said to keep a container of gall by his side the better to nurse his vengeance against victorious enemies." Wikipedia footnotes

CJ Abrams spring training trade rumors (Eldridge deal shot down by Giants), Nats now willing to trade anyone but Wood/Crews? "I don't believe it. Their goal right now is to have the No. 1-ranked system in baseball. So anything that could help them get there, they're going to do," an anonymous executive told The Athletic. Trading Abrams would allow the Nationals to accumulate further prospect capital. However, trading a 25-year-old with three years of control left on his deal for someone just a little bit younger defeats the purpose, doesn't it? Of the 36 executives polled, seven believe Abrams will be sent packing. That's more than just a little bit of noise.

https://nypost.com/2026/02/17/sports/terrance-gores-wife-reveals-simple-procedure-that-led-to-his-death/

Can we just bring back Royce Clayton?

The Mets have claimed catcher Ben Rortvedt off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers, according to a report from Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Right-hander Dedniel Nunez was transferred to the 60-day injured list to make room for Rortvedt on the 40-man roster,” MLB Trade Rumors’ Nick Deeds wrote.

Have soft spot for PR after trip there... still not sure if Lindor will be cleared to play. "In a remarkable twist, superstar performer Bad Bunny reportedly offered to cover Lindor’s WBC insurance to facilitate his participation. Lindor confirmed that the same offer extended to fellow Puerto Rican star Carlos Correa of the Houston Astros. While the gesture highlighted both artists’ and athletes’ pride in representing Puerto Rico, neither player was able to accept the proposal." Looks like Vladdy Jr. was talking trash on social media about this development...vis a vis DR team chances to win. Taiwan seems to lose its "intl. competitive advantage" somewhere around middle or high school age.

Who else in NCAA has Strosnider's raw tools that could potentially fall to the second round and be swayed with $$$? Probably a short list.

https://nypost.com/2026/02/17/sports/tony-clarks-inappropriate-relationship-with-sister-in-law-sparked-mlbpa-resignation/ nyp just splashed affair on cover "Former NFLPA lawyer Heather McPhee alleged that Clark and former NFL players union boss Lloyd Howell had conducted “a pressure campaign to shut down a thorough review” of a bonus plan which gave millions to OneTeam executive board members. OneTeam is the licensing company co-owned by the MLBPA and Players Way, and part of what is being probed by the Eastern District. Questions arose from Players Way spending close to $10 million while only holding a few lightly attended live events, with the expenditure being significantly higher than the $3.9 million that the MLBPA told ESPN in a report last year." former Twins' pitcher Kevin Slowey favorite to be the interim boss for now...vote expected this week "Meyer or Kevin Slowey, the union’s managing director of player services, were both mentioned by Yahoo Sports sources as interim options. Slowey, who pitched for Minnesota and Miami across a seven-year career, has taken an increasingly front-facing role within the MLBPA over the past few seasons. His reputation in clubhouses, as a former player, is generally better than that of Meyer, who comes from a litigation background."

https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/article/tony-clarks-surprise-resignation-leaves-mlbpa-without-a-leader-as-cba-negotiations-loom-191804079.html

Wrecking Crew a decent mindless action click to kill some Feb hours.

https://www.espn.com/espn/betting/story/_/id/47900058/world-baseball-classic-odds USA then Japan and DR the three favorites

Team Samurai vs. NPB teams Sunday, February 22, 2026 – vs. Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – Miyazaki (venue TBD) Monday, February 23, 2026 – vs. Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks – Miyazaki (venue TBD) Friday, February 27, 2026 – at Chunichi Dragons – Nagoya Dome Saturday, February 28, 2026 – at Chunichi Dragons – Nagoya Dome Monday, March 2, 2026 – vs. Orix Buffaloes – Kyocera Dome Osaka – 7:00 PM JST Tuesday, March 3, 2026 – vs. Hanshin Tigers – Kyocera Dome Osaka – 7:00 PM JST 2026 World Baseball Classic Team Japan Schedule & Bracket The 2026 World Baseball Classic Team Japan schedule kicks off with pool play. Pool C – Tokyo Dome Schedule (All Times JST; Tokyo Dome) Japan plays four round-robin games. Evening games start at 7:00 PM JST (~5:00 AM ET early March; adjust for U.S. time zones). Day games at 12:00 PM JST. Japan’s Pool Schedule: Friday, March 6, 2026 – 7:00 PM JST – Japan vs. Chinese Taipei (FOX / FOX Deportes) Tournament opener-Samurai Japan expected to set the tone with a strong performance. Saturday, March 7, 2026 – 7:00 PM JST – Japan vs. South Korea (FS1 / FOX Deportes) Intense Asia rivalry-Korea always brings fire; key for top seed. Sunday, March 8, 2026 – 7:00 PM JST – Japan vs. Australia (FOX / FOX Deportes) Australia’s scrappy style could test pitching; Japan should dominate. Tuesday, March 10, 2026 – 7:00 PM JST – Japan vs. Czechia (FS1 / FOX Deportes) Czechia’s underdog energy-perfect chance for Japan to lock in the pool win.

But he hasn't stuck at the position long-term... It has still only been 200+ PA's or whatever your screening qualification that had him at 14/32.

PEORIA, AZ — San Diego Padres All-Star third baseman Manny Machado, having watched the bitter rival Los Angeles Dodgers dominate the NL West – and enter the season with a payroll exceeding $400 million – not only declined to criticize the Dodgers’ expenditures, but praised the organization. “I (expletive) love it," Machado said Sunday morning. “I think every team should be doing it. They’re figured out a way to do it, and the (stuff) is (expletive) great for the game honestly. I think every team has the ability to do it. So, I hope all 30 teams could learn from it." USAtoday.com

All the big FA movement will happen next November before the lockout. Big 5-6 teams will predictably load up on more talent knowing conditions will likely get more challenging for them after the new CBA. Don't think most trades will occur until the value of pre arb versus veteran guys is more firmly defined.

Quotes from last spring or it didn't happen... There was certainly nobody predicting above average MLB defense out of Colson. The majority of talk was 3B 1B corner outfield and DH.