In this episode we weave together baseball culture and the moment we’re living in. From World Baseball Classic roster news to NL West outfield rankings. This episode also spotlights Rod Carew & salutes the good people of Minnesota in a time of adversity.

World Baseball Classic Preview

Pool A outlook in Puerto Rico featuring: Puerto Rico Canada Panama Cuba Colombia

Team Canada updates:

• Freddie Freeman opts out for rest and recovery
• Josh Naylor steps in as a lineup anchor
• Bo Naylor behind the plate
• Tyler O’Neill Denzel Clarke Owen Caissie highlight the roster
• Pitching depth (availability pending)

WBC Stars & Opt-Outs

• Players opting out for health rest or personal reasons:
  Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, Teoscar Hernández, Tommy Edman Andy Pagés
• Dodgers confirmed to play in WBC include:
  • Shohei Ohtani Clayton Kershaw Will Smith (USA)
  • Yoshinobu Yamamoto Seiya Suzuki Munetaka Murakami (Japan)
  • Japan discussed as early tournament favorites

MLB Roster & Team Analysis

NL West Outfield Rankings (Mat’s Take)

• Padres, Diamondbacks, Dodgers, Giants & Rockies
• Diamondbacks’ young core praised: Corbin Carroll, Blaze Alexander, Ryan Waldschmidt
• Giants’ signing of Harrison Bader: Defensive upgrade after ranking last in OF defense in 2025
• Potential to significantly help pitching in Oracle Park
• Discussion on how defense and athleticism translate to wins

Bigger Than Baseball - Minnesota Immigration & Humanity

• Minnesota culture (“Minnesota Nice”)
• Discussion of immigration narratives vs lived reality

Rod Carew, Panamanian Immigrant - Outstanding service as player & US Marine

• Born in Panama Hall of Famer US Marine Corps veteran
• Career with Minnesota Twins
• American League Batting Title named in his honor
• Carew becomes a US citizen in 2024
• Baseball as a bridge between cultures and communities

Civic Responsibility & Democracy

• "22 minutes" political comedy perspective - https://www.youtube.com/@22Minutes - worth watching similar to SNL - Saturday Night Live
• Importance of free and fair elections
• People are stepping up
• Concerns over election interference
• Encouragement to stay informed engaged and compassionate
• Call for cooler heads ethical leadership and community support
• Minnesotans are great people and show peaceful response to harsh federal actions against the people living there
• US Administration meeting with Sports Commissioners what does it hold for changes in the future of their sports

Closing Thoughts

Remember that while baseball gives us joy perspective matters. The game doesn’t exist in a vacuum and neither do we. Acts of kindness standing up for others and staying engaged locally and nationally are just as important as wins and losses.

“Try to find the joy in every day amidst all the madness.”

Like & subscribe to BaseballBiz On Deck. You may also find BaseballBiz on Deck, on YouTube at iHeart Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, & at www.baseballbizondeck.com
Also you can find Mat at M-A-T-G-E-R-M-A-I-N dot B Sky social. That's Mat at M-A-T-G-E-R-M-A-I-N dot B, Sky social or Mark at Baseball Biz on Deck dot B Sky Social and BaseballBiz On Deck with Facebook.

Rays Stadium looking for a New Edge in Tampa with HCC

• Hillsborough Community College Board of Trustees approve MOU with Rays
• MOU is a non-binding framework to explore possibilities.
• Discussion of campus location and its proximity to:
  • Raymond James Stadium (Buccaneers)
  • Steinbrenner Field (Yankees)
  • Amalie Arena (Lightning)
• Community reactions, faculty concerns & housing cost questions.
• 180-day timeline for the Rays to return with details.
• Governor comments on infrastructure support (but not direct stadium funding)
• Why this site could help build a centralized Tampa sports district similar to Atlanta’s Battery

Transportation, Development & Big-Picture Vision

• Traffic & parking comparisons vs. Tropicana Field
• Transportation planning
• Innovation Edge concept & mixed-use development potential
• Broader impact beyond baseball: events, tourism, NCAA tournaments, & international visibility
• Differentiating Tampa Bay from Orlando and other Florida destinations.

Rays FanFest Block Party (Valentine’s Day)

• FanFest to be held in the Parking Lot of the Tropicana Field outdoors
• Block Party - Free parking, block party atmosphere, and fan-player interaction.
• Favorite FanFest memories:
  • Player scavenger hunts
  • Ping-pong with Rays player
  • Photo ops with Blake Snell & Tyler Glasnow
• Fans will be excited to meet this year at FanFest: Gavin Lux, Junior Caminero, Yandy Díaz, Cedric Mullins, Steven Matz, Steven Wilson, Richie Palacios, & Justin Henry Malloy

Rays Roster & Player Development

• More “team-centric” Rays roster
• Ken Waldichuk - Pitch mix comparisons to Garrett Cleavinger
• Trade speculation: Johnny DeLuca, Taylor Walls, & White Sox connections

MLB Free Agency & Trades

• Cody Bellinger - signs with the Yankees (5 years, $167M):
• Concerns about Cody's age, cost, & long-term value.
• Mets trade for Luis Robert Jr.:
  • Younger, cheaper, high-upside move
  • Risk-mitigated contract structure
• Why the Mets’ move may age better than the Yankees’
• Yankees’ roster flexibility and potential follow-up trades

Hall of Fame Talk

• Congrats to: Andruw Jones, Carlos Beltrán, Jeff Kent
• Rare moment: 2 elite center fielders entering together
• Looking to 2027 ballot: Buster Posey, John Lester, Chase Utley. Bobby Abreu
• Vote dynamics shift as names fall off the ballot

MLB Parity & CBA Discussion

• Tim Dierkes’ article:
  “MLB Parity Possible Without a Salary Cap” (MLB Trade Rumors)
  https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/author/tim-dierkes
• Why this matters heading into the next Collective Bargaining Agreement

Final Thoughts

• Rays expectations may be more grounded than in recent years—but opportunity remains
• New ownership energy, patience in baseball operations & long-term vision
• The next 180 days could shape the future of baseball in Tampa Bay

Join the conversation!
Share your thoughts on the Rays, the stadium talks, FanFest, and MLB parity. Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review BaseballBiz On Deck wherever you listen.

Rays Up!

Like & subscribe to BaseballBiz On Deck. You may also find BaseballBiz on Deck, on YouTube at iHeart Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, & at www.baseballbizondeck.com
Also you can find Mat at M-A-T-G-E-R-M-A-I-N dot B Sky social. That's Mat at M-A-T-G-E-R-M-A-I-N dot B, Sky social or Mark at Baseball Biz on Deck dot B Sky Social and BaseballBiz On Deck with Facebook.

Mark Corbett and Mat Germain break down one of the most explosive stretches of MLB free agency in recent memory. With massive contracts, shocking signings, and widening payroll gaps, the duo digs into what these moves mean for competitive balance, player equity, and the future of Major League Baseball.

From Kyle Tucker’s blockbuster deal with the Dodgers to the Mets’ smart pivot with Bo Bichette, this episode explores who’s winning, who’s losing, and why the system itself may be reaching a breaking point.

MLB Free Agency Explosion

• Kyle Tucker signs a massive deal with the Dodgers, doubling Pete Alonso’s AAV
• Why the Dodgers felt desperate to get younger amid an aging core
• The true cost of star-heavy rosters and long-term risk

Aging Rosters & Hidden Cracks

• Dodgers’ projected roster age concerns
• Defensive regression as the overlooked weakness
• Why pitching depth can’t mask aging position players forever

Mets Pivot Smartly

• Mets lose out on Tucker but land Bo Bichette
• How Bichette improves infield versatility, offense, and defense
• Why Mat prefers Bichette over Tucker for the Mets

Blue Jays at a Crossroads

• Losing their best hitter and what it means for Toronto
• Aging George Springer and rising lineup risk
• Why Cody Bellinger could be their next critical move

Competitive Balance & Salary Cap Debate

• Two owners (Dodgers & Mets) changing the entire market
• Why 26 teams realistically can’t compete for elite free agents
• How lack of parity hurts players, fans, and the league’s value
• Floor + ceiling vs. the current “luxury tax theater”

Rank-and-File Players Left Behind

• How top-10% contracts squeeze out middle-class MLB players
• Arbitration battles over minimal dollars
• Why a salary floor could help more players than a pure cap

The Player Extension Dilemma

• Elly De La Cruz and the risk of waiting until free agency
• How looming CBA changes impact long-term decisions
• Will fear of a future cap push players to extend earlier?

Trades & Team Direction

• Josh Lowe to the Angels and the culture shift in Anaheim
• Rays add Gavin Lux and improve defensively up the middle
• Tampa Bay’s growing AA/AAA pitching surplus and trade leverage

Big Picture MLB Questions

• Why fans don’t care if the Dodgers win another title
• Comparisons to NFL parity and playoff access
• Why MLB risks becoming predictable - and boring

Notable Moments

• “This is getting obscene.” - on payroll disparity
• The idea of realigning divisions (Mets & Yankees together!)
• Mat’s evolving Free Agent All-Star Team in real time
• “Live free and live hard.”
• Rays-focused episode coming soon

Like & subscribe to BaseballBiz On Deck. You may also find BaseballBiz on Deck, on YouTube at iHeart Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music, & at www.baseballbizondeck.com
Also you can find Mat at M-A-T-G-E-R-M-A-I-N dot B Sky social. That's Mat at M-A-T-G-E-R-M-A-I-N dot B, Sky social or Mark at Baseball Biz on Deck dot B Sky Social and BaseballBiz On Deck with Facebook.
Special Thanks to XTaKe-R-U-X for the music Rocking Forward