<img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" src="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ewlogofi.png" alt="EWFI" width="590" height="206" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-242076" srcset="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ewlogofi.png 590w, https://blogs.fangraphs.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/ewlogofi-300x105.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" />
Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley banter about a breakup of baseball lookalikes, minor league free agent draft eligibility, and more players who unretired after becoming coaches, then break down the latest baseball broadcasting developments, Rob Manfred&#8217;s recent comments (about his priorities and future, an offseason signing deadline, and regular-season structure), <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/tarik-skubal/22267/stats/pitching" target="_blank">Tarik Skubal</a>&#8217;s historic arbitration case, and, inspired by sensational hockey streaming series Heated Rivalry (which they discuss without spoilers), when an active MLB player might publicly come out.
Audio&nbsp;intro: Benny and a Million Shetland Ponies, &#8220;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Fe79WqDT_GXFX_lxicx_kPv11RE0Q1tf/view?usp=drive_link" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Effectively Wild Theme (Horny)</a>&#8221;
Audio&nbsp;outro: Beatwriter, &#8220;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VtGnSCg2jHV4rEAyhuDuD1WHJrnluwXp/view?usp=drive_link" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Effectively Wild Theme</a>&#8221;

<a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/01/dodgers-claim-ryan-fitzgerald.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to MLBTR on Fitzgerald</a>
<a href="https://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2003/09/01/Yankees-bring-back-Sojo/64081062430401/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Sojo article</a>
<a href="https://www.milb.com/news/norwich-sea-unicorns-hire-eric-campbell-as-manager" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Campbell hiring</a>
<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mlb-tv-fan-duel-manfred-539d0cc29d01f18b0bb9c120d4b9ed5d" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to TV network news</a>
<a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/01/nine-teams-terminate-contracts-with-main-street-sports.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to MLBTR on TV networks</a>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6955733/2026/01/08/mlb-fanduel-sports-network-teams-cancel-contracts/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to TV network news 2</a>
<a href="https://entertainment.substack.com/p/a-realistic-analysis-of-streamings" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Entertainment Strategy Guy</a>
<a href="https://dougshapiro.substack.com/p/video-forecast-the-money" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to streaming revenue info</a>
<a href="https://dougshapiro.substack.com/p/price-deflation-in-media" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to more on streaming revenue</a>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6955830/2026/01/09/rob-manfred-free-agent-signing-deadline/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Manfred on a signing deadline</a>
<a href="https://x.com/brent_rooker25/status/2009088610172350610" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Rooker tweet</a>
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/news/bryce-harper-deal-boosts-phillies-ticket-sales" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Harper sales article 1</a>
<a href="https://www.sportspro.com/news/sponsorship-marketing/bryce-harper-phillies-signing-jersey-ticket-sales/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Harper sales article 2</a>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6955858/2026/01/08/rob-manfred-mlb-split-season-in-season-tournament/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Manfred&#8217;s tournament comments</a>
<a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/01/tigers-tarik-skubal-likely-headed-to-arbitration-hearing-with-13mm-gap-in-filing-figures.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to MLBTR on Skubal</a>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6956212/2026/01/08/detroit-tigers-tarik-skubal-arbitration-hearing-potential/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to The Athletic on Skubal</a>
<a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/47538606/mlb-2026-tarik-skubal-detroit-tigers-record-arbitration-contract" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Passan on Skubal</a>
<a href="https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/17566/overthinking-it-does-arbitration-drive-players-away/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Ben on arbitration</a>
<a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/01/max-kepler-receives-80-game-ped-suspension.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to MLBTR on Kepler</a>
<a href="https://www.hbomax.com/shows/heated-rivalry/50cd4e99-04ee-427b-a3b4-da721ed05d9c" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Heated Rivalry</a>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6936576/2026/01/06/heated-rivalry-nhl-hockey-culture-change/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to hockey culture article</a>
<a href="https://www.outsports.com/2026/1/8/24125556/heated-rivalry-hudson-williams-shane-hollander-andy-cohen-gay-interview/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Outsports article</a>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Take_Me_Out_(play)" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Take Me Out wiki</a>
<a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/effectively-wild-episode-1776-how-can-you-not-be-romantic-about-baseball/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to EW Episode 1776</a>
<a href="https://www.kdcaseywrites.com/unwritten-rules" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Unwritten Rules</a>
<a href="https://awfulannouncing.com/mlb/rob-manfred-removal-diversity-pipeline-website-made-right-decision.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Manfred&#8217;s diversity comments</a>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6944233/2026/01/06/mlb-venezuela-world-baseball-classic-impact/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Venezuela article</a>

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Effectively Wild Episode 2425: The Manfred Mantra

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