<p><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 the end of the Yankees&#8217; beard ban, the potential end of MLB&#8217;s business relationship with ESPN, and whether the World Baseball Classic should imitate the NHL&#8217;s 4 Nations Face-Off. Then they preview the 2025 Texas Rangers (50:07) with MLB.com&#8217;s <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/kennlandry.bsky.social" target="_blank">Kennedi Landry</a>, and the 2025 Pittsburgh Pirates (1:27:23) with Pittsburgh Baseball Now&#8217;s <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/jperrotto.bsky.social" rel="noopener" target="_blank">John Perrotto</a>, plus a postscript (2:03:57) about Ben&#8217;s growing affection for Tigers righty <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/john-brebbia/12777/stats" target="_blank">John Brebbia</a>.
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        <div class="intro-header"><span class="intro-header-text">2025 EW Season Preview Series</span></div>
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                <div class="team-lg">AL</div><table><tr><td><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/effectively-wild-episode-2281-season-preview-series-orioles-and-royals">BAL</a></td><td><a class="link-inactive">CHW</a></td><td><a class="link-inactive">ATH</a></td></tr><tr><td><a class="link-inactive">BOS</a></td><td><a class="link-inactive">CLE</a></td><td><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/effectively-wild-episode-2284-season-preview-series-astros-and-cardinals">HOU</a></td></tr><tr><td><a class="link-inactive">NYY</a></td><td><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/effectively-wild-episode-2282-season-preview-series-twins-and-tigers">DET</a></td><td><a class="link-inactive">LAA</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/effectively-wild-episode-2280-season-preview-series-rays-and-brewers">TBR</a></td><td><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/effectively-wild-episode-2281-season-preview-series-orioles-and-royals">KCR</a></td><td><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/effectively-wild-episode-2286-season-preview-series-mariners-and-reds">SEA</a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/effectively-wild-episode-2279-season-preview-series-blue-jays-and-padres">TOR</a></td><td><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/effectively-wild-episode-2282-season-preview-series-twins-and-tigers">MIN</a></td><td><a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/effectively-wild-episode-2287-season-preview-series-rangers-and-pirates">TEX</a></td></tr></table>
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<p><strong>Audio&nbsp;intro</strong>: Ian Phillips, &#8220;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WrPfzMAqjbs7sudd3ufBF9DQ6CUJQBgI/view?usp=drive_link" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Effectively Wild Theme</a>&#8221;
<strong>Audio&nbsp;interstitial 1</strong>: Austin Klewan, &#8220;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/19KwOxp2kpN60CdFDMpP6Za73FHrfwofC/view?usp=drive_link" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Effectively Wild Theme</a>&#8221;
<strong>Audio&nbsp;interstitial 2</strong>: Alex Ferrin, &#8220;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PG05TBt19rOUlQMuYgF5mNllQ3yEc5Tx/view?usp=drive_link" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Effectively Wild Theme</a>&#8221;
<strong>Audio&nbsp;outro</strong>: Nate Emerson, &#8220;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EquxhP2rk11C79uLJ6UGylakDUOcbvzY/view?usp=drive_link" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Effectively Wild Theme</a>&#8221;
</p>
<p>
<a href="https://x.com/Yankees/status/1892936061254271175" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Yankees announcement</a>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6151207/2025/02/21/new-york-yankees-facial-hair/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to story on policy change</a>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1742398/2020/04/22/from-oscar-gamble-to-lou-piniella-the-origins-of-the-yankees-war-on-long-hair/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to story on policy origins</a>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMzeznCyX8w" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to <em>Simpsons</em> clip</a>
<a href="https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/gleyber-torres-of-the-detroit-tigers-poses-for-a-portrait-news-photo/2200629464" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Gleyber photo</a>
<a href="https://www.audacy.com/wfan/sports/yankees/yankees-reds-trade-luis-castillo-cut-facial-hair-policy" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Castillo hair story</a>
<a href="https://www.nj.com/yankees/2022/04/how-yankees-new-reliever-miguel-castro-is-trying-to-fix-long-time-command-issues.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Castro hair story</a>
<a href="https://nypost.com/2020/07/06/phillies-andrew-mccutchen-blasts-yankees-hair-policy/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to McCutchen hair story</a>
<a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/40430529/vladimir-guerrero-jr-open-possibility-trade-yankees" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Vlad/Yankees story</a>
<a href="https://athlonsports.com/mlb/new-york-yankees/devin-williams-reacts-yankees-facial-hair-rule-change-after-shaving-beard" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Williams reaction</a>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6149921/2025/02/20/mlb-espn-opt-out-tv-deal/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to ESPN opt-out story 1</a>
<a href="https://awfulannouncing.com/mlb/looming-media-rights-race-really-about-local-tv.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to ESPN opt-out story 2</a>
<a href="https://www.theringer.com/2023/03/22/mlb/world-baseball-classic-2023-final-shohei-ohtani-mike-trout" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Ben on the WBC</a>
<a href="https://slate.com/podcasts/hang-up-and-listen/2025/02/brawls-and-best-on-best-hockey-in-4-nations-face-off" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Ben on <em>Hang Up</em></a>
<a href="https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/offseason/_/year/2025" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to offseason spending</a>
<a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/breakdowns/payroll" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to FG payrolls page</a>
<a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/depth-charts/rangers" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Rangers depth chart</a>
<a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/offseason-tracker/rangers" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Rangers offseason tracker</a>
<a href="https://www.mlb.com/rangers/news" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Kennedi&#8217;s author archive</a>
<a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/depth-charts/pirates" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Pirates depth chart</a>
<a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/offseason-tracker/pirates" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Pirates offseason tracker</a>
<a href="https://pittsburghbaseballnow.com/author/jperrotto/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to John&#8217;s author archive</a>
<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jeHklptB0QMTj8-8n36onWN2jckcf0oEFe_hwODmd04/edit?usp=sharing" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Brebbia links</a>
<a href="https://patreon.com/effectivelywild/gift" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to EW gift subscriptions</a></p>
<p>
<a href="http://www.patreon.com/effectivelywild" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> <img decoding="async" alt="" height="18" src="https://i.imgur.com/hT2AX6G.jpg" style="width: 18px;height: 18px" width="18" />&nbsp;<strong>Sponsor Us&nbsp;on&nbsp;Patreon</strong></a>
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<a href="http://effectivelywild.wikia.com/wiki/Effectively_Wild_Wiki" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="" height="18" src="https://i.imgur.com/28HuIsx.png" style="width: 18px;height: 18px" width="18" />&nbsp;Effectively Wild Wiki</a>
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Effectively Wild Episode 2287: Season Preview Series: Rangers and Pirates

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