<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, <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:m2tdiw6yphtre6p6m6skgzo6" target="_blank">Craig Goldstein</a> of <a href="https://www.baseballprospectus.com/" target="_blank">Baseball Prospectus</a>, and <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/sheehannewsletter.bsky.social" target="_blank">Joe Sheehan</a> of <a href="https://www.joesheehan.com/" target="_blank">The Joe Sheehan Baseball Newsletter</a> break down teams&#8217; last-minute Christmas shopping—including the White Sox signing <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/munetaka-murakami/sa3063258/stats/batting" target="_blank">Munetaka Murakami</a>, the Padres signing <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/michael-king/19853/stats/pitching" target="_blank">Michael King</a> and <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/sung-mun-song/sa3012529/stats/batting" target="_blank">Sung Mun Song</a>, the Orioles trading for <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/shane-baz/22264/stats/pitching" target="_blank">Shane Baz</a>, the Red Sox trading for <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/willson-contreras/11609/stats/batting" target="_blank">Willson Contreras</a>, a three-team trade involving the Pirates, Rays, and Astros, <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/jeff-mcneil/15362/stats/batting" target="_blank">Jeff McNeil</a> and <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/matt-strahm/13799/stats/pitching" target="_blank">Matt Strahm</a> swaps, and the Yankees&#8217; hibernation—plus banter about the quasi-retirement of Craig&#8217;s nemesis, <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/joe-kelly/9761/stats/pitching" target="_blank">Joe Kelly</a>, the future of NPB, a report about <a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/players/emmanuel-clase/21032/stats/pitching" target="_blank">Emmanuel Clase</a>&#8217;s mid-game phone use, and supporting independent media. Then (1:11:40) they conduct an in-depth debate about the respective merits of human umpiring, the challenge system, and full ABS.
Audio&nbsp;intro: Harold Walker, &#8220;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_u1OHC8kumMkTfl2QWSo4FRlkFWvOcHB/view?usp=drive_link" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Effectively Wild Theme</a>&#8221;
Audio&nbsp;outro: Tom Rhoads, &#8220;<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1K07EyCA31NglTFT3h8Rdiiu0lpDyz9u_/view?usp=drive_link" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Effectively Wild Theme</a>&#8221;

<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/joe-kelly-and-bradfo-have-a-lot-to-talk-about/id1651632213?i=1000742267138" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Kelly&#8217;s podcast</a>
<a href="https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/102056/cold-takes-various-great-philosophers-and-how-they-would-feel-about-the-automated-ball-strike-system/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Dubuque on the challenge system</a>
<a href="https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/101777/deep-but-playable-the-automated-strike-zone-will-arrive-in-2026/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Craig on the challenge system</a>
<a href="https://www.joesheehan.com/2025/09/joe-sheehan-newsletter-september-24.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Joe on the challenge system</a>
<a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/effectively-wild-episode-2379-october-came-early/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to previous podcast discussion</a>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seitz_decision" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Seitz decision wiki</a>
<a href="https://www.joesheehan.com/2020/12/from-archives-40-years-ago.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Joe on the Seitz decision</a>
<a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/phenomenal-cosmic-power-itty-bitty-contact-rate-white-sox-sign-murakami" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Baumann on Murakami</a>
<a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/creating-a-projection-for-munetaka-murakami" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Rosenblum on Murakami</a>
<a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/lets-scout-the-players-coming-over-from-asia/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Longenhagen on Murakami</a>
<a href="https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/103649/transaction-analysis-murakami-goes-to-the-south-side/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Craig on Murakami</a>
<a href="https://x.com/enosarris/status/2001500632881217973" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Sarris on Murakami</a>
<a href="https://www.theringer.com/2022/09/15/mlb/munetaka-murakami-roki-sasaki-npb-baseball-japan" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Ben on Murakami in 2022</a>
<a href="https://gopsusports.com/news/2025/12/22/baseball-signs-japanese-star-genei-sato" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Sato story</a>
<a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/padres-sign-michael-king-to-three-year-deal-unless-you-read-the-fine-print" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to FG post on King</a>
<a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/padres-find-contractual-harmony-with-korean-infielder-sung-moon-song/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to FG post on Song</a>
<a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/baltimore-bolsters-rotation-with-baz-while-tampa-bay-takes-a-more-is-more-approach" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to FG post on Baz</a>
<a href="https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/103687/ta-orioles-reach-baz-stage/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Craig on Baz</a>
<a href="https://www.fangraphs.com/depthcharts.aspx?position=SP" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to team SP projections</a>
<a href="https://www.joesheehan.com/2025/12/newsletter-excerpt-december-21-2025.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Joe on three-team trade</a>
<a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/pittsburgh-houston-tampa-bay-link-on-three-team-trade" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to FG post on three-team trade</a>
<a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/cardinals-red-sox-link-up-again-in-willson-contreras-trade" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to FG post on Contreras</a>
<a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/phillies-royals-swap-relievers/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to FG post on Strahm</a>
<a href="https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/36177129/phillies-matt-strahm-disagrees-mlb-teams-extending-alcohol-sales" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Strahm&#8217;s beer stance</a>
<a href="https://philliesminorthoughts.com/taking-another-look-at-jonathan-bowlan/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Bowlan info</a>
<a href="https://blogs.fangraphs.com/jeff-mcneil-bound-for-sacramento-as-metsodus-continues" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to FG post on McNeil</a>
<a href="https://nypost.com/2025/11/28/sports/revealed-second-lindor-mcneil-battle-soto-relationship-underscore-mets-issues/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Lindor/McNeil drama</a>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6901487/2025/12/19/mlb-emmanuel-ortiz-cell-phone-betting-caught/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Clase report</a>
<a href="https://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article/70993/deep-but-playable-cold-takes-an-earnest-plea-to-get-rid-of-k-zone/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Craig on the K-Zone</a>
<a href="https://tangotiger.com/index.php/site/comments/abs-challenge-considerations" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Tango on challenge tactics</a>
<a href="https://www.baseballprospectus.com/show/five-and-dive/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Five and Dive</a>
<a href="https://www.baseballprospectus.com/subscriptions/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to subscribe to BP</a>
<a href="https://www.paypal.com/webapps/shoppingcart?flowlogging_id=f3893566dc139&mfid=1766534582438_f3893566dc139#/checkout/openButton" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to subscribe to Joe</a>
<a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/12/pirates-to-sign-ryan-ohearn.html" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to MLBTR on O&#8217;Hearn</a>
<a href="https://www.joeposnanski.com/p/an-mvp-choose-your-own-adventure-game" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Posnanski MVP post</a>
<a href="https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/athletics/as-las-vegas-ballpark-media-gets-first-tour-of-stadium-under-construction-3593208/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to A&#8217;s ballpark update</a>
<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/rianjohnson.bsky.social/post/3m4jyrubhzk2h" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Link to Rian Johnson post</a>

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