MLB 2025-26 Off Season Thread

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

We have one for other sports so why not baseball?

I will start:

Bieber opts in to return to Blue Jays rotation (source)

TORONTO -- Just days into the offseason following their loss in Game 7 of the World Series to the Dodgers, the Blue Jays have already tallied their first win. Shane Bieber has opted in with the Blue Jays for $16 million in 2026, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, an

www.mlb.com

A good add for next season.

 

[Channel98]

"Lit as f*ck." I could post this story in the "Annoying Words & Phrases" thread but it's probably more appropriate here.

Blake Snell faces hefty fine for his words in Dodgers' victory parade

https://en.albat.com/thebigs/mlb-blake-snell-faces-hefty-fine-for-his-words-during-dodgers-victory-parade-20251103-0026.html

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

Couldn't happen to a better a$$hole.

 

[Channel98]

There is probably a "stammena" joke here but I will leave it for somebody else to make.

Padres hire former reliever Craig Stammen as next manager

SAN DIEGO -- The Padres have hired Craig Stammen to be their next manager on a three-year contract, the team announced on Thursday. Stammen, the longtime big league reliever, will be introduced in a press conference on Monday at Petco Park. The move comes as a surprise, after the Padres

www.mlb.com

Don Mattingly Will Not Return As Blue Jays' Bench Coach In 2026

After three years as bench coach of the Blue Jays and his first trip to the World Series, Don Mattingly is leaving Toronto. Read more at MLBTR.

www.mlbtraderumors.com

 

[Channel98]

We now know why Dodgers pitcher Alex Vesia missed the World Series.

Dodgers' Alex Vesia Shares Death of His and Wife Kayla Vesia's Baby Girl

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Alex Vesia addressed his absence from the 2025 World Series as he and wife Kayla Vesia, who shared her pregnancy in April, navigated “a deeply personal family matter."

www.eonline.com

L.A. Dodgers Share Support for Alex Vesia After Death of Baby Girl

After Alex Vesia and his wife Kayla Vesia shared the death of their baby girl, the Los Angeles Dodgers offered their support on social media.

www.eonline.com

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

That is sad.

 

[Channel98]

"The love of money is the root of all evil." I'm not sure who said that. It was either the apostle Timothy, the prosecuting attorney for Pete Rose or the prosecuting attorney for Shohei Ohtani's interpreter.

Feds accuse 2 Cleveland Guardians players of rigging pitches in betting scheme

Federal prosecutors allege that Emmanuel Clase de la Cruz and Luis Leandro Ortiz Ribera agreed on specific pitches so two others could place bets on their performance.

www.nbcnews.com

 

[Channel98]

It's really sad that so many baseball executives are "baffled" and "perplexed" that a player would choose to stay with his team instead of seeking a more lucrative contract as a free agent.

Shane Bieber's $16 million decision leaves MLB executives perplexed

MSN

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

It's really sad that so many baseball executives are "baffled" and "perplexed" that a player would choose to stay with his team instead of seeking a more lucrative contract as a free agent.

Shane Bieber's $16 million decision leaves MLB executives perplexed

MSN

It was hugely unexpected. But the 2025 Blue Jays were a special team. Us Jays fans are very happy to have him back for 2026.

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

I think John Schnieder was robbed of Manager Of The Year. He took a last place club and got them to play as a team and almost pulled off the improbable upset of the best team $ buys. And if it was not him, I would have given the nod to the Seattle manager who pulled a similar feat. A repeat of the Cleveland guy seems unwarranted.

 

[Channel98]

たぶん これは驚きではないでしょう. Sorry, IRBS.

Dodgers' Ohtani unanimous winner of fourth MVP in five years

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani won his fourth MVP in five seasons, all of them in unanimous fashion, beating out the Phillies' Kyle Schwarber and the Mets' Juan Soto for the 2025 NL award.

www.espn.com

 

[Channel98]

Can you say "snubbed"? I knew you could.

Fernando Valenzuela falls short of induction into National Baseball Hall of Fame

Former Dodgers left-hander Fernando Valenzuela did not get the sufficient number of votes needed from the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee, which revealed its votes on Sunday night.

www.latimes.com

 

[Wolf]

This is hilarious that the Athletics can't trademark their future city name. The Las Vegas Athletics or Vegas Athletics

A's denied 'Athletics' trademark ahead of LV shift

 

[IdRatherBeSkiing]

LOL

 

[Channel98]

There are three Las Vegas Athletic Clubs fitness centers in the city. There ya go! The United States Patent & Trademark Office said "the word 'athletics' means activities, such as sports, exercises and games that require physical skill and stamina or types of clothing worn while performing sports activities." The team's “claim of ownership of such registration is insufficient evidence of acquired distinctiveness because the mark is highly descriptive of the goods and/or services."

I've read that three times and I still don't understand it – but I think it means the Athletics have to either change their name or continue to use the name even though it can't be trademarked. The Athletics have had an elephant mascot since 1902, their first year. Since 1997, the mascot has been called Stomper. I suggest principal owner John Fisher change the team's name to the Las Vegas Stompers.

 

[HecticArt]

This is hilarious that the Athletics can't trademark their future city name. The Las Vegas Athletics or Vegas Athletics

A's denied 'Athletics' trademark ahead of LV shift

You would think that they would have had that figured out before they decided to move.

 

[Wolf]

Maybe John Fisher can try to trademark the letter A now?

 

[Wolf]

I've read that three times and I still don't understand it – but I think it means the Athletics have to either change their name or continue to use the name even though it can't be trademarked. The Athletics have had an elephant mascot since 1902, their first year. Since 1997, the mascot has been called Stomper. I suggest principal owner John Fisher change the team's name to the Las Vegas Stompers.

If he went with the Stompers, he could move the team to the Circus Circus property—fitting, since Fisher and the organization are a circus act.

 

[Wolf]

More trademark trouble for the Athletics.

A's request to trademark "Sacramento Athletics" denied, "Sacramento A's" approved

 

[Channel98]

Cubs rightfielder Kyle Tucker played in 136 games in 2025 and batted .266 with 22 home runs and 73 RBI. His new four-year contract with the Dodgers gives him $60 million a year, second only to Shohei Ohtani's $70 million a year. To cover those contracts, Dodgers chairman and controlling owner Mark Walter can just double the price of stadium parking, triple the price of game tickets and quadruple the price of beer, soda and Dodger dogs.

Sources: Kyle Tucker, Dodgers agree to 4-year, $240M deal

The World Series champion Dodgers added another big bat to an already-potent lineup Thursday night, agreeing to a four-year, $240 million deal with prized free agent Kyle Tucker, sources told ESPN.

www.espn.com