Baseball Isn’t Boring

Don't look now but the Texas Rangers might actually be entering into the conversation to be one of the top teams in the American League. Last year you had Corey Seager, Marcus Semien and Jon Gray. This time around there is Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi and Andrew Heaney. It's why it is a perfect time for Bradfo to catch up with former major league pitcher - and current Rangers TV broadcaster and MLB Radio Network host - C.J. Nitkowski. Nitkowski offers an inside look at the Rangers, along with exploring how broadcasting has changed in just the last few years. They are buzzing about this team. They are buzzing about this conversation.

Through all the player acquisitions and conversations about what baseball might look like in 2023, one piece of the puzzle that enters into the team-building process are those designated hitters. How will teams value them? Should it be a position of priority? Why it isn't as easy as it looks to actually execute life as a DH. After a discussion on the matter with BIB free agent correspondent Ed Hand, Bradfo sits down with Nelson Cruz and then J.D. Martinez to talk about some of the ins and outs of life as a DH.

Major League Baseball free agency hasn't disappointed when it comes to giving us two months of drama, with the Carlos Correa saga serving as the latest - and most bizarre - example. Bradfo is joined by BIB free agent correspondent Ed Hand to dive into the Correa saga as we await whether or not he will truly land with the Mets, while also picking a few free agents who could sneakily be bargains for some lucky MLB team. It's some more good free agent talk!

Bradfo and Coop use the final podcast before Christmas to spread good baseball cheer in the form of presents to every single Major League Baseball fan base. The gifts range everywhere from gift cards to domes. It's a good time to reflect on the gift that keeps on giving ... baseball.

Baseball Isn't Boring, and neither is betting. That is what the podcast reminded everyone once again with our very special prognosticator extraordinaire Jonathan Papelbon guiding the listeners to the best bets when it comes to picking next season's World Series winner. Bradfo and Pap even surface a pretty good prop bet involving Santa Claus. It's the first of what figures to be many opportunities for the former closer to lock you up some money.

Doesn't every baseball fan simply want their team to throw caution to the wind, spend a bunch of money and dive head-first into contending for a World Series? Well, welcome to the world of the 2023 Mets. Bradfo is joined by Marc Luino, who co-hosts the "Mets'd Up" podcast with James Schiano. Fresh off attending the press conferences for Kodai Senga and Justin Verlander, Luino gives the what's what when it comes to living life following around Steve Cohen and Co. as they shock-and-awe their way through the offseason. It is the team everybody is talking about, which is why we continue the conversation.

Who needs the World Cup when you have the World Baseball Classic. That's what baseball fans will be thinking after listening to Bradfo sit down with former WBC hero Adam Jones, current Team USA manager Mark DeRosa and Ian Kinsler, who is serving as the skipper for Team Israel. March won't be able to come soon enough after listening to this one.

Bradfo and free agent correspondent Ed Hand got together for a lengthy podcast to discuss who are the best remaining free agents available. (To listen to that conversation, click here.) Part of the episode included a look at who were the top shortstops still on the market, comparing Jose Iglesias and Elvis Andrus, while also looking back at the landing spots for the Big Four. It's a sampling of a great debate.

Bradfo is joined once again by Baseball Isn't Boring free agent correspondent Ed Hand to pick through the free agent market. But now, all of a sudden, the conversation has changed dramatically because so many top tier free agents have already been picked off. The guys talk Nathan Eovaldi vs. Michael Wacha. Jose Iglesias vs. Elvis Andrus. Brandon Drury vs. Jean Segura. And others. We might not be talking Big 4 shortstops anymore, but that doesn't mean the team-building isn't in full swing. It's a perfect holiday baseball discussion.

One of the chief reasons baseball hasn't been boring the last month has been become of these shock-and-awe contracts signed by big-name free agents. And one person who is chiefly responsible for all this Hot Stove drama is agent Scott Boras, who has negotiated more than a $1 billion worth of contracts for his clients this offseason. One billion! Bradfo caught up with Boras at the introduction of outfielder Masataka Yoshida to discuss the offseason. (Spoiler: After the conversation Boras agreed to yet another huge deal thank to Carlos Rodon's contract with the Yankees.) You want Boras' perspective on this last month? You got it.