Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

Effectively Wild Episode 2400: There’s No Such Thing As a Free Agent

5 snips
Nov 13, 2025
Ben and Meg share laughs about a quirky hotel display for Addison Barger. They dive into Scott Boras’s witty comments at GM meetings, mixing sports and pop culture references. The duo analyzes Paul DePodesta’s remarkable return to baseball ops and discusses various free agent predictions, debating over/under values for high-profile players like Kyle Tucker and Justin Verlander. They also reflect on the career impact of Mike Greenwell. Tune in for a blend of humor, stats, and lively debate!
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
ANECDOTE

Barger's Lobby Couch Fame

  • Ben and Meg joke about Addison Barger's pullout couch becoming a Marriott lobby exhibit during the World Series aftermath.
  • They question authenticity and public fascination while mocking hotel PR theatrics.
INSIGHT

Boras' Publicity Theater

  • Scott Boras uses elaborate wordplay at GM meetings to promote clients and generate media buzz.
  • Ben and Meg see it as performative theater that draws attention even when corny or repetitive.
INSIGHT

Unprecedented Front-Office Comeback

  • Paul DePodesta's hiring by the Rockies marks an unprecedented 21-season gap since he last ran a MLB baseball ops department.
  • That gap is 50% longer than the previous record and highlights how unusual the Rockies' choice is.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app