Manfred / Oz visits Tampa Bay, Free Agents & A Curt Flood Christmas Story

BaseballBiz On Deck

• Caleb Durbin – more like Dustin Pedroia or Jon Berti style of player?
• Durbin is Electric
• What can we expect from the Blue Jays in the AL East
• Blue Jays pitching is getting older but not as dominant in past years
• What do they have for pitching in the minors
• Willy Adames encourages Corbin Burnes to join the Giants rotations
• Free Agents at large – Tommy Pham, Charlie Morton, Kirby Yates, Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander,
• Many older pitchers may wait until mid-season until they sign like Roger Clemens
• Other pitchers still as free agents include Patrick Burnes, Jose Quintana, Sean Manaea
• Tampa Bay Rays need more experienced leaders for their team – Charlie Morton & Jason Heyward
• Wizard of Oz, Rob Manfred came to Tampa Bay
• George Steinbrenner Field – Yankees Spring Training
• Stu Sternberg strategy for the future of the TB Rays ballpark
• Pinellas County Commissioner Chris Latvala loves MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred
• Will MLB pay the cost overruns for the new Rays Stadium and find a new owner for the Tampa Bay Rays
• George M. Steinbrenner Field – 2025 Home Field for Tampa Bay Rays
• How will a healthy Brandon Lowe, Josh Lowe & Jonathan Aranda impact the 2025 season
• Janet Marie Smith, VP of Planning & Development – Fenway, Camden Yards & Dodgers Stadium
• Christmas Lobster Dinner with Mat’s family – plus breakfast Creamed Lobster with Scrambled Eggs
• Strawberry Pretzel Dessert Dish Christmas favorite with Mark’s family
• Curt Flood’s Christmas Eve letter to Bowie Kuhn – precursor to Free Agency
• Ted Lindsay – linchpin of the players union in Canada – another courageous player who fought for the rights of all players
• Curt Flood issue with Cardinals and they did not want to pay his salary
• Flood collected the first hit in a major league game in Canada.
• General Hospital has nothing on Major League Baseball
• Comparing Nolan Arenado’s & Curt Flood’s experience with the Cardinals
• Christmas wishes – no blackouts of ballgames
• Remember to thank those who serve us both near and far away
• Reminder to serve others who are in need or people who do not have someone to celebrate the holydays with.

Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas. Ho, Ho, Ho,

Just a reminder you can find Mat at M-A-T-G-E-R-M-A-I-N dot bsky social. That’s @matgermain.bsky.social or Mark at @baseballbizondeck.bsky.social