Effectively Wild Episode 2432: What Stars Deserve
FanGraphs Baseball Podcast – January 28, 2026
Hosts: Ben Lindbergh, Meg Rowley, (Guest co-host: Julia Poe)
Main Theme:
Exploring what teams owe their franchise legends, current and former players' social and political voices, baseball's place in Jeopardy and pop culture, and trends in fan-favorite transactions and wellness fads among MLB stars.
Episode Overview
This episode delves into the intersection of baseball, activism, and fandom, centering on recent player transactions, the nuances of long-term extensions for baseball stars, and the ever-present tension between on-field performance and off-field legacy. The hosts also welcome Zach Golin for a Stat Blast exploring baseball’s overrepresentation on Jeopardy! and its implications for trivia fans and pop culture.
Acknowledging the World Beyond Baseball
00:40 – 07:03
- Opening with Empathy: Before jumping into baseball, Ben and the team provide a heartfelt acknowledgment of current real-world horrors, especially those affecting local communities (ICE and DHS actions, specific individuals harmed, etc.).
- Notable Quote (Ben, 01:00):
“We see you protecting your neighbors. We see you organizing and documenting and bearing witness to all the horror that's going on in your city … Your courage gives us courage, because these people want us all to feel afraid and alone. And we aren't.”
- Notable Quote (Ben, 01:00):
- Segues into Sports: The hosts discuss the challenge of balancing sports as escapism and distraction with the importance of recognizing ongoing societal distress.
- Notable Quote (Julia, 04:02):
“There's a fine line between a useful distraction and an actual distracting distraction.”
- Notable Quote (Julia, 04:02):
Athlete Activism and Baseball’s Quietude
07:11 – 16:57
- Comparative Silence in Baseball: The team highlights baseball’s relative lack of public activism compared to sports like the NBA and WNBA.
- Reference to recent research showing demographics and political skews in the fandom and why many players stay silent.
- Spotlight: Cole Calhoun’s Surprising Statement
- Julia and Meg discuss Cole Calhoun’s unexpected, impassioned IG statement about immigration and racism.
- Calhoun’s perspective: In baseball, players from diverse backgrounds share the clubhouse, but there’s a culture of not speaking out, partly due to lack of information or clubhouse dynamics.
- Direct condemnation by Calhoun of current administration's policies:
Notable Quote (Julia paraphrasing Calhoun, 10:06):
“What this administration is doing when it comes to immigration is blatantly racist. Targeting people based on the color of their skin or the sound of their last name.”
- Discussion of privilege and risks for foreign-born players taking public stands.
- The hosts’ admiration for those who “find their voice” even if they’re late to activism—because diversity of messengers can matter.
- Julia and Meg discuss Cole Calhoun’s unexpected, impassioned IG statement about immigration and racism.
From the Sublime to the Ridiculous: Baseball Injury Banter & Off-Field Fads
17:15 – 39:57
Carlos Rodón’s Elbow “They Took a Lot of Bones Out”
17:48 – 21:53
- Medical Marvels and Player Interview Fun:
- Carlos Rodón bemusedly updates on elbow surgery: “They took a lot of bones out, but it's better now.”
- Hosts riff on the phrase, imagining him as “newly boneless” and joke about “loose bodies” in the elbow.
- Carlos Rodón bemusedly updates on elbow surgery: “They took a lot of bones out, but it's better now.”
Bryce Harper’s Wellness Adventures
22:14 – 31:57
- Bryce Harper’s Notorious Instagram:
- Ongoing critique of Harper’s “pseudoscientific” health habits—blood ozone treatments, raw milk, and now, red light therapy mats.
- Conspiracy posts: Harper’s shares about chemtrails and “cloud seeding”, exemplifying the odd info-ecosystem some athletes inhabit.
- Discussion on athlete vulnerability to expensive or dubious health fads as they seek edge or longevity.
Mike Trout Joins the Wellness Item Endorsement Game
33:08 – 39:46
- Mike Trout’s “Amortal” Chamber Investment:
- Trout’s new role as ambassador/investor in an expensive (>$159,000) “infrared EMF” wellness device.
- Satirical breakdown of its extravagant marketing (“used by MLB, goop, etc.”), testimonials, and vague health claims.
- Hosts muse on the intersection of self-care, faddism, wealth, and the influence on less skeptical fans.
Transactions and Franchise Building
40:39 – 48:38
Giants Sign Harrison Bader
40:46 – 47:05
- Deal Details:
- Two-year, $20.5M contract—seen as a “very Giants” move.
- Reaction:
- Both surprised Bader didn’t get more, given his previous season.
- A boost for the Giants’ defense, especially in center; hosts discuss platoon use and need for more “blue-chip” internally developed stars.
- Echoed theme: Giants solid but unexciting offseason, and how lacking a core of homegrown stars limits their upside.
What Do Teams Owe Their Franchise Legends (and Vice Versa)?
48:04 – 85:33
1. Jose Ramirez’s New Extension with Cleveland
48:38 – 70:09
- Deal Structure:
- Extends Ramirez through 2032, with financial deferrals extending through 2051 (“Jose Day” replacing Bobby Bonilla Day).
- Player/Franchise Loyalty:
- Ramirez prioritizes staying in Cleveland for family and community, even at below-market value.
- Notable Quote (Ramirez via Meg, 55:11):
“I knew it wasn't fully reflective of my market value…But my heart was set on staying in Cleveland.”
- Notable Quote (Ramirez via Meg, 55:11):
- Ramirez prioritizes staying in Cleveland for family and community, even at below-market value.
- Moral Dilemmas:
- Meg expresses conflict: happiness for Ramirez’s comfort vs. frustration that “parsimonious” ownership continues benefiting from under-market deals, which may suppress wider player earnings.
- Pragmatics: In some markets, only “Jersey Guys” (lifelong franchise players) like Ramirez can extract even modestly competitive wages.
- Emotional resonance: The joy and specialness of a star spending an entire career in one city.
- Discussion about Ramirez’s statistical greatness, durability, and value vs. earned compensation—$460+ million in estimated career WAR value vs. much less in salary.
- Reflection on “legacy over money” paths and how they shape franchise narratives.
2. Andrew McCutchen and the End-of-Career Dilemma
70:09 – 85:33
- The Snub:
- Andrew McCutchen, franchise icon, is not invited to Pirates FanFest; GM Ben Charrington signals Kutch likely will not return.
- Notable Quote (McCutchen tweet, 72:41):
“If this is my last year, it would have been nice to meet the fans one last time as a player…This is bigger than baseball … The fans deserved at the very least to get that opportunity.”
- Notable Quote (McCutchen tweet, 72:41):
- Hosts dissect the complexities: when does honoring a star’s past take a roster spot from progress? How much does a franchise owe its living legends?
- Balanced views: It is a “business,” and the player is now replacement-level; but poor communication/public relations can mar a relationship unnecessarily.
- Comparison to other “farewell tours” (Ortiz, Pujols, Miggy, Kershaw, etc.)
- The solution: More often, a frank but kind plan to honor the past (e.g. special assistant role) after playing days.
- Andrew McCutchen, franchise icon, is not invited to Pirates FanFest; GM Ben Charrington signals Kutch likely will not return.
Stat Blast: Is Baseball Overrepresented in Jeopardy! Questions?
86:22 – 106:17
Guest: Zach Golin (Defector, Jeopardy/Pop Culture Jeopardy champion, data scientist)
Topic:
- Does Jeopardy! focus more on baseball than other sports, compared to pop culture and crossword puzzles?
Key Insights & Timestamps:
- Jeopardy! Sports Pop Quiz:
- “The more popular things are better known…the sports was, by percent correct, the third-best in the data…” (Zach, 89:32)
- Sports are about 2–3% of all Jeopardy questions, thousands over the decades.
- Baseball’s Dominance:
- Confirmed: baseball comes first among sports questions (20–25%), closely followed by football, with Olympics also high.
- Reasons: Baseball’s long history, statistical culture, and American mythos lead to durable, easy-to-ask trivia (e.g., Babe Ruth, Yankees, etc.).
- Basketball is consistently fourth; other sports are marginal.
- “It’s really Yankees, Red Sox, and then everybody else.” (Zach, 104:09)
- Depth and Repetition:
- Hardly ever asks about deep cuts, very much “a mile wide, inch deep.”
- Even stars like Shohei Ohtani come up “about once a year.”
- Preparation Advice:
- “Listening to Effectively Wild is probably not the best preparation for any aspiring Jeopardy! winner…But for Sports Jeopardy? That’s another story.” (Zach, 104:59)
Notable Quotes & Moments
- On Baseball Activism:
“I do think it takes some small amount of courage in the baseball ecosystem to say something. … But I guess the actual minimum is nothing. And most people at baseball do nothing.” – Meg (06:48) - On Risk for Foreign-Born Players:
“If a foreign born player here on a visa were to be very vocal, I think the chances of him getting his visa revoked are probably pretty low…but they're not zero.” – Ben (13:21) - On Medical Banter:
“They took a bunch of bones out and now it works better because the problematic bones are gone. … So nothing to see here.” – Meg (18:54) - On Fads in Player Wellness:
“When you have as much money as Bryce Harper … you just start reaching for anything out there.” – Julia (29:45) - On Franchise Legends:
“A lovely thing when a player can spend his whole career in one city with one team and be beloved … but I don’t think players owe a discount to their team or the fans.” – Meg (70:09) - On Pittsburgh Not Inviting McCutchen:
“He’s a franchise icon. … He can just come to FanFest, right?” – Ben (77:39)
Timestamps for Major Segments
| Segment | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------------|--------------| | Opening Statement: Real-world context | 00:40–07:03 | | Athlete Activism/Cole Calhoun | 07:11–16:57 | | Carlos Rodón’s Medical Update | 17:48–21:53 | | Bryce Harper & Wellness Fads | 22:14–31:57 | | Mike Trout’s “Amortal” Chamber | 33:08–39:46 | | Giants’ Harrison Bader Signing | 40:46–47:05 | | Jose Ramirez’s Guardians Extension | 48:38–70:09 | | Andrew McCutchen’s Endgame with Pirates | 70:09–85:33 | | Stat Blast: Baseball & Jeopardy! (Zach Golin) | 86:22–106:17 |
Episode Takeaways
- Baseball is both a robust distraction in turbulent times and a reflection of those times, through its politics, personalities, and myths.
- Teams and players must continuously renegotiate the meaning of loyalty, compensation, legacy, and mutual obligation—especially as stars age or seek new roles.
- Baseball retains an outsized place in US trivia, culture, and myth despite changing sports popularity.
- Fandom and player self-care both intersect and diverge in sometimes comical, sometimes sobering ways (wellness fads, role transitions).
For New Listeners:
This episode typifies Effectively Wild’s thoughtful blend of acute baseball analysis, human empathy, and playful banter—touching on news, numbers, culture, and heart with a sharp yet generous eye.
