Effectively Wild 2443: Season Preview Series — Blue Jays and Rays

Date: February 21, 2026
Hosts: Ben Lindbergh (The Ringer), Meg Rowley (FanGraphs)
Guests: Mitch Bannon (The Athletic, Bluebird Territory podcast), Adam Berry (MLB.com)

Episode Overview

This episode of Effectively Wild delivers two deep-dives in the Season Preview Series: first, a close look at the defending AL champion Toronto Blue Jays with Mitch Bannon, and then a review of the ever-churning Tampa Bay Rays with Adam Berry. Prior to the interviews, Ben and Meg cover a series of baseball banter topics—quirky Phillies trends, a Red Sox jersey fiasco, creative approaches to competitive balance, and more—infused with their trademark wit.

1. Opening Banter and Quirky News (00:30–55:33)

Brandon Marsh's Mysterious Wetness & Phillies Eccentricities (01:10–20:18)

• Brandon Marsh's "Wet Boy" Reputation:

  • Ben and Meg discuss a now-viral behind-the-scenes video showing Marsh pouring an entire bottle of water on his head pregame, ending speculation about a natural "glandular" condition or excessive hair product.
  • Quote:
    • “It’s as if there was some magician with an amazing trick and then the sleight of hand was just laid bare…As if you watch some wildlife video and they catch a creature never before seen, and there’s Marsh overturning the bottle.” – Ben (06:33)
  • Meg describes the comfort of water-in-humidity and playfully refers to Marsh as a "very wet boy," pondering the haircare logistics and relief of a cooling douse during July and August in Philly.
  • Extensive riff on men’s hair products, sensory gross-outs from leftover conditioner, and the horror of applying enough product to match Marsh’s saturated look. (08:11–09:48)

• Phillies and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy:

  • The Phillies become MLB’s first team to announce a multi-year partnership for hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Ben explains it as a “medical-grade, team-sanctioned” practice, distinct from questionable player-run regimens.
  • Quote:
    • “This isn’t just bootleg hyperbaric oxygen therapy. It’s medical-grade…This is extremely Phillies, obviously. It is pretty on-brand for them.” – Ben (11:28, 11:41)
  • Meg notes the therapy's actual medical applications and raises skeptical questions about performance benefits, competitive advantage regulations, and whether this (like previous Phillies fads) will become league norm or eventually banned if it’s too effective. (15:32–17:03)
  • Playful concern about Brandon Marsh entering the oxygen chamber "while still wet." (17:17)
  • Memorable Meg moment:
    • "Be normal challenge! Be normal! ...I feel comfortable saying Marsh should probably not get in Bryce Harper's zappy red light sleeve." (17:47)

• Other Team Quirks:

  • Mike Trout’s “Sci-Fi table," teams’ fascination with marginal recovery tools, and the philosophy of, “If it gets you one run, maybe it pays for itself.” (19:49)
  • Meg: “Maybe just sign a better right fielder.” (20:18)

Red Sox Jersey Fiasco & Fanatics Fallout (20:35–29:59)

• The Red Sox had a home white jersey manufacturing mishap—the S in "Sox" and D in "Red" overlapped the piping—leading to a PR scramble.
• Ben reads multiple walkbacks from the Sox, culminating in an almost comical exoneration of Fanatics, the supplier, after apparent league pressure.
  • Quote:
    • “They were prostrating themselves. Yeah, as if they’re being held at knifepoint by Fanatics just being forced to tweet: ‘Fanatics is blameless, we’re grateful to them.’” – Ben (26:30)
  • Meg’s take: “There are few companies more reviled than Fanatics… You could make political hay by how much everyone hates their guts.” (27:14)
• Photos of the jersey evoke laughter—Meg says, “That looks like a knockoff you’d buy outside the ballpark.” (28:37–29:15)
• Running joke about “home whites” and Mark Wahlberg as the ideal Boston jersey sleuth (29:59).

Competitive Balance: Creative (or Ridiculous) Solutions (30:32–48:12)

• Ben walks through ex-MLB exec Andrew Ball’s Substack post exploring ways (other than a salary cap) MLB could address competitive balance:
  1. Shorten the season: More randomness, perhaps slightly lessen payroll’s predictive power, but tough sell financially.
  2. Introduce relegation: Popular in soccer but wildly impractical for MLB.
  3. Allow advances on revenue sharing: Let small market clubs take more now, less later, to support a window. Meg expresses skepticism that revenue is the true constraint for low-spenders: “Isn’t the way to fix perpetual seller-dwellers to just make their owners sell?” (39:07)
  4. Increase roster limits for small-market teams: Meg’s reaction: “Isn’t this embarrassing?... It’s already unfair to the players!” (41:46)
  5. Draft for GMs/POBOs: Ben and Meg note that front-office skill is one area where small-market teams do compete.
• Ben: “Ultimately, people are mad about payroll imbalances, not extra 40-man roster spots.” (45:53)

"Who Ya Got?"—Looking Back at Prospect Showdowns (48:26–55:33)

• Ben reminisces about old “Who Ya Got?” articles pitting young stars against each other, admiring how close the actual career values have ended up in pairs like Machado/Arenado and Correa/Seager.
• Quote:
  • “I have to pat myself on the back … Since that date Arenado has had 44.6 WAR, Machado 45.4. So…less than one win separates them after a decade.” – Ben (51:48)
• Michael Bauman’s retroactively lopsided “Conforto vs. Judge” column playfully roasted.

2. Toronto Blue Jays Season Preview with Mitch Bannon (55:37–101:56)

A. 2025 Recap & 2026 Outlook (56:09–58:16)

• The 2025 AL pennant run reframed Toronto’s future, shifting the narrative from “should we rebuild?” to “now expectations have changed.” Many contracts and extensions fell into place.
  • Quote:
    • “At this time last year they didn’t know the direction…What a difference a year makes—now expectations, maybe it’s not a success if they don’t win the World Series.” – Mitch (57:24)

B. Offseason Moves and Roster Thematics (58:16–63:16)

• Dylan Cease Acquisition:
  • Cease fits Jays’ taste for durable starters and offers upside, hoping to unlock “projectable” ace potential with innings consistency.
• Toronto as a Free Agent Destination:
  • Still a “hard sell” for some due to logistically unique features (taxes, currency, geography), but winning and a retooled stadium/clubhouse ramp up their reputation.
  • Ben: “They should be one of the true titans…and not perpetually looking up at division rivals.” (61:37)
• Development pipeline: Toronto’s next step toward Dodgers’ status is to build sustainable internal development, not just spending.

C. Key Young Players & Rotation Depth (63:16–75:44)

• Traya Savage:
  • Big 2025 postseason breakout; Jays’ priority is keeping him healthy (avoiding “Jackson Jobe syndrome”), adding his curveball back, and managing workload with Dylan Cease and veterans around.
  • Ben: “No concern about the makeup…cool as a cucumber, cool as a bag of milk on the biggest stage.” (65:00)
• Cody Ponce:
  • Emerged in KBO; higher velo/changeup; Jays confident he’s not just a foreign-league mirage.
• Rotation shuffle:
  • Jose Berríos remains important, especially with Shane Bieber’s arm health issues and Bowden Francis having Tommy John.
• Gausman:
  • Steady, successful with minor velocity dips/weight changes; spring usage will be cautious.
• Bullpen:
  • Addition of Tyler Rogers (funky submarine arm), high-leverage bridge to Jeff Hoffman. Louis Varland's heavy usage anticipated but med staff wary.

D. Offense: 2025 Power Spike, Lineup Questions, and Departures (77:16–94:33)

• Bonanza of power & bat speed:
  • New hitting coaches David Popkins and Lou Iannotti/analytics group credited for unlocking hitters' power without added swing-and-miss, especially George Springer.
• Bo Bichette Departure:
  • Jays pivoted early in offseason to Andres Jimenez at shortstop, valuing defense and projecting long-term better than aging Bo.
• Big Free Agent Near-Misses:
  • Kyle Tucker (10/$350M reported offer); ultimately, LA’s short-term mega-AAV deal was unbeatable. Jays maxed out at a longer-term bid.
• Kazuma Okamoto:
  • 4/$60M import; club believes in his 3B defense—plus bat, but uncertain if he’ll be “a 108 WRC+ guy or a 128.”
• Defensive outlook:
  • Could be league-leading with Jimenez at SS; loss of Bo’s bat offset by outfield/bench depth and strong D.
• Bench & Breakout Watch:
  • Jesus Sanchez, Addison Barger, Nathan Lucas, Davis Schneider all in the mix; prospect RJ Schrek shouts out, but everyday roles hard to come by.
• Ernie Clement’s playoff stardom: Likely regression to average bat, valuable glove.

E. Vlad Guerrero Jr. & Defining Success (92:26–96:10)

• Vlad is expected to take on an even greater role, perhaps “doubling” last year’s home run total; the team hopes for playoff performance consistency.
  • Quote:
    • “[Schneider said] this has always been Vlad’s team…and is putting a lot on his shoulders.” – Mitch (93:25)
• Success metrics: “If they win a playoff series, that’s a successful season. It’s showing this era is different than the one that couldn’t win a single playoff game in 2022 and 2023.” – Mitch (95:15)

F. Clubhouse Culture & Rogers Centre Upgrades (96:10–101:06)

• Rogers has completed nearly all stadium renovations except exclusive luxury suites—fan experience “now respectable, up to snuff.”
• Blue Jays’ tight-knit, high-vibes clubhouse last year contrasted with the “gritty professionals” of 2015/16.
• Playful closing: Ben’s struggle with “Toronto” pronunciation and Canadian credentials.

3. Tampa Bay Rays Season Preview with Adam Berry (MLB.com) (102:17–146:20)

A. Franchise Overhaul: Offseason Trade Frenzy (103:08–109:39)

• Rays didn’t add many stars, but churned roster more than nearly anyone—third-most additions and subtractions league-wide, netting out at “barely moved the projected WAR needle.”
  • Quote:
    • “A lot of movement, not necessarily changing the way you feel about their competitive chances.” – Adam (105:02)
• Rays completed THREE separate three-team trades, acting as a sort of universal facilitator—a role Adam attributes to their relentless transactional mindset and desire “always in the conversation.”
• They have stocked up on young talent for future windows, but made short-term fits too.

B. New Additions: Free Agents and Outfield Reset (109:39–113:23)

• Cedric Mullins: Signed to play center versus righties; outfield lacked power and reliability last year, so he brings both, plus defense.
• Chandler Simpson: Lighting speed on bases but questions about hitting productivity and adjusting to corner OF defense. Coaching from Kevin Kiermaier; team optimistic but needs more on-base and growth.

C. Returnees and Breakouts (113:23–118:58)

• Jonathan Aranda: Emerged as full-time 1B; success seen as product of regular playing time.
• Junior Caminero: 45-homer, 110-RBI season as a 21-year-old; elite bat speed, but extreme profile (double plays, low BABIP). Adam highlights defensive strides and Caminero’s “young leader” status.
• Taylor Walls vs. Carson Williams: Walls still gets first shot at SS for defense, despite bat; Williams got MLB taste, “could use more AAA time.”

D. Ballpark Return & Long-Term Stadium Rumblings (118:58–125:21)

• Rays return to a repaired and modestly upgraded Tropicana Field after an odd year (bad weather, weird splits) sharing Steinbrenner Field.
• New ownership’s top priority: securing a Tampa ballpark as soon as possible. Plans in works for a live-work-play-learn district near the Yankees’ spring facility, but funding details remain open.

E. Ownership Change: Payroll and Continuity (127:08–129:09)

• New group is leaving Eric Neander, Kevin Cash, and Jeff Sullivan in charge. “Nobody is allowed to meddle in baseball decisions.”
• Payroll status quo until/unless a future stadium changes economics.

F. Pitching Staff Outlook (129:09–137:09)

• Shane McClanahan: Healthy after freak nerve injury, cautiously building innings early.
• Shane Baz: Traded to the Orioles; Rays didn’t “need” to move him, but the offer was too strong to refuse.
• Drew Rasmussen: “So good, it feels like I’m keeping a secret.” Ultra-elusive ace, opening day starter.
• Ryan Pepiot: Should perform well in the return to Tropicana after a tough year at Steinbrenner.
• Nick Martinez & Steven Matz: Both open in rotation, but Matz might shift to pen if health lags.
• Pen: Edwin Uceda, Griffin Jax, and Garrett Clevinger are strong late, but Uceda’s “cranky shoulder” is a big spring storyline.

G. Depth & Prospects (137:09–139:59)

• Carson Williams (SS), Jacob Melton (OF), Trey Morgan (1B), and Dominic Keegan (C) lead group at AAA expected to step in due to injuries or performance.

H. Pitch Calling & Philosophy (139:59–141:41)

• Rays retain their "trust your stuff and attack the plate" legacy, but adjust approach based on pitcher. They’re not moving toward full Marlins-style dugout pitch-calling.

I. Defining Success & Rays’ Perpetual Cycle (141:41–144:41)

• Adam’s honest bar: “Success is getting a stadium deal done. Everything in the organization orbits that.”
  • On-Field: Rays refuse to tank and always aim to be in contention, even if their division rivals outspend and outgun them.
  • Quote: “If they tried to go about it the same way everyone else does in the East, they’d finish right where their revenues rank.” – Adam (143:04)
• If the season starts badly, trade rumors (Yandy, Pepiot, etc.) could reignite.

J. Wander Franco Status (144:41–146:08)

• Ongoing retrial delays clarity—if verdict reversed and Franco gets a visa, Rays might have to revisit contract/payroll; for now, his situation is in limbo, contract essentially off the payroll.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Be normal challenge! Be normal, Phillies!” – Meg on the ever-escalating Phillies therapies (17:47)
• “They're prostrating themselves, as if they're being held at knifepoint by Fanatics just being forced to tweet: ‘Fanatics is blameless, we're grateful to them.’” – Ben on Sox/Fanatics PR missives (26:30)
• “Isn’t the way to fix perpetual seller-dwellers to just make their owners sell?” – Meg on competitive balance (39:07)
• “I have to pat myself on the back… less than one win separates them after a decade.” – Ben on nailing prospect showdowns (51:48)
• “This has always been Vlad's team.” – Mitch quoting John Schneider, on Guerrero’s centrality (93:25)
• “If they tried to go about it the same way everyone else does in the East, they'd finish right where their revenues rank.” – Adam on Rays’ anti-orthodox strategy (143:04)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Brandon Marsh Water Video & Phillies Eccentricities: 01:10–20:18
• Red Sox Jersey / Fanatics Drama: 20:35–29:59
• Andrew Ball's Competitive Balance Proposals: 30:32–48:12
• "Who Ya Got" Career Retrospective: 48:26–55:33
• Mitch Bannon/Blue Jays Deep-Dive: 55:37–101:56
• Adam Berry/Rays Deep-Dive: 102:17–146:20

Conclusion

This episode spotlights the contrasting approaches and 2026 outlooks of the Blue Jays (star-laden, high-expectations, still chasing a summit) and the Rays (perpetually in motion, ever-resourceful, and staring down both roster churn and franchise-defining stadium questions). Throughout, Ben, Meg, and their guests blend deep analysis, inside info, and humorous banter to give listeners both the “vibe” and substance of the coming AL East campaign.

For stats, links, articles, and bonus content, check the episode show page at FanGraphs.