Evan Drellich
@evandrellich.bsky.social
Senior writer, The Athletic, and author of "Winning Fixes Everything."
Everything's in order in a black hole.
Everything's in order in a black hole.
“But I think to try to get too cute with that, you’re probably just asking for trouble.”
GMs and agents on how the potential lockout after next season is affecting the market:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...
GMs and agents on how the potential lockout after next season is affecting the market:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...
Everyone expects labor issues — but so far, at least, MLB free agency is moving forward
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:37 PM
“But I think to try to get too cute with that, you’re probably just asking for trouble.”
GMs and agents on how the potential lockout after next season is affecting the market:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...
GMs and agents on how the potential lockout after next season is affecting the market:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...
“F the players,” Murray responded, according to the MLBPA documents. “I’m still so pissed off I can’t see straight.”
“We need them to be kissed (sic) off at their leadership,” Courtney replied.
“Believe me, it is priority for me,” Murray said.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...
“We need them to be kissed (sic) off at their leadership,” Courtney replied.
“Believe me, it is priority for me,” Murray said.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...
Inside the text messages of the agent who became a ‘mole’ for Rob Manfred and MLB
The MLB Players Association says that in 2020 negotiations, agent Jim Murray “acted as a ‘mole’” for Manfred and his top lieutenants.
www.nytimes.com
October 31, 2025 at 4:07 PM
“F the players,” Murray responded, according to the MLBPA documents. “I’m still so pissed off I can’t see straight.”
“We need them to be kissed (sic) off at their leadership,” Courtney replied.
“Believe me, it is priority for me,” Murray said.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...
“We need them to be kissed (sic) off at their leadership,” Courtney replied.
“Believe me, it is priority for me,” Murray said.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...
The Cleveland Guardians will not grant Emmanuel Clase, who is under MLB investigation, permission to play winter ball in Venezuela, sources say. www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...
Emmanuel Clase wants to pitch in Venezuela while under investigation, but Guardians say no
www.nytimes.com
October 22, 2025 at 11:12 PM
The Cleveland Guardians will not grant Emmanuel Clase, who is under MLB investigation, permission to play winter ball in Venezuela, sources say. www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...
‘Bad actors’ are stealing, reselling fan tickets swiped from MLB’s Ballpark app, MLB acknowledges
www.nytimes.com/athletic/664...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/664...
‘Bad actors’ are stealing, reselling fan tickets swiped from MLB’s Ballpark app, MLB acknowledges
The rash of scams started around Labor Day, with fans owning tickets to large-market teams the most popular targets.
www.nytimes.com
September 19, 2025 at 4:59 PM
‘Bad actors’ are stealing, reselling fan tickets swiped from MLB’s Ballpark app, MLB acknowledges
www.nytimes.com/athletic/664...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/664...
Sources: Stu Sternberg is to remain a minority owner of the Tampa Bay Rays as part of the team's sale — for a time. Sternberg's group will retain about 10% of the team at the outset. Sale expected to go final at end of regular season. With @ken-rosenthal.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...
Stu Sternberg is selling the Rays, but he’ll remain a minority owner — for a time
Sternberg and his partners will retain a 10 percent stake in the Rays after the sale but will eventually exit the ownership group entirely.
www.nytimes.com
September 8, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Sources: Stu Sternberg is to remain a minority owner of the Tampa Bay Rays as part of the team's sale — for a time. Sternberg's group will retain about 10% of the team at the outset. Sale expected to go final at end of regular season. With @ken-rosenthal.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...
The Savannah Bananas’ owner doesn’t like the Globetrotters comparison. He thinks he’s building UFC and MLB is boxing. What does MLB think?
“One’s a league and one’s an exhibition”
www.nytimes.com/athletic/657...
“One’s a league and one’s an exhibition”
www.nytimes.com/athletic/657...
As Savannah Bananas pursue 'a billion fans,' are they real competition for MLB?
www.nytimes.com
August 28, 2025 at 1:36 PM
The Savannah Bananas’ owner doesn’t like the Globetrotters comparison. He thinks he’s building UFC and MLB is boxing. What does MLB think?
“One’s a league and one’s an exhibition”
www.nytimes.com/athletic/657...
“One’s a league and one’s an exhibition”
www.nytimes.com/athletic/657...
The Atlanta Braves' revenues are up 12 percent through the first six months of the year. Terry McGuirk said the team could have added payroll at the trade deadline.
“What we have built in Atlanta is the model that every other MLB franchise is chasing"
www.nytimes.com/athletic/654...
“What we have built in Atlanta is the model that every other MLB franchise is chasing"
www.nytimes.com/athletic/654...
Atlanta Braves, ‘the model’ in MLB, could have added payroll at trade deadline
Despite a disappointing season so far on the field, the Braves have seen a significant revenue increase this year.
www.nytimes.com
August 7, 2025 at 5:59 PM
The Atlanta Braves' revenues are up 12 percent through the first six months of the year. Terry McGuirk said the team could have added payroll at the trade deadline.
“What we have built in Atlanta is the model that every other MLB franchise is chasing"
www.nytimes.com/athletic/654...
“What we have built in Atlanta is the model that every other MLB franchise is chasing"
www.nytimes.com/athletic/654...
The 2028 LA Olympics schedule just came out. Major League Baseball would prefer it look different.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/649...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/649...
The LA Olympics baseball schedule is out — and it’s not perfect for MLB
www.nytimes.com
July 15, 2025 at 8:34 PM
The 2028 LA Olympics schedule just came out. Major League Baseball would prefer it look different.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/649...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/649...
Source: sale of Rays to Patrick Zalupski's group for about $1.7B expected to go final as soon as September. Team likely to remain in Tampa area. With @ken-rosenthal.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/649...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/649...
Sale of Rays expected to be final by September: Source
www.nytimes.com
July 14, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Source: sale of Rays to Patrick Zalupski's group for about $1.7B expected to go final as soon as September. Team likely to remain in Tampa area. With @ken-rosenthal.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/649...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/649...
“There’s a good degree of uncertainty. Is it 5,000? Is it 10,000? Is it 1,000?”
A big question in Cooperstown this month: how many fans are going to travel from Japan to see Ichiro Suzuki's Hall of Fame induction?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/648...
A big question in Cooperstown this month: how many fans are going to travel from Japan to see Ichiro Suzuki's Hall of Fame induction?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/648...
With Ichiro's Hall of Fame moment, Cooperstown hopes and preps for a Japanese tourism surge
www.nytimes.com
July 11, 2025 at 5:47 PM
“There’s a good degree of uncertainty. Is it 5,000? Is it 10,000? Is it 1,000?”
A big question in Cooperstown this month: how many fans are going to travel from Japan to see Ichiro Suzuki's Hall of Fame induction?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/648...
A big question in Cooperstown this month: how many fans are going to travel from Japan to see Ichiro Suzuki's Hall of Fame induction?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/648...
“There seems to be kind of a mismatch between what we see at the union leadership level and what the players are thinking,” Manfred said.
“The strategy is to get directly to the players”
Candor and criticism on labor we haven’t seen from Manfred in years
www.nytimes.com/athletic/646...
“The strategy is to get directly to the players”
Candor and criticism on labor we haven’t seen from Manfred in years
www.nytimes.com/athletic/646...
Rob Manfred has a plan: tell players they've lost billions, and build their trust in him
www.nytimes.com
June 30, 2025 at 12:11 PM
“There seems to be kind of a mismatch between what we see at the union leadership level and what the players are thinking,” Manfred said.
“The strategy is to get directly to the players”
Candor and criticism on labor we haven’t seen from Manfred in years
www.nytimes.com/athletic/646...
“The strategy is to get directly to the players”
Candor and criticism on labor we haven’t seen from Manfred in years
www.nytimes.com/athletic/646...
Reposted by Evan Drellich
An official at the NFLPA said that implementing the plan could mean that labor officials serving on OneTeam’s board of directors were attempting to make a change that could lead to their own financial gain.
Full story, via @evandrellich.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/art...
Full story, via @evandrellich.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/art...
The board decision that sent the MLB, NFL unions into controversy
OneTeam Partners is co-owned by the players unions for five major sports leagues. Now federal investigators are asking questions.
www.nytimes.com
June 22, 2025 at 12:14 PM
An official at the NFLPA said that implementing the plan could mean that labor officials serving on OneTeam’s board of directors were attempting to make a change that could lead to their own financial gain.
Full story, via @evandrellich.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/art...
Full story, via @evandrellich.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/art...
Something’s up with the ball again.
Long fly balls aren’t flying as far in 2025, about four feet shorter — a change MLB acknowledges. With Eno Sarris
www.nytimes.com/athletic/642...
Long fly balls aren’t flying as far in 2025, about four feet shorter — a change MLB acknowledges. With Eno Sarris
www.nytimes.com/athletic/642...
MLB's baseball is behaving differently again, but no one seems to know why
www.nytimes.com
June 13, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Something’s up with the ball again.
Long fly balls aren’t flying as far in 2025, about four feet shorter — a change MLB acknowledges. With Eno Sarris
www.nytimes.com/athletic/642...
Long fly balls aren’t flying as far in 2025, about four feet shorter — a change MLB acknowledges. With Eno Sarris
www.nytimes.com/athletic/642...
Two baseball agents were poached for a combined $25 million. The problem: they were already under contract.
Massive punishment followed. A 70-page ruling—meant to be confidential—reveals incredible detail of the agent world.
The story of Excel vs. WME:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/637...
Massive punishment followed. A 70-page ruling—meant to be confidential—reveals incredible detail of the agent world.
The story of Excel vs. WME:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/637...
Huge paydays. Millions more in fines. 2 baseball agencies went to war, exposing a cutthroat industry
When WME Sports wanted to grow its baseball business, it went after two top agents at rival Excel. The outcome stunned the industry.
www.nytimes.com
May 22, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Two baseball agents were poached for a combined $25 million. The problem: they were already under contract.
Massive punishment followed. A 70-page ruling—meant to be confidential—reveals incredible detail of the agent world.
The story of Excel vs. WME:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/637...
Massive punishment followed. A 70-page ruling—meant to be confidential—reveals incredible detail of the agent world.
The story of Excel vs. WME:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/637...
The oral history of Nomo-mania, 30 years after Hideo Nomo's MLB debut, May 2, 1995. Were it not for a failed physical, it might have all happened in Seattle instead of Los Angeles.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/632...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/632...
Thirty years ago, Hideo Nomo's bold gambit paved the way for Ichiro, Ohtani to thrive
www.nytimes.com
May 2, 2025 at 10:46 AM
The oral history of Nomo-mania, 30 years after Hideo Nomo's MLB debut, May 2, 1995. Were it not for a failed physical, it might have all happened in Seattle instead of Los Angeles.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/632...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/632...
For two baseball-loving sisters, major-league careers honor a family history
For two baseball-loving sisters, major-league careers honor a family history
In a sport long known for fathers and sons and brothers, sisters Amelia and Joanna Schimmel are making their own mark.
www.nytimes.com
April 7, 2025 at 1:11 PM
For two baseball-loving sisters, major-league careers honor a family history
What A's owner John Fisher had to say before Opening Day in Sacramento:
“Am I nervous about all of this? No, actually, I really am — I’m confident, without being overconfident, and I’m excited about where we’re going.”
www.nytimes.com/athletic/624...
“Am I nervous about all of this? No, actually, I really am — I’m confident, without being overconfident, and I’m excited about where we’re going.”
www.nytimes.com/athletic/624...
A’s owner John Fisher says he’s confident, not nervous, as team begins Sacramento tenure
Will construction on a new ballpark in Las Vegas start this summer? "I only hope so," said the A's owner.
www.nytimes.com
April 1, 2025 at 2:03 AM
What A's owner John Fisher had to say before Opening Day in Sacramento:
“Am I nervous about all of this? No, actually, I really am — I’m confident, without being overconfident, and I’m excited about where we’re going.”
www.nytimes.com/athletic/624...
“Am I nervous about all of this? No, actually, I really am — I’m confident, without being overconfident, and I’m excited about where we’re going.”
www.nytimes.com/athletic/624...
A final dispatch from Tokyo: MLB is trying to expand in Japan. But what about in the other direction... Can Japan’s NPB grow in America?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/622...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/622...
MLB is trying to expand in Japan. Can Japan’s NPB grow in America?
Japanese baseball has a rich history, but a series of structural factors stand in the way of it becoming a phenomenon in America.
www.nytimes.com
March 21, 2025 at 12:19 PM
A final dispatch from Tokyo: MLB is trying to expand in Japan. But what about in the other direction... Can Japan’s NPB grow in America?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/622...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/622...
“It was like the Powerball got to $1.5 billion and all of a sudden the entire league wanted to drive down to the corner store and buy a lottery ticket. But they soon realized that it didn’t work that way for this kid, and most Japanese players." — Joel Wolfe www.nytimes.com/athletic/621...
MLB wants Japan to cheer for more than the Dodgers and Ohtani. The prize could be billions
www.nytimes.com
March 19, 2025 at 12:36 AM
“It was like the Powerball got to $1.5 billion and all of a sudden the entire league wanted to drive down to the corner store and buy a lottery ticket. But they soon realized that it didn’t work that way for this kid, and most Japanese players." — Joel Wolfe www.nytimes.com/athletic/621...
Sources: Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred and some owners are pressuring Stu Sternberg to sell the Tampa Bay Rays. Revenue sharing money could be at stake.
Several groups have expressed interest, including the family of Edward DeBartolo Jr.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/618...
Several groups have expressed interest, including the family of Edward DeBartolo Jr.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/618...
MLB Commissioner, several owners pressuring Sternberg to sell Rays as buyers eye team
www.nytimes.com
March 10, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Sources: Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred and some owners are pressuring Stu Sternberg to sell the Tampa Bay Rays. Revenue sharing money could be at stake.
Several groups have expressed interest, including the family of Edward DeBartolo Jr.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/618...
Several groups have expressed interest, including the family of Edward DeBartolo Jr.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/618...
The A's will wear Las Vegas patches on their arms for the next three years, while they play in Sacramento. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is paying the team $2.5 million in 2025, $2.75 million in 2026 and $3 million in 2027.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/618...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/618...
Athletics to wear Las Vegas patches on their arms during their stay in Sacramento
The A's will not have a city across the front of their jersey, but will have a Las Vegas patch on one sleeve, and Sacramento on the other.
www.nytimes.com
March 8, 2025 at 2:50 AM
The A's will wear Las Vegas patches on their arms for the next three years, while they play in Sacramento. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is paying the team $2.5 million in 2025, $2.75 million in 2026 and $3 million in 2027.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/618...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/618...
News: The Athletics have hired a new president whom fans in Oakland and Las Vegas will recognize. Marc Badain, who oversaw the Raiders' move from Oakland to Las Vegas, is reprising the role in baseball. Badain left the Raiders amidst controversy in 2021.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/618...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/618...
Athletics hire former Raiders exec Marc Badain as new team president
www.nytimes.com
March 6, 2025 at 8:37 PM
News: The Athletics have hired a new president whom fans in Oakland and Las Vegas will recognize. Marc Badain, who oversaw the Raiders' move from Oakland to Las Vegas, is reprising the role in baseball. Badain left the Raiders amidst controversy in 2021.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/618...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/618...
“So a team outside a top-5 media market without a massive local TV deal can run a $280 million payroll... and still make a $40 million profit?" Tony Clark said. "Never mind that their overall franchise value has gone up over $900 million in just 3 years.”
www.nytimes.com/athletic/616...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/616...
Braves chairman says ‘dry powder’ available for payroll; calls MLB-ESPN break-up a ‘non-event’
www.nytimes.com
February 27, 2025 at 9:06 PM
“So a team outside a top-5 media market without a massive local TV deal can run a $280 million payroll... and still make a $40 million profit?" Tony Clark said. "Never mind that their overall franchise value has gone up over $900 million in just 3 years.”
www.nytimes.com/athletic/616...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/616...
“The ESPN-MLB breakup is getting really outsized public scrutiny,” said Terry McGuirk, chairman of the Atlanta Braves. “I really think that from the Atlanta Braves’ standpoint, this is a non-event. It will have no effect whatsoever on our economics.”
www.nytimes.com/athletic/616...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/616...
Braves chairman says ‘dry powder’ available for payroll; calls MLB-ESPN break-up a ‘non-event’
www.nytimes.com
February 27, 2025 at 9:06 PM
“The ESPN-MLB breakup is getting really outsized public scrutiny,” said Terry McGuirk, chairman of the Atlanta Braves. “I really think that from the Atlanta Braves’ standpoint, this is a non-event. It will have no effect whatsoever on our economics.”
www.nytimes.com/athletic/616...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/616...
Reposted by Evan Drellich
New pod: @evandrellich.bsky.social talks all things MLB, from the ESPN divorce to the likelihood of a lockout next year.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
The MLB-ESPN Breakup Song
Podcast Episode · The Varsity · 02/26/2025 · 41m
podcasts.apple.com
February 26, 2025 at 12:35 PM
New pod: @evandrellich.bsky.social talks all things MLB, from the ESPN divorce to the likelihood of a lockout next year.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...