The MLB trade market is red hot leading into the deadline, with over two-thirds of teams probably considering themselves contenders for a playoff spot. @ryanfagan.bsky.social has six trade matches that make a lot of sense. So much so, they need to happen. theanalyst.com/articles/mlb...

Six MLB Trade Matches That Make So Much Sense, They Need to Happen | Opta Analyst

The MLB trade market is red hot leading into the deadline. We're wading through the suitors to find matches for a half-dozen key players.

theanalyst.com

need around 20 cards to finish my Bowman set (roughly 5 chrome, 15 paper; none of the big names). i have mojo cards like these to trade (or if you have a favorite player i can look). anyone want to help me out?

That ERA just keeps climbing for Skenes. Hope he can figure out how to stop the slide. I mean, at this rate it’ll be all the way up to 2.14 by his Age 40 season …

Catchers are better at ABS challenges than batters, which isn’t really a surprise. But is that making hitting — already tough considering the velocity and movement from today’s pitchers — even tougher?

Opta Analyst US@optaanalystus.optajoe.com · 3mo ago

The new ABS challenge system for balls and strikes is one of the biggest stories of the 2026 MLB season. @ryanfagan.bsky.social explains how it’s working – literally and results-wise. theanalyst.com/articles/abs...

Back at the ballpark for Brewers-Cardinals today! If you want a FREE junk wax pack or a Brewers/Cardinals card, just let me know (reply/DM) and head up top toward the press box.

We took a moment today to hand deliver some fresh stock to the Cardinals Authentics Store! #thehobby @ryanfagan.bsky.social

To celebrate my first Opening Day with @PSAcard, I’m giving away a 1969 Topps Steve Carlton PSA 5 to someone at Busch Stadium for today’s Rays-Cardinals game. Best Lefty fact wins! Or if you want a FREE junk wax pack or a card, shoot me a reply/DM & head up to the press box!

Dropping off the first Stadium Rips of the 2026 season! @ryanfagan.bsky.social

@rwohan.bsky.social Hey Ryan! Question for you. Can you shoot me a DM?

Someone new will probably win a major MLB award ... at some point. Right? RIGHT? At @optaanalystus.optajoe.com, @ryanfagan.bsky.social and I try to pick a few spots for the unexpected. theanalyst.com/articles/mlb...

MLB Awards Predictions: MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year and More for 2026 | Opta Analyst

Zach Crizer and Ryan Fagan predict 2026 MLB awards in each league: MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year.

theanalyst.com

I promise I'll stop annoying people about this piece soon, but if you missed it, I talked to some folks in the Cactus League about the mental side of baseball. I really appreciated the candor of the players/coaches involved, so check it out if you get a chance. www.nbcsports.com/mlb/news/the...

The Invisible Showdown: Inside baseball’s growing focus on the mental game

As the pressures of the modern game grow, more MLB teams are emphasizing the mental side of performance alongside mechanics and analytics.

nbcsports.com

Only four teams have won at least three consecutive World Series. @ryanfagan.bsky.social looks at seven teams that could keep the Dodgers from a three-peat. theanalyst.com/articles/dod...

MLB 2026: Contenders That Could Keep the Dodgers From a World Series Three-Peat | Opta Analyst

The Dodgers overcame hurdles in repeating as World Series champions. These MLB contenders just may raise the bar even higher in 2026.

theanalyst.com

As requested over on X, here's my 1963 Fleer set build, plus @wthballs Series 2 & In Action cards. The only card I'm missing is Sandy Koufax. Only fitting that this started with a Bill Mazeroski that my dad got when he was a kid. I'm thrilled with it & all the help along the way.

Tonight we had the privilege of bringing another Free Market to our senior friends at Heritage Woods. Nearly 100 seniors were given the opportunity to shop fot a wide range of items like toiletries, food, and jewelry (amongst other things) free of charge.

this was a random but fun card from a 2026 Topps jumbo box. numbered 5/5!

Pitchers and catchers this week:

I Want You To Get The Word Out There That We Back Up The Wire GIF

ALT: I Want You To Get The Word Out There That We Back Up The Wire GIF

media.tenor.com

On Ernie Banks' birthday, I can't help but think back to the time I visited his gravesite during the Cubs' 2016 World Series run ... www.sportingnews.com/au/mlb/news/...

57 days until Opening Day

The PNC Park-era #Pittsburgh #Pirates "just stopping by for a minute" lineup. CF - Rajai Davis LF - Marlon Byrd RF- Raul Mondesi 1B - Justin Morneau DH - Derek Lee 3B - Todd Frazier C - Benito Santiago 2B - Aki Iwamura SS - Jose Hernandez P - Ramon Martinez #LetsGoBucs

Gratifying to be nominated again this year — alongside a murderer's row of writers, as always — for an @optaanalystus.optajoe.com story on the evolution of center fielders. Can read it here: theanalyst.com/articles/cen...

Is Center Field Morphing Into a Defensive Specialist Position? | Opta Analyst

The time of the great two-way center fielder might be coming to an end as teams make way for speedier, most defensive-minded options.

theanalyst.com

Jacob Pomrenke@buckweaver.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Congrats to all the finalists for the 2026 SABR Analytics Conference Research Awards! sabr.org/latest/annou... Voting for the winners begins next week. Thanks to @baseballprospectus.com, @fangraphs.com, @sportsinfosolutions.com, @ibwaa.bsky.social for their contributions to the selection process.

Forget break and milk. I’m stocking up on the essentials for this impending winter storm ❄️ #TheHobby #CardSky

Five years ago today. As the baseball world mourned the passing of Hank Aaron, a surprise arrived in my mailbox. My Don Sutton rookie — thought to be lost after his passing days earlier — returned, signed. It was postmarked January 18, the day he passed. The heaviest card in my collection.

It's getting more difficult for set collectors. At least there will always be junk wax sets, I guess? #cardsky nightowlcards.blogspot.com/2026/01/mayb...

Maybe completing junk wax sets is the way to go

It's growing more and more difficult for set collectors in this hobby. Let's review:   1. Flagship. You must contend with inserts and para...

nightowlcards.blogspot.com

Rhino!

It's a weird feeling, measuring time in decades. My ballot for the @baseballhall.org Class of 2026 marks a full decade of having the honor/privilege of voting for the Hall. Never, ever something I'll take for granted. My ballot column, on @optaanalyst.optajoe.com theanalyst.com/articles/bas...

Hey all. I'm building a database of local card/comic/TCG shops around the country that I can use as sources for future PSA Magazine stories. So, what are your favorite local card shops? Shoot me a reply/DM. If you're an LCS owner and want to be added, same thing. Thanks!

cross-platform questions ... who's on IG? and, who are your favorite baseball card accounts on IG? send me whatever you got. or just give me a follow and i'll return the favor. thanks! www.instagram.com/ryanfagan_psa/

I have a newsletter. It's about journalism, not sports. I recap the weekly interviews I do with journalists. I've interviewed more than 250 - a diverse group in so many ways. You can find it at journalismsalute.beehiiv.com All issues are free to read - and it's free to subscribe. Try us!

The Journalism Salute Newsletter

A newsletter providing updates on The Journalism Salute podcast

journalismsalute.beehiiv.com

the Hoth cold front that’s arriving soon is gonna be a doozy …

Career update: I started with Collectors this week as a writer on the PSA editorial team. I've loved freelancing for PSA Magazine the past year-plus, and I'm absolutely thrilled to tell stories about the hobby and folks who love collecting on a full-time basis. Ideas? Hit me up!