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

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