Effectively Wild: A FanGraphs Baseball Podcast

Effectively Wild Episode 2400: There’s No Such Thing As a Free Agent

5 snips
Nov 13, 2025
Ben and Meg share laughs about a quirky hotel display for Addison Barger. They dive into Scott Boras’s witty comments at GM meetings, mixing sports and pop culture references. The duo analyzes Paul DePodesta’s remarkable return to baseball ops and discusses various free agent predictions, debating over/under values for high-profile players like Kyle Tucker and Justin Verlander. They also reflect on the career impact of Mike Greenwell. Tune in for a blend of humor, stats, and lively debate!
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INSIGHT

Unprecedented Front-Office Comeback

  • Paul DePodesta's hiring by the Rockies marks an unprecedented 21-season gap since he last ran a MLB baseball ops department.
  • That gap is 50% longer than the previous record and highlights how unusual the Rockies' choice is.
ADVICE

Ease Returnees In With Junior Roles

  • Meg argues hiring a returning executive is safer if they join in a junior role to relearn modern baseball practices.
  • Bring them up to speed gradually instead of immediately naming them president of baseball ops.
INSIGHT

The Rise Of 'Pobo' Title Culture

  • 'Pobo' title inflation has proliferated across MLB front offices and many surnames coincidentally include 'po' or 'bo'.
  • The hosts joke about nominative patterns but note title creep reflects organizational dynamics.
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