Locked On MLB - Daily Podcast On Major League Baseball

Baseball’s Hall of Fame sees a surprise shakeup as Jeff Kent earns his place among the immortals. Is the Contemporary Era committee missing the mark by leaving out legends like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Gary Sheffield? Sully and guest Jeff Carr unpack Kent’s career, debate the criteria behind recent inductions, and question why some steroid-era icons remain on the outside looking in. Key top...

Pittsburgh Pirates’ window to contend may be now, but will ownership seize it—or squander Paul Skenes’ prime? Sully and Gary Morgan spotlight the ace’s Cy Young season, talk the urgency of adding legitimate bats, and weigh whether a long-awaited playoff run is possible before Skenes dons pinstripes or Dodgers blue. With key players like Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz coming off down years and prosp...

New York Mets hit the reset button after a disappointing collapse, shaking up the roster with the bold Brandon Nimmo-for-Marcus Semien trade and a high-profile gamble on reliever Devin Williams. As speculation swirls around Pete Alonso’s free agency and the impact of Juan Soto’s uneven debut season, co-hosts Sully and Ryan Finkelstein debate whether money alone can fix the Mets’ chemistry woes—or...

Houston Astros fans face an offseason of uncertainty after missing the playoffs for the first time in years—but does one win stand between disappointment and a fierce comeback? Paul Francis Sullivan and Brett Chancey tackle the highs and lows of the Astros’ injury-plagued season, Framber Valdez’s looming free agency, and whether Hunter Brown and Christian Javier can anchor the rotation amid mounti...

St. Louis Cardinals brace for a full rebuild—can “the best fans in baseball” weather the storm as Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt, and Willson Contreras face uncertain futures? JD Hafron and Sully break down the Cardinals’ dramatic shift, from decades of playoff consistency to trading ace Sonny Gray and shopping key players like Brennan Donovan. Recent deals bring young prospects like Richard Fitz...

New York Yankees ownership sparks controversy as Hal Steinbrenner questions the team's profitability ahead of a possible MLB lockout. Are the Yankees really struggling, or is this clever propaganda to sway public opinion before crucial labor negotiations?   Sully scrutinizes Steinbrenner's statements, breaking down New York Yankees revenue figures, payroll details, and industry rumors about a pote...

The Red Sox and Blue Jays shake up the AL East with high-stakes pitching acquisitions. Sonny Gray lands in Boston, triggering strategic roster shifts, while Dylan Cease signs a massive seven-year, $210 million deal with Toronto. Are these moves enough to fuel a World Series run and erase painful postseason memories for Blue Jays fans?   Sully breaks down the impact of these trades, spotlighting ke...

Major League Baseball shakes up the broadcast world with a labyrinthine new TV rights deal—will fans be able to find their favorite games easily, or is a viewing scavenger hunt inevitable?  Shohei Ohtani’s soaring stardom drives ratings to record heights, as platforms like Netflix, NBC, ESPN, Fox, and Apple TV all vie for a piece of the action. Opening Day, Home Run Derby, and postseason matchups...

Miami Marlins hover on the brink of a breakthrough—can strategic spending finally propel them into playoff contention? Sully and Jeremiah Geiger of Locked on Marlins break down the Miami’s surprising 2025 surge, fueled by standouts like Kyle Stowers and Augustine Ramirez, and examine how expanded playoffs open the door for this underdog franchise. The conversation spotlights first base as a glarin...

San Diego Padres face uncertain future as new ownership looms and key free agents hit the market. Can Manny Machado overcome his postseason struggles and lead the Padres to a long-awaited World Series berth, or will changes at the top spark a dramatic shift in team direction? Sully and Javier Reyes debate the impact of the Craig Stammen hire, looming payroll cuts, and how losing stars like Luis Ar...

Texas Rangers fans stunned as Marcus Semien is dealt to the New York Mets in a blockbuster trade that shakes up both franchises. Brandon Nimmo heads to Arlington as the Rangers swap elite defense for a new bat in the lineup, sparking debate about roster depth and the team's future direction. Can the Rangers reload after losing so many World Series heroes in just two seasons, or is a full rebuild l...

Texas Rangers shake up MLB by letting ALCS MVP Adolis García, Jonah Heim, and Josh Sborz hit free agency just two years after their World Series heroics. Can bargain-hunting teams like the Miami Marlins, Pittsburgh Pirates, or even the West Sacramento A’s turn these proven postseason performers into comeback candidates? Your host Sully uncovers why these Rangers stars were non-tendered, what went...

Baseball faces a new test as gambling scandals swirl around MLB. With Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz under indictment for prop bets, questions about the integrity of the game are intensifying. Paul Francis Sullivan examines how even small actions—one pitch, one call—can tip a tight game, referencing historic controversies from Pete Rose to the 1919 Black Sox. Could the rise of prop bets and the exp...

Is Milwaukee destined for more October disappointment, or is 2025 the year they finally make a run?  The 2025 Milwaukee Brewers season hinted at destiny, with 97 wins and a roster that captured hearts across Wisconsin. Yet, the postseason delivered a cold reality. October turned into heartbreak as four games in the NLCS erased a summer of hope, leaving both players and fans with lingering frustrat...

Kyle Tucker to the San Francisco Giants? Pete Alonso leaving the Mets for Boston? Host Sully delivers his bold predictions for where MLB's top 25 free agents will land in the 2025 offseason, breaking down potential destinations for Tucker, Bo Bichette, Alex Bregman, and more. The analysis covers Josh Naylor's recent signing with the Seattle Mariners, why the Giants are desperate to make a splash a...

Angels shock baseball world by trading Taylor Ward to Baltimore Orioles for injured starter Grayson Rodriguez. Does this signal a new era of smart roster management in Anaheim? The trade sends Ward's 36 home runs and 103 RBI to Baltimore while the Angels acquire four years of control over Rodriguez, who hasn't pitched since July due to elbow issues. The discussion covers Mike Maddox's surprising d...

Seattle Mariners make the offseason's first major splash, locking up Josh Naylor with a five-year deal. Could this aggressive move signal a legitimate championship push in the AL West?   Sully breaks down why the Mariners' early commitment to Naylor demonstrates serious intent, analyzing his clutch ALCS performance where he hit .417 with three home runs against Toronto. The discussion covers Seatt...

Aaron Judge edges Cal Raleigh in the closest American League MVP race in decades, winning by just four first-place votes. Two voters switching their ballots would have created baseball's first AL MVP tie ever. Judge dominated traditional stats—leading the league in batting average, home runs (53), RBIs, and OPS—while his "slump" months still produced elite numbers. Raleigh countered with 60 home r...

Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes claim 2025 Cy Young Awards, but their franchises face critical decisions that could define baseball's competitive landscape. The Detroit Tigers and Pittsburgh Pirates stand at crossroads with their ace pitchers. Skubal's unanimous AL victory and Skenes' dominant NL performance should spark championship ambitions, not trade discussions. The Tigers possess an 87-win core...

Pat Murphy and Stephen Vogt claim Manager of the Year honors for the second straight season. But does their repeat victory expose a troubling pattern in baseball's competitive landscape? The Milwaukee Brewers posted the best regular season record in baseball despite bottom-tier payroll, while the Cleveland Guardians mounted a historic comeback from 11 games back on September 4th. Both franchises c...

Drake Baldwin and Nick Kurtz claim 2024 MLB Rookie of the Year honors, but their wins signal something bigger for the Braves and A's. Can these young stars anchor championship runs? Baldwin's .810 OPS and 19 home runs give Atlanta a foundational piece alongside Ronald Acuña Jr. and Matt Olson as new manager Walt Weiss takes over. Kurtz's unanimous AL victory—36 homers, 1.002 OPS—pairs with Jacob W...

Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz face indictment on gambling charges related to rigging pitch bets. Could this scandal rival the 1919 Black Sox? The episode examines why gambling poses a greater threat to baseball's integrity than performance-enhancing drugs, exploring how Clase's dominant regular season—just 5 earned runs allowed—contrasted sharply with his postseason co...

Pittsburgh Pirates and Miami Marlins face a defining moment as Japanese superstar  Munetaka Murakami enters MLB free agency. While big-market teams like the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Mets circle, two unexpected contenders should make aggressive moves.   The Pirates possess Paul Skenes , the National League's best pitcher and likely Cy Young winner at just 24 years old. Wi...

Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Alex Rodriguez deserve Hall of Fame induction. The hypocrisy? David Ortiz and Pudge Rodriguez are already enshrined despite PED connections. Host Sully breaks down the double standard plaguing Cooperstown, arguing that voter bias—not steroids—keeps certain players out while others slide through. The discussion covers Fernando Valenzuela's Veterans Committee candidac...

MLB awards season heats up with razor-thin MVP races and critical managerial decisions reshaping the league. Aaron Judge's dominant .331/.457/.688 slash line with 53 home runs faces off against Cal Raleigh's two-way excellence in an American League MVP battle too close to call.   Host Sully breaks down Gold Glove winners, Cy Young frontrunners Tarik Skubal and Paul Skeens, and Manager of the Year...