Effectively Wild Episode 2422: The 2026 Minor League Free Agent Draft

Ben Lindbergh, Meg Rowley, and Ben Clemens banter about the Astros signing Tatsuya Imai to a smaller-than-expected deal. Then (18:20) they continue a cherished podcast tradition by conducting the 13th annual Effectively Wild Minor League Free Agent Draft, in which they select 10 minor league free agents each and compete to see whose roster will accumulate the most combined MLB playing time in 2025 (followed by a postscript at 1:31:23).

Audio intro: Cory Brent, “Effectively Wild Theme”
Audio outro: Guy Russo, “Effectively Wild Theme”

Link to guest appearances sheet
Link to FG post on Imai
Link to MLBTR on Imai
Link to Feinsand tweet
Link to The Athletic on Imai
Link to minor league free agents
Link to MLBTR on MiLB FA
Link to last year’s draft
Link to MiLB FA draft wiki
Link to EWStats page