Jason Ross
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jross17.bsky.social
Jason Ross
@jross17.bsky.social
As seen/heard on the North Side Baseball Podcast, author, adult baseball player (which means I'm probably hurt).

You can find links to all of our content, either YouTube or Spotify here: https://linktr.ee/jross17
Reposted by Jason Ross
The hot stove is now fully aglow. Here are our panel's top 50 free agents for the 2025-26 MLB offseason, along with our best guesses at the contracts they'll receive. #royals #kansascity #fountainsup
DiamondCentric's Top 50 MLB Free Agents, Plus Contract Projections
The hot stove is now fully aglow. Here are our panel's top 50 free agents for the 2025-26 MLB offseason, along with our best guesses at the contracts they'll receive.
dlvr.it
November 19, 2025 at 4:45 PM
I like that comparison. And as a big Imai guy, this excites me.
Tatsuya Imai's fastball comps really well to Joe Ryan's fastball once you account for arm angle and movement. But it's faster.

He's on my list of four free agents that could be bargains on their projected deals: www.nytimes.com/athletic/681...
Four potential bargains in MLB free agency, from Tatsuya Imai to Cody Ponce
These four free agents represent the best potential values for what they might get on the open market this offseason.
www.nytimes.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Reposted by Jason Ross
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: You think it's going to be the dudes who weren't alive for 9/11 making the majors that makes you feel old, and it does, but it ain't nothing compared to realizing "holy shit, Travis Jankowski is the Rangers' first base coach."
November 19, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Reposted by Jason Ross
In Part II of North Side Baseball's deep-dive into the 1918 Chicago Cubs, we examine the loss of Grover Cleveland Alexander to World War I and the first months of the regular season. #cubs #chicago #behereforit
Chronicling the 1918 Cubs, Part 2: Losing An Ace and Sweeping the Giants
In Part II of North Side Baseball's deep-dive into the 1918 Chicago Cubs, we examine the loss of Grover Cleveland Alexander to World War I and the first months of the regular season.
dlvr.it
November 19, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Eagles games are now destined to finish 10-7, it feels.
November 17, 2025 at 2:18 AM
Reposted by Jason Ross
New to the DiamondCentric stable of sites is this searchable, sortable list of available free agents. #cubs #chicago #behereforit
Track All 2025-2026 MLB Free Agents With This Handy Tool
New to the DiamondCentric stable of sites is this searchable, sortable list of available free agents.
dlvr.it
November 16, 2025 at 9:59 PM
👀 👀👀 Kentucky has recruited and developed a quarterback.

I am shocked.
November 15, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Reposted by Jason Ross
Tatsuya Imai is likely to be the crown jewel of the 2026 crop of NPB stars making their way to America. Who is he as a pitcher, and what might make him a special player in Major League Baseball? #redsox #boston #dirtywater
Tatsuya Imai Will Be The Next Japanese Power Arm; How Will His Arsenal Translate To MLB?
Tatsuya Imai is likely to be the crown jewel of the 2026 crop of NPB stars making their way to America. Who is he as a pitcher, and what might make him a special player in Major League Baseball?
dlvr.it
November 15, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Reposted by Jason Ross
Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma of the Athletic are reporting that the Chicago Cubs want to "build more pitching depth, both at the top of the rotation and throughout the organization." #cubs #chicago #behereforit
Chicago Cubs Want To "Build More Pitching Depth At the Top of the Rotation"
Patrick Mooney and Sahadev Sharma of the Athletic are reporting that the Chicago Cubs want to "build more pitching depth, both at the top of the rotation and throughout the organization."
dlvr.it
November 15, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Reposted by Jason Ross
Bruce Levine when speaking about the Cubs and Tatsuya Imai:

"I think so. Yeah, I definitely think so. I don’t they’d back away, and I don’t think the Cubs would be afraid to make a huge investment in Imai.”

www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2025/11...
go.bsky.app
November 13, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Reposted by Jason Ross
We have become conditioned to believe the Chicago Cubs can't—or simply won't—break the bank for any free-agent player. Tatsuya Imai may just force their hand this offseason. #cubs #chicago #behereforit
Tatsuya Imai Might Be the Pitcher the Cubs Break the Free Agent Bank For
We have become conditioned to believe the Chicago Cubs can't—or simply won't—break the bank for any free-agent player. Tatsuya Imai may just force their hand this offseason.
dlvr.it
November 13, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Bruce Levine when speaking about the Cubs and Tatsuya Imai:

"I think so. Yeah, I definitely think so. I don’t they’d back away, and I don’t think the Cubs would be afraid to make a huge investment in Imai.”

www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2025/11...
go.bsky.app
November 13, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Tatsuya Imai is quickly becoming one of my favorite arms on the market. I took a deep dive into him as a pitcher. Who is he? What might a team look to add?

diamondcentric.net/news-rumors/...
Tatsuya Imai Will Be The Next Japanese Power Arm; How Will His Arsenal Translate To MLB?
Tatsuya Imai is likely to be the crown jewel of the 2026 crop of NPB stars making their way to America. Who is he as a pitcher, and what might make him a special player in Major League Baseball?
diamondcentric.net
November 13, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Reposted by Jason Ross
Jon Heyman of the NY Post is reporting that Shota Imanaga is expected to decline the Chicago Cubs qualifying offer. #cubs #chicago #behereforit
Shota Imanaga Expected To Decline Qualifying Offer From Cubs
Jon Heyman of the NY Post is reporting that Shota Imanaga is expected to decline the Chicago Cubs qualifying offer.
dlvr.it
November 13, 2025 at 1:24 AM
Per Boras: Tatsuya Imai will be officially posed November 19th. This means he will sign on, or before, January 3rd.

#Cubs
November 12, 2025 at 7:22 PM
Reposted by Jason Ross
Today's a great day for those with GOP Members of Congress to ask them when they plan to either (a) demand Trump's resignation for being deeply involved in a pedophilia ring; or (b) explain why they don't believe that being deeply involved in a pedophilia ring requires a president's resignation.
November 12, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Reposted by Jason Ross
Kyle Hendricks has retired after 12 MLB seasons, including 11 legendary ones with the Cubs. Let's look back at some of his most memorable starts in a Cubs uniform. #cubs #chicago #behereforit
Seven Starts That Defined The Professor's Cubs Legacy
Kyle Hendricks has retired after 12 MLB seasons, including 11 legendary ones with the Cubs. Let's look back at some of his most memorable starts in a Cubs uniform.
dlvr.it
November 12, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Reposted by Jason Ross
Those post-Covid wage growth trends for high-income vs. low-income Americans has completely flipped.

(via B of A) @mikezaccardi.bsky.social
November 12, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Jeff Passan recently said the perfect signing for the Cubs was NPB pitcher Tatsuya Imai. Want a quick preview of what he's like? Tune into our podcast last week on youtube, spotify, apple music...pick your favorite.

A companion piece will come shortly on NSBB, too. 👀

youtu.be/re8ZbFi_Y0U?...
North Side Baseball Podcast Episode 37: Chicago Cubs Free Agency Preview
YouTube video by North Side Baseball
youtu.be
November 12, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Reposted by Jason Ross
Pete Crow-Armstrong was incredible defensively this year. Take a ride with me looking at some of my favorite plays on the season.

northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/...
Celebrating Pete Crow-Armstrong's Sterling Defense, Even Though He Didn't Go Platinum
Pete Crow-Armstrong may not have won the Platinum Glove in 2025, but his defense was exceptional in center field. Relive some of his best plays in the 2025 season.
northsidebaseball.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:07 PM
L's down.
November 12, 2025 at 1:28 AM
It's good to hear "top of the market" being said by Hoyer. I know there is a decent amount of pessimism, but this is a different comment than we have seen in the past. It allows you to believe Dylan Cease or Tatsuya Imai would be in play.
Hoyer: "We’re in a pretty good position on the position-playing side. On the pitching side, we’re thinner. So I think that’s going to be our focus. And I expect to explore trades. I expect to explore free agency, both at the top of the market, but also looking at Minor League free agency."
November 12, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Pete Crow-Armstrong was incredible defensively this year. Take a ride with me looking at some of my favorite plays on the season.

northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/...
Celebrating Pete Crow-Armstrong's Sterling Defense, Even Though He Didn't Go Platinum
Pete Crow-Armstrong may not have won the Platinum Glove in 2025, but his defense was exceptional in center field. Relive some of his best plays in the 2025 season.
northsidebaseball.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Reposted by Jason Ross
There's no such thing as a "favorite" or a "front-runner" for any free agent right now, except maybe if it's a guy likely to stay in the same place. There's no "in the lead," there's no "close to the finish."

It's either signed or not signed.
November 11, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Reposted by Jason Ross
I wrote about all 88 pitches Kyle Hendricks threw in Game 6 of the 2016 NLCS. It seemed like the most fitting eulogy for his career. northsidebaseball.com/news-rumors/...
The Night Kyle Hendricks Was Perfect
It wasn't Joe Maddon, or Theo Epstein, or even Chris Bosio who chose Kyle Hendricks to stand over the billy goat, when the time came to kill it. Sometimes, baseball chooses the heroes it wants, and wh...
northsidebaseball.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:13 PM