Baseball Tonight with Buster Olney

ESPN released its 2026 Top-100 ranking of MLB players, and somehow Shohei Ohtani wasn’t the unanimous No. 1 pick? Buster, Jesse Rogers and ESPN.com MLB editor Liz Finny share their reactions to the top-100 list, including Mike Trout’s absence. Then, the gang drafts their top players in the league, and things go sideways at pick No. 2. Next, Buster and Jesse discuss injuries to Jeremy Peña and Hunter Greene, Jesse’s reporting on Team USA and the World Baseball Classic, and how MLB should handle contracts of players testing positive for PEDs. Then, MLB VP of On-Field Strategy Joe Martinez stops by to talk about how the ABS Challenge System is working so far to start Spring Training. Later, Buster answers your questions during Bleacher Tweets.



0:00 Rank 2026: ESPN's Top-100 MLB Players
8:06 Drafting the best players in MLB
14:30 Jesse Rogers on Team USA
21:11 MLB VP of On-Field Strategy Joe Martinez on ABS Challenges
31:48 Bleacher Tweets



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Atlanta Braves’ outfielder Jurickson Profar was suspended for the entire 2026 season, leaving the Braves in a hole as the season nears. Buster Olney, Karl Ravech and Eduardo Perez discuss. Plus, what is the level of concern for Roki Sasaki, their takeaways after a day with the Detroit Tigers, and who they’re picking to win the World Baseball Classic. Then, Hembo stops by to talk about the most important pitching skill in an ABS world, why he’s betting on a MacKenzie Gore breakout with the Texas Rangers, the star who’s hiding in plain sight and his WBC pick. Later, Buster previews the Seattle Mariners. Finally, he answers a listener question during Bleacher Tweets



0:00 Karl Ravech & Eduardo Perez

20:55 Hembo

36:38 Mariners preview

38:03 Bleacher Tweets



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The Cardinals extend manager Oliver Marmol, Tarik Skubal has high praise for Tigers’ prospect Kevin McGonigle, and the World Baseball Classic is about to begin. Buster Olney and David Schoenfield discuss. Plus, the guys draft World Series hopefuls that have the best chances of unseat the Los Angeles Dodgers. Then, Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer stops by to talk about how his perspective on the WBC has changed, recruiting Alex Bregman, what to expect from Pete Crow-Armstrong after a tough second half of 2025, and why Michael Busch is one of the league’s most underrated players. Later, Buster previews the Cleveland Guardians and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Finally, Buster answers your questions during Bleacher Tweets.



0:00 David Schoenfield

9:45 Non-Dodger Contender Draft

20:19 Cubs GM Jed Hoyer

37:01 Headlines

38:15 Cleveland Guardians preview

39:39 Pittsburgh Pirates preview

40:51 Bleacher Tweets



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Max Scherzer returns for his 19th MLB season, re-signing with the Toronto Blue Jays after his daughter wrote the organization a heartfelt note. Plus, the World Baseball Classic starts next week, and the Braves start their own TV network. Buster Olney, Jorge Castillo and Alden González discuss. Then, Charles Barkley stops by to talk about why he loves sports so much, rooting for the Blue Jays in the World Series, if Shohei Ohtani is a top-three athlete of all-time, his advice for MLB players during labor negotiations, and which league has better brawlers: The NBA or MLB. Later, Buster previews the Houston Astros and the Miami Marlins. Finally, Buster takes your questions during Bleacher Tweets. 

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0:00 Welcome

0:30 Jorge Castillo & Alden González

22:49 Charles Barkley

39:07 Houston Astros preview

40:17 Miami Marlins preview

41:10 Bleacher Tweets

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The Braves extend Chris Sale, Buster drops his top-ten corner outfielders and which players stand to benefit from the ABS System? Hembo and Buster discuss. Plus, is Konnor Griffin a generational talent? Then, Yankees manager Aaron Boone stops by to talk about whether Aaron Judge’s size will benefit him with ABS, how he’s instructed his team to deal with the ABS System, if his interactions with umpires will change now that he has the ability to challenge balls and strikes, Gerrit Cole’s progression, and his assessment of the team’s offseason. Later, Buster previews the Sacramento Athletics and the San Francisco Giants. Finally, Buster answers your questions during Bleacher Tweets.



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EMAIL THE SHOW: BleacherTweets@gmail.com

REACH OUT ON X: #BLEACHERTWEETS

0:00 Welcome!

:47 Hembo

19:51 Yankees manager Aaron Boone

34:50 Headlines 

36:01 Athletics preview

36:57 San Francisco Giants preview

38:16 Bleacher Tweets
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