We react to the news that Stephen Strasburg is headed back to the Washington Nationals for the largest total contract for a pitcher in baseball history. What does this mean for his (maybe former) teammate Anthony Rendon, as well as the other top starting pitcher on the market, Gerrit Cole?

Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram

The Ringer MLB Show

Stephen Strasburg Is Back With the Nationals for Record Money. Is Gerrit Cole Up Next?

Gerrit Cole just signed the biggest contract in baseball history for a pitcher, and it’s not particularly close. Does this mean the Yankees are the Yankees of old, and have they upended the Astros as the best team in baseball? Plus: The AL East is stacked. Is the addition of Cole, the best pitcher in baseball, enough to win that arms race?

Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram

Gerrit Cole, the New York Yankees, and $324 Million—a Baseball Love Triangle | The Ringer MLB Show

In our third emergency free-agent signing podcast of the week, we break down the contract for former Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon: seven years and $245 million to play for the Los Angeles Angels. Now that the best hitter and the best pitcher are off the market, how will the rest of free agency shake out? Plus: analysis of this year’s market versus last year’s much slower, bleaker market.

Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram

The Ringer

Anthony Rendon Is the Third Star to Sign in Just One Week. What Does This Mean for Free Agency?

The punishment is in: the Houston Astros' GM and manager were both suspended for a year by Major League Baseball and subsequently fired by the Astros. Has this set a strong enough precedent for what the Astros did? Plus: Will Red Sox manager Alex Cora get the worst suspension of all for his role in devising the Astros' sign-stealing scheme?

Hosts: Michael Baumann, Ben Lindbergh, Zach Kram

GM Jeff Luhnow and Manager AJ Hinch Fired Amid Astros Cheating Scandal | The Ringer MLB Show

A rotating cast of Ringer staff members break down baseball's biggest and silliest stories, mixing in interviews with plugged-in media members and insiders from the front office to the dugout.