Yardbarker
Yardbarker
x
There are too many MLB teams not even trying to compete
Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black. Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

There are too many MLB teams not even trying to compete

There is a harsh reality in Major League Baseball that is difficult to overlook, and Thursday's news offered a reminder of it — there are too many teams in the league that are not only bad, they are embarrassing themselves and their organizations. 

They are teams that are not even pretending to make a meaningful attempt at competing.

A quick rundown of some of the news that highlights the incompetence.

  • The Pittsburgh Pirates fired manager Derek Shelton on Thursday after a 12-26 start that has them with the third-worst record in the league. Shelton is the first scapegoat to fall in Pittsburgh, and he will almost certainly not be the last. Whatever you think of his managing abilities, the reality in Pittsburgh is the roster is just lacking in Major League talent after a few players (Oneil Cruz, Paul Skenes, Bryan Reynolds) at the top. The offseason was an embarrassment, and they remain one of the cheapest teams in baseball from an ownership standpoint.

They are on a 111-loss pace as of Thursday. That would be the fourth time in six years they have played at a 100-loss pace under general manager Ben Cherington (that includes the shortened 2020 season where they were on a 100-loss pace).

  • The Chicago White Sox, fresh off a season where they set a new record for futility by losing 121 regular season games, were blown out by the Kansas City Royals, 10-0, to fall to 10-28. They are not only on pace to lose 100 games for the third consecutive season, they are on pace to lose 120 games for the second year in a row and could challenge their own single season loss record just one year later.
  • Then there are the Colorado Rockies who were swept in a doubleheader by the Detroit Tigers by a combined score of 21-3 (11-1 in Game 1; 10-2 in Game 2) to drop to a staggering 6-31 on the season. That is a 136-loss pace over 162 games, which is almost impossible to believe. Even if they do not maintain that pace, they still seem on track to lose 100 games for a third consecutive season. 

There is only one reason for so many teams to be this bad, for this long. It's a lack of effort. It's a lack of seriously trying to be a competitive Major League Baseball team.

That is not a slight on the players on these rosters and is not a way of saying the players are not trying, because they are. It's just that they are not good enough to compete and are outmanned on a nightly basis against better, superior teams. 

The lack of effort is coming from ownership in the form of money spent and resources, and the management teams for not putting better products on the field. 

It's difficult to lose 100 games in a season. It takes a lot of things going wrong at the same time to produce that sort of failure. To have this many teams losing 100 games this often is a black eye on baseball, and these owners should be facing more heat for being bad for baseball than the owners that spend every dollar possible to try and win.

With the expanded playoff field it is easier to make the playoffs now than ever before. You can compete for a playoff spot and get in with 84-86 wins. It doesn't take that much spending and creativity to build a team capable of that. But every year there are at least three or four teams that are not even attempting to make a meaningful effort to get there. 

These teams are the worst and most consistent offenders. 

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

TODAY'S BEST

New suitor emerges for Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suarez
MLB

New suitor emerges for Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suarez

The Arizona Diamondbacks have plenty of suitors for third baseman Eugenio Suarez. A new team has reportedly entered the market for his services. Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the Phillies have reached out regarding Suarez. While Lauber did not provide any indication as to whether or not those talks have gained traction, the Phillies are an intriguing suitor for the Diamondbacks' third baseman. The Phillies' interest may be a recent development. Jon Heyman of the New York Post speculated on Friday that the Phillies could emerge as a suitor in the wake of third baseman Alec Bohm landing on the injured list with a fractured left rib. Suarez is in the midst of what is arguably his best season thus far. He has produced a .249/.321/.587 batting line in 421 plate appearances entering Saturday with 36 homers and a major league-leading 87 RBI. Suarez would be more than just another powerful bat in the lineup. Designated hitter Kyle Schwarber and first baseman Bryce Harper are both left-handed hitters — adding Suarez would provide more balance in the batting order. He would also provide a counter against opposing managers bringing in a lefty reliever to face Schwarber and Harper. The biggest question would be how the Phillies would handle an eventual logjam on the roster. Bohm is expected to return from the IL in mid-August and would not have a clear path to regular at-bats if Suarez were acquired. Schwarber could theoretically return to left field to open up playing time at the DH spot, but his outfield defense is mediocre at best. However, as the Phillies are also looking to upgrade the outfield, where Max Kepler and Brandon Marsh have been disappointments, adding Suarez could solve several problems in one fell swoop.

Spurs Star De’Aaron Fox Makes Major Offseason Announcement
NBA

Spurs Star De’Aaron Fox Makes Major Offseason Announcement

SAN ANTONIO — De'Aaron Fox was supposed to take a tour of Asia a la Victor Wembanyama this summer, only his came with company. On July 8, Curry Brand announced its 2025 Curry Brand World Tour, set to feature both the San Antonio Spurs star and Golden State Warriors frontman Steph Curry beginning in August. Stops along the way included San Francisco, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Chongqing, China. Announced by Fox Friday afternoon, Curry will be making the trip solo. "Unfortunately, I won't be able to travel to Asia next month," the point guard said in a video posted to X, formerly Twitter. "This was a tough decision for me. I was really looking forward to traveling to ... meet all of you and show off the Curry 2s and experience the incredible basketball culture in Asia." Fox didn't provide a reason for his cancellation, and no official statement beyond the video has been made by Under Armour, Curry Brand, or the Spurs. "I'm truly sorry," he said. "Your love for the game and unmatched enthusiasm set you apart from any other fanbase in the world." The Spurs' point guard recently recovered from a pinkie surgery he underwent on March 17 to repair ligament damage sustained during training camp while still with the Sacramento Kings. Since then, he and the team have prioritized building chemistry ahead of next season. “We should be clear, me and Vic, ... around the same time," Fox said at the end of the regular season. "So, we’d be able to get together in the summer and be able to work with each other.”

Brutal setback could be end of the line for former Titans first-round pick
NFL

Brutal setback could be end of the line for former Titans first-round pick

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Treylon Burks may have already sealed his fate ahead of a make-or-break 2025 season. On Saturday, the No. 18 overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft suffered a broken collarbone while making an outstanding diving catch along the sideline during training-camp practice on a pass from rookie quarterback Cam Ward. The play was a distillation of Burks' pro career thus far, one that could be special if not beset by injuries. Burks has only appeared in 27 of a possible 51 career regular-season games. During his rookie season, Burks missed Weeks 5-9 with a foot/toe injury. He also suffered a concussion against the Philadelphia Eagles, forcing him to miss two additional games. In 2023, he was sidelined by a knee injury from Oct. 1 through Oct. 15, followed by another three-game absence the next month after he was carted off with a head injury in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Last season, Burks was limited to five games after tearing his ACL during practice. He appeared to be in prime form on his spectacular grab during the play he was injured, showing off his tantalizing potential (and no lingering effects from his knee injury) by laying out to make the catch. But as has been the case throughout Burks' career, his giant step forward was met with two backward strides. In May, the Titans declined to pick up Burks' fifth-year rookie option, which would have paid him a projected $15.493 million in 2026, per Over The Cap. Over his first three seasons, Burks has 53 receptions, 699 receiving yards and one touchdown. Tennessee invested heavily in improving its wide receiver depth this offseason, insulating it from the effects of Burks' most recent injury. During free agency, the Titans added Tyler Lockett and Van Jefferson. They selected Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft while also signing Ward's college teammate, Xavier Restrepo, as an undrafted free agent. Burks' path to playing time was already challenged by the offseason moves, but his broken clavicle could knock him out of the rotation for good. If Burks is ever going to live up to his draft status, it's become increasingly more likely it won't be in Tennessee.

Rangers Sign Former Stanley Cup Champion to Tryout Agreement
NHL

Rangers Sign Former Stanley Cup Champion to Tryout Agreement

The New York Rangers are adding to their forward depth ahead of their upcoming training camp. The Rangers are entering a new chapter of their organization under new head coach Mike Sullivan. After missing the postseason last year, the organization is trying to rebound and respond accordingly in 2025 and 2026. Former Stanley Cup champion forward Conor Sheary is the latest player to join the new-look Rangers. The veteran forward agreed to a professional tryout agreement (PTO) with the club and will look to earn an NHL deal with his performance in training camp and the preseason. Sheary is a veteran of 593 NHL games. Originally an undrafted free agent, he signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins after completing his collegiate career. Following a year with the Penguins' AHL affiliate, he forced his way onto the NHL squad after posting 36 points in his first 30 games of the 2015-2016 season at the AHL level. His debut NHL season went better than ever expected, and he was a key part of the Penguins' lineup that won back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017. Sheary's coach at the time, both at the AHL and NHL levels, was Mike Sullivan. Now, he'll get the chance to reunite with the coach under whom he won two championships. In addition to playing for the Penguins, Sheary has played for three other NHL franchises. The Pens dealt him to the Buffalo Sabres before the 2018-2019 campaign, but he would return to Pittsburgh the following season at the trade deadline. After his second stint with the Penguins, he joined the Washington Capitals. He played three seasons in Washington, D.C. before landing with the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he spent the past two years. Over his 593 career games, he's compiled 124 goals and 143 assists for 267 points. His best NHL season came during the 2016-2017 campaign, his second in the league. He scored 23 goals and added 30 assists for 53 points in 61 regular-season games.