WELCOME BACK TO RIVAL ROUNDUP
This offseason, there will be even more hatred owed to our rivals, even more hatred owed to our own team, and a groovy little dollop of hatred that you can reserve just for yourself. Go ahead, you earned it. You earned a little self-hatred. Why else would you be here, reading a weekly column about how much better things are going for the rest of the division, ya sad bastard?
Sorry. That was a little out-of-pocket.
You might argue that most bloggers with a vested interest in sustained readership would try not to insult said readership within the first 79 words. Julie Chen might counter-argue — expect the unexpected. Both positions are valid.
So, while the Detroit Tigers’ role in this year’s American League Division Series means that the AL Central is not done with 2025 yet, my Vox Media contract’s role in generating disposable income means that Rival Roundup begins right now. As always, I’ll recap the major goings-on around the division all offseason, so everyone’s better-equipped for the parade of new directions (and new faces) that our four major opponents will carry with them into Spring Training next year.
Things will start out hot and heavy, as the Tigers enjoy a postseason run, then lead us right into a flurry — a bevy, even — of trades, free agency signings, and the occasional Whataburger-themed wedding ceremony. Eventually, things will cool down on the activity front, so we’ll have a nice little summation segment next March and really set the stage for the 2026 campaign, which could be the last regular season as we know it, assuming both that the players are locked out when the season expires, and America explodes.
Next week, we’ll see where things are at for the Detroit Tigers, whether any early surprises have occurred, and continue to unpack the early-offseason administrative moves. See you then!