Immaculate Grid: A Perfect Game For Baseball Fans, Especially Amid Trade Deadline Chaos (Sponsored)
This is a sponsored post from Sports Reference.
The upcoming few days are among the most exciting of the year for baseball fans. There’ll be plenty of trades before next Thursday’s evening deadline, shuffling the makeup of the league as stars change teams and top prospects are on the move. Amidst the upcoming flurry of roster movement, all baseball fans should keep an eye on the 2025 season’s daily Immaculate Grid!
What Is Immaculate Grid?
Immaculate Grid is a free daily trivia game powered by Sports Reference that challenges players to fill a 3×3 grid with players who meet specific criteria, like sharing a team or achieving a statistical feat. Each square on the grid requires the player to recall a particular player from the past or present who meet both criteria, such as those who have played for two teams or tallied a certain number of strikeouts. The goal is to complete the grid with as few incorrect guesses as possible.
Immaculate Grid is a great way for baseball fans of any kind to flex their knowledge of the game. Take the opportunity to remember players from years past or impress your friends by staying up to date on all of this year’s deadline movement. Demonstrate your knowledge of the most obscure players who meet each day’s parameters.
Challenge your friends and compete for the lowest “rarity score,” which is calculated as the sum of the percentages for each cell you get correct plus 100 for each empty cell. You can even test yourself against the professionals. If the hosts play, challenge to beat their rarity score or to play/share the day’s grid with them. Think you’re relying too often on Rich Hill, who is on his 14th MLB team after getting called up by the Royals? Create a free account to track your grid history, most used players, most used teams, and more.
How to Play:
- You have nine guesses to fill out the grid.
- Each guess, whether correct or incorrect, counts as a guess.
- There is a new grid every day at 6:00am ET.
- A player cannot be used twice.
- Players may be active or inactive.
- For team and team cell: player must have played at least one game (regular season or playoffs) for each team.
Deadline Transactions and the Challenge of Immaculate Grid
In addition to being one of the most exciting times on the baseball calendar, keeping track of every move this month allows hardcore fans to stay ahead of the rest in Immaculate Grid. We’ve already seen a few trades that opened up new eligibility for players on the Immaculate Grid!
Keep an eye out for plenty more notable players who should be on the move in the next week!
- Sandy Alcantara
- Mitch Keller
- David Bednar
- Ryan O’Hearn
- Eugenio Suárez
- Josh Naylor
- Luis Robert Jr.
- Ryan McMahon
Your new daily routine: Remember some guys with Immaculate Grid, powered by Baseball Reference. It’s a free trivia game with a new game every day. Can you go 9 for 9, or name the most obscure players from baseball past and present? Try it today!
Also be sure to visit ImmaculateGrid.com for puzzles on other sports too like NBA, WNBA, NHL, NFL, and soccer!
Athleticwear for the Modern Athlete (Sponsored)
This is a sponsored post from Greatness Wins.
When it comes to shopping for new apparel, understandably the market is overwhelming and saturated. One question that keeps popping into the minds of consumers: “What happened to the ‘sport’ in sportswear?”
Quality and durability are questionable with many athletic brands, while the focus of athleisure is more on fashion than fitness.
Greatness Wins saw the need for something better. All athletes deserve something better, and they’ve stepped up to the plate.
Derek Jeter and e-commerce entrepreneur and UNTUCKit Founder Chris Riccobono have joined forces with American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer Misty Copeland, to introduce Greatness Wins: athleticwear for the modern athlete.
Their performance activewear has an ideal combination of weight, fit, and feel. So, no matter the activity you’re doing this summer – whether running, golf, or pickleball – there is a product for you.
Now through July 21st, Trade Rumors readers can get an exclusive 20% off their first order.
Visit the website here for more info.
Here are some products to choose from:
Perfect for lifting, light running, walking, cross training, layering, warm-ups and cool downs. Moisture wicking, quick dry, anti odor, breathable, UPF 40, optimal range of motion, front pouch pockets, cinched drawcord on hood.
Made from Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certified recycled polyester, derived from plastic bottles. Recycled and reduces the need to extract new raw materials.
Great for lifting, light running, walking, cross training, yoga, soccer practice, tennis, cycling.
Get your golf game fit in check this summer with Greatness Wins’ vast array of golf-related gear. Polos, clubhouse pants/shorts, and even golf accessories like gloves are great options to improve play. And they also make a great gift for the golf fanatic in your life.
Click this link here for an exclusive 20% off your first order!
No matter what kind of athlete you are, Greatness Wins has a solution for you.
Fantasy Baseball: Dealing With Early Anchors
Hello, friends.
Ahh, it's almost officially time; I can feel it, deep in my plums.
No, I'm not talking about the time of year when the Chicago White Sox are officially eliminated from playoff contention. Give them some credit, that's still weeks away. Colorado, on the other hand, is officially on the clock.
No, I'm talking about the day when everything, for almost everyone, officially matters. We're so close to Stabilization Day, I can almost taste it.
But, unfortunately, Tom Tango didn't see his shadow last week -- we'll just have to wait a little longer.
Until then, let's talk about what people seem to be most concerned about -- at least according to the questions in our weekly chats (every Thursday at 11 am Central).
Why is *insert name of player drafted in the first five rounds* hurting me so much, and what can I do to get revenge on their horrible, rotten souls*?
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The Rawlings Icon was named the Bat Bros’ “Youth Bat of the Year”! (Sponsored)
Since 1887, Rawlings has set a standard of producing high quality, top of the line sports equipment. Rawlings is trusted by athletes at each level, from Little League to Major League, and is undoubtedly “The Mark of a Pro®”. Throughout generations, Rawlings has built a legacy that revolves around innovation, tradition and authenticity, and the 2025 USSSA Rawlings Icon bat represents exactly what athletes have come to expect from the most well-known brand in baseball.
Designed for elite USSSA athletes, the Rawlings Icon was named as the Bat Bros’ “Youth Bat of the Year” and has a dedicated following given its dominance on the field. Featuring “In/Tense” carbon composite material, “Tuned Balance Performance”, “Zero Loss Collar Technology” and many other high-tech features, the USSSA Rawlings Icon is engineered to give young athletes the perfect combination of balanced power, speed and durability.
Engineered with “In/Tense” carbon composite construction, the Rawlings Icon maximizes barrel size, stiffness and trampoline. Incorporating this highly responsive technology increases the overall size and pop of the sweet spot, creating a forgiving yet consistently powerful hitting surface.
Further, the Icon features “Tuned Balance” performance, yielding the ideal swing weight. Tuned Balance performance optimizes barrel control enabling athletes to have a powerful swing without compromising their bat speed. Additionally, the Icon’s “Zero Loss Collar Technology” strengthens the connection joint and eliminates negative, hand-rattling feedback at contact. The reinforced joint between the handle and barrel allows for the perfect amount of flex, while absorbing vibrations from impact.
Not only is this bat a top pick for performance, but it also ranks high in comfort and style. The 2025 Rawlings Icon is marked by bold, eye-catching graphics featuring a white camo pattern, highlighted with gold and black accents. The bat is equipped with “RevGrip”, a premium handle grip that provides unmatched cushion and tack, which enhances comfort in all elements.
Whether you’re a contact or power hitter, the USSSA Rawlings Icon is engineered to do it all. Designed with the balance of power, innovation, style and comfort, the 2025 Rawlings Icon is built to bring out the best of your swing. “Be Iconic” with the USSSA Icon bat from Rawlings and discover its game-changing power for yourself!
Front Office Subscriber Chat Transcript
MLBTR’s Anthony Franco held a live chat today, exclusively for Trade Rumors Front Office subscribers!
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Front Office Subscriber Chat Transcript
MLBTR's Steve Adams hosted a chat today at 1:30pm CT, exclusively for Trade Rumors Front Office subscribers.
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Front Office Subscriber Chat Transcript
MLBTR’s Anthony Franco held a live chat, exclusively for Trade Rumors Front Office subscribers!
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- Access weekly subscriber-only articles by Tim Dierkes, Steve Adams, and Anthony Franco.
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The D-backs’ Late-Blooming Slugger
The D-backs moved on from Joc Pederson this past offseason, bidding farewell to a slugger who made 132 appearances at designated hitter for them in 2024 and turned in an outstanding .275/.393/.515 slash in 449 plate appearances. Pederson was limited to 42 plate appearances against left-handed pitching but was a mainstay in the lineup against right-handed opponents. He torched righties at a .281/.392/.531 clip -- 54% better than league average, by measure of wRC+.
Arizona spent more than anyone expected this past offseason, but the vast majority of that spending came in the form of their stunning six-year, $210MM signing of right-hander Corbin Burnes. That marked the largest contract in franchise history, helping push payroll to record levels. The rest of the front office's moves were understandably on the smaller side, at least in terms of financial commitment. A trade for Josh Naylor replaced Christian Walker at first base for about half the 2025 price (and one-sixth of the overall financial commitment). Re-signing Randal Grichuk cost another $5MM. Relievers Kendall Graveman and Jalen Beeks signed for under $2MM apiece.
Pederson's two-year, $37MM deal with the Rangers was announced on the same day as Burnes' deal with the Diamondbacks. Based on the totality of Arizona's offseason, it'd be fair to presume that signing both simply wasn't in the budget. Perhaps, however, the D-backs felt comfortable moving on from Pederson because they bought into the out-of-the-blue breakout from another lefty slugger on the roster.
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The Giants Should Consider A Rotation Change
The Giants had a rotation battle throughout Spring Training. Logan Webb, Robbie Ray and Justin Verlander were locked into the top three spots. President of baseball operations Buster Posey said in December that the team remained committed to Jordan Hicks as a starter. The final job would go to one of three younger arms: Kyle Harrison, Hayden Birdsong or Landen Roupp.
Harrison seemed like the frontrunner entering camp. If that had been the case, he quickly pitched his way out of it. The lefty allowed eight runs in 6 2/3 spring innings. The Giants optioned him before Opening Day. (He's since made four starts at Triple-A Sacramento, allowing nine earned runs despite recording 21 strikeouts over 15 innings.) It came down to Birdsong and Roupp, with the latter getting the nod. Birdsong broke camp as a long reliever.
The decision came as a surprise. Birdsong started 16 all of his major league appearances last year. He turned in a 4.75 ERA over 72 innings as a rookie. He'd been lights out during Spring Training, firing 12 innings of one-run ball with 18 strikeouts and no walks. Roupp had a good but less impressive camp, giving up five runs with 14 strikeouts and one walk across 12 frames. He also had more experience working out of the bullpen, as he'd started just four of 23 appearances during his debut season last year.
San Francisco probably feels good about their decision to give Roupp a rotation job. The 26-year-old righty carries a 4.09 earned run average with an excellent 31.2% strikeout rate through the first four turns. He has recorded a pair of quality starts and reached seven innings for the first time in his MLB career on Saturday, when he held the Angels to two runs while striking out nine.
While Roupp has earned continued starting looks, the rest of the rotation beyond Webb has struggled. The Giants have raced to a 15-9 record despite their rotation having the seventh-worst ERA in MLB, entering play Wednesday. They should already consider making a change.
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Front Office Subscriber Chat Transcript
MLBTR's Steve Adams hosted a live chat today at 2pm CT, exclusively for Trade Rumors Front Office subscribers.
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