Check out Mini-Ballbug for simple mobiles or Ballbug Mobile for modern smartphones.
12:20 PM ET, October 4, 2026

Ballbug

 Top News: 
Darragh McDonald / MLB Trade Rumors:
Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2027  —  Matt Swartz has created a model to project salaries for arbitration eligible players, which we've been publishing at MLB Trade Rumors for well over a decade.  —  In the baseball industry, teams and agents determine arbitration salaries by identifying comparable players.
RELATED:
Jack Sommers / Sports Illustrated:
Diamondbacks to Lower Payroll in 2027: What it Really Means  —  A breakdown of Arizona's payroll situation.  —  The Arizona Diamondbacks' 2026 season ended unceremoniously in San Diego on Sunday, September 27, the last day of the regular season.  Their 86-76 record, while an improvement …
Discussion: Yahoo Sports
Anthony Franco / MLB Trade Rumors:
Diamondbacks To Reduce Payroll In 2027  —  The Diamondbacks came up two games shy of a playoff spot despite running a franchise-high payroll.  Their spending will come down next season on the heels of their third straight missed October.  —  “It will not be at the same level.
Chris Kirschner / The Athletic:
The hidden reason behind the Yankees choosing Gerrit Cole to start Game 1 of the ALDS  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The New York Yankees' choice for their Game 1 starter in the American League Division Series against the Tampa Bay Rays wasn't as simple as putting their utmost faith …
RELATED:
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Yankees tab Cole to start Game 1 of ALDS against Rays  —  ST. PETERSBURG — For most of last summer, Gerrit Cole wasn't allowed to pick up a baseball.  Many nights, he'd lie awake and stare at the ceiling, pitching anyway — picturing showdowns against whatever team the Yankees happened to be facing that week.
Jonathan Jones / The Athletic:
What I'm hearing on Cowboys' Joey Porter Jr. gamble, Puka Nacua theories, trade-deadline buzz  —  The Joey Porter Jr. trade presented perhaps the largest delta between public perception and league perception of a deal that I have seen in some time.  —  On Wednesday night …
Discussion: sports.yahoo.com
Sonja Chen / MLB.com:
Pumping 100 mph at 100° F, Skubal shows why he was hot Deadline commodity  —  LOS ANGELES — The temperature at first pitch registered at a sizzling 100° F as the NL Division Series opener between the Dodgers and Braves got underway on Saturday afternoon at Dodger Stadium.
Erik Boland / Newsday:
Yankees get only one hit in ALDS Game 1 loss to Rays, have no answer for starter Drew Rasmussen  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The last time the Yankees saw the Rays' Drew Rasmussen, the righthander had a no-hitter going with one out in the seventh on Sept. 22 at the Stadium.  —  He did even better Saturday night.
Fabian Ardaya / The Athletic:
Tarik Skubal to start Game 1 for Dodgers as L.A.'s pursuit of another World Series title begins  —  The Los Angeles Dodgers' trade deadline splash will open their pursuit of a third consecutive World Series title.  —  Two-time Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal will start Game 1 …
Demetrius Bell / Battery Power:
Weiss: Decision on Chris Sale could come later on Saturday night  —  The Atlanta Braves have opened up this five-game series on the short-end of the stick to start things off, as they took a 5-3 loss on the chin against the Los Angeles Dodgers to begin the 2026 NLDS.
Discussion: True Blue LA and Yahoo Sports
Jeff Sanders / San Diego Union-Tribune:
Padres notes: Xander Bogaerts' split grip is working; love from one owner to another  —  What's behind Xander Bogaerts' hot streak and why he has no interest in discussing it  —  MILWAUKEE — It's certainly not “Fight Club,” but Xander Bogaerts did not want to talk about the split grip …
Discussion: MLB.com, Gaslamp Ball and Yahoo Sports
Dallas Morning News:
MLB postseason predictions, Division Series: Is the Dodgers' dynasty dead?  —  Plus, who comes out on top between Rays-Yankees, Brewers-Padres and Guardians-White Sox?  —  The 2026 MLB postseason marches on, despite the lack of Texas teams.  Rangers insider Evan Grant and columnists Tim Cowlishaw …
Discussion: The Athletic and Lone Star Ball
 
 Archived Page Info: 
This is a snapshot of Ballbug at 12:20 PM ET, October 4, 2026.

View the current page or another snapshot:


 
 See Also: 
Ballbug: site main
Ballbug River: reverse chronological Ballbug
Ballbug Mobile: for phones
Ballbug Leaderboard: Ballbug's top sources
 
 Subscribe: 
Ballbug RSS feed
 
 
 More News: 
Jeff Passan / ESPN:
MLB playoffs: Judge or no Judge, Yankees will be ready for Rays
Davy Andrews / FanGraphs Baseball:
Rubbing Some Dirt on It Isn't Working for the Orioles
 Earlier Picks: 
Mark W. Sanchez / New York Post:
Yankees show they can win with more than power in wild-card triumph
Discussion: Yahoo Sports
Jaylon Thompson / Kansas City Star:
KC Royals part with longtime head athletic trainer amid medical staff overhaul
Discussion: Royals Review and sports.yahoo.com
 

 
From WeSmirch:

TMZ.com:
Gypsy Rose Discussed Future Wedding With Ken Urker on TMZ Podcast Months Before He Died

Miranda Siwak / Us Weekly:
Jaime King Finalizes Divorce From Ex Austin Sosa Nearly 9 Months After Shocking Split

TMZ.com:
Zach Bryan's Drummer Wears ‘Palestine’ Jersey With Special Meaning

 
Sister Sites:

Techmeme
 Top news and commentary for technology's leaders, from all around the web
Mediagazer
 Top news and commentary for media professionals from all around the web
memeorandum
 What US political commentators are discussing online right now
WeSmirch
 The top celebrity news from all around the web on a single page