Step back out onto the mound with Johnny C and Aiden Smith for a high-heat edition of the Painting Corners Baseball Podcast. This week, we’re breaking down a flurry of massive trades and signings that are reshaping the 2026 landscape.

From the New York Mets raiding Milwaukee’s pitching staff to the Chicago Cubs assembling a lineup that looks like a first-round draft board, we leave no stone unturned.

• The Mets' Power Play: David Stearns is playing chess. We analyze the acquisitions of Freddy Peralta, Tobias Myers, and the electric Luis Robert Jr. Is Peralta the "Unicorn" of the offseason? Plus, we debate if the Mets gave up too much of their farm system to save their season.

• Bader in the Bay: Harrison Bader heads to San Francisco. We discuss how his elite defense (and that iconic mouth guard) changes the dynamic for the Giants' outfield, alongside the disciplined approach of Jung-hoo Lee.

• The Cubs' "First Round" Phenomenon: Aiden breaks down the staggering draft pedigree in Chicago. With six first-rounders in the starting nine—including the Alex Bregman signing—are the North Siders the most talented roster in the NL Central?

• Texas-Sized Trade: McKenzie Gore is a Ranger. We dive deep into the "right side of the FanGraphs page" to see if Gore’s FIP and K-rate signal a true frontline starter or if Texas bought into a high-whip headache.

• The Nationals' New Identity: With the Gore trade and a haul of prospects like Gavin Fien, Washington is restocking the pond. We also ask the tough question: Is it time to trade CJ Abrams?

• Player Spotlights: Jose Ramirez's "team-friendly" greatness, Shota Imanaga’s beehives and home run hurdles, and Dylan Cruz’s offseason journey to the "King Kai's planet" of Driveline.

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