In this episode of Painting Corners, Johnny and Aiden break down the blockbuster six-player trade sending Caleb Durbin to the Boston Red Sox. Is Durbin the infield solution Boston has been searching for, or is Milwaukee the secret winner as they take Kyle Harrison into their notorious "pitching lab"?

We also dive deep into the Detroit Tigers' big spending on Framber Valdez and the curious case of Tarik Skubal’s arbitration. Plus, a look at the aging New York Yankees—with Aaron Judge and Paul Goldschmidt leading the charge, can their injury-prone rotation hold up for a World Series run?

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Caleb Durbin Trade: Why Aiden thinks the Red Sox won the deal (for now).

• Pitching Labs: Can the Brewers turn Kyle Harrison into the next Framber Valdez?

• AL East Outlook: Why the Toronto Blue Jays earned an A+ offseason grade.

• The Houston Astros: Breaking down the MLB record for WAR lost to injury and why they’re still the team to beat in the West.

• Saber-talk: Why the delta between ERA and FIP is changing how front offices value pitchers like Dylan Cease and Jose Quintana.

Episode Description: Emergency Stove Spark — Donovan to Seattle & The Switch-Pitcher Trade

The MLB hot stove just got a major spark. In this emergency episode of the Painting Corners Baseball Podcast, Johnny C and Aiden Smith break down a flurry of late-night moves that have reshaped rosters from the Pacific Northwest to the South Side of Chicago.

• Brendan Donovan to the Mariners: Seattle reels from losing out on Polanco and Suarez but bounces back with a "Swiss Army Knife" acquisition. We discuss if Donovan’s high contact rate and defensive versatility are enough to fix a strikeout-heavy lineup.

• The Switch-Pitcher Shocker: Durangelo Cinnje (the ambidextrous sensation) is headed to St. Louis. Is he a future rotation piece or a "Carney-esque" spectacle? We dive into the mental fortitude it takes to throw gas from both sides.

• Luis Arráez Finds a Home: The batting champ is headed to the Giants. We analyze the "pick-me" energy of his demand to play second base and what a right side featuring Arráez and Devers means for the Giants' infield defense (hint: it’s going to be a rough watch for pitchers).

• White Sox Salary Dump: The Red Sox facilitate a move for Jordan Hicks. What is the plan on the South Side, and can Hagen Smith or Noah Schultz save the rotation?

• The Fall of Falvey: Minnesota parts ways with Derek Falvey. We examine the "morphine drip of mediocrity" in the Twin Cities and why ownership might be using a rolling head to cover up a lack of investment.

• Bobby Witt Jr. & Jacob Wilson: The A’s are finally spending on their youth, while Bobby Witt Jr. continues his trajectory toward becoming the best player in the league.

We wrap up with our way-early 2026 MVP Predictions and a look ahead to the Bruce Bolt College Baseball Classic in Houston this February.

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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