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Benchwarmer News

4/29/26

  • Week Five Transactions Posted
    • Because of last week's delay, we'll put off the change of deadline days for a week. Week Six deadline is Sunday, May 3 7 PM EDT
    • Next week with Week 7, we'll shift the deadlines to Saturdays at 1 PM EDT

4/27/26

4/26/26

Did You Know? To email an owner, click on his/her name on the team's roster page

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4/19/26

  • It's still early, but here's our 1-page look at comparing teams across all the leagues in the BWB universe: Around BWB
  • After 9 games, we've got 7 undefeated teams and 10 winless teams.

4/11/26

4/10/26

  • Regular Season underway! - Game 1 posted
  • Current plan is for Games 2-3 by late Saturday night; Games 4-6 on Sunday
  • Check all your teams to see if you have any pending trade offers.

4/5/26

4/1/26

  • Posting Week 1 transactions took a little longer than planned, so we'll extend the next deadline too: Next deadline - Week Two: Monday, April 6 at 7 PM Eastern
  • Players may start getting added to the player list from here on out - as they appear in their first MLB game
    • Players are only added at the time of the posting of transaction results - so you don't have to be searching daily for new additions.
    • You'll find the new players in the player/free agent list - find the drop down box for "New in 2026" - players are listed by the first transaction week in which they can be signed.

3/26/26

  • Maximum Cash Balance - enforcement delayed - this will eventually get codified into the rules as something we'll do every year
    • Because of the nature of blind transaction submissions - teams may have planned out to get the balances below the limit, but after perhaps not being able to sign the players they wanted, the cash balances are now too high.
    • In trying to cut people a break, this list of teams that are over the maximum cash balance still have a chance to use their cash before losing it.
      • Because all teams have been given 2000 cash for Opening Day, the new maximum balance is 7000
      • The teams on the list can only work their cash down via contract extensions - no additional player signings are available
      • Use the normal contract extension form to submit your choices
      • Before we process Week 1 transactions, we'll run a special contract extension round only.  After those extensions are processed, any of the teams that still have balances over 7000 will be cut down to that amount.
      • Then we'll move on to run the remainder of the Week 1 transaction submissions as normal.
      • The deadline to complete this is the same as the Week 1 transaction deadline - Monday night, March 30 at midnight EDT
      • Only the teams on this list need to be concerned about this

3/25/26

  • Week Zero Transactions Posted
  • Next deadline - Week One: Monday night, March 30 at midnight Eastern
  • Expected deadlines beyond that - Weeks 2-5: Sundays at Noon EDT
  • All teams received an extra 2000 in cash this week
  • After the extra 2000 in cash, the maximum cash balance allowed to take into the season is 7000. For teams over that mark, you get one last chance to reduce your balance this week through contract extensions or you lose the cash. More details will be posted Thursday.

3/23/26

  • Getting your team's cash balance below 5000 during this week's transactions -
    • Don't forget that salary rebates will add back to your cash.
    • Make sure that on your transaction page, you check to see what the estimated cash balance will be after transactions. You can see all your teams in one glance if you check all your transactions.  Look for cash balances in either red or green to see if you're going to lose money.
    • Cash estimates after transactions do not include trades - if you've got a trade happening this week, you'll need to do some math yourself.

3/22/26

  • A reminder about the Shohei Ohtani Rules: he can be used as both a hitter and pitcher in the same game:
    • Teams with Ohtani have an "extra" player on the roster - one Ohtani can be used as a hitter and one as a pitcher
    • These teams also have a leftover player - either hitter or pitcher - that will go into the lineup in the "Ext" (Extra) slot
      • The Ext is a mandatory slot for those teams with Ohtani.
      • The player in the Ext slot is checked for usage in a game if there are any benchwarmers or pinesitters remaining in the lineup once all options have been checked. That player can only fill in an existing hole in the lineup - we do not try to rerun all the lineup options again to find the best fit (similar to how we do September callups).
      • If you're not using Ohtani in one of his roles - either hitter or pitcher, then that player goes in the Ext slot (not Taxi).
      • If you do want to pull Ohtani from the active lineup - for example, if he is on the IL - then 1 Ohtani goes to the Taxi Squad and the other to Ext.
      • The website warnings don't yet handle the Ext slot. If you're missing a player in there or have an incorrect number of players in Ext, then BWB will manually adjust your roster during weekly transaction/lineup processing.
    • The website transaction warnings also don't handle Ohtani correctly - the warnings will count him twice. The roster counts on your team page are correct, but transaction warnings might show you going over the limit even if you're OK. You'll need to verify those warnings manually.

3/16/26

  • Week -2 Transaction Results Posted
    • Next deadline - Week Zero: Tuesday night, March 24 at 7 PM Eastern (We're skipping Week -1)
  • All teams will get an extra 2000 in cash this week - it's not added to your balance yet, but if you're short on cash, you spend it as though you have it (your cash balance can go as low as -2000 in the hole in your transactions).
  • We're getting down to the wire for the final touches on your rosters heading into the season.
    • Because we are skipping Week -1, for this week you can sign up to 8 free agents instead of the normal 4.
    • After the Week Zero transactions - teams in returning leagues will lose any cash balance left over 5000 at that time (and then all teams get the extra 2000).  Starting a few years ago, there are exceptions to this rule:
      • Any orphan teams acquired by an owner for his/her initial season of BWB are not subject to the maximum cash balance
      • Any orphan teams acquired where the extra 4000 cash is credited on Week -2 (3/15) or later does not have to quickly reduce (We're currently in Week Zero, so pick up an orphan now and your cash is safe)
      • And - any teams currently in orphan status will not be subject to a cut.
      • See the rule
  • The Week 1 deadline will be on Sunday, March 29. That will be the final set for your Opening Day lineups. Since there will be a relatively short week after Week Zero, you might want to start prepping this week.

3/15/26

  • Transaction deadline is tonight (Sunday) extended to midnight Eastern
  • Transaction schedule after today...skipping a week back in January shortened the time available post-draft and I would have preferred at least 2 regular transaction weeks before Week Zero. Some teams might be in ready-to-go shape after the draft and some might need more help. Rather than try to squeeze in an extra week with short deadlines, the next transaction week we'll double the allowable picks from 4 to 8.
    • Week Zero - deadline Tuesday, March 24, 7 PM Eastern
      • I'm out of town March 20-23, so passing on a couple extra days to you
      • 8 rounds of free agent picks instead of 4
      • You need to sign players by this week for them to be on your roster for Opening Day.
      • Your team cash balances need to be at or below 5000 after processing transactions.
    • Week One - deadline Sunday, March 29. Time TBD
      • Setting your Opening Day lineups
      • Special last-chance opportunity to get your cash balances below 5000 using contract extensions
  • Estimating to post results Game 1 of the new season around April 2 or 3.
  • It probably goes without saying if you look at the calendar, but no new leagues for 2026.

3/11/26

  • THIS SHOULD NOW BE FIXED for cuts and trades: People have brought up that the salary rebate is not working for cut players. I've found the problem - the players carried over from last season (and not under multiyear contract) were not marked correctly as "paid this year." I will try to fix this later on Wednesday night. You do get an 80% salary rebate for cut players. This is affecting salary amounts in trades as well.

3/9/26

  • Redistribution Draft 2026 - Rounds 3-5 posted
  • We now move on to normal weekly transactions - we're going to have 3 weeks of transactions before you need to set your Opening Day lineups.
    • All transaction types are open - signings, cuts, trades, move to prospects, and contract extensions
    • Next deadline is for Week -2, Sunday night, March 15 at 7 PM Eastern
  • We have more time this season than in the last couple of years. We will enforce the maximum cash balance of 5000 heading into the season rule. Your team's cash balance needs to be at or below 5000 after Week Zero transactions (deadline March 26).
  • More details will be posted by Tuesday night on the remaining preseason transaction deadlines.
  • Those of you who have Shohei Ohtani on your teams now have an "extra Ohtani" on the roster to allow you to use one as a hitter and one as a pitcher.

3/1/26

2/23/26

  • I had some requests for more time on the readjustment of your draft lists - new deadline is Sunday, March 1 at 7 PM Eastern

2/18/26

2/14/26

  • Reminder - Deadline for your draft lists for the 2026 Redistribution Draft is tomorrow night - Sunday 2/15/26 at Midnight Eastern
  • Check for any errors in your draft! - View all of your teams' Redistribution Draft lists
  • I have 4 orphan teams without a foster owner - if you have time to crank out any more draft lists by Sunday night, let me know!

2/2/26

  • Results of carryover choices posted.  View the Transactions page to see the cuts in your league.
  • The 2026 Redistribution Draft is now open.  You'll have 2 weeks to make your first selections.  Deadline is Sunday 2/15/26 at Midnight Eastern
  • Visit your team roster to see the link to begin making your picks.
  • For more information, see the rules regarding the Redistribution Draft
  • There are almost 2 weeks to do your list for Round 1, but you should consider building for all 5 rounds - or at least as much as you can, because if any of your listed picks/alternates are gone by your turn in the order, we'll pull up picks from Round 2 and beyond to make sure you get 3 selections.
    • After Feb 15, we post the results of only Round 1 only - any drafted players will be removed from the remainder of your lists.
    • You'll have another week to redo draft lists (if you choose), then we post the results of Round 2.
    • And then one final adjustment and we'll do Rounds 3-5.
  • The season calendar of deadlines is not yet updated for 2026, but the deadlines for the Redistribution Draft are:
    • Sunday evening 2/15 Midnight EST - First submission - we post results for Round 1
    • Sunday night 2/22 Midnight EST - Adjust your lists for Rounds 2-5 - we post results for Round 2
    • Sunday night 3/1 Midnight EST - Adjust your lists for Rounds 3-5 - we post results for the remainder of the draft
  • Any players on your Prospect Roster have been moved back to your 40-man roster.  You can begin to move players to prospect status again after the Redistribution Draft.

1/31/26

  • Check the carryover status for all your teams - Deadline is tomorrow night at midnight Eastern
  • Here are the available orphan teams for the 2026 season. Email me if you want to pick up a team.
  • 2026 Orphan Special - repeating 2025's offer
    • All adopted orphan teams in 2026 are FREE
    • Teams adopted by owners who are playing for the 1st time in 2026 - or previous owners reactivating in 2026:
      • Your adopted orphan will also be free in 2027
      • You'll get an extra bonus free team in 2027 that you can use to draft a team in a new league or pick up an additional orphan in 2026.
      • Want to join BWB? Sign up here
  • I also need foster owners. If you don't want to adopt a team outright, but you can help me get the team ready for the 2026 season, let me know. Your extra time commitment can vary:
    • Foster only until Feb. 1 to choose the roster cuts
    • Stay through the Redistribution Draft to choose new players for the team
    • Stick around and take care of the team in the regular season until someone (hopefully) adopts the team
  • More coming on new leagues for 2026 in the next few days

1/11/26

  • Week Thirty Transactions Posted (2nd winter trade period)
  • Time to finalize your roster carryover/cut decisions - deadline is Sunday night, January 25 at midnight Eastern
  • Any players that have officially retired have been automatically removed from rosters and from the player list (Andrew Heaney is a prime example)
  • 99 New players added to the game based on the 40-man rosters for MLB teams as of late December.
    • This is the only player addition until after Opening Day
    • This includes some former major leaguers who played in foreign leagues and the 3 Japanese players who posted and signed
    • To find them - In the filter/search area of the player lists, look for the "New in 2026" menu - See the list of new players
    • While we're in the cutdown period and Redistribution Draft, you can also view players who were added in Week 25 in 2025. Since the last free agent signings were in Week 24, these players have not yet been available to sign.

1/3/26

  • Some deadline changes/extensions, based on some of my availability to run the transactions:
    • Current trade deadline extended to Sunday, January 11 at 7 PM EST
    • Roster carryover deadline changed to Sunday, January 25.
    • I'll have something posted later on the changes to the other deadlines.
    • Later today/tonight, I will switch all open trade offers that expired on a January 4 action deadline to be January 11.

See the News Archive for older headlines.