Benchwarmer News

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

• Weekly deadlines for transactions and lineups updated for 2026

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

4/5/26

• Some unexpected things going on today - not sure if any games will post, but there is a schedule update:
  • We have a 2026 schedule!
  • See the the full league schedule for the whole season
  • See your team's complete schedule

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.

See the News Archive for older headlines.