You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
RosterResource Chat - 1/15/26
powered byJotCast
AvatarJason Martinez
2:01
Welcome to the RosterResource chat! Our Opening Day Tracker is live ... https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/opening-day-tracker ... which means that we're getting very close to Spring Training.

Here we go ...
Crabcakes
2:02
Do you think either Peralta or Gore gets traded before the season starts?  I think Washington could wait until July if they're not getting an offer they like, and I think there's a pretty good argument the Brewers should not trade Peralta at all.
AvatarJon Becker
2:04
With the usual caveat that I have no insider information or anything, I'm thinking at least one of them is moved prior to Opening Day, with Peralta perhaps the likelier of the two because (a) the Brewers do stuff like this all the time and (b) he's just got the one year left before FA. I agree that Washington could definitely wait, Gore's price won't drop by that much and there's something to be said for the idea that the new pitching coaches can help him take that next step.
buffy, the umpire slayer
2:04
When do you think MacKenzie Gore will get a new team? Will it be before opening day, at this year's trade deadline or next off-season. Better question is when SHOULD Gore get a new team.
AvatarJason Martinez
2:07
A new front office's first big move is important -- a Gore trade would be that -- so I'm sure they want to get it right. It's possible they're not happy with the trade offers and will wait it out, hope he gets off to a fast start, and trade him at a higher value? In any case, they aren't doing much to improve for 2026 and it seems clear this will be another rebuilding year. Trading Gore seems inevitable. Could be a few desperate teams once the last few very good SP sign as free agents.
Guest
2:07
who's even in on peralta? bos now out.. nyy and nym only?
AvatarJon Becker
2:09
More than those two teams for sure. Heyman was on MLB Network yesterday and named the Dodgers, Giants, and Braves, and that's not necessarily an exhaustive list.
Patrick
2:10
What would the Mets realistically package up to get Duran from Boston?  A pitcher not named McLean + IF prospect?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:14
Not sure I see a deal between those 2 teams that would help the Red Sox's current 26-man roster. The point of trading Duran wouldn't be so they can open up everyday at-bats for Masataka Yoshida. So they'd make the trade because the prospect package would be too good to pass up.

My guess is they would just ask for 2 top prospects not named McLean or Benge. Maybe Jonah Tong and Jett Williams. And then they can add another bat. Maybe someone like Marcell Ozuna to get a majority of DH at-bats. Mets fans will think that's too much. But Red Sox don't have to trade him so they have all the leverage.
Stu
2:15
Is Meidroth guaranteed the 2B job this spring? How do you see him developing? Thx
AvatarJon Becker
2:16
I wouldn't say guaranteed since Lenyn Sosa was pretty solid at the plate last year and doesn't have a starting spot anymore with Murakami around, but he's definitely got the best chance of anyone. Sosa is... not great defensively and he's gotten plenty of looks over the years, whereas Meidroth showed plenty of potential last year. What's more interesting to me is if he ends up at the top of the lineup or at the bottom as more of a second leadoff guy. As for how he develops, I could see a good outcome for him being Nico Hoerner Lite, something like that.
Eddie J.
2:20
Angels are currently without a 3B. Prediction on who they end up with?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:20
Here's the list of 3B free agents ...

https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/free-agent-tracker?pos=3b&si...

Willi Castro, Ramon Urias, and Miguel Andujar are probably my best bets. I'll go with Castro since he's a switch-hitter (they are very right-handed) and can move all over the field. But a combination of Castro and either Urias or Andujar wouldn't be bad. Veterans who can play different positions and have had MLB success.
yankeesfan
2:21
is spencer jones the left field starter as of now
AvatarJon Becker
2:21
Definitely Dominguez unless he's hurt or I suppose has the worst Spring Training of all time. Not a very clear path for Jones as of now, and he finished the season really, really poorly.
Ethan
2:23
What does the Jays offer have to be for you (as Kyle Tucker) to turn down the 4/$200 from the Mets?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:27
I'd think an 8-10-yr deal for $350-$400MM (maybe some deferrals to bring the AAV down to $37MM) would do it. If he takes that short-term, high AAV deal, he'd be headed into free agency ahead of his age-33 season. Would be tough for him to get another $200MM for his ages 33-38ish seasons so guaranteeing it now would probably be the smart thing to do.
Guest
2:28
How will playing time be distributed on the left side of the infield for the Tigers? They have Baez, McKinstry, Keith, and then McGonigle will hopefully come up soon.
AvatarJon Becker
2:29
For now, we've got a Keith/Vierling platoon at third and McKinstry/Báez at short. When McGonigle comes up, Keith should keep starting against righties. Vierling, McKinstry, and Báez all have a ton of versatility so while they'll certainly play a lot less, it's not like they'll miss out on PT entirely.
Steve
2:30
I think Colby Thomas has exciting potential if he can improve his plate discipline over what he has shown to date in the Majors.  Curious to get your take on his path to playing time in the ATH OF.  Does he need an injury to get meaningful ABs, is he likely a weak side platoon guy or is he headed back to AAA to start the year?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:33
He crushed LHP last season (only 69 PA, but that's plenty to pencil him in for that role again) so I'd guess he's at least locked in for the 4th OF spot to begin the season. Obviously, injuries can open up more at-bats but I think the clearest path would be if Denzel Clarke doesn't hit enough to justify a starting spot. And he'd have to be pretty bad because his CF defense is amazing. As of now, Thomas would probably be next in line (Butler in CF, Thomas in RF?) but Thomas continuing to be productive in a part-time role will be a challenge. A lot can happen but there is a path.
skubal
2:34
If Tarik wins his arb hearing, is it more or less likely Detroit deals him before the season?
AvatarJon Becker
2:36
This is a fun question because it's a little bit paradoxical. Either way, he's way underpaid relative to his talent, so it's not like fewer teams should be in on him. But will fewer teams be in on him for $32M, especially when his salary isn't decided until virtually every FA has signed and payrolls are pretty solidified? The paradoxical part of it is that it's plausible the Tigers may be more inclined to move him if he's making the higher figure, but there might be less interest or worse offers.
clydethedog
2:37
What are the odds Sheehan stays in the rotation for the year? Can his results be too good to put in the pen?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:39
Very high. Good chance they'll use a 6-man rotation at least occasionally. Their top 4 starters (Snell, Yamamoto, Ohtani, Glasnow) all pitched deep into the post-season and Dodgers will be very cautious with them. And Sasaki is a big question mark who could end up in the 'pen. They have a lot of talent coming back (Ryan, Stone, Hurt) but Sheehan is already an established big leaguer and seems ready for 150+ innings.
TigersFan1
2:39
Why is Troy Melton in AAA for the Tigers on Roster Resource? Drew Anderson should not be starting over him and even if Melton doesn't start next year he should be in the bullpen.
AvatarJon Becker
2:41
We often use how much a player signs for as an indicator of how likely is to get a starting spot, and $7 million isn't nothing. The Tigers didn't declare Anderson would definitely have a spot — his prior bullpen experience certainly helps — but we like to lean towards offseason additions being more prominent on the roster until we see how players are used and perform in Spring Training. As for Melton in the bullpen, I agree with you that he'd be a great fit there, but the Tigers have to balance that with his development + the ability to have him stretched out and ready to go. It's a lot easier to call him up from the Triple-A rotation to MLB (in any role) than have him in the bullpen and have to deal with him making 2-3 shorter starts if you need him in the rotation.
DBRuns
2:41
Does Sal Stewart project to be an everyday player? I see him in your platoon lineups vs LHP, but he's benched in favor of I guess Lux vs. RHP?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:46
Opening Day vs overall playing time projections should give you a better indication of how I'd expect things to play out ... https://www.fangraphs.com/depthcharts.aspx?position=ALL&teamid=18

Lux and Bleday in the lineup vs RHP makes sense since it's a right-handed heavy lineup otherwise, but keeping a young prospect like Stewart on the roster only makes sense if he's more than a platoon. I have him projected for 427 PA so I think they'll do a lot of mixing and matching to keep his bat in the lineup as much as possible. They have a lot of guys who could fall into that 300-500 PA group and only a few 600+ PA guys.
Insert Witty Name Here
2:47
Does anyone really want Bohm? Could the Phils even get one top 10 prospect (of the team, they’re obvs not getting Emerson or Made).
AvatarJon Becker
2:49
I'm sure teams would be glad to have him as an upgrade at third base (he seems Angels-y for reasons I cannot quite place) but he's not going to cost much to acquire, no. He's a rental for $10.2M who has been extremely average outside of 2020 and 2024. "Top ten prospect for a team" is really variable but he could get one from a weaker system, sure.
Cornholio
2:49
Is Nico really a 9 hitter, or do you think he's going to be dealt?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:53
I currently have him 9th vs RHP and 1st vs LHP ... https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/platoon-lineups/cubs It makes sense because Hoerner was below average vs RHP (94 wRC+) and amazing vs LHP (162 wRC+).

So I think what happens is a reader will look at an Opening Day projection and something will stand out (Hoerner is 9th!!!).

But there are at least 5-6 different Opening Day projections that I believe are reasonable (I can only list 1 vs RHP and 1 vs LHP) and something might stick out to somebody with every one. Busch finished the season as the leadoff man and he was very good. Swanson could bat 9th. Ballesteros could bat 9th but he was hitting in the middle of the lineup late in the season. Kelly could bat 9th but he was great last season.

I don't think Hoerner will be traded and I think the lineup will change very often.
Guest
2:54
What the heck are the Snakes doing with their rotation??
AvatarJon Becker
2:56
It actually seems set with Merrill Kelly back and Soroka signed as Kelly, Nelson, Pfaadt, ERod, Soroka. Kelly is always rock solid, Nelson quietly broke out once he was back in the rotation last year and I think Pfaadt can be a lot better than he just showed, but they're still relying on a lot of health + improvement from those last three guys, and the minors depth isn't great. It also doesn't help that their bullpen is currently projected to be fifth-worst in the league, and FA options there are dwindling.
Bucco Arms
2:57
You've got Carmen Mlodzinski penciled in as the Pirates' fifth starter right now, but I think he showed pretty clearly that he's way better as a bulk/leaning toward multi-inning RP than as a starter. What do you think his best utilization is, because he's actually been quite good!
AvatarJason Martinez
2:59
I see him as a swing-man who can make a few starts when necessary and also pitch high-leverage innings out of the 'pen. So his current projection (No. 5 SP) is based more on the Pirates' roster construction. It's either him or Barco in the rotation and I think they'd rather Barco pitch in AAA for a bit longer. He only threw 99 IP overall last season and walked 42 in 73 AAA innings. My assumption is that they'll sign a veteran SP (someone like Jose Quintana or Tyler Anderson) and Mlodzinski will pitch out of the 'pen to begin the season.
War2D2
3:00
Where does Framber wind up? I’ve seen shockingly little buzz about him for a guy who’s the closest thing to an ace left on the market. Did the cross-up mess tank his market that badly?
AvatarJon Becker
3:02
My current best guess is Baltimore, since they've been at least loosely connected to him all offseason and it was reported after Suárez signed that they were in on him too, so they obviously still feel like they could use another starter. The Mets have also been mentioned at least speculatively, and the Angels could use another starter and haven't at all reallocated the Rendon savings (but maybe they won't!).
Mario
3:03
You see a lot of names, maybe ALL the names. Gimme a better name than Cruz Schoolcraft
Load More Messages
Connecting…