You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
RosterResource Chat - 3/7/25
powered byJotCast
AvatarJason Martinez
2:01
Welcome to the RosterResource Live Chat.

20 days until official Opening Day! 11 days until Dodgers-Cubs in Tokyo!

A lot of interesting position battles to discuss. Some created by injuries. Others by players putting up big numbers this spring.

Here's the updated Opening Day Tracker ...

https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/opening-day-tracker

And here we go ...
Michael
2:02
What are your thoughts about the Tampa Bay infield/DH situation? Is Aranda or Mead the better investment this year?
Matt B.
2:02
What does the TB bench look like when Kim comes back?
AvatarJon Becker
2:04
Welcome everyone, happy Friday! With Mead doing really well in Spring Training and having a little more positional flexibility and probably a better glove, I think he may well end up with more plate appearances this year, even as we currently have Aranda with 385 projected plate appearances to 245 for Mead. The bench when Kim is back could be Rortvedt-Mead-Walls-Caballero, assuming Caballero takes decently enough to the outfield. But there's also the Chandler Simpson factor, he may well beat Kim to the Rays.
AvatarJason Martinez
2:05
I am buying the hype on Mead. Moved him to the projected Opening Day roster (over Eloy) as of yesterday ...

https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/depth-charts/rays
Darren
2:05
Christian Walker has an oblique injury and is getting an MRI. Same injury cost him a month last year. He’s a 34 year old power hitter, any thoughts on how long he’s out and what Astros do during that span?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:06
He says it's not as bad (don't believe players) but oblique is a tough one for a hitter. I'm holding off on moving him to the projected IL because they're downplaying it. But it sounds like he's getting an MRI today so we should know very soon.

Singleton will play vs RHP and it's likely that either Caratini or Dezenzo will play 1B vs LHP.
Bob
2:07
Of the big 4 OFers of the '23 draft, who are you currently most optimistic for over the next 2-3 years and also over the long term?
AvatarJon Becker
2:09
I think as far as 2025 is concerned, I'm taking Langford of the Crews/Langford/Clark/Jenkins group — I doubt the latter two play in the majors at all and Langford looked great down the stretch whereas I could see a longer adjustment period for Crews based on his first taste of MLB last year. I'll default to Eric Longenhagen's list for a long-term answer; he's got Crews as the third-best prospect in baseball, so I'll say him or Langford. Big fan of Jenkins though, too, Clark would be my fourth pick there.
David Stearns
2:09
Why is Megill listed in the bullpen? He's either starting or starting the year in Syracuse. I don't see Brazoban among others making the team over Kranick.
EL Chupacabra
2:09
Given the comment sections on the Mets articles this week, I have to ask why you have Tylord as the long man in Queens and not a rotation option. Gotta think he's a better option than Blackburn and Canning, no?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:12
I've had Canning and Blackburn in the rotation with Megill in AAA until recent injuries. Canning/Blackburn are out of options and make $4MM+.

With that said, I think all 3 are going to be needed for multi-inning stints whether it's as a SP or RP. Not sure it matters as much who starts and who relieves, although Megill is the only one who has done both.

Kranick is making a case. He's also capable of throwing multiple innings.

Brazoban was really good before the Mets acquired him. We'll see if he can regain his form.
Steve
2:12
Have a few roster decisions to make do you see any of the following making the MLB roster?

Coby Mayo
Orelvis Martinez
Bryan Ramos
Manuel Rodriguez
Joey Cantillo
AvatarJon Becker
2:14
Of these five, we've only got Manuel Rodriguez on the Opening Day roster — he's out of options and pitched great last year, so he should be assured of a spot. Of the remaining four I think Orelvis is next-likeliest, especially if Varsho isn't ready, then Ramos (we have Gallo on the projected roster filling in for Benintendi but he's hit terribly in Spring and they might not want to open up a 40-man spot for him), then Cantillo, then Mayo. Orioles' position player group is so full and Mayo isn't doing himself any favors with how he's performed this Spring.
Robert
2:14
Why Reyes over Pereira for nyy?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:17
Not a good sign for the Yankees when we're debating whether Pablo Reyes or Dom Smith will make the team.

I think Pereira would be the obvious choice -- they need a RHH to DH against LHP -- but the problem is that he's recovering from TJ surgery and it's possible that putting him on the MLB roster could slow down his recovery. Haven't heard if they are considering him.
Jonathan in France
2:17
What do you think the Mariners are going to do at 2B? I know that ST stats aren't terribly important, but with the way that Ryan Bliss is playing, does he force their hand over Dylan Moore? Thanks.
AvatarJon Becker
2:18
Yeah, I think that's definitely possible, and it wouldn't take a ton of forcing since they seemed to be fairly impressed by Bliss last year. Moore's versatility is such that he'd still play a lot all over the field even if he's not the starter at any one position.
Bob
2:18
What do you make of the first 4 weeks of college ball? I feel like Bremner and Jace L. must be dropping down boards. Is Jamie Arnold 1-1 right now? Any word on how Ethan Holiday is doing?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:20
Other than highlights and trying to get a feel for who will be a top draft pick, I don't follow college baseball very closely. Way too focused on MLB/MiLB. But now that we have NCAA stats, that could change ...

NCAA leaderboards ... https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/college?position=&type=1&stats=bat&q...
AvatarJon Becker
2:21
I was pretty decent at following it when I was in college, but now I just cram in preparation for the draft. But having those leaderboards will certainly help even if I'm not sitting down and watching the games!
diadem
2:21
The latest on Steer? Possible that he is the DH early on until his shoulder improves? Or is a traditional DL stint most likely?
AvatarJon Becker
2:23
Haven't seen anything new in a few days; he just had a cortisone shot and as of March 3 he wasn't yet throwing or hitting. Even if the cortisone shot alleviated a lot he just might not have quite enough time to get back up to speed, even if he's healthy. My guess is it'll be a minimum stay on the IL (so only a week of the season, since IL stints can be backdated three days) if he doesn't get back into games soon.
Dave T
2:23
How will the Cardinals get Nolan Gorman ample playing time with Arenado still on the team?  Or maybe they won't??
AvatarJason Martinez
2:26
Sounds like the biggest question right now is CF (Nootbaar, Siani, or Scott). If Nootbaar wins the job, that would push Brendan Donovan to LF and free up Gorman to play 2B on most days. If not, it's gonna be tough, although I can see them getting Gorman, Burleson, and Donovan enough at bats between 2 lineup spots.
Calvin
2:27
Any sense on A's OD rotation?
AvatarJon Becker
2:29
Severino, Sears, Springs have three spots for sure. Martín Gallegos wrote at the start of Spring that Bido was "well ahead" for the fourth spot, and he hasn't been very good so far, but just 4.1 innings, so I don't care much about that. That leaves one spot for Spence, Ginn, Estes, Hoglund, and maybe Hogan Harris. Spence, Hoglund, and Harris have pitched the best of the three so we've stuck with Spence all Spring considering he was pretty solid last year.
Chisox
2:30
Wirth Berroa going down with TJ susrgery, who's the White Sox longish-term closer?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:33
I think Leasure has a good shot to re-establish himself as the "closer of the future". Maybe even early 2025 with the way things look.

We should have a much better idea later this season once this next wave of starting pitching prospects either arrives or flops. Once a few of them are officially converted to relievers (probably guys like Iriarte, Eder, etc.) and they focus on 2 pitches in short stints, a lot can change and they can take off quickly. Grant Taylor would probably be the most dominant if he doesn't progress as a starter.
drplantwrench
2:33
pushing aside the (un)likelihood of trading Vlad Jr. do you think one of Reid Detmers or Caden Dana plus Joswa Lugo and Nolan Schanuel is a decent framework of a trade for the Angels and Blue Jays?
AvatarJon Becker
2:36
Like you said, Guerrero Jr. will absolutely not be traded before the start of the season, and probably not during it even if the Blue Jays are out of contention. Hard to beat the value of the QO if you're another team and the Jays know that keeping him around could give them something of an edge in free agency. I think your proposal is about right if it's Dana and not Detmers (way more club control), that's five years of your post-Vlad starting first baseman and our 25th-overall prospect in Dana, plus an interesting but faraway guy in Lugo. Definitely beats the Ortiz/Hall Corbin Burnes package that I always use as a measuring stick when evaluating packages for rentals, which are always lighter than you think they'll be.
Banjo, for breakfast?
2:36
Veteran NRIs fighting for roster spots is my favorite part of Spring. Your roster projections are invaluable as I follow who's in and who's out, but two questions: which of the Ins are most likely to resurrect their careers such that their next deal won't be an NRI? And which of the Outs have the best chance to claim a spot by Opening Day? (But, hey, I'd read a whole article breaking down all the NRIs across the league, too!)
AvatarJason Martinez
2:38
Brendan Rodgers is the first name that comes to mind. If he's the everyday 2B with Altuve moving to LF, he could really boost his value. He'd be a free agent and only entering his age-29 season. He's talented. Change of scenery could help.

Full list of NRIs currently on a projected roster here ... https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/college?position=&type=1&stats=bat&q...

Full list of NRIs with playing time projection here ... https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/opening-day-tracker?season=2...
AvatarJon Becker
2:38
That's a good article idea, by the way, I think I might have to do that for next Friday!
Matt Canterino
2:39
Is there a minor league version of the 60-day IL? What do teams do with players on the 40-man who have yet to debut but get major injuries? It doesn't seem like the league would force teams to add them to the major league 60-day and start their service time clicks (and pay them the MLB minimum).
AvatarJon Becker
2:40
The minors have a seven-day IL, a 60-day IL, and a full-season IL, I believe. If I recall correctly on the 40-man have to be put on the MLB IL if they're injured within the last 15 days before Opening Day, which would be March 11, so Canterino could still be optioned. If they need the 40-man spot, though, they could put him on the 40-man and he'd accrue MLB service and pay while he rehabs.
Will He or Warren't He
2:40
With the Gil injury, will Will Warren be able to get a look in the NYY rotation, or is it probably set exactly as it is in the current RR chart? (barring injury)
AvatarJason Martinez
2:42
Rotation is set, barring injuries, but Warren seems to have solidified himself as the "next in line". And that probably hurts his chances of making the Opening Day roster, despite how good he's pitching, since they'll want him to continue starting every 5-6 days in AAA. Yankees will need him at some point, though. That's almost guaranteed.
Michael
2:42
For the Guardians, what is your take on the Opening Day 2B and who ultimately is the one that bridges to Bazzana?
Idiotic Failson
2:44
When (if at all) do you think Bazzana plays for the ML club this year?
Load More Messages
Connecting…