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RosterResource Chat - 1/3/25
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AvatarJason Martinez
2:01
Welcome to the 1st RosterResource Live Chat of 2025. Not much has happened yet this year, but the good news is that we should get a pretty steady stream of roster-related news from "any minute now" until the start of the season.
AvatarJon Becker
2:01
Happy New Year everyone! Let's get to it...
Idiotic Failson
2:01
Does Travis Bazzana make it to the majors this year?
AvatarJon Becker
2:03
Bazzana could definitely force the issue — he more than held his own in Hi-A — but I don't think they're going to put any kind of timetable on it. I'd guess 2026, though it helps that 2B is pretty wide open
Gray Grae
2:03
When does Grae Kessinger’s DFA timeline expire?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:04
At least 3 more days since two players who were DFAd on 12/20 (Owen White, Hagen Danner) are still in limbo. I'm guessing the 7-day period was extended by 7 extra days due to the holiday. You can see the list of pending DFAs here ... https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/offseason-tracker?transactio...
jaygray007
2:04
Who are some teams that seem like they might have a "Spare corner outfielder" that they could lend to the Pirates?   I have a circle around Lourdes Gurriel (he makes real money, the Dbacks are relatively expensive currently, Alek Thomas might be a better player overall, the Dbacks are pretty deep, Ben Cherington cant resist a Toronto connection, etc).   Any other situations come to mind?
AvatarJon Becker
2:06
Angels come to mind, especially if they sign Santander or Alonso, both of whom they're reportedly interested in. Taylor Ward has been talked about in rumors for years but Jo Adell could also be available and the talent is undeniable.
ballsandgutters
2:06
Thanks for the chat.  

Pirates Nick Yorke has oddly had a reverse platoon split all through the minors.    Should he be treated more like a LHH IF/OF?   Does that mean he could platoon with Cook/Davis in RF?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:08
That's interesting. I usually don't look too closely at MiLB splits but those 2023-24 splits are pretty extreme. Not sure what to make of it other than it seems like they like him and want to get his bat in the lineup. But he's most likely starting in the minors unless he beats Nick Gonzales out for the 2B job. That's assuming the Pirates add 2 more bats.
Trader Jerry
2:09
Are teams with blocked top 30 prospects too conservative in trade these days, or do teams value corner bats far less than the public? Coby Mayo, Kjerstad, Manzardo, Curtis Mead, and now maybe Dalton Rushing have all largely been left to rot in AAA
AvatarJon Becker
2:11
I don't know if it's that teams value corner bats less than the public, it's more that you have to be really, really sure a corner bat is going to produce offensively to acquire him, since there's not a ton of room for being a huge impact on defense in those positions. But re: the players you name, Mayo and Mead didn't hit in the opportunities they did have (and they'll get more, I'd think), Manzardo has a clear path to playing time, Rushing only has 37 games in AAA. So Kjerstad's the only one who seems really blocked despite looking ready, it's too early to say the other four are buried, IMO.
Cromulent
2:12
Looking at the Nationals depth chart, you have Nate Lowe at 1B and Josh Bell at DH. Do you think they might be tempted to give Juan Yepez some run (assuming he's more likely to be on the next good Nats team) or is the situation pretty stable?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:14
I think they might be fine letting Yepez play in AAA or maybe just giving them a right-handed bat off the bench for now. If they're not contending, Bell is traded and Yepez is back in the lineup. Also very possible he's being shopped in a trade. He has some value as a pre-arb guy with an option remaining. And they still have Andres Chaparro as 1B depth.
Bob Valdez
2:15
What is the latest on Alex Verdugo?  Any thoughts on his 2025 team and contract?
AvatarJon Becker
2:17
News on him has been hard to find this offseason, which is how it usually goes for the bounce-back-type free agents without widespread interest; we won't hear much of anything until he signs. I think he'll get something like the Max Kepler deal (1y/$10M); the Pirates, Royals, Astros, Reds, and Padres all make sense to me.
Troy
2:17
The mariners have publicly stated their preference to add two bats, and based on their behavior have been open to going for a 1B, and one of 2B or 3B. Based on what they have, do you think that’s the right approach? It seems to me they have in house decent enough fits to handle 2B (Bliss, Young not far away) but nothing close to major league quality at third. Any thoughts?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:21
I think Cole Young is the key but I also don't know if there's a potential acquisition that would tell us definitively how close the Mariners think he is. For example, if they signed Jose Iglesias, Brendan Rogers, or Hyeseong Kim, I would still expect Young to get the call when they feel he's ready. But if they do absolutely nothing at 2B, I think that means that they believe Young is very close and Bliss/Moore are good enough until then.
Mr.Nat
2:21
Thoughts on James Wood in 2025?  A cheap keep for me & hoping for low-dollar production - thx
AvatarJon Becker
2:22
Big fan of his, especially since he kept the strikeouts at an acceptable level while still taking walks. What I didn't like was his lack of pull power; he only hit four(!) pulled fly balls in his entire 79-game stretch. It might lead to striking out more but I'd like to see him take some hacks and get out in front of the ball instead of letting it travel so much.
AJ Preller
2:22
Who am I trading between Cease/Arraez/Crone/Suarez to shed the salary needed to add from a now bleak FA class?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:25
My guess is that they really want to trade Arraez in order to re-invest that $ into re-signing Profar. Not sure they'd find a taker, though, without eating some $. And then they'd have to wait until he actually agrees to terms if that's the case. I think they'd like to trade Crone or Suarez but would also face the same $ issue. I think they're good players but the contracts really bring down their value.

I think Cease has huge trade value, but I don't think the Padres are trading one of their best players until Sasaki makes his decision. They want to at least seem like they're going for it. If Sasaki signs elsewhere and they have a limited budget, I think trading Cease is necessary in order to fill other needs.
AvatarJon Becker
2:26
Yeah, if they can extend Arraez for cheap (wiping out this year's projected $14M and maybe do something like 3y/$30M instead), they'd like to keep him around, but (and it pains me to say this because I love watching him hit) he's an extremely iffy proposition since there's only one thing he's even average at, it just happens to be an 80-grade hit tool, which hides a lot of the deficiencies elsewhere.
VI Reds Fan
2:27
The Reds have been quiet since the Trevino trade. Should they really be focused on improving the outfield, or would a bat at any position help at this point?
AvatarJon Becker
2:28
I would've said "focus on the outfield" but after looking at how bleak Dan's ZiPS projections (https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2025-zips-projections-cincinnati-reds/) are at all the corners, I think they should add a hitter wherever they can find one. I wouldn't expect them to be in on Alonso or Santander but maybe someone like Profar.
Biscuit
2:28
Think McCarthy gets to the AB listed in his steamer projection? Would be a career high by a wide margin. No real platoon split but the DBacks seem to mix a match a bit more than average.
AvatarJason Martinez
2:29
He's heading into his age-27 and he's held his own against LHP so I think it's very possible he's ready for an everyday role. But there's also a chance the Dbacks add a RHH OF (maybe Grichuk returns) and that will probably drop him back down to the 450-500 PA range.
Bob Valdez
2:30
Kenley back to Dodgers?
AvatarJon Becker
2:31
Don't think so. He'd be something like their fourth-best reliever and I'd guess he'd want to go somewhere he's the clear closer so he can keep climbing up the career saves list.
Adam
2:31
So the Rays right now have Eloy Jimenez currently slated to take a bench spot. His only role is that of a DH. The Rays also have Jonathan Aranda and Yandy Diaz, both of whom have limited defensive flexibility. Then there is also Christopher Morel, who is a question mark defensively. I know at this point with the roster as it currently is, this is the most likely scenario. However, does this really push the Rays into pursuing a Yandy Diaz trade to try and open up some flexibility?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:33
Taking a flyer on Eloy isn't a bad idea and I don't think it really affects anyone else on their roster. They have a lot of other options (all more versatile defensively) so I think they'll move on quickly if he doesn't show them something in the spring.
Brian Cashman
2:34
T-minus 2.5 hours to Kim’s signing deadline. Where does he go, if anywhere?
AvatarJon Becker
2:34
Looks like the Dodgers, per Korean media and Francys Romero. Still hasn't been confirmed by any Dodgers reporters or the big national guys but I saw a picture circulating of him holding up a contract from the Dodgers, which sounds good enough to me! Interesting fit, would guess they look to trade Lux or just bounce Kim around the diamond.
Cubdom
2:35
Do you anticipate Cade Horton being a valued part of the Cubs rotation sometime in 2025?  Also, do you feel a Ben Brown bounce back is possible coming off a promising, but injury filled 2024 - thanks!!
AvatarJason Martinez
2:38
Horton, Brown, and Kilian could all make an impact in 2025. Just depends on health and opportunity. They also have Jordan Wicks and Cody Poteet as starting pitching options. Horton's path isn't clear but when it clicks for these types of prospects, they tend to jump ahead of everyone else on the depth chart. Main issue is probably an innings limit. I don't think he'll go over 120 IP in 2025.
Bob Valdez
2:39
Any catchers out there for the Red Sox?
AvatarJon Becker
2:39
No super inspiring options but there's still Grandal, James McCann, Elias Díaz, Luke Maile, etc. on the FA market. Could also call the Pirates about one of their excess catchers (Henry Davis might be available, as could Jason Delay).
AvatarJason Martinez
2:40
Bring back Christian Vazquez!
Guest
2:40
Hi Jason. Wtf are the Padres gonna do with Eguy Rosario? Does he only have a chance to play if Arraez or Crone get traded? Dude has had his career get derailed following his broken ankle right before 2023, when he was going to see tons of playing time to start the year.
AvatarJason Martinez
2:41
I think he has the skill set to be a valuable utilityman who plays a lot vs LHP. Fast. Some power. Can play at least 4-5 spots. Only think he's lacking is experience, which is a big deal for bench players. As an example, David Peralta and Donovan Solano were amazing last season. Part of that is age/experience and understanding their role.
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