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RosterResource Chat - 11/29/24
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AvatarJason Martinez
2:01
Welcome to our 2nd RosterResource Live Chat! Thanks for joining us. Not a lot has happened since last week other than the Snell/Kikuchi signings and mostly unsurprising non-tenders. Still a lot of fun topics to discuss. Here we go ...
Matt
2:01
Bellinger opting in has put a bit of a wrinkle into Jed’s offseason plans. If you were Hoyer, how would you approach improving the offense , while trying to give some room for some of their top-100,guys to emerge?
AvatarJon Becker
2:03
This certainly wasn't ideal for Hoyer, who would certainly rather have the Bellinger money to spend elsewhere, not to mention the plate appearances. Improving the offense will be tough outside of just hoping for internal improvements — the obvious lane for that would have been to trade Hoerner, but his surgery complicates things — or trading Bellinger himself (also difficult!). A catcher with offensive upside (Sánchez, Higashioka, etc.) to pair with Amaya is the only place they can add a starter without trading someone else.
NT
2:03
Have heard nothing about the Twins. Where do you think they need to upgrade and how do you think they do it? Any chance of a Correa trade in your estimation?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:06
I don't think Correa will be traded. Would take a lot of creativity and either the Twins eating a lot of $ or taking on another big contract in return. And that's tough to do. Would love to see it. I think there are a few others teams in the same boat.

They have to figure out a way to build a team that is competitive while not counting on Correa/Buxton/Lewis. And anything those guys can contribute is a bonus. Brooks Lee and some of the other youngsters stepping up will be huge. Same with pitching. Lots of youngsters who can take the next step.
AvatarJon Becker
2:07
It's definitely going to be a quiet offseason for them, so much so that it wouldn't at all surprise me to see them rank 30th in FA spending. Internal improvements + adding on the margins (RH OF, a lefty reliever) will probably be about it for them.
TD
2:07
How do you think the Padres will approach the off-season, considering that they are currently up against the luxury tax?
AvatarJon Becker
2:09
They don't have a Juan Soto-level contract to move to simultaneously lower payroll and infuse talent; Arraez wouldn't bring back all that much, Cronenworth and Bogaerts are close to un-trade-able, etc. I think they basically have to commit to being a luxury tax payor since we already have them projected at $3M over (https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/payroll/padres) and they desperately need a catcher and left fielder, at minimum.
Guest
2:09
Has there been any discussion about assuming less optimistic PAs in the Depth Chart projections? If so, what’s the reasoning for this assumption?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:12
I love discussing this topic but this is probably not the best place to give the best answer. Better for more specific players. But I will say that they can be less optimistic for starting pitching prospects. That's because we only project 100% even though it should be more like 125% just because we know for sure there will be injuries. We just can't assume who will get hurt. For position players, I think they can be too optimistic because my definition of "injury-prone" might be different than others.

So I'd look at it the pitchers more like a depth chart order. Who is next in line if one of the top 5 is out for the season? For position players, when should Royce Lewis be considered "injury-prone" and penciled in for 75-80% instead of 85-90%? He was 25 years old last season and had a few freak injuries so I didn't think he was "injury-prone" yet. I was probably wrong.
BuccoFan
2:13
Do you agree that the Pirates would be better off spending $30M on one or two difference makers, instead on 6 or 7 guys that inevitably will finish around replacement level?
AvatarJon Becker
2:14
Definitely, yes. The pitching looks pretty good but they badly need an actual threat in the middle of the lineup, not another Grandal + Taylor + Tellez "let's hope for improvements" offseason. Bringing McCutchen back feel like a given and along with that I'd look into FA like Walker, Santander, and O'Neill, if I was Ben Cherington.
MilledgeReport
2:15
The Cardinals selected Tink Hence's contract from AA this week. Do you guys anticipate he makes his MLB debut this year, or is he someone who needs more time building up innings in the minors?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:17
He's talented enough to force his way into the mix. But I doubt the Cardinals are counting on it. Only 79.2 IP last season. Maybe he can reach 130 IP this season. If that's the case, do they bring him up early until they have to shut him down? Do they bring him along very slowly in case he can help them in the 2nd half? Too many unknowns for the Cardinals to assume either of those scenarios. I think they just hope he continues to progress and not worry about when to call him up.
AvatarJon Becker
2:18
I also don't think "needs more time building up innings" and "makes his MLB debut" have to be mutually exclusive either. Looking at how the White Sox handled Crochet down the stretch, the Cardinals could call Hence up when rosters expand to get him on an every-fifth-day schedule, but limit him to three innings apiece.
Guest
2:18
Have the Dodgers completely given up on Lux as a SS?
AvatarJon Becker
2:19
It wouldn't surprise me if they give him a shot there in Spring Training, but the throwing really did look rough before they flipped him and Betts at the very end of Spring Training this past season. Being able to platoon at short with Rojas and having Betts play 2B, where he'd better, would make things easier for sure. Or they could just sign Adames, of course.
White Sox
2:19
Any particular low cost free agents that would be into some playing time? Crochet likely fetching two Top 100s?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:24
2 Top 100 prospects is what it would take to start a conversation. Red Sox have to be the favorite but I think there are a few other teams who would be willing.

Free Agent market is full of these low-cost veterans ... https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/free-agent-tracker

But why would they want to play for the White Sox? Only if it's their best chance at regular playing time. I think there is room for two bats (OF/DH), 2 SP, and a few RPs.  Maybe a David Peralta or Randal Grichuk. Maybe a Cal Quantrill or Griffin Canning.
AvatarJon Becker
2:25
I'll also throw Sócrates Brito in there, only because Jon Heyman reported this morning he's getting MLB interest, and veterans coming back from the KBO is fun!
Seattle_54percenters
2:25
What realistic options for Mariners at 3B, 2B, and 1B/DH? Ownership prefers profits to winning unfortunately:/
AvatarJon Becker
2:27
I totally get why people want to tie them to players like Alonso and Bregman, but Dipoto and ownership have just never operated in that stratosphere for FA. I do think they'll still be looking at some good players, though. Gleyber, Profar, Joc, Conforto come to mind, and they've got reported interest in a reunion with Justin Turner or Carlos Santana.
Matt (Oceanside)
2:27
I saw you have Mookie listed as the Dodgers starting SS. With his poor metrics there last season after the surprise switch from second. He had spent all the last offseason prepping for a return to 2B- doesn’t that suggest that 2B is his most obvious position and either trading Lux or trying Lux again at SS after a longer time away from the knee surgeries?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:29
It's one of those tricky things to communicate on the RR Opening Day roster projection. Mookie is playing infield. We know that for sure. And I don't think they're going to give Lux another chance at SS, mostly because they're the Dodgers and they don't have to go into the season with that level of uncertainty at an important spot. So what that projection tells you is that they don't have their starting SS on the roster at this time.
The Final Boss
2:29
High School Reunion in Boston? Giolito + Fried and Flaherty?
AvatarJon Becker
2:30
Definitely plausible considering they've been connected to just about every big FA, and if they don't get Soto (or even if they do, I suppose) I could see them going big for one or two significant SP. Would have to share the inside jokes with Houck and Bello, though.
friday scaries
2:30
Tim Tawa and Joe Elbis struck me as interesting 40 man additions for a likely playoff contender, what do you make of them?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:33
Tawa has put up good offensive numbers in the upper minors and he can play multiple positions (INF and OF). So I think he's just a guy who would likely be popular in the R5 draft and the Dbacks didn't want to lose him. Elbis is probably in a similar position. Not a top prospect with the big-time arm, but looks like he has good command and teams could probably see him as a capable long reliever in 2025.
Matt
2:33
Think Cubs more likely to go FA signing of vet without QO attached , in order to upgrade SP, or will they look to trade mkt(SEA?)?
AvatarJon Becker
2:35
If they can line up with the White Sox for Crochet or the Mariners for a starter, they certainly have the upper-level impact prospects to make a trade feel like the "easier" lane. If they're not interested in starters with QOs attached, the only top of the rotation (or close to it) options are Flaherty, Eovaldi, or an upside play on Bieber, who won't be ready for the start of the season.
David Stearns
2:35
Prediction on who the Mets sign this offseason? Also is Taylor really gonna start over Siri?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:37
I know it probably seems like Siri would start in CF, but he was really, really, really bad in 2024. And in many parts of previous seasons. And Taylor was very good while playing regularly at the end of the season. I don't think either will start, though.

Jon and I both predicted last week that Soto would sign with the Mets, which would likely push Nimmo to CF. And if they fall short on Soto, I think they'll get someone like Teoscar or Santander. I also think they're going to re-sign Pete Alonso. Cohen isn't messing around this offseason.
AvatarJon Becker
2:39
And even if this is the outfielders they've got going into the season, I don't think one's going to play way more than the other. Siri hit fastballs better than Taylor, Taylor hit everything else better, Marte will need days off, etc. If/when they do add, there are still going to be plenty of PAs to go around, too.
Rywe
2:39
What do you think the Giants plan to do this offseason considering they've publicly said they're cutting payroll for 2025? I doubt Buster is gonna break the bank for a high-tier free agent and the Giants have so many holes to fill (SP, SS, 2B)
AvatarJon Becker
2:41
The payroll cutting takes them out of the running for Soto, with whom they didn't even meet, but it won't prevent them from much else. They've still got about $50M to spend before hitting 2024's payroll, and there's a lot you can do with that (Adames + Fried are probably somewhere around there in combined AAV, for example, not that I expect them to do that). They could trade Yaz to clear up some outfield playing time (and cash) or trade Wade and go bigger for Alonso or Walker with plenty of room to still say they cut payroll.
Rywe
2:41
What role does Tyler Fitzgerald have this year? He was subpar at SS last season but passable at 2B. Utility guy that fills in on off days for Jung-Hoo Lee?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:42
Seems like the most logical spot is 2B. Maybe 1B if they trade LaMonte Wade Jr. He could also be a Zobrist-type utilityman that plays everyday at 4-5 different spots. But if they don't get Adames or Kim, they might have to stick with him at SS.
Doc Estes
2:44
Do you have a few favorite post-hype prospects that may make a significant impact in 2025?
AvatarJon Becker
2:45
Does Jackson Holliday count as post-hype yet? Things couldn't have gone much worse for him at the plate, and he looked pretty rough at second base, too, but the toe tap he worked in during the last week of the season seemed to work out well. I don't think the O's are going to acquire anyone to block him, either.
Jonathan
2:45
Where will Juan Soto be playing in 2025?
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