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RosterResource Chat - 2/14/25
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Kate
2:44
Does Yilber Diaz find a rotation spot in Arizona before he gets stuck in the pen?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:47
At best, I think he's 8th on their depth chart so it's not an easy path. However, teams don't use less than 8 starting pitchers in a season so the chances of a team's No. 8 SP making starts in the big leagues is high. The question is whether the Dbacks feel good enough about their overall depth (and Diaz's potential as SP vs RP) before they move him to the bullpen for good. My guess is that he pitches out of their bullpen later in the season.
Guest
2:47
The Angels might be the most unserious baseball team I know. Throwing around money for people like Tyler Anderson, and 20+ million for someone who is not an Ace in Kikuchi.
AvatarJon Becker
2:48
Angels have had an extremely weird offseason, more of the same of thinking they're just a handful of veterans away from contention, and I don't expect this attempt to go any better than the last several. That said, I think the unserious crown goes to the Pirates, who have the most exciting young 1-2 rotation punch in baseball, and whose biggest offensive addition has been Spencer Horwitz, who's a good hitter but doesn't have a ton of power. Plus, he'll miss the start of the season with a wrist injury, in all likelihood. Can't force players to sign with your team but they weren't even publicly connected to anyone who signed for $10M+ and would've helped that lineup a ton.
Jobu's Rum
2:49
Now that the Padres have added to their rotation depth, considering both 25 and the future of this roster, would you trade Cease or King?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:53
Trading Cease or King, in my opinion, would've almost been a signal that they're punting on the season because I don't think they're a playoff team without a "Big 3" in the rotation ... Cease-King-Darvish. But I also didn't think they had a chance at Pivetta, who I consider to be just good enough (especially if he improves under Niebla like a lot of others have) to be part of a "Big 3".

Trading Cease to Baltimore for Kjerstad, Kremer, etc. (King-Darvish-Pivetta-Kremer) or to the Cubs for Caissie, Assad, etc. (King-Darvish-Pivetta-Assad) wouldn't take them out of playoff contention. At least in my opinion.
AvatarJon Becker
2:54
I think they'd do it if they got an offer too good to turn down that set them up well for the future, but I also think part of how they structured the Pivetta contract was to add almost nothing to their 2025 real cash payroll while strengthening the rotation; it sounds like they don't really care if they have to pay the luxury tax.
Guest
2:54
How do you think the Dodgers bench sorts out? Do you see Pages getting optioned until an injury? Just release Chris Taylor? Or do you assume someone will always be injured, so it's just not even worth thinking about?
AvatarJon Becker
2:55
I think the way we have it projected right now is how it's almost guaranteed to shake out barring injury. Taylor was pretty decent down the stretch and they love him in the clubhouse so I don't think they'd unceremoniously release him in Spring Training; if he wasn't in the plans they'd have cut him already. The only thing I could see changing is Hyeseong Kim looking awful in Spring and getting optioned to the minors, which would move Edman to the infield and open up an OF spot for Pages.
TW
2:56
Which team from the past few years has had the most anonymous roster heading into the season? This year I think it's the Marlins
AvatarJason Martinez
2:57
It's part of our job to know everyone. No one is anonymous to us. grinning
AvatarJon Becker
2:58
I actually think this year's White Sox might be more anonymous than the Marlins! Helps to have a former Cy Young winner on the squad.
Bullock's
2:59
During the season, how much of your job is checking every beat writer's feeds to check for manager quotes to stay on top of the depth charts, especially when there's changing or ill-defined roles?
AvatarJon Becker
3:00
It's a lot, though for me at least it's more looking at box scores to see how players are actually getting used. A lot of times a manager will insist he doesn't have a set closer but it's one guy getting 90% of the saves anyway, or that he still has faith in a hitter but then will play him a lot less. To be clear, I would be compulsively checking all this stuff anyway!
Dan
3:00
What stats does the power ranking look at? Is it projecting or only looking backwards?
AvatarJason Martinez
3:01
MLB Power Ranking is based on performance only. The Minor League Power Ranking takes age and level into account so projection can be a bigger part of it.
John
3:02
Anybody want David Robertson?
AvatarJon Becker
3:02
Yeah, he'll sign somewhere unless he's done playing and just hasn't told anyone yet. He represents himself (I think he's the only active player who does) which could be a reason why we haven't heard much on him. Not sure agent David Robertson really cares if there's a lot of buzz around player David Robertson's market.
Bryan Bullington
3:03
How many PA do you expect for Acuna and Neto this season?
AvatarJason Martinez
3:05
553 for Acuña ... https://www.fangraphs.com/depthcharts.aspx?position=ALL&teamid=16

560 for Neto ... https://www.fangraphs.com/depthcharts.aspx?position=ALL&teamid=1

But the latest reports have them both in a good spot. Unless their teams are overly cautious, I think both have a chance for 600+.
DBacks/Twins
3:06
I know the Twins have a load of potential injury risks, but what do you think it takes for them to deal Willi Castro to the DBacks? He's almost a perfect complement to AZ's roster by my estimation.
AvatarJon Becker
3:07
I'm not sure the Diamondbacks have the budget to squeeze in a $6M bench player after already stretching the budget for Burnes and then punting much of Grichuk's contract into the buyout of his mutual option. I'd be very surprised if they added a position player who's guaranteed of an MLB spot, especially since Lawlar is already waiting for his shot.
Kate
3:07
Phils have talked about resting Realmuto a bit this year to try to keep him healthy.  That seemed to have his PT projections down a bit this year.  Now they're saying maybe he gets some DH time.  It's probably not a ton given the other DH options on that roster, but do you all think DH days could keep him in 500+ PA range?  Or is there not enough DH time available for that?
AvatarJason Martinez
3:10
I saw a report that they plan on using Schwarber in the OF more this season. I'll believe it when I see it. He made 5 starts in LF last season. I don't think there will be a lot of DH at-bats available, especially because they have other older players who they'd want to keep off their feet once in awhile. The lineup is also good enough to just allow Realmuto to take full days off and keep him healthy for the full season. I think he'll still get close to 500 PA.
Kate
3:10
Would it make sense for the Jays to trade some of this ok-ish hitter depth they have that seems to be backed up on the MLB / AAA rosters?  Or should they just keep cycling through guys until they figure out who can play?
AvatarJon Becker
3:11
With what they've got now and with uncertainty about Varsho to start the season and Springer's aging, I think just cycle through guys and see what you've got. Ernie Clement can be more of a bench guy if Wagner takes hold of 3B, which then makes DH more open, for example. A lot of moving parts on that team.
E
3:12
There seems to be an increase in murmurs about Kumar Rocker getting the last rotation spot and cody bradford going to the pen. What do you guys think happens here?
AvatarJason Martinez
3:15
Once they put Bradford in the bullpen, I think he's going to be too valuable to move back to the rotation. So figuring out if he can be a very good starting pitcher early in the season could be important to them. He has shown glimpses. And I also think Rocker will be on an IP limit so it's probably easier to call him up at a point where they know he's good thru September/October.

I wouldn't rule it out, but that's my thinking on why I have Bradford in rotation/Rocker in AAA to begin the season.
sw1sh
3:15
The Nationals are lacking high leverage relievers at the moment, who are some remaining free agent fits for them in that department?
AvatarJon Becker
3:15
Robertson's the obvious answer, and after that it's pretty slim pickings. I guess they could work something out with Kyle Finnegan still even though they non-tendered him earlier in the offseason. Lance Lynn's also reportedly had some teams interested in him as a late-inning reliever. Now that would be fun.
AvatarJason Martinez
3:16
Or they go with the Hector Neris experience.
3:17
Daniel Bard also plans on being ready at some point in 2025.
Bullock's
3:17
When making lineups on the Depth Charts pages, do you enjoy figuring out he complicated ones with lots of moving parts, or are you relieved when one of them is a simple set-it-and-forget-it?
AvatarJason Martinez
3:19
Yes and Yes. The less info is available, the more I just go with what I think would be a good lineup. That's always fun. But the goal is to put up the most accurate projection. So when the puzzle pieces all fit together, that's also a good feeling.
OtisPDriftwood
3:19
As one of the NL closers not on the Dodgers, do you see AJ Puk getting a lot of saves in AZ?
AvatarJon Becker
3:20
I think Justin Martinez is the bigger impediment to Puk's save total than being on a team other than the Dodgers, since there's less intra-divisional play now anyway. When you have two closers and you're playing matchups, that can often favor the righty.
AvatarJason Martinez
3:22
That will do it for today. Thanks for joining us. Getting closer to baseball games happening every day!
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