JotCast | RosterResource Chat

RosterResource Chat - 2/21/25

Jason Martinez

12:01

Welcome to the (earlier-than-normal) RosterResource Live Chat!

We've reached the time of the year where the projected WAR for remaining Free Agents is finally lower than all 30 teams.

It's also the time where my projected rosters change often and the best way to find out why I moved something around (lineup order, bullpen role, etc.) is to ask me here. Big changes for the projected lineup order for Phillies and Yankees in recent days.

https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/depth-charts/phillies

https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/depth-charts/yankees

Here we go ...

Phil

12:02

The current Red Sox drama seems to revolve around Devers vs. Bregman at 3rd and Bregman vs. Campbell at 2nd. Does Vaughan Grissom have a role to play here, though? He had a terrible year, but it's still weird to me that he's gone from likely everyday 2nd baseman to completely forgotten man in just a year. Is this an Adalberto Mondesi situation where he'll just never be heard from again?

Jon Becker

12:03

Happy Friday everyone! I wouldn't say Grissom is quite in Mondesi limbo (Mondesi just never got healthy and hasn't played anywhere in the world since the Red Sox got him, as best as I can tell), but he's pretty buried on the depth chart, yeah. The Braves gave him some LF reps before he was moved to the Red Sox and I wonder if the Sox might move him around the diamond this Spring just to give him more opportunities.

Blue

12:03

Hey Jason, what do you think about the plethora of middle-infield options Toronto has now that they have Gimenez for 2B. There will be a competition for 3B but should we expect a trade, perhaps to clear out some of them?

Jason Martinez

12:06

I don't really see a crowded infield at the moment. Sounds like Orelvis is gonna play 2B/3B while putting himself back on the prospect map. Trade value isn't near what it can be if he crushes AAA for a few months. Josh Kasevich (2nd Rd pick in '22) could put himself in the mix for a starting job in 2026 if he has a good season.

Phil

12:07

With Anthony close, is Rafaela still an everyday player?

Jon Becker

12:08

He is for now, but once two of Anthony/Mayer/Campbell come up, it's hard to see Rafaela playing every day if nobody else gets hurt. Probably switches to being a very useful super-utility guy in that scenario.

drplantwrench

12:08

with trout moving to RF, i'm a big believer in Jo Adell (i call myself the Mayor of Jo Island), but theres also stories that Rengifo is getting time in CF, who do you think is the primary CF for the Angels moving forward?

Jason Martinez

12:12

He's improved in RF and he'll have the same coaching staff working with him to become a good CF. I think he'll be fine out there but probably a short leash if he struggles at the plate. In that case, I think it will be a mix of Moniak and Adell. Not sure if Rengifo can play out there but should be in the lineup on most days. And that could become difficult whenever Christian Moore gets the call to play 2B. Maybe Ward in CF and Rengifo in LF?

Bradford

12:12

Cease & Suarez for Vlad Jr?

Jon Becker

12:13

I don't think Vlad Jr. is going to get traded, nor do I think this proposal would make a whole lot of sense for the Jays. Cease is an upgrade over Bowden Francis but their rotation is still theoretically full, and then after this year all they'd have to show for moving Vlad Jr. is Suarez. I think they'd rather just see how this year goes and have the draft pick if he signs elsewhere.

Jordan

12:13

How much would it reasonably cost to sign Anthony Rizzo? A couple million? He might even need to sign a minor league deal. Would he make sense for the Pirates as an early season replacement for Horwitz? Feels like using Triolo after 1B takes away his value of being a good glove at the other infield positions.

Jason Martinez

12:15

For someone like Rizzo who has a WS ring and more $ than he'll ever be able to spend, it's only a question of how badly he wants to keep playing baseball. My guess is that he's relaxing and doing whatever he wants right now and not interested in playing for a team like the Pirates, especially if he's not guaranteed a starting job.

Padres

12:16

Multiple options for 5th starter: Hart, Waldon, Vasquez, Kolek, Brito. Who gets the most starts this year.

Jon Becker

12:17

Hart, I think. I thought he'd sign for a lot more than he did, but he was still great last year in the KBO and I think he'd have to have an absolutely awful spring to not get that spot. Waldron would be interesting out of the bullpen, can't be fun to face Dylan Cease 2-3 times and then have to figure out a knuckleball mid-game.

KingRaj4826

12:17

I noticed on the White Sox team page that Justin Anderson is projected to be their closer, but Prelander Berroa is projected to have more saves. Would it be more accurate to say Berroa is the closer (or a committee of Anderson + Berroa), or is there something I'm missing?

Jason Martinez

12:19

It's probably the best way I can say that Berroa will end up as the closer but I don't trust him enough in that role to begin the season. There really are no good options. Berroa has the big K numbers and he was getting better towards the end of the season. Maybe Gus Varland ends up being the guy. Might even be Mike Clevinger.

Braves

12:19

Is there a realistic infield bench upgrade from Nick Allen available in free agency?

Jon Becker

12:20

Iglesias definitely is, but I don't think he's going to sign for the "break glass in case of emergency" backup infielder role that the Braves have — those guys just don't play unless someone gets injured. Beyond him there's Merrifield, Wendle, and Matt Duffy, who aren't clear enough upgrades (if at all) on Allen. So I think it'll be Allen and R5 pick Christian Cairo fighting for that spot.

12:21

Turner a nice add by the Cubs. Busch now looking like a conventional platoon. How many PAs did adding the former knock off the latter's season projection?

Jason Martinez

12:23

I wouldn't call it a conventional platoon just yet. We'll see how things play out. Busch was slightly above league average vs LHP in 2024 and he's the type of hitter who deserves to get a chance to keep playing every day. But adding Turner, who crushes LHP and is mostly limited to 1B/DH, probably takes away that ability to play Busch everyday. I think his projected PA went down by around 50 PA.

Chris Ilitch's new girlfriend

12:23

What's the record for platoons on one team and will the Tigers challenge it? Seems like 7 could be out there including the C battery.

Jon Becker

12:25

There were definitely points during the Gabe Kapler Giants years where we had all 4-5 bench spots in platoons, at least for a little bit. And those are just based on handedness, not specific matchups or who they have to play defense behind or anything else. The Tigers will definitely do a lot of mixing-and-matching!

Guest

12:25

At this point who likely had the dollars, role and roster space necessary to sign Robertson Finnegan?

Jason Martinez

12:27

At this point, my guess is that Robertson could easily get 1-yr, $6MM and Finnegan maybe something like 1-yr, $3MM. Waiting teams out for 1-2 more weeks in case a major injury occurs (it probably will) could help their cause. Braves seem like the most likely team to add a high-leverage reliever.

David

12:28

Assuming the Mariners try to move on from Haniger; who is next up? Locklear or Bliss?

Jon Becker

12:29

Probably Locklear, since he's more of a conventional DH-type and Bliss is a decent enough defender. Though they could always give Polanco more DH time to accommodate Bliss, depending on how well Polanco can handle 3B.

Ollie Dunn

12:29

Why is Caleb at 3rd for spring opener ?

Jason Martinez

12:30

Sounds like Ortiz will be the starting SS so Durbin winning the starting 2B job (Turang to SS) isn't likely. Thus, they're gonna give him a long look at 3B. Should be a good competition between Durbin/Black/Dunn. At the least, Durbin could be the platoon vs LHP.

Scotty

12:31

Longenhagen expressed his belief that Alex Freeland will play a roll in the Dodgers 2025 lineup due to his ability to play SS. Do you think this can happen without an injury to Mookie, Kim, or Rojas?

Jon Becker

12:32

A lot of different scenarios where this could happen, IMO. Just to name a couple: OF gets injured, Mookie moves back there, SS open for Freeland; Kim underperforms and gets sent down, Mookie slides over to 2B to accommodate Freeland. Mookie was reportedly working really hard at SS in the offseason and he's too talented to underperform defensively so much that he gets moved.

Matt

12:33

Is there a way on the team depth chart pages on Fangraphs to toggle btw projected lineups against righties/lefties?

Josh

12:33

Will there be a new home for the projected lineups vs RHP/LHP this year or will they be in the same spot?

Jason Martinez

12:35

For now, I'm still keeping them updated here ...

https://fantasy.fangraphs.com/rosterresource-projected-lineups/

and still hoping to get something built in the near future where you could toggle between vs R/L and see actual/projected/last 3 year splits.

Lord Thunder

12:36

Does the Alex Bregman signing jeopardize Romy Gonzalez's opening day roster spot?

Jon Becker

12:36

For now we've still got him on the projected bench, but it definitely makes it tougher for Romy to make the opening day squad. If Campbell makes the team you're looking at one spot for Hamilton/Gonzalez, and I think I'd prefer Hamilton's speed off the bench since they've already got Refsnyder to mash lefties.

Jordan

12:37

How do you see the Bucs' rotation shaking out after signing Heaney? Oviedo not gonna be ready for Opening Day? Oviedo to the bullpen when he is healthy? Use Oviedo/Falter as trade bait for an OF?

Jason Martinez

12:39

I moved Oviedo to MiLB section after the Heaney signing. He has an option remaining and (at least for now) seems on track for Opening Day. He'll be around 16 months removed from TJ surgery. Of course, this allows them to be cautious and take their time with him. He was very good in '23. They probably have enough depth to make a trade (Chandler, Ashcraft, Burrows, Harrington, etc. could all make an impact in 2025) but I can see them holding off until end of spring training. A lot can happen between now and then.

Bullock

12:39

Is this finally the year Brandon Lowe gets traded? They're gonna need more infield space as Kim returns and Carson Williams gets ready (not to mention Mead twiddling his thumbs in AAA)

Jon Becker

12:40

I think so, since it's the Rays and this is just what they do. Lowe's had a lot of injury issues the last few years but if his health lines up with the Trade Deadline (and Kim is also healthy) I think he gets moved.

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