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RosterResource Chat - 3/12/26
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AvatarJason Martinez
2:02
Welcome to the RosterResource Live Chat! 12 more days until Opening Day. A lot of good position battles still undetermined. Spring Training performance matters a lot for many involved. This is the time where I start looking a lot closer and making adjustments. Feel free to point out if I'm overlooking something or ask why a projection is a certain way. 

Here we go ...
BP
2:02
Are there any rookie/minor league relievers you think will make a big impact this year?
AvatarJon Becker
2:05
Very likely I'm missing someone but the prospects that have jumped out at me who aren't on projected rosters are Ryan Lambert (ridiculously good fastball shape and a great slider, too) of the Mets and Josh White (filthy slider) of the Marlins. Griff McGarry (apparently I'm really honing in on the NL East) is another name to keep in mind, but not sure he'll throw enough strikes.
Jesse
2:05
Roster Resource lists only two Blue Jays pitchers (Yesavage, Fisher) under 28 in their current pitching group. What are the chances this group just has a sharp decline across the board?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:08
The chances are uncomfortably high for every team, including the Blue Jays and Dodgers, who each have more MLB starters than spots on the roster. Berrios missing a start due to elbow inflammation is supposedly different than his elbow issue from last season. But the risk is already high that he won't be available (or effective) for a full season. Their top pitching prospect (Tiedemann) is still dealing with elbow discomfort. Yesavage will be limited. This is why Cease and Ponce were such important signings and why it made sense to bring back Scherzer, even if he's unlikely to give them more than 25 starts. Both should be able to pitch 180+ innings and they might have to for the Jays. The challenge for MLB teams is now managing the roster the best way possible using the IL and AAA to preserve the depth.
Mark
2:09
Was Jackson Merrill's rookie season as good as it's going to get for him?
AvatarJon Becker
2:11
I think he's too talented on both sides of the ball for 5.3 WAR at age 21 to be the ceiling for him, even though that's a season most players could only dream of having. Even with the missed time due to injuries that may well have affected him when he did play, too, he was worth 3.0 WAR in 115 games. Merrill getting back into the 130+ range of wRC+ makes that lineup look quite a bit better.
Drew
2:11
Ryan Bergerts chances of getting a spot in the Royals rotation?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:12
If the battle for the No. 5 spot came down to Spring Training performance, Bergert likely has a slight edge over Noah Cameron. But Cameron pitched 170 innings vs Bergert's 120 innings in 2025. And Bergert had some elbow discomfort late in the season. So my guess is that Cameron is the guy they'd rather start in the majors and that would allow them to ease Bergert in a bit down in AAA.
Doc Estes
2:15
I see you project Dom Smith for strong side of the Atlanta DH platoon.  You feel fairly certain on that?  Other ways it could go?
AvatarJon Becker
2:16
Smith's been hitting really well but I don't think we're particularly certain on it. Ben Gamel is another player who's hitting great in camp and has the added benefit of being better in the OF than Smith would be if the Braves ever had to put him out there. There are also a bunch of NRIs who won't make rosters who the Braves could pick up before Opening Day.
Mark
2:16
What are your thoughts on Saggese?   Any path to regular at-bats?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:18
Path to regular at-bats isn't there, barring an injury to one of the infielders (Wetherholt, Winn, Gorman). I have him on the projected bench for now, but might make more sense to give the spot to Nelson Velazquez and give Saggese everyday at-bats in AAA where he can continue to get reps in the OF. Super-utilityman might be his best bet with STL. Maybe he gets a shot at 3B if Gorman struggles badly but that won't happen anytime soon.
Ozzie
2:19
Has there been any talk of Leo De Vries making the opening day roster? Or is that not a possibility?
AvatarJon Becker
2:20
No chance, unfortunately. He's been awesome but a lot of it is coming into games halfway through and facing pitchers he'll be facing in Double-A anyway. He certainly hastens his path to MLB if he keeps hitting like this, though.
DJ
2:20
Are there any teams currently projected for a 5-man rotation that you think have a chance to operate with a 6-man rotation this season?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:23
My guess is that no team will have a permanent 6-man rotation but just about every team will utilize a spot-starter occasionally to push everyone back a day and then go with 6 starters whenever there is a long stretch with 0 or maybe 1 off-day. It's a long season and not too many teams have a Logan Webb/Dylan Cease type pitcher who will give them 32+ starts.

I haven't looked at every schedule yet, but it does seem like most teams have a couple days off early and then will have a stretch beginning around mid-April when teams will have maybe 1 day off over a 15-20 day span. Expect a lot of strategic roster moves based on that.
Luke Raley
2:24
Will he get enough playing time to get back to the level where he was a couple years go? (Presuming he is capable of doing so?)
AvatarJon Becker
2:25
I think so. I remember being bearish on his chances of getting significant playing time when someone asked me in a chat before Spring Training if he would, so: mea culpa! They're trending towards Raley/Robles and Canzone/Refsnyder platoons with Robles struggling this spring, but ultimately any of the four could earn/lose playing time depending on how they perform; RF/DH is going to be a meritocracy in Seattle.
PunkRockies
2:26
It looks increasingly like TJ Rumfield will win the Rockies 1st base job, though RR has Johnston (which I would have thought too before ST). Who is the odd man out assuming this comes to pass? I've got to think Crim is not making this roster since Johnston can play OF too.
AvatarJason Martinez
2:28
I don't think there is any separation between Johnston and Rumfield based on the small sample ST performance. Both have been good so neither has eliminated himself from the competition. But Johnston has MLB experience and he's already on the 40-man. I think it comes down to that, meaning Johnston will get first crack and then Rumfield will get his chance at some point. There's also a chance that Julien plays more 1B than 2B, which would open more at-bats for someone like Ritter or Karros.

Crim hasn't played in a while due to an oblique injury so the obvious platoon vs LHP might begin the season on the IL.
Ozzie
2:29
Is Vientos going to make the Opening Day roster? What role will he play if yes?
AvatarJon Becker
2:31
Well, he's going to make someone's Opening Day roster, just can't be totally sure it'll be the Mets. He's out of options and far too talented to sneak through waivers, but his role with the Mets would be fairly limited to 3B/1B/DH against LHP, and sending Vientos elsewhere would allow the Mets to more easily do something like roster both Tauchman and Benge, if they wanted. As long as the Rockies are coming up I'll throw them out there as a possible fit, and he'd get a lot more playing time there.
DOOBS
2:31
When Kim comes back to play SS, will the Braves dump Dubon in LF?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:33
Once Kim returns from the IL and assuming everyone else is healthy, I think they'll be able to start Dubon 3-5 days per week and presumably would be at a different position on most days. Facing a LHP, I'd think he'd play CF or LF. But he could also spell anyone else at any position besides C and P. Weiss has already made a point to say he wants to rest his regulars more than they have been in the past.
Ozzie
2:33
Is Chase Burns a lock to make the starting rotation to begin the year?
AvatarJon Becker
2:34
Not technically with Brandon Williamson still in camp, but I'd be pretty surprised if it wasn't Lowder and Burns getting those last two spots with Greene out. Lowder is more of a lock than Burns just because he's pitched better but Burns' stuff is just too good to leave off, IMO, and I'm not going to read too much into getting hit around in thin Arizona air.
Brownpants
2:35
If Victor Robles' shoulder is still bothering him by Opening Day, who replaces him on the roster? Brennen Davis exit velos have been a fun story this spring but I feel like they'd want a better glove in Robles' spot
AvatarJason Martinez
2:37
Sounds like Robles is on track for Opening Day, although we won't know for sure until he's playing in the OF again. I think he's DH'd the last 2 days. As far as next in line, they have guys like Connor Joe and Patrick Wisdom if they want some MLB experience. But Davis has put himself in the conversation and, without knowing too much about his defense, I'm assuming he's a better option than either Wisdom or Joe as a RHH off the bench.
Ozzie
2:38
Sal Stewart has been getting some reps at 2B in Spring Training. Do you think the Reds will actually use him there during the season? Or are you expecting starts strictly at 1B?
AvatarJon Becker
2:40
My guess is it'll be fairly rare, but it'll happen. Francona has talked a lot about how it's great that Elly wants to play every day but they also don't want to be quite as acquiescing to his refusal to take a day off, like he did playing through the quad injury last year. So the question becomes who plays second when Elly gets a rare day off and McLain slides to short, and it seems like Stewart and Steer are the top two options.
engulfed11
2:40
With SD SP woes, it looks like Walker Buehler is in line for the 5th starter role. Whatdayathink?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:42
Really does sound like they're going to push Joe Musgrove back a bit. I think they have a number of starts in mind, including playoffs (I'd guess 25-30), and it would be easier to start him on the IL rather than trying to figure it out mid-season. This would open the path for Buehler. As long as he continues to look good in his next 2 starts, I think he's in.

Current projection with Buehler as the SP5 and Musgrove projected IL ... https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/depth-charts/padres
Mike Tyson: designated hitter
2:43
Do you expect Mcgonigle to be starting at 3B in 2026?
AvatarJon Becker
2:45
Maybe only occasionally, unless the Tigers get very unlucky with injuries. I know he's getting some time over there this spring so it's possible they like the look of McGonigle at 3B and McKinstry or Báez at SS sometimes, but the Tigers also said they want Keith to focus on 3B for right now (a lot of position switching for him in his career!).
Pete
2:45
Who is a rookie who may miss opening day but could come up in late April/May and win me my fantasy league like Kurtz did last year?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:47
This is the best place to start. On the Opening Day tracker, filter "not on projected roster/still in camp" and then sort by projected PA or IP ... https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/opening-day-tracker?status=n...

You'll see guys like Konnor Griffin, Carson Williams, and Colt Emerson near the top and many others who could stand out to you.
Ozzie
2:48
Will River Ryan start the year in the Dodger's rotation?
AvatarJon Becker
2:49
We currently have Sheehan projected over him for that last open spot, since Roberts all but guaranteed Sasaki will indeed open the season in the rotation. If they do go to six, though, I'd think Ryan would be the front-runner. But it doesn't hurt to stretch him out a little more in the minors, I believe he's still yet to go three innings.
Guest
2:50
do you see some of these undeclared closer situations beginning to resolve themselves yet?
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