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RosterResource Chat - 3/12/26

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Jason Martinez

2:53

Not really. There are a lot of unresolved situations ... LAA, SFG, WSN, ARI, ATH, STL, etc. ... and there hasn't been enough time for guys to pitch themselves in or out of the competition. Only recent change I've made has been expanding STL to include Svanson and Stanek but that's more because O'Brien has been hurt.

It sounds like a few managers have said they want to name a primary closer. But many will just be day-to-day, series-to-series, week-to-week.

Matt

2:54

Hey Jon, any plans for a playing time adjustment article like you wrote last year? I loved those

Jon Becker

2:55

These will be back on RotoGraphs during the season! Need to align on when exactly I'll be starting those but I'm glad to hear they were useful, it gives good insight into our process at RosterResource and how playing time projections can change even when the roster doesn't.

Guest

2:56

when do you expect snelling to debut?

Jason Martinez

2:59

He's in the "once we call him up, it's likely for good" category. So I don't expect them to force the issue. It could be sooner because of injuries/ineffectiveness, but I'd guess he's up by late May/early June regardless.

claymolly

3:00

minny rotation? are you an Abell fan?

Jon Becker

3:01

Bradley and Abel have both been awesome so they're definitely in the lead for SP4-5 with Ryan, Ober, and Woods Richardson (since he's out of options) filling the top three spots. Festa's starting on the IL and Zebby has been bad so it currently looks like two really easy decisions.

Ozzie

3:01

How is Carson Williams looking in his position battle? Is he destined for AAA to start the year?

Jason Martinez

3:03

No surpise that Williams is putting up good numbers in ST. He'll do the same in AAA. He's super talented. TBD on whether he's ready to handle good MLB pitching on a regular basis. That's why I think they'll go with a combo of Taylor Walls/Ben Williamson to begin the season rather than giving the everyday job to Williams after he struggled badly in his 1st MLB stint. They trust Walls but Williamson is also a very intriguing option at one of the infield spots. Finding out if he can handle SS will be important.

MF Luder

3:04

Does the Teel injury lock in starts for Edgar Quero?

Jon Becker

3:05

Yep. I think he would've started plenty behind the plate with Teel healthy but now that Teel will miss the start of the season it should be a pretty traditional starter-backup arrangement with Quero and Korey Lee. How Lee does in the meantime determines if they think they can make three catchers work when Teel is back, since Lee is out of options.

Mike D

3:05

Do you think Kyle Karros can win the 3B job by opening day?

Jason Martinez

3:08

Injuries can change things, of course, but I think the plan is to give him some time in AAA. He was there for less than a month before getting the call to the majors. And then, unsurprisingly, he struggled. I think they like him and will happily give him the 3B job at some point in 2026 if he hits in AAA (and, more importantly, continues to have good BB/K rate).

Steve

3:08

Juan Soto put up 36.5 WAR thru age 25, then got 15/765 in the year 2025 as a bad corner outfielder. Let's say Jesus Made puts up 35 WAR thru age 25 then hits FA in 2033 as plus defensive SS...would $1B maybe be in play between inflation and defensive value?

Jon Becker

3:10

Ooh, this is an interesting one. I think it depends on the shape/distribution of that 35 WAR. For example, if his walk year is "only" 4 WAR, or his WAR is propped up by defense, teams are going to be wary. It's not to say you can't still be a great defender into your 30s but potential suitors are going to factor a projected fielding decline differently than a projected hitting decline. $1B is one of those "I'll believe it when I see it" numbers but from an inflationary standpoint it's not impossible, 2033 is still a ways away!

Pat Murphy

3:11

What should I do with Tyler Black? Dude is crushing it this spring.

Jason Martinez

3:12

Tell him he's done everything possible to make the team, but, unfortunately, they already have a guy (Jake Bauers) locked into the role he's competing for. Go down to AAA and continue doing what you're doing, work on defensive versatility, and your time will come no later than 2027.

Camden Bird Watcher

3:13

German Marquez finally healthy, finally out of Rockies stadium & org. What level of confidence to you have that he makes good on his one-year make good contract?

Jon Becker

3:14

It doesn't take a lot to make a $1.75M contract worth it, for Márquez I think the basic criteria are just "stay healthy enough and keep us in enough games." Can't do a whole lot better than moving from Coors and the old Rockies regime to Petco and Ruben Niebla.

Baseball learner

3:14

If he is "healthy" how many games do you think Stanton plays?

Jason Martinez

3:15

Somewhere between 350-450 PA. That would include plenty of days off and maybe 2-4 weeks on the IL to give the elbows some rest. That might be best-case scenario, which is fine as long as he can still hit.

The Actor for Al Pacino

3:16

Littell is finally signed. Is Giolito soon to follow?

Jon Becker

3:17

Well... he basically has to be, right? The ship has probably sailed on being ready for the season but a team could very easily IL him for something nebulous (he did have that elbow issue at the end of last season) and slot him in in mid-April.

3:17

With Quinn Priester and Logan Henderson both facing uncertain injury concerns who was under consideration for the Brewers 5th starter spot? Brandon Sproat holds that spot currently in your roster projection.

Jason Martinez

3:19

Sounds like Ashby is a real consideration, although that might look more like a bullpen game. Not sure they're stretching him out to 4 or 5+ innings. And that would signal a very temporary void in the SP5 spot.

But if they don't go that route, it's coming down to Harrison, Sproat, Gasser, and Drohan for 2 spots.

Zac Veen

3:20

Will I lead the Rockies out of the NL West cellar?

Jon Becker

3:21

Not this year (and 2027 doesn't look better for the Rockies, either)! But it's been cool to see you perform well this Spring and while Opening Day seems unlikely, you could make an impact at some point this season.

War2D2

3:21

BP ran an article about Ben Brown’s new sinker, and closed with a line saying he has a #2 starter’s ceiling. The knock on him was always that he needed another pitch, though a sinker (that’s 2MPH faster than his already hard 4-seam) seems like an odd addition. What do you make of it? Do you think he ever puts it together, or is he just 2026 Darren Dreifort?

Equist

3:21

Where do you think Ben Brown ends up this year, up and down, or with the big club?

Jason Martinez

3:24

The uncertainty of whether he can develop into an effective SP and where he currently stands on the SP depth chart (probably SP7) makes it likely that he begins in the AAA rotation, keeping him stretched out just in case he's needed and also evaluating where he fits in their long-term pitching plans. Once Justin Steele returns, and assuming their rotation is in good health, I think there is a good chance they unleash him out of the 'pen and he's one of their top setup man down the stretch.

bob

3:25

saw that note tied to marcelo mayer about cora not committing to him being on the opening day roster. that's insane, right? they're not going to hand 2B or 3B to IKF and send mayer down, are they?

Jon Becker

3:25

The read I get on it is that it was just Cora motivating Mayer and not wanting him to act like he's got a spot locked up upon arrival into camp, and he's playing like he deserves a spot. IKF and Monasterio make way more sense as utility guys playing all over (and a lot against lefties) than they do as starters.

Guest

3:26

to jason's answer on the closers, which of those managers have said they prefer a dedicated closer? even if that rp hasn't been named yet?

Jason Martinez

3:28

I don't remember off the top of my head, but that's because it might've been the beat writer suggesting that's what was expected from that particular manager. Based on the last several years, it's more likely that a manager will be non-committal either way and we'll just have to pay close attention once the season starts. Well, it's my job to pay close attention and make adjustments. Just know that I do and I care about getting those as accurate as possible.

shaunypatinthehat

3:29

What do you guys think is really happening in Atlanta? The lip service from Alex feels more like state media statements, they clearly have needs but have spent $0 of note since losing Schwellly/Profar/Waldrep/Wentz

Jon Becker

3:31

I think they should absolutely be in on Giolito if they're not already, but the problem that they've got is that adding Giolito likely makes them better, but it's a net-zero in terms of depth. Signing Giolito makes it harder to keep Elder, who hasn't been good the last couple years but at least eats innings, since Elder is out of options. I would probably just go with the better pitcher and worry about the depth more later, but it's possible the Braves don't think that's worth $10M or whatever Giolito would cost at this point. As for the offense, they're just going to have to wait for guys to get healthy and/or for the end of spring training to make a trade. By the time Profar got suspended, there was hardly anyone left out there to sign.

Crabcakes

3:31

Depth Charts thinks Jordan Westburg is gonna play 100 games with his partially torn UCL. That feels very optimistic to me. I would have guessed something like... returns in June, plays about a month, it goes very poorly, he gets surgery by August. Opinions?

Jason Martinez

3:35

It's definitely not a bad approach for how you interpret these types of injuries. But I try to find the right balance between what a player says, what the team is saying, and having a very bleak attitude because of how these injuries usually end up.

For example, Berrios is missing a start due to elbow inflammation but the initial report says it's different than last year, it's not a big deal, and he won't be shut down from throwing. I'm not going to overreact. His projection already takes into account that the elbow injury could affect him again. I might drop him another few starts. But, as a reader, it's smart to at least understand that it could be a lot worse.

That will do it for today. Thanks for joining us! We'll be back next Thursday.

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