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RosterResource Chat - 3/14/25

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br0wnpants

2:39

Do you guys envision Donovan Solano getting any time at 2B for Seattle this year? Seems like his projected role is limited if they enter the season with Tellez on the roster and the offensive floor of Moore/Bliss is pretty low

Jason Martinez

2:42

Probably not much 2B. He'll catch everything but doesn't have the range to play there anymore. He's fine at 3B. I think the plan is mostly DH/3B and occasional starts at 1B/2B. Should get 300-400 PA.

Easy E

2:42

Are the Brewers viewing Garrett Mitchell as a full time OF heading into the season?

Jon Becker

2:43

Absolutely. It's Chourio, Frelick, Mitchell, and Yelich for the three spots but Yelich will spend a lot of time at DH. Perhaps Frelick or Mitchell sit against lefties for Canha, Capra, or Durbin but they won't be fully be shielded from southpaws either.

Arno

2:43

Given Giolito's delay, how do you see the Fitts/Priester battle for 5th starter playing out?

Jason Martinez

2:45

Good chance they're both on the roster (Giolito, Bello on IL) unless Criswell or Newcomb get the spot. And then they should each get at least 2 starts. Maybe 3. But that's a good chance to prove they belong.

drplantwrench

2:46

How much do you guys read into Spring Training stats? i feel like its hard to ignore great/terrible performances, but at the same time, none of this really matters

Jon Becker

2:47

I personally don't care much at all except for guys who are actually fighting for spots, when the performance can actually be a needle-mover. But it is fun to see which definitely-on-the-roster players have new pitches, throw harder, hit the ball harder, or are trying out new positions, regardless of results.

Jason Martinez

2:49

Lots of roster battles are so close that the spring stats will be a deciding factor. But it's really up to the team to determine whether it matters or not. Like, Gavin Sheets will destroy AAA pitching and it's not a surprise that he's crushing it in ST. That almost means nothing but he has supposedly made changes in his hitting approach. So the Padres would have to determine if those changes will help him during the season. Because he won't do this against MLB pitchers during the season if he's the same guy as he was with the White Sox the past 2 years.

Rose

2:49

Odds Mason Montgomery is the Rays closer by seasons end?

Jason Martinez

2:50

It's the Rays so who knows what they'll do. I think it's more likely that they use him in a multi-inning role with occasional save chances and then give him a chance to start again heading into 2026. If he becomes their "closer", he's probably there in the bullpen for good. I don't think that's the plan.

AL Central Casting

2:51

Assuming no injuries over the next few weeks, candidates for the final two position player roster spots on the Twins seem to be down to Lee, Julien, and Gasper. How do you see this shaking out?

Jon Becker

2:52

Lee and Julien has been our projection all offseason and I think we'll stick with that unless the Twins give us reason otherwise. Gasper being able to catch would help his case on a lot of other teams but not a ton for a team that has two catchers entrenched.

Phil

2:53

Is Yoshida more hurt than the team is letting on (again), or is he still just not a great roster fit? I am not reading every single word of Red Sox coverage but I just feel like I've barely seen his name all spring.

Jason Martinez

2:56

I think it's no longer a great roster fit and the fact that he hasn't been able to play defense makes him a bad bench candidate. I haven't changed the projection yet because he has been DHing, but they might put him on the IL to start the season and Devers would be the DH, Bregman would play 3B, and Kristian Campbell (or someone else) would play 2B. Then they'll worry about it later on. There is no doubt that they have tried to trade him. He can hit, too. Just not enough for the $ he makes.

You say goodbye, I say Halo

2:57

Would the Angels be better off making Trout the full time DH and putting Soler in RF? Or at least have them split duties at both positions? Sure, it's a massive defensive downgrade in RF using Soler, but if you really want Trout healthy, playing RF every day will still leave him more vulnerable to injury.

Jon Becker

2:59

I remember reading at some point in the last couple years that the Angels were concerned about Trout DHing actually being worse because he'd just end up taking swings in the cage all the time in between plate appearances and put more wear on his body than he would running around for a handful of plays in the outfield. He'll get his share of DH time just to keep him fresh but Soler in RF is a disaster that they'd like to avoid having to watch too often.

David

2:59

I think your roster resource is wrong about the Dodgers CF. All the buzz out of camp is that Pages will make the team over Outman

Jason Martinez

3:02

I think that was the buzz for most of camp but Outman has made it a close call. Dodgers bench is all right-handed hitters, too, so I think Outman gets an edge by giving them a left-handed batter to play CF. With that said, the Cubs are starting two LHP (Imanaga, Steele) so Outman won't be starting in the Tokyo Series. And then they'll decide prior to 3/27 on Outman vs Pages.

I'm RosterResource, by the way.

Chip

3:03

Any doubt that Nolan Jones is starting and playing 140+ games?

Jon Becker

3:04

I think he'll be the starting LF to open the year, but 140+ games is pretty high to me. Bouchard and Beck could both start against LHP to push Jones to the bench, and if Jones hits like he did last year he won't hold the starting spot very long with Veen and Yanquiel potentially debuting this year.

diadem

3:04

Please list the minor league SP in the NLthat will have the greatest impact in 2025.

Jason Martinez

3:06

A few that should pitch in the majors in 2025 ... Dollander (COL), Mathews (STL) Lowder (CIN), Chandler (PIT), Sproat (NYM), Painter (PHI)

Uncle Festa

3:08

Best guess at a current NL setup reliever who emerges as a closer?

Jon Becker

3:09

Jeremiah Estrada, though it might not be this year. His fastball has always been ridiculous and he finally found a secondary pitch that works for him in his splitter. Suarez faded towards the end last year and it's really tough to succeed throwing almost-exclusively fastballs (unless you're Sean Doolittle). Jason Adam's another option from that same bullpen.

War2d2

3:10

Any insight on why David Robertson hasn’t been signed yet? I realize he’s 40, but he was worth almost 2 WAR as a reliever last year. Feels like someone should be knocking on his door. I was hoping the Cubs would bring him back, but apparently they’re going after Lance Lynn instead

Jason Martinez

3:12

A lot of the veteran players who have already made plenty of $ aren't interested in taking a deal that is less than what they believe they are valued at. They are also mindful of how taking a deal that is less than their perceived value negatively affects future free agents.

Jon Becker

3:13

I'm sure he's had offers but when you've accomplished what he's accomplished and made the money he's made, might as well be picky about $ and team.

Closer sweepstakes

3:13

Who do you guys think will lead these teams in saves: Boston, Detroit, Kansas City, and Arizona?

Jon Becker

3:14

I'll say Hendriks, Foley, Estévez but not by much, and I'll go off board for the Dbacks and say Drey Jameson emerges as the guy, freeing up Puk and Martinez to be used as firemen.

Colaaa

3:14

Why is the Kirk starting games projection so low when he's strong defensively and the backup C is no good? Seems maybe an artifact of the Jansen era?

Colaaaa

3:14

Can't help feeling like PT projections for Herrera are low... if he's as strong offensively as many experts think he will be, will he really cede 250 PA to the punchless Pages? I wonder if his PA will be similar or less than Bart, Wells etc.

Jason Martinez

3:16

I have Kirk with 67% of the starts, which is a lot these days. Keep in mind that 3 very good catchers (so far) are already hurt and will begin the season on the IL. And it's a long season. With that said, I can see Kirk getting closer to 75% if he stays healthy.

I have Herrera with 60% right now and I would say that there is a better chance it's closer to 50/50 because of Pages' defense. If Herrera hits and plays good enough defense, I think 60-65% is realistic, though.

Bucs 3b

3:17

Just tough it out with Hayes' sub par bat at third?

Jon Becker

3:19

Yep, he's making real money and is a fabulous defender so he's got the job. He just might not ever lift the ball consistently, which makes slightly-above-average (which with his glove could still be a 5+ win player) the best we could hope for him in a full season.

Sean

3:19

I'm curious to hear your thoughts on the Pirates catching situation. I assume Bart in, but is there a scenario where Endy and Henry Davis both make the team? Will those guys see time at 1B/DH or DH/OF, respectively?

Jason Martinez

3:22

Endy hasn't played 1B at all so I think that's probably not in the plans. I think there are enough at-bats between backup catcher/DH to make it worthwhile to keep one. But it wouldn't surprise me if they both started the season in AAA and they went with Jason Delay, who is a more traditional backup.

Insert Witty Name Here

3:22

Not a roster question, but thoughts on having some sort of pitch count minimum and maximum for the days starting pitcher? Have to throw 70 but no more than 100 would seem like it would bring back the old days (the 90’s? Ugh….)

Jon Becker

3:23

I'm more in favor of a codified minimum than a maximum, since there's that built-in maximum of 100ish that managers employ 99% of the time anyway. My concern is that there would have to be so many reasonable enough carveouts to the minimum (injury, reaching X number of pitches in a single inning, giving up X number of runs, etc.) that the rule wouldn't change all that much. I guess even a few fewer quick hooks is better than nothing, though.

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