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RosterResource Chat - 4/18/25
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AvatarJason Martinez
2:02
Welcome to another RosterResource Live Chat! I'd like to take the time to thank you for all of the great questions. We can get tunnel vision with this job because it does require a certain level of focus. These chats allow us to take a step back and view things from a different perspective.

I also wanted to highlight Jon's first RosterResource creation. He built this MLB coaching grid ... https://www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/breakdowns/coaches ... Hopefully, it's the first of many cool things he'll build on the site.   

And here we go ...
TooDamnTall
2:02
What positional arrangements will the A's use to get Kurtz into the lineup? Also, what should they do?
AvatarJon Becker
2:03
Hi everyone, happy Friday!
2:04
Looking forward to Kurtz making his debut sometime soon. I think most straightforward is just putting Rooker in the OF and Soderstrom/Kurtz splitting time at DH/1B, though I think either of the latter two getting some OF time by the end of the year is at least somewhat plausible. Maybe Soderstrom gets time behind the plate if Langeliers needs a rest.
MF Luder
2:05
Is 2B going to be a platoon in Minnesota now that Luke Keaschall is up?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:06
Most likely. Julien has been very good vs RHP so far (123 wRC+) and Luke Keaschall is a right-handed batter. He's a versatile defender, which could get him additional starts at other positions, but he's coming back from TJ surgery so not sure if he'll play much OF. He played some 1B last season, but Ty France is pretty well set there.
Joe Shlabotnik
2:07
When Woodruff rejoins the Brewers' rotation, who gets bumped? Does Priester's spot seem secure or no?
AvatarJon Becker
2:09
Right now, nobody will have to get bumped for Woodruff since the fifth spot has been pseudo-bullpen games with Patrick and Alexander eating innings but not expected to hold onto their spots no matter how well they pitch. Priester might be in jeopardy when Myers is back too, but maybe they do some piggybacking with Woodruff to limit his innings or build in extra rest for everyone but Peralta more liberally than a team with a standard five-man rotation would.
Guest
2:09
Who is the odd man out when Neto returns to LAA?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:11
Lots of options, which probably isn't a good thing for the Angels. JD Davis and Nicky Lopez have barely played. Tim Anderson and Kevin Newman have played a lot and haven't hit at all. Newman is guaranteed $2.75MM so I think he's staying. Lopez gives them a left-handed hitting option. I think Davis gets DFAd and Anderson is safe. At least for now.
Mark
2:11
Spencer Horwitz is heading on a rehab assignment. Any idea what his role will look like and where he hits in the lineup?
AvatarJon Becker
2:12
The Pirates’ offense has been so bad that they’ve hit Enmanuel Valdez cleanup while playing him at first, neither of which are roles he should ever expect to play. So I think Horwitz will slot into the same role, maybe face some lefties too and see if he can prove himself viable there. If not, Triolo can play first against lefties.
Weird1@Portland
2:13
Will Stanton hit 20 HT TY?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:15
He hit his 20th HR at around his 315th plate appearance last season. The question is whether he gets 300 PA. I'll take the under, partly because of his injury history and partly because Ben Rice's performance is going to cause the Yankees to take their time in bringing Stanton back.
David
2:15
Dont you think Nico Hoerner should be leadoff for the Cubs? Ian Happ just isn't bringing it
AvatarJon Becker
2:16
Nah, I don’t think so. Happ is in multiple stretches like this every year and always ends up doing just fine, and no need to rearrange when the offense as a whole is doing pretty well. By and large the league has moved away from Hoerner-types (not a lot of walking or slug) atop lineups.
matty25
2:17
When Varsho returns who gets bumped off of the Blue Jays 26-man roster? Seems like they might keep one of Barger or Wagner and send the other to AAA for regular ABs? Thus Lukes survives?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:19
Sounds like Varsho is close to a rehab assignment so my guess is they have about 2 weeks to figure it out. And that 2-week period is probably enough time for Barger to prove that he belongs over Wagner or Lukes. We'll see how often they start him.
Bill
2:20
Is keashall up for good ?
AvatarJon Becker
2:22
Simple answer to questions like these, especially for a team that needs to start winning as badly as the Twins do: if he performs, they’ll find time for him, and if he doesn’t, he’ll go back down. It helps that Castro can play all over if Keaschall and Julien hold down the fort at 2B.
Closers in deep league
2:22
Do you think Abner Uribe gets more saves opportunites in Milwaukee or will it become a committee? Other guys to consider Santana is a option in Pitts or Leasure in ChiSox?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:24
It's still a small sample and he missed a lot of time last season. But I'd say he's the next man up to be the primary closer. If Megill struggles or misses time with injury, I think they're set up nicely for a committee (Koeing, Hudson, Uribe, Anderson). But if Uribe continues to throw strikes, he will be the closer at some point, in my opinion.
Guille
2:24
Why is Ben Rice playing no C for the Yankees? Also, is it safe to say his spot in the lineup is safe when/if Stanton is healthy again?
AvatarJon Becker
2:26
There’s no need for him to with DH open and with Wells and Escarra much more highly-regarded defensively. But his lineup spot should be considered safe unless he massively slumps right before Stanton comes back. Rice could catch when Stanton returns, I suppose, but I wouldn’t expect him to more than maybe once a week.
Toolsy
2:26
Is dingler the #1 catcher in Detroit after Jake Roger's returns?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:28
I think it's possible. And, at least initially upon Rogers' return, very likely. But for a catcher, that just means he's getting around 60% of the starts. Not sure either of them would get more than that. It's a good tandem.
MF Luder
2:28
When Roman Anthony comes up does Rafaela become a utility-type that pushes out David Hamilton's playing time?
AvatarJon Becker
2:29
If there’s not an injury I think that’s the only way the puzzle works out. Rafaela would still play plenty, especially late in games, but until he stops swinging at everything I’m not sure he can be anywhere close to league average at the plate.
KC Pain
2:30
As someone who doesnt have any Christian Javier shares, I was offered him for Bohm in dynasty. Do you think he returns to being a really good when he comes back from IL or more of a 4+ ERA under K per 9 type?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:32
By mid-2026, I think he'll settle in somewhere between his 2022 and 2023 seasons. Not quite the ace he was trending towards after 2022 but better than 2023, when he might've started feeling the early effects of the elbow injury. And he's only 28. Not sure I'd feel great about Bohm's inconsistency.
April
2:33
Do you think Misner or Mangum will lose more PT with Palacios back?
AvatarJon Becker
2:34
Probably Mangum, because Misner can do actual damage and Mangum is more of a slash-and-dash type guy. That's not to say he's not valuable, and he should play every day against lefties and come in for defense against righties, and pick up some steals off the bench. Nice player to have at Kevin Cash's disposal.
Dan in TX
2:34
Does Williamson go down when Polanco is healthy?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:36
Once Polanco can play 3B regularly, that is likely. Williamson should be playing everyday (MLB or AAA). But it's not like Polanco at DH is blocking someone from getting at-bats. Tellez hasn't hit. Solano hasn't hit. Not really a good DH option so they might as well keep Polanco there as long as possible.
Misinformation
2:37
Do you think there will ever be a time when money is not a big part of baseball fandom? When trades are talent for talent without regard to salaries? it used to be that way, until about 20 years ago.
AvatarJon Becker
2:40
No, I don't think so, the toothpaste came out of that tube as soon as free agency was instituted and players actually had the right to choose where they played and maximized earning power. But salary's always going to be a factor and has been going back to Babe Ruth, who was traded for over $100K in large part because the Red Sox just needed the money. And it's really just the nature of how people make deals: if I offer you a Milky Way for a Snickers you might be willing to do it, but you're going to be a lot less willing if I want $10 attached to the Snickers. (Apologies, I really would like some candy right about now.)
Chris Knapp
2:40
When does Emmanuel Rodriguez get the call?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:42
There's a good chance he'd be up with the Twins now if he was off to a better start. But it seems clear that he still has a ways to go. Only around 250 PA between AAA/AA and he missed valuable time last season due to injury. I could see him as a 2nd half option if he shows improvement, especially with his K%.
Guille
2:43
Mike Trout last 2 seasons: 16 singles, 16 homers. What´s up with that?
AvatarJon Becker
2:44
Mostly really fun small-sample weirdness, but he's also got a pretty low grounder rate the last two years. He's not a Schwarber-esque one-tool slugger, now, I don't think (though, for what it's worth, the very very very early returns on his RF defense are not good!).
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