RosterResource Chat - 4/30/26
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AvatarJon Becker
2:47
Option rules are option rules and you can't supersede them with contract writing. A 5+ service time player with options remaining can consent to being assigned to the minors, but an out of options player can't have something contractually added that they're allowed to be options. That would be way too big a financial cudgel that some teams could wield and others wouldn't want to, I'd say.
doughboy
2:47
Jahmai Jones is a strict platoon bat with no positive value or versatility. Considering these limitations, what would the numbers need to look like vs LHP to continue justify a roster spot.
AvatarJason Martinez
2:50
He's on the roster for one reason only and that's to hit vs LHP. This season, he has a 103 wRC+ in 30 PAs against them and he's not playing ahead of anyone who is better. So he's locked in for now. Ideally, he's much closer to his career numbers (156 wRC+ in 177 PA since 2024) and he'll continue to get that opportunity.
John
2:50
What's the ideal way to deploy platoon hitters as pinch hitters? Watching the Mariners, they seem to pinch hit for Raley and Canzone with Refsnyder, Garver or Joe as soon as a lefty comes in even if it's the 6th inning. Is it better to leave the lefties in the hopes that they face a righty later on or is this the way most teams use these platoons?
AvatarJon Becker
2:52
Depends on the situation. I think if you have a real chance to score (RISP for example) or if you're down by a chunk and just need to get things going, make the move that's in front of you right now. But if it's a close game (I think especially when you're in the lead and probably if it's a tie too) and nobody on base I'd probably not make the move. I wouldn't like giving the opposing manager a really easy pocket of RHH or LHH to manage against.
Aj
2:52
Could jorbit vivas be a long term option for the nats?
AvatarJason Martinez
2:54
Unless he starts to show at least a little bit of power (0 HR, 3 doubles, 14 singles thus far), I think he'll be limited to a bench role. And I think his bat works there (high OBP, contact rate), but only if he provides some value defensively. And I'm not sure how he's looked at 2B or 3B thus far. But it's a small sample either way. To answer your question, maybe if they think he can start at 2B or 3B a couple times per week.
feedback
2:55
FG has rolled out a couple of new toold in the past week—but I can't find them in your navigation. For 3example, where do I find the new RR grid? Thanks
AvatarJon Becker
2:57
Roster Grid is right above the team selector in the first tab of RR, next to Platoon Lineups. You can also get to all of the RR features at the main FanGraphs nav bar.
Jackson Makalov
2:57
Since teams clearly value options, can we figure out exactly how much (money) one is worth? Seems like there should be some way to at least narrow down a range; after all no team would consider a change-of-scenery to offload a SWR clone with options for the real one without, even if peripherals were completely identical
AvatarJason Martinez
3:01
Not really sure how to put a $ figure on it, but having that flexibility is super valuable to a team for several reasons. Depth is integral because of pitcher injuries, inconsistency, and limitations for young pitchers or pitchers returning from injury. Having as many reliable pitchers as possible in AAA who can be recalled and optioned throughout the season is important.
Big Buckston
3:01
How much longer does Sproat get for Milwaukee? He has not been good this year, and with Priester ramping up and a few decent other options in AAA, seems like a reset demotion may be incoming?
AvatarJon Becker
3:02
Brandon Woodruff was throwing 84-86 and left his start with what sounds like dead arm (Pat Murphy said nothing was hurting but that the ball just wasn't coming out firmly at all, clearly), which might have just bought Sproat some more time. He's also looked pretty good in the early portion of his last few starts before running out of gas in the middle innings, so maybe the Brewers start getting creative with how he's used.
Alec
3:03
Update on my question: Finnegan warming up to close the ninth today after Jansen threw 11 pitches yesterday. Maybe just a rest/reset for Kenley?
AvatarJason Martinez
3:05
In this case, it's almost a guarantee that Hinch will be asked about it post-game and his answer should give us some indication whether it was just a reset, temporary demotion out of the closer's role, or whether they're going to some sort of committee. Remember that Hinch wouldn't say Kenley was the closer throughout Spring Training. It wasn't a surprise that he's been their primary closer but it also won't be a surprise if he goes back to what he was saying before the season ... "we have a lot of guys who can close and I won't hesitate to use multiple guys".
Terrence McKenna
3:06
Challenge system is a big success but do you think mlb will increase the challenges? 3 seconds to make a challenge would be better than 2 seconds as well. Seems like baseball is a game of 3 strikes, outs, etc 2 challenges just doesn’t feel symmetrical
AvatarJon Becker
3:08
I've thought a decent amount about this and what I've noticed is that teams are normally pretty aggressive with that first challenge and then if they burn it early they're very reticent to use it until it's a leverage spot in the 7th inning or later. Of course there are some exceptions there but I think that no matter how many challenges you gave (n), teams would settle in to being pretty aggressive with n - 1 challenges and the time it would take them to get to one left would be about the same. I'm also cool with two seconds, I like the instantaneous nature of it and preventing players looking into the dugout for feedback.
Sid the Astros Kid
3:08
More serious question! Given the Astros not good rotation, do y'all think is likely that they fast track someone like Ethan Pecko through his rehab stint and promote him to the big league's? Imai's rehab start in AA wasn't very good with the lack of control so can't rely on him coming back.
AvatarJason Martinez
3:10
They have so many options to work through between guys like Lambert, Bolton, Teng, and Alexander. They're probably hoping a couple of those guys can stabilize the rotation until Brown and Javier return. And they really need Imai to figure things out. The higher upside prospects like Pecko, Ullola, and Bryce Mayer could factor in later in the season.
That will do it for today. Thanks for all the great questions! We'll be back next Thursday.
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