JotCast | RosterResource Chat

RosterResource Chat - 8/13/26

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Jason Martinez

2:01

Welcome to the 1st post-trade deadline RosterResource chat! Still a lot of good topics on the table even if the popular "who will be sellers/buyers" one is off the table.

Here we go ...

Salty

2:02

Do you think Justin Martinez will claim the closer's role in AZ when he's back in the bigs, or do you think there's not enough time to do so with only roughly six weeks to go?

Jon Becker

2:03

I wouldn't think his first appearance or two back from injury will be in the closer's role; they'll want him to get his feet back under him first. But I saw he averaged close to 102 on his fastball in his first rehab outing so the stuff is clearly all the way back. Very good odds he's the closer by the end of the year, which allows Lovullo to deploy Morillo and Garcia earlier in the game and lengthens the whole bullpen.

BaseballBeerBrats

2:03

What do you think the playing time situation will be for Zac Veen? Hard to believe the Rox would sit him after bringing him up.

Jason Martinez

2:05

Doesn't appear to be anything standing in his way for the remainder of the season unless he looks absolutely terrible. He should be in the lineup every day vs RHP and get occasional starts vs LHP. Beck and Johnston have gotten sporadic playing time so I don't expect them to cut into Zeen's playing time. Beck has struggled and Rockies have already seen him quite a bit over the past couple seasons. Johnston's numbers are fine but is probably settling into more of a part-time role.

Veen destroyed AAA pitching and deserves the month-and-a-half audition before Rockies have to decide where he fits in 2027.

second-pot

2:06

What do you make of the upcoming mess managing the Cubs pitching staff? Cabrera back this week, Palencia in a matter of days, Hoby Milner is about ready, Ben Brown is throwing again, Justin Steele may return in a bullpen role, Hunter Harvey is thowing bullpens, Shelby Miller is on a rehab assignment... meanwhile only Assad (maybe) Zeferjahn and Rolison (definitely not) are optionable. Thielbar and Civale are cut candidates, but there's the rotation to figure out too. Is there a world where Peterson gets cut and Cabrera Steele and Brown join Rea in the bullpen or am I overthinking all this?

Jon Becker

2:11

I love questions that require solving roster puzzles! Let's pretend it's September 1 because that's a more realistic date for everyone to be healthy (at the earliest) and more importantly for me, I get an extra spot to work with. I'm not going to focus too much on starters vs. relievers because there could be piggybacking with pitchers like Steele and Brown who probably won't be fully stretched out if/when they're back. So:

Locks for spots if healthy (11):

Gausman
Holmes
Boyd
Imanaga
Cabrera
Brown
Steele
Palencia
Webb
Zeferjahn
Miller

That leaves just three spots for:

Peterson
Rolison
Rea
Thielbar
Assad
Civale
Milner
Harvey

Of those eight arms for four spots, I don't know that anyone is so obviously ahead of the others right now. Rolison and Assad being optionable really works against them, and I think how Harvey and Milner look on rehab is going to be really important for them. As for the hybrid SP/RP arms (Peterson, Rea, Civale) and Thielbar, they're actively auditioning every time they go out there.

dubykoff

2:11

Is there a primary closer in KC, or a job share between Cruz and Pearson? Same question for LAA, with Natera and Joyce.

Jason Martinez

2:16

That Royals' bullpen is a dumpster fire so I think they're just happy to have 2 semi-reliable late-inning options who throw in the high-90's for now. My guess is that they'll both continue to get save opportunities and whether there is any separation depends on performance. Pearson is auditioning to avoid being non-tendered. Cruz is auditioning for high-leverage role in 2027.

If Joyce is healthy in 2027, I don't think there's any question that he's the primary closer. They're easing him now, for good reason, which is why guys like Natera and Fermin are going to get save chances. Good opportunity for them to lock up spots for next season. Natera has been terrific.

Phillip Denny

2:16

Who is the odd man out from the Dodgers rotation when Glasnow comes back? (He's scheduled for two more rehab starts).

Jon Becker

2:17

Wrobleski's had a horrible three starts so I suppose it could be him if he keeps getting hit around since he can be optioned and they may want to keep Lauer around (and he can't be optioned), but Lauer seems the likeliest to just get bumped to the bullpen into that rotating long relief/mop-up role that Roberts really likes to have for games that have gotten out of hand in one direction or another.

StuShea

2:17

Thanks for doing this! I feel like the White Sox are getting too cute with Doyle, trying to fix something that isn't really broken. What do you see, ROS, for the playing time in CF? Will it be a straight platoon?

Jason Martinez

2:20

They've been facing mostly LHPs since acquiring Doyle so hard to know how often he is going to play vs RHP. Peters has struggled badly the past month so I think there is an opportunity for Doyle to take over the full-time role.

I don't know if there's much they can change with Doyle mid-season. He kind of is what he is right now. Some pop but low BB/high K rate. If he's going to be anything more than a 4th OF/platoon vs LHP, I think they'll have to make big changes during the offseason.

Phil

2:22

How do you think Crochet will be used if he comes back, presumably mostly unstretched, in a few weeks? Setup? Opener paired with Bello?

Jon Becker

2:23

I could see it transitioning from the latter into the former as we get closer to the playoffs, assuming he's back with enough time for them to start him off in a more structured "a couple innings every five days ahead of Bello" role before letting him loose in single-inning bursts as the game dictates a little bit more often. It's not to say he's completely useless on a playoff roster if he's basically working as a starter but can only go 2-3 innings, but that puts a lot of strain on a bullpen and I'd rather be able to be more liberal with when I can use him late in games.

warpath

2:24

Byron Buxton activated off the IL as the 27th man for the field of dreams game. Who gets the boot when the roster is back to 26? Alan Roden, maybe Alex Jackson since he's barely played recently? Jackson is out of options though

Jason Martinez

2:26

Jackson has barely been on the field in the last 2 weeks, but Jeffers/Caratini are in the lineup together often enough that keeping him as the 3rd catcher is probably valuable. They also don't really have much catching depth so losing Jackson on waivers wouldn't be ideal. Would also suck if he gets DFAd a week before the series in San Diego (Jackson is from San Diego).

I can see them sending Roden to AAA until rosters expand.

Eshan Mehere

2:27

How does the yankees puzzle work out when the 3 big guys come back given expanded rosters only gives them 1 spot and they don’t really have optionable position players.

Jon Becker

2:29

Judge still hasn't started to swing and Stanton has just started "engaging with the bases" (whatever exactly that means) so we're still a ways away from those two and Bellinger all having to get squeezed on the roster. Jones has been hitting well (and hitting third!) but the playing time just isn't there for him when everyone's healthy, so I think he has to be one of the moves. Assuming we're talking September 1 or later, I think the other moves comes to Caballero to the minors or a Rosario DFA. Rosario was signed to mash lefties but actually has reverse splits this year, but they may prefer the flexibility of keeping both him and Caballero around. Caballero has a ton of utility on the bases and will certainly be on the playoff roster for that but his role right now in the regular season is pretty niche, and he hasn't hit in months.

Christopher

2:30

I know this is one of those good problems to have / something else will probably happen situations, but if ALL the Yankees come back healthy, how do you see the glut shaking loose with Ramos, Goldy, bullpen etc? I'd love for them to cut the dead weight like Yarbrough, Hill, Rosario etc, though I am sure itll be the guys with options left. Then again, I was shocked they kept Jones and promoted GLJ and sent Volpe and Jasson out, so who knows?

Jason Martinez

2:34

Similar question as the last one so I'll just expand on Jon's answer. By the time Stanton (and maybe Judge) are back on the field together, it will be late in the season and the focus will be more game-to-game and every lineup could be matchup-based.

Unless they start giving Rice time at catcher, there will likely be one lefty masher who sits vs LHP. But this won't be a bad thing once they get to the playoffs. Having Stanton or Ramos available off the bench would be a luxury. I think Cashman wanted to add more good hitters and let Boone worry about who plays if it does get to the point where everyone is healthy.

Phillip Denny

2:34

I know it's a tad early to be thinking about post season rosters, but imagine Rushing can hit but NOT catch rest of the year. Basically means Dodgers are forced to carry 3 catchers, which shortens the bench into some weird crunch decisions.

Jon Becker

2:37

Most teams aren't going to sweat too much about bench decisions for the playoffs because benches really aren't used too much for a lot of teams, but you're right that having Rushing, Feduccia, and Rortvedt all on the roster would make for a tough decision of picking two of Enrique Hernández, Rojas, and Alex Call. I think maybe Call is the odd man out there considering the postseason pedigrees of Rojas and Hernández, and they've got some more cachet in the clubhouse. But both of those guys are pros and wouldn't complain about getting left off the roster, either. One thing they also have to consider with Rushing: can you find the right time to use him such that his inclusion on the roster makes sense? He'd really only hit for one catcher before getting subbed out by the other — there aren't any other spots in the lineup you'd want to pinch hit for — so they might decide it doesn't make a whole lot of sense anyway.

cbp2170

2:37

Do you have an idea which game, if any, Skubal will start when the Dodgers return to Detroit?

Jason Martinez

2:40

A few factors involved, including whether the Dodgers temporarily go back to 5 starters or when Glasnow returns, but it seems to be lining up for Skubal to start one of those games. If they just stick with a 6-man rotation and don't push him back for any reason, I believe he's in line for Game 3 on 8/30.

Jacob Albritton

2:40

Can you explain the details of the injury clause in Pivetta's contract?

Jon Becker

2:43

Good time to remind that if you click on the notepad icon on a team payroll page next to a player's contract description, you can see this. We don't have specifics on what a "qualifying injury" is but since Pivetta has a right arm injury I would think his current injury qualifies, and he's already past 130 days, which should flip his opt out for next year into a club option. But assuming he's back this year (or even Opening Day next year) he won't have missed enough time to have a club option for 2029.

Jacob Albritton

2:43

Could you see the Padres rolling with a Campusano, Salas, & Fermin rotation next season with Campusano and Salas getting a lot of PAs at DH?

Jason Martinez

2:49

This was actually a topic of conversation I had with a colleague over the past 2 days in the Padres' press box. For obvious reasons. Fermin looks really good as of late. Campy is having a terrific season. And Salas seems like he'll be ready in 2027. My guess is they trade Campy or Fermin in the offseason. I don't think they want to go with 3 catchers. At least not on a permanent basis. They value a catcher's role on defense way too much to give Campy or Salas a lot of DH at-bats. Catchers also get hurt often so Padres value the off-days.

A few important factors. Campy is out of options. I don't think the Padres would send Fermin to AAA but he does have options. Campy should have a ton of trade value because of his offensive numbers (.900+ OPS) and his defensive has looked much-improved. Fermin will have value for a team looking to add a reliable backup but not nearly as much as Campy. I think Salas/Campy would be the best pair.

Baseball Learner

2:49

If Stanton ever comes back is there anyway for the Yankees to use him that is not subtraction by addition? Could he be platooned? What would happen to Goldy then?

Jon Becker

2:51

It's tough because the concept of a righty platoon DH doesn't really exist, and for good reason, but to your point: who are you starting him over? Maybe against an especially tough lefty they want to load up on righties and sit both Rice and García, but it's not like that's going to be an every-lefty situation. And Rice catching at any point this year seems to be out the window. So Stanton's role may be limited to the very occasional DH start and pinch-hitting, which he's been pretty awful at.

Ragbrai

2:51

Do you see Weaver as a closer next year or will they bring in someone else?

Jason Martinez

2:54

Barring anything alarming performance-wise to finish out the season, I have to believe they feel pretty good with Weaver and Montgomery as closer options for 2027. If they want a primary closer, however, I think Weaver probably has the edge unless they're able to add another lefty setup man. And finding a lefty setup man is not easy, which I why I say that.

warpath

2:54

Kyle Schwarber with a couple of 1B starts this week (doubling his season total) with Harper DH'ing. Bohm sat on those days with Hill or De La Cruz starting in RF. Do you think we see this happening more often going forward to give Bryce a break from the OF? And do you think it's possible they just move to Harper at 1B, Hill/De La Cruz in RF, and Bohm to the bench as the default configuration?

Jon Becker

2:57

I think the former is likelier than the latter. Bohm got a pretty good vote of confidence from Dombrowski (albeit one based on RBI, which, uh... not great!) but that doesn't mean he's going to start every single day either. With the knee soreness Harper's experiencing from the OF move I can't imagine he'll realistically play more than 4-5 days a week there for the time being.

Gunther042

2:56

Hey guys, really enjoying the Pedro Ramirez experience for the Cubs so far. Do you see him as a super utility player going forward, or is he someone who could contend for the starting LF job in 2027? The cubs could definitely use another regular with a high contact rate

Jason Martinez

3:01

According to my math, he has at least 2 hits in 8 of his last 14 starts. He's a hit machine and he's doing it with the Cubs on the rise and looking like a legit WS contender. I don't think the Cubs are thinking too much about how he fits in 2027 other than he's going to be a big part of their team (unless he's traded for an impact player, which the Cubs will probably be open-minded about). I think the big question is going to be whether they think he can be an everyday LF because he's not needed there this season and, thus, can't really prove whether he can or not.

3:03

That will do it for today. We'll be back next Thursday. Have a great rest of the week!

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