RosterResource Chat – 4/25/25

Jason Martinez: Welcome to the RosterResource Stay Chat! We’ve had the quickest prospect in baseball (Chandler Simpson) and top-of-the-line energy prospects (Nick Kurtz) arrive within the massive leagues over the previous few days. So it’s been an excellent week.

Right here we go …

Tyler: Ought to the Cubs work out a technique to transfer PCA up within the order to get him extra AB’s?

Jon Becker: If it ain’t broke, don’t repair it, and the Cubs lineup retains scoring with the best way it’s presently structured. PCA’s outcomes have been superior however he’s additionally starkly overperforming his xBA, xSLG, and xwOBA, and nonetheless chasing fairly a bit greater than the typical hitter.

Keith P.: Thanks Jason and Jon. How seemingly Cleveland strikes Gabriel Arias to SS quickly, calls up Juan Brito to play 2B and strikes Brayan Rocchio to the bench/AAA?

Jason Martinez: I believe we’re getting past the purpose of “possibly Rocchio will determine it out and he generally is a league-average hitter”. He’s had 600 PA within the massive leagues. Guardians prioritize pitching/protection and Rocchio was superb (11 DRS, 6 OAA) in 2024. It’s early however his defensive numbers aren’t nice this 12 months, which could make it simpler to maneuver on for now. Arias to SS and Brito at 2B sounds about proper. Have to see what Brito can do earlier than the Bazzana period begins. UPDATE: Brito will miss 8-12 weeks after thumb surgical procedure.

LW: How lengthy do the Dodgers follow Muncy? There doesn’t look like any vivid crimson warning indicators below the hood, however he positive isn’t serving to the offense proper now

Jon Becker: He will get into slumps like this nearly yearly, it’s simply extra pronounced when it comes initially of the season and there’s nowhere to cover the tough few weeks of stats. That mentioned, he’s 34 and age is undefeated so I’ll be curious to see to what extent he bounces again. However they’ve bought no purpose to make a change so long as they hold profitable and so they don’t actually have anybody ready within the wings to exchange him, anyway. (Kim is all the way down to a 99 wRC+ in AAA after a very good begin and has solely performed 2B, SS, CF.)

Tim: Ought to we even contemplate Hunter Goodman a catcher, with the current utilization? It looks as if COL is backing off that and gonna make him a full time hitter

Jason Martinez: Looks like it. I’m unsure if he’s been a legal responsibility defensively. I don’t assume there have been excessive expectations. They only needed to get his bat within the lineup on a regular basis. However being a beginning catcher is difficult and it might have an effect on a participant’s hitting. So possibly limiting him at catcher in an effort to get the bat going is the plan. In his final 8 begins, he’s solely caught as soon as and he’s 8-for-29 with 1 HR and 5 BB. Not nice however a lot better. Not less than headed in the proper path.

comish4lif: Baty down, McNeil up.
What does this imply for taking part in time for Luisangel Acuna?

Jon Becker: Must be rather less time for Acuña within the mixture, although possibly not instantly in the event that they need to ease McNeil again into issues slightly bit. It was a really inflexible left/proper platoon for Baty/Acuña and I don’t assume that’ll be the case for McNeil. Acuña’s capacity to play CF helps too, he would possibly begin sharing time on the market with Taylor.

Luis Campusano: Ideas on if SD will deliver me again up quickly as they aren’t getting a lot hitting from their C’s now?  Know their P’s are placing up some nice video games.

Jason Martinez: Padres will sacrifice a minimum of one empty spot within the lineup if it advantages the pitching employees. And I believe that’s most likely the case proper now greater than something as a result of they belief Maldonado/Diaz greater than Campusano. With that mentioned, Campy caught near half of the workforce’s video games in 2024 and the pitching was nice. He can’t throw out base stealers and his protection isn’t thought of nice, however that additionally places loads of strain on him to hit. And we don’t know which model will present up. As a result of he’s been someplace between worst hitter in baseball and one of many best-hitting catchers in baseball at occasions.

Brablc: Ought to we be fearful about Ryan Walker?

Jon Becker: Not significantly, no, although it does seem as if Doval is the nearer now, a minimum of in the meanwhile. Walker’s pitch shapes and velocities have been actually just like final 12 months, it’s the command that’s been off. Keep in mind, he missed a number of days early within the 12 months with again tightness so he might nonetheless be slightly off there or not feeling fairly within the swing of issues but.

AH: On the RR Dodgers lineup, you will have Will Smith and Max Muncy batting seventh and eighth, neither of whom have batted that low within the order this season. Is that this a bizarre quirk of the dodgers by no means having had a full-strength lineup? Does Dave Roberts not need to bat them that low for some purpose?

Jason Martinez: That’s an fascinating statement. Nobody I’ve forward of them has hit that low both, which implies that the “beginning 9” has not been within the lineup collectively one time this season as a result of accidents, paternity depart, illness, days off, and so forth.

Jason Martinez: However we’ll see what occurs once they’re all lastly within the lineup without delay.

Bruce: Trigger for concern wrt Yainer Diaz?  Or simply early?

Jon Becker: It’s undoubtedly early and I strive to not sound the panic alarms till mid-Could or so, however it’s not like he’s simply getting BABIPed to dying (though his BABIP is certainly unsustainably low). Much more delicate contact, lots much less exhausting contact, extra pop-ups, fewer line drives. However loads of struggling hitters are only a small tweak away from profitable Participant of the Week and bringing their entire season batting strains as much as their regular ranges in April.

Could or Mayo: Mayo again up or Could turns into June… which occurs first?

Jason Martinez: A roster shakeup has turn into more likely and a Mayo call-up may very well be a giant a part of it. I don’t assume they’re fairly there but, however Westburg and Mountcastle haven’t hit and want to show issues round rapidly. If not, we might see Mayo in Could.

Kyle Harrison: Do you assume the Giants will deliver me again up if Verlander/Ray/Hicks proceed to battle?

Jon Becker: Verlander’s bought a robust maintain on a spot as a result of he’s Verlander and has additionally already had a number of bizarre begins the place he’s gotten hammered for an inning however in any other case regarded nice, however in any other case, yeah I might see some modifications there. Birdsong can also be pitching nice out of the bullpen and Whisenhunt looms in AAA, too. Asking approach an excessive amount of of the bullpen with Ray averaging below 5 innings a begin and Hicks barely over 5.

Vic: Do you see Emmanuel Valdez getting AB in Pitt as soon as Horowitz returns?     I admire the weekly chats!

Jason Martinez: In all probability, he’s the odd man out as soon as Horwitz returns until they DFA a veteran like Pham or Frazier. However that’s nonetheless a minimum of 2 weeks away. He performed loads of 2B in 2023-24 with the Purple Sox and the numbers are ugly. If he retains hitting, I believe they’d be extra keen to provide him an opportunity to play 2B and present he could be sufficient.

Biscuit: Any phrase on McGonigle’s restoration timeline?

Jon Becker: The newest I can discover is in an damage report from 16 days in the past, the place they mentioned he was “finishing rehab each day,” which I assume is healthier than being immobilized? Don’t need to rush him again however three weeks with an ankle sprain seems like awhile.

Biscuit: It’s odd to see Spencer Steer as a component time participant…what’s going on in Cincy?

Jason Martinez: Between his damage, which prompted him to overlook time on the finish of camp and prevented him from taking part in protection till just lately, and him not hitting in any respect, it’s given Noelvi Marte a slender window to place himself again on the map. After which Marte went and had 8 hits in 3 begins. Candelario has been even worse, however he’s the one with the assured contract and Steer has choices remaining. I believe they’ll give him a while to get going, although, contemplating how dependable he was in 2023-24.

Visitor: Is Mason Montgomery heading to AAA quickly?

Jon Becker: I’d be very stunned. Yeah he’s given up the three homers, which is actually not what you need, however the stuff appears to be like legit — there simply aren’t many lefties who can throw 100 and know the place it’s going. Far likelier for my part that he’s their nearer sooner or later this 12 months than it’s that he’s optioned down.

Lucas: How do the Phillies repair their outfield? I assume they may made a commerce by the deadline, however what’s the stopgap? Marsh has been abysmal and Kepler hasn’t been nice both

Jason Martinez: Each have sufficient of a monitor file to assume they’ll be effective. One among their prime prospects, Justin Crawford, is in AAA and has began taking part in some LF (like his pops did) however I don’t assume he’s going to make a big impact in 2025. Might give them a brief spark due to his pace. If issues are unhealthy in July, I can see them aggressively pursuing an OF or 1B (transfer Harper to OF). Too early to know who might be obtainable.

WB: Does Ben Brown have long-term endurance within the rotation?

Jon Becker: Within the brief time period, yeah, particularly with Steele harm. However long run, effectively… the stuff is admittedly good, however the command is… not that simply but. I believe he might use a 3rd pitch he’s comfy with mixing in to get fast outs for the reason that checklist of profitable two-pitch beginning pitchers is admittedly brief. I assume he’s tinkering with issues behind the scenes but when he doesn’t begin working deeper into video games with extra regularity, he’s bought Cade Horton respiration down his neck for a spot.

Adolis Garcia: How lengthy until Bochy stops hitting me behind Joc???

Jason Martinez: Properly, he did drop Joc within the lineup for video games on 4/19 and 4/22. In order that was someplace round 0-for-35. However after his pinch-hit double on 4/23, he was again within the No. 3 spot the next day. In all probability will take a number of extra unhealthy video games to drop him down once more (or to the bench) for an extended time frame.

Mark: ETA for Marte return? Does Tawa keep up when he does?

Jon Becker: He simply began operating yesterday, which is the massive field to examine, and he shouldn’t want a protracted rehab project. So throughout the subsequent ten days seems like a really protected guess. Tawa’s been nice and his versatility is a giant plus so they may very effectively hold Tawa and DFA Hampson, for positive.

Whisenhunt: ETA on Whisenhunt? He’s most likely one of the best pitcher in AAA proper now, proper?

Jason Martinez: The subsequent transfer is probably going Hicks to the bullpen and Birdsong to the rotation. Kyle Harrison can also be displaying some enchancment down in AAA. Carson Seymour has additionally been good and he’s on the 40-man. Whisenhunt will not be. So I’m unsure a Whisenhunt call-up is predicted anytime quickly however the Giants must really feel actually good about their pitching depth. That’s going to be a giant purpose they will cling round in that division late into the season.

Bruce: When each are up/ wholesome, who do you assume pitches higher this 12 months?  Eury Perez or Andrew Painter.
Is it shut, not so shut?

Jon Becker: It’s shut as a result of they’re each so good, however I believe I’ll go along with Painter since he’s farther faraway from the surgical procedure and is pitching like a man with zero rust, whereas I believe we’ll must anticipate a few of that with Eury below 13 months faraway from surgical procedure. However they need to each make fairly a number of MLB begins this 12 months.

Greenmtnboys: Thanks for these chats. 5×5 Roto OBP, 11T Keeper. E. Suarez sitting on my bench, ought to I simply drop him and decide up Lawler?  Solely 2 bench spots with Devers and Hoskins beginning.

Jason Martinez: When you aren’t utilizing Suarez, Lawlar would appear just like the man to maintain in your bench since he has enormous upside as soon as the Dbacks do name him up. Unsure when that might be. Suarez and Gurriel have each been unhealthy but additionally unsure how rapidly the Dbacks can be keen to sit down them on the bench in favor of the rookie.

Jack Leiter: Do starters usually want a rehab begin for a blister???

Jon Becker: I’m going utterly off the highest of my head right here however I don’t recollect it occurring too typically. I’d guess the Rangers gave Leiter a rehab begin simply to make certain it will really feel okay throughout the entire recreation and never create a problem in a big-league recreation the place the bullpen then must cowl six innings. They want him much more now with Rocker harm.

Matt: Does Stephen Kolek get the following fifth day starter spot?

Jason Martinez: That may be my guess, though that spot doesn’t come up for some time. However I believe it’s possibly 10-12 days away to allow them to’t deliver Hart again then (until he replaces a participant occurring the IL). Bergert is another choice, though it feels like he’ll be used out of the bullpen for now. Hart has been good in 3 of 5 begins, however he does appear extra like a spot starter/lengthy aid man and I believe it’s time to provide Kolek/Bergert/Cruz a glance.

Rudy GoBirds: Is Heston Kjerstad carving out a bigger function for himself?

Jon Becker: For positive. Began towards Gore yesterday with O’Neill out and he’s one of many few hitters in that lineup who’s hitting decently in a large pattern. He’s doing that whereas hitting loads of balls the opposite approach, so the sky’s the restrict for him if he will get to pulling the ball persistently like he has within the minors.

Biscuit: Do the Dodgers discover a technique to wedge Alex Freeland into that lineup this summer season? Rojas, Kike and Taylor are cooked. Muncy too. Slide Edman to 3B, Mookie to 2B?

Jason Martinez: Unsure they need to transfer any of the lineup regulars round once more. Extra seemingly that Freeland will get the decision (assuming he retains hitting in AAA) and bounces between 2B, 3B, SS.

WB: Is Wilyer stepping out of platooning and right into a extra fulltime function?

Jon Becker: Don’t assume so, they’ve simply confronted so few lefties that he’s been taking part in day by day. On the Lineup Tracker, you’ll be able to see that they’ve performed 4 lefties and he’s solely began towards certainly one of them.

McGraw45: Who can the Padres pursue to shore up their lineup? Even as soon as their regulars are again, they’re skinny in left subject and on the bench.

Jason Martinez: At full well being, I believe the lineup is so good that …

7. Bogaerts
8. Heyward/Ornelas/Lockridge
9. Maldonado/Diaz

… on the backside of the lineup is completely effective. However on this division, possibly they should add one other influence bat. Commerce deadline needs to be enjoyable.

Jason Martinez: That can do it for at the moment. Thanks for becoming a member of us. We’ll be again subsequent Friday on the similar time. Have a terrific weekend!