The latest episode of the MLB Trade Rumors Podcast is now live on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts! Make sure you subscribe as well! You can also use the player at this link to listen, if you don’t use Spotify or Apple for podcasts.
This week, host Darragh McDonald is joined by Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors to discuss…
- The Angels having an agreement in place with Yusei Kikuchi (2:00)
- The Royals trading Brady Singer to the Reds for Jonathan India and Joey Wiemer (10:30)
Plus, we answer your questions, including…
- For the Juan Soto sweepstakes, will agent Scott Boras just ask each club for its best offer? Or tell each club what others are offering to try to spur a bidding war? (20:45)
- The Athletics are reportedly trying to have a $100MM payroll in 2025. Please come up with a plan to help them spend that money. (25:05)
- It seems that third base is going to shape the destiny of the 2025 Mariners. How soon will they get over themselves and sign Alex Bregman or another top free agent? (29:40)
- What do you think of the Nationals’ decision to non-tender Kyle Finnegan? (34:15)
- What do you make of the recent reports that the Tigers and Tarik Skubal discussed an extension but didn’t get close? (38:20)
Check out our past episodes!
- The Rays’ Stadium Plans, Diamond Sports, And Some Offseason Rumors – listen here
- Roki Sasaki, Gerrit Cole’s Non-Opt-Out, And Cardinals Rumors – listen here
- Breaking Down The Top 50 Free Agents List – listen here
The podcast intro and outro song “So Long” is provided courtesy of the band Showoff. Check out their Facebook page here!
avenger65
I wonder if mlbtr ever considered inviting someone else to the podcast, like a former player, manager, coach etc. It would be nice to get a different perspective and add even more interest.
Fever Pitch Guy
avenger – They’ve done former player chats in the past, it was really good.
prov356
I can’t get it to play. Anyone else having issues?
Fever Pitch Guy
prov – You’re right, it’s not working.
I could tell right away just by looking at it, the EKG-looking part is grayed out.
prov356
Hope they fix it. I wanna hear that Angels piece!
prov356
It’s fixed!
tigerdoc616
I like your math on Skubal. My guess is that the Tigers would need to go 8 yrs$250M to get him to extend. I am sure the Tigers offered him a good offer, much like they did to Scherzer before he left for free agency. Scherzer bet on himself and it paid off well for him. Extensions like this are hard to do at times, especially given Skubal is a Bora$$ client. As much as I love Skubal, I don’t blame the Tigers one bit for not wanting to go to that level to sign him now. Why bid against yourself? He is a talent but talent sometimes flames out or gets hurt. Rather wait to see what happens at this point.
royhobbs13
They could pull off a Verlander deal. Deal him at the last minute for prospects.
84LeFlore
Yeah that worked out great.
Tigers3232
@tigers I haven’t been optimistic of an extension. Tigers are down to 2 years of team control. Their leverage for an extension is much closer to the bottom then the top. The timing for having a season like 2024 was of huge benefit for Skubal who already was on the favorable end of team controlled years.
If he’s to sign an extension it’s likely going to take something similar to Cole.
SadMsFan
Again, the Mariners don’t need Bregman or Arenado, plus they’re not that good anymore. They’re not the solution. We have a really good class of infielders coming up. Just go with them, at least eventually. Stop piling up s*** in positions, like Austin Shenton-he sucks.m. Doubt he’ll make the team, and if he does, I expect a quick release. I don’t get the Mariners. Really stupid. And stop the platoons-those are so insanely dumb. Pick a guy and go with him, please!
avenger65
Stop: I’d like to see one of the first or second tier players sign with a team like the Reds or another emerging team and be part of taking a team to the next level. They might have to settle for less money but there has to be some satisfaction in helping a team become a regular PO team. $20M a year is a lot of money for practically anyone. No one can spend $700m or even a paltry $600M in a lifetime. Nothing wrong with being a big fish in a small pond.
The Saber-toothed Superfife
Speak for yourself. You obviously hadn’t seen my bar tab from last weekend.
$600M = No problem spending.
yeasties
Tim’s observation about the Angels rotation reminds me of the Washington Bullets playing ~7ft Manute Bol and ~5ft Muggsy Bogues at the same time