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 Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors to discuss…
- The gambling scandal involving Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz of the Guardians (3:15)
- Shane Bieber deciding to stay with the Blue Jays (8:35)
- Jack Flaherty deciding to stay with the Tigers (18:45)
- The Rays declining their club option on Pete Fairbanks (26:00)
- Trevor Story deciding to stay with the Red Sox (35:35)
- The Tigers issuing a qualifying offer to Gleyber Torres (43:20)
- The Cubs issuing a qualifying offer to Shota Imanaga (46:25)
- The Red Sox not issuing a qualifying offer to Lucas Giolito (53:10)
- The Yankees not issuing a qualifying offer to Devin Williams (55:20)
- The Rockies hiring Paul DePodesta as president of baseball operations (1:00:00)
Check out our past episodes!
- Offseason Preview Megapod: Top Trade Candidates – listen here
- Bo Bichette’s Health, Kazuma Okamoto, And Dylan Cease’s Market – listen here
- The Phillies’ Outfield, Tarik Skubal, And Hiring College Coaches – listen here
The podcast intro and outro song “So Long” is provided courtesy of the band Showoff. Check out their Facebook page here!
Photo courtesy of Kiyoshi Mio, Imagn Images
Totally agree on Bieber. Could have opted out, pocketed $4 million buyout, and then accepted the QO if offered, or at worst signed as a free agent on a short-term contract.
That would possibly clear the QO hurdle for the future.
It’s almost criminal that the Yanks let Williams walk with no QO. The only caveat I would allow is if they were circumstances where the pitcher and the coaching staff clashed in terms if pitch usage. I seem to remember some uttering that his really struggles had to do with the increased or decrease of certain pitches he threw in his repertoire. Something about Cashman’s staffs usage of advanced analytics being in conflict with what Williams thought was best for him. If that were true and remained an insurmountable obstacle they couldn’t get past them issue the QO. Worst case scenario is, he comes back and pitches like his underlying stats say he could pitch. His OPS vs was sub-.600 in most months despite the high ERA outcome. Very fluky. Best case scenario is they get an extra pick. Otherwise they have up a good looking young player in Caleb Durbin for a 1 year rental that didn’t work out as f they didn’t/ couldn’t keep.