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 B.B. Abbott of Wasserman Baseball to discuss…
- Abbott’s approach to free agency (3:30)
- The impact of the media on free agency (10:00)
- The different levels of player involvement in free agency (17:00)
- The decision to sign an extension instead of going to free agency (20:15)
- Chris Sale and his extensions with the White Sox, Red Sox and Braves (23:00)
- Byron Buxton and his extension with the Twins (28:50)
- Representing young players going into the draft (32:10)
- The general state of baseball (35:50)
Plus, Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors joins the show to discuss…
- The Blue Jays signing Dylan Cease to a seven-year deal, recorded prior to the Cody Ponce agreement (40:30)
- The Mets agreeing to a three-year deal with Devin Williams (50:50)
- The Orioles signing Ryan Helsley to a two-year deal (55:40)
- The Cardinals trading Sonny Gray to the Red Sox for Richard Fitts and Brandon Clarke (1:06:30)
Check out our past episodes!
- Some “Classic Baseball Trades,” Nimmo For Semien, And Ward For Rodriguez – listen here
- Offseason Preview Megapod: Top 50 Free Agents – listen here
- Surprising Option Decisions, Qualifying Offers, And Paul DePodesta – 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 Jerome Miron, Imagn Images
Any plans to add time stamps to these podcasts?
What kind of timestamps are you looking for? These posts already have timestamps listed for where we begin discussing certain topics.
Great show as usual, guys! Always interesting to hear directly from an agent not named Boras.
I think the reason Red Sox Nation is so disappointed with the Gray trade is because we were told “front of a rotation” acquisition which means #1 or #2 of which Gray is neither.
Add to that his highest ERA, WHIP and H9 since 2018 and a career high in HR’s Allowed, combined with concerns about his performance the only time he pitched in an intense environment, and there ya go!
“the only time he pitched in an intense environment”
I’m sorry, FPG, but I have to disagree with that. All of MLB is an intense environment. Sure, the biggest cities have more fans and a larger number of annoying journalists spouting off, but the idea that a player is going to crumble under the bright lights of the big cities is completely overblown.
The Yankees messed with Gray’s pitch mix and tried to force changes on him he wasn’t comfortable with. I like that he’s shown an edge and a goal to get even with the Yankees for how things went when he was there.
gbs – You could very well be right, it’s impossible to prove either way how much a player is affected by environment. He pitched only one full season in NY, maybe he would have adapted if he had stayed another year like Diaz did?
I did hear about the Yankees forcing changes which certainly could have been a factor as well. Either way, he’s 8 years older now so that should work in his favor as well.
Unfortunately if his performance next year is poor it still wouldn’t prove environment was the reason then or now, with other factors such as age and declining trend also in play
As always, great job, guys. I found your interview with BB fascinating. As a pathetic Angels fan, is the culture of the ballclub working against them even if they were to make a competing offer to a mid-tier free agent? One last question (tongue-in-cheek): is there an HVAC guy they could sign? Thanks for the website, and yes, I will be joining as a subscribing member.
As an Angels fan, that Rendon dig was hillarious.
Loved BB’s insight on revenue growth and that attacking player compensation is not the right approach.
It’s fun hearing from an agent like B.B. They can provide valuable insight on topics like free agency and more.
Excellent interview with Abbott! Great work, Darragh!
These podcasts are truly 80-grade work. For those of us who thrive on the hot stove season, this is exactly what I want to hear. Thank you.