Sign Up For The Free MLBTR Newsletter
2024/03/sign-up-for-the-free-mlbtr-newsletter-7.htmlMLBTR writer and podcast host Darragh McDonald will answer a question from a reader every week. … The newsletter is written by Cliff Corcoran, who has an extensive resume contributing to Sports Illustrated, The Athletic, Baseball Prospectus, and other outlets.
AL East Notes: Sale, Tiedemann, Ramirez
2024/02/al-east-notes-sale-tiedemann-ramirez.htmlThe veteran southpaw related in a recent appearance on the "Baseball Isn't Boring" podcast (hat tip to WEEI.com's Rob Bradford) that being dealt "wasn’t even in the realm of possibilities. … My kids play sports.
A.J. Hinch Discusses Tigers Infield Plans
2024/01/a-j-hinch-discusses-tigers-infield-plans.htmlHinch was a guest on the New York Post's podcast with Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman this afternoon. … Asked by Sherman whether Keith could make the Opening Day roster, Hinch replied the 22-year-old will "have to come and earn it." Hinch called it the organization's expectation that Keith will perform well enough in Spring Training to break camp but stressed the contract alone won't guarantee him a season-opening job.
Mets Re-Sign Adam Ottavino
2024/01/mets-to-sign-adam-ottavino-2.htmlEarlier this week, Ottavino discussed his decision to decline that option during an appearance on the Foul Territory podcast. … Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
MLBTR Podcast: The Broadcasting Landscape, Josh Hader and the Relief Market
2024/01/mlbtr-podcast-the-broadcasting-landscape-josh-hader-and-the-relief-market.htmlThe 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. … The latest details on the Diamond Sports Group bankruptcy (4:05)
MLBTR Podcast: The Cubs’ Activity, Marcus Stroman And Jordan Hicks
2024/01/mlbtr-podcast-the-cubs-activity-marcus-stroman-and-jordan-hicks.htmlThe 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. … Is the league ever going to enact a salary cap? It's done great things for the other three major sports leagues.
NL West Notes: Dodgers, Pham, Harrison, Rockies, D’Backs
2024/01/nl-west-notes-dodgers-pham-harrison-rockies-dbacks.htmlHowever, president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi all but officially closed the door on a Harrison swap, telling The Athletic's Tim Kawakami in a podcast interview that "I can’t imagine any plausible scenario where we would move Kyle. … Colorado's games used to be shown on the AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain regional sports network, though since that network is ceasing operations, the Rockies are in need of a new broadcasting partner for 2024 and beyond.
Pham: Interest From Around 10 Teams In Free Agency
2023/11/pham-interest-from-around-10-teams-in-free-agency.htmlIn an appearance on the New York's Post podcast with Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman, Pham said his representatives at Vayner Sports have had conversations with roughly 10 teams. … The righty-hitting outfielder told Heyman and Sherman that he heard from just three teams before he signed a $6MM guarantee with the Mets in the middle of January.
Nelson Cruz To Retire
2023/11/nelson-cruz-to-retire.htmlNelson Cruz revealed on the Adam Jones Podcast that he is planning to retire from playing after an upcoming stint in the Dominican Winter League. … Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
AL Notes: Red Sox, Heaney, Twins
2023/11/al-notes-red-sox-heaney-twins.htmlRangers left-hander Andrew Heaney discussed his decision to sign in Texas last winter recently with Rob Bradford on the Baseball Isn't Boring podcast. … Alongside Story, the club sports a handful of options including Enmanuel Valdez, Luis Urias and top prospect Ceddanne Rafaela as potential contributors up the middle.
Zaidi: Giants Have Scouted Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Jung Hoo Lee
2023/10/zaidi-giants-have-scouted-yoshinobu-yamamoto-jung-hoo-lee.htmlDuring a podcast interview with NBC Sports Bay Area's Alex Pavlovic, Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi said that his club has been scouting and "continuing to do our work on" two of the offseason's biggest international targets --- ace right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto of NPB's Orix Buffaloes, and star outfielder Jung Hoo Lee of the KBO League's Kiwoom Heroes. … Zaidi described Yamamoto as "one of the top starting pitchers in the world," praising the right-hander's "tremendous combination of athleticism, stuff and command....It just looks like he's got plus stuff and he's sort of putting every pitch where he wants to, which in this day and age where we're so worried about pitch characteristics and velocity, it's almost different to see somebody execute at that high of a level with good stuff.
Dombrowski: Phillies No Longer Counting On Andrew Painter As 2023 Rotation Depth
2023/07/dombrowski-phillies-no-longer-counting-on-andrew-painter-as-2023-rotation-depth.htmlRelatedly, Dombrowski told Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman of the New York Post on their podcast that Philadelphia was open to adding rotation depth before the August 1 deadline. … I think basically as of a couple weeks ago when he had that [setback], in my own mind I thought…
Infield Upgrades Should Be A Deadline Focus For Marlins
2023/06/marlins-trade-rumors-infield-upgrades-jean-segura.htmlNg recently told Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman of the New York Post on their podcast that he's likely still several weeks away, but a second-half return should be a boon to the offense. … Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Dodgers Sign David Peralta
2023/02/dodgers-to-sign-david-peralta.htmlManager Dave Roberts recently indicated on a podcast appearance with ESPN's Buster Olney that Heyward had a strong chance of making the club, though that'd presumably be in a depth capacity. … Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Dipoto: Mariners Likely Done Adding To Roster Before Camp
2023/01/dipoto-mariners-likely-done-adding-to-roster-before-camp.htmlMariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto appeared on the latest Locked On Mariners podcast with Ty Dane Gonzalez and Colby Patnode and offered a fairly thorough review of the club's offseason strategy and overall roster makeup leading into the 2023 campaign. … Dipoto views this as more of a deep and dynamic group than what the Mariners put out there in 2022, when they snapped the longest postseason drought in North American professional sports before getting swept by the eventual World Series-champion Astros in the ALDS.
Carlos Correa’s Camp In Discussions With At Least One Team Other Than Mets
2023/01/carlos-correas-camp-in-discussions-with-at-least-one-team-other-than-mets.htmlKen Rosenthal reiterated that on The Athletic's podcast on Tuesday, suggesting the deal would require some kind of modification to protect the Mets in case of injury. … The sides moved forward with their agreed-upon five-year, $110MM framework but included stipulations that would’ve allowed the Red Sox to opt out of the final two years of the contract in the event Martinez suffered another foot injury that resulted in a lengthy injured list stint (as reported by Evan Drellich, then of NBC Sports Boston).
The Opener: MVP Awards, Outfield Market, Top 50
2022/11/the-opener-mvp-awards-outfield-market-top-50.htmlMLBTR's Tim Dierkes and Steve Adams joined Rob Bradford of Audacy Sports and WEEI on the "Baseball Isn't Boring" podcast to discuss the Top 50 list and the free-agent class at large. … The AL race this year was a particularly remarkable one, with historic seasons pitted against each other; Ohtani arguably improved on his 2021 AL MVP campaign this year, while Judge delivered perhaps the best offensive season since the days of Barry Bonds.
AL Central Notes: Maddon, White Sox, Hedges, Guardians, Twins
2022/10/al-central-notes-maddon-white-sox-hedges-guardians-twins.htmlThe former Rays/Cubs/Angels skipper told the Cubs Talk podcast (on NBC Sports Chicago, hat tip to Tim Stebbins) that "I've not heard from [the White Sox] at all," though Maddon would "of course...be interested" in chatting with the team. … For a Guardians team that has prioritized glovework and game-calling behind the plate, this has been enough to ensure regular playing time for Hedges, despite his lack of production as a hitter.
Latest On James Click, Dusty Baker
2022/10/latest-on-james-click-dusty-baker.htmlDuring an appearance on the Houston Chronicle's Texas Sports Nation podcast last weekend (Twitter link), Chandler Rome noted the contract status for Click and Baker "has been a topic that has been whispered about in the Astros organization, people both in and out of the clubhouse, since the beginning of the season." Rome added that, particularly in Click's case, "everybody that I talk to (emphasizes) that this is not just a rubber-stamp thing. … While there's no questioning the team's on-field success, it does not seem a mere formality that both Click and Baker will be retained.
Cubs Notes: Free Agency, Hendricks, Reyes
2022/08/cubs-rumors-free-agent-shortstops-correa-turner-bogaerts-swanson.htmlKen Rosenthal of The Athletic added to that this week in his podcast, voicing a belief that the Cubs "will get" one of the marquee shortstops on this year's market. … The Cubs aren't certain whether they'll get Kyle Hendricks back this season, although manager David Ross tells reporters that the right-hander's latest MRI revealed only continued inflammation and some indications that the 32-year-old is "getting better" (link via Tim Stebbins of NBC Sports Chicago).
Starting Pitching Rumors: Cardinals, Castillo, Mariners, AL Central
2022/07/cardinals-trade-rumors-rotation-mariners-luis-castillo-reds.htmlAs for the Twins, 1500 SKOR North's Darren Wolfson suggested in yesterday's podcast that Reds right-hander Tyler Mahle could be the likeliest name to land in Minnesota by Tuesday's deadline, though the Twins are casting a wide net as they seek both rotation and bullpen help. … The Mariners are looking for rotation help, and Ken Rosenthal reports in his latest appearance with FOX Sports that Reds ace Luis Castillo "seems to be their main focus and target" at this juncture (Twitter link, with video).
J.A. Happ Retires
2022/05/j-a-happ-retires-blue-jays-yankees-phillies-pitcher.htmlThe 39-year-old discussed his career, his journey to pro ball and his decision to step away from the game in an appearance on the Heart Strong Podcast with Jessica Lindberg. … Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images/Imagn.
Jake Arrieta Announces Retirement
2022/04/jake-arrieta-announces-retirement.htmlIn an appearance on Barstool's Pardon My Take podcast, Jake Arrieta announced he is set to retire (interview around 56:00 mark). … Image courtesy of USA Today Sports.
Yankees Notes: Judge, LeMahieu, Bowman
2022/02/yankees-notes-judge-lemahieu-bowman.htmlSabathia's R2C2 podcast, the 29-year-old was asked about the possibility of signing a long-term deal. … In any event, it seems likely the Yankees front office will open talks with his representatives at PSI Sports Management at some point between the end of the lockout and Opening Day.
NL Notes: Giants, Chipper, Freeman, Cactus League
2022/02/nl-notes-giants-chipper-freeman-cactus-league.htmlBraves Hall of Fame third baseman and friend of the site Chipper Jones appeared on the Dukes & Bell podcast to offer some input on fellow Brave Freddie Freeman's prolonged stay on the free agent market. … With the implementation of a universal DH growing in likelihood, NBC Sports' Alex Pavlovic took a look at how Gabe Kapler's Giants might handle the new position after the lockout.