To conquer the firehose of news leading up to today’s trade deadline, MLBTR will had six different writers working in concert. It’s a wild, long day for our team. If you’ve been coming here for years and enjoying our work, please consider supporting the site with an ad-free subscription. Aside from going ad-free, and the subscription also includes exclusive articles and live chats with our writers. Subscribe today!
The MLBTR team works hard every single day to bring you all the hot stove news and rumors, as we have for over 16 years. If you’re enjoying our trade deadline coverage, we’d appreciate your support in the form of a Trade Rumors Front Office subscription, which costs $2.99 per month or $29.89 per year.
This is not a request for charity! Our subscribers love the service, which includes ad-free browsing and weekly exclusives like a subscriber-only chat with Anthony Franco and articles from Anthony, Steve Adams, and Brad Johnson. Check out all the benefits here and consider giving it a try!
The MLBTR team works hard every single day to bring you all the hot stove news and rumors, as we have for over 16 years. We’d appreciate your support in the form of a Trade Rumors Front Office subscription, which costs $2.99 per month or $29.89 per year.
This is not a request for charity! Our subscribers love the service, which includes ad-free browsing and weekly exclusives including my mailbag, a subscriber-only chat with Anthony Franco, and articles from Anthony, Steve Adams, and Brad Johnson. Check out all the benefits here and consider giving it a try!
One thing I learned from our survey a few weeks ago is that some MLBTR readers are not clear on what is actually being offered in our Trade Rumors Front Office subscription service.
Aside from the eradication of ads from the website and the app, a paid subscription includes exclusive articles delivered to your inbox every week from Steve Adams and Anthony Franco. Maybe you’re just here for the headlines or the comment section, in which case this subscription service isn’t for you. But if you’re into high quality analysis of MLB trades and free agency, no one on the planet does it better than Steve and Anthony. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg, because the subscription service also offers top-notch fantasy baseball advice from Brad Johnson, my MLB mailbag, and a weekly live chat with Anthony.
Here’s a taste of some of the content we sent to subscribers’ inboxes in April. If you feel that this sort of analysis might be worthwhile, please consider trying out Trade Rumors Front Office for a month for $2.99.
Recently from Steve Adams
The Strangest Thing About the Athletics
Excerpt:
Why on Earth have the Athletics completely eschewed long-term extensions for any of their young players?
The pressing issue is one of why the A’s aren’t regularly making efforts to sign players with less than a year of service, or one to two years of service, to long-term contracts that buy out their arbitration seasons and a free-agent year or two at an affordable rate. Contracts of that nature have been a hallmark of the Indians/Guardians franchise since the 1990s and have been the primary reason Cleveland has maintained a competitive presence in the American League Central despite routinely running payrolls south of $100MM. It’s the reason the Pirates were able to hang onto Andrew McCutchen, Starling Marte and now, Hayes, as long as they were. The Rays, another small-market, low-payroll club are also perennially active in this regard. Ditto the Marlins, who, even setting aside the Giancarlo Stanton mega-deal, have been active in this market.
Recently from Anthony Franco
It’s Time For The Royals To Bring Up Two More Top Prospects (from April 13)
Excerpt:
A lot has to go right for K.C. to contend in 2022, as mentioned. Much of that involves young players stepping up and playing towards the higher end of their possible outcomes. There’s more variance with prospects, but with the odds against them anyhow, the Royals should be willing to gamble on upside. In addition to perhaps making them better in 2022, getting an extended look at Pratto and Melendez now gives the front office a stronger indication of whether they can be relied upon as important pieces in 2023 — a year when the Royals will absolutely expect to contend.
At some point, Pratto and Melendez are sure to make their major league debuts. It’s not as if the Royals have tanked their chances by playing Santana and Dozier for a week. Calling them up and bumping the veterans to the bench (and O’Hearn off the roster, in all likelihood) just feels like a move that’s overdue.
Recently from Brad Johnson
Fantasy Baseball: 10 Widely Available Hot Performers
Excerpt:
Miles Mikolas, SP, STL (44% owned in fantasy leagues)
The five pitchers I’ve identified share several characteristics. Mikolas was a reliable core performer during his 2018-19 peak. Injuries cancelled his 2020 campaign and interrupted his 2021 season. The right-hander has produced strong results in three starts despite a couple red flags. In particular, he has a career-worst swinging strike rate, and he isn’t inducing enough ground balls. On the plus side, he remains one of the best pitchers in the league at generating called strikes. Among qualified pitchers, he ranks ninth in the league in called strike rate – and this is typical of him. If you see analysts predicting a complete collapse, this is the point of data they’re probably missing. That said, we should definitely expect closer to a 3.50-4.00 ERA going forward. He benefits from soft competition in the NL Central.
Recently from Tim Dierkes
MLB Mailbag: deGrom, Yankees, Jays Catching, Dalbec, Mets
Excerpt:
Scott asks:
What’s the chance the Mets don’t re-sign DeGrom after he opts out? Assuming they do sign him, what does that contract look like?
At this moment, I assume that deGrom expects to return in late May or early June and still plans to opt out. He signed his contract three years ago, and so much has changed since then: the Mets’ ownership, the new CBA, other pitchers’ contracts, his abilities, and his injury record.
The Mets’ CBT payroll goes down to $202MM for 2023 and about $128MM for ‘24, though that doesn’t include arbitration eligible players like Pete Alonso. I think Steve Cohen will make a serious effort to sign deGrom and has the inside track, but I also think there are scenarios where he decides to spend that money differently.
It’s difficult to compare Max Scherzer and deGrom, because Scherzer did not sign with deGrom’s health question marks. And even if deGrom returns in late May and doesn’t miss a start after that, it’d be a stretch to say that all concern about his future ability to stay healthy is gone. On the other hand, Scherzer signed for his age 37-39 seasons, which is inherently a health risk of its own.
If deGrom returns around June and stays healthy for the rest of the season, as his agent I’m setting out looking for a new AAV record and as many years as possible. Best pitcher in baseball, five months of good health, that’s the expectation. So we’re talking an AAV north of $43.3MM.
The new contract would start with deGrom’s age-35 season. We haven’t really seen a comparable contract start at that age. Even Hyun Jin Ryu starting at 33 was an outlier; it’s often 30-31. Then we have kind of the “old ace” contracts, like Scherzer’s deal or Justin Verlander getting a deal for age 37-38 and another one at age 39 (and 40 under certain conditions). DeGrom isn’t old like them, either.
Bottom line: something like $180MM over four years makes sense to me, if deGrom returns within six weeks or so and stays healthy and dominant. If his return from injury does not go perfectly, then the details and timing will determine the contract.
I’ll leave you with a real quote from a subscriber named Jason (you can read more here):
“The subscription service is well worth the price. The content and depth of analysis the writers provide on a plethora of issues is fascinating and eye opening. Adding the fantasy component too is a godsend for us fantasy junkies. It’s also wonderful to get to participate in the private chats and more often than not get my questions answered with responses that demonstrate great attention to detail and insight. I highly recommend the subscription. If you like baseball, you’ll love this service!”
The MLBTR team is working hard to bring you all the hot stove news in this unprecedented post-lockout free agent and trade frenzy. We’d appreciate your support in the form of a Trade Rumors Front Office subscription, which costs $2.99 per month or $29.89 per year.
This is not a request for charity! Our subscribers love the service, which includes ad-free browsing and weekly exclusives including my mailbag, a subscriber-only chat with Anthony Franco, and articles from Anthony, Steve Adams, and Brad Johnson. Check out all the benefits here and consider giving it a try!
The benefits of a Trade Rumors Front Office subscription include ad-free browsing on all four of our websites, my MLB mailbag, a weekly live chat with Anthony Franco, exclusive articles from Anthony and Steve Adams, fantasy baseball chats and articles from Brad Johnson, a private Slack discussion community, and early access to our live chats with MLB players. We also do weekly autographed baseball card giveaways. If you subscribe before Friday, you’ll be entered to win an autographed Wander Franco card. Click here and subscribe today! You can try it even just for one month, which costs only $2.99.
Rather than take my word for it, check out these real quotes from our current subscribers!
I read MLBTR for ten years before I became a subscriber. I realized that it was about time that I invest a token amount in one of my favorite baseball writers’ collectives. And, it has been well worth it. No ads, chats where my questions get answered and the mailbag that Tim responds to each week are my favorites perks. What else can I say? I love these guys and I’m happy to give them my support! – Michael
If you’re like me (and you’re here, so you’re probably a little like me), you’re on MLBTR all the time. I joined the Front Office because things are uncertain in the baseball world and I want the site to succeed. What I didn’t realize was how much I’d get for my subscription: chats, fantasy articles, the mailbag and maybe best of all…blessedly no ads. My only regret is not signing up earlier! – Alex
I am proud to have just renewed my TR Front Office subscription after thoroughly enjoying my first year. Besides the fact that my mood is better because I never see an ad (boy, do i hate ads!), but more importantly the benefits keep expanding. The exclusive articles, chats and mailbag are no small bonuses; they are fantastic value. And every one of my questions gets answered by the wisest journalists on the planet. – Charlie
MLBTR just gets better and better! With exclusive chats, articles and other content, the subscription is a great value. Check it out! – Lloyd
If you’re a pure baseball fan, but you’re not a Front Office subscriber, you’re doing yourself a huge disservice! I have already received the Ty Cobb best-seller book “A Terrible Beauty” as well as had all my questions answered in the Subscriber only chats (multiple times). These are just a few of the things that make this a must have for me, but the Slack membership is slowly taking over as my favorite part of this entire experience. – Keith
MLBTR Front Office certainly is worth the price. There are weekly exclusive subscriber chats for general baseball questions and now fantasy-focused questions, articles covering a variety of topics, Tim’s weekly mailbag, and more. I know this sounds like a commercial, but Trade Rumors certainly provides plenty of bang for the buck. Supporting their efforts was an easy decision. – Greg
The subscription service is well worth the price. The content and depth of analysis the writers provide on a plethora of issues is fascinating and eye opening. Adding the fantasy component too is a godsend for us fantasy junkies. It’s also wonderful to get to participate in the private chats and more often than not get my questions answered with responses that demonstrate great attention to detail and insight. I highly recommend the subscription. If you like baseball, you’ll love this service! – Jason
MLBTR has been the best in the business for years. Their writers and analysts are always addressing the issues that face the game now, as well as in the future. None of this is a secret, and everyone wants to know more about “their” team, or “their” favorite player. Having the dedicated chats is the best chance I’ve had to steal a couple minutes of top notch insight and opinion into my team’s and player’s outlooks. Worth every penny just for that. The rest is surplus value. – Rick
Finally! A premium subscription worth having! MLBTR’s Front Office makes a great website even better. Essential service for the die-hard sports fan. – Phillip
Having a paid subscription has made a great experience with MLBTR even better. My questions in chats get answered frequently, and the additional content for subscribers has been a great way to weather the lockout. – Joshua
My favorite part of my MLBTR subscription is the weekly mailbag hosted by site founder Tim Dierkes. With his years of industry knowledge, Tim always crafts thorough and well thought-out responses. It’s like reading a miniature MLBTR feature, but tailored specifically to the question you’ve had! – Chris
The delight of my day, and the first thing I do in the morning, (after brewing my coffee), is to check in on whatever has arrived from MLBR Front Office. Addiction warning: hard to stop myself from checking in during the day … and often something has happened that just feeds the addiction. For any knowledgable, serious fan, the best entertainment dollar one can invest! – Paul
Click here to subscribe to Trade Rumors Front Office!
Many regular MLBTR readers have decided to support the website with a subscription. Sign up or just check out all the benefits here! Benefits include an ad-free browsing experience on the website and in the app, a weekly mailbag from me, exclusive articles and chats from Steve Adams and Anthony Franco, a subscriber-only discussion forum, and weekly autographed baseball card giveaways. The cost is $29.89 per year, or you can sign up for $2.99 per month to give it a trial run. Here are a bunch of real, recent quotes from current subscribers:
Front Office is great! On top of the frequent subscriber mailbags and chats, there are tons of emails with some of the best analysis I’ve seen online. From deep dives into individual players to tracking market trends to analyzing team needs, I’m always excited when an email comes through from the MLBTR team. – Ben V.
Trade Rumors Front Office is about the best value possible if you live and breathe baseball. I’ve had several questions appear in the weekly chats and always get a charge out of seeing them answered by the MLBTR guys. It will be the best two and a half dollars per month that you can spend especially during the hot stove season. – Sandy
Front Office is more than I’ve ever expected it would be. The private chats (where you WILL get your question answered), the Q&As with Mr. Dierkes and quite a lot more. Worth every penny. And it is pennies. – Michael C.
With my Trade Rumors Front Office subscription I’m able to support the high-quality product provided by MLBTR. The exclusive mailbag and chat features offered through membership only enhance the die-hard baseball fan’s experience in staying up-to-date with the news of baseball. There is no better place and no better approach to being part of the MLB-information-pipeline than with a Front Office subscription. – Dave M.
As a lifelong baseball fan and thirty year fantasy player, keeping up with the day to day transactions and rumors is essential. MLB Trade Rumors is my go to site. The subscription service only adds to the value with their well thought out analysis and commentary. Could not live without it! – Michael W.
For the cost of a pizza and a 12-pack of beer, an expenditure you probably make weekly, how can you hesitate to join? MLBTR is there for me, ad-free (makes a big f-ing difference), every morning over breakfast, and I think I’ve had all my questions addressed in their special members-only chats. And how about the EXCELLENT writing and analysis! That alone deserves some $ love. – Joe
The Front Office subscription service has been great. The members only mailbag and chats have been great, with my questions being answered nearly every time. Dierkes and company give some of the most insightful responses and analysis you’ll find on baseball; they are my go to resource for anything baseball now. – Joshua P.
MLBTR offers great insight, and Front Office takes it even further, with exclusive articles and chats from the website’s esteemed writers. At a very affordable price, especially compared to other online subscriptions, Front Office is a must have for any diehard baseball fan. – Jim P.
As a lifelong baseball fan, I discovered MLBTR is the go-to site for the latest (and best) news about the game. The only thing better? Subscribing to get even more insider info and to avoid the painful ads. I’m grateful for the site AND for the option to optimize it. – Bob G.
Thank you for the Front Office experience. The mailbags and chats are really informative. I semi-regularly pose questions, and every question I have posed has received a response. And, while the mailbags and chats tend to focus on the “who might get traded for whom?” and the “who might sign whom and for how much?” questions, many of the questions also round out thinking about the overall business and competitive balance aspects of the game. All very valuable and fun. – Paul K.
I love my Front Office Subscription because it’s easier to get your questions answered in the private chats and the answers are longer and more detailed! And you are automatically entered in free stuff giveaways! – Jorge P.
With no collective bargaining agreement in place, MLB Trade Rumors may be headed toward a much quieter December and January than usual in terms of traffic and ad revenue. If you’re a long-haul MLBTR regular, we’d love your consideration for an ad-free subscription. It’s the best way to offer direct support for the hard work that goes into things like our Top 50 Free Agents list, arbitration projections, and offseason outlooks.
While we’d love your support, we’re not looking for charity, and we work hard to provide extra value to subscribers. The benefits include:
If you enjoyed MLBTR’s trade deadline coverage, we hope you’ll consider our Trade Rumors Front Office subscription service. For $29.89 per year, you’ll be supporting us directly. All ads on the site will disappear, and we work hard to provide additional value straight to your inbox every week. Our subscription service has only gotten better since it was introduced a year ago, and we hope you’ll give it a try!
If you’re a regular MLB Trade Rumors reader, we’d love you to consider a subscription! For just $2.99 per month or $29.89 per year, you can enjoy ad-free browsing of the website and app, my weekly MLB mailbag, exclusive articles and chats from Steve Adams and Connor Byrne, a subscriber-only discussion forum, and other perks! We plan to continue adding more and more value to membership, and members are loving it so far. Check out Trade Rumors Front Office today!
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