MLBTR founder Tim Dierkes joins Darragh McDonald to discuss Griffin Canning's injury and the questionable state of the Mets' rotation, which impact rotation arms that could be available at the deadline, and reports that the Pirates are open to trading most of the players on their roster. Listener question topics include the possibility that the Orioles could sell at the deadline and still compete for a wild card, incentives that could be given for small market teams to hold onto premier players,...
Jul 02, 2025•54 min
Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the site's new series of team-by-team trade deadline outlooks that started with the Marlins, Pirates and Phillies. Also, Alex Anthopoulos saying that the Braves do not intend to sell, the Reds getting aggressive by designating Jeimer Candelario for assignment and promoting Chase Burns, and how the Diamondbacks will deal with their glut of injuries. Listener question topics include whether Matthew Boyd's innings will be limited this year, if the Pa...
Jun 25, 2025•51 min
Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the shocking Rafael Devers trade, what it means for the Red Sox, and how he fits on the Giants' roster. Also, the unique situation of Aaron Civale requesting a trade, and the subsequent deal that sent him from Milwaukee to Chicago for Andrew Vaughn
Jun 18, 2025•1 hr 6 min
Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the news that Justin Ishbia will eventually take over majority ownership of the White Sox, Roman Anthony getting called up by the Red Sox, Corbin Burnes needing Tommy John surgery, the overall pitching woes of the Diamondbacks, and the Mariners designating Leody Taveras for assignment after recently taking a shot on him. Listener question topics include whether the Mariners should try to add a lefty to their rotation, how Atlanta will treat the deadl...
Jun 11, 2025•1 hr 3 min
Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the site's updated free agent power rankings, rumors that the Padres are targeting Jarren Duran in a trade, the Royals promoting Jac Caglianone, the Mariners calling up Cole Young, the Dodgers acquiring Alexis Diaz from the Reds as a reclamation project, and some notable pitching injuries including the Astros' Ronel Blanco and the Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver needing UCL surgeries. Listener question topics include whether the Diamondbacks should be selle...
Jun 04, 2025•1 hr 3 min
Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss what the Red Sox will do in light of Alex Bregman's quad injury, including top prospect Marcelo Mayer getting called up, whether Rafael Devers will get any time a third base, if Trevor Story will lose playing time to due to his struggles, and how the team could make room for Roman Anthony. They also get into some Pirates topics including Jared Jones getting UCL surgery, whether the team should trade Paul Skenes, and what other trade chips they cou...
May 28, 2025•57 min
Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the Orioles firing manager Brandon Hyde after a brutal start to their season, what qualities you want in a manager on a rebuilding team compared to a manager on a competing team, the Dodgers designating Austin Barnes for assignment in order to make room for top catching prospect Dalton Rushing, Chris Taylor getting released, Phillies' reliever Jose Alvarado getting hit with a PED suspension and the possibility of the team signing David Robertson. Lis...
May 21, 2025•1 hr 4 min
Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss Rafael Devers refusing to play first base and where that leaves the Red Sox roster moving forward, the Pirates firing Derek Shelton, the Rockies firing Bud Black, and how the Diamondbacks will find playing time for Jordan Lawlar in their already crowded lineup. Listener question topics include whether the Orioles should extend Cedric Mullins or Tomoyuki Sugano, how real the Twins are following their big winning streak, if the Tigers can keep it up...
May 14, 2025•53 min
Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss options for the Red Sox at first base including moving Rafael Devers there and calling up number 1 MLB prospect Roman Anthony. They also recap the changes made by the Rangers including sending down Jake Burger, waiving Leody Taveras, calling up Evan Carter and replacing their top offensive coach with former player Bret Boone. Other topics include Kenta Maeda getting DFA'd, the Blue Jays building up rotation depth by adding Spencer Turnbull and Jose U...
May 07, 2025•1 hr 1 min
Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald for an all-mailbag episode. Question topics include whether the Red Sox should trade Triston Casas to make room for their top prospects, if Rafael Devers needs a change of scenery, whether the Mets should extend Pete Alonso, how much hope to have in the Tigers this year, what qualifies as "success" in a baseball season, what can be done to increase offense in the game, how to further stop teams from tanking, and if Jurickson Profar can be traded while servin...
Apr 30, 2025•56 min
Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss what's next for the Cubs following Justin Steele's UCL surgery, the timeline that led to Triston McKenzie getting designated for assignment by the Guardians after being so dominant in the past, and a plethora of high-profile prospect promotions including the Nick Kurtz for the A's, the Edgar Quero for the White Sox, Chandler Simpson for the Rays, Augustin Ramirez for the Marlins and Luke Keaschall for the Twins. Listener question topics include what ...
Apr 23, 2025•1 hr
Steve Adams and Anthony Franco join Darragh McDonald for a deep dive into the first edition of the 2025 free agent power rankings. They go through their justifications for the top ten and who is poised to rise or fall throughout the year.
Apr 16, 2025•1 hr 12 min
Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the Blue Jays locking up Vlad Guerrero Jr. to a huge deal and what it means for the big free agents next offseason, Jackson Merrill's nine-year extension and the Padres trying to balance a tight budget with so many long-term contracts on the books, how Ketel Marte's extension also backloads the money to free up current payroll space for the Diamondbacks, and the Red Sox trading Quinn Priester to the Brewers. Listener question topics include whethe...
Apr 09, 2025•53 min
Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss Garrett Crochet's contract extension, why the Red Sox chose this route instead of signing a big free agent this past offseason, the myriad of problems the Braves are facing including Jurickson Profar's PED suspension, the injury to Reynaldo Lopez and the team's 0-5 start. Also, they go over last week's trade that sent Nolan Jones to Cleveland for Tyler Freeman, the Astros going with an outfield alignment including two infielders Jose Altuve and Ca...
Apr 02, 2025•1 hr
Steve Adams and Anthony Franco both join Darragh McDonald to take a big-picture look at the past offseason, discussing why every year is so different, why older position players seem to be valued less on the market, if a salary cap should be instituted in the future, whether the Mets will continue to be bigger spenders than the Yankees, how Juan Soto's deal will affect future top free agents like Kyle Tucker and Vlad Guerrero Jr., the current state of TV rights and how it could change future rev...
Mar 26, 2025•1 hr 17 min
Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss to Rays' stadium deal falling apart in St. Petersburg, why the league didn't prioritize keeping a team in Oakland how they are in Florida, and the state of the Rangers' rotation after injuries to Cody Bradford and Jon Gray. Listener question topics include comparing Sandy Alcantara and Dylan Cease as trade targets, if the Pirates will trade from their catching depth, if the Mariners will have more luck trading their prospects at the deadline compa...
Mar 19, 2025•46 min
Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the Athletics extending Lawrence Butler, the news that Gerrit Cole needs Tommy John surgery and where that leaves the Yankees' rotation, the injury to Francisco Alvarez testing the Mets' catching depth, and the league and other owners pressuring Rays owner Stu Sternburg to sell the team. Listener question topics include who will win the central divisions, the likelihood of trades occuring before the end of spring training, and if Dodgers fans should ...
Mar 12, 2025•56 min
Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss Jose Quintana signing with the Brewers, how Luis Gil's injury opens up a spot for Marcus Stroman in the Yankees' rotation, and Jordan Montgomery seemingly set to start the season in the Diamondbacks' bullpen. Listener question topics include whether the Nationals will start spending more now that their TV dispute has been sorted out, the likelihood of a salary floor being instituted in the future, the chances of Luis Robert Jr. getting traded befo...
Mar 05, 2025•56 min
Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald in an all-mailbag episode. They discuss many things including whether the Braves will really begin the season without acquiring more depth in their rotation or bullpen, why David Robertson remains unsigned, the possibility of a reunion between the Mets and Jose Iglesias after the recent injury to Nick Madrigal, how Justin Turner will fit onto the Cubs' roster, whether Jackson Jobe will win a rotation job in Detroit over Casey Mize and Kenta Maeda, if the Marine...
Feb 26, 2025•1 hr
Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss Alex Bregman's short-term deal with the Red Sox, how he fits onto their roster, where it leaves the Tigers after missing out on him, if it means that Nolan Arenado will now stay in St. Louis, and why the Cardinals haven't traded their impending free agents. They also discuss the Padres signing Nick Pivetta and Kyle Hart to put them over the luxury tax threshold, Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s comments that he will hit the free agent market next offseason aft...
Feb 19, 2025•49 min
Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss Pete Alonso coming to an agreement with the Mets, how it came together, and what it means for the rest of their roster. Listener question topics include Alex Bregman's options now that he is the biggest free agent left on the market, whether Nolan Arenado would be a good fit in Boston, if the Orioles need to make another rotation move, and what the Marlins are hoping to achieve with their rebuild.
Feb 12, 2025•48 min
Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the Tigers bringing back Jack Flaherty, the team's continued interest in Alex Bregman, Max Scherzer signing with the Blue Jays to bolster their rotation, the Rays signing Ha-Seong Kim, the Padres plan to move Xander Bogaerts back to shortstop, what trades the Padres could still make this offseason, Jorge Polanco surprisingly resigning with the Mariners, and the underwhelming finish to the Giants' offseason after trading Taylor Rogers to the Reds to s...
Feb 05, 2025•1 hr 2 min
Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the Astros trading Ryan Pressly to the Cubs, Houston's continued involvement in bringing back Alex Bregman and the potential of moving Jose Altuve to the outfield, the Braves signing Jurickson Profar, whether they will try to stay under the luxury tax threshold this season or if there is money available to improve their rotation depth. Listener question topics include whether the Pirates will acquire a right fielder before the season starts, why J...
Jan 29, 2025•48 min
MLBTR founder TIm Dierkes joins Darragh McDonald to discuss results of a poll put on the site showing that most fans want a salary cap and that many would be willing to forfeit the 2027 season to get it. They also think about what parity in the league really means and the most effective ways to achieve it. Then they go over the signings of Roki Sasaki, Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates with the Dodgers, and Anthony Santander with the Blue Jays.
Jan 22, 2025•52 min
Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss Jeff Hoffman signing a three-year deal with Toronto after having deals fall apart with the Braves and Orioles due to flagged physicals. Also, Justin Verlander's deal with the Giants, the state of the Marlins rotation after trading Jesus Luzardo and losing Braxton Garrett to injury, the Mariners finally making a major league move by signing Donovan Solano. Listener question topics include what the Reds will do with the extra money from their new TV de...
Jan 15, 2025•56 min
MLBTR founder Tim Dierkes joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the Athletics extending Brent Rooker, the Reds acquiring Gavin Lux after the Dodgers signed Korean infielder Hyeseong Kim, Corbin Burnes surprisingly joining the Diamondbacks, the Cubs trading with the Yankees to unload Cody Bellinger's contract, the Yankees inking Paul Goldschmidt, Christian Walker signing with the Astros, the Mets bringing back Sean Manaea, the Red Sox filling out their rotation with Walker Buehler and Patrick Sandova...
Jan 08, 2025•1 hr 15 min
Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the blockbuster trade that sent Kyle Tucker to the Cubs and Issac Paredes, Hayden Wesneski and Cam Smith to the Astros, the Brewers sending Devin Williams to the Yankees for Nestor Cortes and prospect Caleb Durbin, the A's acquiring Jeffrey Springs from the Rays, the Orioles signing Japanese starting pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano, and whether Luis Castillo, Dylan Cease or Jesus Luzardo could get traded soon.
Dec 18, 2024•53 min
Darragh McDonald is joined by Tim Dierkes, Steve Adams, and Anthony Franco to discuss Juan Soto's record-breaking contract, which players Steve Cohen is willing to pay for, what the Mets will pivot to next, how Max Fried ended up getting an eight-year contract from the Yankees, the blockbuster deal that sent Garrett Crochet to the Red Sox for some top prospects, who could sign Corbin Burnes, the Giants signing Willy Adames, the surprising deal between Luis Severino and the Athletics, the trades ...
Dec 13, 2024•1 hr 36 min
Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss Blake Snell signing a five-year deal with the Dodgers, MLB fans getting tired of the Dodgers' dominance over the free agent market and their use of deferred money, their extension of Tommy Edman to keep him with the team for four additional seasons, a breaking news report that the Red Sox are signing Aroldis Chapman, the Mets signing Frankie Montas, and the Cubs signing Matthew Boyd and whether they will get more aggressive this offseason. Listener q...
Dec 04, 2024•1 hr 2 min
MLBTR founder Tim Dierkes joins Darragh McDonald to discuss Yusei Kikuchi signing with the Angels, the flurry of moves that the Angels have already made this offseason, and Royals sending Brady Singer to the Reds for Jonathan India and Joey Wiemer. Listener question topics include the mechanics of how Scott Boras will approach teams to drive up the bidding for Juan Soto, if the A's will really raise their payroll and who they could target, what the Mariners should do at third base, why the Natio...
Nov 27, 2024•46 min
