Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss Mariners' manager Scott Servais getting fired along with their hitting coach, Angels' GM Perry Minasian getting an extension and how owner Arte Moreno is to blame for the team's lack of success, the Orioles' lack of rotation depth after recent acquisitions Zach Eflin got injured and Trevor Rogers got optioned, and the legacy and accomplishments of Joey Votto after he announced his retirement this week.

Listener question topics include the chances of Max Fried signing an extension with Atlanta and how his relatively disappointing season will affect his earnings. Also, what the market will look like for Justin Verlander when he hits free agency this offseason.

Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss how teams such as the Rangers and Pirates could place players on waivers in hopes of getting salary relief (like the Angels did last year), proposed ideas that would emphasize the importance of starting pitchers, Austin Riley's hand fracture being the latest of Atlanta's many injuries this season, and the Cubs releasing Hector Neris after an underwhelming season.

Listener email topics include other candidates to be placed on waivers, the state of the Tigers and what they will do with the Javy Baez contract, and what the Mets could do at first base next year if they don't resign Pete Alonso.

Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss Jose Abreu getting released and how the Astros' struggles this year haven't afforded them time to wait for struggling players to turn things around. Also, the recent injuries to Mookie Betts and Yoshinobu Yamamoto and if the Dodgers will make any reactionary moves, Anthony Rizzo out for the Yankees and whether his job will still be there for him when he gets healthy and the Braves' Michael Harris II out with a hamstring strain. The guys also talk about the passing of WIllie Mays and his baseball legacy. 

Listener question topics include trying to figure out whether or not the Mets are contenders in a crowded wild card field, the Nationals being surprisingly interesting and if it makes sense  for the White Sox to package together their big trade chips in one megadeal. 

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the news of Cristian Javier and Jose Urquidy both needing a season-ending elbow surgery,  Kyle Tucker going on the IL and the team's stated reluctance to sell at the deadline.

The guys then take a lot of mailbag questions. Topics include which bad teams have strong farm systems that will allow them to rebound in 2025, who could fit as a right fielder for the Guardians in a trade, if the Marlins will trade both Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Jesus Luzardo, the possibility of the Blue Jays trading Kevin Gausman to Atlanta, what the Reds need to do to make the playoffs, and how the Dodgers could round out the back end of their roster. 

Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss Ronald Acuna Jr. tearing an ACL for the second time in his career, who the Braves could target to replace him in the lineup and the state of the team in general. Also, Hal Steinbrenner's comments about the Yankees' payroll being unsustainable due to the luxury tax, a potential battle between high-payroll teams and low-payroll teams when the time comes for CBA negotiations and the reporting that teams expect Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki to be posted this offseason.

Listener question topics include an idea for a relief pitching bonus based on WPA and if Taylor Ward would be a good fit for Atlanta.

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss what kind of offer it would take to convince Juan Soto and Scott Boras to forgo free agency, the seven-year extension offer that the Mets floated to Pete Alonso last year and what he and the team will decide to do this year as he is set to become a free agent. 

Listener question topics include whether the Orioles and Tigers could match up on a trade involving a bat for a bullpen arm,  some questions about the prospect promotion incentive: if a rookie traded mid-season qualifies, why Mason Miller isn't eligible and if rookies from foreign leagues can help their teams get a draft pick. Lastly, why has Corbin Carroll struggled so much this year and and what the Diamondbacks should do about it. 

Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss Paul Skenes debuting in Pittsburgh, the way the media hypes up young players and places impossible expectations on them, the new TV deal between Roku and MLB and what it means for the future of broadcast availability, the brutal WIllson Contreras injury suffered from getting hit by a swing and why pitch framing is causing catchers to get closer to the hitter's bats, and the surprisingly good return the White Sox got from the Rangers for Robbie Grossman despite him being a minor league signing this offseason. 

Listener question topics include who the Astros could sell if they don't turn things around after their poor start, if the Phillies would consider prospect Mick Abel a rotation surplus and trade him for a bat, and if the Tigers should sell high on Tarik Skubal.

Anthony Franco  joins Darragh McDonald to discuss Luis Arraez getting traded to the Padres, what other assets the Marlins could trade and the wheeling and dealing front office in San Diego. 

Listener email topics include when Paul Skenes will be called up by the Pirates and when Jackson Holliday will be called back up by the Orioles, what an automated strike zone could look like in MLB, and why the Tigers aren't making changes to their struggling lineup. 

Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss Jose Abreu agreeing to be sent down to the minors, Mike Trout's torn meniscus, the myth of teams having too many players at a certain position, when top prospects like Junior Caminero and Jackson Jobe could be called up, why the White Sox won't be able to pick higher than tenth in the 2025 draft despite their bad record, the average time a repaired tendon can last after Tommy John surgery, the first date a newly-signed free agent is eligible to be traded, and Erick Fedde's trade value after a strong start to the season. 

MLBTR's Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald for an all-mailbag episode with topics including: which division leaders are mostly likely to stay in first place, the Cardinals' struggles and their overreacting fanbase, some technicalities teams deal with when making minor trades, the potential trade market for Jazz Chisholm, what pitch mix would be best to minimize injuries, why there isn't more accountability for bad umpiring, the difficulty of evaluating coaches, how the money owed to Javy Baez compares to the cost of launching rockets into space, and if it is too early to cut bait on players underperforming so far this season. 

MLBTR's Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the site's newly published Free Agents Power Rankings, how Gerrit Cole could potentially end up a free agent this year, the legal details that came out about Shohei Ohtani's interpreter allegedly stealing millions of dollars and the mess that is leading the A's to temporarily move to Sacramento. 

Listener email topics include how pitchers can get charged for a blown save in the seventh inning, if the Tigers would consider cutting Javy Baez and what the Braves can do to replace Spencer Strider in their rotation. 

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the White Sox firing their manager, Pedro Grifol, along with most of the coaching staff, the Mariners extending outfielder Victor Robles just a few months after he got released by the Nationals, the Dodgers doing some roster shuffling, designating Amed Rosario for assignment and moving Mookie Betts back to the outfield, and a shake up in the Marlins' front office. 

Listener question topics include whether Camilo Doval will pitch again for the Giants after getting sent down to the minors, whatever happened to Archie Bradley, and if Braves fans should give up hope for the season.

We apologize for the poor audio quality this week. We had some technical difficulties. 

It's a four-person panel with Tim Dierkes, Steve Adams and Anthony Franco all joining Darragh McDonald to discuss why the offseason didn't go as expected, what lessons they can take into next year's top 50 free agent list, some bad predictions they made,  which trends could continue in the future, what to expect in the next CBA to protect young players and the middle class of free agency, ways to improve parity and if there will be a lockout during the next CBA negotiation.

MLBTR's Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the Dodgers locking up catcher Will Smith to a ten-year contract extension, the Pirates trading for Joey Bart to improve their catching depth, Mike Clevinger signing with the White Sox and a three-way trade sending John Berti from the Marlins to the Yankees, and Ben Rortvedt to the Rays. 

Listener question topics include whether the Rangers would consider trading for Jordan Montgomery if the D-Backs sell, if Roki Sasaki can game the system by signing a short-term free agent deal next winter and if there's a reason that most draft picks aren't allowed to be traded. 

MLBTR's Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the scandal surrounding the alleged gambling of Shohei Ohtani's interpreter, JD Martinez signing with the Mets despite the hefty luxury tax penalty, a live reaction to Jordan Montgomery's deal with the Diamondbacks as the news breaks during the recording, Michael Lorenzen's deal with the Rangers, whether Jackson Holliday's assignment to Triple A is service time manipulation and Ezequiel Tovar's extension with the Rockies. 

Listener question topics include why teams wait to place players on the 60-day injured list and whether we could see more teenagers called up in the near future. 

Mutiny Within the MLBPA, Blake Snell Signs With The Giants And The Dylan Cease Trade

MLBTR's Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the power struggle within the MLBPA after a frustrating offseason for many players, Blake Snell's two-year deal with the Giants and Dylan Cease getting traded to the San Diego and the Padres propensity for acquiring and moving prospects in trades. 

Listener question topics include whether the the Blue Jays could go after Juan Soto next year, why similar free agent outfielders got such drastically different contracts this offseason, and what return Emmanuel Clase could fetch for the Guardians if they decided to trade him at the deadline. 

MLBTR's Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss Lucas Giolito and Garrett Cole's respective arm injuries and whether Red Sox or Yankees could make moves for another starter, Brayan Bello's contract extension and the state of the Boston rotation going forward, the plan for Mookie Betts to move to shortstop over Gavin Lux and J.D. Davis getting released and losing out on the full terms of his arbitration salary. 

Listener question topics include which team had the worst offseason, if the Red Sox could trade Masataka Yoshida and whether Tigers fans should be mad at ownership.

MLBTR Founder Tim Dierkes joins Darragh McDonald to discuss what led Matt Chapman to take a short-term deal, the Giants penchant for giving out deals with opt outs, Zack Wheeler signing a three-year extension with the Phillies with a big AAV and 
dark horses to sign Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery.

Listener email topics include why fans get enjoyment from Scott Boras failing, and whether the "Scott Boras era" free agents signing extremely long-term deals is over.

MLBTR founder Tim Dierkes joins Darragh McDonald to discuss what led Cody Bellinger to take a short-term deal, why the site's prediction for him was so far off and how his contract will affect the other Boras clients still available.

Listener question topics include how players historically perform after signing midway through spring training, if the Phillies' deal with Aaron Nola looks bad in hindsight and early guesses about what Juan Soto could do next offseason.

Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss potential landing spots for the big Scott Boras clients left on the free agent market, whether they believe the executives of the Rangers, Giants and Angels who say their teams don't have any more money to spend, the Nationals no longer being for sale and the disappointing offseason they've had, and the implications of Rob Manfred's announcement that this will be his final term as commissioner. 

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the Giants signing Jorge Soler, how he will fit onto their crowded roster, and whether it affects their chances of signing one of the top remaining free agents. Also, the Brewers signing Gary Sanchez, the Pirates signing Yasmani Grandal, and if the Padres will target more low-cost free agents like Jurickson Profar to remain under the competitive balance tax threshold. 

Listener email topics include which team could be a surprise contender this year, if Matt Chapman could settle for a one-year deal and whether Carlos Santana really improves the Twins. 

Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the Angelos family selling the Orioles and how it could affect the franchise moving forward, how the Corbin Burnes trade  impacts both the Orioles and Brewers, and the details of the Bobby Witt Jr. extension.

Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to recap some of the moves they didn’t cover in previous episodes including the Mariners acquiring Randy Arozarena, Justin Turner and Yimi Garcia, the Pirates doing a “soft buy” acquiring Bryan De La Cruz while also completing a trade of young players sending Quinn Priester to Boston for infielder Nick Yorke, the long-term outlook of the Pittsburgh rotation, the Phillies adding relatively modest pieces by Dave Dombrowski standards, the Brewers showing off their ability to improve pitchers by getting Frankie Montas to immediately throw harder since being acquired, and the Diamondbacks trading for an elite reliever in A.J. Puk. Also, they guys talk about Mike Trout’s latest injury and how he unfortunately hasn't been able to stay on the field in recent years.

MLBTR's Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the Twins trading Jorge Polanco to the Mariners for a four-player package, the Brewers signing Rhys Hoskins, and what the Blue Jays next moves will be after signing Justin Turner and whether they will make any big commitments to Matt Chapman or anyone else. They also talk about the Joc Pederson signing with the Diamondbacks and the Tigers' extension of prospect Colt Keith.

Listener question topics include what's in store for Cody Bellinger and if the Mariners could sign Blake Snell.

MLBTR writer Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss how much money each team gets from their TV broadcasting rights as well as the fluid situation of Diamond Sports Group's bankruptcy and what a deal involving Amazon could mean for the affected teams. On the hot stove, Josh Hader unexpectedly signed with the Astros, Robert Stephenson with the Angels and Aroldis Chapman with the Pirates.

Listener question topics include whether J.D. Martinez or another full-time DH would make sense for the Angels, if the Mets would consider trading Pete Alonso or another infielder and how rare it is for major free agents to still be available late in January. 

MLBTR founder Tim Dierkes joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the Cubs landing free agent Shota Imanaga as well as trading for Michael Busch from the Dodgers, the Yankees bolstering their rotation by signing Marcus Stroman and whether that will stop them from pursuing other pitching upgrades, and the Giants signing Jordan Hicks and their plan to transition him into a starter.

Listener question topics include whether the Pirates have given up on their stated plans to add a starting pitcher, why teams allow agents to create false reports to use as leverage, and why MLB has such a strong resistance to a salary cap. 

MLBTR writer Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the Dodgers grabbing more headlines by signing Teoscar Hernandez, and a flurry of moves including the Marniers  sending Robbie Ray to the Giants for Mitch Haniger and Anthony DeSclafani, acquiring Luke Raley from the Rays for Jose Caballero and the Rays then trading Andrew Kittredge to St. Louis for Richie Palacios.   

Listener email questions include whether teams deferring significant money is a problem for the sport, how deferrals are not a new concept in baseball and if a salary floor would help competitiveness. 

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the state of the Dodgers' rotation after signing Yoshinobu Yamamoto to a record-breaking contract as well as the position of the other teams who vied for the Japanese star. 

They also dig into both sides of the Chris Sale for Vaughn Grissom trade between the Red Sox and Braves as well as Boston's signing of Lucas Giolito, the Royals stocking up of mid-tier free agents to raise their floor, the Blue Jays emphasizing defense with Kevin Kiermaier and Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Mitch Garver with the Mariners and Frankie Montas with the Reds. 

MLBTR founder Tim Dierkes joins to discuss the Tyler Glasnow trade and extension with the Dodgers and dive into how concerning his injury history really is. Also, why Jung Hoo Lee got so much more money than anyone predicted from the Giants and the risks for the Diamondbacks signing players in the middle tier of the free agent market like Eduardo Rodriguez and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. 

Then, Steve Adams joins to answer listener questions involving the recent series of contract-swapping moves that the Braves have made and the frustration that Mariners fans feel after dumping talent. 

MLBTR founder Tim Dierkes joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the record-breaking deal that Shohei Ohtani signed with the Dodgers and all of the craziness surrounding it. This includes whether the huge amount of deferred money is fair, if the contract is good for the game of baseball and how much to trust media reports from "scoop reporters."

Also, they react to the blockbuster deal sending Juan Soto to the Yankees and talk about the New York's fearsome lineup, the position the Padres are left in and what Soto's free agent deal could look like next offseason. 

Site founder Tim Dierkes joins host Darragh McDonald to discuss what isn't happening with Shohei Ohtani and what they think about the process playing out secretly and Jerry Dipoto and the Mariners deciding to bet against Jarred Kelenic in order to dump salary.

Listener question topics include what the Dodgers' plan B will be if they miss out on Ohtani, if rising player contracts will lead to higher prices charged to fans, and whether anyone from MLBTR attends the Winter Meetings.

MLBTR founder Tim Dierkes joins host Darragh McDonald to discuss Sonny Gray's new contract with the Cardinals and the risks of having a rotation filled with old veterans. Also, Kenta Maeda signing with the Tigers for less money than expected. 

Listener questions topics include,  which free agent starters make sense for the Orioles, what the Reds will do with their huge amount of available payroll, why players haven't wanted to sign in San Francisco and what it would take for an acquiring team to extend Juan Soto. 

Anthony Franco joins host Darragh McDonald to discuss Aaron Nola staying with the Phillies and how his big contract will affect the rest of the starting pitching market. They also analyze Reynaldo Lopez signing with the Braves and Lance Lynn with the Cardinals and point out the most intriguing names from this year's crop of non-tenders. 

Listener question topics include the slow pace of baseball free agency compared to other sports, whether the Dodgers will have another "disappointing" offseason and if the Pirates could sign Rhys Hoskins or another notable free agent. 

In another megapod to recap the deadline, Darragh McDonald is joined by Tim Dierkes, Steve Adams and Anthony Franco to discuss whether the prices were high for buyers this year, why there were no blockbusters, the Erick Fedde trade, how teams like the Cubs and Rays are simultaneously buying and selling, the Blue Jays doing well in their return for Yusei Kikuchi, the relatively small moves that the Guardians made, the Orioles committing a lot of payroll and prospect capital to acquire pitching, if teams will become more aggressive in the offseason since there's been less available at the deadline, the Rockies and Angels deciding to hold onto guys, the Marlins leaning into a full sell, the Braves getting the band back together and much more. 

Steve Adams joins host Darragh McDonald to discuss the site's list of top offseason trade candidates, what Bryce Harper moving to first base means for the rest of the Phillies' roster and what the Braves will do with the extra money after Alex Anthopoulos stated that the payroll will be going up. 

Listener question topics include what's in store for the NL Central teams this offseason, if the Angels will pursue other top free agents if they miss out on Ohtani and whether Jonathan India has significant trade value following two underwhelming seasons. 

Host Darragh McDonald is joined by Tim Dierkes, Steve Adams and Anthony Franco to discuss the site's annual Top 50 Free Agent list. In this extra-long episode, they talk about how they decided on a number that they think Ohtani will reach, why they are so high on Cody Bellinger's market, the ranking of the free agent pitchers, and much more.

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the likelihood of the Padres trading Juan Soto with reports saying that the team is looking to cut payroll next season, Giants' president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi and new manager Bob Melvin both sign new contracts to be with the team for three seasons and the Red Sox hire former pitcher Craig Breslow to be their front office boss. 

Listener question topics include whether Ohtani will sign early or late into the offseason, who could trade with the Twins for Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler and what are realistic free agent pitching targets for the Orioles. 

Anthony Franco joins host Darragh McDonald to discuss Adolis Garcia's rise from going unclaimed on waivers to being named ALCS MVP, what's next for the Astros, including extension candidates and a potential managerial search, if Bob Melvin will change teams despite still being under contract, the likelihood of Tyler Glasnow getting traded.

Listener questions include how the Mariners will address their offense and where Cody Bellinger could sign this offseason. 

Anthony Franco joins host Darragh McDonald to discuss why Boston's top front office job might be hard to fill, the next step for Kim Ng after choosing not to continue as GM in Miami and what potential contracts could look like for Brandon Woodruff after he gets shoulder surgery just one year away from free agency. 

Listener email questions include analyzing what teams will do this offseason vs. what they should do, and whether the current playoff structure isn't advantageous for the top seeds. 

Host Darragh McDonald is back and is joined by MLBTR's Anthony Franco to discuss Billy Eppler resigning  from the Mets' front office amidst an investigation into injured list manipulation, bad news in Miami with Sandy Alcantara's Tommy John being announced and the team being eliminated from the playoffs, and Mike Hazen's extension as GM of the Diamondbacks.

Listener question topics include whether the Braves could trade Vaughn Grissom for pitching help, especially after it was announced that Kyle Wright will miss all of 2024 with a shoulder injury, what the Phillies will do at first base next season and where the White Sox should start if they plan to be competitive in 2024.

MLBTR's Anthony Franco joins guest host Mark Polishuk to discuss Cal Raleigh's comments asking ownership to spend more after missing the playoffs. Could Ohtani be an option? Also, would the Tigers potentially resign Eduardo Rodriguez if he opts out of his contract and is the team could be closer to contending than people think?

Listener questions include whether the Dodgers should resign J.D. Martinez, and/or pursue big-name starters, how much managers are a factor in attracting free agents, and which managerial dismissals were a surprise. 

Mark Polishuk fills in as host and is joined by Steve Adams to do a free agent pitching preview and talk about who could be good, under-the-radar pickups.  Also, what's in store for the Padres next year after a report stating that they're looking to cut payroll and potentially move on from AJ Preller and what the Angels might look to trade Mike Trout if they miss out on resigning Shohei Ohtani. 

Listener question topics include if Sonny Gray will remain with the Twins next year and whether Braves fans should be worried about their rotation after the injuries of Max Fried and Charlie Morton. 

MLBTR's Mark Polishuk joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the weak free agent position player class, the Red Sox firing Chaim Bloom, the Mets hiring David Stearns and details and ramifications of the Rays plan to build a new stadium near the site of Tropicana Field.

Listener question topics include what factors led to Stephen Strasburg not being able to retire with his full pay, if the prospect promotion incentive will affect promotions next year for Jackson Holliday or Jackson Chourio and if the Padres would trade Juan Soto this offseason. 

MLBTR's Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the site's positional free agent previews for catcher and first base. They also analyze the Rockies extending Germán Márquez as he recovers from Tommy John surgery and the state of the Dodgers' rotation after the announcement that Walker Buehler won't return this season. 

Listener question topics include if Spencer Turnbull’s relationship with the Tigers is beyond repair, whether the A’s will continue to be cheap once they move to Las Vegas and why is the AL Central always bad. 

In an extra-long episode, Darragh McDonald is joined by MLBTR founder Tim Dierkes and writers Steve Adams and Anthony Franco to break down players that could be moved by clear sellers like the White Sox, Marlins and Athletics, unpredictable teams like the Rockies and Angels, the Cubs stating that they aren't planning to make a push this year, the Tigers surprisingly still holding 10% playoff odds according to Fangraphs, some interesting teams to watch like Tampa Bay and Toronto, how clear buyers like the Yankees and Orioles will address their needs, and rapid-fire thoughts about other teams.

MLBTR's Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to analyze how the unprecedented salary dumping on the waiver wire shook out, benefiting the Guardians and the Reds while still reportedly keeping the Angels in luxury tax territory. Also, what solutions could be implemented to avoid this happening in future years. 

They also discuss some exciting September call-ups,  including the Yankees’ Jasson Dominguez and the Mets’ Ronny Mauricio, and a listener question prompts the guys to pick the what the most elite skill is of each playoff contending team. 

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss how the news of Shohei Ohtani's UCL tear will affect his upcoming free agency, who has moved up and down on the latest update of the Free Agent Power Rankings, and Stephen Strasburg deciding to retire after injuries derailed his very impressive career.

Listener email questions have a Pete Alonso theme and include whether he'd be a trade fit for the Brewers, Cubs or Twins. 

MLBTR's Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss what led to the surprising front office move in Chicago, firing their VP Ken Williams and GM Rick Hahn, what is leading to the recent trend of prospects getting promoted in mid-August (including the Angels promoting this summer's draftee Nolan Schanuel) and the unfortunate state of the Rays' rotation health after it was announced that Shane McClanahan will undergo Tommy John surgery. 

Listener question topics include how the Reds can fit all of their young infielders onto the roster and if Nick Senzel could be shopped, how aggressive the Mets will be this offseason and which luxury tax paying team could dip below the threshold next year.

MLBTR’s Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the pros and cons of a proposal to move future trade deadlines back from the end of July to mid-August, After selling hard at the deadline, will the Mets either trade or extend Pete Alonso before next season? They also analyze the sad state of the Yankees rotation and how it sets up for 2024.

Listener question topics include what the Cardinals need to do to be competitive next year, if they match up well for a trade with the Mariners, what the Diamondbacks need to do in the offseason and the free agent stock of Rangers’ catcher Mitch Garver.