Jason Martinez: Welcome to the inaugural RosterResource Live Chat of 2025. Although the off-season has been relatively quiet thus far, the silver lining is that we can anticipate a consistent flow of roster-related updates as we approach the start of the season. Stay tuned for exciting developments!

Jon Becker: Happy New Year everyone! Let’s dive right into the latest MLB chatter and see what the new season has in store for us!

Idiotic Failson: Do you think Travis Bazzana will make his MLB debut this year?

Jon Becker: Bazzana has shown impressive skills and could definitely force the team to consider his promotion—he performed admirably in Hi-A. However, I don’t anticipate they will establish a specific timeline for his ascent. My guess is 2026, although the second base position is particularly open this season, which could work in his favor.

Gray Grae: When does Grae Kessinger’s DFA timeline expire?

Jason Martinez: Kessinger still has at least three days remaining on his DFA period, given that two players who were DFA’d on 12/20 (Owen White and Hagen Danner) are still in limbo, while Kessinger was DFA’d on 12/23. I suspect the 7-day period was extended due to the holiday. You can check the list of pending DFAs here: link.

jaygray007: Which teams might have a spare corner outfielder they could potentially trade to the Pirates? I’m particularly interested in Lourdes Gurriel, considering his salary and that the D-backs are currently deep in talent. What other situations come to mind?

Jon Becker: The Angels could be a team to watch, especially if they sign either Santander or Alonso, both of whom have been mentioned in trade rumors. Taylor Ward has been a frequent name in discussions, but Jo Adell might be available too, given his undeniable talent.

ballsandgutters: Thank you for hosting this chat! Pirates’ Nick Yorke has displayed an unusual reverse platoon split throughout the minors. Should we consider treating him more like a left-handed hitting infielder/outfielder? Does this imply he could platoon with Cook/Davis in right field?

Jason Martinez: That’s an intriguing point. Typically, I don’t focus heavily on minor league splits, but those numbers from 2023-24 are quite striking. It appears they value him and want to incorporate his bat into the lineup, but he’ll likely start in the minors unless he outperforms Nick Gonzales for the second base position, assuming the Pirates bring in two more bats.

Trader Jerry: Are teams with top 30 prospects who are blocked becoming too cautious in trades? Or do teams actually value corner bats significantly less than public perception? Players like Coby Mayo, Kjerstad, Manzardo, Curtis Mead, and possibly Dalton Rushing have been largely left in Triple-A.

Jason Martinez: It’s not necessarily that teams undervalue corner bats compared to public opinion; rather, they need to be extremely confident in a corner bat’s offensive production before acquiring him. There is limited potential for significant defensive impact in those positions. Regarding the players you mentioned, Mayo and Mead struggled in their opportunities, but they should receive more chances. Manzardo has a clear path ahead, while Rushing has only played 37 games in Triple-A. Kjerstad seems to be the only one truly blocked, even though he appears ready; the other four shouldn’t be considered buried just yet.

Cromulent: Reviewing the Nationals depth chart, with Nate Lowe at first base and Josh Bell at designated hitter, do you think they might consider giving Juan Yepez some playing time, especially if he is more likely to contribute to the next competitive Nationals team?

Jason Martinez: They may prefer to let Yepez play in Triple-A or utilize him as a right-handed bat off the bench for now. If they’re not contending, they could trade Bell in July, which would likely open up a spot for Yepez. It’s also plausible he could be traded before the season begins, as he has value as a pre-arbitration player with an option remaining. Additionally, they have Andres Chaparro as depth at first base.

Bob Valdez: What’s the latest on Alex Verdugo? Any insights regarding his 2025 team and contract status?

Jon Becker: Information on Verdugo has been sparse this offseason, which is typical for bounce-back free agents who lack widespread interest; we likely won’t hear much until he signs. I estimate he’ll receive a contract similar to that of Max Kepler (1 year, $10M); teams like the Pirates, Royals, Astros, Reds, and Padres all seem like potential fits for him.

Troy: The Mariners have publicly expressed their desire to add two bats, indicating they are interested in acquiring a first baseman and either a second or third baseman. Considering their current roster, do you think this approach is appropriate? It appears they have sufficient depth for second base (with Bliss and Young not far behind), but they lack major league quality at third base. What are your thoughts?

Jason Martinez: I believe Cole Young is a crucial player, but I’m uncertain if any potential acquisition would signal just how close the Mariners think he is to contributing. For example, if they sign players like Jose Iglesias, Brendan Rogers, or Hyeseong Kim, I would still expect Young to receive the call when they believe he’s ready. Conversely, if they make no moves at second base, it could indicate they believe Young is on the brink of making the team, with Bliss and Moore being adequate placeholders in the meantime.

Mr.Nat: What are your thoughts on James Wood’s potential for 2025? I’m considering keeping him at a low cost and hoping for decent production.

Jon Becker: I’m a big fan of his, especially since he managed to keep his strikeouts at a manageable level while still drawing walks. However, I was concerned about his lack of pull power; he only recorded four pulled fly balls during his entire 79-game stretch. While that may lead to more strikeouts, I would like to see him take more aggressive swings and get ahead of the ball instead of allowing it to travel excessively.

AJ Preller: Who should I consider trading between Cease, Arraez, Crone, and Suarez to shed some salary for the bleak free-agent class ahead?

Jason Martinez: I suspect the team is looking to trade Arraez to reinvest that money into re-signing Profar. However, they might find it challenging to find a taker without absorbing some costs. They would also need to wait for him to agree to terms. While trading Crone or Suarez is also an option, the same financial issue applies. Although they are solid players, their contracts significantly reduce their market value.

Cease has substantial trade value, but I doubt the Padres will part with one of their best players until they gain clarity on Sasaki’s decision. They want to maintain the appearance of being competitive, and it’s likely they will retain Cease if they successfully sign Sasaki. If he signs elsewhere and the budget is tight, trading Cease could become necessary to address other team needs.

Jon Becker: If they can extend Arraez at a reasonable price (potentially wiping out this year’s projected $14M and instead doing something like 3 years for $30M), they would prefer to keep him. However, it’s important to note he’s a risky investment since he has only one average skill—an elite hit tool—but it compensates for his other weaknesses.

VI Reds Fan: Since the Trevino trade, the Reds have been relatively inactive. Should their focus be on improving the outfield, or would adding a bat at any position be advantageous at this stage?

Jon Becker: Initially, I would have suggested focusing on the outfield, but after reviewing Dan’s ZiPS projections (https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2025-zips-projections-cincinnati-reds/) for all corner positions, it seems prudent to add a bat wherever possible. I don’t expect them to pursue high-profile players like Alonso or Santander, but someone like Profar could be a fit.

Biscuit: Do you think McCarthy will reach the at-bats projected by Steamer? That would be a significant career high for him. There’s no real platoon split, but the D-backs seem to mix and match more than average.

Jason Martinez: As he approaches his age-27 season and has shown he can hold his own against left-handed pitchers, I believe it’s possible he’ll be ready for an everyday role. However, there’s also a possibility that the D-backs might look to add a right-handed outfielder, which could push him back down to the 450-500 plate appearance range.

Bob Valdez: Is there a chance Kenley returns to the Dodgers?

Jon Becker: I doubt it. He would likely be their fourth-best reliever, and I think he’ll prefer to sign with a team where he can be the clear closer to continue climbing the career saves list.

Adam: The Rays currently have Eloy Jimenez positioned for a bench role, primarily as a designated hitter. With Jonathan Aranda and Yandy Diaz, both of whom have limited defensive flexibility, along with Christopher Morel, who is defensively questionable, does this roster configuration push the Rays towards considering a trade for Yandy Diaz to enhance their flexibility?

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