Last offseason during the lockout, 13 current and former MLB players conducted live chats with MLBTR readers. If you’ve played in MLB, there’s a chance you’ve been teammates with one of them: Christian Colón, Dan Straily, Chad Cordero, Caleb Joseph, Jody Gerut, Paul Sewald, Chipper Jones, Alex Hinshaw, Shea Hillenbrand, Will Ohman, Tyler Danish, Christian Bergman, and Jonny Gomes. You can check out transcripts from all of those chats here.
When I started this site, Rich Hill was a rookie, and now he’s the oldest player in baseball! So we’ve been around for a while. In MLB Trade Rumors’ 17-year-existence, I’ve heard many anecdotes about players reading this website in the clubhouse. I still think that’s awesome! If you’re reading this and you’ve played Major League Baseball, we’d love to have you do a one-hour online chat with our readers.
What’s in it for you? First, it’s a really cool way to have positive interactions with fans in a controlled setting. Hundreds of questions will be submitted, but you get to scroll through and pick which ones to publish and answer. Last offseason, the response to this project was overwhelmingly positive, and many players enjoyed it so much they chatted well beyond their allotted hour. These chats are done on a computer, kind of like a chat room, so there’s no setting up cameras. Second, MLBTR reaches a wide audience, and we’re happy to link to your favorite charity or whatever project you’re currently working on.
To get in touch with us, you can reach out through MLBTR’s contact form. Or, if you’re on Twitter, you can reply to one of our tweets and we can direct message there.
3768902
I’m not, but people ask me that all the time. Like everyday even.
mj-2
I can confirm I am a current MLB player. Please message me.
giantwarrioras49ersraiders
What team
MortDingle
He might be the MJ who played with one of those Mudville teams?
Eric Olson 2
Little League doesn’t count.
BPax
I played for the Giants for one season and 2-hit the Cardinals while striking out 5 of the first 6 batters to start a game, It’s one of the highlights of my career. And full disclosure, it was the Elks Club Giants in Colt League.
Bart Harley Jarvis
A simple yes or no answer is also suitable.
Hello, Newman
“It’s not a lie.. if you believe it”
– George Costanza
crise
Let me help you out. I played at Highland Little League and once played seven positions in seven innings. I can’t pitch or catch, but I stayed at a Holiday Inn last year.
Yankee Clipper
Highland? Which state?
Mnnnnnnn
Jack Hanahan
nwwh
I’m in Poughkeepsie and never heard of this guy, so…
Yankee Clipper
That’s right across the MH Bridge.
Mendoza Line 215
Crise-Are you Bert Campaneris?
Curly Was The Smart Stooge
Did you leave the light on? Oh wait…
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
How do you verify identities?
dirkg
By screen name as a starter. So you’re in, Jacob.
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
I’m the real one. Don’t fall for scams.
CaptainJudge99
I play rightfield for the Yankees, I even have chambers in my name out there. I believe I’m very well qualified. Lmk.
Mi Casas es tu Casas
Finally a deGrom impersonator that knows how to type his name
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
He doesn’t, though. I spelled it correctly and then made it incorrect to match Jacob’s weird name. Few people make the fist letter lowercase. I actually never knew until a few weeks before deGrom signed with TX.
deGromTexasRanger
You are not the real one get out of here with this nonsense
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
You can subscribe to my newsletter for only $9.99 a month. The first month is even free, given your dedication to me. Enter in the code “+S” for my fans-only offer, personalized to you.
deGromTexasRanger
-s for the real winners but I do appreciate your attempt I’m actually starting to feel sorry for you at this point…
Bart Harley Jarvis
Sometimes you’re able to block me, but sometimes you’re not. Weird, huh?
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
Speaking of reading comprehension, there is no such thing as blocking on this site.
Bart Harley Jarvis
Oops, got me dGTR. I meant ‘mute’. Please forgive my error. You’re always on top of your game, and we all need to be ready for your ‘A’ game. I still think you’re great.
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
The app displays comments from muted users, but the site doesn’t. You still get notifications when muted users respond to you. For instance, Human CarverAndrews replies sometimes, and I can only see and respond to his comments on this app and not the website.
Bart Harley Jarvis
Don’t you just love the interwebs!
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
Why do you suspect you were blocked?
Bart Harley Jarvis
On some of your comments there’s no ‘reply’ option.
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
That’s odd. Why do I see a notification that some guys replied to me even when they are muted? I do see that too.
myaccount2
That just happens sometimes. It’s not because you’ve been muted. I’ve noticed a refresh often fixes that.
Yankee Clipper
DTR: That occurs when they respond in the thread. It seems the system notifies all respondents within the thread of the new message even when it’s not a specific reply to you. So, my response to you will likely pop up as a response notification on Bart’s dashboard as well, for example.
parkdav
IHYFDBHJ
Bart Harley Jarvis
You’re not the first person, and probably won’t be the last, to express this opinion. Your thoughtful acronym is appreciated, however.
@budselig6969
What about former commissioners?
For Love of the Game
If you take Manfraud with you, it’s a deal!
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
Rob Fred
whyhayzee
I once taught the son of a former major leaguer. He knew how to solve the paint problem from “Little Big League”. Great kid.
2012orioles
I’m calling out Brian Roberts. I want you to do a live chat please.
ohyeadam
I’ll raise you a Nick Punto
Mi Casas es tu Casas
Kiko Garcia
kcmark
I bet you can’t get Pete Rose.
DarkSide830
Lenny Dykstra
PontiacBandit
Junior Spivey
richardc
John Rocker
Palehosed85
Juicin’ Jack Cust.
hereallnight
I miss those chats and have been wondering what happened with them.
Hope you receive some interest in response, Tim.
Yankee Clipper
This is baseball’s version of Mean Tweets, where players read comments about other players in the clubhouse…..
acoss13
Too bad we don’t get the player reaction like Mean Tweets gets from celebrities lol
CravenMoorehead
I played division 3 in college but then I decided to start an Onlyfans.
toomanyblacksinbaseball
I have a thoughtful smarta$$ answer for every question before you ask it.
Gwynning
Why do we drive on parkways but park on driveways?
Yankee Clipper
On that note, if you try to fail and succeed in doing so, which one is it?
At what point does it go from being partly sunny to partly cloudy?
If you have an endangered animal that needs to eat an endangered plant to survive, what’s the correct choice?
Fever Pitch Guy
Clip – Success is accomplishing what you set out to do.
So if you succeed at accomplishing a failure, it’s a success.
154 on the Cattell ;O)
Tigers3232
That’s easy let the animal eat the plant so we get more meat when it’s time to eat the animal.
Yankee Clipper
So the Pirates are a success then, because they try to fail and succeed at it – They’re successful failures!
stymeedone
Can you be paranoid if everyone is really out to get you?
kcmark
If what goes up must come down … why does the Sun come up and go down? And why are there never gloves in the glove compartment.
Fever Pitch Guy
kcmark – I always have a pair of gloves in my glove compartment, right next to my Grey Poupon.
Domingo111
No
manosthof
I am… iron man.
Yankee Clipper
I can hear the guitar stating the riff……
riffraff
I can see the Road Warriors entering the arena
tstats
Man that’s such a good song!
tstats
LOL wasn’t he one of the players on the 50?
Mi Casas es tu Casas
Good to see you cal
Old York
Would you accept Beer League All-Stars?
BucksPackersBrewersWow!
I love reading or participating in the chats. I learn so many new things. I hope you can connect.
riffraff
It would depend on the definition of “player”. I bet on horses and am considered a horse player…using that logic I am a MLB player. I’m also a NHL, NBA,EPL,MLS,NFL, IPL, and PGA player as well. Also Darts and Cornhole. When do I do my chat?
Friarguy19
Pick ME!!! I was a one tool star through four years of little league. Nobody looked as menacing in the on deck circle as I did. Oh, the stories…
Gwynning
You were the only 6’2″ “8 year old” with a mustache!
Mi Casas es tu Casas
Danny Almonte has entered the room
Rsox
It was a glandular thing…
richardc
Sadly, now you’re just a tool…lol
sufferforsnakes
I’m not, but I did play pool once with Eddie Murray and his best friend. Then Eddie treated us to a Lakers game.
Yankee Clipper
He was funny, man. I especially like him in the movies, 48 Hours & Coming to America.
toomanyblacksinbaseball
Don’t forget Caddyshack and Stripes.
Kapler's Coconut Oil
No. Next question.
LosPobres1904
Yes I am now give me the league minimum!
MortDingle
Just one day of the Minimum….
Yankee Clipper
The recently retired David Phelps is a good option too.
VegasSDfan
Tatis, let’s hear from you.
CaptainJudge99
Tatis has not fully recovered from ringworm yet, so please be patient.
jorge78
So the pay is zero? unacceptable!
“Scott Boras on line one…..”
slowcurve
Somebody get Dan Uggla on the horn, I got some questions about steak and bicep curls.
drewm
I imagine the site is popular because it’s honest and doesn’t have a bias
DrDan75
I personally hate homer blogs. Even when the bias is towards a team that I like.
Brew’88
It’s like deja vu all over again
Jurassic Carl
Yes I am but only if you let me convince the league dinosaurs and homosexuals never existed especially the mythical gay dinosaurs!
rugrat907
I was going to say something about this being the wrong forum for Kyrie, but then remembered Carl Everett…
Chebert
I’m a future MLB pitcher based on my 68 MPH fastball, 500 spin rate and 2-3 curve
DrDan75
The first thing I did after signing that massive free agent contract was to splurge on a MLBTR subscription. That’s proof enough, right? You can ask Scott Boras.
GhostOfKevinElster
The commenters here are trying so hard to be funny. And failing so bad.
Ya'll a bunch of salty crybabies
I don’t know…….I find a lot of them very funny. Jurassic Carl’s comment about a gay dinosaur had me rolling. With that said, I did have a gummy this morning, so there’s that. 🙂
GhostOfKevinElster
It is really cringey in this particular comment section
cornwhisperer
Does it count if I hang out at an Iowa farm, play daily with former pro colleagues, but only a handful of people can see me?
toomanyblacksinbaseball
Have you been to Dyersville, Bancroft or Sec Taylor?
rocket_roids_22
I’ll talk about anything except the damn HOF
beknighted
I’m not but I play one on TV
For Love of the Game
I played SS and CF in a major league stadium, hit a knuckleball off a retired MLB pitcher, and hit .636 (1.303 OPS)…in fantasy camp. All true. When do we start?
Rsox
“I’ll miss you most of all Scarecrow”
Buuba ho tep
Build it and they will come
dmbphils27
I’ve got a wicked nasty slider in MLB The Show.
rct
Not MLB, but I once scores four touchdowns in a game for Polk High School.
Buuba ho tep
Ok al bundy
Manfred Rob's Earth Band
Uncle Rico is that you?
dirkg
How much you wanna make a bet I can throw a football over them mountains?… Yeah… Coach woulda put me in fourth quarter, we would’ve been state champions. No doubt.
desertball
Polk high school. Now that’s funny!
abc123baseball
Adam Ottavino was on the list of participants in the free agent pick ’em contest. Just saw his name because that giant list was in alphabetical order by first name. If anyone ever has a few hours to scour through the list they would probably see a bunch of MLBers.
(And yes, I think it’s actually more plausible that it’s the real Adam Ottavino than someone who changed their email info to Adam Ottavino’s. Possible, sure, but still less plausible.)
Rsox
I think the real question on everyone’s mind is where is Tim Dillard?
Chris G.
I’m pretty confident that I could crack the A’s starting day lineup right now. Does that count?
WestCoast89
Oh God please get Aubrey Huff
sherlock_
No, but I’m a future one!
kyzr
Love it! Great work MLBTR
LordD99
Players should do this as a way to connect with fans and for the game. Hopefully some take you up on the offer.
Super2
I achieved Super2 status when I signed up for an account on this website. So in a way, I’m you’re man!
Blue Baron
In what way?
Blue Baron
I am not, but I have reached out to a buddy who played for the Rangers, Yankees, and Braves in the 1980s and received a settlement payout from one of the free agent collusion suits.
Balk
I had 16 balks in 1988. Who am I?
BucksPackersBrewersWow!
Dave Stewart???
Balk
Correct!!
BucksPackersBrewersWow!
Sweet. What a great career!!!
BucksPackersBrewersWow!
Nicknamed “Smoke” I believe? One of the best heaters I saw live.
Balk
Used to wash Reggie Jackson’s car for tickets to the Coliseum.
BucksPackersBrewersWow!
Wow. Amazing story. Was he your primary mlb idol growing up?
Balk
Always liked watching him pitch. Went to a lot of A’s/Giants games growing up and he had to be on the mound for me to want to go. Ha!
DrDan75
I’m a hall of famer who hit a home run in my first major league at bat, then never hit another one over the rest of my long, long career. Who am I?
Balk
Hoyt Wilhelm?
Nats ain't what they used to be
Hoyt Wilhelm
Mendoza Line 215
It would help though if Hoyt Wilhelm was still alive.
Eric Olson 2
I played in little league and I’m available for less than the current league minimum!
Texas Outlaw
I coached t-ball,church league soccer, basketball and flag football. My career winning percentage is like 85%. You need a HOFamer like me!
TJECK109
I made it to the big leagues in my draft year on MLB the show.
riffraff
Was bored so googled who was the oldest former MLB player still alive. Art Schallock. He was on the 1951 yankees – played with DiMaggio and Mantle. Please reach out to him that would be an incredible get..if not for chat maybe a quick interview article type thing.
rhswanzey
“First, it’s a really cool way to have positive interactions with fans in a controlled setting.”
Huh?! Do you folks not read the comment sections or something? lol
sam 17
Positive??
Controlled??
iBleeedBlue
I can hit
I’m an MLB player
*cheers/clink*
-Russell Casse
b00giem@n
Played low a, daughter plays state soccer with former bengals 1# overall pick Bob Johnson..
Blue Baron
None of which anyone cares about or qualifies you as a MLB player.
SODOMOJO
What a peach.
Mendoza Line 215
I got on base against a future ML pitcher in Legion ball.
Chip Lang hit me with a pitch.
Gwynning
MLBTR just announced my press conference but we haven’t heard about my physical…
lloyd_christmas
yes, i am a former Money Line Better (need to pay the gas bill) – thanks!
Gwynning
You sold Petey?!?!?
Wilmer the Thrillmer
Virtually every player in the MLB knows about this site and when they have a post written about them, if they don’t personally read it their family and friends certainly do. When commenters post insensitive to utterly rude remarks directed towards that particular player, their family and friends definitely see it. Just sayin’ they’re human beings too.
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
Trevor Bauer too
cecildawg
Having read through about a quarter of the replies: The opportunity to speak to our vaulted hero’s seems to
make a good percentage of fans nervous, excited,
and banal. The resonse is mostly junior high. If i was a player reading these comments, well, we are showing a level
of maturity that is embarrassing and shows our contentiousness. Good luck.
jdgoat
Hello it is me, Mike Trout, fellow MLBTR compatriots
Andujar
We want Pedro Serrano!
lettersandnumbersonly
Wow, 107 replies… I had no idea there were so many current and former players on here.
Awesome!
Poppin' Balls
The winner of the free agent contest should win an opportunity to host an hour long chat.
Riontyler
Better be the ghost of Mikey Mantle, if I’m chatting online with anyone for an hour….except maybe one of the local lonely housewives that the hub keeps telling me about.
LGM!
Crash Davis here!
Julio Franco's Birth Certificate
I was offered a contract to play for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but had a customer looking for a new set of tires, so had to politely decline.
Ask Me Anything
Riontyler
If so, you might be entitled to compensation. Reps are standing by, waiting to hear from you. Don’t delay, call now.
AllinTX
If Trevor Bauer accepts what would you do?
Close comments and questions?
kcmark
Only he agrees to a safe word.
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
Make everyone sign a consent form
AmericanRedneck
Beat me to the punch.
*Trevor Bauer enters the chat, is ignored*
signenderinciarte
Derek Dietrich
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
I ate Mexican food next to Ken Griffey Jr. once but I was too timid to say hey, but that would have been rude anyway since he was in the middle of eating. But I was just a kid, I might have gotten away with it.
MarlinsFanBase
I’m not, but wish I was. Just didn’t have the talent. I wasn’t even MiLB caliber. Played into Division I. Played with and against guys that went on to play MLB.
Mike 97
>Are you a current or former MLB player
I wish 🙁
AmericanRedneck
No, but I know a few who were DFA’d…
Riontyler
Doubtful
In Seager/Hader We Trust > the 70 MM DH Ohtani
Imagine being a popular player on here and answering questions about signing 3 different contracts in one offseason and losing 150 million in a matter of weeks. That would be nice. Please make it happen. I will subscribe for a full membership for a year if you get Correa on here.
isolatedpower
I’m a Sabremetric so… Kind of a big deal
miltpappas
I went 1-for-8 with the Cubs in 1968. Little League. I played second. They said I’d be the next Glenn Beckert. Be happy to assist. See what I did there?
TJT88
If you want the short answer
, it’s no.
CKinSTL
I completely missed the Jody Gerut chat when it came out… I am glad you posted links – thank you!
HubcapDiamondStarHalo
I think the baseball-related human I’d most like to see a chat with would be Scott Boras! It would be interesting to see which questions he chose to answer, plus so much more!!!
mydogcrowder
Ronny cedeno!!!
coachsixstring
Loved the Christian Colon chat. Thanks so much.
Goku the All Knowing
I guess it’s a good time to reveal that im Mike Sweeney
cookmeister 2
I’ll send this out to a few contacts, was really fun last time hearing from players!
swanhenge
This might one of my fav comment threads. TR should post these periodically just for laughs.
Has anyone suffered injuries at an MLB game?
Has anyone shared dinner/drinks w an MLB player?
Has anyone been to the bottom of the ocean?
Epic…do it!
BuJoBi
Made it to aa ball in 2003 and played 46 games. Quickly realized I sucked, so now I’m a wannabe gm who comments on mlbtr
Wilmer the Thrillmer
46 games in AA ball is livin’ the dream for 99% of us!
Mendoza Line 215
Jays- You were good enough to get paid for playing so you did not suck.
Not too many former pros on this site.
sotaguchi
I answer question but how much pay?