The latest episode of the MLB Trade Rumors Podcast is now live on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts! Make sure you subscribe as well! You can also use the player at this link to listen, if you don’t use Spotify or Apple for podcasts.
This week, host Darragh McDonald is joined by Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors to discuss…
- Tucupita Marcano of the Padres betting on baseball while with the Pirates (1:05)
- The Blue Jays are struggling but Ross Atkins says trading Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette doesn’t make sense (7:50)
- The Orioles lost John Means and Tyler Wells to surgery but also called up Connor Norby (17:45)
- While recording, we get the news of Marcano’s lifetime ban and find out the identities of the other players who were suspended (23:45)
Plus, we answer your questions, including…
- Since the Brewers and Willy Adames didn’t reach an extension, is there any chance the Brewers consider trading him this summer? (24:25)
- It seems like there are more season-ending injuries, but is there any data to support that? If there is, is MLB taking a look at mitigating? (28:25)
- What will be the financial components of the deadline? Are there any teams that might have a surprising amount of payroll room? (33:50)
Check out our past episodes!
- Ángel Hernández Retires, Ronald Acuña Jr. Out For The Season And Roki Sasaki’s Potential Posting – listen here
- The Likelihood Of A Juan Soto Extension, What’s In Store For Pete Alonso, And Corbin Carroll’s Struggles – listen here
- Paul Skenes, The Prospect Hype Machine, Willson Contreras And Rising Catcher’s Interference Rates – listen here
The podcast intro and outro song “So Long” is provided courtesy of the band Showoff. Check out their Facebook page here!
Maybe all the outlets associated with MLB who refuse to question anything about the Ohtani “investigation” can chip in and get him Life Lock
What exactly do you feel should be questioned?? A criminal court charged his interpreter not him. That should be telling enough.
Unless are you proposing that judges and prosecutors are putting their careers on the line and potentially their own freedom to help MLB cover up for Ohtai??? Seriously think about just how ridiculous the reality of that is.
Tigers – You have no concept of how the world works.
I agree with you that it would be pointless for law enforcement or MLB to continue questioning the narrative, because that’s not something that should be done when the defendant quickly confesses and corroborates what the plaintiff has stated.
Think of it this way. Two people in a car get pulled over and a one pound bag of coke is found on the floor between them. The officer asks who the bag belongs to. The driver is a renowned surgeon who has saved countless lives, the passenger is his highschool dropout son who is living in their basement and could never afford to buy a bag like that.
The driver/surgeon says it’s not his, and the passenger/son confesses that it’s his not his Dad’s.
Do you think for one minute the cops or the DA is gonna go “Nah … even though we have no proof, we think you’re both lying so we are gonna keep wasting resources to investigate despite the confession and matching testimony.”
It’s called logic.
@Fever The charges were already brought against him before he plead out.
And no this does not fit as simply as the possession scenario you just described. This would have left a trail of transactions and url’s that showed where and from what devices the transactions were conducted. This type of stuff is gathered before charges are even brought. Prosecutors do not take a case until sufficient evidence is provided by those investigating the case.
Tigers – We are on the same page here.
Virtually nobody would confess before being accused of a crime, unless they are feeling really really guilty which obviously wasn’t the case here.
And I totally agree LE would have gathered evidence before charging Ippei.. But none of the evidence is proof that Ohtani wasn’t aware of any of it.
I do appreciate you addressing specifics, too many others here have not.
Fever-Great analogy
Some people, like me, will always believe Shohei was involved while some will always believe he wasn’t involved. That’s fine, it opens up a healthy discussion. And either way, purchasing Life Lock for someone is a nice gift and would assure it doesn’t happen again to a naive Mr Ohtani
Fever,
“none of the evidence is proof that Ohtani wasn’t aware of any of it.”
Wow, he’s supposed to prove his innocence? That’s a bizarre standard.
I still don’t see what the incentive would be for federal authorities to let him off the hook.
Oldguy,
I’m not sure how questioning a 37-page federal document that absolves Ohtani qualifies as “a healthy discussion.” Your mind seems to be made up, but I don’t see the value in continuing additional discussion about it.
Tigers – I totally agree! But the question has never been whether Ippei did what he did, the question is whether Ohtani instructed him to do it or at least knew about it.
Years ago I had a co-worker set me up, they verbally asked me to make a change to a file and save it. Then with my name on the file as “Last Modified”, she blamed me when those same changes led to major errors. Her husband was a cop, so of course she was skilled at setups.
The only difference with Ippei is that it wasn’t a setup, but it’s still possible he was instructed to do things on Ohtani’s behalf. Or Ohtani at least was aware of the gambling and transfers. That’s all I’m saying.
gbs – Where did I say he had to prove his innocence? I’m not calling for him to be charged with anything or disciplined for anything.
Not being able to prove guilt doesn’t equate to not being guilty, it equates to not being found guilty. Two entirely different things.
Every day when I drive to work I am passed by dozens of cars going well over the speed limit. Because there were no cops around and therefore none of the drivers got pulled over, does that mean they were not guilty of speeding? Of course not.
@Fever They had enough evidence of the transactions to charge the interpreter. I’m sure if there was any trail whatsoever to Ohtani he would ve been charged.
With financial transactions such as in this particular case there is a clear electronic or paper trail.
You trying to compare this to speeding with no cops around or a he said she said matter is simply not in any way plausible. This case being financial had to have a ton of evidence that could easily be traced to what devices were logged in making transactions and what accounts money went to and from
@Fever DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT AUTHORITIES HAD A TON OF EVIDENCE AS TO HOW THESE FINANCIAL ACTIONS TRANSPIRED??? That is a simple ye or no question.
If you answer yes then you understand that with all that evidence authorities found Ohtani to b the victim not perpetrator of crime.
If you answer no, maybe you should read a little into the what was reported in the case against the interpreter.
It would not surprise me if you formulated an opinion knowing little of the matter. You have been caught talking out of school admitting to not knowing anything od the other accusers of Bauer. Also admitted to knowing nothing of the workings or structure of Boras Corporation. Yet you formulate and argue opinions like one who reads just the headline of an article.
Tigers – I’ve already stated I read it, and plenty of questions arose from it which cannot be answered.
Provide ONE THING Ippei did that Ohtani couldn’t have possibly known about.
BTW – Years ago, before voice verification, I worked for a company where only two owners were on the company bank account. They were both male, and in certain situations they gave me permission to call the bank and say I was one of them. Could they have denied it if something went wrong? Sure, and I would have been screwed. But when the owner tells you to do something, you do it if you want to keep your job.
Oh and BTW as to some of the other old stuff you drudged up, which is what people tend to do when they have lost the current discussion, my admitting I didn’t know the inner workings of the Boras Corporation was proof of honesty and integrity …. qualities that you apparently aren’t familiar with, as you somehow claimed to know what transpired behind Boras Corporation closed doors.
Claiming you’re an all-knowing expert on every subject won’t win you many fans.
I’m not here to “win or lose” discussions. I was making a point that you appear to have a habit of formulatingoinions without all the facts.
As for voice verification from a bank, that is the first I have ever heard of a bank using that. Recording voice is one of easiest methods of security that can be defeated.
As for what Ippei did that you do not know about, the url’s of the transactions were traced directly back to electronic devices he owned. That is what is called a smoking gun.
And no I’m not claiming I’m an expert on every subject. But I try ot to speculate or formulate opinions based on emotions or biased. And when someone has shown a pattern of formating opinions without knowing many huge factors of the story, I’m going to point it out.
As for Boras, I never claimed to know what went on behind closed doors. I even stated I never met the man so I can’t form a personal opinion of him. I did state however that his company employs roughly 100 people and villifing him as tho he’s a singular operating individual is not reality. When you stated basically Boras was a relic of times past, I pointed out he had numerous agents employed by him including his son. You went on to compare his son possibly not being capable akin to Ted Williams son not being able to hit like his father. As if academics are as hard as being one of the greatest hitters of all time.
Again I’m not here to win or lose arguments. I was simply pointing out prosecutors through plenty of evidence found nothing sufficient to charge Ohtani with a crime. They did however find sufficient evidence to charge his interpreter.
Tigers – I’ve clearly stated, over and over, with examples, that nobody is saying Ippei didn’t make those transfers. What all the logical, intelligent people are saying is that he likely did what he did under the direction of Ohtani.
Some people here have openly admitted they post while being stoned. If that’s your situation, that would explain why you seem to be lacking any listening skills. Because you continue to insist that I said Ippei didn’t make the transfers, when I never said that. You simply can’t grasp the fact that people often do things on behalf of others, especially when it’s a boss/subordinate relationship. And regardless of their friendship, that’s exactly the type of relationship they had. Ohtani earned the millions, Ohtani is the superstar, Ohtani is the reason Ippei had his job, therefore Ohtani called the shots.
So then WHY do you refuse to accept the fact that Ohtani likely told Ippei what to do, and Ippei did what Ohtani asked?
Either you are trying to “win” another discussion, or maybe you are doing something to affect your cognitive abilities.
It’s also worth pointing out that while I have actually agreed with you and complimented you in earlier posts, you have NEVER once acknowledged any of the many great points I made or that I was right about anything.
Again those are traits of someone trying to “win” a discussion at all costs. You are not here to learn or be open about other viewpoints, which is probably another reason why you’re simply not listening or pretending to not listen.
One last time: Proving Ippei made the transfers is meaningless, nobody has stated he didn’t. What we have been saying over and over is he could have been instructed to do so by Ohtani.
You do understand what it means to act on someone’s behalf, don’t you?
Why would I assume he bet on Ohtani’s behalf??? I know neither individual personally. Any opinion I would have on the matter would be pure speculation.
I understand it’s possible, I understand people at times do thongs for others, etc. I also understand I have no idea other than the facts made public, anything else is speculation.
Said facts have been gathered by investigators, turned over to prosecutors who found case evidence worthy to pursue charges, and were not dismissed by a judge. That is 3 separate entities in the legal system. I’m gonna go with their findings over your speculation, sorry.
As for wanting to be right or win, I could care less and I’m not getting into a dispute trying to be right about wanting to be right. If that’s what you desire seek that elsewhere.
However, if you have any facts that show Ohtani not Ippei was the one gambling I’d love to hear them.
Tigers – I’ll answer your question with a question.
Why would you rule out the possibility Ippei was a runner (placing bets) for Ohtani? Runners are a common thing in the world of gambling, I was asked to be a runner multiple times.
Because we simply have no proof whether the answer is yes or no, we are full circle here. The investigation ended because there’s no way to prove whether Ippei acted on his own.
If he did act on his own, Ohtani and several people who work for him have to be the most incompetent ignorant people alive.
I never said I ruled out the possibility. But since there are no facts to back that I won’t speculate on that.
As far as proof, 3 separate branches of are justice system found sufficient evidence to seek charges against Ippei. I will defer to the findings and evidence found by the professionals in this matter. Those are fact based.
So AGAIN, I’d love to here if you have any facts backing this speculation of yours that Ohtani is guilty of anything.
That’s all I have to say on the matter unless you can provide any facts to discuss. I’m not gonna speculate or fmfeed into any conspiracy theories.
Plenty of “logical, intelligent people” are saying since the feds didn’t charge Ohtani, he’s unlikely to have been involved. Will we ever know with 100% certainty? No, but I’m going to move on.
Tigers – It’s fair to speculate, that’s what discussion is all about.
If you were alive during the OJ murder trial, I’m guessing you would have also insisted he was innocent based on the criminal verdict. I really think you shouldn’t base all your views on what people in authority feed to you, because often mistakes are made or they have ulterior motives for the conclusions they present.
Again, the justice system found evidence to charge only Ippei based on Ippei’s actions only. There’s no way they had access to private verbal conversations between the two of them, so no way to prove Ohtani wasn’t involved.
AGAIN, no evidence presented that Ohtani was involved which is why LE closed the case. But also AGAIN, not being found complicit by the judicial system doesn’t equate to not being complicit.
You’re trying to negate all the illogical aspects of this case by calling it “conspiracy theories”, but unfortunately for you logic and critical thinking won’t allow it. Logic and critical thinking will always prevail.
Go ahead and have the last word, I know you want it. LOL
gbs – We are at the same conclusion, so yes let’s move on.
I was alive during the OJ trial. And that was a case with circumstantial evidence. This case has url’s with traced back to devices Ippei owned. That is what is called a smoking gun. Again unless you can provided any fact based evidence regarding Ohtani being involved it is complete utter speculation.
I can care less about the last word. I’m not gonna sit by idle as someone claims speculation as logic. Logic is based off facts and is an a absolute that can be backed by fact. You have yet to provide anything factual.
Fever,
Your “logical, intelligent people,” “lacking any listening skills,” and “for you logic and critical thinking won’t allow it” comments are insulting, implying Tigers3232 and/or I aren’t logical, intelligent, won’t listen, or aren’t applying critical thinking. We can all disagree while thoughtfully considering the evidence and without insults.
You and I are not at the same conclusion. I don’t think Ohtani was involved, you seem to think he was…or at least you won’t/can’t be convinced otherwise.
gbs – You wake up on the wrong side of the bed or something?
My comments to Tigers were specific to him, that discussion ended amicably.
You specifically wrote, and I quote:
“Will we ever know with 100% certainty? No, but I’m going to move on.”
I have repeatedly said that’s where we are at, we will never know with 100% certainty whether Ohtani was involved in any way or had knowledge of the situation.
And like you, I feel there is nothing new to be said therefore it’s time to move on.
How you can now disagree with both is unfathomable.
Fever, the distinction is you’re siding towards guilt while I’m siding towards innocence.
gbs – I’m open-minded about the whole situation, but yes of course I lean toward Ohtani not being totally honest. And I’ve supported my stance in countless ways.
Seems like most people who believe he is totally innocent base their belief on the official report, which again only proves what Ippei did and not whether he was instructed to do so.
Come up with something specific and logical to refute my belief and I’ll change my mind.
The fact that this alleged “theft” went on for years with not one person noticing any trace of what was going on is very, very difficult to believe.
As is Ippei proven to have not bet on the one sport which he had inside information on. Why wouldn’t he? Try taking a stab at that question if you’d like.
Or the question of why any bookie would give a credit line of several million to a guy making a tiny fraction of that. Bookies are just like any other lender, they want proof of the better’s ability to pay up.
Well investigators and prosecutors backed up Ippei’s guilt with enough fact based evidence that a judge held up the charges to move through the criminal system.
Are you going to provide any evidence whatsoever of Ohtani being guilty?? Can you present one single fact???
All you have done is ask rhetorical questions, deflect, dodge, speculate, etc…
Again I will ask can you provide one single fact that implicates Ohtani?? I’m done with this discussion if you xan not provide a single fact.
There’s a whole lot of Manti Teo going on with Ohtani’s situation.
uvm – Good reference, I had totally forgotten about Teo.
I mean, yeah there could be enough money involved for a court and prosecutor to be bought. I think Ohtani is probably guilty, the story has changed over time and at no point has the timeline added up.
But, I don’t really care that much. I think gambling in general is at best annoying, at worst destructive but I don’t want Ohtani gone.
It does feel like MLB cracked down on a bunch of nobodies right after to remind the players that just because they’re clearly looking the other way for their $700M man, the rules haven’t changed.
Tabata – That’s one of the best written posts about this topic, thank you!
You’ve basically expressed exactly how I’m feeling. Illegal gambling is a victimless crime, those who engage in it hurt only themselves. The gov gets involved only because they aren’t getting their share.
Do you think Pete Rose should be in the HOF?
No, I don’t believe he should be enshrined while he is alive. He knew the rules and made his choice anyways.
However he is represented throughout the HOF itself and his records in MLB still stand. Which I believe is the right thing to do. As far as ever being inducted I don’t believe it should happen while he’s alive to see it. It is the cardinal rule and the lifetime ban should be just that.
It’s not a lifetime ban. He’s permanently ineligible.
gbs – Exactly, you beat me to it.
@gbs I believe the MLB rule itself is a lifetime ban, not the deal Rise struck with Faye Vincent.
If he never makes it in, I’d say that would be just. I would not be opposed to him being inducted one day posthumously either. I do feel tho he should by no means get the pleasure of being around for it.
Shoeless Joe goes in WAY before Pete Rose.
Kind of a no-brainer.
It’s 2024. Call him “Footwear Optional” Joe or face repercussions.
Tiger,
Rule 21 says “permanently ineligible.”
Blue Jays seem like the perfect situation to sell and cash in on a new rebuild. A bunch of players either entering FA this year or the following year. At least get something in return.
This is what frustrated me about the 90’s and early 2000’s Orioles. They would finally get a few good players coming through the minors and everyone knew they weren’t going to keep these guys because the O’s were cheap back then. They would hang onto them into the final year and the trade them away for next to nothing. It is like, why are you keeping him? We know you’re not building anything around him. Trade him a year earlier and get better returns.
Yep. Sell high, and sell the fans on the idea that a full rebuild is the way to go. 5 years ago Atkins said he didn’t believe in a rebuild. There’s that.
I think they should trade Vladdy but keep Bichette.
@GarryHarris
The Jays have been trying to replace Bo since they went after Lindor and as recently as Seager. That history suggests that Bo will be on the move.
I think they should trade bo but keep vladdy
@
sad tormented neglected mariners fan
Agreed.
Ortiz looks legit. If the Brew Crew is in need of help from elsewhere, moving Adames to get it gets it, do it.
Who takes 3B then? Does Tyler Black get a longer audition? He’s not had a great year at AAA. I’m not sure a half season of Adames gets the holes filled that the Brewers have (starting pitching).
Not much MLB can do to mitigate the TJ surgery issue. A lot of factors contributing to it even before the pitcher becomes an MLB pitcher. But throwing more often, harder, with more spin is one major factor and that is what gets MLB hitters out so teams are going to be reluctant to go away from that. Would take a major recalibration of the game (strike zone, ball, sticky stuff, mound distance, # pitchers on the roster, etc) in order to even have a chance to lower the TJ surgery rate. Fans and players are not likely going to go for that, at least not yet.
tiger – There are some ways MLB could address it. They are already exploring minimum inning requirements for starting pitchers, that would potentially keep them from constantly throwing max effort as an opener or 4-5 inning starter.
Reducing the pitcher limit on rosters has also been explored.
Baseball was never meant to be a sport where 5-6 pitchers are used in each game, all throwing max effort.
I am so tired of gambling and MLB! We can players for betting on games. GOOD! But, at the same time the number one commercial on Bally Sports is Ho Chunk gambling with Bernie Brewer getting out of the car he can Win. It features a mob like figure calling the manager of the Brewers saying they need the ace! Do what we tell you to do, but encourage everybody else to bet. As a former Correctional Social Worker, I tell you with no uncertainly, that gambling is the worse, not reported ,addiction in the Country. Sorry for preaching. God Bless the recovering addicts of this disease!
mlb network is like one unending draftkings ad. its so cringey
MLB will sell itself to anyone for a buck, they just don’t care anymore. There are no morals any longer, yet ban/suspend players for partaking for what 30 owners stick their hands out to greedily take, such as the 4 players recently banned/suspended.
It’s no different than politics where politicians make laws which are only meant for the peons and not themselves. What society has dvolved into.
Who’d have thunk this?
john – Well said!
Those who have the most perceived value in this world will always receive preferential treatment, it’s the way of the world.
Regardless of what any commercial is, the rules are the rules and the players know them. If anything the players should be thankful for the revenue generated by online gambling, it helps pay their salaries.
Yet you defend Ohtani in a comment above, so which is it? Players know the rules or are they innocent victims? Before using the court documents as examples of absolving Ohtani of any wrongdoing, it’s rather convenient to use an interpreter as a fall guy. Not to mention that people aren’t necessarily truthful during investigations. Woeful ignorance on his part if he’s truly innocent.
The rule is posted in every clubhouse and players know the consequences.
I did not defend Ohtani. A court of law found sufficient evidence to charge his interpreter not him with crimes. I just find it hard to believe that prosecutors and a judge who have all spent 7 years or more in college studying law plus how ever much time they have worked in the field would risk it all to help MLB cover for one of its players.
Now was Ohtani possibly very naive and ignorant? Yes from how it looks with the information at hand I’d say so.
Tigers – “Risk it all”? Drama much?
The defendant confessed and corroborated everything the plaintiff stated. End of story.
Law enforcement and MLB will NOT continue to exhaust resources in that situation, if they did it would appear extremely vindictive on their part.
The only naive and ignorant ones are those who believe Ohtani, his financial handlers, his accountants, the bank employees, etc were all that naive and ignorant.
For YEARS not one of those people ever sounded the alarm …. are you kidding me?
We should do the same thing with do with hard liquor and cigarettes. Legalize everything, but ban most or all advertising.
But that won’t happen since most states have lotteries.
Thank you for all your coverage of the Brewers. A little market gets a lot of coverage in your publication!
Mentioning the Orioles rotation, the Orioles are reporting they have just called up LHSP Cade Povich and he is likely to start on Thursday. Kyle Bradish is being pushed back a day at least after his very short start that was pretty ugly his last time out. Doesn’t sound like great news since he’s pitching on a UCL brace. If all goes well, this is probably the move the O’s make to finally construct a 6 man rotation. If Bradish is worse off then we know at this point, the move for Teheran makes a lot more sense.
The Tigers could trade Tarek Skubal to the Os if they got a significant return. There is no light at the end of their rebuild tunnel.
shapiro and his useless GM atkins , have to be FIRED !!
The 2 Cleveland Clowns Must GO !!
It’s not a scandal. About 29 MLB fans care about any of those five gamblers. Sucks for them they ruined their careers over a five-way parlay, but they knew the punishment.
Funny how gambling is legal but not abortion. What’s more of a gamble than bringing an unwanted child into the world? Hmm?
Guns everywhere and for everyone except the president’s son? Nothing suspicious there!
Legalized marijuana has really helped. No one.
And yet Ohtani is guilty in everyone’s eyes? Hmm?
Wow, ok.
What…
happening – Next he’s gonna mention the Germans bombing of Pearl Harbor, just roll with it ….
Rolling…