Left-hander Max Fried is one of the top pitchers available in free agency this offseason. The Blue Jays are one of the clubs with interest, per Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet. Fried is also connected to the Jays by Jon Heyman of The New York Post, alongside the Orioles and Red Sox. Heyman also mentions that Yankees have checked in with Fried, as well as guys like Corbin Burnes, Blake Snell, Sean Manaea, Anthony Santander and Pete Alonso, but all of those are framed as secondary to their goal of bringing Juan Soto back to the Bronx. For Boston, they have interest in another lefty starter, with Sean McAdam of MassLive reporting they are involved with Garrett Crochet of the White Sox. On the Fenway Rundown podcast (X link), McAdam also identifies the Orioles, Padres and Dodgers as key contenders for Crochet.
Fried, 31 in January, has tossed 884 1/3 innings for Atlanta in his career. In that time, he allowed 3.07 earned runs per nine. His 23.9% career strikeout rate and 6.8% walk rate are both a bit better than average while his 54.4% ground ball rate is quite strong. Among pitchers with at least 850 innings tossed from 2017 to 2024, only Framber Valdez, Logan Webb and Marcus Stroman had a higher ground ball rate than Fried. Of those four, Fried had the highest strikeout rate in that stretch while only Webb had a lower walk rate.
The lefty has also been fairly durable in that time. From 2019 to 2024, he made 11 starts in the shortened 2020 campaign and tossed at least 165 innings in each full season of that stretch except for 2023. Fried has also added another 67 postseason innings as Atlanta has been a fixture of the playoffs during his career. A forearm strain did limited him to 14 starts in 2023, which is perhaps a concern. An inflamed nerve in that same forearm caused him to miss a few starts in 2024 as well, but he was still able to take the ball 29 times and log 174 1/3 innings with a 3.25 ERA.
Atlanta gave Fried a qualifying offer that he is sure to reject while looking for a notable long-term pact. MLBTR’s recent Top 50 Free Agents post predicted Fried for a $156MM deal over six years, the third pitcher on the list behind Burnes and Snell.
Given his track record of success, he’s sure to be popular in the coming weeks and months. It was reported earlier this week that the Jays are planning to pursue starting pitching. They have three established veterans in their rotation, with José Berríos, Kevin Gausman and Chris Bassitt all under contract for next year. Bowden Francis has seemingly earned a gig as well after he posted a 1.80 ERA over his final 11 appearances in 2024.
They have Yariel Rodríguez and Jake Bloss as options for the #5 spot but there’s sense in adding depth. Rodríguez also pitched out of the bullpen at times in 2024 and could be pushed there to begin next year. Bloss only has three big league starts and hasn’t pitched much in the minors either, so having him on optional assignment would make sense. Alek Manoah could theoretically be back in the mix but likely not until late in the year, as he underwent UCL surgery in June.
RosterResource estimates the Jays are about $20MM shy of last year’s payroll, though they could non-tender some of their nine arbitration-eligible players to give themselves more room. Team president Mark Shapiro has indicated that he doesn’t expect the club’s spending to deviate significantly from last year. Giving Fried $26MM per year or something close to it would seemingly use up a decent chunk of their spending power. They also have needs on the infield, in the outfield and in the bullpen. The trade market could help in some of those areas but they will have to assess how to direct their resources in addressing multiple parts of the roster.
The Baltimore rotation just took a big hit as Burnes became a free agent, leaving them with Zach Eflin, Grayson Rodriguez and Dean Kremer as their front three. Kyle Bradish had Tommy John surgery in June and can’t be counted on for a while. Guys like Trevor Rogers or Albert Suárez could fill out the back but there’s sense in pursuing upgrades. Rogers struggled after being acquired from the Marlins while Suárez is a 35-year-old journeyman. Prospects like Chayce McDermott and Cade Povich haven’t yet been established in the major leagues.
The major question for the Orioles this offseason is what their true spending power is. It has now been over six years since they have given a multi-year deal to any free agent. Their four-year deal for Alex Cobb in March of 2018 was the last time they went beyond a one-year pact on the open market, as shown on MLBTR’s Contract Tracker.
Now that their rebuild is long done and David Rubenstein’s purchase of the club has become official, the general expectation is that the O’s will break that streak. But that could come in various forms, such as a two-year deal for someone like Nathan Eovaldi or a three- or four-year pact for someone like Manaea. It’s difficult to say right now whether they plan to be aggressive enough to land someone like Fried or perhaps re-sign Burnes.
For the Red Sox, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow recently said that the club plans to “raise the ceiling” in the rotation. They have a core group of Tanner Houck, Brayan Bello and Kutter Crawford at the moment. Lucas Giolito will be back at some point after undergoing internal brace surgery on his elbow in the middle of March last year. Nick Pivetta is now a free agent but is currently deciding whether or not to accept the qualifying offer that the Sox gave him. Garrett Whitlock could be in the mix but he could also wind up in the bullpen. Quinn Priester, Cooper Criswell and Richard Fitts are possibilities but could also wind up in the minors or in the ’pen.
It appears that the Sox are setting their sights high in pursuing upgrades of that group, with Fried and Crochet both being quality pitchers. Crochet’s move from the bullpen to the rotation in 2024 could hardly have gone better, as he ultimately tossed 146 innings with a 3.58 ERA, 35.1% strikeout rate, 5.5% walk rate and 45.1% ground ball rate.
The rebuilding White Sox have little reason to hold onto him, as Crochet is now just two years away from free agency. Since the White Sox just wrapped up the worst season of the modern baseball era, they probably won’t return to contention in that time. There’s been little to indicate that a contract extension is likely, so Crochet is seen as one of the top trade candidates of this offseason. He is projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz for a salary of just $2.9MM next year, meaning he could fit into the budget of any club.
White Sox general manager Chris Getz says the the club is targeting position players in their Crochet trade talks. That could allow them and Boston to line up on a deal, as the Red Sox have a group of prospects known as the “Big Four”. Each of Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell, Marcelo Mayer and Kyle Teel are nearing their major league debuts, meaning Boston either needs to find space for them on the big league roster or perhaps make them available in trades. McAdam suggests Anthony is untouchable but is less certain about the others in that group.
The White Sox will naturally have to assess what the Red Sox are willing to give up, as well as the other clubs. The Orioles have had one of the best farms in baseball in recent years, though it’s probably not as strong as it was. Many of the top names are now on the big league roster or have been used in trades as the club has pivoted into win-now mode.
The Padres’ interest in Crochet is logical both because they seem to be interested in everybody and also because they have budgetary concerns. Last winter’s Soto trade was largely about cutting payroll and getting the club under the competitive balance tax in the wake of their TV deal falling apart. Per RosterResource, their projected 2025 spending is already slated to blow past last year’s levels and they are right around the CBT line before the offseason has really even begun in earnest. Their rotation took a big hit when Joe Musgrove required Tommy John surgery, so replacing him with someone cheap like Crochet is obviously appealing.
The Dodgers pursued Crochet at the deadline a few months ago but no deal came together. They eventually won the World Series despite their rotation being essentially whittled down to a trio of Jack Flaherty, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Walker Buehler. Both Flaherty and Buehler are now free agents. The Dodgers will get other guys back in the mix as they heal from injuries, such as Tyler Glasnow and Tony Gonsolin, but they could definitely find space for Crochet.
They have also been repeat CBT payors and therefore face high penalties. Per RosterResource, they are already slated to have a CBT number of $272MM next year, not far from the third tier of penalization with still plenty of offseason left to go.
As for the Yankees, the entire baseball world knows that their top priority is bringing back Soto, which will likely cost something close to $50MM per year for over a decade. If they don’t end up succeeding in bringing Soto back, they will have lots of options for redirecting that money to other parts of the roster. First base is open with Anthony Rizzo becoming a free agent. Soto’s departure would also make it viable to go after another outfielder. The club seemingly considered acquiring Flaherty at the deadline and then dealing Nestor Cortes, so some version of that could be in play again this offseason.
Theoretically, that makes Fried, Alonso, Santander or many other players viable fallback options, but it seems like those will only get real consideration after there’s more clarity with Soto. At this early stage of the offseason, there are infinite possibilities and each development will have domino effects. If some club lands Crochet, the clubs that miss out will have to pivot to other options. The clubs that don’t land Fried will have to adapt as well, as the various pieces of the free agent market and trade market are all interconnected.
Go anywhere other than the Braves.
Type of buy low guy my O’s could turn into a sell high
you gonna continue this all offseason too?
Relax Trade. If the Braves had any intention of keeping Fried he would have been included in the other extensions. Think that the organization might not have enough faith in his arm health to match competing offers.
Why are you acting like he’s logical
Just trying to be kind to a fellow Braves fan……at least— I think he used to be a Braves fan…………….
@Trade many wish you’d go to any other website but here…
The Jays like to talk with all the bigshot FA’s to do their homework. But they never pass the test.
George Springer.
Springer, Gausman, Ryu….
But yeah, they never pass the test. JFC
I’m thinking…… Sox?
I think they aren’t going to be big spenders anymore
My guess is the orioles surprise with their new owner
Yeah, especially since Burns will likely go to the highest bidder. Good point. I hereby officially change my answer to the O’s.
Surprise? The Os should be the CLEAR favorite for Fried. They can sign him and midtier FAs and drop from the current payroll
@sad tormented My guess is it’s a nisconcieved notion they won’t spend anymore. They missed on Ohtani and Yamamoto last offseason, then seemed to pivot and save for later.
Only time will tell on this. But spending just to spend is rarely the right call. It seems to me they missed their targets last year and had a Plan B of waiting til a bit deeper of a group was available
Would your Yanks be a possibility to sign him?
I don’t believe so. He’s going to want too much and the Yankees made it clear they aren’t going to do much of anything if they acquire Soto. If they don’t get Soto, I still don’t see them pursuing a TOR arm. I think they will pivot to more mid-rotation arms.
I can save these writers a lot of time: the Red Sox are “interested” in everybody. But that’s it.
I thought it was the Jays that were in on everybody…
Weren’t the Sox mentioned as being in the mix for Soto, too? That gave me a great laugh.
Letit, I’m sure they just checked in with Boras on Soto but they aren’t going to spend 50 million a year for him. Probably just a courtesy check in. I do believe that the Red Sox are going to add a starter or two this offseason and one of them will be a tor guy. The Red Sox minor league talent is real and it’s coming fast now is the time to supplement the team.
I can easily see the Red Sox sign Fried and Scott.
Well the Rays were mentioned too.
@Lindor The Rays offered Freemam $150M a few offseasons ago. Now I could never see them paying Soto what he’s likely going to command. I’d have never guessed they’d have offered Freeman $150M either.
Fat – The Sox will pursue a SP like they’ve pursued filling every other need with a free agent. They will let other teams outbid them on SP’s and then they will get a perceived “discount” on whatever SP remains.
Just like 3 years ago when they let all the top shortstop free agents sign elsewhere and then they signed what was left (Story).
I still think their big SP acquisition will be Flaherty.
I hope not Fever. I’m not a Flaherty guy. Hoping they trade for starters and sign Scott for the pen. Expecting them to find a righty bat as well. Biggest money spent now will be on that bat. If they work out traded for starters, the real test will be to extend them before free agency.
I’d be afraid Max Fried might need TJS soon like in 2025.
If any team gives him major money over a 4 year span I’ll be surprised
Buyer Beware. Good pitching is valuable but be smart on who you choose. Kikuchi might have just as much value on a shorter deal.
31 and forearm issues. Stay away.
And QO
Whoever signs him will regret it.
My prediction: LAD won’t show any interest, while many teams will circle with few significant offers. LAD will offer a deferred contract late in the offseason (Feb?) where he ultimately signs, and he’ll say in a press conference he’s fulfilling a dream and ‘always wanted to be there’ while sporting a green tie and white buttondown (Joseph Abboud) under his Dodgers jersey with a gold chain given to him by his new fiancee as a Christmas present.
Max used his Union rep speak and talked a bit about his responsibility in “trying to advance salary for the position” a few times in the last couple of years. Have to wonder how well that’s going to work out for him. Have no idea what the Braves offered him in past extension negotiations, but have the feeling he might come to regret not taking AA’s offer.
Very true. I don’t think Swanson regrets it having a lot more money to spend it come a very quiet October in the Windy City. I wonder if he’ll regret not having a NTC after Year 3.
Ha ha, he might. At least he’s got Mallory (and all that money) to snuggle up to.
@RunDMC; you serious Clark?
Deada$$
The Cubs have been frequently mentioned to be interested. Why no mention of them?!
Jed is waiting until the last possible free agent is available so he can overpay him.
Those 3 teams all make a ton of sense for Fried. Jays probably need to sign someone instead of making a trade since their farm system is a bit weak. But I could see the Orioles signing him too. Less likely the Red Sox sign him unless Pivetta declines the qualifying offer.
Orioles make more sense from a need standpoint. They have a young but solid offense and they could really use some top notch pitching, especially if they can’t retain Burnes.
The Jays have limited spending room and a desperate need for multiple impact bats. They really shouldn’t be wasting what limited payroll space they have on adding a pitcher, even if he could help them.
The Orioles have prospects they can afford to trade. But if they are willing to spend to get Fried then so be it i think it makes sense.
The Jays are kinda going for it in 2025 knowing it might not last or work out. An older pitcher on a shorter deal might make more sense for them but Fried is good and they could use him for sure.
Pirates setting there with wave of young pitching!? They need hitters make mega deal! Shake it up!
Who told you they have “limited”spending room?
Their GM did. Got under the tax said they’re staying under. Good enough source for you?
@ Joeypower
It says so right in the article above:
“RosterResource estimates the Jays are about $20MM shy of last year’s payroll, though they could non-tender some of their nine arbitration-eligible players to give themselves more room. Team president Mark Shapiro has indicated that he doesn’t expect the club’s spending to deviate significantly from last year. Giving Fried $26MM per year or something close to it would seemingly use up a decent chunk of their spending power. They also have needs on the infield, in the outfield and in the bullpen. The trade market could help in some of those areas but they will have to assess how to direct their resources in addressing multiple parts of the roster.”
@Joeypower
Shapiro in his end of year presser. He insinuated they have about 50M in payroll space.
The Jays have have the second richest owner in baseball. They can afford to go past the luxury tax if they choose. Not advocating for signing Fried tho.
As for what’s been reported, it;s not like they’re going to publicly state they’re willing to break the bank for multiple FA’s.
I can see team being leery of stating they ll be increasing payroll if they are not sure they will as it could alienate fans.
As for players, an unwillingness to spend could make signing the first free agent tougher and a domino effect from there. Ohtani even got assurances in his contract that the team will spend and continue to do so to remain competitive.
I just don’t buy into the notion that teams are using the media to deceive other teams and/or agents. Each pro sport is a rather small fraternity and I’m sure internal rumors are rampant. Most teams likely have contacts and other sources in nearly every organization and have a very good pulse of where others are and of their plans.
Why pay Fried big money when you can develop another Fried like in no time in your farm system? Fried couldn’t avg over a K an IP until 2018 that’s when he learned the Roger Beshens Football Slider.
How hard is it to draft velo and command guys and teach the Roger Beshens Football Slider? That’s one of the reasons Roger Beshens was at the Dbacks clubhouse in May. You talk to Roger Beshens and in an hour you learn shaping, pieces to his football slider others don’t know, you learn the blueprint the Rays, Yankees, Dodgers implemented in 2019. Know you can understand why he consults ML teams.
Whose football slider was it?
Roger Beshens, or so I hear.
King – Perhaps Roger is having money issues.
I have never blocked anyone on this site but this clown might just be the first. The slider has been around a long time Beshan’s probably learned his slider from Eck which was a devastating. This guy needs to end the broken record.
You must be new to baseball and/or pitching or trying to teach someone how to pitch…this “Football” slider has been around for a long time and I was teaching it back in the 80’s along with a few other “grip” pitches like the 3 finger split….grip and seams along with pressure. We referred to the “Football” slider as a “Hook” slider because to get the right stiff wrist you needed to “Hook” the ball very similar to the way Jason Adam for the Padres “Hooks” it. and he has great success with his version.
ML teams won’t say it but they teach the Roger Beshens Football Slider, which is On center grip, throw like Football, Stiff wrist. Metrics are not needed but this younger generation wants it. So you tell them ok go 30 vertical instead of 28 and shape it 3 instead of 8. Again it’s not needed when you learn the shaping part of the RB Football Slider. Not hard to do. Not hard to do at all. Strom should team up with Beshens like Trump with Musk.
Bendix won’t hire Beshens because Bendix learned it when Beshens taught Glasnow the Football Slider in Pitt May 2018.
Stfu Roger Beshens. Nobody cares. You keep trying to take credit for pitchers improving. Go back to tossing salads behind the Wendy’s dumpster.
Brent Strom and the Dbacks care. What do you toss daily??
What is Roger Beshens doing in the Dbacks clubhouse in May with Brent Strom? There’s pictures of of it on his Facebook. I think there’s 48 minute video of it out there. Cecconi made an appearance he was packing for Reno.
I toss the FartPocket cricket slider. Which I taught to Randy Johnson, Mariano Rivera, and Scott Stapp ( just for fun).
And it’s such an easy thing to learn Glasnow could just teach the Rays so they didn’t need Roger Beshens?? Sounds like just normal pitching advice. No need to name it after yourself.
Did you hear about Fried, Giolito and Flaherty not avg over a K an IP until 2018? That’s when they learned the Roger Beshens Football Slider. Ethan Katz wouldn’t have ML job without Roger, you know that right? They really need to talk about that.
@Baatza: Fried was a rookie in 2018 who pitched in 14 games. Most of his appearances came out of the pen—-5 starts. Are you attributing Fried’s success to a pitch—his slider—that he throws 11% of the time? He’s got a strong 6 pitch repertoire w/one of the best ground ball rates in MLB. His slider is his 5th most used pitch. Change @5% is his least used. Roger Beshens has nothing to do w/Fried’s success. Btw—Fried has always been a tick above or below a 9 K per inning rate in his career w/the exception of 2018’s short sample size (11.76 K9.)
It’s like hey baseball world, Fried throws his slider like a football, stiff wrist, on center grip, it’s called the Roger Beshens Football Slider.
We got to get that on MLB network, ESPN, FOX….
Bruh.
Do you get paid every time you post “Roger Beshens” or something?
King – I always just figured it is Roger posting.
Also a completely plausible explanation.
Is Roger Beshens even a real person? Sounds like a made up name to me.
Facebook him, Brent Strom told Roger Beshens at the Dbacks clubhouse that he enlightened him. Enjoy the pictures of Roger showing Strom his Football Slider.
Ignorant – Some guy named Bill Brasky confirmed Roger is a real person.
What pitchers since the beginning of baseball said on center grip, throw like Football, Stiff wrist?
If that ever happened the Football SLider revolution would have started then.
Roger Beshens clearly on his 8000 message Twitter did that starting in May 2018. ML pitchers told him what game they threw it. You want to learn someone else? Heck of a lot more.
@Baatza I’m assuming that you can’t be so incompetent to not know that nobody takes your comments seriously.
That said. Do you really have that little going on in life that you have to waste your time with this childish pettiness?? Seriously get a hobby dude…
I think you missed something. Roger Beshens was in the Dbacks clubhouse May 23 2024 teaching Strom his football slider. There are pictures of it on his Facebook, If you don’t think that’s serious good for you. You obviously aren’t much of a baseball insider.
That’s Roger for sure. Take a look at his Facebook though. How he spins that he was in the clubhouse teaching is pretty hilarious. He’s screaming to the bullpen from the outside.
Strom asks him “are you the guy taking credit for a slider”
x.com/RBeshens/status/1853133198164984036
Only in his world can you pretend this is anything but embarrassing.
@Baatza
si.com/mlb/2022/05/05/rise-of-the-sweeper-the-open…
Well Roger is taking credit for a variation of a pitch that’s been around for decades. The slider itself has been around for over 100 years.
The bullpen video is Feb 29 2024 and the pictures Roger Posted showing Strom his football slider is May 23, 2024
Looks like Strom is listening to Beshens to me.
Do you feel embarrassed now?
The Traditional sliders been around forever not the Roger Beshens Football Slider. The traditional isn’t even close to the Roger Beshens Football Slider and only a select few have thrown it over the decades. Beshens exposed it in May 2018 on Twitter and hundreds of ML pitchers started throwing it.
Roger is taking credit for influencing hundreds of ML pitchers in May 2018. Why do you think he was in at the Dbacks Clubhouse May 23 2024? Teaching Strom his football slider.
Roger himself(if it’s not you) mimicked Carlton who tweaked the traditional slider which has been around since the 1920’s. David Cone had been throwing a version of a tweaked slider aka a sweeper in the 90s.
Roger did not invented or create a version of anything. There are numerous stories tracing lineage of today’s sweepers. You are DELUSIONAL!!
In Nov 2018 there was a significant number of ML pitchers who had a unique slider shape and a MLB data SR Architect got involved “Tango” recognizing Roger as the originator of this style and even referred to it as a Football Slider cause Roger was calling it that since June of 2018. Soon after MLB called the Roger Beshens Football Slider a Sweeper.
In May 2018, MLB started throwing the Roger Beshens Football SLider in numbers because of his valuable information, through Thousands of Twitter messages, MLB MILB, NCAA pitchers quickly informed him what game they had thrown it. (Brandon Mcarthy June 2 2018 vs Nat’s. Roger has that on his Facebook along with Brent Strom inviting him to the Dbacks sanctuary Clubhouse May 23 2024, Roger showed Strom a technique that soon after Ryne Nelson and others started to utilize.
@Baatza Again no mention of Cone?? Come on Roger we all know this is not a new pitch. You yourself pitched a version of Carlton’s that you yourself admit on Social Media which you so love to reference.
Time for you to except that you invented nothing and just by giving it your own personal name, you are not going to monetize off of it in any way. And BTW everyone else calls the pitch that has evolved in some form for decades a sweeper.
Again there are countless stories wrote tracing the spike in modern usage of the “sweeper” back to David Cone. You know the MLB player, not one article tracing it to some random guys Facebook page, LMAO!!!
If Ron Guidry came out and said throw It like a football, stiff wrist, on center grip,hundreds would have followed altering the landscape of the game.
Ron Guidry told Al Leiter why should I teach you how to take my pitch away from me.
Now you know Roger Beshens story a little better. You still might need to learn more. It’s always good to learn, wanting to learn should never stop, it doesn’t matter what level the person played, it’s the information that’s important.
LMAO, nobody cares about Roger whoever. And nobody is saying anything against learning. Carlton learned by putting a dot on a ball and trying to release it just like a fastball. That is same iteration that eventually made it’s way to Cone and onto current MLB players. Nobody has mentioned Riger whoever other than you…
Get a clue already.
David Cone was no Guidry or Carlton. If Guidry and Carlton both wanted to throw a sweeping slider they could have lowered their arm angle and did so.
Don’t you remember 2016 when Miller, Hand Romo, Corbin were the best slider pitchers? Now there’s hundreds of guys throwing the slider as good or better than them and that’s because Roger Beshens exposed exactly how they threw that slider which was On center grip, throw like football, stiff wrist. It wasn’t Roger fault those guys didn’t help their teammates learn it. THere’s a reason they didn’t cause then their teammates could end up being better than them and the best pitcher on the team! Roger Beshens information in May 2018 started a MLB non traditional slider revolution.
Oh BTW Ryne Nelson started throwing his slider more back in 2023. Seriously get a life dude….
fangraphs.com/players/ryne-nelson/26253/pitch-type…
What do you mean nobody cares about Roger Beshens. Brent Strom invited Roger Beshens in the Dbacks clubhouse May 23 2024. Take a look at the pictures on his Facebook. That’s a big F’n deal.
Nobody cares about a dot on a ball, pitchers want to learn the grip, tilt and Wrist action of a pitch and nobody describes it better than Roger Beshens.
Carlton’s slider was similar to a sweeper in movement. And Roger whoever is no David Cone. So for you Roger to try and diminish David Cone is absolutely laughable.
Again there are numerous articles tracing the modern usage of the sweeper to David Cone. Bot some random bum named Roger.
Steve Carlton cared about putting a dot on a ball. Would you now like to diminish his accomplishments??
Now you are going to ignore the fact Ryne Nelson started throwing his slider often in 2023 not after your alleged visit in 2024??
You sure don’t like facts that go against your delusion.
I’m done with this have a good day in lala land….
Torey Lovullo said in May 2024, Ryne Nelson is working on shaping the slider. That’s the reason Strom called in ROger Beshens to the Dbacks clubhouse in May 2024. Lovullo acknowledges the Football Slider talking to Roger Beshens. The video of Lovullo talking to Roger Beshens is on Roger’s Facebook.
That Fangraphs link has pitch usage. We live in an information age. The info is all there. Just as the info tracing the current usage to David Cone.
And BTW Carlton put the dot just to better track the change in movement. He did mention grip and arm slot. You yourself attribute the pitch to Carlton on social media.
It’s pathetic you are trying to take credit for something you did not do.
Again have a good day.
King – It’s like having a conversation with Rickey Henderson, remember how he always went 3rd person. LOL!
It doesn’t matter what pitcher threw what or when it’s about in May 2018 Roger Beshens influenced pitchers to try his Football SLider, the did and it cause a non traditional slider revolution.
Roger Beshens in May 2018 got numerous ML pitchers to try his football slider. All of a sudden Glasnow throws it out of the Pitt bullpen and the Rays noticed. The Rays stank in 2018, they learned the Roger Beshens Football SLider and it’s been their blueprint ever since.
DAVID CONE
If Roger Beshens posted that whole Strom video, Strom would have gotten fired. Instead he edited the stupid stuff Strom talked about. Strom got himself fired, not Roger Beshens.
David Cone played with Pat Kelly, Roger Beshens HS teammate was Pat Kelly. Beshens threw that football slider thousands of times to Pat Kelly, Beshens would throw it to Kelly without telling him and take his knee caps out.
Beshens and Kelly went on vacations together in Jersey and Nags Head around 1983.
DAVID CONE…
You are mentally unstable Roger
…
If Brent Strom knew the Roger Beshens Football Slider in 2022 when he went to the DBacks wouldn’t he have taught it then? It’s interesting Strom met Beshens in the Dbacks bullpen Feb 29 2024 and Strom ended up communicating with Beshens the 2024 season, even inviting him into the Dbacks clubhouse May 23 2024.
I’m not Roger I am a ghost writer.
You believe in ghosts?
No I saw your Twittwr Roger. You ate consumed by your delusion. Honestly you should consider seeking professional help…
Strom is no longer employed by the Dbacks so why you’d have any concern releasing an unedited video is beyond me. It’s clear to everyone else that the video was cut to paint you in the best light you could. ( which isn’t good anyway)
Yet nobody but Roger Beshens since the beginning of baseball ever stated to throw a slider with an On Center grip, throw like a football, stiff wrist. Roger did create a variation nobody taught or threw and he introduced it to MLB in 2018.
@jbigz I think they let Roger Beshens in the clubhouse like they would for a child. He was yelling at them during their bullpen session like a simpleton. They probably thought “Let’s just humor this moron for a while and maybe he will go back to the bleachers.”
For the Red Sox: Fried sure. Hard no on Crochet. The weird comments at the deadline about needing an extension to pitch in the playoffs is just one of the reasons.
Don’t pay Fried a french fry, get Roger Beshens to come out and show your pitchers like he did the Dbacks last spring training and teach his football slider to the team. He threw the pitch 20,000 times he knows how to teach every shape and adjusmtent. Not like the people who got hired reading his messages on Twitter in May 2018. Roger Beshens can teach any pitcher with velo and command to be a Fried within a month. Fried was nothing without that pitch before 2018.
Fried’s money pitch is his curveball. Your Roger blah blah rants would be more convincing if you actually used facts to present your “evidence.” Fried’s 11% usage of his slider is just a show me pitch to lefties.
Roger did not teach anyone. Nor did he invent a variation of a pitch that has been around for decades. David Cone used this pitch in the 90s and a player tweaked Cone’s version. That’s where the recent surge in use came from.
This is not a new variation of the slider nor has this buffoon Roger done anything to resurrect it. And Tiger screaming from the stands is far different then actually visiting a clubhouse. The man is absolutely delusional.
Jays not in on this at all it’s fluff so the fanbase can see they are “trying”. 20 million to spend and holes elsewhere. Article suggests non tendering others sure now more holes to fill and you blew your wad on Fried. Going over the tax would be a 30% penalty they aren’t doing it. Gonna fill their holes with cheap veterans or via trade and roll it out there. Expect no significant payroll additions until at least 2026
What’s the point of these articles? Oh sure, these other teams are “interested” in everyone, but the Dodgers can sign all or any of them if they want and probably will because it’s a broken league. But bring on the loser clown Dodgers fans telling us all that our favorite team’s owner could spend exactly the same amount. A pathetic attempt to cushion what their team is doing.
That’s all true, and yet you’re still kicking rocks. Let ’em enjoy a real championship, while it still has the new car smell. They paid a pretty penny for it. That being said, SF offered the same deal to Ohtani (reportedly) and LAA could have (and didn’t) b/c Arte wrote “The Arte of the Deal” — and yet they still ended up with Ohtani (and more). More teams could go deferred and push it into the future, but they don’t. The same way you’re not taking out a loan to buy that nicer car when the one you have that’s paid off does the job just as well.
You make it sound like the Dodgers weren’t 5th in payroll and 76 million under the top spending team. It’s not always how much you spend but how you spend it. Kansas City has won a ring more recently than the Yankees. Other ways to win than just throwing money at it ask the Mets.
Come on that payroll thing is a joke because if the deferred money. And just look at all their shiny purchases they’ve accumulated over the years that other teams couldn’t dream of adding except maybe the New York teams or Boston.
So the Dodgers are the only one that can get players by deferring money? Got it didn’t know of the rule oh wait don’t we still celebrate Bobby Bonilla day?
@Mickey No the joke is that people like you can’t grasp that defered $ is accounted for annually at its present value. In Ohtani’s case the value of 2024 deferral was $44M and they were charged accordingly against the cap.
You should take some time and look up “accrued money”.
Nor the fact that the Orioles still owe Chris Davis 60 some million until 2037. Deferred money ain’t new bro
No mention of the braves being interested in resigning?
Didn’t they almost get Aaron Nola last year? Where did that potential money go?
Looks like the Braves don’t trust Fried’s arm health. One of the reasons they targeted Nola last offseason was because of his durability.
love the guy in regular season but that 5.10 post season era doesnt help much… wish the best for him and hope he lands a big payday
There shouldn’t be an Ethan Katz and Matt Blake in MLB.
Talking to insiders, all they teach is the Roger Beshens Football Slider and the reading and discussing the metrics with the pitcher is simple. Anyone can learn the shaping and strategy in ONE DAY!!!! MLB should relay this information on to EX ML pitchers so they can teach the same thing and ALSO provide valuable experience information. Nobody want’s to go to a game and say mom, dad, Who is that Yankee pitching coach? What did he ever do? The answer is NOTHING. He did absolutely nothing that a deserving ex ML player could have done.
You are a broken record with this Football Slider. “MLB should relay this information on to EX ML pitchers so they can teach the same thing and ALSO provide valuable experience information.” Have you taken this task upon yourself? Have the “insiders” you are “talking to” asked you to pass on this “valuable experience information”? Is this the latest bitcoin scam? What child goes to a game and asks about the career of the Yankee pitching coach? What are you on?
Back in 1970 when I was pitching in bantam ball, I threw the ball like a football. It was called a knuckle=curve and it broke left into the hitter about 24 inches break. I could turn it over for right handed hitters. I could also throw a rising curve ball and the way I released the grip would see it break up and in on both sides of the plate. Let me guess and Baatza will say I stole the pitches from Roger Beshians. This was back in 1970 or fifty-four years earlier. lol
What are you talking about? Did you get MLB pitchers telling you what game they threw it like ROger Beshens or teach a ML pitching coach like Brent Strom your pitchers? ROger Beshens Facebook has a ML pitcher telling him what game he threw it and pictures of him at the Dbacks Clubhouse teaching Strom. Get back to me on those.
Kids love baseball, when I was one I saw Dave Righetti in the bullpen and I was like WOW. Now it’s like Matt Blake, What the he#ll did he ever do? LOL even Rodon and the rest of the staff is like what else do got for us but the Roger Beshens Football SLider.
Are you this Roger Beshens rep or something?
This must be Beshan’s burner account. Did he teach Eckersley that slider as well. lol.
Roger Beshens decided in May 2018 to let the baseball world know about his football slider. Did he create it? He never said he did. Did he persuade hundreds of ML pitchers to throw it starting in May 2018.
Yes. Guidry flat out told Al Leiter on TV, Why should I teach you how to take my slider away from me.
Since May 2018 Guidry and Cartlon know someone gave the secret out and it was clearly Roger Beshens
I never heard Eckersley say throw it like a football, stiff wrist, on center grip. If he did the Football SLider revolution would have started then.
Instead Roger Beshens did in May 2018 and hundreds of ML pitchers started throwing it.
Well Eckersley’s pitch was near unhittable and way before your hero and broke a ton so yea I’m sure he helped out with another incredible slider that Steve Carlton. It’s just a different way to find break in baseball it’s been happening for 100 years but sure Beshan’s invented it.
Beshens messages on Twitter persuaded hundreds of ML pitchers throwing it in May 2018, he never said he created it. He created a revolution of pitchers throwing like he teaches it.
Carlton and Guidry every year could have went to spring training helping others throw it very easily, they chose not to.
Pitchers today aren’t even talking about it because if they tell their teammates thye beat him out. It’s obvious when someone throws it, they can say whatever they want. Notice they won’t say all threw things, they leave out one or two of Beshens cues.
It’s a tale as old as time in baseball pitchers trying to figure out a way to fool hitters but sure take credit for it Roger.
@Baatza There shouldn’t be individuals with this little going on in their lives such as yourself. Yet here you are…
Brent Strom is drinking tequila in Mexico shaking like a leaf.
If Brent is smart he will team up with Beshens like Trump and Musk.
Ahhh the offseason…….
The contenders are all interested in the best free agents. Who’d a thunk it?!?!
Next comes media and fans writing and saying things that after the players are signed we find 95% never happened.
Wake me when it’s over.
Yeah, yeah, the Sox are “interested.” Heard that one a hundred times before. Wake me up when it actually translates to signing somebody with a pulse.
If they were smart, they’d end the Whitlock as a starter experiment, add two high end starters, and find a decent arm or two for the bullpen. I like Crochet as a trade target and Fried as a free agent target. I also like Buehler or Snell as a secondary FA target though I expect the former to stay in LA and the latter to prefer to stay somewhere on the West Coast.. If Pivetta accepts his QO, keep him on hand to be the swiss army knife – spot start duty when guys are hurt or need a day off, otherwise multi-inning relief role on nights when guys don’t go deep. If they insist on going dumpster diving again, I suppose you could probably talk me into taking a flier on Bieber or Means, but that cannot be our big addition this year.
Not holding my breath on any of it, because it would require Tightwad Henry to open his pocket book. But it’s fun to dream.
Max Fried in T.O. is a fantasy. Total BS. It’s most likely Fried will sign with the Dodgers. He’s a So Cal guy. The J’s would be better served to offer Ryan Yarbrough a 3 year deal with a starter guarantee. Spend the big money on Vladdy
If the Orioles due decide to risk going after a big contract SP, hopefully they can retain Burnes. Small injury history including no indication of forearm or elbow issues.
I think Burnes mandatory obligatory Tommy John may be soon on the horizon since he hasn’t had one yet. I would factor that inevitable time lost into any contract.
You should get a surgery, you are do for one.
You are low on watts buddy.
Factor in the inevitable, you’re a lunatic. When you notice blow yourself up, but don’t tell anyone.
I cant wait for the red sox to sign one of these high end players then read all those haters making jokes say how they overpaid or its a mistake lol
Pool – I am not sure who you mean by haters, but the Sox have a well documented history … the few times they have opened their wallet for free agents, it was money poorly spent … Story and Giolito ring a bell? In both instances I wrote before the signings “stay away from these guys” but alas the Red Sox did not listen.
Since i cant reply to you fpg .the haters are all the people making jokes about them. Those same people will criticize them once they do sign someone..you are the worst offender and i think you know this or it wouldnt bother you lol
Pool – What on Earth are you talking about? I haven’t muted you… at least not this account of yours. If I had then not only would I not have been able to reply to your post, I wouldn’t have even seen it. I think you just outed yourself as having multiple accounts. LOL!!
And i am one of millions who are unhappy with ownership and the front office the past 6 years. Even SOSH folks notorious for being ownership and front office suckups in the past are now disgusted with the entire front office and ownership.
Sure I probably post most of6en about it here because I’m an active poster, but I’m just one of many angry about how my team is being run.
Well something is odd since i cant reply to you…only have one account…had to reply to my own post to converse
Pool – Yeah definitely on your end, as I’m obviously seeing and replying to your posts. Hope you haven’t been mad at me thinking I muted you.
As proof to show hes not a hater fpg gives the two examples of hating the Story and Giololiti signings.
Too funny. He hates every move.
Que the backup accounts to attack in 3 . . 2 . . 1.
FPG also likes to make stuff too to prove his point. when he gets tired of being dunked on he mutes people. Its funny
I’d prefer to keep Burnes, but if he cannot be retained, Fried would certainly be a pretty nice consolation prize.
Why not both?!
West coast
I’m sure all 32 teams are interested. The question is- how many are interested in shelling out $150 million +?
Seattles not interested. Down to 31.
Fried feels like an injury waiting to happen. I hope the RS pass.
Roger Beshens started the Football Slider revolution in May 2018, MLB named that pitch the sweeper and Gyro. They have the same grip, tilt and wrist action, the sweeper is just thrown from a lower arm angle.
Since the beginning of baseball if someone of any significance would have said the same thing the Football Slider revolution would have occurred immediately like it did in May 2018.
So if Guidry had a press conference in 1978 and said the above, hundreds would have thrown their slider as good or better than him.
So there’s no way Guidry would want to teach others that takes his famous slider away from him. That’s exactly what he said to Al Leiter.
What’s so hard to understand Roger Beshens saying I will teach you the Grip, Tilt and Wrist action of my Football Slider which is on center grip, throw like football, stiff wrist. to hundreds of ML pitchers cause hundreds to start throwing it in May 2018? Roger’s Facebook posted ML pitchers telling him what game they threw that football slider and just recently visited the Dbacks Clubhouse to teach Strom the Football Slider, There’s pictures of it. Now when Guidry, Carlton turn on a game they know their secret is out, something they never wanted to see.
Roger, please.
This isn’t healthy behavior.
Such a thorough article! Thanks for the great content, you’re keeping me going!
Fried would certainly be a big get for the O’s. Bonus is that Povich could stand to pick his brain routinely as they have similar arsenal and mechanics. Povich had some rough outings but looked like he began to figure things out a bit at the end. O’s need to come into camp with 6-7 starters and compete as they were derailed by health as the season went on. Wells and Bradish should be back at or around August so they will be in great shape.
Bigger concern, surprisingly is offense. They have a lot of nice pieces but no one seems to want to be “the guy.” Gunnar was clearly tired at end of season and imo is better suited for 3b similar to the Manny Machado experience to keep him somewhat ready for October push.
Wake me when the Orioles actually make bold moves versus “being interested”. I’m not ready to believe anything will be different under new ownership.
They traded for Burnes. Pretty bold move.