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MLBTR Is Seeking A Podcast Producer

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As you may recall, MLBTR had a podcast that launched in October 2014 and ran for about a year and a half.  It was hosted by the esteemed Jeff Todd, and we had a lot of fun.

We have decided to relaunch the MLB Trade Rumors podcast!  This time, it will be hosted by Simon Hampton.  In this 30-minute weekly show, Simon will bring on members of the MLBTR writing staff to analyze MLB transactions and to dig in on the sorts of topics we cover regularly on this site.  We’ll be featuring some outside guests as well.

The show is not ready yet, because we need a producer.  We’re seeking someone with experience as a podcast producer.  This person will help us record the show, edit it, and put it on the various platforms.  If you’re interested, please email us at mlbtrhelp@gmail.com and include your qualifications.

If you’re a podcast listener, we’d love your thoughts in the comments about what you’d like to hear (or not hear) in this show.

MLB Plans To Enforce Balk Rules More Strictly In 2023

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ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that MLB’s decision to introduce a pitch clock for the 2023 season will have an as of yet unexpected side effect: stricter enforcement of rules surrounding balks and illegal pitches. In addition, Bob Nightengale of USAToday writes that arguing pitch clock violations will result in an automatic ejection for managers. This decision follows recent decisions to make the “ghost runner” extra innings rule permanent and enforce limits on position players pitching.

This crackdown on illegal pitches is due to the fact that the clock, which allows a pitcher 15 seconds before pitching with the bases empty and 20 seconds with runners on base, is meant to be stopped at the beginning of a pitcher’s delivery. Passan writes that the league has informed umpires to call a balk (or an illegal pitch resulting in an automatic ball if no one is on base) if a pitcher takes more than one step to the back or side in his windup before moving towards home plate. Certain pitchers have previously used more complicated deliveries involving multiple toe-taps or sidesteps that’ll no longer be permissible.

It’s an increased emphasis that’ll come into play for pitchers working both out of the windup and from the stretch, although a balk call is obviously only relevant if there’s a runner on base. A windup violation with no one on base will lead to an automatic ball. Passan notes the clock stops running for a pitcher who works from the stretch once they lift their front leg.

The league already seemed likely to see an uptick in balks this year thanks to a different rule change: the limitation on pitcher disengagements from the mound. A pitcher is limited to two unsuccessful disengagements (pickoff attempts or simply stepping off the rubber) in an at-bat. If a pitcher steps off a third time and does not record a successful pick-off, the baserunner advances on a balk.

The rules changes will be in effect in Spring Training games, though they’re not implemented for the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Any pitchers participating in the WBC will get less time than their peers to adjust and get used to these rule changes than they otherwise would, as the tournament runs during the final month of Spring Training. Pitch clocks have been in effect for years in the minor leagues, however, so a number of MLB pitchers have some experience with those restrictions.

Trade Rumors Front Office: Q&A

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In past polling about our Trade Rumors Front Office subscription service, it became clear a lot of MLBTR readers don’t know what it is or what the benefits are.  In the reliable format of asking myself questions and then answering them, here we go!

What is Trade Rumors Front Office?

Trade Rumors Front Office is our paid subscription service, which we launched in July 2020.  Click here to subscribe.

What are the specific benefits as compared to the free site?

  • The removal of ads when you’re browsing this website and using our Trade Rumors app
  • Exclusive weekly articles from Steve Adams and Anthony Franco.  These articles feature analysis from Steve and Anthony.  Recent examples include “It’s Time For The Reds To Explore Long-Term Deals With Their Young Core” and “The small-market team that rebuilt without going into an actual rebuild.”  Steve and Anthony also analyze recent major transactions, such as the Rafael Devers extension.
  • Exclusive live chats with Anthony every Friday
  • During fantasy baseball season (starting this month), weekly articles from fantasy expert Brad Johnson.  Brad also holds fantasy baseball chats for subscribers every other week during this time.
  • Early access to our chats with MLB players.  Subscribers are first to know about these chats and have the chance to submit questions early.

How are the chats different if you’re a subscriber?

In a typical chat open to everyone on MLB Trade Rumors, the host is able to answer about 5% of the questions that come in, due to the high volume.  In Anthony’s subscriber chats, since there are fewer participants, he’s able to answer about 70-90% of the questions asked.  If that number consistently drops below 70%, we plan to add a second weekly subscriber chat.

How much does it cost?

$29.89 per year or $2.99 per month.

How do I access it?

To remove the ads, subscribers just need to be logged in when they’re on the site or app.  All the other benefits are sent via email.

What if I sign up, try it for a while, and decide it’s not worth my money?

I’ll refund 100% of your money!

What if I get everything I need from the free site?

That’s perfectly fine.  We’re glad to have you here.

What if I don’t like paying for baseball news?

We’re not offering additional news with this service.  We are offering analysis from our writers beyond what free MLBTR has, plus live chats with a much higher likelihood of getting your questions answered.

What if this subscription doesn’t fit into my budget?

We respect that and we’re happy we’ve been able to offer a free, ad-supported website for 17 years and counting.

Are you going to make the free website worse or paywall it in some way?

No, and we’ve actually got all sorts of plans to make the free website even better.  It can be a tough needle to thread, but Trade Rumors Front Office is for those who have the means, would like to support us directly, and want to go even deeper with our writers in terms of analysis and interaction.

Don’t you make money off the ads on the free site?

Yes, ads represent the vast majority of our revenue.  In that sense, the website isn’t completely free, as you’re letting us show you ads (assuming you’re not using an ad blocker).

We don’t have an ad sales team going out and negotiating deals with advertisers.  Instead, we plug in code from the major online ad middlemen (like Google), and they take a cut.  So, we don’t control the specific ads that appear on the site.  We also don’t control the rates at which those ads pay.  2022 was our worst year for ad rates in a decade, with the exception of 2020.  There are a few levers I can try to pull, but I also think it’s good for the company long-term to grow the subscription service.

Is there a way I can support MLBTR without getting a paid subscription?

Yes!  Tell your MLB fan friends to visit mlbtraderumors.com or download the free Trade Rumors app, and share our stuff on social media like Twitter and Facebook.

If you do want a Trade Rumors Front Office subscription, click here!

Follow The NBA Trade Deadline At Hoops Rumors

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The NBA trade deadline is just three days away (Thursday at 2:00pm CT), and our sister site Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors on Twitter) has all the latest news and rumors for each of the league’s 30 teams!

There was a blockbuster deal on Sunday, with the Nets agreeing to send Kyrie Irving to the Mavericks in exchange for Spencer Dinwiddie, Dorian Finney-Smith and draft capital. Irving, an eight-time All-Star point guard, is extremely talented, but has also missed extended time for various reasons in each of the past four seasons. It was definitely a gamble by the Mavs — particularly since Irving is on an expiring contract.

The Suns, Lakers and Clippers all reportedly tried to trade for Irving — will they be able to bolster their rosters ahead of the postseason? What about the defending champion Warriors? Reigning Finals MVP Stephen Curry is out multiple weeks due to partially torn leg ligaments, so their front office will surely be feeling pressure to make moves in order to defend their title.

In the East, everyone is wondering if the Raptors and/or Bulls will become deadline sellers and potentially deal away some of their top players. For Toronto, that includes Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr. and OG Anunoby, while Chicago has a “big three” (DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic) that has mostly disappointed thus far in 2022/23.

For the latest updates on those stories and more, check out Hoops Rumors today! Last season saw a total of 20 in-season trades — including 10 on deadline day alone — and this season could be just as action-packed! Follow us on Facebook and Twitter – @HoopsRumors.

Michael Wacha Seeking Two-Year Deal

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Jan. 30: Wacha has been seeking  a two-year deal worth roughly $30MM, writes USA Today’s Bob Nightengale. That would trail only Justin Verlander and Nathan Eovaldi for the largest two-year deal given to a starting pitcher this winter, and clearly Verlander isn’t a relevant point of comparison in this instance. Generally speaking, second- and third-tier starters who’ve signed two-year pacts in free agency have landed in the $16-25MM range over the past several years.

Jan. 28: Michael Wacha, the top remaining free agent starting pitcher, is seeking a two-year deal, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Wacha is the last remaining starter from MLBTR’s Top 50 list, where he was predicted to take home a two-year, $16MM deal.

So far only the Twins and Orioles have been reported as teams to have shown interest in Wacha, although the Twins’ reported interest came before they acquired Pablo Lopez from the Marlins. The Orioles have seemingly maintained an interest in Wacha throughout the winter, but it doesn’t appear as if talks have ever gotten particularly serious between the two parties, though that can obviously change quickly.

Baltimore does still make a bit of sense as a landing spot for Wacha. They came into the off-season looking for starting pitching, and have so far added only Kyle Gibson on a one-year, $10MM deal in free agency, as well as a recent trade for Oakland’s Cole Irvin, so they could be in the mix for another arm. Speculatively, a return to the Red Sox could make a bit of sense for Wacha, while the Angels could be a fit too if they plan to utilize a six-man rotation this season.

Wacha, 31, is coming off a strong campaign for Boston, where he threw 127 1/3 innings of 3.32 ERA ball over 23 starts. Secondary metrics weren’t particularly encouraged by Wacha’s work. His 20.2% strikeout rate was below the league average, and he benefited from a career-low .260 average on balls in play as well as a career-high 80.3% left-on-base rate. Teams are also surely wary of that fact that his 2020-21 seasons had amounted to a 5.39 ERA. Nevertheless, it 2022 was a strong season for the veteran right-hander, and even some regression could still make him a solid back-of-the-rotation option for a number of teams.

Wacha’s desire for a two-year deal seems reasonable enough, particularly given how well starting pitchers have tended to fare this winter. There are some injury concerns there which may give a few teams some pause, although a two-year pact is hardly an onerous long-term commitment. He’s landed on the injured list four times due to shoulder injuries throughout his career, including a month-long absence this past season.

It’s possible a number of teams are more interested in Wacha as a one-year option, in which they can see whether or not his 2022 performance can be repeated without having to commit to an additional year. That sort of deal could interest a number of rebuilding teams as well, as a strong start would turn Wacha into a solid trade deadline option. At 31, Wacha is also young enough that he’d still be in a position to land a multi-year deal next winter were he to have to back up his 2022 numbers with another valuable season in 2023.

Trio Of Free Agent Pitchers Work Out For Clubs

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A handful of free agent hurlers threw for scouts this afternoon in Arlington, tweets Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Cole Hamels, Derek Holland and Kyle Crick each worked out for clubs in search of an opportunity.

Hamels, who turned 39 last month, is obviously the highest-profile of the bunch. One of the top pitchers in the game during his peak with the Phillies, Hamels is a four-time All-Star and former World Series MVP. He was an exemplar of durability throughout his peak, starting 30+ games each season from 2008-16. Hamels missed a bit of time with the 2017 Rangers and 2019 Cubs but still topped 140 innings in both years, with a 32-start showing sandwiched in between.

Unfortunately, the veteran southpaw has had virtually nothing go his way the past few seasons. Signed to a one-year deal by the Braves in 2020, Hamels was limited to just one appearance by shoulder issues. He lingered in free agency until August of the following season, when he caught on with the Dodgers on a $1MM contract. Hamels’ first comeback attempt was derailed within weeks by renewed shoulder discomfort, and he returned to the open market over the 2021-22 offseason.

The 15-year MLB veteran required surgery on his shoulder and didn’t sign for 2022. While initial reports last offseason suggested he could factor into the mix by the end of the summer, he eventually turned his attention to the upcoming season. Throughout the process, Hamels has maintained interest in a comeback, even as he told the Associated Press last month he’s also undergone operations on his right knee and left foot. It seems he’s now healthy enough to get back on a mound, where clubs will evaluate whether his current form warrants a minor league contract.

Holland also has over a decade of MLB experience. The 36-year-old has played for six different clubs over a 13-year big league career. He had some success as a starter early on with the Rangers and committed to a full-time bullpen role in 2019. The southpaw soaked up plenty of innings out of the ’pen for the Giants, Cubs, Pirates and Tigers from 2019-21 but allowed nearly six earned runs per nine altogether in that stretch. He spent last season in Triple-A in the Red Sox and Blue Jays organizations, combining for a 5.77 ERA with a 22.8% strikeout rate in 39 innings at the top minor league level. Released by Toronto around the All-Star Break, he didn’t pitch during the season’s second half.

Crick has the most recent big league experience of the group. The 30-year-old righty has pitched in the majors in each of the last six seasons, including 14 outings with the White Sox last year. His final outing came in mid-June, though, as he was placed on the injured list with inflammation in his throwing elbow. He hit minor league free agency at season’s end once Chicago ran through waivers. Crick had a couple excellent seasons to start his career with the Giants and Pirates in 2017-18; he owns a 4.47 ERA in exactly 100 big league outings since the beginning of the 2019 campaign.

Ken Giles Planning February Showcase

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Free-agent reliever Ken Giles will host a workout for interested teams on Feb. 8, tweets Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The showcase will give big league clubs a look at Giles just before spring training commences.

Still just 32 years old, Giles has pitched only 4 1/3 innings over the past two seasons. The former Astros and Blue Jays closer underwent Tommy John surgery on Sept. 30, 2020, which wiped out his entire 2021 season. He signed a two-year deal with the Mariners in the 2020-21 offseason with the hope that he could be a pivotal member of Seattle’s bullpen in the second year of the contract, but a strained tendon in his right middle finger further pushed back his timeline.

Giles didn’t allow a run in those 4 1/3 innings he tossed with Seattle last year, but he also walked four of the 18 batters he faced and pitched with a 94.8 mph average fastball that was down quite a ways from the 97 mph he averaged in his last full, healthy season (2019). The Mariners designated Giles for assignment in August, after which he elected free agency and signed a minor league deal with the Giants. He didn’t get back to the Majors by season’s end, however.

Three full seasons have elapsed since Giles was last a dominant late-inning force, but given his track record, he should still draw eyes from scouts. From 2014-19, Giles logged 347 1/3 innings of 2.67 ERA ball and stacked up 114 saves between the Phillies, Astros and Jays. He fanned exactly one-third of his opponents along the way and did so while posting a lower-than-average 7.5% walk rate. Over that six-year period, only four qualified relievers in all of MLB posted a better swinging-strike rate than his mark of 17%: Josh Hader, Edwin Diaz, Koji Uehara and Aroldis Chapman. He ranked 15th among that same set of 331 relievers in terms of generating chases on pitches outside the strike zone (36.5%).

Whether Giles can regain that dominant form is an open question, but given what’s sure to be a low cost of acquisition, he’ll likely get an opportunity to do so with some club in a few weeks’ time.

Jeff Kent Falls Off Hall Of Fame Ballot

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Former second baseman Jeff Kent has been up for Hall of Fame consideration for a decade, with this year marking his last crack at induction via the Baseball Writers Association of America. Kent received 46.5% of the the vote during this cycle, well shy of the 75% needed for induction. He falls off the ballot and will no longer be considered by the BBWAA.

Kent hovered in the 25-50% vote share range for his final four seasons. He never seemed in danger of falling below the 5% threshold that cuts players from the ballot early but also didn’t get the kind of late momentum needed to vault him within striking range of induction. If he’s to be enshrined in Cooperstown, that’ll now have to come via the Era Committee. The Contemporary Baseball Era Players Committee met this winter — enshrining Fred McGriff in the process — meaning the earliest Kent will be under consideration again is the 2025-26 offseason.

A right-handed hitter, Kent was one of the game’s better power bats over his 17-year MLB career. He played just under 2300 games for six different clubs, with his best seasons coming as a member of the Giants. Kent hit .297/.368/.535 during a six-year stretch in San Francisco spanning 1997-2002. He received MVP votes in five of those campaigns and won the award in 2000 thanks to a massive .334/.424/.596 showing with 33 longballs.

Kent finished his career with a .290/.356/.500 line in more than 9500 plate appearances. His 377 career homers are the most by any primary second baseman, while he collected 2461 hits, drove in 1518 runs and scored 1320 times. He was a five-time All-Star and secured four Silver Slugger awards while winning the aforementioned MVP. Strong as his offensive contributions were, Kent faced plenty of questions about his glove at the keystone. Those defensive concerns dissuaded enough voters to keep him from induction.

While Kent was the only player to “age” off the ballot this year, a number of first-time candidates unsurprisingly dropped out after not reaching the 5% threshold to last another season. Bronson Arroyo, R.A. Dickey, John Lackey, Mike Napoli, Huston Street, Matt Cain, Jacoby Ellsbury, Andre Ethier, J.J. Hardy, Jhonny Peralta, Jered Weaver and Jayson Werth each fall out of future consideration.

Among first-time candidates, just two topped the 5% mark to remain on the ballot for at least another year. Carlos Beltrán debuted at 46.5% and would seem to have a solid chance at induction at some point down the line. Francisco Rodríguez has a more uphill battle after starting off at 10.8% of the vote.

Are You A Current Or Former MLB Player?

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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.

Zack Britton Held Recent Throwing Session For Teams

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Free agent reliever Zack Britton held a throwing session for interested teams last week, reports Jon Heyman of the New York Post. The veteran southpaw is looking to rebound after a mostly lost final season with the Yankees.

Britton was one of the sport’s best late-game weapons during his peak with the Orioles and Yankees. His 2016 season with Baltimore — 67 innings with a 0.54 ERA and an 80% ground-ball percentage — was among the best ever by a reliever. While Britton unsurprisingly never replicated that kind of historic pace, he remained a dominant force through 2020. Between moving to the bullpen full-time in 2014 and the end of the shortened season, he worked to a 1.84 ERA with an eye-popping 76.2% grounder rate over a seven-year stretch.

Things began to go downhill in 2021, however. Britton battled injuries and was limited to 18 1/3 innings across 22 appearances. He managed a career-worst 5.89 ERA with nearly as many walks as strikeouts. That September, Britton went for surgery to remove bone chips from his throwing elbow. While he was under the knife, doctors examined his UCL and determined the ligament also needed repair. That was a far more consequential development, with Tommy John surgery keeping him out for almost all of the 2022 campaign.

Britton did manage to return to the mound at the tail end of last season. He was clearly not back in form. He walked six of the nine batters he faced while recording just two outs in three games. His trademark sinker averaged 92.6 MPH, well below its 94-95 MPH range from 2018-20. The Yankees promptly shut him back down for the season, calling the issue shoulder fatigue.

Needless to say, that wasn’t the kind of platform year the 35-year-old had in mind. A signing team would be rolling the dice on a bounceback, hopeful of installing an elite grounder specialist into high-leverage work. Britton’s recent injury issues put him behind the market’s top group of free agent left-handed relievers like Andrew Chafin, Matt Moore and Will Smith — all of whom somewhat surprisingly remain unsigned.

The Mets are the only team that has been publicly tied to Britton thus far in the offseason. New York skipper Buck Showalter is obviously plenty familiar with the veteran hurler from their time in Baltimore. Heyman again notes the Mets are involved in the market for Britton in their search for a left-handed bullpen arm, one that also has Chafin on their radar.

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