MLB Trade Rumors Podcast

Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the uncertainty surrounding the Angels as their owner, manager and general manager are all changing. They also react to the news that Brian Cashman and Aaron Boone will remain with the Yankees.

Listener email questions include whether the Giants will make moves to contend next year, such as trading young players or signing a big free agent like Tarik Skubal, what the Cardinals need to do this offseason, and whether owners and players are negotiating in good faith.

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the World Series matchup between the Rays and the Brewers, whether the Dodgers will make big changes this offseason, how aggressive the Guardians will be coming off their ALCS appearance, how playoff teams are putting an increased emphasis on defense, and what having a low-payroll team in win the championship will mean for collective bargaining. They also talk about Taylor Smith getting hired as the Athletics' new president of baseball operations, Don Mattingly staying on as Phillies' manager, the Astros parting ways with Joe Espada.

Listener question topics include if the Marlins will be willing to move Otto Lopez, and whether teams will wait until after the new CBA to sign a player to a long-term deal.

Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the remaining playoff teams and the reality that at least one small-payroll club will make the World Series this year. They also recap the seasons of the teams who were recently eliminated and preview what their offseasons could look like.

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the Diamondbacks' decision to bring back Torey Lovullo, comments from the team's owner that they're going to scale back payroll, and whether Ketel Marte could be on the trade block.

They also take time to preview the offseasons of the Phillies, Cubs, Red Sox, and Astros following their respective eliminations from playoff contention and talk about some creative new pitching strategies, such as the Marlins using starters on their bullpen-throwing days, and the White Sox blurring the line between starting pitcher and reliever.

Listener email topics include whether the Mariners will trade from their rotation depth to improve their lineup.

Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss Aaron Judge being left off the Yankees' Wild Card roster, the plan for Garrett Crochet to pitch out of Boston's bullpen, whether the Rangers will scale back their payroll next year, how the Diamondbacks could build around their core, and news that Ben Cherington expects to return as Pirates' GM following a winning season.

Listener email topics include what the Guardians' low-payroll success could mean for CBA negotiations, which managerial opening is the most appealing, whether Kyle Harrison is a good extension candidate, what teams would benefit most from a system with a salary cap and floor, and which Cubs free agent is most likely to resign with the team.

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss this year's weak free agent class, the latest Free Agent Power Rankings, what kind of market to expect for Japanese star Teruaki Sato, the Nationals signing Cade Cavalli to a four-year extension, and how the playoff brackets are shaping up as teams play out the final games of the regular season.

Listener email topics include whether the new postseason format is inferior to the old one, an idea for teams to get an extra ABS challenge during playoff games, if Casey Mize is at risk of being left off the Padres' playoff roster, how the Reds can recover after a disastrous year, and the Red Sox extending manager Chad Tracy and Chief Baseball Officer Craig Breslow.

Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss Shohei Ohtani landing on the IL and whether he should continue to pitch long term, Josue De Paula's callup, and Edwin Diaz's disastrous season. Other topics include the Diamondbacks claiming Jesús Sánchez off waivers despite him not being eligible for the playoffs, the Mariners and Twins calling up many of their top prospects to finish the year.

Listener email topics include changes that the Brewers could make during the offseason and whether the MLBTR writers would prefer the proposed plan for specific signing windows.

Brennan McClain of Pro Hockey Rumors joins Darragh McDonald to discuss Stan Kroenke's purchasing the Los Angeles Angels. He shares insider knowledge about how Kroenke has run the Colorado Avalanche his other sports franchises. They also talk about what the future could hold for the Angels' payroll and potential real estate expansion around the stadium.

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the approval for a new Rays' stadium in Tampa, whether league expansion could be coming soon, the Orioles claiming Luis Robert Jr. off waivers, and some prospect promotions, including Ethan Salas for the Padres, Walker Jenkins for the Twins, Lazaro Montes for the Mariners, and Leo Bernal for the Cardinals, and how JJ Wetherholt's injury could end up costing St. Louis a PPI draft pick.

Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the Astros firing general manager Dana Brown and how it's been been an interesting ride for the teams' front office under owner Jim Crane. They also discuss the Mariners promoting top pitching prospect Kade Anderson, Colt Emerson's season-ending wrist surgery, and how things might be different for the Padres now that their new ownership has officially taken over.

Listener email topics include the chances of the Red Sox signing Adley Rutschman to an extension this offseason and whether the Tigers should have held on to Tarik Skubal and others to make a stronger run at a playoff berth.

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the Athletics letting GM David Forst go, the many questions surrounding the franchise as the get ready for their move to Las Vegas, the Nationals moving CJ Abrams from shortstop to second base, how the Reds will fare following Hunter Greene's UCL surgery, Max Fried going back on the IL with an elbow injury, what George Lombard Jr.'s promotion will mean for the other Yankees infielders, if the Rockies' recent decisions point seem different from their old braintrust, Joshua Baez's massive debut and how well things have worked out for the Cardinals this year.

MLBTR's newest contributor, Ethan Hullihen joins Darragh McDonald to discuss his work on the Payroll Tracker that was recently launched by MLB Trade Rumors. He talks about how he got started doing such detailed work, how his partnership with MLBTR came to be, what he hopes for from the next CBA, and some clarifications of commonly misunderstood terms and rules that affect team payrolls.

Steve Adams and Anthony Franco join Darragh McDonald to discuss the Dodgers acquiring Tarik Skubal, the prospect return that the Tigers received, why no other team beat that offer, how the Tigers stopped short of a full selloff, the Orioles returns from trading Adley Rutschman and others, the Red Sox not being afraid of dealing major assets such as Marcelo Mayer, the Rays shoring up their pitching and catching, the Angels actually selling pieces (unlike in past years), the Blue Jays trading away their rentals while also acquiring Jose Soriano, the Reds and Rangers not doing anything, the Giants receiving good value for their players, the Yankees making some questionable deals, the lack of big moves from the Astros, Mariners, and Braves, and the White Sox, Cubs, and Brewers making some moves while showing restraint.

Steve Adams and Anthony Franco join Darragh McDonald to set the table for next week's trade deadline. Topics include the Red Sox trading Connelly Early to the Nationals for Curtis Mead, if Boston could still make other moves to improve their middle infield, the tough decision the Tigers need to make about whether to trade Tarik Skubal or keep trying to compete, the potential suitors for Skubal, if the Padres should consider trading Mason Miller or Adrian Morejon, how big of a splash the Mariners could make, whether new trade candidates could emerge on the catching market after Shea Langeliers got hurt and the Twins seem more likely to keep Ryan Jeffers, if the Angels should take advantage of the seller's market and commit to a full rebuild, what to make of the Rangers, whether the Marlins' recent collapse will lead them to sell, and how difficult it will be for the Giants to move their big-money contracts.

Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the Reds signing Chase Burns to a long contract extension, the Reds looking to sell off their impending free agents, the Orioles extending Kyle Bradish, the Brewers acquiring Colton Gordon and Lance McCullers from the Astros to bolster their pitching depth, the Dodgers trading the Rockies for Seth Halvorsen, and what the Mets' selloff could look like.

Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the Cardinals signing JJ Wetherholt to a long-term extension, the Pirates acquiring Jacob Gonzalez from the White Sox to replace the injured Konnor Griffin, the great season the White Sox are having and the rationale for them to trade away assets in the middle of a playoff race, how the Marlins have put themselves in position to keep Sandy Alcantara and buy at the deadline, and if the Athletics will pivot to selling following their brutal past month.

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss how the Royals are not in a great position to capitalize on as a seller, who could be moved from Cincinnati's roster as the keep moving further away from contention, how the Cardinals will weigh short-term vs. long-term success, what bullpen moves the Marlins could make, if the Mariners could add a right-handed bat or a high-end starting pitcher, if the Padres will end up being buyers or sellers, and whether Mason Miller could be back on the trade block.

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss Mets topics that include the firing of manager Carlos Mendoza, trading David Peterson to the Cubs, and whether Bo Bichette and other players could be available at the deadline.

Other topics include the Angels firing general manager Perry Minasian and bringing on John Mozeliak as interim GM, and how recently-promoted prospect Cooper Ingle will fit into the Guardians' catching plans.

Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the plethora of injuries that the Diamondbacks are facing and potential trade chips that the Red Sox could deal at the deadline.

Listener question topics include the possibility of Atlanta trading for Sonny Gray, whether Cleveland would trade for Aroldis Chapman, if the prospect cost of acquiring Tarik Skubal is worth it, whether the Marlins could make Max Meyer available and if the White Sox are a good fit for him, and how the players and owners feel about the topic of expansion.

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss who the Giants could trade following reports that the team is getting ready to sell at the deadline, the Brewers extending Luis Lara and their trend of locking up prospects before they debut, Milwaukee's uncertain infield situation, whether surprise teams like the White Sox, Cardinals and Nationals should invest resources into competing this year, and what to make of the underwhelming AL Central.

Listener email topics include how Bo Bichette would need to perform to justify opting out of his contract and a trade hypothetical that would send Bryan Abreu to the Pirates.