MLB Trade Rumors Podcast

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss what the Red Sox will do in light of Alex Bregman's quad injury, including top prospect Marcelo Mayer getting called up, whether Rafael Devers will get any time a third base, if Trevor Story will lose playing time to due to his struggles, and how the team could make room for Roman Anthony. They also get into some Pirates topics including Jared Jones getting UCL surgery, whether the team should trade Paul Skenes, and what other trade chips they could move at the deadline. Listener question topics include whether the Orioles should trade Felix Bautista, if Kyle Tucker would be a good fit for the Giants this offseason, how seriously to take the Cardinals, the chances of the Cubs trading Kevin Alcantara, and what has led to the Dodgers having 14 pitchers simultaneously on the injured list. 

Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the Orioles firing manager Brandon Hyde after a brutal start to their season, what qualities you want in a manager on a rebuilding team compared to a manager on a competing team, the Dodgers designating Austin Barnes for assignment in order to make room for top catching prospect Dalton Rushing, Chris Taylor getting released, Phillies' reliever Jose Alvarado getting hit with a PED suspension and the possibility of the team signing David Robertson. Listener email questions include if Rhys Hoskins and other big bats will be available at the trade deadline, pitchers the Dodgers could target, if the Brewers could trade Freddy Peralta, and if the Pirates will fire GM Ben Cherington. 

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss Rafael Devers refusing to play first base and where that leaves the Red Sox roster moving forward, the Pirates firing Derek Shelton, the Rockies firing Bud Black, and how the Diamondbacks will find playing time for Jordan Lawlar in their already crowded lineup.Listener question topics include whether the Orioles should extend Cedric Mullins or Tomoyuki Sugano, how real the Twins are following their big winning streak, if the Tigers can keep it up, the struggles of Jordan Walker in St. Louis and if Andrew McCutchen could be a target to replace him, and whether the Mets are better at getting results from pitchers outside their organization than their internal guys. 

Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss options for the Red Sox at first base including moving Rafael Devers there and calling up number 1 MLB prospect Roman Anthony. They also recap the changes made by the Rangers including sending down Jake Burger, waiving Leody Taveras, calling up Evan Carter and replacing their top offensive coach with former player Bret Boone. Other topics include Kenta Maeda getting DFA'd, the Blue Jays building up rotation depth by adding Spencer Turnbull and Jose Urena, and speculating on how Max Scherzer would fare as a reliever.Listener question topics include the Orioles bad start to the season and who could be traded if things don't turn around, if the Tigers would consider extending or trading Tarik Skubal at some point in the next two years, and some under-the-radar guys who are quietly having great seasons. 

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald for an all-mailbag episode. Question topics include whether the Red Sox should trade Triston Casas to make room for their top prospects, if Rafael Devers needs a change of scenery, whether the Mets should extend Pete Alonso, how much hope to have in the Tigers this year, what qualifies as "success" in a baseball season, what can be done to increase offense in the game, how to further stop teams from tanking, and if Jurickson Profar can be traded while serving his PED suspension. 

Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss what's next for the Cubs following Justin Steele's UCL surgery, the timeline that led to Triston McKenzie getting designated for assignment by the Guardians after being so dominant in the past, and a plethora of high-profile prospect promotions including the Nick Kurtz for the A's, the Edgar Quero for the White Sox, Chandler Simpson for the Rays, Augustin Ramirez for the Marlins and Luke Keaschall for the Twins. Listener question topics include what power a player has to change teams during his arbitration or pre-arb years, and whether changes should be made to the CBA to stop teams from taking advantage of players at the margins of the roster. 

Steve Adams and Anthony Franco join Darragh McDonald for a deep dive into the first edition of the 2025 free agent power rankings. They go through their justifications for the top ten and who is poised to rise or fall throughout the year. 

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the Blue Jays locking up Vlad Guerrero Jr. to a huge deal and what it means for the big free agents next offseason, Jackson Merrill's nine-year extension and the Padres trying to balance a tight budget with so many long-term contracts on the books, how Ketel Marte's extension also backloads the money to free up current payroll space for the Diamondbacks, and the Red Sox trading Quinn Priester to the Brewers.Listener question topics include whether the promotions of Chase Dollander and Zac Veen will bring hope to Rockies fans, and if Spencer Torkelson has really figured things out. 

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss Garrett Crochet's contract extension, why the Red Sox chose this route instead of signing a big free agent this past offseason, the myriad of problems the Braves are facing including Jurickson Profar's PED suspension, the injury to Reynaldo Lopez and the team's 0-5 start. Also, they go over last week's trade that sent Nolan Jones to Cleveland for Tyler Freeman, the Astros going with an outfield alignment including two infielders Jose Altuve and Cam Smith, whether Smith's quick ascension to the majors changes their opinions on the teams return for Kyle Tucker, if an extension for Vlad Guerrero Jr. could still happen during the season, and Cal Raleigh, Tanner Bibee and Brandon Pfaadt all signing extensions. 

Steve Adams and Anthony Franco both join Darragh McDonald to take a big-picture look at the past offseason, discussing why every year is so different, why older position players seem to be valued less on the market, if a salary cap should be instituted in the future, whether the Mets will continue to be bigger spenders than the Yankees, how Juan Soto's deal will affect future top free agents like Kyle Tucker and Vlad Guerrero Jr., the current state of TV rights and how it could change future revenue for teams, if expansion still has a chance of happening soon despite the fluid situations of the A's and Rays, and what storylines they are excited for this season. 

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss to Rays' stadium deal falling apart in St. Petersburg, why the league didn't prioritize keeping a team in Oakland how they are in Florida, and the state of the Rangers' rotation after injuries to Cody Bradford and Jon Gray.Listener question topics include comparing Sandy Alcantara and Dylan Cease as trade targets, if the Pirates will trade from their catching depth, if the Mariners will have more luck trading their prospects at the deadline compared to the offseason, expectations for the Yankees this season considering the injuries they've sustained, and if the Tigers are having Javy Baez and Spencer Torkelson play different positions to improve their trade stock. 

Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the Athletics extending Lawrence Butler, the news that Gerrit Cole needs Tommy John surgery and where that leaves the Yankees' rotation, the injury to Francisco Alvarez testing the Mets' catching depth, and the league and other owners pressuring Rays owner Stu Sternburg to sell the team.Listener question topics include who will win the central divisions, the likelihood of trades occuring before the end of spring training, and if Dodgers fans should be worried about the age of their players. 

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss Jose Quintana signing with the Brewers, how Luis Gil's injury opens up a spot for Marcus Stroman in the Yankees' rotation, and Jordan Montgomery seemingly set to start the season in the Diamondbacks' bullpen. Listener question topics include whether the Nationals will start spending more now that their TV dispute has been sorted out, the likelihood of a salary floor being instituted in the future, the chances of Luis Robert Jr. getting traded before the season starts, whether Paul Skenes or Elly De La Cruz would be more likely to sign an extension, how bad the White Sox will be, if Jeff McNeil could get traded to make room for a prospect, if the Tigers could acquire an outfield bat now that they are dealing with some injuries, what improvements can be expected from Mariners' veterans who struggled last year, the chances that David Bote will make the Dodgers' roster, and the odds of MLB expanding by more than two teams. 

Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald in an all-mailbag episode. They discuss many things including whether the Braves will really begin the season without acquiring more depth in their rotation or bullpen, why David Robertson remains unsigned, the possibility of a reunion between the Mets and Jose Iglesias after the recent injury to Nick Madrigal, how Justin Turner will fit onto the Cubs' roster, whether Jackson Jobe will win a rotation job in Detroit over Casey Mize and Kenta Maeda, if the Mariners are looking to trade Luis Castillo, and how deferrals don't actually skirt the luxury tax. 

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss Alex Bregman's short-term deal with the Red Sox, how he fits onto their roster, where it leaves the Tigers after missing out on him, if it means that Nolan Arenado will now stay in St. Louis, and why the Cardinals haven't traded their impending free agents. They also discuss the Padres signing Nick Pivetta and Kyle Hart to put them over the luxury tax threshold, Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s comments that he will hit the free agent market next offseason after not reaching an agreement with the Blue Jays, and the Diamondbacks signing Geraldo Perdomo to an extension and their surprisingly high payroll level. Listener question topics include why projections systems like the Twins despite their quiet offseason, the glut of good teams in the AL, and why Buster Posey and the Giants were not more aggressive. 

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss Pete Alonso coming to an agreement with the Mets, how it came together, and what it means for the rest of their roster. Listener question topics include Alex Bregman's options now that he is the biggest free agent left on the market, whether Nolan Arenado would be a good fit in Boston, if the Orioles need to make another rotation move,  and what the Marlins are hoping to achieve with their rebuild. 

Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the Tigers bringing back Jack Flaherty, the team's continued interest in Alex Bregman, Max Scherzer signing with the Blue Jays to bolster their rotation, the Rays signing Ha-Seong Kim, the Padres plan to move Xander Bogaerts back to shortstop, what trades the Padres could still make this offseason, Jorge Polanco surprisingly resigning with the Mariners, and the underwhelming finish to the Giants' offseason after trading Taylor Rogers to the Reds to shed salary. 

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the Astros trading Ryan Pressly to the Cubs, Houston's continued involvement in bringing back Alex Bregman and the potential of moving Jose Altuve to the outfield, the Braves signing Jurickson Profar, whether they will try to stay under the luxury tax threshold this season or if there is money available to improve their rotation depth.Listener question topics include whether the Pirates will acquire a right fielder before the season starts, why Jack Flaherty is still unsigned, the reasons that the baseball offseason is so different from other sports, if there is a common thread between the big-name players who are still on the market, which team would say no to a Luis Arraez for Brett Baty trade, and if the Cubs should pursue a Michael King trade with the Padres. 

MLBTR founder TIm Dierkes joins Darragh McDonald to discuss results of a poll put on the site showing that most fans want a salary cap and that many would be willing to forfeit the 2027 season to get it. They also think about what parity in the league really means and the most effective ways to achieve it. Then they go over the signings of Roki Sasaki, Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates with the Dodgers, and Anthony Santander with the Blue Jays. 

Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss Jeff Hoffman signing a three-year deal with Toronto after having deals fall apart with the Braves and Orioles due to flagged physicals. Also, Justin Verlander's deal with the Giants, the state of the Marlins rotation after trading Jesus Luzardo and losing Braxton Garrett to injury, the Mariners finally making a major league move by signing Donovan Solano.Listener question topics include what the Reds will do with the extra money from their new TV deal, why the Nationals haven't spent much this offseason, and what a Kyle Tucker extension would look like for the Cubs.

MLBTR founder Tim Dierkes joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the Athletics extending Brent Rooker, the Reds acquiring Gavin Lux after the Dodgers signed Korean infielder Hyeseong Kim, Corbin Burnes surprisingly joining the Diamondbacks, the Cubs trading with the Yankees to unload Cody Bellinger's contract, the Yankees inking Paul Goldschmidt, Christian Walker signing with the Astros, the Mets bringing back Sean Manaea, the Red Sox filling out their rotation with Walker Buehler and Patrick Sandoval, the Phillies acquiring Jesus Luzardo in a trade with the Marlins, the Orioles making modest rotation additions in Charlie Morton and Tomoyuki Sugano, Cleveland trading Josh Naylor to the Diamondbacks then signing Carlos Santana to play first base, the Nationals singing Josh Bell and acquiring Nathaniel Lowe from the Rangers, the Rangers then signing Joc Pederson to fill the void, and the Tigers signing Gleyber Torres with the plan to move Colt Keith to first base. 

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the blockbuster trade that sent Kyle Tucker to the Cubs and Issac Paredes, Hayden Wesneski and Cam Smith to the Astros, the Brewers sending Devin Williams to the Yankees for Nestor Cortes and prospect Caleb Durbin, the A's acquiring Jeffrey Springs from the Rays, the Orioles signing Japanese starting pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano, and whether Luis Castillo, Dylan Cease or Jesus Luzardo could get traded soon.

Darragh McDonald is joined by Tim Dierkes, Steve Adams, and Anthony Franco to discuss Juan Soto's record-breaking contract, which players Steve Cohen is willing to pay for, what the Mets will pivot to next, how Max Fried ended up getting an eight-year contract from the Yankees, the blockbuster deal that sent Garrett Crochet to the Red Sox for some top prospects, who could sign Corbin Burnes, the Giants signing Willy Adames, the surprising deal between Luis Severino and the Athletics, the trades between the Guardians, Blue Jays and Pirates that sent Andres Gimenez to Toronto, the modest offseason so far from the Orioles and Tigers, and Nathan Eovaldi resigning with the Rangers.

Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss Blake Snell signing a five-year deal with the Dodgers, MLB fans getting tired of the Dodgers' dominance over the free agent market and their use of deferred money, their extension of Tommy Edman to keep him with the team for four additional seasons, a breaking news report that the Red Sox are signing Aroldis Chapman, the Mets signing Frankie Montas, and the Cubs signing Matthew Boyd and whether they will get more aggressive this offseason. Listener question topics include whether the Pirates would be interested in trading with the Red Sox for Triston Casas, and the value of Cody Bellinger's current contract relative to what free agents will get on the market. 

MLBTR founder Tim Dierkes joins Darragh McDonald to discuss Yusei Kikuchi signing with the Angels, the flurry of moves that the Angels have already made this offseason, and Royals sending Brady Singer to the Reds for Jonathan India and Joey Wiemer. Listener question topics include the mechanics of how Scott Boras will approach teams to drive up the bidding for Juan Soto, if the A's will really raise their payroll and who they could target, what the Mariners should do at third base, why the Nationals non-tendered Kyle Finnegan, and what it would take to extend Tarik Skubal. 

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the Rays' plans to play in a minor league facility in 2025 and the potential of relocation if their new stadium deal falls through. Also, the restructuring of Diamond Sports and the new deal that got them out of bankruptcy.Listener question topics include whether the Red Sox could target both Garrett Crochet and a top-end free agent, the rumored deal that would send Jonathan India to Kansas City for Brady Singer, and if the Orioles will be big players in free agency this offseason.

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss news that Japanese ace Roki Sasaki will get posted this offseason and be available at a minimum salary, the strange situation of Gerrit Cole opting out of his contract with the Yankees, then rescinding it to stay on his original deal, what the Cardinals will do after reports that they plan to retool, but have some veterans that don't want to be traded, a deal that sent Jorge Soler to the Angels for Griffin Canning, the overall trend of the Braves moving money around to make payroll space for 2025, and the Dodgers again announcing that Mookie Betts will move to the infield. 

Tim Dierkes, Steve Adams and Anthony Franco all join Darragh McDonald to break down and discuss the site's annual list of the Top 50 MLB Free Agents With Predictions. They talk about the big names, controversial picks, unexpected destinations and much more. 

Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the massive amount of payroll flexibility that the Mets will have going into this offseason, other teams that will join the Mets in pursuit of Juan Soto, and how the Rangers will try to get better while also getting below the luxury tax threshold. Listener question topics include whose postseason performance will land them more money in free agency, if a Ryan Mountcastle/Ryan Helsley trade would make sense, if Rowdy Tellez is a good target for the Tigers, and whether Justin Verlander should transition into being a closer. 

Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the Yankees/Dodgers World Series matchup, reports that White Sox' owner Jerry Reinsdorf is having talks to sell the team and whether it could lead to a new stadium deal or relocation for the club. Also, what the ramifications will be for the Rays after the hurricane damaged Topicana Field's roof. There are a lot of unknowns about where they will play and how it will affect their finances.Listener question topics include whether it's a good idea for the Guardians to trade Josh Naylor, what extensions for Masyn Winn and Alec Burleson could look like, and what the Red Sox will do this winter.

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss developments in the Twin Cities, including the Twins being up for sale, the firing of their GM, and the announcement that MLB will take over broadcasting of their games next season. In an extended mailbag, topics include if the Cubs will try to trade from their glut of top prospects, possibilities for the Orioles in their first offseason under new ownership, if the Rangers should resign Nathan Eovaldi, whether the Blue Jays could target Willson Contreras in a trade, and how the Padres can continue to be competitive as they face a payroll crunch. 

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to give a preview of the starting pitchers that will headline MLBTR's upcoming annual top 50 free agents list. They also talk about the teams affected by the recent news from the Diamond Sports bankruptcy case and speculate on which other teams could be big spenders this offseason.Listener question topics include which Tigers would be good extension candidates and whether shorter games lead to less concession money for teams. 

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss a flurry of front office changes including the Giants replacing Farhan Zaidi with former player Buster Posey and Chaim Bloom taking on a larger role with the Cardinals as he transitions into John Mozeliak's job as president of baseball operations. Listener question topics include the trade value of Cardinals' veterans in case the team rebuilds, where Paul Goldschmidt could sign as a free agent, how Cleveland's rotation will shake out next year, and if it's time for the Marlins to move on from Edward Cabrera and Jesus Sanchez.

Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the high emotions heading into the final home series for the Oakland A's, the amazing run the Tigers have been on to get into the wild card picture and their strong core moving forward, if the Nationals could make a run at signing Juan Soto after GM Mike Rizzo's comments about the team wanting to add a big bat, the team sending down CJ Abrams for off-field reasons, and the Reds firing manager David Bell. Listener question topics include what Plan B will be for the Yankees if they miss out on Juan Soto, if the Pirates will add offense this offseason to supplement their pitching core, and which teams will be most interested in Willy Adames.

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the odd circumstances that led to Matt Chapman's extension, where ownership and Chapman hammered out the deal without the assistance of GM Farhan Zaidi or agent Scott Boras, Tyler Glasnow's arm injury and the continuing trend of Dodgers' pitchers getting injured. and the report that the Mike Trout could play fewer innings in center field next year in hopes of avoiding injuries.Listener question topics include what the strengths and weaknesses are for all of the teams in position to make the playoffs and what Atlanta can do this offseason to shore up their roster. 

Steve Adams joins guest host Mark Polichuk to discuss Matt Chapman's six-year extension with the Giants, the surprising timing of it, and if Blake Snell could similarly resign with San Francisco. Also, the Yankees finally promote prospect Jasson Dominguez to take some playing time from the struggling Alex Verdugo, Kumar Rocker getting called up to the Rangers despite only appearing in fewer than 20 minor league starts, and Bo Bichette's comments about wanting to stay in Toronto alongside Vlad Guererro Jr. Listener question topics include what is happening with the Twins, if they could really lose their Wild Card spot, and how the Tigers will be an exciting team to watch this offseason after their strong finish. 

MLBTR's Mark Polishuk joins Darragh McDonald to discuss how this year's free agent class is shaping up, the Royals losing Vinnie Pasquantino to injury, but bolstering their roster by claiming Tommy Pham and Robbie Grossman off waivers and adding Yuli Gurriel via trade, Angels promote Caden Dana and Samuel Aldegheri and why the team promotes prospects so aggressively.Listener question topics include what went wrong to put the White Sox on the brink of breaking the all-time record for losses in a season, what the Rangers should focus on this offseason and whether Chris Young will get a new contract to continue leading the front office, and what the Braves will do at shortstop next year.

Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss Mariners' manager Scott Servais getting fired along with their hitting coach, Angels' GM Perry Minasian getting an extension and how owner Arte Moreno is to blame for the team's lack of success, the Orioles' lack of rotation depth after recent acquisitions Zach Eflin got injured and Trevor Rogers got optioned, and the legacy and accomplishments of Joey Votto after he announced his retirement this week.Listener question topics include the chances of Max Fried signing an extension with Atlanta and how his relatively disappointing season will affect his earnings. Also, what the market will look like for Justin Verlander when he hits free agency this offseason.

Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss how teams such as the Rangers and Pirates could place players on waivers in hopes of getting salary relief (like the Angels did last year), proposed ideas that would emphasize the importance of starting pitchers, Austin Riley's hand fracture being the latest of Atlanta's many injuries this season, and the Cubs releasing Hector Neris after an underwhelming season.Listener email topics include other candidates to be placed on waivers, the state of the Tigers and what they will do with the Javy Baez contract, and what the Mets could do at first base next year if they don't resign Pete Alonso.

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the White Sox firing their manager, Pedro Grifol, along with most of the coaching staff, the Mariners extending outfielder Victor Robles just a few months after he got released by the Nationals, the Dodgers doing some roster shuffling, designating Amed Rosario for assignment and moving Mookie Betts back to the outfield, and a shake up in the Marlins' front office. Listener question topics include whether Camilo Doval will pitch again for the Giants after getting sent down to the minors, whatever happened to Archie Bradley, and if Braves fans should give up hope for the season.We apologize for the poor audio quality this week. We had some technical difficulties. 

Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to recap some of the moves they didn't cover in previous episodes including the Mariners acquiring Randy Arozarena, Justin Turner and Yimi Garcia, the Pirates doing a “soft buy” acquiring Bryan De La Cruz while also completing a trade of young players sending Quinn Priester to Boston for infielder Nick Yorke, the long-term outlook of the Pittsburgh rotation, the Phillies adding relatively modest pieces by Dave Dombrowski standards, the Brewers showing off their ability to improve pitchers by getting Frankie Montas to immediately throw harder since being acquired, and the Diamondbacks trading for an elite reliever in A.J. Puk. Also, they guys talk about Mike Trout's latest injury and how he unfortunately hasn't been able to stay on the field in recent years.

In another megapod to recap the deadline, Darragh McDonald is joined by Tim Dierkes, Steve Adams and Anthony Franco to discuss whether the prices were high for buyers this year, why there were no blockbusters, the Erick Fedde trade, how teams like the Cubs and Rays are simultaneously buying and selling, the Blue Jays doing well in their return for Yusei Kikuchi, the relatively small moves that the Guardians made, the Orioles committing a lot of payroll and prospect capital to acquire pitching, if teams will become more aggressive in the offseason since there's been less available at the deadline, the Rockies and Angels deciding to hold onto guys, the Marlins leaning into a full sell, the Braves getting the band back together and much more. 

In an extra-long episode, Darragh McDonald is joined by MLBTR founder Tim Dierkes and writers Steve Adams and Anthony Franco to break down players that could be moved by clear sellers like the White Sox, Marlins and Athletics, unpredictable teams like the Rockies and Angels, the Cubs stating that they aren't planning to make a push this year, the Tigers surprisingly still holding 10% playoff odds according to Fangraphs, some interesting teams to watch like Tampa Bay and Toronto, how clear buyers like the Yankees and Orioles will address their needs, and rapid-fire thoughts about other teams.

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss MLBTR's recent list of the top 50 deadline trade candidates, Kansas City jumping the market to acquire reliever Hunter Harvey from the Nationals, the Rays trading Phil Maton to the Mets, how internal options could lead the Rays to deal more of their current players and why the Mets might make even more acquisitions. Listener question topics include how the Cubs are stuck  between contending and selling, if the Tigers have played themselves back into the mix, and how much the White Sox will speed up their contention timeline with the deadline deals they're expected to make. 

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the Rays trading Aaron Civale to the Brewers, Milwaukee's desire to add even more pitching, Marlins rumors surrounding Jazz Chisholm Jr. and relievers, a report saying the Angels are only looking to trade impending free agents despite seemingly not being close to competing in 2025 either and the Nationals pivoting into "sell mode" despite being on the fringes of the playoff race.Listener question topics include how much the Blue Jays will be willing to unload, where the Mariners could look to add offense and the chances of the Braves extending Max Fried.

Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the site's most recent update to the free agent power rankings and why the list becomes hard to predict behind the obvious top two of Juan Soto and Corbin Burnes. Also, a report that the Rays are considering trading some of their veteran starting pitchers for help in other areas of need, whether the Mets could choose a similar path, the difficulty teams will have lining up a deal for Garrett Crochet since he has already exceeded his highest previous inning count in a season, and the promotion of Nationals' prospect James Wood and how the Juan Soto trade continues to pay dividends for Washington.Listener email topics include the Astros' needs now that they've pulled themselves into playoff contention, if reigning champions ever become sellers as the Rangers may, and if the Tigers are genuine in saying that they may add pieces at the deadline.   

Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss trade chips recently getting injured and potentially coming off the market including the Angels' Patrick Sandoval  and the Marlins' Jesus Luzardo and Braxton Garrett and why the Blue Jays, Rays and Rangers could fall into a selling position. The Phillies sign Cristopher Sanchez to a four-year extension and the strong state of the Phillies' rotation long term. Also, bad news for the Blue Jays as they lost top prospect Orelvis Martinez to a PED suspension while dealing with a long losing streak. Listener question topics include what it would take for the Rockies to trade some of their talent at the deadline, why they operate so differently from other clubs, Ryan Pressly as a trade candidate and whether the Astros will end up selling at all, whether we could see the Nats or Marlins trade within their division and we think a family member of T.J. McFarland asked whether McFarland could get traded to his hometown Chicago Cubs. 

Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss Jose Abreu getting released and how the Astros' struggles this year haven't afforded them time to wait for struggling players to turn things around. Also, the recent injuries to Mookie Betts and Yoshinobu Yamamoto and if the Dodgers will make any reactionary moves, Anthony Rizzo out for the Yankees and whether his job will still be there for him when he gets healthy and the Braves' Michael Harris II out with a hamstring strain. The guys also talk about the passing of WIlly Mays and his baseball legacy. Listener question topics include trying to figure out whether or not the Mets are contenders in a crowded wild card field, the Nationals being surprisingly interesting and if it makes sense  for the White Sox to package together their big trade chips in one megadeal. 

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald to discuss the news of Cristian Javier and Jose Urquidy both needing a season-ending elbow surgery,  Kyle Tucker going on the IL and the team's stated reluctance to sell at the deadline.The guys then take a lot of mailbag questions. Topics include which bad teams have strong farm systems that will allow them to rebound in 2025, who could fit as a right fielder for the Guardians in a trade, if the Marlins will trade both Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Jesus Luzardo, the possibility of the Blue Jays trading Kevin Gausman to Atlanta, what the Reds need to do to make the playoffs, and how the Dodgers could round out the back end of their roster. 

Anthony Franco joins Darragh McDonald  to discuss Tucupita Marcano's lifetime ban for betting on Pirates games while he was on the team, the increased integration of gambling into the league, comments from Blue Jays' GM Ross Atkins saying that they it doesn't make sense for the team to trade Vladimir Guerrero Jr. or Bo Bichette and the state of the Orioles' rotation depth after it was announced that both John Means and Tyler Wells will have elbow surgeries. Listener question topics include the liklihood of the Brewers trading Willy Adames to recoup value before he becomes a free agent, if the number of Tommy John surgeries is rising, and whether money will be a big factor for teams at the deadline the way it was during last year's free agency.

Steve Adams joins Darragh McDonald to discuss Ronald Acuna Jr. tearing an ACL for the second time in his career, who the Braves could target to replace him in the lineup and the state of the team in general. Also, Hal Steinbrenner's comments about the Yankees' payroll being unsustainable due to the luxury tax, a potential battle between high-payroll teams and low-payroll teams when the time comes for CBA negotiations and the reporting that teams expect Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki to be posted this offseason.Listener question topics include an idea for a relief pitching bonus based on WPA and if Taylor Ward would be a good fit for Atlanta.