Can The Nationals Rebuild Be Fixed?

On this week's Prospect Podcast, Geoff Pontes and JJ Cooper take a look at the Washington Nationals' rebuild. It's failed so far, as Mike Rizzo is out and Paul Toboni is the new GM. What can the new leadership do, and where are some areas for quick improvements? We take a look.(00:00) We're Groggy, Blame The World Series(04:45) What Are The Nationals' Strengths?(12:20) Improving MLB Player Development(14:50) They Need To Draft More College Pitchers(19:45) Improve Contact Skills For MiLB Hitters(25:30) Can The Nats Develop Toolsy Hitters?(28:00) Spend More Money!(36:00) Why We'll Remember Game Three For Quite A While(43:00) Shohei Ohtani Could Break A Number Of RecordsBA's MiLB Stuff+ Pitching Rankings: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2025-mlb-farm-system-statcast-pitching-rankings/BA's MiLB Hit+ Hitting Rankings: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2025-mlb-farm-system-statcast-hitting-rankings/Our Sponsors:* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.com* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/ba2022Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Baseball America national college reporter Jacob Rudner and national writer Peter Flaherty recap the San Francisco Giants' historic hiring of former Tennessee coach Tony Vitello. Rudner and Flaherty discuss the development's potential impact on college baseball, how Tennessee will move forward and the ripple effect of the Volunteers' national coaching search.(1:48) What Tony Vitello joining the Giants means for college baseball(16:53) Tennessee's decision to promote Josh Elander to head coach(26:57) Florida State coach Link Jarrett earns new contract(31:05) Kevin Schnall's link to the VolunteersOur Sponsors:* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.com* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/ba2022Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On this week's Hot Sheet Show, J.J. Cooper, Ben Badler, Jacob Rudner and Scott Braun welcome Guardians prospect Daniel Espino to discuss his career and Arizona Fall League experience so far.We also dish on next year’s eligible rookies—a list that includes Blue Jays pitcher Trey Yesavage—and unpack Tennessee promoting Josh Elander to replace Tony Vitello.We stream the Hot Sheet Show every Monday at 3:30 p.m. ET on YouTube.Time Stamps(0:00) Introduction (1:30) How does active service time work? (2:45) Trey Yesavage will retain rookie eligibility in 2026 (5:00) Will we see more young pitchers on the Yesavage plan? (8:00) And what about position players? (11:40) Rise of Cleveland decision makers (14:45) Daniel Espino joins (16:45) Daniel's rehab and return to pitching (18:00) How Daniel has evolved as a pitcher (21:15) On why Cleveland is successful developing pitchers (23:00) Daniel's AFL history (25:30) Tennessee promotes Josh Elander (27:00) Did Tennessee look outside the program? (28:15) Comparing Tennessee's situation to Texas A&MOur Sponsors:* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.com* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/ba2022Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Carlos and Peter talk through the most recent draft update for the 2026 class. Who’s moving up? Who’s moving down? What’s the state of the 2026 class after a key summer evaluation period and are there any real darkhorses who could challenge Roch Cholowsky for the 1-1 spot next summer?—Time Stamps(0:00) Intro(3:30) 2026 Draft update talk begins(10:30) The difficulty of teaching pure hitting ability(16:00) Up arrow high school pitchers(23:00) Blake Bowen(30:30) Trevor Condon(36:00) A darkhorse 1-1 candidateDownload Cash App Today: capl.onelink.me/vFut/hap8idx8 #CashAppPod. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See terms and conditions at cash.app/legal/us/en-us/card-agreement. Direct deposit and promotions provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures.Our Sponsors:* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.com* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/ba2022Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We have a special edition of the Baseball America podcast, as John Manuel, the long-time Editor-In-Chief of Baseball America, joins JJ Cooper. We've gotten the band back together for a special World Series Preview.(00:00) What's We've Seen In The Playoffs So Far(04:00) Is This Dodgers' Rotation Perfect For The Playoffs?(09:00) Why Big Spending Teams Now Have Two Rotations(22:00) What Do The Blue Jays Do With Bo Bichette?(30:00) How The Blue Jays Can WinOur Sponsors:* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.com* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/ba2022Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week on the Baseball America Fantasy Podcast we return to the topic of early NFBC Draft Champions drafts and prospect ADP. We talk through outfielders and pitchers on this episode after covering infielders and catchers last week.(1:00) Blue Jays ALCS Victory Lap For Dylan and Geoff.(7:00) Toolshed Mock Draft(11:00) Chase DeLauter(14:00) Dylan Beavers(16:00) Owen Caissie(17:00) Justin Crawford(20:00) Spencer Jones(25:00) Later round outfielders: Kevin Alcantara, Colby Thomas, Emmanuel Rodriguez and George Valera.(32:00) Nolan McLean vs Cam Schlittler(34:00) Pablo Lopez vs Jacob Misiorowsi(35:00) Hurston Waldrep before Chase Burns, Bubba Chandler and Trey Yesavage.(37:00) Lining up Connelly Early, Jonah Tong, Payton Tolle and Parker Messick.Arena ClubGet 20% off your first Slab Pack or card purchase by going to ArenaClub.com/FOUL and use code FOULOur Sponsors:* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.com* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/ba2022Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

For a special edition of the Baseball America Prospect Podcast, Geoff Pontes and JJ Cooper look back at some of the stars of this year's World Series and remember what they were like as prospects.(00:00) How many players on World Series rosters were Top 100 or team Top 30 prospects?(07:00) Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has lived up to every expectation about his bat(18:40) Remembering Shohei Ohtani as a prospect and how he's exceeded expectations(36:30) The Dodgers have built a rotation to dominate the postseason(45:30) How the Blue Jays have improved their development(57:00) Our thoughts on the World Series matchupGet 20% off your first Slab Pack or card purchase by going to ArenaClub.com/FOUL and use code FOULOur Sponsors:* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.com* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/ba2022Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On this week's Hot Sheet Show, J.J. Cooper, Ben Badler, Jesús Cano and Scott Braun welcome Orioles prospect Enrique Bradfield Jr. to the show.We also look into early standouts in the Arizona Fall League and offer up some reactions to reports that Tennessee coach Tony Vitello will be the next manager of the Giants.We stream the Hot Sheet Show every Monday at 3:30 p.m. ET on YouTube.Time Stamps(0:00) Introduction (0:40) Early standouts from the Arizona Fall League (2:25) Can Esmerlyn Valdez break the AFL single-season HR record? (4:00) Tony Blanco Jr.'s potential with the Pirates (9:50) Enrique Bradfield Jr. joins (11:05) Enrique's crazy catch (12:30) On playing with players from different teams (14:00) Enrique wants a job in Baltimore & his approach to the game (17:45) Who Enrique models his game after (22:15) Tony Vitello to the Giants?Our Sponsors:* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.com* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/ba2022Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We have a special emergency podcast today. As The Athletic first reported, the San Francisco Giants are expected to hire Tennessee Volunteers head coach Tony Vitello as the team's new manager. Jacob Rudner and JJ Cooper take a look at what this would mean for everyone involved.(00:00) What we know from our reporting(02:30) Why This May Make Sense(09:30) How college head coach jobs and MLB manager jobs are very different(14:00) Looking at Tony Vitello's strengths that could carry over to MLB managing(19:00) Why this could be a no-lose situation for Vitello.(25:00) Tony Vitello as a talent evaluator(30:00) How Tony Vitello could open doors for others(32:00) What do we expect Tennessee to do if Vitello leaves?(33:15) An important note of Tennessee players special transfer portal(35:00) Why this will be such a challenge for Tennessee's program(50:30) What we expected from Tennessee for 2026 before this news brokeOur Sponsors:* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.com* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/ba2022Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week on the Baseball America Fantasy Podcast hosts Geoff Pontes and Dylan White review where prospects are being drafted in early NFBC Draft Champions leagues. We go player by player and discuss the prospects getting drafted at catcher and the infield positions.(8:00) Samuel Basallo(11:00) Carter Jensen(14:00) Joe Mack and Jeferson Quero(17:00) Sal Stewart(20:00) Bryce Eldridge(23:00) CJ Kayfus(26:00) Luke Keaschall(30:00) Travis Bazzana(33:00) JJ Wetherholt(37:00) Kevin McGonigle and Konnor Griffin(40:00) Remaining Shortstop prospectsSurfsharkGo to Surfshark.com/foul or use code FOUL at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!Our Sponsors:* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.com* Check out Uncommon Goods: https://uncommongoods.com/ba2022Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/baseball-america/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy