Free Agent Power Rankings, Cade Cavalli's Extension, And Likely Playoff Matchups

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.