One weekend into the 2025 regular season, baseball is already throwing up some pretty big surprises. Here’s one: The Atlanta Braves have the worst record in baseball. The Braves! The perennial best non-Dodger team in the National League, with their Toyota pickup-level dependable lineup and fountain of talented young arms, went 0-4 against the Padres.
Then, on Monday afternoon, more bad news dropped: Jurickson Profar has been suspended 80 games for violating MLB’s policy on performance enhancing drugs. Minutes after Profar’s suspension came out, Reynaldo López was placed on the IL with right shoulder inflammation. All this comes amidst Brian Snitker, the club’s beloved and highly successful manager, hinting that he might hang up his lineup card at the end of the year. And to top off this day of crap, Grant Holmes got knocked around in the series opener against the Dodgers and Atlanta dropped to 0-5.
Fortunately, MLB Shop is already selling jerseys to commemorate the occasion:
As a general principle, I scoff at the idea that a bad weekend can be characterized as a crisis at any point before Labor Day. In case you disagree, consider that the team that ended the weekend atop the NL East was not the Phillies or Mets but the Marlins. Here’s a good rule of thumb: If the Marlins are in first place, it’s too early to panic. Even after the beatings continued against Dodgers, morale should not be bottoming out this early. Read the rest of this entry »
I have a hot baseball take. The most dominant performer I’ve seen in real life isn’t Shohei Ohtani, or Aaron Judge, or Barry Bonds. It’s Jacob deGrom, and specifically the form that deGrom showed starting in 2019. He mostly threw fastballs and sliders. He only attacked one side of the plate. It sounds like a bad approach, one that a thoughtful hitter could easily exploit. Yet it was absolutely, completely unhittable.
Why? First, deGrom’s fastball is a unicorn. His combination of release point, shape, velocity, and command means that batters are trying to hit flat and even seemingly rising pitches on the edges of the plate. By releasing so low and yet generating so much backspin, he’s defying expectations. By throwing it so hard, he’s giving batters less time to react. By spotting it on the edge of the plate, he’s giving them no good options even if they swing; it’s hard to do damage on pitches that avoid the center of the plate.
From 2020 to 2022, the velocity part of this equation kicked into overdrive. In each of those years, deGrom averaged 98.7 mph or faster with his fastball. But it turns out it still looks pretty good at 97:
Below is an analysis of the prospects in the farm system of the Toronto Blue Jays. Scouting reports were compiled with information provided by industry sources as well as our own observations. This is the fifth year we’re delineating between two anticipated relief roles, the abbreviations for which you’ll see in the “position” column below: MIRP for multi-inning relief pitchers, and SIRP for single-inning relief pitchers. The ETAs listed generally correspond to the year a player has to be added to the 40-man roster to avoid being made eligible for the Rule 5 draft. Manual adjustments are made where they seem appropriate, but we use that as a rule of thumb.
A quick overview of what FV (Future Value) means can be found here. A much deeper overview can be found here.
All of the ranked prospects below also appear on The Board, a resource the site offers featuring sortable scouting information for every organization. It has more details (and updated TrackMan data from various sources) than this article and integrates every team’s list so readers can compare prospects across farm systems. It can be found here. Read the rest of this entry »
Department: Baseball Operations Employee Type: Full Time FLSA: Exempt
Primary Purpose
The Cleveland Guardians Baseball Operations department is seeking analysts who are creative, curious, and collaborative teammates who enjoy tackling unique and challenging problems. The Pro Acquisitions Department is charged with preparing for acquisition opportunities through every avenue of professional player acquisition by leading in-depth player and market analysis and synthesizing information for organizational leadership. The Pro Acquisitions Analyst will collaborate with different stakeholders to drive continuous process improvements in player evaluations and valuations, new data streams, and player recommendations.
Core Job Functions
Analysts are expected to work in a fast-paced, team environment and communicate effectively with various organizational stakeholders. The core responsibility is comprehensive player analysis to create accurate valuations, identify and fill information gaps, and synthesize information for organizational leaders. The bullets below are intended to capture major realms in which work might be focused, although the specifics might differ based on their interests, skillset, and the team’s needs.
Facilitate and conduct evidence-based player analysis in support of Pro Player Acquisitions using all available information streams.
Continually assess market conditions, team trends and acquisition opportunities across all acquisition avenues.
Build and maintain various high priority pref lists.
Communicate findings to key stakeholders in a clear, comprehensible manner.
Work collaboratively with Baseball Research & Development to uncover actionable insights across fundamental, strategic and valuation processes.
Work collaboratively with Baseball Systems to build and manage software products that directly drive our internal processes.
Facilitate and conduct analysis to support organizational strategic planning, particularly for key acquisition windows.
Provide player-specific valuations and transactional recommendations using organizational best practices and valuation frameworks.
We know that historically marginalized groups – including people of color, women, people from working class backgrounds, and people who identify as LGBTQ – are less likely to apply unless and until they meet every requirement for a job. We encourage you to reach out if you have questions about the role or your qualifications. We are happy to help you feel ready to apply!
Basic Requirements
Ability to craft and articulate a compelling message to others in both written and verbal form.
Collaborative and able to succeed in a team-oriented environment.
An ability to build and maintain relationships with a broad range of baseball operations employees, including but not limited to scouts, coaches, and front office members.
Willing to frequently work nights, weekends, and holidays—particularly during the season.
Expected relocation to Cleveland.
Preferred Experience
While we don’t expect any candidate to meet every requirement, we’re looking for either a breadth of experience or deep expertise in a particular area. We’re considering applicants with a wide variety of past experiences.
Demonstrated expertise in player analysis, valuation frameworks, and market behavior.
Working knowledge of cutting-edge, publicly available baseball research.
Demonstrated understanding of statistics and experience carrying out quantitative analysis.
Bachelor’s degree or prior professional experience.
Track record of and proficiency with relationship building in the baseball industry.
Demonstrated experience with a database language such as SQL and R.
Organizational Requirements
Reads, speaks, comprehends, and communicates English effectively in all communications.
Represents the Cleveland Guardians in a positive fashion to all business partners and the general public.
Ability to develop and maintain successful working relationships with members of the Front Office.
Ability to act according to the organizational values and service excellence at all times.
Demonstrated commitment to working with diverse populations and contributing to an inclusive working environment.
Ability to walk, sit or stand for an entire shift.
Ability to work extended days and hours, including holidays and weekends.
Ability to move throughout all areas and levels of the Ballpark.
Ability to work in a diverse and changing environment.
Occasional physical activity such as lifting and carrying boxes up to 25 lbs.
At the Cleveland Guardians, we are all about creating an inclusive environment that brings out the best in everyone. It is a big part of who we are, how we compete, and how we make an impact in our community. We want every employee to feel like they truly belong here.
We also know that people from historically underserved groups—like women and people of color—sometimes hesitate to apply for jobs unless they check every single box on the qualifications list. We’re looking for the best person for the job, and we know that you might bring skills and experiences that aren’t exactly listed but could be a huge asset to our team. So, if this role excites you, we encourage you to apply, even if you don’t meet every single qualification.
About Us
In Baseball Operations, our shared goal is to identify and develop diverse players and front office teammates who contribute to our mission. By effectively and collaboratively working together, we create a family atmosphere that supports learning as we strive for excellence in everything we do. We believe that we will achieve our goals by making evidence-based decisions and creating environments that support our people and empower them to learn.
Bowden Francis was one of baseball’s best pitchers over the final two months of the 2024 season. From August onward, the 28-year-old Toronto Blue Jays righty made nine starts and posted a 1.53 ERA with 56 strikeouts while allowing just 24 hits and seven walks across 59 innings.
All told, Francis recorded a 3.30 ERA, a 22.5% strikeout rate, and a 5.4% walk rate last season across his 27 appearances (13 starts) spanning 103 2/3 innings. It stands to reason that the minuscule .211 BABIP he allowed isn’t repeatable, though it may not be due for as much of a regression as you might expect. Inducing weak contact is Francis’ modus operandi on the mound, and a low BABIP is a feature of his game, not a fluke.
Considering the priority for pitchers to generate as many swings and misses as possible, when I spoke with Francis during spring training, I wanted to understand his approach to pitching. Specifically, I asked him, “How do you get guys out?”
“Pounding the strike zone,” said Francis, who was selected out of Chipola Junior College in the sixth round of the 2017 draft. “Strike percentage, getting guys on their heels more. Mixing it up and moving it around, trying to keep them off balance. Pitchability is my thing. I’ve never been super-overpowering. I’ve always been more on the crafty side.” Read the rest of this entry »
On the first day of the season, Aaron Judge and the Yankees offense didn’t make much noise. They scraped together four runs against the Brewers, led by homers from Austin Wells and Anthony Volpe. But for the next two games, they feasted on Milwaukee pitching. Saturday brought a nine-homer barrage in a 20-9 victory. They cranked four more homers on their way to double-digit runs again the next day. The Yankees are hot – and Judge is at the center of it.
Well, he’s one of the things at the center of it. Torpedo bats are getting their 15 minutes of fame as you read this. Several Yankees are using these bats, which reach their greatest width around the sweet spot and taper thereafter, to great effect so far this year. The bats have been around for a few years, and the Yankees aren’t the only ones using them, but now they’re a topic of conversation across big league clubhouses. Honestly? I don’t have a lot to tell you about torpedo bats that hasn’t already been written. But I do have this to say: Judge isn’t using one, and he’s the beating heart of New York’s offensive explosion to start the season.
It’s been only three games, of course, so you can’t read much into batting lines. But Judge is slugging 1.818 through those games, with a .545/.643/1.818 slash line that’s good for a 547 wRC+. He’s only struck out twice. He had exactly one three-game stretch this good last year – and he won MVP unanimously. Read the rest of this entry »
Rob Schumacher/The Republic-USA TODAY NETWORK and Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jordan Montgomery isn’t likely to pitch for the Diamondbacks again. Brandon Pfaadt could be pitching for them well into the next decade. That’s the upshot of an eventful few days for the Diamondbacks rotation, as Montgomery revealed last week that he would undergo Tommy John surgery and miss the 2025 season, while Pfaadt agreed to a five-year, $45 million extension that includes a couple of additional option years.
For the 32-year-old Montgomery – who was outpitched by Pfaadt and Ryne Nelson in this spring’s battle for the fifth starter job — this is the latest twist in a saga that has largely been an unhappy one ever since he helped the Rangers win the 2023 World Series. He hit the market on a high note after being dealt ahead of the trade deadline for the second straight season; between his time with the Cardinals and Rangers in 2023, he set career bests while posting the majors’ eighth-lowest ERA (3.20) and ranking 12th in WAR (4.3). He capped that with a 2.90 ERA in 31 postseason innings, starting a pair of series-opening combined shutouts against the Rays (ALWCS) and the Astros (ALCS), and chipping in 2 1/3 innings of emergency relief following Max Scherzer’s injury-related exit in Game 7 of the ALCS. Though he was knocked around by the Diamondbacks in Game 2 of the World Series, it didn’t stop Texas from winning its first championship.
Off of that run, Montgomery and agent Scott Boras reportedly set their sights on a contract topping the seven-year, $172 million extension that Aaron Nola signed with the Phillies shortly after the offseason began, but as with Boras’ other high-profile clients that winter, namely Cody Bellinger, Matt Chapman, and Blake Snell, the big deal envisioned for Montgomery never materialized, and he lingered unsigned past the start of spring training. He was pursued by the Red Sox — which would have been an excellent fit given that his wife had begun a dermatology residence at a Boston-area hospital in the fall of 2023 — as well as the Rangers, Yankees (who drafted and developed him), and Mets, among others. In the end he settled for a one-year, $25 million contract with the Diamondbacks on March 29, with a $20 vesting option for 2025 based on 10 starts, rising to $22.5 million with 18 starts and $25 million with 23 starts. Read the rest of this entry »
Over the past six weeks, prospects from across the league have participated in spring training activity in Arizona and Florida. Some got into big league games, or participated in the Spring Breakout showcase; others have played in minor league games on the backfields for most of the last month. This spring activity has been enough to move the prospect needle for a handful of players. With the last minor league camps set to break today and extended spring training on the horizon, I’ve touched up my Top 100 list from the offseason to reflect relevant changes that players have made, as well as changes to my own thinking about them.
As you read, there are a couple of things to keep in mind, especially if you’re new to FanGraphs prospect stuff. First, the “Top 100” title is arbitrary SEO nonsense; I rank players as deep as I have them graded as 50 FV prospects or better, and as of this update, that’s 114 guys. Second, remember that Future Value is a value grade. The tools and ultimate potential upside of a player matter a lot, as does the length and consistency of a player’s performance track record and their proximity to the majors. There are players who have talent upside better than their FV grade, but if they’re risky for whatever reason, or if they’re in the low minors, I want to reflect that risk/time element in their grade.
Finally, remember that an actualized “50” is an average everyday player at a given position. Not “average” in the sense that I’m averaging every big leaguer who played that position to create a performance baseline. Rather, “average” here means that the player would fall toward the middle of the pack when we’re talking about the top 30-ish players at their position across a multi-year window. That’s a high bar. Really excellent, tenured players tend to occupy their spot on a big league roster for long periods of time. It’s hard for prospects to crack into that All-Star-caliber group, and even harder to sustain some measure of production for six-plus years of team control. Forty- and 45-grade players are good big leaguers, too, and there are many more of them across the pro baseball talent distribution than there are 50s. Read the rest of this entry »
Baseball analysts and team managers alike love to remind players and fans that Opening Day rosters are just one of many that each team will feature over the course of the season. And while that’s certainly true, the fanfare of making an Opening Day roster is an accomplishment that doesn’t get topped until players are lucky enough to find themselves as one of the 26 names on a postseason ballclub.
While Thursday’s rosters have already proven themselves to be ephemeral (RIP to Nick Gonzales’ ankle), it’s still a good opportunity to take a look back at how the rosters were constructed. Our Active Roster Breakdown will always be up-to-the-minute with the latest moves, if you’d like to peruse that at any point as rosters evolve throughout the season.
How the Players Were Acquired
Team
Homegrown
Free Agent
Trade
Waivers
Rule 5
ARI
10
9
7
–
–
ATH
8
6
7
3
2
ATL
7
8
10
1
–
BAL
8
7
7
4
–
BOS
6
9
8
2
1
CHC
6
11
7
1
1
CHW
8
8
5
4
1
CIN
10
6
9
1
–
CLE
14
5
7
–
–
COL
13
6
5
2
–
DET
12
8
4
2
–
HOU
11
7
7
–
1
KCR
11
7
8
–
–
LAA
10
9
5
1
1
LAD
6
11
9
–
–
MIA
4
3
10
7
2
MIL
5
5
13
1
2
MIN
12
6
8
–
–
NYM
8
7
9
2
–
NYY
9
9
6
2
–
PHI
6
11
8
1
–
PIT
7
7
9
3
–
SDP
3
13
8
1
1
SEA
6
5
12
3
–
SFG
12
8
5
1
–
STL
14
5
5
1
1
TBR
6
2
17
1
–
TEX
6
14
6
–
–
TOR
5
13
7
1
–
WSN
8
9
7
2
–
TOTAL
251
234
235
47
13
“Homegrown” includes draftees, undrafted free agents, and international free agents subject to IFA bonus pools. Homegrown players who re-sign in free agency without joining another team in the interim are still counted as homegrown.
The Guardians’ modus operandi for years has been to build homegrown winners, and it’s unsurprising to see the Cardinals right there with Cleveland in that category considering how little St. Louis did this offseason. Conversely, because Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller keeps trading away their homegrown players, there are only three of them on San Diego’s Opening Day roster.
The teams that turn to free agency most are the ones that either have struggled to produce homegrown talent in recent years or, like the Padres, have traded away the top players in their system. Either way, because they lack capable internal options, they rely on the open market to fill out their rosters.
On the flip side, both Florida teams stayed out of the free agent market almost entirely. Nearly two-thirds of the Rays’ Opening Day roster (17 of 26) were acquired via trade. Meanwhile, the Marlins have been aggressive on the waiver wire since Peter Bendix was hired as president of baseball operations after the 2023 season, and the players they’ve claimed are not just non-roster flotsam; Derek Hill and Otto Lopez are in their starting lineup, Connor Gillispie is their no. 2 starter, and Jesus Tinoco is a key setup man.
Age Breakdown
Team
<25
<30
30+
35+
Average
ARI
3
14
12
1
29.6
ATH
5
17
9
1
28.5
ATL
4
13
13
3
29.6
BAL
1
12
14
3
29.9
BOS
2
16
10
2
29.2
CHC
3
13
13
4
30.3
CHW
2
18
8
–
28.5
CIN
1
15
11
1
29.6
CLE
3
20
6
1
28.1
COL
5
15
11
2
28.8
DET
4
20
6
2
28.6
HOU
2
16
10
–
29.2
KCR
1
14
12
2
30.1
LAA
5
15
11
4
29.1
LAD
2
8
18
6
31.5
MIA
3
24
2
–
27.5
MIL
3
18
8
–
28.4
MIN
1
17
9
1
29.3
NYM
1
12
14
2
30.1
NYY
3
13
13
4
30.0
PHI
2
12
14
–
30.2
PIT
2
16
10
2
29.3
SDP
1
13
13
4
30.8
SEA
1
14
12
1
29.2
SFG
2
17
9
1
29.3
STL
5
17
9
2
28.6
TBR
4
22
4
–
27.6
TEX
3
12
14
4
30.7
TOR
–
13
13
4
30.6
WSN
5
18
8
–
27.9
TOTAL
79
464
316
57
29.3
Does it portend badly for the Dodgers that they’re the oldest team in baseball by over nine months? Well, no, they’re the Dodgers. But this list does reflect where a lot of teams are in their contention cycles. The Dodgers are in win-now mode, and while they’ll seemingly be in win-now mode in perpetuity, they’ll be doing that with older players. Even so, an aging roster doesn’t necessarily guarantee a winning one. As things stand, the Blue Jays, who have the fourth-oldest roster in the majors, appear to be nearing the end of their contention window. And that window could slam shut entirely if Vladimir Guerrero Jr. — who, at 26, actually brings their average age down — departs in free agency after the season.
Most of the teams on the other end of the age spectrum are either at the start of rebuilds (Marlins, White Sox) or are making progress but aren’t quite ready to contend yet (Nationals, A’s). Their average ages will get older as their roster gains experience and their window of contention opens. The Rays are always going to be young because they typically trade their homegrown players when they get older and more expensive.
Years of MLB Service
Team
<3
>=3, <6
6+
10+
ARI
9
7
10
2
ATH
17
4
5
–
ATL
10
6
10
3
BAL
9
11
6
1
BOS
15
4
7
2
CHC
8
9
9
2
CHW
16
4
6
1
CIN
10
10
6
–
CLE
17
4
5
2
COL
15
2
9
–
DET
14
5
7
–
HOU
11
10
5
1
KCR
11
7
8
2
LAA
11
5
10
4
LAD
5
5
16
6
MIA
23
2
1
–
MIL
15
8
3
1
MIN
8
11
7
1
NYM
10
6
10
1
NYY
12
4
10
3
PHI
6
8
12
5
PIT
12
7
7
1
SDP
8
9
9
5
SEA
10
8
8
–
SFG
14
5
7
3
STL
14
6
6
2
TBR
17
6
3
–
TEX
10
5
11
5
TOR
9
7
10
3
WSN
13
6
7
–
TOTAL
359
191
230
56
A slightly different way to look at this is by years of MLB service, which generally correlates with age but not always. For example, the Reds are a little bit older than the league-average team, but they opened the season with 20 players who have fewer than six years of service time. That’s because Cincinnati’s roster includes late bloomers Jose Trevino, Sam Moll, and Ian Gibaut.
Sticking with their youth movement, the Marlins’ most experienced players are Sandy Alcantara and Cal Quantrill, who have a combined 12 years and 60 days of MLB service entering the year. That’s a figure topped by 19 individual players on Opening Day rosters.
Lastly, let’s look at the countries where each team’s players were born.
Birth Country
Team
USA
DR
Venezuela
Canada
Cuba
Colombia
Mexico
Curaçao
Aruba
ARI
17
3
4
1
1
–
–
–
–
ATH
19
4
1
–
–
1
1
–
–
ATL
14
5
2
–
2
–
–
2
1
BAL
15
5
1
1
2
–
1
–
–
BOS
20
1
2
–
1
–
–
1
–
CHC
23
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
CHW
22
–
2
–
2
–
–
–
–
CIN
24
2
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
CLE
17
5
2
2
–
–
–
–
–
COL
21
2
3
–
–
–
–
–
–
DET
22
1
1
–
1
–
–
–
–
HOU
15
5
2
–
1
–
1
–
–
KCR
20
1
4
–
1
–
–
–
–
LAA
20
1
1
–
2
–
–
1
–
LAD
19
3
1
–
–
–
–
–
–
MIA
17
4
2
2
–
–
1
–
–
MIL
19
5
2
–
–
–
–
–
–
MIN
22
2
1
1
–
–
–
–
–
NYM
18
4
3
–
–
–
–
–
–
NYY
19
2
4
–
–
–
–
–
–
PHI
16
2
4
1
–
–
–
–
–
PIT
22
3
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
SDP
13
3
3
1
3
–
1
–
1
SEA
16
6
1
–
1
1
1
–
–
SFG
20
3
2
–
–
–
–
–
–
STL
24
–
1
–
–
–
–
–
–
TBR
18
3
–
–
1
–
2
–
–
TEX
22
3
–
–
1
–
–
–
–
TOR
20
1
2
1
1
–
1
–
–
WSN
19
3
2
1
1
–
–
–
–
TOTAL
573
82
53
11
21
2
9
4
2
Birth Country
Team
Japan
South Korea
Panama
Honduras
South Africa
Bahamas
Germany
Peru
Australia
ARI
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
ATH
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
ATL
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
BAL
1
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
BOS
–
1
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
CHC
2
–
1
–
–
–
–
–
–
CHW
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
CIN
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
CLE
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
COL
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
DET
1
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
HOU
–
–
–
1
1
–
–
–
–
KCR
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
LAA
1
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
LAD
3
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
MIA
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
MIL
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
MIN
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
NYM
1
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
NYY
–
–
–
–
–
1
–
–
–
PHI
–
–
1
–
–
–
1
1
–
PIT
–
1
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
SDP
1
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
SEA
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
SFG
1
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
STL
–
–
1
–
–
–
–
–
–
TBR
–
–
1
–
–
–
–
–
1
TEX
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
TOR
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
WSN
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
TOTAL
11
2
4
1
1
1
1
1
1
Specifically, I’d like to highlight the players from the least-represented countries in the majors.
Baseball truly is a global game, and I hope the game continues to grow internationally so that we can have players from more countries in the years to come.
