Tablesetters: A Baseball Podcast

LIVE Special!: Dodgers Sign Kyle Tucker (4 yrs/$240M) | Emergency Reaction | 132

Episode 132 of Tablesetters is an emergency reaction pod centered on a market-shifting decision, as Kyle Tucker agrees to a four-year, $240 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, immediately resetting both the top of the free-agent market and the competitive landscape heading into 2026.
We open with the deal itself, breaking down how a $60 million AAV contract represents a decisive pivot away from traditional long-term free-agent structures and toward compressed risk at the very top of the market. We discuss why Tucker and the Dodgers were uniquely aligned on this structure, how Los Angeles leveraged competitive certainty and roster context over sheer length, and what this agreement signals about where elite player negotiations may be heading.
From there, we examine the broader market fallout. Tucker’s decision effectively closes the door on the Mets’ reported $50 million-per-year short-term push and the Blue Jays’ long-term pursuit, while clarifying how teams are increasingly being forced to choose between flexibility and security. We explore how this signing reshapes leverage for remaining free agents and how quickly the rest of the offseason could now accelerate.
We then turn to the on-field implications in Los Angeles. Tucker’s arrival addresses a clear offensive inefficiency in the Dodgers’ outfield, particularly in on-base ability, while raising both the floor and ceiling of a lineup already built to contend. We break down the inevitable roster ripple effects, including the pressure this puts on depth pieces and the difficult decisions that follow when a true superstar enters the mix.
Finally, we zoom out to the long view. We discuss the draft and development costs attached to signing another qualifying-offer free agent, why the Dodgers were willing to absorb them, and how this move fits within an organization balancing immediate championship windows with a steady pipeline of young talent nearing the majors.
Steve and Devin connect the dots between financial creativity, competitive leverage, and roster timing, framing the Tucker signing as more than a splash — it is a signal about how the next phase of team building at the top of the sport may look.
⚾️ An emergency decision, a market reset, and a defining move of the offseason.
📱 Follow @TablesettersPod on Instagram and X for instant reactions, contract breakdowns, and roster impact analysis.

LIVE Special!: Ranger Suárez to Boston, Bregman to Cubs, Tucker Update, & Kauffman Moves Fences In | 131

Episode 131 of Tablesetters is a reaction pod focused on a pivotal stretch of the offseason, as a major pitching commitment in Boston, a franchise-defining signing in Chicago, a stalled superstar market, and a rare ballpark adjustment collectively show how teams are adapting to risk, scarcity, and roster timing heading into 2026.
We open in Boston, where the Red Sox are set to sign left-handed pitcher Ranger Suárez to a five-year, $130 million contract with no deferrals, no opt-outs, and no no-trade protection. The deal represents the largest free-agent commitment of Craig Breslow’s tenure and a clear pivot back toward rotation strength after Boston stalled in its pursuit of an infield upgrade. Suárez joins a rotation led by Garrett Crochet and recently bolstered by Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo, signaling a belief in run prevention, depth, and managed workloads over chasing innings volume.
From there, we shift to Chicago, where the Cubs make the biggest offensive splash of their offseason by signing Alex Bregman to a five-year, $175 million deal with significant deferrals. We break down why this move reshapes the Cubs’ lineup, how it reflects a philosophical shift from the Ricketts family, and what Bregman’s arrival means for the infield picture alongside Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner, and Matt Shaw as Chicago pushes firmly into a win-now posture.
Next, we zoom out to the top of the free-agent market, where Kyle Tucker remains unsigned. We discuss reports that the Mets have offered a short-term deal with a $50 million average annual value, while the Blue Jays have made a long-term offer, highlighting the growing divide between extreme AAV flexibility and traditional long-term guarantees — and why Tucker’s decision could reshape the rest of the offseason.
We close in Kansas City, where the Royals announce changes to the outfield dimensions at Kauffman Stadium, moving in the fences in both corners and the alleys while lowering wall height. We explore why this calculated adjustment is aimed at boosting offense without compromising pitching, how it aligns with the Royals’ left-handed core, and what it says about teams looking for marginal gains beyond the roster itself.
Steve and Devin connect the dots between market behavior, roster construction, financial flexibility, and environment, focusing on how these moves reflect a league increasingly split between certainty, creativity, and controlled risk.
⚾️ One week, four signals, and a clearer picture of how contenders are being built. 📱 Follow @TablesettersPod on Instagram and X for daily offseason breakdowns, reactions, and roster deep dives.

Random MLB Team Draft, Position-Locked Lineups, Rotation Builds, & Who Actually Built It Better? | 130

Episode 130 of Tablesetters is a concept-driven mini episode built around roster construction, positional value, and decision-making under real constraints, as Steve and Devin each attempt to build a complete MLB lineup using nothing but a random team generator.
The episode opens with a straightforward but demanding premise. Each host takes turns hitting a random MLB team generator. When a team comes up, that host must select one player from that franchise to fill a specific roster spot. Once a position is filled, it is locked for the rest of the build. By the end of the exercise, both hosts must complete a full roster that includes a catcher, all infield and outfield positions, a designated hitter, a starting pitcher, and a closer.
From there, the discussion quickly becomes about strategy rather than luck. With players restricted to positions they have actually played, every choice forces a tradeoff between talent, positional scarcity, and long-term flexibility. Do you secure a premium shortstop or center fielder early before options narrow? Do you prioritize an ace-level starter while the board is still deep? Do you wait on DH knowing it offers the most flexibility but still carries opportunity cost? Each pick reshapes the rest of the lineup.
As the draft unfolds, Steve and Devin explain their reasoning in real time, walking through how randomness creates pressure, exposes weaknesses in roster planning, and reveals different philosophies about how a team should be built. Certain teams present obvious advantages, while others force difficult decisions that test how well each host can adapt on the fly.
Once both rosters are complete, each host sets a full batting order from one through nine, explaining lineup balance, run creation, and how their team would function over a full season or in a postseason series. The episode closes with a direct comparison of rotations and closers, followed by the central question that frames the entire exercise: whose team is actually better?
The final verdict is left to the audience, with both completed lineups shared for a fan vote after the episode drops.
⚾️ One random draw at a time, real roster constraints at every position, and a full lineup built from scratch. 📱 Follow @TablesettersPod on Instagram and X to see the lineups, vote on the winner, and join the conversation.

LIVE Mini-Reaction!: Cubs Land Edward Cabrera in Trade, Phillies Enter the Bo Bichette Market, & Upside Takes Center Stage | 129

Episode 129 of Tablesetters is a mini reaction episode focused on two developments that highlight how teams are navigating an offseason where certainty has become increasingly expensive.
The episode opens in Chicago, where the Cubs land right-hander Edward Cabrera in a trade with the Marlins, sending outfielder Owen Caissie and infield prospects Cristian Hernandez and Edgardo De Leon to Miami. While the deal resembles a familiar exchange of pitching for position-player depth, it reflects a deliberate pivot toward upside as the Cubs address rotation needs amid a thinning pitching market.
Cabrera had been on Chicago’s radar since last summer’s trade deadline. When rotation concerns resurfaced in October and elite starters quickly came off the board this winter, the Cubs turned to a pitcher whose ceiling is difficult to find outside the top tier of the market.
The Cubs acquire Cabrera after the most complete season of his career. In 2025, he posted a 3.53 ERA across 26 starts with 150 strikeouts in 137⅔ innings. From early May through early August, he recorded a 2.22 ERA, pitching like a frontline starter over a sustained stretch. That performance was driven by a dominant changeup, elite swing-and-miss breaking balls, and meaningful improvement in his control.
The risk remains part of the profile. Fastball inconsistency and durability questions persist, and the Cubs are not acquiring a finished product. They are betting that the gains are real and that their development infrastructure can push the profile further.
The episode then shifts to Philadelphia, where the Phillies have scheduled a meeting with Bo Bichette. The discussion centers on why the fit exists now, how Bichette’s flexibility reshapes the infield picture, and what a potential move would mean for the Phillies’ payroll and roster construction.
Episode 129 examines two different paths to the same question. When certainty is expensive, how far are teams willing to lean into upside?
TableSetters is where roster decisions, front office thinking, and the business of winning meet.
🎧 Listen to Episode 129 now
👍 Like the episode
📌 Subscribe so you never miss a drop
🗣️ Share it with someone who actually cares about roster construction
Follow @TablesettersPod on Instagram and X for clips, debates, and listener polls, and join the conversation.

LIVE Mini-Reaction!: Kazuma Okamoto Lands in Toronto, Edward Cabrera Trade Talks Build, & Cody Bellinger’s Market Expands | 128

Episode 128 of Tablesetters is a mini reaction pod focused on a pivotal stretch of the offseason where one signing, one trade market, and one free agent begin to reshape how teams are positioning themselves for 2026.
We open in Toronto, where the Blue Jays officially make their long-anticipated breakthrough in the Japanese market by signing Kazuma Okamoto to a four-year, $60 million contract just ahead of the expiration of his 45-day posting window. The deal is a straight four-year agreement with no opt-outs, structured as a $5 million signing bonus, a $7 million salary in 2026, and $16 million salaries in each of the final three seasons, with Okamoto represented by the Boras Corporation. To create a 40-man roster spot, Toronto designated right-hander Paxton Schultz for assignment. MLB Trade Rumors ranked Okamoto 19th on its top 50 free agents list and projected a four-year, $64 million deal, putting the final terms right in line with expectations. The signing also triggers a $10.875 million posting fee to the Yomiuri Giants under the NPB–MLB posting system.
From there, we break down what Okamoto’s arrival does to the Blue Jays’ roster construction. The 29-year-old projects as Toronto’s regular third baseman, while also bringing experience at first base and in the outfield. His versatility creates ripple effects across the lineup, including a likely platoon with Addison Barger at third base, more consistent second base work for Ernie Clement, and a positional shift that moves Andrés Giménez from second base to everyday shortstop. We also examine how the picture changes if Bo Bichette re-signs, and how crowded things could become if Toronto lands another rumored target like Kyle Tucker. The signing adds another layer to an offseason for a Blue Jays team that came within two outs of winning Game 7 of the World Series, following earlier pitching additions like Dylan Cease, Cody Ponce, and Tyler Rogers. It also effectively closes the door on pursuits of Alex Bregman and Yoán Moncada unless Toronto makes the unconventional decision to deploy Okamoto primarily in the outfield.
Next, we shift to the trade market, where Edward Cabrera has emerged as one of the most consequential arms potentially available. The Yankees are actively engaged in discussions with the Marlins while also remaining involved on Freddy Peralta, with the Mets and Cubs also expressing interest in Cabrera. We break down why Cabrera’s 2025 season, his power profile, his remaining club control through 2028, and his projected $3.7 million arbitration salary make him such an attractive target. We also examine the injury concerns that complicate his value, the Yankees’ urgent rotation needs with Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón set to open the year on the injured list, and why Cabrera’s affordability matters for both New York and Chicago as they juggle payroll, roster needs, and other offensive pursuits. For the Mets, we look at how their rotation has remained largely untouched despite major position-player turnover, and why their collection of young infield talent could factor into any serious push for pitching.
We close with the expanding market for Cody Bellinger, as the Cubs check in and join a group that already includes the Yankees, Dodgers, Giants, Mets, Angels, Blue Jays, and Phillies at various points this offseason. We discuss why Chicago’s interest reads as due diligence rather than a clear pivot, how Bellinger fits their roster, and why prospect timelines complicate any reunion. From there, we focus on the Yankees, where Bellinger remains the top offseason priority and negotiations have escalated to a second formal offer. We break down the roster logjam his return would create, how it impacts Jasson Domínguez and Spencer Jones, and why a Bellinger deal could directly intersect with New York’s pursuit of Edward Cabrera.
Steve and Devin connect the dots across international markets, trade leverage, payroll pressure, and roster math, focusing less on headlines and more on what these developments reveal about how teams believe they need to be built to win in 2026.
⚾️ One signing changes the board, trade talks gain momentum, and leverage begins to shift. 📱 Follow @TablesettersPod on Instagram and X for daily offseason breakdowns, polls, and reactions.

LIVE Mini-Reaction!: Tatsuya Imai Lands in Houston, Astros Reset the Rotation & the Post-Valdez Era Begins | 127

Episode 127 of Tablesetters is a mini reaction pod, breaking down one of the winter’s most surprising pitching moves and what it immediately tells us about how teams are positioning themselves for 2026. We open with the Houston Astros signing Tatsuya Imai to a three-year, $54 million contract that can reach $63 million through performance incentives, finalized just ahead of his January 2 posting deadline. The deal includes opt-outs after each season, giving Imai the flexibility to bet on himself at the major league level. Despite interest from the Yankees, Mets, Cubs, Phillies, and Orioles, Houston emerged as an unexpected but strategic landing spot. We examine why the market shifted from early long-term projections, how the deal structure balances risk and upside, and why the Astros felt comfortable moving decisively here. From there, we focus on who Imai is now, not the pitcher he was early in his career. After command issues and a difficult 2020 season that briefly pushed him to the bullpen, Imai rebuilt his profile beginning in 2021 and went on a dominant four-year run from 2022 through 2025. During that stretch, he established himself as one of Nippon Professional Baseball’s most effective starters, culminating in a 1.92 ERA season with elite strikeout rates, improved control, and exceptional home-run suppression. We break down his mid-to-upper-90s fastball, deep secondary mix, and why evaluators see a higher ceiling than his early-career reputation suggested. The conversation then shifts to Houston’s rotation outlook in a post-Framber Valdez era. With Valdez expected to depart in free agency, Imai slots in behind Hunter Brown, who broke out as one of the best pitchers in baseball in 2025. We project the Astros’ 2026 rotation featuring Brown, Imai, Cristian Javier, Mike Burrows, and A.J. Blubaugh, while evaluating the importance of depth pieces such as Lance McCullers Jr., Spencer Arrighetti, Brandon Walter, J.P. France, Nate Pearson, Colton Gordon, Miguel Ullola, and others after a season defined by injuries. We close by connecting the dots between Houston’s missed postseason in 2025, their recent rotation instability, and why this signing represents a calculated pivot rather than a headline-chasing move. At roughly $18 million per year with workload-based incentives and annual opt-outs, the Imai deal gives the Astros a legitimate one-two punch at the top of the rotation while preserving long-term flexibility. For Imai, it’s both an opportunity and a leverage play. For Houston, it’s a bet on development, velocity, and upward trajectory in the next phase of their competitive cycle. ⚾️ A rapid-response look at a market-shifting signing with long-term implications. 📱 Follow @TablesettersPod on Instagram and X for daily offseason breakdowns, polls, and reactions.

LIVE Special!: Imai’s Clock Ticks, Orioles Re-Sign Eflin, A’s Lock Up Soderstrom & Pirates Add O’Hearn | 126

Episode 126 of Tablesetters breaks down a stretch of offseason moves that didn’t rely on shock value, but clearly revealed how several teams are positioning themselves for 2026.
We open with Tatsuya Imai nearing the end of his MLB posting window with a January 2 deadline and, by his own admission, far less clarity than expected. Despite an elite résumé in Japan and interest from multiple clubs, firm offers have yet to materialize. We examine why interest hasn’t translated into action, which teams remain involved, the importance of family and contract structure in his decision, and what it means if Imai ultimately returns to Seibu.
From there, we move to Baltimore, where the Orioles re-sign Zach Eflin on a one-year deal. We break down what Eflin realistically provides coming off an injury-filled season, where he fits alongside Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, and Shane Baz, and why this move stabilizes the rotation without removing the Orioles from the frontline starter market.
The Athletics make their clearest long-term statement by locking up Tyler Soderstrom. We dig into how his extension reshapes the lineup, why his move to left field mattered after Nick Kurtz’s arrival, and how a core featuring Soderstrom, Brent Rooker, Lawrence Butler, Shea Langeliers, Jacob Wilson, and Jeff McNeil gives the A’s one of the deeper young offenses in the league as they build toward Las Vegas.
Cincinnati’s pivot away from the Luis Robert trade market brings the bullpen into focus. We break down the additions of JJ Bleday and Dane Myers, the pitching depth lost along the way, and why the Reds’ roster decisions align with Nick Krall’s stated priority of fixing a relief group that quietly became one of the team’s biggest concerns.
We close the Meat of the Order in Pittsburgh, where the Pirates sign Ryan O’Hearn to the largest free-agent position-player deal in franchise history. We discuss why O’Hearn fits PNC Park, how he complements Spencer Horwitz and Brandon Lowe, and why Pittsburgh’s recent aggression has created legitimate momentum — including growing buzz around Kazuma Okamoto.
Steve and Devin connect the dots across international markets, roster math, and team-building philosophy, focusing less on headlines and more on what these moves tell us about how clubs believe games will be won next season.
⚾️ Deadlines approaching, cores taking shape, and priorities becoming clear.
📱 Follow @Tablesetterspod on Instagram and X for daily offseason breakdowns, polls, and reactions.

LIVE Special!: Murakami to the White Sox, Brandon Lowe to Pittsburgh, Orioles Add Shane Baz & USA 1B Debate | 125

The offseason continues to take shape, and Episode 125 of Tablesetters brings together a week where the market didn’t explode — but it definitely shifted.
We open with Munetaka Murakami landing with the White Sox, a short-term signing that reflects how teams are weighing upside against risk and flexibility. It’s a move that raises questions about fit, timeline, and what both sides are really betting on as Murakami makes the jump to MLB.
From there, the trade market comes into focus. Brandon Lowe heads to Pittsburgh, a deal that signals intent without locking the Pirates into long-term risk. At the same time, Baltimore adds Shane Baz, continuing to behave like a team that believes its competitive window is very real — and very open.
Those moves create ripple effects elsewhere. The Rays once again load up on future assets, the Blue Jays and Diamondbacks monitor the Alex Bregman market, and San Diego opts for continuity, keeping Michael King in the fold while adding Sung-Mun Song. We also touch on Kansas City’s bullpen move, another reminder of how aggressively teams are trying to solve late-inning depth.
We wrap with listener interaction, breaking down the latest USA First Base debate, where the results were decisive — and revealing in terms of how our audience value upside, age, and track record heading into the next international cycle.
Steve and Devin connect the dots across signings, trades, and market behavior, keeping the focus on process over headlines as the offseason continues to evolve.
⚾️ Measured bets, shifting leverage, and trade dominoes starting to fall — winter baseball is officially underway. 📱 Follow @TablesettersPod on Instagram and X for reactions, breakdowns, and daily offseason coverage.

Guest: Dominic Leone (Former MLB Pitcher) | Mental Health, Bullpen Reality, Identity After Baseball & Life Beyond the Stat Line | 124

Welcome to Episode 124 of Tablesetters, and today’s conversation goes well beyond wins, losses, and box scores.
We’re joined by Dominic Leone, a former Major League reliever who pitched professionally from 2012 through 2024, navigating more than a decade inside big league clubhouses during one of the most transformative periods in modern baseball. His career unfolded during the rise of Statcast driven evaluation, the reshaping of bullpen usage, and an era where flexibility, churn, and uncertainty became defining features of roster construction. Leone’s path was never linear, requiring constant adjustment just to remain employed in a role where reliability and replaceability are often separated by a handful of outcomes.
What makes this episode different and necessary is Leone’s willingness to speak openly about the human cost of that reality. Since stepping away from the game, he has been candid about mental health, identity, fatherhood, and the emotional weight of building a career without long term security. From going undrafted out of high school to earning trust at Clemson in a postseason elimination game that sent the Tigers to the College World Series, from adapting through injury to teaching himself a cutter by studying Mariano Rivera simply to survive, Leone’s story is defined by self direction, resilience, and constant reinvention.
Across this conversation, we explore when mental health stopped being background noise and became something requiring intentional care, the invisible strain of bullpen life and living year to year without certainty, and the routines and personal rituals that helped him stay grounded during the season. We talk about baseball as identity and what happens when that identity begins to loosen, how fatherhood reshaped his relationship with pressure and failure, and why he ultimately chose to speak publicly about mental health and life after baseball when those conversations were rarely normalized inside clubhouses.
We also dig into the razor thin margins that define relief pitching, the emotional reality of modern free agency, and how bullpen roles have fundamentally changed as teams prioritize depth, flexibility, and short term solutions. Leone offers perspective on clubhouse culture and whether winning creates chemistry or chemistry enables winning, what fans often misunderstand about the waiting and uncertainty of free agency, and what looming 2026 labor uncertainty means for players without guaranteed security. He reflects on what it is like to step away from a world where every pitch is tracked and judged, and what he understands now about baseball’s structure, culture, and economics that simply was not visible while living inside it day to day.
We close by looking ahead, what Leone is focused on now, where listeners can follow and support what he is building, his favorite offseason signing, and a lighter moment as he reflects on the one strikeout that still stands out above all others.
It is one of our most thoughtful and human conversations yet, a reminder that baseball careers are not just built on talent, but on adaptability, mental endurance, and the ability to redefine yourself when the game eventually moves on.
🎧 Subscribe, rate, and follow @TablesettersPod on Instagram and X for bonus clips, analysis, and offseason storytelling.

Edwin Díaz to Dodgers, Schwarber Stays in Philly, Kent to Cooperstown & White Sox Win the Draft Lottery | 123

The offseason really planted its flag this week, and Episode 123 of Tablesetters is loaded. The Dodgers doubled down on their super-team bullpen by landing Edwin Díaz on a record-setting three-year deal, instantly changing the late-inning landscape and raising the bar yet again on what an all-in contender looks like. In the same tier of aggression, the Phillies are keeping their tone-setter at home, re-signing Kyle Schwarber on a five-year, $150 million pact while also locking in Rob Thomson through 2027 to extend the most successful run of Phillies baseball in a decade.
We dig into how Díaz’s contract reshapes the relief market, what it says about the Dodgers’ willingness to blow past every financial line on the board, and how the Mets’ choice to pivot to Devin Williams looks now that their former star closer is in L.A. From there, we shift to Philadelphia: why Schwarber’s deal breaks every “rule” for 33-year-old DHs, what it means for the rest of the power market, how Thomson’s extension fits their “job’s not done” mentality, and what the Phillies still have to solve with J.T. Realmuto, the outfield, and the rotation.
It hasn’t been a quiet week in Queens, either. Pete Alonso is back on the open market, talking to teams at the Winter Meetings while reports out of Orlando suggest the Mets are hesitant to go beyond three guaranteed years. We break down why Alonso’s profile is so polarizing in today’s game, why a reunion feels more like a late-offseason outcome than a sure thing, and how his market ties back into Schwarber’s deal, Cody Bellinger’s next move, and the first-base/DH shuffle across the league.
On the future side of things, the Chicago White Sox win the 2026 MLB Draft Lottery and secure the No. 1 overall pick, with the Rays and Twins right behind them. We walk through how the lottery rules shaped this year’s order, why the Giants and Royals come out as surprise winners, which clubs slid down the board, and how names like Roch Cholowsky, Grady Emerson, and Justin Lebron could shape the next few years.
And in Cooperstown news, Jeff Kent finally gets the call from the Contemporary Baseball Era Committee. We talk about his case as the most powerful second baseman ever, why he stalled out with the writers, and what the new Era Committee rules mean for Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Gary Sheffield, and the rest of the PED-era lightning rods going forward.
We close by zooming in on Boston, where the Red Sox are kicking the tires on Eugenio Suárez as they hunt for impact power at third base and possibly first/DH. We get into what Suárez brings at this stage of his career, how his strikeout and chase issues complicate the fit, what it signals about their Plan A with Alex Bregman, and how Masataka Yoshida’s situation could dictate where the Sox go next.
Steve and Devin are taking you through every angle — the signings, the extensions, the Hall of Fame fallout, the draft lottery results, and how all of it ties together as the hot stove finally starts to cook.
⚾️ Superteams loading up, power bats getting paid, futures being rewritten — the offseason is officially in full swing.
📱 Follow @Tablesetterspod on Instagram and X for full offseason coverage, instant reactions, and breakdowns all week long.