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Rates & Barrels: A show about Baseball
Draft Weekend Cram Session
Eno and DVR get ready for a busy weekend of drafts with a quick spin through spring news and notes, before discussing ideal roster builds, when to target an ace, how to approach closers, which positions thin out quickly, a few prospects worth considering as late-round stashes in redraft leagues as they await an opportunity at the big-league level.
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Rundown
2:46 Spring News Updates
13:51 Any Grapefruit or Cactus League Performances You're Worried About?
23:53 Early-Rounders You Are Side-Stepping at ADP
33:04 When to Draft an Ace
40:14 Closer Approach in First 150 Picks
49:19 Position Depth: Where Can You Wait, Where Are You Spending Early?
1:04:06 Depth Starters of Interest
1:08:20 Injured Players or Prospects Worth Stashing in Redraft?
Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.social
Follow DVR on Bluesky: @dvr.bsky.social
e-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com
Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFe
Subscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrels
Hosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris
Executive Producer: Derek VanRiper
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Kyle Tucker to the Dodgers & A Three-Team Trade!
39:19|In an emergency bonus pod, Eno and DVR discuss Kyle Tucker's move to the Dodgers on a four-year, $240M deal. While the deal breaks the previous record for Average Annual Value, it also affords Tucker the opportunity to return to free agency with opt-outs after Years 2 and 3. They also discuss the potential risk of building an older, star-filled roster. Plus, they Angels, Rays and Reds make a three-team trade giving Gavin Lux a fresh start in Tampa Bay, and the Rockies add Willi Castro to the mix. Rundown0:52 Kyle Tucker Agrees to Four-Year, $240M Deal with Dodgers6:16 Comps For Tucker After Age-2815:30 Taking on More Risk is a Luxury, But Injuries Can Bite in October19:01 Three-Team Trade: Rays-Reds-Angels28:36 When the Rays a Free-Agent Deal, You Have to Pay Attention34:55 Willi Castro Joins the Rockies (Two-Year Deal)Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.socialFollow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.sociale-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.comJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsHosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno Sarris
Ranger Suárez to the Red Sox, Ryan Weathers to the Yankees, and Changes in KC
01:08:51|Trevor May is back with Eno and DVR to discuss Ranger Suárez's move to Boston and the Red Sox's ascent to the top of the 'Rotation WAR Leaderboard', trades that sent Ryan Weathers to the Yankees and Nolan Arenado to the Diamondbacks, and expected impact of big adjustments to the outfield walls at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City. Plus, they discuss how they utilize pitch run values, and play the first installment of 'Name! That! Dude!' of 2026.Rundown1:37 Ranger Suárez's New Deal with the Red Sox7:31 Do the Red Sox Have to Make Another Move for Infield Help?15:45 Ryan Weathers: Traded to the Yankees in Five-Player Swap26:06 Nolan Arenado: Traded to the Diamondbacks34:48 The Royals' Plan to Adjust Outfield Walls in 202652:51 Trevor Rogers & Fastball Run Value1:01:12 Name! That! Dude!1:07:51 What Is Your Favorite Hat in Current Rotation?Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.socialFollow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.socialFollow Trevor on Bluesky: @iamtrevormay.bsky.sociale-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.comJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsHosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno SarrisWith: Trevor MayProducer: Brian Smith
2026 Third Base Preview
01:32:14|Eno and DVR continue their 2026 position preview series at third base -- digging into early average draft position (ADP) to look for potentially overvalued and undervalued players at the position for the upcoming season.Rundown3:39 ADP Tier 1 -- José Ramírez, Junior Caminero & Manny Machado15:58 ADP Tier 2 -- Austin Riley & Maikel Garcia22:31 ADP Tier 3 -- Eugenio Suárez, Alex Bregman, Jordan Westburg & Noelvi Marte36:54 ADP Tier 4 -- Matt Chapman, Addison Barger, Royce Lewis, Isaac Paredes & Matt Shaw55:50 ADP Tier 5 -- Munetaka Murakami, Max Muncy, Brett Baty, Caleb Durbin, Alec Bohm, Kazuma Okamoto & Mark Vientos1:18:38 (Beyond Pick 300) -- Miguel Vargas, Josh Jung, Jordan Lawlar, Connor Norby, Marcelo Mayer, Ryan McMahon & Nolan ArenadoFollow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.socialFollow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.sociale-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.comJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsHosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno SarrisProducer: Brian Smith
2026 Shortstop Preview
01:22:46|Eno and DVR begin their 2026 position preview series at shortstop -- digging into early average draft position (ADP) to look for potentially overvalued and undervalued players at the position for the upcoming season.Rundown1:40 ADP Tier 1 -- Bobby Witt Jr., Elly De La Cruz, Gunnar Henderson, Francisco Lindor, Trea Turner & Zach Neto18:26 ADP Tier 2 -- CJ Abrams, Mookie Betts, Geraldo Perdomo & Jeremy Peña36:57 ADP Tier 3 -- Trevor Story, Bo Bichette, Corey Seager, Willy Adames & Dansby Swanson49:53 ADP Tier 4 -- Jacob Wilson, Ezequiel Tovar, Konnor Griffin & Otto Lopez1:02:35 ADP Tier 5 -- José Caballero, Xander Bogaerts, Colson Montgomery, Ha-Seong Kim, Carlos Correa & Masyn Winn1:12:56 (Beyond Pick 300) -- JJ Wetherholt, Kevin McGonigle, Josh Smith, Brooks Lee, Anthony Volpe, Carson Williams & Other Deep League ConsiderationsFollow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.socialFollow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.sociale-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.comJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsHosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno SarrisProducer: Brian Smith
Alex Bregman Lands with the Cubs
56:08|Eno and DVR discuss Alex Bregman's new five-year, $175 million deal with the Cubs and the push being made with the team's current core as a few key players approach free agency at season's end. Plus, they consider how Bregman's bat may age over the next half-decade, and the short-term impact on Matt Shaw, who appears headed for a super utility role in 2026.They also discuss a previously unreported shoulder injury that slowed Gunnar Henderson's production in 2025 differences between projections systems, and a few other news and notes around the league including a trade that might pave the way for an outfield prospect to break through sooner than expected in Arizona.Rundown3:01 Alex Bregman: Signs Five-Year, $175M Deal with Cubs9:50 Moving Further Into Modern Contract Analysis13:54 Short-Term vs. Long-Term Approach with Roster Decisions18:10 Matt Shaw's Year 2 Outlook27:52 Gunnar Henderson Reveals Shoulder Injury From 202534:49 What Are the Differences Between Projections Systems?46:03 Other News & Notes: Kepler Suspension, Rockies-D-backs Trade, Smaller SigningsFollow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.socialFollow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.sociale-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.comJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsHosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno SarrisProducer: Brian Smith

We Love Stats, But What Are We Missing?
01:11:07|Eno, DVR, and Jed discuss ongoing RSN trouble the likely impact on several teams this winter before looking at a few things that the stats we love might be missing. They also discuss a report from Patrick Mooney that the Cubs are nearing a deal for Edward Cabrera. Plus, they examine a few mailbag questions including the difficulty of maintaining a change in swing tilt, and what hitters with high in-zone contact rates and low outside-the-zone contact rates, inspired by the small-sample results from Red Sox infielder Marcelo Mayer in his big-league debut. Finally, they share a few of their favorite bobbleheads in honor of 'National Bobblehead Day'. Rundown1:42 More RSN Troubles For Nine Teams 13:34 What Are the Numbers Missing?20:58 Yet Again, the Wind is More Important That We Thought?25:45 Matchup Difficulty Relative to Team Quality (Do Bad Teams Face Tougher Pitching?)43:05 Edward Cabrera: Nearing a Trade to Cubs48:27 How Easy/Difficult Is It to Maintain Swing Tilt Changes?54:31 Good Zone Contact%, Terrible Chase Contact% PlayersRelated Stories'Nine MLB teams’ TV money in jeopardy as FanDuel networks continue to struggle'Evan Drellich & Katie Woo from The Athletic ($): https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6948445'Tommy Pham makes his case for MLB’s next big metric: He calls it PhamGraphs'Eno & Will Sammon from The Athletic ($):https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6940461'Cubs set to acquire Edward Cabrera from Marlins in trade: Source' Patrick Mooney ($): https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6950352Follow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.socialFollow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.socialFollow Jed on Instagram: @jed.lowriee-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.comJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsHosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno SarrisWith: Jed Lowrie
Tatsuya Imai to Houston, Kazuma Okamoto to Toronto & A Few Resolutions
01:01:27|Eno and DVR return for their first show of 2026 to discuss Tatsuya Imai's fit in Houston, Kazuma Okamoto's move to the Blue Jays, Tyler Mahle to the Giants, late-inning options for the Angels, and a few resolutions for the year ahead.Rundown2:39 Tatsuya Imai: Signs with Astros (Three-Year Deal, Two Opt-Outs)10:24 A Light Group of Starting Pitchers in Pick 200-300 Range18:39 Kazuma Okamoto: Lands in Toronto26:33 Tyler Mahle: Inks One-Year Deal with Giants34:13 Kirby Yates Joins the Halos' Bullpen; Who Closes in Anaheim?44:14 Nick Kurtz's Role in the A's Core50:31 Rumors & Resolutions: Freddy Peralta, Edward Cabrera & Eno is Ferris BuellerFollow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.socialFollow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.sociale-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.comJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsHosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno SarrisProducer: Brian Smith
The A’s Growing Core & A Few Favorite Baseball Things From 2025
01:05:09|Eno, DVR and Britt discuss a few late December moves including another extension for an A's position player with Tyler Soderstrom agreeing to a long-term deal, Ryan O'Hearn's new pact with the Pirates, Pete Fairbanks' move to Miami, and a few of their (and your) favorite moments and stories from the 2025 season. Rundown2:55 Tyler Soderstrom Signs Seven-Year, $86M Extension with A's6:57 How Good is the A's Position Player Core?17:40 Ryan O’Hearn to the Pirates23:32 Has Pittsburgh Done Enough to Enter Wild Card Picture?29:24 Pete Fairbanks Joins the Marlins34:58 Is a Busy January on Tap for the Marlins' Front Office?42:47 A Few Highlights From 202556:04 Zach Eflin, Hunter Harvey, Reds Outfield Additions, Sean Newcomb & Ricky Tiedemann Health UpdateFollow Eno on Bluesky: @enosarris.bsky.socialFollow DVR on Bluesky: @DVR.bsky.socialFollow Britt on Bluesky: @brittghiroli.bsky.sociale-mail: ratesandbarrels@gmail.comJoin our Discord: https://discord.gg/FyBa9f3wFeSubscribe to The Athletic: theathletic.com/ratesandbarrelsHosts: Derek VanRiper & Eno SarrisWith: Britt Ghiroli Executive Producer: Derek VanRiperTyler Soderstrom Photo: Michael Reaves/Getty Images