There is a concept in the tech world, popularized by research and consulting firm Gartner, of the “Hype Cycle,” which is widely applicable, and can even be used as a lens through which you can follow your favorite baseball prospects. The Gartner Hype Cycle describes the life of a new or emerging technology in five stages, outlining how expectations for that technology evolve from the time it is introduced to the time it becomes commonplace. Sean Morash, a contributor to Baseball...

Miami Marlins’ new President of Baseball Operations Peter Bendix didn’t take long to shake things up in his first year at the helm of his new club. In May, Bendix struck a deal with AJ Preller and the Padres, sending Luis Arraez to San Diego for a four-prospect package.  It wasn’t entirely clear at the time of his hiring what direction Bendix would take the team in his new position, but it sure is now. The Marlins were a surprise playoff team last year under former...

Back in 2022, John Bitzer wrote an article about former top prospects who now look like busts. It’s time for a refresh.  In that piece, John posited that, based on the actions of front offices around the league, prospects have about a two-year window, on average, to prove their worth before their club -- or the league as a whole -- moves on. The amount of time or number of chances a team is willing to give varies from player to player, but the point remains: players need to prove...

In my last article for BTV, I analyzed this offseason’s trades by Alex Anthopoulos and the Braves, focusing on their overall approach of “purchasing” field value at the expense of salary (and surplus value).  Now let’s look at this offseason’s trades by the Mariners, which follow a different methodology. The latest controversy surrounding Seattle’s President of Baseball Operations Jerry Dipoto has to do with comments he made this past December in...

During an offseason that has had many fanbases bemoaning their teams’ inactivity, the Braves have stood out as one of the few very active teams. Atlanta’s freshly-extended President of Baseball Operations Alex Anthopoulos, perhaps best known for his trademarked extension strategy, has been on a trade rampage, completing nine of them between November and the time of this writing.  Though Braves fans are probably grateful they’ve consistently had moves to discuss this...