Tom Bash's Baseball Writings
About Me

- Tom Bash
- I am a 2021 graduate from Saint Vincent College where I majored in Business Management and minored in Data Analytics, Marketing, and Economics. I was a 4-year member of the Varsity Baseball Team playing as a Pitcher and Infielder. I am currently working as a Risk Data Analyst for Alliant Insurance Services in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. My passion and long term goal has always been working professionally in baseball. I have a deep understanding of the game of baseball because of my time as a two-way player at the college level, my time as a Baseball Operations Intern with the Washington Wild Things in 2020, and my time as a Coach for the Guardian Angels 12U/15U Baseball Team stationed in Canonsburg, PA. I am confident in my current abilities but am open to listening to and learning alternative perspectives on different baseball and analytics topics. I have created this blog to help get my ideas out there and to help showcase my knowledge of professional baseball.
Sunday, July 13, 2025
2025 MLB Mock Draft
Monday, May 26, 2025
How Would a 30-Team Triple Elimination Tournament in the MLB Play Out?
Although this would likely never happen, it would be awesome to witness a 30-Team Triple Elimination Tournament in Major League Baseball. I took a shot at predicting how the results might look in this hypothetical scenario.
Rules:
The tournament will have two sides of the bracket: a 15 Team Triple Elimination Tournament for the American League, and a 15 Team Triple Elimination Tournament for the National League.
The ballparks that will host the American League Side will be Citi Filed in Flushing, Yankee Stadium in Bronx, and Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. The ballparks that will host the National League side will be Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, Angel Stadium in Anaheim, and Petco Park in San Diego.
The American League Side of the Bracket will have all games begin on Friday, May 29 while the National League will begin play on Saturday, May 30. The winners of the American League and National League Brackets will meet in a best-of 3 championship.
Real time injuries matter. For example, Michael King was placed on the 15-day IL on May 25 (Retroactive to May 22) so he won't be eligible to pitch in this tournament until June 6.
The Seeding was based on MLB.com's Power Rankings as of May 19. Since there has been an unbalanced schedule played so far this year, ranking the teams similar to how college football does it would be the fairest way to seed the teams. Teams that are listed on the top of each matchup will be the designated home team.
American League:
1. Detroit Tigers
2. New York Yankees
3. Minnesota Twins
4. Seattle Mariners
5. Cleveland Guardians
6. Texas Rangers
7. Kansas City Royals
8. Houston Astros
9. Boston Red Sox
10. A's
11. Toronto Blue Jays
12. Tampa Bay Rays
13. Los Angeles Angels
14. Baltimore Orioles
15. Chicago White Sox
National League:
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. New York Mets
3. San Diego Padres
4. Philadelphia Phillies
5. Chicago Cubs
6. San Francisco Giants
7. St. Louis Cardinals
8. Arizona Diamondbacks
9. Atlanta Braves
10. Cincinnati Reds
11. Milwaukee Brewers
12. Washington Nationals
13. Miami Marlins
14. Pittsburgh Pirates
15. Colorado Rockies
Friday, May 29
Saturday, May 30
Monday, November 11, 2024
2024-25 MLB Free Agent Predictions
UPDATE AS OFFSEASON GOES ON:
- Correct Team prediction will be highlighted in Green, Incorrect Team prediction will be highlighted in Red.
- +/- 1 year of actual length of contract will be highlighted in Green. +/- of 2 or more years of actual length will be highlighted in Red.
- Club/Vesting Options will not be included in my predicted contract length.
- Player Options will be included in my predicted contract length.
- +/- $5M or less in Average Annual Value will be highlighted in Green. +/- $5.01M or more will be highlighted in Red.
- The Buyout amount for Team Options will be included in the Average Annual Value. I will be using the Luxury Tax salary.
Top 25
6. Blake Snell, LHP, San Francisco Giants
Prediction: Baltimore Orioles, 1 year/$10M
11. Teoscar Hernandez, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
Prediction: Philadelphia Phillies, 2 years/$40MActual:
Prediction: Philadelphia Phillies, 2 years/$40M
12. Anthony Santander, OF, Baltimore Orioles
Prediction: Toronto Blue Jays, 3 years/$60MActual:
Prediction: Toronto Blue Jays, 3 years/$60M
13. Jeff Hoffman, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies
Prediction: San Francisco Giants, 4 years/$44MActual:
Prediction: San Francisco Giants, 4 years/$44M
14. Gleyber Torres, 2B, New York Yankees
Prediction: Kansas City Royals, 2 years/$30MActual:
Prediction: Kansas City Royals, 2 years/$30M
15. Tanner Scott, LHP, San Diego Padres
Prediction: New York Yankees, 4 years/$52MActual:
Prediction: New York Yankees, 4 years/$52M
16. Jurickson Profar, OF, San Diego Padres
Prediction: Los Angeles Angels, 3 years/$54MActual:
Prediction: Los Angeles Angels, 3 years/$54M
17. Nathan Eovalid, RHP, Texas Rangers
Prediction: Baltimore Orioles, 2 years/$45MActual:
Prediction: Baltimore Orioles, 2 years/$45M
18. Luis Severino, RHP, New York Mets
Prediction: Washington Nationals, 3 years/$57MActual: A's, 3 years/$67M
Prediction: Washington Nationals, 3 years/$57M
19. Jack Flaherty, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
Prediction: Atlanta Braves, 4 years/$88MActual:
Prediction: Atlanta Braves, 4 years/$88M
20. Ha-Seong Kim, SS, San Diego Padres
Prediction: Milwaukee Brewers, 3 years/$33MActual:
Prediction: Milwaukee Brewers, 3 years/$33M
21. Sean Manaea, LHP, New York Mets
Prediction: Minnesota Twins, 3 years/$57MActual:
Prediction: Minnesota Twins, 3 years/$57M
22. Kirby Yates, RHP, Texas Rangers
Prediction: San Diego Padres, 1 year/$12MActual:
Prediction: San Diego Padres, 1 year/$12M
23. Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, St. Louis Cardinals
Prediction: Arizona Diamondbacks, 1 year/$14MActual: New York Yankees, 1 year/$12.5M
Prediction: Arizona Diamondbacks, 1 year/$14M
24. Max Scherzer, RHP, Texas Rangers
Prediction: Detroit Tigers, 1 year/$12.5MActual:
Prediction: Detroit Tigers, 1 year/$12.5M
25. Walker Buehler, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers
Prediction: Cleveland Guardians, 1 year/$15MActual:
Prediction: Cleveland Guardians, 1 year/$15M
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Pittsburgh Pirates Offseason Plan for 2025 Season
The Pitsburgh Pirates have a golden opportunity to compete for the next few years because of the fantastic young rotation they have, the decent pool of prospects in the system, and a relatively weak NL Central. The Pirates ownership does not do the fans any favors with the extremely low yearly payroll, but the team can position themselves to contend in 2025 with a coaching staff overhaul and some roster adjustments. Paul Skenes won't be around forever and will likely be on another team by the year 2029. With him and Jared Jones on near league minimum salaries for 2025, the time is now to put some extra money into the team.
During the run of postseason appearances from 2013-15, the Pirates' payroll peaked at roughly $100M, so that is what I set the budget at for 2025. Below you will see my offseason plan of what I would do if I was the GM of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Coaching Staff Changes
Players to Non-Tender/DFA/Let Walk/Trade for Cash/Trade for Prospect
Club Option Decisions
Players with Contracts to pencil in on Opening Day 40-Man Roster
Free Agent Signings and Extensions
Trades to Make
Pirates New Top 10 Prospects After Trades
Summary of Moves
Rule 5 Eligible Players/Other Internal Players to Add to 40-Man Roster
C Wyatt Hendrie
Opening Day 40-Man Roster
SP | Paul Skenes |
SP | Jared Jones |
SP | Mitch Keller |
SP | Trevor Bauer |
SP | Matthew Boyd |
SP | Bubba Chandler |
LR | Luis Ortiz |
RP | Bailey Falter |
RP | Colin Holderman |
RP | David Bednar |
SU | Aroldis Chapman |
SU | Kendall Graveman |
CL | Mason Miller |
C | Joey Bart |
1B | Paul Goldschmidt |
2B | Jose Iglesias |
3B | Gio Urshela |
SS | Isiah Kiner-Falefa |
LF | Bryan Reynolds |
CF | Oneil Cruz |
RF | Luis Robert Jr. |
DH | Brent Rooker |
C | Endy Rodriguez |
IF | Liover Peguero |
OF | Andrew McCutchen |
UTL | Jared Triolo |
m | Braxton Ashcraft |
m | Ji Hwan Bae |
m | Carter Bins |
m | Mike Burrows |
m | Billy Cook |
m | Jason Delay |
m | Matt Gorski |
m | Thomas Harrington |
m | Wyatt Hendrie |
m | Carmen Mlodzinski |
m | Dauri Moreta |
m | Malcom Nunez |
m | Joshua Palacios |
m | Jack Suwinski |
26 Man Opening Day Roster + Salaries (in millions)
SP | Paul Skenes | 0.76 | TOTAL |
SP | Jared Jones | 0.76 | 99.810083 |
SP | Mitch Keller | 15.4 | |
SP | Trevor Bauer | 0.76 | |
SP | Matthew Boyd | 3.5 | |
SP | Bubba Chandler | 0.76 | |
LR | Luis Ortiz | 0.76 | |
RP | Bailey Falter | 2.5 | |
RP | Colin Holderman | 1.35 | |
RP | David Bednar | 5.25 | |
SU | Aroldis Chapman | 6 | |
SU | Kendall Graveman | 4 | |
CL | Mason Miller | 0.76 | |
C | Joey Bart | 1.75 | |
1B | Paul Goldschmidt | 11.5 | |
2B | Jose Iglesias | 3 | |
3B | Gio Urshela | 3 | |
SS | Isiah Kiner-Falefa | 6.283 | |
LF | Bryan Reynolds | 13.34375 | |
CF | Oneil Cruz | 0.76 | |
RF | Luis Robert Jr. | 8.333333 | |
DH | Brent Rooker | 4 | |
C | Endy Rodriguez | 0.76 | |
IF | Liover Peguero | 0.76 | |
OF | Andrew McCutchen | 3 | |
UTL | Jared Triolo | 0.76 |
Opening Day Lineup
Monday, September 30, 2024
2024 MLB Playoff Predictions
Below are my playoff predictions for the 2024 MLB postseason.
Wild Card
NL
AL
Division Series
NL
AL
Championship Series
NL
AL
World Series
2024 MLB Awards
Below are what I believe the 2024 MLB Awards should look like. This is not a prediction, and instead this is what I think should happen.
All MLB First Team
OF: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
All MLB Second Team
OF: Jackson Merrill, San Diego Padres
Rookie of the Year
NL: Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh Pirates
Cy Young
MVP
Saturday, July 13, 2024
2024 MLB Mock Draft
Below is my Mock Draft for the 2024 MLB Draft. All picks made are what I think should happen, and not what I think what will happen. The purpose is to come back to this post 5-10 years from now and see how well each of my picks turned out.
1. Cleveland Guardians: Travis Bazzana, 2B, Oregon State
2. Cincinnati Reds: Charlie Condon, OF, Georgia
3. Colorado Rockies: Nick Kurtz, 1B, Wake Forest
4. Oakland Athletics: Chase Burns, RHP, Wake Forest
5. Chicago White Sox: Jac Caglione, 1B/LHP, Florida
6. Kansas City Royals: Hagen Smith, LHP, Arkansas
7. St. Louis Cardinals: JJ Wetherholt, 2B, West Virginia
8. Los Angeles Angels: Bryce Rainer, SS, Harvard-Westlake (CA)
9. Pittsburgh Pirates: Tommy White, 1B, LSU
10. Washington Nationals: Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee
11. Detroit Tigers: James Tibbs, OF, Florida State
12. Boston Red Sox: Konnor Griffin, SS, Jackson Prep (MS)
13. San Francisco Giants: Braden Montgomery, OF, Texas A&M
14. Chicago Cubs: Trey Yesavage, RHP, East Carolina
15. Seattle Mariners: Cam Caminiti, LHP, Saguaro (AZ)
16. Miami Marlins: Carson Benge, OF, Oklahoma State
17. Milwaukee Brewers: Ryan Sloan, RHP, York (IL)
18. Tampa Bay Rays: Kash Mayfield, LHP, Elk City (OK)
19. New York Mets: Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State
20. Toronto Blue Jays: Theo Gillen, 2B, Westlake (TX)
21. Minnesota Twins: William Schmidt, RHP, Catholic (LA)
22. Baltimore Orioles: Seaver King, OF, Wake Forest
23. Los Angeles Dodgers: Carter Johnson, SS, Oxford (AL)
24. Atlanta Braves: Dylan Doughty, RHP, Chaparral (CA)
25. San Diego Padres: Slade Caldwell, OF, Valley View (AR)
26. New York Yankees: Dakota Jordan, OF, Mississippi State
27. Philadelphia Phillies: Jonathan Santucci, LHP, Duke
28. Houston Astros: Brody Brecht, RHP, Iowa
29. Arizona Diamondbacks: Kaelen Culpepper, SS, Kansas State
30. Texas Rangers: Caleb Lomavita, C, California
Friday, July 12, 2024
What Should the 2024 MLB All-Star Game Starting Lineups Look Like?
National League
American League
Wednesday, March 27, 2024
2024 MLB Predictions
Below are all my team predictions and awards predictions for the 2024 MLB Season.
MLB Regular Season
NL East Winner: (1) Atlanta Braves
NL Central Winner: (3) St. Louis Cardinals
NL West Winner: (2) Los Angeles Dodgers
NL Wild Cards: (4) Philadelphia Phillies, (5) Arizona Diamondbacks, (6) San Diego Padres
AL East Winner: (2) Baltimore Orioles
AL Central Winner: (3) Cleveland Guardians
AL West Winner: (1) Houston Astros
AL Wild Cards: (4) Texas Rangers, (5) New York Yankees, (6) Seattle Mariners
MLB Post Season
Wild Card Series
(3) St. Louis Cardinals over the (6) San Diego Padres, 2-1
(4) Philadelphia Phillies over the (5) Arizona Diamondbacks, 2-0
(6) Seattle Mariners over the (3) Cleveland Guardians, 2-0
(4) Texas Rangers over the (5) New York Yankees, 2-1
Division Series
Championship Series
World Series
Awards
MVP
Cy Young
NL: Spencer Strider, RHP, Atlanta Braves
AL: Luis Castillo, RHP, Seattle Mariners
ROY
NL: Jackson Merrill, CF, San Diego Padres
AL: Wyatt Langford, DH, Texas Rangers
Manager of the Year
NL: Oliver Marmol, St. Louis Cardinals
AL: Stephen Vogt, Cleveland Guardians
Reliever of the Year
All-MLB Teams
SP: Luis Castillo, Seattle Mariners
SP: Corbin Burnes, Baltimore Orioles
SP: Zack Wheeler, Philadelphia Phillies
SP: Logan Webb, San Francisco Giants
RP: Emmanuel Clase, Cleveland Guardians
RP: Camilo Doval, San Francisco Giants
SP: Framber Valdez, Houston Astros
SP: Zac Gallen, Arizona Diamondbacks
SP: George Kirby, Seattle Mariners
SP: Jesus Luzardo, Miami Marlins
RP: Josh Hader, Houston Astros
RP: Andres Muñoz, Seattle Mariners