JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 1/27/25

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Ben Clemens

2:35

that's ABOVE what he's produced in the last two years

he's 36

Matt

2:35

No question, just want to thank you for these chats and all of the great work you and the team do!

Ben Clemens

2:35

well thank you very much

2:36

I think that FG has been killing it in the last year, personallyu

splat_edc

2:36

Best meal you've whipped up recently?

Ben Clemens

2:36

We made a sandwich that was simple and yet delicious. blackened chicken breast (made our own blackening mix, you can look up recipes but it's pretty simple)

2:37

shaved some carrots, few leaves of arugula, dijon mustard

absolutely outstanding

comish4lif

2:37

In my mind, the Larry Byrd Rule gave teams some relief (NBA money) in the form of a league discount to resign their own players (which is very different from what the NBA actually did).

Ben Clemens

2:37

oh yeah. that version, where the revenue sharing pool chips in money to help teams resign players, would be interesting

like imagine if the revenue sharing pool, instead of being split among small-market teams, was only earmarked for deals

2:38

like it's not a check we cut to you.... we'll help you c ut some checks to star players, but you never see the money

Colton

2:38

Have you or anyone on the staff done a deep dive of Carroll's lack of production from the shoulder pop on July 6th last year to this July 6th this year? He was slightly below average in the year in between and outside of that time period he's been a top 5 player in baseball production wise

Ben Clemens

2:38

well, I shoved him up the trade value list even when he was on that one-year slump

I did plenty of private research on it, is what I'll say

but eh, never wrote it up and the time has passed

Colton

2:39

Should add, July 6, 2023 to July 6, 2024 is the parameters

Bobbers

2:39

When's the last time MLB had something like a Jimmy Butler situation?

Ben Clemens

2:39

maybe Operation Shutdown with Derek Bell?

2:40

I love this quote still

"If it ain't settled with me out there, then they can trade me," Bell said. "I ain't going out there to hurt myself in spring training battling for a job. If it is (open competition), then I'm going into Operation Shutdown."

spaceman

2:40

Corbin Burnes just took a lower deal to be an arizona with his family a month and a half ago.

Ben Clemens

2:40

yup

Bencle Mens

2:40

Are the cardinals too much in limbo? they haven't done anything to rebuild and haven't signed an OF to help contend.

Ben Clemens

2:41

I think that they're doing it in a Cards-y way as always. slow and steady. I think it is way more about not investing more in the major league team and instead plowing what they do invest into the minors

i mean, that might be a bummer. but I hope they go about it full bore

DeeBo

2:41

How much if anything are you hearing about teams experimenting with AI in scouting, prospect grades, draft modeling, etc.?

Ben Clemens

2:41

I'm not hearing anything but I'm absolutely sure it's happening

Reds Enjoyer

2:41

Who will be the best player in 2025 that played zero or basically zero games last year and why is it Matt McLain?

Ben Clemens

2:41

I think he might be my pick

I'm a huge McLain fan

2:42

does a Jack Flaherty get signed before spring training, and if a player like that doesn't, what ends up happening during the season? discount? flyer when everyone's elbow explodes? can't imagine a dude like that even with a mid fastball doesn't get a pitcher of coffee

Ben Clemens

2:42

Look at Montgomery last year, Snell, Kimbrel a few years ago

generally it's not about getting an offer, it's about the player not liking the offer

and that may be right on the player's side, to be clear

but like... if Flaherty decided today "I'll take a one-year deal and play wherever" he'd have a deal tomorrow

Frank Trauffaut

2:43

Do you think Kyle Hart will get an MLB deal? Any other MLB/KBO stragglers?

Ben Clemens

2:43

I think he will