JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 11/15/22

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Ben Clemens

2:01

Hey everybody, welcome to the chat

2:04

It's a nice chill offseason Tuesday, so let's answer a few questions about baseball, a few questions about whatever is on your mind, and generally take it easy

Guest

2:04

Which segment of the free agent market starts to move first in your opinion?

Ben Clemens

2:05

I think Verlander and deGrom will sign early on. They both seem like they'll have a ton of suitors, so no question of their market moving slowly, and they also seem to me like people who would want to know where they'll be next year

Silly Dan McGraw

2:06

should the Yankees consider using IKF behind the plate as Trevino's back up?

Ben Clemens

2:06

No, to be honest

2:07

I think he was always miscast as a catcher; he was doing it to help the team out because he's a team player, but he's better suited as a utility infielder

2:08

I think they'll use him in that role, which makes sense to me

brad penny for your thoughts

2:08

do you buy the reason from the STL front office that the internet was too mean to Jeff Albert to retain him?

Ben Clemens

2:09

No, but I am definitely curious to hear what the actual reason is if it ever comes out

William

2:09

You are the TB Rays..pick one: Josh Bell, Jose Abreu, Trey Mancini

Ben Clemens

2:09

Abreu for me

tortycraig

2:09

favorite butternut squash dish, if any?

Ben Clemens

2:10

I just made one I really like last night

Well, that's a lie, Jenna (my wife) made it and I kinda helped

Roasted butternut squash, kale, toasted walnut, apple, and blue cheese salad

2:11

a nice fall salad is always a crowd pleaser

I think butternut squash goes particularly well with fall flavors, too

Eric

2:11

Is there any tiny justification for the Royals re-signing O'Hearn and failing to protect some decent prospects from R5? It's mystifying

Craig

2:11

DFA Brentz and sign O'Hearn to an MLB deal? Off to a great start in Kansas City!

Ben Clemens

2:12

I am not as snarky as Dan Szymborski, but I liked his idea: the Royals have a type, and that type is people whose contact information they already possess

Kim

2:13

Why wouldn't Benny consider a pillow contract given how young he is?

Ben Clemens

2:13

I bet he will consider one, but the counter-argument is pretty easy

2:14

His estimated career earnings are ~22 million. Figure 50% tax rate effective and some spending, and maybe he has 8 million in the bank right now, perhaps a little less

2:16

That's a solid start, but it's not never again care about your finances money

Sign a pillow contract and get hurt, or just underperform, and you might never quite escape that orbit

2:17

I think that taking three years and locking in being lifetime wealthy is very tempting

Sexy Pete

2:17

I don’t buy that Steve Cohen would be outbid for degrom. Do you agree?

Ben Clemens

2:17

Yeah

Teddy

2:17

Thoughts on what you would do for 1B if you were the new Astros GM?

Ben Clemens

2:17

I'd say "Yes, Mister Crane, Yuli IS a spectacular player who you love very much, that's really good information."

Silly Dan McGraw

2:18

Who will be the best free agent value?

Ben Clemens

2:18

I'm going to stick with Taylor Rogers, with Tyler Anderson as a runner up

cody bellinger

2:20

are the dodgers gonna tender me a contract? or will i be tinkering with my swing a million different ways on another squad?

Ben Clemens

2:21

I think there's basically no chance of Bellinger getting back into arbitration, but I'm not sure whether it will end with he and the Dodgers agreeing to a pay cut or a pure non-tender

Like, I don't think anyone else is lining up to pay Bellinger 20 million either

Artie

2:22

Haven’t heard much about Brandon Belt. What do you think might be in store for him?

Ben Clemens

2:22

my best guess is that he'll be back on the Giants, but I'm not exactly sure what deal he'll get. He was looking old this past year, which is fair.... he's old

Eric

2:22

To be fair on Brentz, he got TJ and is likely out for the year

Ben Clemens

2:22

It's more the O'Hearn decision, I agree

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