JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 6/14/21

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Ben Clemens

2:24

If there are some multi-year pieces going for cheap rates, I mean maybe?

But there's essentially no value in this year for them

2:25

They're just way too far behind the White Sox, and also not many of their players are good

Dan

2:25

Looking around at contenders who will be making decisions about trades and call-ups, and have decided that the Rays are absolutely fascinating. How do you see them handling their infield logjam once Franco and Brujan are up? Franco rotating between 2B/3B with Wendle, and Brujan playing the OF? What happens with the Lowes (plural intended)?

Ben Clemens

2:25

Yeah, I think Brujan is going to have to be an outfielder if he and Franco are both in the majors at the same time

2:26

I think they're probably shopping Brandon Lowe heavily at the moment

And presumably they're not going to call up all three of Josh Lowe, Franco, and Brujan unless things go really badly in terms of ML depth

2:27

So he'll just languish in the minors unless they'd prefer to let Brujan languishin the minors

Kevin

2:27

Why would the Astros be selling Correa? They're one of the best teams in the league.

Ben Clemens

2:27

I was thinking this was in free agency, and the multi-year buying was unrelated

If we're talking about a deadline acquisition of a rental, yeah, no

Kiermaier's Piercing Green Eyes

2:27

At some point in one of these chats, you referenced Baseball Highlights: 2045. From our novice board game household, that one's a big winner. Scratches a lot of the same itches that something like Slay the Spire scratches in the video game world with the macro deckbuilding and the micro tactics of each minigame.

Ben Clemens

2:28

Yeah, it's a great one. I got into it on Keith Law's recommendation. He has a very good boardgame blog

Brian

2:28

Why dont more hitters choke up?

Ben Clemens

2:28

This is a simplification, but because they aren't confident in their ability to make solid contact and fielders are SO good these days

2:29

If you hit weak batted balls, it's not THAT much better than striking out

Ben

2:29

What does Jose Berrios bring back in return?? Similar package to Stroman? more/less??

Aj Preller

2:29

Im going all in - Abrams, Hassell, and Lange for Buxton and Berrios.

Twins Fan

2:29

Berrios for Pearson enough or would the Twins have to include other rentals like some combination of Cruz, Pineda, Robles/Rogers?

Ben Clemens

2:29

Berrios is going to be a hot piece this trade deadline if the Twins want to move him

2:30

not a free agent until 2023, looks like he is takin a step forward this year

I don't understand the motivation for the Padres to add Buxton, so I don't see that deal happening

2:31

Also, Preller hasn't been willing to deal from his stash of top prospects, so I don' think he's suddenly going to splash out two of his top 5

Berrios for Pearson makes far more sense to me

I'm down on Pearson relative to Eric's 60 on him, but the Twins should get more years of team control and the Jays should get good now

Nate

2:32

To piggyback on the Correa question...would the Astros seriously let him walk over a refusal to go to a deal over 5 years, like some of the ST reports made it seem? Think his success so far this year might get them to reconsider? That seems extremely short sided all things considered...not like we haven't spent money recently, or have a lot of money tied up in future years

Ben Clemens

2:32

I think they'd absolutely let him walk if the deal doesn't fit them

It's not like they've shown a ton of desire to 'keep the band together' or 'focus on the core members' or anything, though we just don't know a lot about the new front office yet

2:33

But Click is from the Rays, and it's not like the Rays are really into extending their stars at any cost

Derek

2:33

Why would the Twins move Berrios (or Buxton) this year? There's no way the Twins expect *this* to be their new normal in the near future. Simmons and Cruz? Sure! But they still have a solid core and to my eyes should be able to compete for a playoff spot in both of the next couple years.

Ben Clemens

2:34

I think they'd have to get someone who they think can be a real major league help next year, which is why Pearson makes sense to me

I don't think they're particularly interested in triggering a rebuild, but if you can flip Berrios (1/3 of his remaining team control is not helpful to them) for a worse but still ML level pitcher

It'd be temptin

tempting*

That's why I don't think Pache would do it, but Pearson would. Pache is not replicating healthy Buxton. You can talk yourself into Pearson replicating Berrios

Cole

2:35

I understand the thought of a Brandon Lowe trade, but they probably still really value his bat still and he's still super cheap. 134 wRC+ vs righties this year is right in line with his career norm. You cant expect instant production that good from any minor leaguer.

Ben Clemens

2:35

I don't think I would trade Brandon Lowe

2:36

But they can't keep Brujan and Franco down forever, and they just have an infield glut

Lowe also costs more than the rookie minimum, which is something the Rays don't like

Even though he's on a steal of a deal

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