JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 7/28/25

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Ben Clemens

2:28

I think that if the current front office starts getting rid of team-controlled players, they'll just get fired

Justin

2:28

There is a lot of stress in Piratesland about getting close-to-majors hitting. I personally think it's fine to just get "Best return available" and then get that hitting in the offseason, but let's just put that aside. Am I being unreasonable in either direction when I think that something like "Jhostynxon Garcia and a few smaller pieces for Mitch Keller" would be fine for both teams?

Ben Clemens

2:29

yeah I mean my issue with it is just that if you're trading from the present for the future while you have Paul Skenes, you're basically saying you don't think you'll ever be able to compete

L. Cohen

2:29

If you were the Mets, would you trade 4.5 seasons of Mark Vientos for a good rental at a position of need?

Ben Clemens

2:29

I would, I am down on Vientos though

I was shocked by how good he was last year

2:30

I think he's more an average bat than a difference maker, and that skillset, just not to my liking

Bosoxforlife

2:30

A follow-up. I, very reluctantly, agree that Abreu is the one that they should move. Mitch Keller is at the top of my radar screen and the Pirates have to acquire some offense and I am offering Abreu, Franklin Arias and Jhostynxon Garcia. Who says no?

Ben Clemens

2:30

now THIS would probably get the deal done. I think you'd get a reliever or two as well

Abreu is really good

that would satisfy the Pirates' need to improve the team

Guest

2:30

I understand why you didn’t answer this during the trade value chat but favorite pastry/ cafe / coffee spot in sf ?

Ben Clemens

2:31

haha yes, this is a weekly chat question, and I'll happily answer

b patisserie is probably my favorite overall pastry place. I like The Mill a lot, it's right near where I live and I'm a sucker for good bread

2:32

Jane the Bakery and Arismendy (the one in the mission, nothing against the other one but that's just hte one I've been to more) are both in my top 5 too

Justin

2:32

If Kebryan Hayes went to a "smart team", how likely is it that he suddenly starts opsing over 700?

Ben Clemens

2:32

hope springs eternal, of course

2:33

but I've kinda given up. maybe..... 30%? Just totally guessing. the tools still seem great to me! but they have for four years

Karl Hungus

2:33

Better nickname: The Big Amish or The Big Dumper?

Ben Clemens

2:33

oh man.... for me, Big Dumper can't be topped

Japanese TV star

2:33

Is your interview about the Ohtani 50/50 tracker that you mentioned on EW available to watch anywhere?

Ben Clemens

2:34

sadly not because of licensing/tv rights stuff. It was on NKTV if that helps but presumably it doesn't. I have a dropbox'ed copy but I agreed not to share it, etc.

dan'l

2:34

Is there anything to stop a team like the Cards from selling a lot of relievers at once (up to 3-4)? Would it that present an issue for them filling the roster spots?

Ben Clemens

2:34

Nah, they definitely could

I think it'd require a little coordination in that they'd want to get some relievers from Memphis ready to be called up and on the roster to avoid a completely silly game where tehre's just no bullpen to speak of

but totally doable

Transmission

2:35

With the news that Clase has been put on leave over a sports betting investigation, that's two Guardians pitchers in two months. What level of confidence should fans have at this point that every pitch and plate appearance of every game is a good-faith competitive effort meant to help your team win?

Ben Clemens

2:35

i mean, let me put it this wya

if what you're wondering about is good-faith competitive efforts to win, you should be looking at the front offices and ownership groups, not the players

2:36

Ortiz threw two pitches that were clearly non-competitive. Allegedly, that was for monetary gain. I'm not going to get into my exact views on it because I don't think that's appropriate here, but obviously, that's not okay

let's not pretend that the Pirates are making a good-faith competitive effort to compete in major league baseball

and I don't want to pick on them exclusively

there are lots of these teams!

2:37

I'm absolutely worried that the pernicious influence of gambling will lead to some non-competitive results

because it's so clear that money can make baseball decision makers make poor decisions

if you can't trust the billionaires to say 'eh money is just money let's try to win' how in the world can you expect the players, for whom a marginal dollar is far more valuable, to do so?

Big Buckston

2:38

No relievers in the top 50 or honorable mentions of the trade value series this year. What would it take for a reliever to make it on the list, or is that really just a non-starter (pun intended)?

Ben Clemens

2:38

I think it's easiest to say that team behavior would have to change. like, the kind of reliever to hit this list would be reallllly good, probably unrealistically so

I put Mason Miller on the HM's last year but I didn't feel great about that

Darryl Vanilla

2:39

What should the Mets do with their glut of young infielders: Baty, Vientos, Acuna, Mauricio?

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