JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 7/28/25

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 7/28/25

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Ben Clemens

2:39

I mean, it's a funny surplus

2:40

in that two of them are basically replacement level this year (acuna, Vientos), one of them is 25 and putting up his best season (Baty, 101 wRC+ is 18 clear of his previous high)

2:41

I think I'm highest on Mauricio

but I don't count Acuna and Vientos as part of a glut. Acuna seems like a nice utility player. As I mentioned, I dno't think Vientos is anything special. If you make meaningful decisiosn about your long-term trajectory trying to accomodate Vientos, I think you're managing the team wrong. I feel the same way about Acuna too. And honestly? I am highest on Baty of the group but I feel similarly about him too

Bobby Digital

2:42

Curious about your take on three pitchers: 1) Woo - can he be a legit ace? 2) Schwellenbach - any long-term concern re: his elbow fracture? 3) Zebby - can he develop into a 2/3 inside of the next 365 days?

Ben Clemens

2:43

Sure. 1)see trade value series, like him though
2) I mean, you'd have to be crazy not to be worried. The history of players who fractured their pitching elbows this way is not great. Hopefully it's just totally fine but it's a scary injury.
3)I mean... can? sure. Likelihood? Below 20% for me

Ken

2:43

Man, getting a question chosen in this chat is the toughest of the baseball chats, lol.

Ben Clemens

2:43

blame our ridiculously diligent and chatty readers

Bazooka Joseph

2:43

I know Jarred Kelenic's career hasn't turned out as well as many scouts thought, but he gave Cal Raleigh that nickname and no one can ever take that away from him.

Ben Clemens

2:43

can't argue with that

Wrights_back

2:43

Baty + Sproat enough to land Alcantra?

Ben Clemens

2:44

I mean, it would be for me. I haven't heard a lot of reporting about how seriously the Marlins are pushing Alcantara, but this seems like it's in range. I liek Sproat a lot

2:45

Not sure I'd do this trade if I were the Mets, though. like, Alcantara isn't an obvious upgrade and he's not THAT much of a bargain that you could say it's a complement to spending on Soto and Lindor

I think Mitch Keller would be more the Mets' speed if they were getting pitching

Bosoxforlife

2:45

I watch a lot of Mets games and Mauricio just sends off a lot of O'Neill Cruz vibes to me. He has a chance to be a real power hitter

Ben Clemens

2:45

Yeah I can see that for sure. I actually saw him in person for the first time Friday, and yes, I was like 'hey this is a big strong dude'

2:46

not that I didn't already know that from watching him on TV. but it was definitely more notable up close

Pinstriped Problems

2:46

Judge news is so sad. Should the Yankees stand pat, or even sell?

Ben Clemens

2:46

somewhere between stand pat and light add for me

they continue to develop more pitching and catching prospects than they can keep on a 40-man roster, trading from those surpluses has generally been good business for them

cool

1

2:47

and like, you're gonna sell b/c Judge is out for two weeks? Why are you paying judge 40 million a year, then? THey're in playoff position!

RetireNutting

2:48

"Oneil Cruz vibes" would be interpreted as a reason not to trade for Mauricio by Pirates fans.

Ben Clemens

2:48

Oneil Cruz is a controversial player ,which is funny b/c how can you not love him?

but I can understand being wary of ending up with another guy where the potential is so high that you have no choice but to play him, even while the on-field results don't quite click

it's wild to me that Oneil Cruz debuted in 2021

JK

2:49

Not that I have subscribed to this view much in the past but man, the Giants' vibes are real bad right now, yeah? Do you see them making a push for the WC3 spot?

Ben Clemens

2:49

their vibes are SO bad

I mean, I think vibes are not long-term determining factors and that a five-game hot streak might cure a lot of that

but the team does not look like they're having much fun right now

MrMet

2:50

Can you put Eury Perez into context? Is he doing things that show he can be special?

Ben Clemens

2:50

Yeah, sure, I'll give it a shot. In his last 5 games, he's got 32 strikeouts, 5 walks, 1 homer, 4 earned runs in 28 innings

2:51

that's a 1.29 ERA, 2.02 FIP. 14.6% swinging strike rate in those games, wild stuff grades

2:52

some of these games have just been 'oh well thanks for playing' types two. 6 k's over 7 scoreless (no walks, 3 hits) vs. the O's was one that I watched. I mean, the O's aren't hitting, but that game just didn't feel competitive

(also it ended 11-1 so that helped)

Carl

2:52

I understand why the Nationals don’t want to trade Gore. But if ownership isn’t going to spend next season (and they probably won’t), isn’t doing so the smart move?

Ben Clemens

2:52

Yeah, I don't actually understand why the Nats don't want to trade Gore

2:54

they don't seem very interested in trying to improve, right? they're not spending much money, their biggest deal this year was Josh Bell or Trevor Williams (maybe Mike Soroka?)

they looked at their squad this offseason and said 'no need to accelerate'

that squad, uh, sucks

so if they are'nt interested in trying to get better, which it doesn't really seem like

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