You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
Craig Edwards FanGraphs Chat--1/7/2021
powered byJotCast
Craig Edwards
2:08
So Francisco Lindor, huh? Going to let the questions roll in for a bit before we get started. Still trying to soak in the big trade.
Curtis
2:18
Hot take on the Lindor trade?
Craig Edwards
2:21
I get that market for Lindor wasn't going to be great given just a single season before free agency, but adding in Carrasco for that return seems like a massive steal for New York.
Guest
2:21
Why should I remain a fan of the baseball team in Cleveland?
Chris
2:21
Why should I, a Cleveland fan, ever care again?
Craig Edwards
2:27
Jose Ramirez and Shane Bieber are two excellent players and it isn't like the team will be bad next year. That said, it is hard not to see this trade as a huge slap in the face to all the Cleveland fans who have been supporting the team. Attendance hasn't been great, but after the World Series, they saw a huge increase and the potential for some momentum on that end with improvements to the ballpark and the All-Star Game. They seem to have shot themselves in the foot a bit with the pandemic compounding the problem. If anyone tells you this is a deal Cleveland had to make, they are wrong. There's no compelling reason in the return not to try to win a championship with the franchise's best player in decades other than putting some more money in the pockets of owners.
Guest
2:27
What is the upside for the prospects the Indians are getting?
Craig Edwards
2:27
They are both pretty recent draftees. Eric Longenhagen will have more on them, but here's the write-up on Wolf from last year: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/top-31-prospects-new-york-mets/
2:28
The TLDR draft report on Greene: Plus runner, center field fit, some feel to hit, some pop, well-rounded late-rising player.
George
2:29
If you're the Nats what do you do now? You might be the third or fourth best team in the division (with the teams behind you certainly not far behind) but also not that far from being a playoff team. They've got to invest in this window right? One more year with Scherzer they have to spend correct?
Craig Edwards
2:31
I think so. They added Bell, but not only do they only have one more year with Scherzer, his money coming off the books at the end of the season should give them flexibility. There are still a bunch of outfielders available if they want them. Realmuto makes some sense. They aren't that far behind the Braves, though the Mets really jumped to the top of the division today.
Dave C
2:31
Think the Mets still are "in" for Springer after this deal?
Craig Edwards
2:32
It wouldn't surprise me.
and here's Dan's quick write-up on the deal including ZiPS projections. https://blogs.fangraphs.com/instagraphs/new-york-mets-to-acquire-franc...
Curtis
2:33
How much did team control and $$ impact the return in the trade today?
Craig Edwards
2:33
A ton. Cleveland didn't get a lot back here.
Kate
2:34
How much will Lindor help Mets pitchers in terms of run prevention?
Craig Edwards
2:36
It will be an improvement, though Gimenez was solid and Rosario isn't terrible.
LINDT
2:36
Do the Mets ignore Bauer now that they have Carrasco (perennially underrated)?  Or do they go f'in sign him and roll with the best rotation in baseball (Bauer, DeGrom, Carrasco, Stroman, eventually Thor)?
Craig Edwards
2:36
I would be surprised if they got Bauer. I think they should add another starter, but don't need to at Bauer's level.
Kate
2:37
Does the Lindor trade get the rest of the shortstop market moving now that it's done?  Feel like maybe several teams were waiting to see if they could snag him before moving on to other targets.
Craig Edwards
2:38
It should help. In free agency, there's Marcus Semien, Andrelton Simmons, and Didi Gregorious and all three are quality, full-time starters so teams might be more willing to engage knowing that Lindor is no longer an option, but free agency has been really slow in general so it should be picking up here, regardless.
Guest
2:38
Thoughts on the impact on Rosario?
Craig Edwards
2:39
He gets a fresh start. He's shown glimpses of being a quality, everyday player and he should get the chance now to show it.
Guest
2:39
Do you think this ends up like what the Dodgers did with Mookie: extending Lindor long-term? He was pretty upset with how the Indians treated him so I wonder if Stevie Cohen can sweep in here
Craig Edwards
2:41
It would not surprise me at all. Lindor is exactly the type of player you want to extend given his age and talent and unless he really wants to get to free agency, I don't see why the Mets wouldn't make a huge offer to keep him around for a long time. The Betts contract already looks great for the Dodgers so something similar for Lindor would make sense.
Zach
2:41
How close are close are the Mets to the Dodgers/Padres? If they added one of Bauer or Springer would that put them in the same tier?
Craig Edwards
2:43
Very close. I think either of those two names would put them right there, though they should probably add a quality utility player or maybe a defensive center fielder if they don't end up with Springer.
2:44
Looking at the Mets payroll situation given Cano's suspension, they still have about $30 million before they even get to the tax level if that is a concern for them. https://blogs.fangraphs.com/instagraphs/new-york-mets-to-acquire-franc...
They can still do something big.
Sirras
2:44
How do you see the Mets infield playing out? McNeil at 2nd, Davis at 3rd? No reason to go for LeMahieu given Cano still will be around post-suspension, right?
Craig Edwards
2:45
I don't think they will really factor Cano in to their considerations, but LeMahieu isn't probably the wisest use of their resources.
Isolated Thinker
2:46
Free agents who want to play for a contender certainly view the Mets in a different light now. I can see the Mets now 1)getting a JBJ or a Kiermeier-type via trade as opposed to investing heavily in Springer, 2)another SP via free agency, 3)perhaps another RP, 4)and perhaps an upgrade at 3B.
Craig Edwards
2:46
I think that makes sense. Hard to know if they are really going to go with JD Davis full time.
George
2:46
How does this affect what you think the Rockies might get in a Trevor Story deal?
Craig Edwards
2:47
If this is the market, the return won't be great.
v2micca
2:47
Cubs fans have to be looking at the Lindor deal and resetting their expectations for the return on Bryant now, right?
Craig Edwards
2:48
I would hope the expectations were already very low. If the Cubs could have gotten a decent return for Bryant, they would have already made that deal. It's probably part of the reason they traded Darvish.
Chris
2:48
What's the plan with rosario? 2b? 3b? Cf?
Guest
2:48
Any chance Cleveland does what the Mets never had the guts to do and try Rosario out in CF?
Load More Messages
Connecting…