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Jeff Sullivan FanGraphs Chat -- 11/11/16
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Jeff Sullivan
9:47
I realize I just gave my response without including the question. So let's do this backwards!
Gary
9:47
Cameron said Albies/Allard/Fried doesn't get you close to Chris Archer, which surprised me. Albies is really, really good, right?
Jeff Sullivan
9:47
See above!
Leone for Third
9:48
What pre-Fangraphs article that you wrote are you most proud of? What one makes you cringe the most?
Jeff Sullivan
9:48
Years ago I wrote some horrible article calling Daisuke Matsuzaka a mercenary
That one makes me cringe
9:49
I was proud of an article classifying all the various closer celebrations. And also an article about the time an extraterrestrial being played major-league baseball
9:50
I don't know where I stand on this one article where I tried to create a Tampa Bay Rays roster entirely out of players named Ray. That one confuses me to this day, where half of me loves it and the other half wants me to quit and go to jail
Mitch
9:51
Jeff Sullivan
9:51
If you listen to MGL, Maddon is a *horrible* tactician
9:52
He is, at best, a controversial tactician. He makes a number of sub-optimal moves. The question is, is there a greater, longer-term benefit to managerial creativity? Does it make players feel like they always have to be on their toes?
The one thing you can't argue is that Maddon is a master of building a strong clubhouse community. Maddon's players tend to love him. And I have to think that outweighs whatever runs he might give back on the field with his in-game decisions
Cubs Fan
9:53
If the Cubs are looking to clear OF space by trading Soler+ for controllable pitching, who should they aiming for? Smyly? Nate Jones? Someone like Gsellman?
Jeff Sullivan
9:53
They should be aiming for a pitcher on whichever team finds Soler to be the most intriguing. I don't think this is going to be up to the Cubs, so much. I think they need to find a GM who most believes in Soler's potential
Prich
9:54
Would a Walker/Ozuna swap make sense for both players and teams?
Jeff Sullivan
9:54
I could see something like that happening
But I'm skeptical that the Mariners are that confident in their pitching depth. Also, selling on Walker now could well be selling low
Ben
9:54
What's the Barves' plan here?
Jeff Sullivan
9:55
Make the team immediately better without actually losing anything of long-term value
The rotation last year was a catastrophe. There's real value in having some sort of predictability
Leone for Third
9:55
Is Nick Vincent a perfectly cromulent middle leverage reliever?
Jeff Sullivan
9:56
Yep
And for his career he's held righties to a .244 wOBA. 156 strikeouts, 16 unintentional walks
Rob
9:56
Aren't the White Sox in a better position for a full rebuild than say, the Cubs or Astros were? Extremely valuable assets to trade that could facilitate a rebuild much quicker. I know a lot of risk too, but it seems like the smart route to take for them. you agree?
Jeff Sullivan
9:57
They are definitely in a position where they can give a rebuild an immediate, massive boost. Other rebuilding teams haven't had these assets. The flip side of that is beginning a rebuild would be most shocking to the fan base -- the short-term product would be lousy, without recognizable players. But the Sox can sell this if that's what they want to do. With the likely returns, they could have a top-10 farm system almost overnight
Justin
9:58
What are the actual chances McCutchen gets traded this offseason? 25%? Also, what would the Pirates get in return for him?
Jeff Sullivan
9:58
I'll bump it up to 30-40%
9:59
I don't think it would be as much of a blockbuster as you might expect -- he only has the two years, and last season wasn't amazing. But you'd probably be starting with one young, big-league-ready starter, and more
10:00
The Pirates are in something of a bind. I think they know they don't want to sell low on their superstar, but they also recognize they're running out of time to turn him into anything
Maybe they go the Brewers/Lucroy route and make a trade in July if the season isn't going very well
Greg
10:01
How do you view Robert Gsellman and Seth Lugo?
Jeff Sullivan
10:02
I'm more interested in Lugo, as a potential strikeout starter or impact reliever. Gsellman strikes me as a No. 5 or 6
Erik
10:02
The Phillies have a ton of cash to splash. Do they entertain the possibility of signing three solid free agents to boost them up towards that part of the pack where just a bit of luck gets them in the wild card hunt? Or sit on their hands and wait till next year?
Jeff Sullivan
10:03
They're still far away. They should probably do something like what the Braves are doing. Any big FA splashes they make would probably just have those players in expensive decline by the time the rest of the roster is ready to be competitive
I'd expect more moves like the Neshek one, where they acquire shorter-term pieces to plug all the holes
jon
10:04
The Cubs payroll is $40 million below opening day 2016 and $70 million below game 7 payroll. They are being coy about a potential Kenley/Aroldis signing. They are hard capped internationally for the 2017 period. Where does the money go?
Jeff Sullivan
10:04
It's about time for them to start talking extensions
And I'm interested in the Verlander idea that was presented above
10:05
And some of that money will go to the bullpen, whether that's on a high-profile closer or someone(s) else
MiserableWsoxfan
10:06
So with many indications that the White Sox are actually going to move forward and sell this offseason, what would a realistic return be for Frazier or Cabrera. While everyone is talking about Sale and Quintana, it seems like others will be the first to go.
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