JotCast | Jeff Sullivan FanGraphs Chat -- 12/7/18

Jeff Sullivan FanGraphs Chat -- 12/7/18

Jeff Sullivan

9:03

Hello friends

Welcome to Friday baseball chat

9:04

Been a busy week! Going to be a busy week!

9:04

Hey Jeff, what are your thoughts on DRC+?

Jeff Sullivan

9:04

Seems initially promising but I haven't had the time this week to actually dig in. Probably going to be airplane reading tomorrow

9:05

Don't otherwise have anything substantive to say. Not sure I agree with the park factors but I also can't say that and mean it without yet fully understanding the methodology

Ross

9:05

Saw something about the Rays being interested in Charlie Morton. That... actually makes a lot of sense, right?

Jeff Sullivan

9:06

The Rays are in an interesting position where they're ready to be good, and they can afford to sign an expensive player for about a season or two

Donaldson would've fit. Goldschmidt would've fit. Cruz would fit. Morton would fit. They have an exceedingly low payroll, and I'd expect it to rise

Although I also realize the Rays make lots of sense for Jose Martinez now and Martinez costs nothing, soooo

pelkey

9:08

there's basically no chance david peralta doesn't get traded right? what would reasonable compensation for him look like?

Jeff Sullivan

9:08

I think there's some chance -- he's in his 30s, he's a non-elite corner outfielder, and there are only so many buyers right now with such a need

9:10

But he'd be a clear fit in, say, Atlanta. Maybe Arizona could come away with someone like Kolby Allard, but they might have to aim a tier lower depending on how many alternatives the Braves are looking at

Jack

9:13

The Rockies should sign Nelson Cruz and play him at first base. Change my mind. (I realize he’s never played first base, but there’s video on his Instagram of him getting some reps there this offseason, so it seems like something he’s open to)

Jeff Sullivan

9:13

If Cruz's market tanks, it would be worth a few phone calls, but I don't know how much he actually *wants* to play first base. The Rockies should be one of the teams asking about Jose Martinez, or if they want to take a chance, perhaps they call the Yankees about Greg Bird

9:14

Yankees might be getting sick of him now, but there's no better cure for what ails a hitter than Colorado

Well, steroids, I guess. Besides steroids

9:17

Does Trevor Bauer to TB for Brandon Lowe, Jesus Sanchez, and Michael Perez make sense for both sides? Rays get a stud to pair with Snell at the top of the rotation and clear some 40-man space, Lowe can help the Indians in the OF this year and move to 2B when Kipnis leaves, Sanchez gives them an OF for the future, and Perez is a cheap, young, defensively sound catcher to platoon with Roberto Perez.

Jeff Sullivan

9:18

As good as Bauer has become, he does have just the two years left, he's getting expensive, and this feels too heavy from the TB perspective

9:19

Now, granted, maybe I'm higher on Brandon Lowe than other people are, but he's ready to make a big-league impact today. Perez is on the major-league roster. Sanchez is a true quality prospect. Don't think it's a trade I'd advise the Rays to make, although perhaps if I did a little more research I might be swayed in the other direction

9:22

You might be able to rearrange to Lowe, Perez, and a third piece that's lesser than Sanchez

AJ Preller

9:22

I'ma neeeeeeed some new starting pitching if I want to take some steps forward this year. Do I trade or go for the remaining FA? Or both?

Jeff Sullivan

9:22

I'd expect trades. Everybody likes trades. The Padres like trades

9:23

Now, I don't know, maybe the Padres end up with Kikuchi, who's available in a non-trade. But they have an outfielder surplus, and by the end of the offseason I don't think that'll be true anymore

Larry

9:24

Seattle and Arizona are doing a partial teardown for a quick return to contention. Care to guess which will be first to reach 90 wins again?

Jeff Sullivan

9:24

Oof. uhhhhh Seattle, I guess, but it's like 55/45

Tim

9:25

Andrew McCutchen makes a lot of sense for the Astros, right? Did the Yankees re-signing Gardner close the door on him staying there?

Jeff Sullivan

9:26

McCutchen would be an April fit with the Astros, but I don't know what their timeline is with Tucker. If Tucker gets traded -- for, say, someone like Realmuto -- McCutchen would work even better. Failing that, it's more complicated, because if Tucker is ready the Astros wouldn't want an established proud veteran standing in his way

9:27

At that point maybe McCutchen would eat into Reddick's playing time. Would be an expensive pseudo-platoon

9:28

You can add McCutchen to the list of possible future Rays, swinging between OF and DH

Ralph Lauren

9:29

Which team has the best uniforms?

Jeff Sullivan

9:29

Love the Giants' home colors. Always have

squeeze bunt

9:30

What do you consider as your baseball "specialty"? Kiley and Eric are obviously prospect guys, but is there a profile page somewhere on fangraphs that lays out what each writer is mainly interested/has expertise in?

Jeff Sullivan

9:30

There is not!

9:31

I guess my specialty would probably be doing complex player or transaction analysis quickly

Granted, Dave would probably laugh at the "quickly" part

But Dave would spend less time looking up information than me

Tiger

9:32

As a Reds fan, we hear they are finally going to "spend" their money. They have been rumored to be in on quite a few guys as it is. Currently remaining, they are in contact with the Indians, and are in on Pollock. I would be thrilled with a AJP and Kluber/Bauer return but have a feeling it's going to be something way less exciting like Keuchel and Ervin Santana. Thoughts?

Jeff Sullivan

9:33

Reds are clearly growing impatient, and they clearly need help on the pitching staff. They were in on Paxton, I think, and they're trying to do something that makes an impact. At the end of the day, they're a less desirable destination than some other places that are also looking to improve, but I think the Reds will end up with someone more interesting than Ervin Santana

9:34

And yeah, Dallas Keuchel would be one of those options. Wouldn't be at all surprised to see the Reds win those sweepstakes

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