JotCast | Kevin Goldstein FanGraphs Chat

Kevin Goldstein FanGraphs Chat - 11/22/2021

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Kevin Goldstein

12:16

Sure. He'll absolutely get more chances.

Alby

12:17

What the heck is wrong with the owners? They're making good money, yet they're obsessed with stiffing their most marketable asset -- actually, their only asset. Why should I continue to be a fan?

Kevin Goldstein

12:17

Because you love the game and you love the players? I don't think you have to de-fan yourself from the game because of labor strife.

Yeff

12:17

ply

Kevin Goldstein

12:17

2-ply? 3-ply?

12:18

All the leaks about the Yankees preferring a stopgap at shortstop to wait for Volpe and/or Peraza to take the job in 2023 (I don’t buy it) has me wondering - what off-field did Volpe do that transformed his offensive output? He was a high draft pick, but never seen as a guy who’d put up a 1.000 OPS in high-A at 20 years old. What gives?

Kevin Goldstein

12:18

Volpe completely overhauled his swing on a mechanical level. He's like a different dude.

Jim

12:18

Is there reason to believe Matt Manning's strikeout numbers will approach average?

Kevin Goldstein

12:18

I definitely think so. I think he'll get into the 7-8 per nine rate and be a solid non-star starter.

Guardians of the checkbook

12:19

Do you think Steven Kwan can be a good MLB starter in a similar mold to Arraez or Mardrigal? His AA and AAA numbers are excellent and 2.5% SwStr% doesn’t grow on trees

Kevin Goldstein

12:20

He's a strange guy to wrap your head around, but that could be said for Arraez and Madrigal as well. The question becomes just how valuable that profile is as a corner OF?

Tiger Fan

12:20

With the Yankees and Tigers both hemming and hawing on big money shortstops, could Correa's market be a lot smaller than his talent suggests? Who else is realistically in on such a high priced, polarizing figure?

Kevin Goldstein

12:21

It's still November, and we are ten days away from a lockout. I don't think now is the time to start analyzing market trends. I think he'll do just fine in the end.

Luxury Tax Evasion

12:21

If you're Andrew Friedman, are you looking to trade David Price? Clears out some luxury tax space for FA acquisitions, and they might get something in return given that he's still somewhat productive, if underutilized.

Kevin Goldstein

12:22

I mean, if I'm Andrew Friedman I wouldn't care a ton about the CBT, you know? They'd have to eat a lot of money and in the end if just might not effect payroll enough to be worth it.

Ben Cherington

12:23

If the league banned the use of off-speed pitches (fastballs only), who would be your pick to lead the league in home runs?

Kevin Goldstein

12:23

Vlad and Tatis.

Inaccessible Rail

12:24

The price for starting pitching this off season has really surprised me, especially with regard to Verlander and Syndergaard, both coming back from serious injuries. Is the entire market for starters going to be like this?

Kevin Goldstein

12:24

Honestly, it's surprised me as well. Max Scherzer must be very happy right now.

grover

12:24

If the tear down rumors are true (grains of salt taken) then the A's are facing a radical change in their roster. What would be your personal ratio of Dread/Excitement if you were in Oakland's Front Office this winter?

Kevin Goldstein

12:25

Mostly dread. That front office wants to win, and I don't think they WANT to do this...

Ben

12:26

Any guesses as to why the Rays didn't protect Blake Hunt? He is on the BOARD as a 50 FV with a 2022 eta. Do the Rays think is farther away and no one will rule 5 draft him? Or are they planning to trade him before the draft? Or do you think they are just a lot lower on him than you and Eric?

Kevin Goldstein

12:27

The Rays had a serious crunch and decisions had to be made. It's really hard to take a catcher with 17 games above A-Ball and expect him to stick in the big leagues, He also had a disappointing year. I think they made the right choice there.

Fart Barfunkel

12:27

How serious are the rumblings that the Yankees aren't going after a big SS fish and just "monitoring the market" or is it just media posturing?

Kevin Goldstein

12:28

It's kind of useless information, really. "Monitoring the market" means they'll be kept in the loop on those guy and they can step in at anytime. It's like going to an auction and sitting on your hands until the final parts of the bidding.

Chris

12:29

Jerry dipoto said he was meeting with 4 prominent free agents before Thanksgiving. When that happens do you offer contracts to all the players with the understanding of one takes it then the other 3 offers are pulled? Or do you only offer to your top target and wait to offer the other 3?

Kevin Goldstein

12:30

I'd be really surprised if any offer was made in those meetings. It was likely just feelers for what the player is looking for and if he's open to coming to Seattle. That said, things like that do happed where you tell an agent that you have multiple offers out there, and an acceptance of one or two might force you to rescind the others.

Brodie’s Ghost

12:31

What do you make of the narrative that the Mets are waiting out Stearns and that Eppler is bait for Stearns? How do you think the Mets can optimally contend for the division this year without bogging down the payroll longterm?

Kevin Goldstein

12:31

I think that was a possibility, but I don't anymore. I doubt Eppler takes the job if he thinks somebody is going to be brought in on top of him in 12 months.

12:32

As for the Mets offseason, that's very much a TBD.

Inaccessible Rail

12:32

I see prospect writers like you frequently use the term "goof," as in "He's a 24 year-old fastball goof." Does that mean the player is one-dimensional? Something else?

Kevin Goldstein

12:32

Yeah, one-dimension. I think 'power goof' is the only goof term I use personally.

Mucho

12:33

What do these days typically look like for front office staff? Is it a lot of sitting around and waiting, or more like endless player research and strategizing roster permutations?

Kevin Goldstein

12:33

Yeah, it is definitely NOT a lot of sitting around. There's always something to do.

Jake G

12:33

If service time rules change in the new CBA, do you think that would likely take effect immediately, or have a delayed enforcement so there isn't a double free agency of sorts, come February?

Kevin Goldstein

12:33

Yeah, they would start NEXT off-season.

TooDamnTall

12:33

When working in a front office, do you have the same information as the owners? The coaches? Or are there silos of knowledge where some information isn't shared?

Kevin Goldstein

12:34

Oh god, there are huge silos. I know of moves that have been made and even AGMs didn't know about it until they saw it on Twitter.

Mucho

12:34

Do you still hear rumors from your connections?

Kevin Goldstein

12:35

I do, but I'm not somebody who wants to be in the rumor business. I have fun doing it during the draft though.

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