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Live Chat With Tim Dierkes
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Tim Dierkes
2:00
Hello everyone!  This marks the first of what will become regular chats with me every Monday at 2pm central time!
2:01
In our recent survey, 49.11% of you said that you'd like MLBTR to add another chat.
So, uh, not most of you I guess.  But the half who don't want it can scroll on past!  Plus, this is actually replacing Jason Martinez's chat.
I'll take this space to update you on Jason.
2:02
I bought Roster Resource and hired Jason in the summer of 2016.  I loved the work he was doing on the site and figured I could improve it on the technical side, blow up its traffic, enjoy having Jason on the staff contributing, and make it a profitable addition.
2:03
I failed - the only thing that came true was that Jason was awesome to work with.  I just couldn't improve RR on the technical side or find a path to even making it neutral on revenue.  I have given RR back to Jason and we will continue linking to it regularly and hopefully working with him.  But, he's no longer employed by Trade Rumors, he's on his own again.
Please continue enjoying it!  https://www.rosterresource.com/
2:04
I see that many good baseball questions are coming in, so I'll start getting to those, but feel free to ask anything MLBTR-related.
xabial
2:04
Do you think Harper and/or Machado sign before February?
Tim Dierkes
2:04
I lean toward no on both, but Machado seems more likely.  Seems like the White Sox have at least made an offer, so things could certainly come together within a few weeks.
Jason
2:05
Who will the Braves pick up next? Kimbrel, pollack
Tim Dierkes
2:05
The bullpen certainly should be a priority, but I don't think they'll go for Kimbrel unless he starts to become a bargain.
JNogle
2:06
Are the Dodgers even going to meet with Harper? Have they fallen out of contention?
Tim Dierkes
2:07
If the Dodgers make no real effort to engage on Harper, I'd be pissed by that if I was a fan of the team.  This is a top-tier contender that flat-out has the opening in RF and the money to sign him.  To completely pass is just weird.
Guest
2:07
It's hard to believe we are 4 weeks away from ST and so many premium players are still unsigned.  How much longer is it going to take for the dominos to start falling?
Tim Dierkes
2:07
It does seem that with this happening for a second consecutive year, we're in a new reality.  I expect plenty of free agents lingering into March.
xabial
2:07
Thanks for hosting this. Real treat. You stand by 420m Harper prediction?
Tim Dierkes
2:08
I think at this point, I've seen enough to safely take the under.  I don't often agree with Jim Bowden, but I find it crazy that Harper and Machado don't each have 5+ bidders.  How are great players no longer attractive?
Justin L
2:09
Cardinals in on either MM or BH?  or are the Cards done adding anything more?
Tim Dierkes
2:11
Their infield seems set up such that Machado would be a tougher fit.  Harper is an ABSOLUTE fit, but they would have to clear some money or raise payroll.  They have enough moveable salary that I think it could be done.  But I don't think they are engaged on Harper.
Kyler Murrayball
2:11
Is all this talk about NFL just a Boras ploy to get the A's to put me on the 40-man and possibly call me up to MLB in Sept to get my clock ticking?
Tim Dierkes
2:12
Putting him on the 40-man is one thing, but neither party would want him in the Majors in September.  He needs like 4-5 years of minor league seasoning.  Murray is the extremely rare minor leaguer who actually has leverage to demand something.  The NFL offers more of the instant gratification.  As Joe Sheehan pointed out in his most recent newsletter, Murray would be many years from his next big MLB paycheck.
The Joe Sheehan Newsletter is money well spent.  I'm not paid to say that!  http://www.joesheehan.com/
Tommy N.
2:13
Padres beat writer Kevin Acee recently tweeted that Padres don’t expect to raise current payroll and Moose’s projected salary doesn’t fit the team’s plans. The Padres current payroll is very low after a highly profitable year. Should Padres fans be worried about ownership’s unwillingness to spend?
Tim Dierkes
2:14
Back of the napkin, the Padres' payroll last year was 95 mil and they have commitments totaling 80 mil.  Moose is easily within their budget unless I'm missing something.  Not that I'd be excited to add Moose.
MuchaMachado
2:14
Is Machado going to hold out for 300, or does this White Sox deal get done soon?
Tim Dierkes
2:14
I think he holds out for 300, and I think both he and Harper top Stanton's 325.
Natsfan007
2:14
What are the chances that the Harper to Philly rumors aren't true?
Tim Dierkes
2:15
Well, it's factual that they met with him a few days ago.  As to whether they'll sign him or even make a huge offer, I don't think anyone knows that for sure outside of the team.
Mark
2:15
Is there a certain realm (league, team, category of writing, whatever) that you consider yourself an expert in, and can offer deeper insight in one area over another?
Tim Dierkes
2:16
I don't like to toss around an expert tag in relation to myself.  You guys and gals can evaluate me.  But I pay extra attention to the Cubs and I am better versed in free agency than, say, prospects.
5.5 Hole
2:16
Hey Tim, If the Padres hadn't signed Hosmer (I wish), do you think they may have been players for Machado this year, or maybe Rendon or Arenado next year?
Tim Dierkes
2:16
Yes, I think that's reasonable.
On Chop of the World
2:17
1/20 pillow contract for AJ Pollack - who says no?
Tim Dierkes
2:17
Ah, the Grandal route.  I imagine he's getting those types of offers now.  Question is, does he have a $50MM+ offer in hand?  I'm assuming Grandal didn't when he accepted the Brewers' offer.
Lenny
2:18
Yanks are out on Bryce?
Tim Dierkes
2:18
They don
Oops.  They don't seem to ever have shown much interest.
At least in this case, he's a tough fit and you can see why.
redsfan
2:18
I'm on the other side of this argument.  Why should five or ten teams be willing to take a $400M risk on a player for 8-10 years?  One has shown he's lazy and the other wasn't exactly tearing up the league last year.
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