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Live Chat With Tim Dierkes
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Eloy
2:44
Isn’t it amazing how the mere signing of a deal that removes service time considerations can improve a players defense from not ready to acceptable overnight?  It’s like magic!
Tim Dierkes
2:46
It's kind of gross that teams can use service time manipulation as contract negotiation leverage.  In the case of Eloy, he didn't do too badly in terms of the tradeoff he made.  If he's anything but a very healthy superstar, then he probably comes out ahead on this.
verlander's cat
2:47
I heard you don't like my dad's new contract.. true?
Tim Dierkes
2:47
Not really about liking or not liking it, but I did feel that with a solid year he would have been able to get a three-year deal.
Jon
2:48
There has been an awful lot written and discussed about the service time manipulation. There are 1200 guys on 40 man rosters and everybody gets bent out of shape about this. Who cares of the 1200 it impacts maybe a guy or 2 who when they hit arbitratuon
Tim Dierkes
2:49
To that point, I do think a big focus for the MLBPA should be in jacking up the minimum salary as much as possible.
Ed-C
2:49
I do not see compelling stats that Cole's one year with Houston and a 74 and 47 record, and 1 1/2 years old younger That much better than 76-63 lefty (that does not rely on a fastball but a sinker) that much better
Tim Dierkes
2:50
If you're evaluating pitchers by their win-loss records, you're not at all on the wavelength of MLB front offices.  It's OK to care about stuff like that as a fan, to each his own, but I think we've reached a point where zero teams consider it in any way.
Extension or Bust
2:50
Do you think teams used the slow FA season to capitalize on signing extensions? I mean, if the biggest names on the market took as long to get deals, do you think potential FA’s are “scared” to test the market out?
Tim Dierkes
2:53
Rather than pronounce some kind of trend, I prefer to look at these things case by case.  For Sonny Gray, Paul Goldschmidt, or Miles Mikolas to take the deals they did was just being smart - I don't believe any of them would have done better in free agency.  For guys like Aaron Hicks, Ryan Pressly, Verlander, Sale - they probably left some money on the table, but only if they had good healthy 2019 seasons, and I don't think all of them will.
2:55
Arenado did well for himself in AAV, but he's only paid through age 34, while Hosmer/Machado were through 35, Goldy through 36, Harper/Trout through 38.  So he could have gotten an eighth year if he wanted to test the market.
Trout only moved the needle 9% beyond Harper, but he talked to Harper and Machado and didn't want to go through it.
AA...Braves GM
2:56
What does an extension for Acuña probably look like?
Tim Dierkes
2:57
Eloy has set the new bar for someone like Acuna to attempt to pass.  Acuna being a much more complete player, I think he'd have to get a guarantee of at least $60MM to give the team an option or two on his FA years.
Dtownwarrior78
2:58
I see the Tigers possibly being a surprise WC contender in the AL.  Tell me exactly WHY I am nuts???
Tim Dierkes
2:59
I don't think they have a single 3 WAR player.  I guess they could win like 75 games if some things go right.
From far away
2:59
Do you think there is any argument, that if teams now blatantly do not try to win, then perhaps MLB should lose their anti-trust exemption?
Tim Dierkes
3:00
I think every few years some Congressperson likes to grandstand about this, but MLB has had this exemption for 97 years and it has withstood several challenges.  I don't know that the country is pro-labor enough right now to get it struck down.
Gary
3:00
Say the Cubs sign Bryant or Baez to extensions. How does it ( or does it) change luxury tax implications for the Club?
Tim Dierkes
3:03
I think if those players were to sign this year, they'd leave their 2019 arb salaries in place.  So then it becomes about 2020 and the potential luxury tax hit.  If a Baez deal has, I dunno, a $16MM AAV, Baez wasn't going to earn $16MM in 2020, so in theory, an extension for a guy like that pushes them closer to the threshold.  The Cubs should gain some wiggle room next winter though, with Hamels, Zobrist, Morrow, Cishek, Strop, and Kintzler off the books among others.  Those departures would open up some holes in some cases though, so it's not like they'll spend wildly.
Thanks for chatting everyone!
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