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GOBREWERS
3:00
So what do you think happens with Milwaukee's OF? I mean, I feel like if Braun was going to be traded it would have happened this offseason after his big rebound year. But both Santana and Broxton are looking like legit breakout candidates. How will Stearns find places/ABs for guys like Philips and Brinson who are looking like they are pretty close to the bigs?
Jeffrey Todd
3:01
Fortunately they have some time and flexibility still. Give the MLB crew time to sink or swim, and then promote those others if/when they really show they're ready.
Ernie
3:01
Do you attribute Mitch Haniger's sensational spring to his change in batting approach or just a good two week stint against sub-standard pitching ?
Jeffrey Todd
3:02
Hard to read too much into spring stats, even if it weren't for the inconsistent pitching. But he raked in the upper minors last year and seems to be pointed north.
AJ
3:02
Do you think the MLB will ever make draft picks tradeable like in other sports?
Jeffrey Todd
3:02
My guess is they'll find some ways to expand it at some point but won't just open all picks to trade.
3:03
That said, it's also less necessary in baseball than other sports to allow it b/c there are so many prospects of varying degrees of value controlled by organizations.
Aaron
3:04
Is your middle name also a first name? If so, should we be worried?
Jeffrey Todd
3:04
It is. Panic.
Eric
3:04
Question about Spring Training: everyone (majors and minors) has spring training, right? So when a player signs a minor league deal with an invite to spring training, it's really just specifying that they'll train with the big league squad, correct?
Jeffrey Todd
3:04
Correct. It's a) a way to draw preferred free agent targets; b) a signal as to who has at least an outside chance at cracking the roster
JP
3:05
Will Joe Maddon be able to juggle this lineup effectively enough to get everyone enough playing time? I think Baez and zobrist both need to play but not sure how it all shakes out.
Jeffrey Todd
3:06
It's probably made easier by the fact that this team just won the WS and has a lot of buy-in from its players. I think they can rest the veterans, bring on some of the less experienced guys, keep everyone happy and take advantage of matchups/situations.
Tawdry Jeff
3:06
Where does Kevin Maitan fit into Atlanta' long term plans? The middle infield is already pretty set (in theory)
Jeffrey Todd
3:06
Way too soon to worry about that. Both b/c he's still so young and b/c Albies and even (gasp!) Swanson aren't yet fully established in the majors.
3:07
Obviously I think Dansby has shortstop more or less locked down for the next 6 years, just saying.
Joe from Poughkeepsie
3:07
I keep seeing a lot of people falling head over heels for the Nats bullpen. Putting my bias to the side of being a Mets fan, I just don't see that. I feel like it'll be a huge flaw for the team until the trade deadline when you know they'll trade for someone. Would you agree? And do you think this will give my Mets the edge in the NL East (bias back on)?
Jeffrey Todd
3:07
I think it's a good unit. Closers emerge from not-closers every year. And teams can always trade to fill needs.
3:08
I also read something funny today ... forget who wrote it, maybe Jon Heyman (who I respect but ...)
He said something like, the Nats didn't have a closer in their 3 95+ win seasons and faltered in the postseason.
I don't agree with that. They have had closers at least at times in those runs. They still won all the regular season games. And they traded for Melancon, who was excellent, last year. I just don't see the connection.
Dayton
3:09
Who is most likely to be traded at the deadline: Hosmer, Cain, Moustakas, or Escobar.
Jeffrey Todd
3:09
LoCain seems most likely to be a fit for other teams and perhaps least likely for the org to push to re-sign.
Matt
3:10
Do you guys offer chats to help with fantasy or can help me find one.
Jeffrey Todd
3:10
Fangraphs has great fantasy chats. We don't do them here.
MLBTR
3:10
How'd you do on your fantasy draft? Can you and Adams and Martinez do a fantasy baseball chat?
Jeffrey Todd
3:11
But who knows, maybe we'll consider doing a one-off chat in the future. Too late this year, I'd think. We did do a fantasy podcast at one point.
Like one single episode.
Okay, couple more and I'm out ...
Maddon
3:11
Would a team actually consider giving arrieta a 7 year deal?
Jeffrey Todd
3:12
Barring a massive season, that would be a big ask. Six seems reasonably plausible, though.
Ace
3:12
Is there any chance Pablo Sandoval is able to be semi productive?
Jeffrey Todd
3:13
Don't see why not. They wouldn't have staked this much on him if they didn't think the talent was still there and that he could do enough to get right physically/mentally. Not to say the Sox couldn't pivot in mid-season, but I think there's reason for at least some optimism.
He looks to be moving around pretty good, at least.
Darth Nihlus
3:13
Even in 2015 form can you really see Jake Arietta getting 7 years and $200 million? On a completely unrelated note will the owners ever be smart enough to get their heads out of their collective asses and not sign 30+ year old pitchers to $200 million dollars contracts?
Jeffrey Todd
3:14
Whoops! Didn't see your bad word. Oh well.
To follow up on Arrieta ... I have a hard time seeing the 200 figure. But all bets are off if he's back to '15 Arrieta, esp if some of the other top starters falter.
Isaac's Dad
3:15
Who has the bigger year: Thames or Santana?
Jeffrey Todd
3:15
I don't know, but I kinda like both of them this year. Will be fun players to watch.
Okay folks I gotta get away from this computer.
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