You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
MLBTR Live Chat
powered byJotCast
Prev Page View Full Chat Next Page
Jeffrey Todd
2:34
JD Martinez.
2:35
But ... Kendrick was an underappreciated, extremely well-conceived addition. Perfect guy to add given the uncertainty and needs at that time.
Hater
2:35
What’s with the Phillies
Jeffrey Todd
2:35
Is this the start of a Seinfeld joke?
2:36
"And what's the deal with this Rhys guy?"
But let me use this opportunity to say both that the Phils have some really interesting stuff going with the position players ... and that fans shouldn't read too much into the .500 performance over the last 60 or whatever games.
2:37
Baseball is far too bumpy to pay attention to that sort of thing. Phillies still have too many questions going into 2018 to expect immediate contention. This happened with the Braves last year, you may recall ... funny things happen late in the year, after other marginal teams have sold players at the deadline and begun trying out youngsters.
Mike
2:38
Prediction on Cozart's upcoming contract?
Jeffrey Todd
2:38
3/36?
2:39
Demand and injury history are pushing me  there.
Were there more obvious suitors, could see it bid up higher.
Hunky Dory
2:40
Will the elite arms (Holland, Davis, Reed, Shaw, etc) on the market hold out for closer's roles, or will they sign huge contracts as set-up men?  Just saying, there's only so many CL gigs to go around, and LAD isn't gonna depose Jansen.
Jeffrey Todd
2:42
No idea how each of those guys feel. I'm sure their agents will just want to get them the most $ possible. Generally, I think the whole bullpen role thing still has some meaning for players, though who knows how much Reed/Shaw care given that they have most recently not been used primarily as closers.
When in doubt, look to the money.
Otani
2:42
Seems like no one really knows what I'm thinking ... where should I sign? Are the Yankees and Rangers my best bets?
Jeffrey Todd
2:42
Nobody knows. Anyone that suggests otherwise, without providing new evidence, is pretty much making things up.
2:43
I mean, we can discuss the factors that seem to make sense to us as possible points of distinction, but it's silly to suggest there are leaders, or some such. We don't even know what shape the pursuit will take.
Duh
2:44
You do realize that Derrick Goold, the Cardinals number one writer, has said that the Cardinals have recognized that their first priority is finding a middle of the order bat and that they're going to trade some of their outfielders this winter. It's not a matter of where they would put the middle of the order bat, it's where the player he replaces will end up.
Jeffrey Todd
2:45
You should always listen to Goold over me. As I said, if there's a good opportunity to move somewhat redundant assets and get a big hitter in return, I'm sure they'll do that. But I don't get those that'd suggest they do something like sign JD Martinez and then turn around and dump quality younger outfielders from a position of poor trade leverage.
Paul
2:45
How would a under-the-table deal work with Otani? What if he's not as good as advertised?
Jeffrey Todd
2:47
That's a key point. We have been discussing it internally here, and I'm sure other people that cover baseball are as well, but there's no clarity on how this is going to go. Supposing teams are lobbing extension scenarios -- "hey after x months or y years we'll do $z million" -- then it still wont' be enforceable. So there's risk on both sides (mostly Otani's). If he stinks or gets hurt, he's not going to get the deal.
Anyway, to be a fly on the wall in front offices now and during talks ... would be quite interesting.
Joe
2:47
Is the Nationals window closing?
Jeffrey Todd
2:49
Nats control rights are staggered. They successfully made one transition already, with guys like Desmond & Zimmermann leaving and Murphy & Scherzer coming in. (Among lots of others.) Some big pieces may be leaving soon, but shiny new players (Turner, Robles) are here/coming with other key pieces still around.
2:50
So it's set up to possibly remain open for a while, but obviously actually keeping it open takes continued work and good decisions.
DHugh
2:51
Just a big thanks before the playoffs begin for another great season of chats. They're fun every week.
Jeffrey Todd
2:51
Thank you for reading and participating!
Ben K.
2:51
Out of Bogaerts, Bradley, Benintendi, and Betts, do you see any of them traded in the offseason?
Jeffrey Todd
2:51
See no reason to expect that.
steve c
2:52
come trading deadline july 31st .. Giancarlo Stanton is a .....
Jeffrey Todd
2:52
Dunno but I'd think the time to do it is over the winter. He's coming off a huge year with good health. New ownership can just go ahead and get it done with.
Guest
2:52
Do pirates. Start. Over
Jeffrey Todd
2:53
Things haven't worked out these last two years. But it's always a roll of the dice. They can still contend next year.
Pirates fans just need to recognize there isn't going to be a steadily increasing payroll that goes with the team's performance. That has occurred in some other cases.
2:54
Whether it should occur is a different matter. But there's zero evidence it will.
Bear in mind, too, that even teams like the Red Sox, Yankees, and Mets have had big fall-offs in recent years.
Zach
2:54
ZERO chance the Phillies deal Nola, they are closer than ever in this rebuild, their biggest need is pitching, they wouldnt deal away their only reliable pitcher.
Jeffrey Todd
2:55
Disagree it's zero, but I agree it isn't likely for the same basic reasons you state.
(Also, he's still dirt cheap and controllable for four more years.)
A Guy
2:56
I keep seeing JD Martinez projected to get things like 6/140 yet with the weakened corner bat market and what he returned in a trade, does that not seem way high?
Connecting…