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Jeffrey Todd
2:05
Hi all. Going to just allow a few minutes for folks to filter in and we'll get moving.
2:06
Now, typically we keep things to the transactional landscape. But seeing as we have several more weeks of discussing the same basic situations, let's also open it up to some postseason questions.
Steve
2:07
JEFF IT IS I. IT IS STEVE ADAMS.
Jeffrey Todd
2:07
This is actually Steve.
Hi Steve.
Please get back to work and leave us to our chat thx.
Stephen Strasburg
2:08
Ace?
Jeffrey Todd
2:08
You are what we thought you were.
Stras has never consistently been a shutdown pitcher, day in/day out. UNTIL this year. 2.52 ERA in 175 frames.
2:09
Not that he hasn't been really good in prior years, too. But he has elevated in some ways. And now, what, 22 Ks in 14 postseason innings? That's very ace-like, yeah.
Birddog
2:09
What would be a realistic trade for McCarthy/Kasmir for the Orioles?
Jeffrey Todd
2:10
Well, some amount of salary relief would be the standard were it just about any other team. It's a bit harder to gauge with the Dodgers, though at some point they will surely just not be interested/able to keep some of these guys around. (I have said this before and basically they have.)
2:11
So maybe LAD will just shrug and keep going. Maybe McCarthy will be appealing enough to the Dodgers that they won't want to deal him. Perhaps Kazmir will not show enough for another team really to take any salary on. Not entirely clear. That could be something that shakes out in spring.
Regardless, they are sensible guys to keep an eye on for the O's and others, and shouldn't really cost much more than a willingness to pay some salary.
Zac
2:11
Alright Jeff, who ya got? Cubs still in this, or do the Nats pull it off?
Jeffrey Todd
2:12
As many of you probably have gathered, or been told by me already, I have followed the Nats most closely. (Well, since I was an O's fan as a kid.) So, in these moments, it is hard to stay fully objective.
2:14
But ... I honestly see it as a coin flip, more or less. Tim and Steve and I were trading emails on this earlier. The Cubs get a thumbs up for starting Hendricks and having Q around. Nats may have more supercharged pitching, though, if they get creative with using Roark possibly and then line up Scherzer as well as Kintzler/Madson/Doolittle.
I still prefer the Nats on the position player side a bit. Very close match. I'm excited to watch.
Cookie Monster
2:14
How much available money will the Giants have available this offseason and how do you think they will allocate it? A is for allocate and that's good enough for me
Jeffrey Todd
2:14
That's just good shtick commitment right there.
2:16
There really isn't a ton of room that I can see. You're talking 166ish before adding in Dyson, Panik, Strickland and a few other arb salaries. And loads on the books into the near future, too. I am not sure how they will make significant additions without going past the luxury tax line.
2:17
They will be pushing 180 with the arb guys. And that's still only like half the roster, so you still have to factor in a bunch of league-minimum salaries (at least) as well as the insurance fees and such. Unless they get really creative with some trades or just add payroll space over the lux line, they won't have much room to operate with.
Brian
2:18
What happened to the Indians
Jeffrey Todd
2:18
It's just baseball.
2:19
I mean, it's easy to pick things apart in these short series, but ... we're talking a handful of games. More should not be read into it than is really warranted.
2:20
Honestly I tend to just view the postseason as a fun extra tourney at the end of a season in which we largely see which are the best teams. It's worth remembering that the WS was originally conceived as one single series pitting two already-champion clubs. Baseball doesn't lend itself to the format in terms of assessing the true quality of a team, though it is great theater.
KH
2:20
Hey, more of a journalism industry question. How do you feel about the Athletic? Has MLBTR ever considered such a business model?
Jeffrey Todd
2:21
Well, it is obviously more than fair to utilize such a model. I admire their effort to put out a high-quality product and try to get people to pay what would in theory seem to be a fair price for it. I'm not entirely sure that it will work -- for me, I guess I'd rather pay for my metro area paper for coverage of my local team -- but I wish them luck.
2:22
As for MLBTR, that's not my decision in the least. But I can say that I don't think there's any consideration of that sort of approach; just doesn't fit what we do.
Steve
2:22
Spoilsport.
Jeffrey Todd
2:22
Go away, Steve.
Jordan
2:22
Did Brett Phillips do enough to give himself a legit shot of being the everyday center fielder next year? Can you see him being traded this off season?
Jeffrey Todd
2:24
I think he did enough to give him every chance of earning a job in camp. But it won't just be handed over and it's somewhat unlikely in my mind that the Brewers will trot out anyone on an everyday basis. Especially with Braun's health and the depth they have, they will likely be better served having four or even five guys all seeing a good bit of time. Not sure exactly how that will sort out, and obviously Santana also must be commanding a significant amount of time, but I'd  certainly be surprised to see Phillips just taking the job over.
2:26
As for a trade, I also do think he has probably shown too much in 2017 for them to use him as a chip. All bets could be off if there's a high-end young pitcher available, for sure, but it would be kind of odd to prematurely shed the depth. It may be that they are ready to deal away a piece or two this winter but I could also see waiting a bit longer.
Santa Rosa fire storms
2:26
Hope your reads from Northern California are all safe and sound. Our thoughts are with you all
Jeffrey Todd
2:27
Seriously. My family was just in the San Francisco area and we know people affected. All the best. Same to those still suffering in Puerto Rico and Houston.
pete brown
2:27
how much is matt harvey worth if he was turned loose?
Jeffrey Todd
2:27
On a one-year deal, probably in the vicinity of the 6 mil or so he'll get through arb. Who knows, maybe more if a few teams really wanted him.
2:28
More interestingly, though, I think he'd get pursued on some other structures. Now, maybe Boras and Harvey would only go for a one-year scenario, but I wonder if any team could come up with some interesting scenarios involving opt-outs and vesting clauses and such.
Birddog
2:28
How would an offseason where the O's signed Granderson, Cobb, Chatwood and traded for Kasmir be viewed?
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