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Jeffrey Todd
3:27
Hi all. Dreadfully sorry for the long delay in getting this one fired up. Rest assured I've been banging my head against the wall trying to get my computer to work for the last half hour ... I'd much rather have been chatting with you all!
3:28
I'll let the room fill and then we'll get started in a few ...
Cubs
3:30
What’s up with Darvish? Time to worry?
Jeffrey Todd
3:31
Yes, I think so. Mystery arm pain after a solid rest period isn't great. That doesn't mean I have some specific reason to believe there's a major underlying problem or anything. But it's worrying.
All the more so, for the Cubs, given that their best pitcher (Lester) looks like a regression candidate and the rest of the stuff has not been all that exciting, all things considered.
3:32
Of course, other contenders are in generally similar situations in many respects.
ThunderingTurtle
3:32
Billy Hamilton for Jackie Bradley, Jr. Do you see that getting done in some form?
Jeffrey Todd
3:32
Dude.
No.
Hamilton has proven he can't really hit in the majors. JBJ has in the past, and is otherwise still a very good defender and baserunner.
And he has one more year of control as well.
Eloy
3:32
Think the chisox bring him up
Jeffrey Todd
3:33
Just no rush. I think at some point the PR could be such that they feel they need to. Tough question is whether they really want to hold onto an extra year of control. If so, it's tough to promote him this year at all.
Derek Dietrich
3:33
What do you see my trade value as being?
Jeffrey Todd
3:34
As always, I am not going to try to do things like give prospect rankings to anticipate in return, b/c that's rarely a reasonable way to answer these questions.
That being said ...
3:35
I looked at DD's profile a bit recently. Seems like he hasn't really changed at all in any meaningful way. He's just on a good run. BUT his established baseline is already as an above-average hitter -- albeit one who's much better against right-handed pitching.
3:36
If you're familiar with my thoughts on Scooter Gennett, you'll know that I'm not super high on this profile. As a middling to poor defending corner outfielder, there's not a ton of excitement in a platoon bat. He's never been loved for the glove on the dirt, either.
(To be clear, Scooter is a more valuable guy. But both have limitations.)
Bartolo
3:36
Jeff-you're the man.  Thanks for chatting.  Do you see a market for Duda or Granderson?
Jeffrey Todd
3:36
I'm going to choose to believe that Big Sexy is a fan of mine. Thanks, Bart!
3:37
Duda ... needs to show a lot over the next few weeks, but could be a useful bench bat. Nobody is going to go wild for him, same reason he was so cheap in FA.
chris
3:38
Top destinations for Choo?
Jeffrey Todd
3:38
Granderson ... slightly more useful, higher performing, also earning a bit more. Definitely a solid veteran add that some teams would like to make, but again -- not going to generate a big haul.
Hayden
3:39
Could the Jays find a trading partner in the Angels? They could deal Clippard, Oh, Tepera...and the Angels bullpen has long been talked about as a major point of weakness for them. Thoughts?
Jeffrey Todd
3:39
I often dump on the idea of package trades, just b/c it's easy to propose but hard to work out in practice. This is the case here, too, but I do sort of like the concept of the Jays trying to offload a handful of relievers in one deal.
3:40
"We have several decent relievers and you need a whole new pen. Surely you can send a solid prospect back."
Ryan
3:40
What kind of return could the Rockies fetch for Adam Ottavino?
Jeffrey Todd
3:41
Well, if it comes to that ... generally I'd think he'd be about on par with Herrera. I'm inclined to say he's not worth as much b/c his track record isn't as good and he has health questions. But he has been absurd this year and the health problems aren't as big an issue for a few-month rental.
Of course, market conditions would be much different at the deadline itself than when Herrera was moved, which could impact things.
Who says no?
3:43
Machado to LA for Verdugo, Mitchell White, and Yadier Alvarez?
Jeffrey Todd
3:43
That feels awfully rich. Maybe a bidding war pushes it to that kind of level, but that package would bring back a high-quality asset with future control. I realize that Manny is a rare rental star, but ... it's a lot.
Scooby Doo
3:44
What kind of deal do you expect Kimbrel to get?
Jeffrey Todd
3:45
He can still set the closer record. He has been so good for so long.  But he'll have to stay healthy and at least maintain, perhaps increase his performance a smidge down the stretch.
Braveslifer
3:45
My word, the movement on the Braves rosters is like a circus. Does it indicate a GM jockeying before making some showcasing of young talent for possible trades?
Jeffrey Todd
3:47
They are cycling through trying to get fresh arms and gap-stoppers in as needed. I don't see any showcasing. That whole theory has never seemed all that compelling to me. How often do teams really do it? Maybe on occasion they might put a guy at a position in the field or something, but putting a young player at a higher level to boost their value? It'd be a total roll of the dice -- esp if you didn't already believe they ought to be at the higher level for developmental purposes.
Mike
3:47
Any chance Nats bring back Jayson Werth in a coaching/morale role?
Jeffrey Todd
3:47
I think every team should get an Ichiro spot -- a 26th man who hangs out in uni but doesn't play or coach.
3:48
But yes, def some chance he ends up back with the org in some capacity, except that he sounded like he was thinking of getting away from the game some.
3:49
Explore getting a high-end catcher, otherwise splurge on the pen.
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