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
3:43
Hunter Pence to the Rangers
Hope I didn't lead you on haha.
Cody
3:43
Any chance the Cardinals are actually in on Harper and are just being quiet about it?
Jeffrey Todd
3:45
They are one of the teams you could imagine in that boat, sure. Likewise, the Cubs, who could at least be holding out the possibility of Harper as a sort of special consideration. I have said before and do believe: there are good reasons for teams (at least sometimes) to want to stay quiet. If the Cards broadcast their interest all winter long, after losing on some other guys in recent years, they might end up with a deflated fan base at the start of camp. Why go through that? Plus, there's leverage with other teams/players and the team's existing players to consider.
JNogle
3:45
Do the reports of Bryce being open to a shorter-term deal bring the Dodgers back into discussion?
Jeffrey Todd
3:46
To be clear, I have not seen any such report. I have seen various people float that idea. I suppose to an extent I floated the idea earlier in this chat. You can intuit that it may be something at least close to being on the table by the late-breaking meetings with new teams. But there's nothing I'd consider a report indicating he's actually open to that as the end result.
Free Willie Nelson Mandela
3:48
Are there limits to option years in the CBA?  Specifically, could a team offer Harper 5 years 200mil with an option to tack on an additional 5 years $150 or pay a buyout?
Jeffrey Todd
3:49
There are no such limitations. We see that, effectively, with "opt-outs" -- which are really just big old player options. And there are some instances where team options have to be exercised in advance, though it's less common. Increasingly we are seeing that sort of thing with what Scott Boras unfortunately labeled the "swell-opt," which is a term I am pained even to type.
Caleb
3:50
Do you think the Astros will trade for another pitcher. They only McCullers beyond next year. I know Whitley and others will be there but what about another veteran, someone like Stroman would be ideal
Jeffrey Todd
3:51
Well the upper-level pitching talent is real. And I don't think they are particularly worried about the A's and Angels catching them. Can wait and see what the mid-season needs are. Not to say that an addition is impossible to imagine, but I don't think they see it as a necessity.
3:52
Also I don't really see Stroman being dealt. Never have. He's too good, and showed too much of his typical ability last year, for the Jays to sell low.
(What I mean is, his peripherals looked good last year even though the ERA was in the toilet. Not like he looked like a totally different pitcher.)
JNogle
3:53
Your thoughts on the universal DH?
Jeffrey Todd
3:54
The vehement opinions I've read on the internet make me not care what happens.
3:55
Actually what made me really apathetic, in terms of the "sanctity of the game" perspective, was reading people who pointed out that, really, the strategies involved with the pitcher hitting really aren't that exciting. Sure, from time to time there's a tough call to be made, but mostly it's obvious and you just do it. I also prefer not to see pitchers hurt for doing something they aren't really getting paid to do. That sucks.
Logan
3:56
Fan Graphs says Brewers get 5th in the division
Jeffrey Todd
3:58
I would not agree with that ... meaning, I don't think you can say Fangraphs actually says that. Certain projection systems that appear on Fangraphs indicate that their systems see the Brewers' roster as the 5th best in terms of likeliest outcomes. But there's just so much under the surface there. I'm sure many FG writers wouldn't just say "yup, Brewers are going to be in the cellar." And projection systems bake in many scenarios. Maybe the Brewers have more downside outcomes, but perhaps many scenarios where they win the division. And obviously the projection systems aren't close to perfect and don't claim to be.
Sox Fan
3:58
Any hope for the tweet from Hector Gomez that Manny Machado will be signing with the White Sox being true? Please give me some hope!
Jeffrey Todd
3:59
We obviously haven't felt comfortable using it on the site, but ... who knows? Info does come out in different ways.
4:00
Wouldn't be that odd at all for a guy like Gomez to get that kind of info. But as far as indicia of reliability are concerned, his tweet is lacking.
Now ... my favorite flow of info story as a MLBTR writer.
4:01
Andrelton Simmons extension first hit twitter when Schuerholz, perhaps after havin a few, told some young dude about the deal at some kind of hoity toity event the night before it was announced.
@CapCityBullies
Follow Follow @CapCityBullies
More
Simmons is getting a 7/59 extension from the Braves. First time and probably the last I get to break MLB news before any reporter.
4:02
That was the tweet. Nailed it!
Tyler
4:02
How did the Dodgers get outbid with Ruiz, Verdugo, and others?
Jeffrey Todd
4:04
I assume they did not offer those players (or others the Marlins wanted). That said, let's not look past the fact that Alfaro was also once a clear top-100 catching prospect not long ago. And while he doesn't really look like a guy who'll reach the top-top ceiling he might have had when younger, he has probably steered clear of some of the downside scenarios that are still fairly likely for a Ruiz. And though the K rate is a worry, Alfaro also stung the ball last year in terms of exit velo. It's easier to fall in love with prospects but let's remember that there's some added value in the floor of this particular young MLB guy. And I think still some upside as well.
B Harp
4:05
Should the Nats trade Eaton and salary to the Pads already so I can resign with the Nats?  Seems like after some wiggle room this is a no brained with Robles set defensively.
Jeffrey Todd
4:07
I saw someone (Matt Eddy perhaps?) asking about which NL team could benefit most from the DH. If the Nats still want Harper the most, and offer him the best narrative (I had to come back to DC!), they sure could make good use of that. Imagine DH spot being rotated between Soto, Harper, Zimmerman, Adams, Dozier, Kendrick.
Otherwise ... it is interesting to think about what a last-second Eaton trade would look like but I just don't know.
Could see the Pads there, sure. Giants. White Sox. Lots of teams would love to have him even with some health risk.
Signing Deadline
4:09
When will MLB incorporate me into the offseason?
Jeffrey Todd
4:10
Really not sure why that would help a ton. I think it's likely better to have soft deadlines (spring training, especially) that help motivate than an artificial, hard stop. There could be some bad situations, too, like ... what about the guys that just don't get deals? Can they only sign minors pacts now? Are they just screwed? Can teams hold all this over them for leverage? I don't know, lots to consider.
i am a dolphin
4:11
is it true that the twins will be simply selecting random fans from the stands to pitch the late innings in most games?
Jeffrey Todd
4:11
Come on now, that's ridiculous and unfair.
They made clear they would require the amateur late-inning pitchers to register beforehand and prove they could at least hit 50 and catch a baseball before being allowed to enter the lottery.
4:13
But otherwise ... no, it's just they will evidently not be just dumping some of the excess spending capacity they have on some additional relievers. It seems like a pretty easy thing to do from the outside -- like, hey, why wouldn't you even just have gone ahead and outbid the Cubs on Brad Brach? -- but there is a world in which it is actually their preference, even if they have some 40-man flexibility and cash to work with. Maybe they really like their 7 dudes.
4:14
Actually I think it's in-between. They don't want to flush that cash unless they really have an opportunity to win, so they are going to let things play out early and decide whether to push more chips in during the season. It's a bit of a silly position. I pointed out some of the strained logic in this post: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/01/twins-front-office-discusses-sp...
4:15
They say "young talent is variable!" ... "we believe in our young talent!" ... "have to invest when your window is really open!" ... I mean, which is it? It is none of the above. You just take resources and opportunities. I think the Twins are being a bit stingy with their spending but we shall see.
Ronan
4:16
Do you think Nolan Arenado will ask for a similar contract to what Bryce Harper gets? Or will he accept slightly less?
Jeffrey Todd
4:17
Objectively he should get less because he's two years older. And that's before you get to the fact that the Rockies should be able to get at least some discount one year in advance of FA. But there's certainly an argument he ought to receive a slightly higher AAV.
Connecting…