You are viewing the chat in desktop mode. Click here to switch to mobile view.
X
MLBTR Live Chat
powered byJotCast
Jeffrey Todd
3:06
What's happening?! Thanks for joining. You know the drill: you ask questions, then in a few minutes I desperately try my best to answer a small percentage of them in a semi-coherent manner.
3:08
Spring Training is already nearing an end. Time to bring me your best stuff with your questions. Shelve that junky new cutter you've been fiddling with and throw me some of those good fastballs.
The Toddfather
3:08
Have you ever had a hot toddie?
Jeffrey Todd
3:08
COME ON
(Yes and they can be pleasing in the winter and it is in fact marginally more enjoyable since my last name is Todd.)
Teal Marlin
3:09
How does the Marlins rotation shake out? A lot of good young SP
Jeffrey Todd
3:10
There are a number of fairly interesting guys. I would expect to see some movement during the season. They won't want to lean on any of the young guys too heavily and will want to give multiple hurlers some looks. They'll be mindful of managing 40-man spots, etc. I wouldn't focus too much on who breaks camp.
Cashman
3:10
What does it take to get Gregorius and Betances signed to extensions before the season ends ? Love the chats btw
Jeffrey Todd
3:11
Thanks. Honestly this kind of question is hard to answer given that every player truly has a different perspective. It's far different from an open-market situation.
3:12
Both of these guys have pretty substantial upside/downside scenarios. If Didi limps along after he comes back then he might be looking at a bounceback contract. If he's his 2018 self, maybe he's even got a case for something in the nine-figure range. Betances is even more variable.
3:13
Truly I'm not sure where I'd land, but if forced to guess a guarantee ... I'll say 70 and 38 in post-'19 dollars.
(Note I'm docking Betances for his age. Already almost 31.)
Cory
3:13
Who is your way too early pick to win the World Series?
Jeffrey Todd
3:14
This is actually a shockingly easy question this year, I think, just b/c of the weird alignment of competitive teams. You have to focus on which teams have the clearest paths into the postseason.
*not only into the postseason but to a division title
3:15
So ... give me the Astros. You could argue the Indians are as likely or likelier to win their division but who knows. Think you have to go with an AL team first and not Yanks/Sox b/c one of them will be in a play-in game. So ... my third choice would be Dodgers.
HB
3:16
Yanks smart to wait and see if they actually need another starter?
Jeffrey Todd
3:18
It really depends how their true internal assessments are on the ~3 younger dudes who would be filling in if they don't sign someone else. Every game matters (see above) so you'd like to be rolling from the get-go. But if you truly believe that, say, Gio Gonzalez is only a marginal upgrade in terms of mean expectations (higher floor/lower ceiling, perhaps) then maybe it isn't worth locking in now. Wait for the deadline and re-assess.
Jeff Todd
3:18
What do you think is the worst  contract of all time ?
Jeffrey Todd
3:18
Well, Jeff Todd, thanks for joining, first of all.
3:20
Focusing on the post-roid era .... I'm inclined to say Chris Davis. It was just so hard to understand at the time. And the O's were bidding against, like, one team that would've used him in the outfield (Tigers)? It came at a time when almost every other team had realized that sort of deal was a really bad idea.
3:21
The other ones that popped in my mind at first thought were Pujols and Miggy, but those guys were at least truly generational hitters.
Dan
3:21
When should we start to see the kind of roster decisions that would be newsworthy?  Catcher in Boston jumps out, but I'm sure there will be a few others.
Jeffrey Todd
3:22
The deadline to dump arb deals before more of the salary is guaranteed is coming up very soon. I can't remember offhand the exact date. That could stir the pot, esp w some mid-March opt-outs also up for decision.
Dark
3:23
Thoughts on Berrios not taking an extention? I figure it may help given that Nola and Severino will probably be waiting another year, leaving the 2023 FA class with less options. (This given both have their options picked up and the proposed Berrios contract including one as well)
Jeffrey Todd
3:26
Need to know the $ that were on the table to assess. But if it was in line with the Nola/Sev deals (in relative terms) then I'm not surprised. I really wasn't in love with those contracts, especially Nola's, for the player. That said, Berrios is still pre-arb so he has a much better case for taking an extension than those players did. Nola/Sev were already negotiating big earnings, which also drastically raised the bar for their arb expectations and lowered their risk significantly.
Jeff Todd
3:27
Yankees or Redsox
Jeffrey Todd
3:27
RAYS
(Okay fine Yankees)
Kevin
3:27
Are people overstating the Phillies need for pitching? The rotation is not elite but it is oozing with potential, and the bullpen has been projected as actually very good
Jeffrey Todd
3:29
Haven't really seen people clamoring for arms in Philly, but if they are, I agree that pitching is not exactly an area of need. Could comfortably roll with what they have and feel good. Of course, they are in a good spot to add short-term salary b/c much of their roster is still cheap and it boosts their chances right now without hampering the long term. So if there's a good oppo, they should be prepared to splurge.
Liberty media
3:31
Where can I find Ramen noodles under 33 cents?
Jeffrey Todd
3:32
I am all in on ramen futures - way undervalued. Don't get sucked into buying and consuming ramen right now.
Trader Phil
3:32
Am I wrong to be skeptical of all this Reds hype? Sure, they'll be better than the hot garbage that was last year, but a playoff contender? I don't see it...
Jeffrey Todd
3:33
I think you are wrong, in the sense that they do have a reasonable shot at contending. If you project as a ~.500 team -- and one with some upside in some areas, in a division without a clear runaway favorite -- then I think you're a reasonable contender.
3:34
Of course even then we're not talking about great odds, probably. Reds are likely less desperate to add at the deadline, which is a factor. Even if you see the division as a coin flip, it's a five-way race. And the wild card will be super competitive.
3:35
I think the entire NL is going to be super fun to watch.
Barroz
3:35
Could the Rockies trade Shaw with prospect(s) for salary relief and sign kimbral to the same contract they signed Davis to? Would he accept?
Jeffrey Todd
3:36
This doesn't sound realistic, particularly since they have held their prospects quite close to the chest in recent years.
Padres Fan
3:37
Who's the opening day starter for the Padres at Catcher? Hedges or Mieja?
Load More Messages
Connecting…