JotCast | MLBTR Live Chat With Jason Martinez: February 1, 2017

MLBTR Live Chat With Jason Martinez: February 1, 2017

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Jason Martinez

5:13

Yes. Maybe not with the Astros, especially if Gurriel is productive. But if he bounces back and starts hitting the crap out of the ball in Triple-A, he'll be back on the radar in no time.

Dan S

5:15

Do the Tigers move a veteran before the season starts?

Jason Martinez

5:15

I don't think so. They've come this far. Might as well see what their team looks like for a month or two. If they're not very good, I think Avila needs to start rebuilding.

Philly boy

5:18

Phillies need a LH starter and reliever. Should they sign Travis Wood and Blevib

Jason Martinez

5:18

The word is that Wood has MLB offers (or offer) to be a starter. Not sure the Phillies would be that team. They would have a spot in the 'pen for him, but current rotation is Hellickson, Nola, Eickhoff, Buchholz, Velasquez and they have at least 3-4 guys in Triple-A who are close. I don't know if Wood would see it as his best opportunity to start.

Robert

5:20

If both Hosmer and Moustakas have good years which player gets the bigger FA contract?

Jason Martinez

5:21

If they both have equally good years, I'd go with Moustakas since teams will see more value in a 3B over 1B. Both should get nice deals, regardless. Talented, good track records, playoff experience and hitting free agency before age 30.

John

5:23

Brad Brach for Curtis Granderson. Who says no?

Jason Martinez

5:24

O's say no. They re-signed Trumbo, acquired Seth Smith and Hyun-soo Kim was pretty good last year. I don't know why they'd give up their top setup man for Granderson. They do have setup man depth (O'Day, Givens), but I don't think they're looking to trade one for a bat at this point.

Matt Wieters

5:27

WHY DOES NO ONE WANT TO SIGN ME!

Jason Martinez

5:29

My guess is that you're asking for Brian McCann $$$ and I don't think teams are willing to give you anything close to it. And that's not saying McCann is better. He wouldn't get that deal again in this market. Teams just won't give that kind of $ to a player who isn't "elite". Wieters is good to very good. Not elite.

Buck

5:30

Do I have Dylan Bundy starting this year or coming out of the pen?

Jason Martinez

5:30

I think he proved himself last season. In the rotation for good. Maybe 25+ starts if he can stay healthy.

Tim

5:31

Chris Carter an option for Pirates with Josh Bell injury?

Jason Martinez

5:31

Nope, they're good. Bell should be ready by Opening Day, if not very soon after, and Jaso/Freese can handle 1B in his absence.

Super braves fan

5:31

Should the braves lock Dansby Swanson up early

Jason Martinez

5:31

Yes, he's one of those guys that they can build around.

Jeff

5:33

When does trading Baez for pitching start making sense for the Cubs? Eloy Jimenez?

Jason Martinez

5:34

I don't think it will happen, but only if their rotation starts to look like a weakness and only if it nets them a frontline starter. I do have concerns about their rotation depth, but the addition of Brett Anderson and Eddie Butler could help. If one of the top 4 go down, they could turn to Montgomery, Zastryzny or Butler and should be OK.

Jacob

5:36

Chances of NL Roy for NL Ozzie vs Swanson

Jason Martinez

5:36

Swanson is a frontrunner. Albies won't get the call early enough to have that kind of impact. Between Peterson/S-Rod and the fact that Albies is only 20 and hasn't had much success in AAA yet, I wouldn't expect him before mid-season.

Lou

5:38

Come July, if Dozier is hitting like he did in the second half of 2016 could he command more than a Jose DeLeon type in a trade?

Jason Martinez

5:38

I think the longer track record of elite performance would balance out the half year less he'll have remaining on his contract. So probably not. But it all depends on how badly a playoff contender needs a bat. Timing can be everything.

Ralph C

5:39

Should the Cubs expect anything from Eddie Butler? If not in 2017, maybe 2018?

Jason Martinez

5:39

Former top prospect. Extreme change of scenery. I'd say there's a decent chance he ends up being a decent back-of-rotation starter in 2018. Still has an option so he can continue to work on things in AAA.

Joe Jackson

5:42

Ryon Healy - .300/20/80 reasonable expectation?

Jason Martinez

5:42

I think 20/80 is reasonable if he's able to stay in the lineup and log 500+ plate appearances. But that 12 BB/60 K ratio in his 283 PAs tells me that he'll have a hard time making adjustments once teams have a better idea of how to attack him.

Don L.

5:46

Any chance the White Sox add a starter (besides Holland) or take advantage of the suppressed first basemen/DH market to find another trade chip for the July deadline?

Jason Martinez

5:46

It's definitely a possibility. I currently have a Cody Asche/Rymer Liriano platoon at DH. I think Napoli, Carter, Logan Morrison and Adam Lind are fits. But I'm not sure the 1B/DH trade market is any stronger in July, so it's a risk to spend $$$ on Napoli. The others could come cheap enough to take the gamble.

Baseball guy

5:48

Slow typer?

Jason Martinez

5:48

Extremely fast typer. Slow to process thoughts and put them into words. Checking for typos probably doesn't help speed things up.

Steve

5:50

Blue Jays, 90 wins: over or under and why?

Jason Martinez

5:50

I'll go with 85-88 wins, mostly off the strength of their rotation.

Jeff

5:52

Do you believe the Rangers are serious about Quintana are is that another crock of a rumor by Bob Nightengale

Jason Martinez

5:53

I don't see them putting together a package that rivals what the Astros/Pirates can. Even if the Sox really like Joey Gallo and the Rangers were to include him, their top prospects aren't close enough to the majors or good enough compared to guys mentioned in Astros and Pirates rumors ... (Martes, Tucker, Musgrove, Glasnow, Keller, Meadows).

5:55

Thanks for chatting! Same place and time next week. And hopefully a few new rumors to discuss.

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