JotCast | MLBTR Live Chat With Jeff Todd

MLBTR Live Chat With Jeff Todd

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Zobrist

2:55

Am I more than a league average hitter now?

Jeffrey Todd

2:55

When were you not?

A Phish Called Wanda

2:56

Is Strasburg's arm still going to be worth that contract in 7 years?

Jeffrey Todd

2:57

You're almost always signing such deals for their first half rather than their second, so ... no, probably not. That would be a wild best case scenario. But he's young enough and has enough depth and pitchability to think he could be immensely productive at age 33 or whatever he'll be in the last year of it. Of course, if he's on that kind of trajectory still, he'll probably opt out.

Farq

2:58

Will Daniel Murphy win a batting title this year?

Jeffrey Todd

2:58

Good candidate. He is destroying the baseball -- even plenty of hard-hit outs.

Mr. Todd

2:58

Duffy, Panik, Beede, Arroyo and Strickland for Jose Fernandez

Jeffrey Todd

3:00

Hope you're ready for an infield of Kelby Tomlinson and Conor Gillaspie. I mean, that's a big package but maybe it takes something like that to get Jose ... after all, there aren't any true super-premium talents in that group. But I can't see how it would work for the Giants.

Farq

3:00

What do the cardinals do with there infield when peralta is back?

Jeffrey Todd

3:01

Mix and match, depending on who's pitching and who's playing well. Ease Peralta in, give Wong some time off, etc. Not much they can do other than that.

Grayson

3:02

Any chance Brian Wilson ever plays again?

Jeffrey Todd

3:02

Seems unlikely at this point, but crazier things have happened (albeit maybe not to crazier people).

Mike Rizzo

3:02

Do I finally pull the move on a flashy summer trade, let's say Miller or Chapman?

Jeffrey Todd

3:03

I think the whole idea that they won't take on summer salary may be overblown. That might've been the case last year, but maybe it isn't now -- sure, they locked up Stras, but that doesn't change his 2016 salary and they obviously missed on a few guys who would've greatly increased the payroll.

3:04

So, yeah, I don't see why not. Back of the pen still looks like an area to target, though overall things have gone well enough there.

Sean

3:04

more trade value for the Phillies Hellickson or Ruiz?

Jeffrey Todd

3:05

Neither looks like a great chip given their salaries, but both could be kinda useful to the right team. Could be revocable waiver trade candidates too, if the Phils are hanging around and don't want to sell early.

Kala

3:05

Will Jonny Gomes latch on with a team?

Jeffrey Todd

3:05

On a minor league deal, sure.

joe

3:06

what do u make of the jim pohlad's comments on owners cant do a whole lot, and calling out his players to start winning games and not the molitor or ryan.

Jeffrey Todd

3:06

Seemed odd ... owners, GMs, and managers can't do anything? Hm, well, that's true at a certain point, but those are the people who assemble the team and put the players in their various roles, etc.

Scott

3:07

Do you think fellow players are irritated at Strasburg for taking a cheaper deal than he could have received via free agency?

Jeffrey Todd

3:07

It wasn't THAT great of a discount, so I doubt it.

3:08

Still, I do see it as a discount. Tim Dierkes broke it all down in his latest newsletter, which you should totally subscribe to if you haven't already. (Yup, shameless plug.)

Aaron

3:08

I'm worried... Where am I going to be able to see emojis now?

Jeffrey Todd

3:08

I CAN'T WIN. Okay, I know you're joking, so this is my chance to celebrate myself for figuring out how to prevent that. (I think.)

sean

3:09

Do you believe the yankees will end up selling?

Jeffrey Todd

3:10

Maybe selectively, but they aren't going to do some kind of tear-down. Anyway, many of their veteran assets aren't playing themselves into trade chips (particularly at their salaries).

Michael

3:10

Did the Cardinals extend Kolten Wong too early? Maybe they should have waited a year or traded him?

Jeffrey Todd

3:10

I wasn't a big fan of the deal myself. Doesn't seem to give the team much upside or do a lot of work in terms of cost certainty -- why make the commitment?

Jaxson

3:11

Should Harper have been suspended longer than 1 game. I was thinking 5. What are your thoughts.

Jeffrey Todd

3:11

Seriously? Five games? Wow. Only rule he broke was coming back on the field after being ejected. And he never should've been tossed in the first place. You don't suspend guys for cursing at umps, for obvious reasons.

Michael

3:12

Any notable free agents you're surprised is still a free agent?

Jeffrey Todd

3:13

No, at this stage they are all waiting for the right opportunity. I do find it a bit funny that we were hearing reports that Lincecum would sign right away and be in a big league rotation in a few weeks, and ... yeah. We'll see, but that always seemed optimistic.

Anonymous

3:13

Assuming Kenley Jansen's excellence continues this year, over/under on 5 years/65 million?

Jeffrey Todd

3:15

Not a bad place to set the over/under. He's young enough and has a long enough track record, without having too much wear and tear, to imagine that kind of deal. If Robertson can get 4/48, then ... yeah. Right kind of pitcher, too -- high K and low walk, etc.

Michael

3:16

Surprised by Jaime Garcia's performance thus far?

Jeffrey Todd

3:16

He's always been good when not broken.

Michael

3:16

Your reaction to Bartolo Colon hitting a home run?

Jeffrey Todd

3:16

A little chuckle and a slow clap.