JotCast | MLBTR Live Chat With Jeff Todd

MLBTR Live Chat With Jeff Todd

Jeffrey Todd

2:39

Thanks for joining! I'll let everyone gather round and we'll get chatting here shortly.

Adam

2:41

Can the Rangers be good this year?

Jeffrey Todd

2:41

Well, yeah, they are pretty good. More a solid overall club than anything special, but that goes for much of the AL. Nice thing for TEX is they have some talent in the upper minors that could be used if a desire/need arises or to cash in for a legit upgrade.

Luis

2:42

What can the yankees get in return, realistically, if they put Chapman in the trade market?

Jeffrey Todd

2:43

Very tough question. In terms of pure on-field value, remember that a bidding war got the Red Sox Eduardo Rodriguez from the O's for Andrew Miller. You'd hope for that kind of return. Hard to say how his domestic violence suspension will impact suitors that are looking at him as a rental. You'd have to think NYY will need pretty significant value to do a deal, b/c it'd mean admitting defeat and the team stands to add a draft pick via QO after the season even if it holds him.

NOT Mickey Koke

2:43

What kind of value do you see now for Matt Kemp and Melvin Upton now that they're playing well?

Jeffrey Todd

2:44

Don't see either as having surplus value over their contracts, but they are perhaps beginning to approach Nick Markakis land -- "hey, I'd like to have this guy on my team, maybe we can work out the finances." Regardless, I don't see either returning a really interesting young player, and I'd expect SDP to eat cash in the event either is moved.

Matt

2:44

Who do you realistically see the chisox bringing in to help the rotation and/or lineup?

Jeffrey Todd

2:45

They've been opportunistic buyers in free agency and can do the same here, so I don't think it's worth trying to peg specific players. CWS could stand to add any kind of bat, even if corner OF is the preference, and one or two rotation pieces wouldn't be bad. And it seems they'll have money to work with, which I expect they'll try to rely on rather than pulling out assets from the farm.

2:46

That may put them in a different situation than other buyers, so could be an interesting dynamic to watch. Maybe that makes CWS a better match for a not-cheap player like Jay Bruce.

Keith

2:47

What is a hypothetical return on Bautista and EE if the Jays continue to be extremely mediocre? I understand they have 10 and 5 rights, but as pending FAs, being traded only benefits their future free agency.

Jeffrey Todd

2:48

They'd be difference-making bats for any team looking for some pop, and the fact that they are on relatively cheap, expiring contracts makes them highly marketable. But it's going to be tough for the Jays to sell unless they are really, truly out of it. Plus, QO offers compensation after the year.

Hahn

2:48

So who will call me now about trades?

Jeffrey Todd

2:50

Braves and Twins, though not clear what they have that'd be a great fit. Reds should probably be willing to do business now, and perhaps the Brewers would, too. Remember, though, these teams have mostly been picked over (or, in the MIN case, don't have a lot of clear trade chips) ... at least, unless guys like Votto or Freeman become available.

Thom

2:51

What kind of return could JD Martinez fetch for the Tigers at this year's trade deadline?

Jeffrey Todd

2:51

He'd be comparable to Carlos Gomez last year, but with a season of control left it's hard to see them shopping him. (Remember, Gomez was dealt with Fiers, who was a fairly valuable asset himself.)

olereb

2:52

What would it take for the White Sox to get Teheran

Jeffrey Todd

2:53

An overpay. He's had a couple nice starts, is young and controllable for cheap, and ATL has all kinds of PR issues right now. They are obviously willing to do deals whenever, but I think they'd want a pretty penny at this particular moment in time.

I'm still skeptical of Teheran's value, I should note. Still hasn't been consistent and maybe I'm a bit skewed from not being very impressed when watching him. (Amateur scouting alert!)

Mark S.

2:54

is there a fit you see for a Jose Reyes trade out of Colorado??

Jeffrey Todd

2:55

Man, I have a hard time seeing any club thinking he's worth plunking down a few million for him right now. He hasn't done anything to rehabilitate his image yet, and his weak statement after his suspension wasn't a great start. Not as if there's much reason to think he'd be more than a solid veteran contributor anyway, so there isn't much upside.

2:56

Guessing the Rox will let him build up and then maybe make a decision before a rehab stint? I kind of thought they'd just cut him loose, b/c how much value does he really have compared with the PR hit? Then again, I've come to realize I should never anticipate anything they'll do down at Blake St.

PSA: @JeffPassan
Source: Tim Lincecum's physical is today in Anaheim. If he passes, as expected, deal with the Angels is done and he'll build up in minors.

2:57

So sounds as if that's getting done.

NOT Mickey Koke

2:57

Is the media unfairly criticizing A.J., Peeler based on small sample sizes? As we've seen a lot of the trades last year make initial impact it hype, this year is looking better the other way....

Jeffrey Todd

2:58

To some extent, yeah, but he's done a lot of head scratching things from my vantage point. The real media miss was all the credit he got after that first winter. Never seemed particularly wise. Of course, maybe the plan was to just take a shot at it in year one and then go the long route if things didn't work out, and the ownership group seems happy with him, so I'll reserve ultimate judgment for a few years.

Christian

2:58

Where should the Mets be looking to add via trade this season?

Jeffrey Todd

2:59

As things stand, maybe a nice pen piece. But it's imaginable that an infield need could arise depending upon how Wright manages things and Asdrubal/Wilmer perform.

3:00

Guess if you're a real Duda hater you could argue to replace him or supplement with a power-hitting righty.

Todd Jeffrey

3:00

Do the Mets have an offense problem, or are they just unlucky?

Jeffrey Todd

3:01

Little bit unlucky, but I don't think it was ever likely to be a powerhouse lineup. Expect they'll land in the middle of the pack, give or take.

Matt

3:01

"There aren't many teams that would stick with a GM for two decades of .474 baseball and zero playoff success. There aren't many markets in which that GM and his longtime front office assistants would receive little criticism and tons of praise for producing 11 losing seasons in 18 years." - A recent article about Terry Ryan and the Minnesota Twins. how to fix the minnesota twins?

Jeffrey Todd

3:02

Ouch. Well, you have to wonder whether ownership is pleased that he's managing things the way it wants and helping make the team money, rather than fretting over his W-L record.

Trevor

3:02

Is Trayce Thompson the Dodgers LF of the future? Can he be a cornerstone piece along with Pederson, Seager, and Urias?

Jeffrey Todd

3:03

He's still barely over 200 PAs in the majors, and never was much of an offensive force in the minors, so I wouldn't say he's created any presumptions that he's a well above-average hitter. Obviously nice to see it, though, and he looks like a clear MLB piece for some time down the line.

Matt

3:03

Any chance the Phills give Joseph a try at catcher? Or are the previous concussions to big of a risk?

Jeffrey Todd

3:04

Those days are over.

Josh

3:04

Is Aaron Judge getting called up this year?

Jeffrey Todd

3:04

Definitely think he will get the ring at some point.