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Anthony Franco
3:01
Hello everyone, looking forward to another one of these
So we're definitely going to have to start with Juan Soto haha
JL
3:01
Is there any player, both teams would agree, who could be traded straight up for Juan Soto?
Chriss
3:01
Assuming that it is true that Soto is on the trade block, what teams have the pieces to pull off the trade
Atkins
3:01
The Nationals call and say whats your Soto offer. Is this at all close? Moreno, Martinez, Teidemann, pearson, gurriel jr.
sgrossman
3:02
Soto trade speculation seems to dramatically understate what it will take to get a player who profiles as a possible Ted Williams. If a trade were to occur at all--I am guessing it would take an established  MLB star (not quite with Soto's potential), a non-stary everyday player, and at least 2 highly rated MLB-ready prospects. My guage is: would the fans of the team getting Soto seriously wonder if their team paid too much for a single player. What do you think?
Anita
3:02
I love Bo but to have a better balanced team, how about Bo for Juan Soto.  They use Espinal at short and get a second baseman or go for Xander. I'm also thinking Bo's comments during arb and don't think he is going to sign long term, neither will Soto poss but I think it gives the Jays a better shot over the next 3 years
Anthony Franco
3:02
I assume that this week's flood of questions is in response to Buster Olney's column at ESPN yesterday where he floats the idea that Soto could be available at the deadline
3:03
I'll start by saying there's a reason we haven't put that on the site
3:04
Each of Steve, Mark and I agreed that piece felt too nebulous to devote a ton of attention. There was no indication that anyone with the Nats is considering a Soto deal, nothing firm suggesting they've actually discussed him in talks
3:05
For the most part, that portion of the post (and it's a much longer column overall) was some speculation from rival executives that maybe the Nats would consider it because they're down to two and a half years of control and they're awful -- both of which have been apparent for a long time now even as there's zero indication they're entertaining a deal
And so, to begin with, I don't think the Nationals will trade Soto this summer
3:06
That said, if it becomes apparent they're reversing course and do make him available, then obviously any prospect in the game would be attainable (within reason, the rebuilding Orioles aren't giving up Rutschman for two-plus years of Soto)
3:08
That suggested package of Gabriel Moreno, Orelvis Martinez and Nate Pearson would probably be the best offer the Nationals would find, so I think that's a reasonable starting point if they make him available. But I also don't think it's equivalent value -- great as Moreno and Martinez could be -- which is why I don't actually expect Washington to move him
Alright, let's get to some other players. That took a while
Yankees Pitchers
3:08
Is getting rid of Sanchez and moving Torres really the only thing that has been holding all of us back for years or is this just a dream?
Anthony Franco
3:10
It's definitely not that simple. The team defensive efficiency is better but not dramatically so. Maybe you'd argue Sánchez had some tougher to quantify deleterious effects from a game-calling perspective, but it's not entirely the defense
3:11
They're also giving up fewer homers this year, as pretty much everyone is because of the ball/early-season weather combination. They've also had really good rotation health so far, which probably isn't going to last 162 games
3:12
They've only needed one start from someone outside the top five of Cole, Cortes, Montgomery, Severino, Taillon. Eventually, somebody's going to get hurt; that's just how pitching is
3:13
Everyone aside from Cortes was really good before this season (and you can even argue for Nestor because of his 2021 numbers), and they've always been excellent at getting results from the bullpen
3:14
So I think it's a broad confluence of factors -- good health, slightly better defense, very talented starters, great identification of the lesser-heralded relievers like Mike King and Clay Holmes
David Price
3:14
What will happen with me. The Dodgers have a need at SP
Anthony Franco
3:14
I just think he's a reliever at this point. Tough to see them stretching him back into a regular rotation. Take a couple innings where you can get it and hope for the best
3:15
If this question is "would anyone trade a real starter for David Price," I think the answer is no
Squeeze play
3:15
In MLB, the shift is ridiculous.  Why do MLB players not purposely lay down bunts or hit the ball to the opposite side?  MLB commentators said that fans don’t want to see that?  Who says?   I want to see it, especially when shifts have taken so many hits away.  MLB players are talented enough to do it…….they just arn’t.  Your thoughts?
Anthony Franco
3:16
I think your premise that they could do it but choose not to is probably incorrect. Maybe there's some amount of bravado that prevents guys from trying at times, but I think the bigger thing is not many feel confident they could adequately place a bunt even vaguely down the line
3:17
It's not like analytics tell guys not to bunt for hits. Sacrifice bunts are obviously way down relative to 15 years ago because data determined they're inefficient, by and large. But getting on base is valuable as ever. If guys felt like they could do that regularly, I think they would
Hogjaz
3:17
Both Orioles catchers are hitting below .150. When do you think they will bring up Rutschman?
Anthony Franco
3:18
Within a month. Not because Bemboom and Chirinos aren't good, since the organization still doesn't care about the MLB product, but because he's got nothing left to prove in the minors
Arthur Dent
3:18
How long before the rebuild in Seattle is considered a failure?  I don’t have a problem seeing things run their course for this season and next but Mariner fans are getting restless with some already calling for Dipoto’s head.
Anthony Franco
3:20
It's still too early in the season to write them off entirely this year. They're probably not going to win 90 games again, but if the fanbase had sky-high expectations because the bullpen was unsustainably good last year, I don't know what the front office is supposed to do about it
To directly answer your question, I think missing the playoffs this year would be disappointing but not a total indictment. The roster's still young, it's a top-tier farm system
3:21
If they miss again in 2023, then you can convince me a shake-up is needed. No postseason in any of the next three years? Complete failure
A's Fan
3:21
Who are the 3 most likely players Oakland could deal by the Trade Deadline?
Anthony Franco
3:21
In terms of pure likelihood to move, I'd probably go Trivino, Montas, Kemp
3:22
Montas would bring back the best return by far
Mr Chad
3:22
Batting average on balls in play - with the overshift and cards in pockets - why is this a stat?
Anthony Franco
3:23
I think it's a viable starting point still, since there just aren't players with a true talent .200 BABIP or something. So if you're never getting a hit that doesn't clear the fence, you're probably in line for positive regression. If a journeyman's running a .370 BABIP to great results, he's probably not that good
3:24
At the same time, your point is a good one that we can't just assume everyone has a true talent BABIP right at the league average. Some guys are going to have worse ball in play results consistently -- whether because they're predictable with where they hit the ball, hit too many pop-ups or lazy fly balls, are super slow and can't beat out on an infield hit, etc.
3:25
So not all .250 BABIPs are created equal, and you then have to go beyond that to look at what the root causes might be. Chalking it all up to bad luck is too simplistic, yeah, even if that can still be one of multiple factors
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