JotCast | Trade Rumors Front Office Chat: 8/10/20

Trade Rumors Front Office Chat: 8/10/20

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Steve Adams

12:42

His velocity is up, not down, from where it was in 2019 when he posted a sub-2.00 ERA

And his average FB velo of 91 mph in his last start was his best of the year

12:44

The K/BB numbers are good. He's throwing strikes. Getting BABIP'ed to death (.412) and his 46% strand rate is ripe for positive regression. Exit velo, launch angle, barrel% are all down in 2020. I still think he'll bounce back.

DiDidIt

12:44

Any chance the Phillies sign Didi to an extension or make a play on him this offseason? He's been their MVP so far.

Steve Adams

12:45

Sure -- they liked him well enough on a pretty sizable one-year deal. He's been great for them, Girardi obviously knows/likes him. They don't have an elite SS prospect knocking the door down.

Troy

12:46

With the way he has hit in both of his big league seasons now, defensive versatility, and tons of TC, do you think there would be any interest in trade market for Austin Nola?

Steve Adams

12:49

Nola seems like a legitimately useful piece. Not sure I'm sold on him as any kind of strong defensive backstop, but carrying him as a second/third catcher who can also play multiple infield positions or an OF corner while absolutely clobbering lefties is a huge plus.

Mariners probably love that versatility, too, though. And they're hoping to be competitive by 2021-22, so maybe they'd prefer to hang onto him. Teams will call on him though, yes, as they should. I'd imagine pre-arb guys on rebuilding clubs (Nola, Alberto, etc.) will have even more appeal in 2020 with all of the revenue losses. Filling spots on the cheap is going to be important for the next couple years, as most front offices aren't going to be given as many resources as they'd have gotten in a normal year.

TankForKumar

12:50

Pirates have the 1st pick wrapped up? Hard to see anyone being picked before Vanderbilt RHP Kumar Rocker. He’s a shoo-in first pick, like Prior, Price, Strasburg, etc., right?

Steve Adams

12:52

10 months in advance is way too soon to call anyone a shoo-in. Rocker could get hurt. He could go out and walk 50 guys in 90 innings next season. His velocity could dip. And there's the possibility of any number of pop-up names from high school ranks -- plus, more than ever, in the college ranks. All these prospects had their 2020 seasons cut short... we'd probably have seen a sophomore or two erupt into Top 5 overall territory. That type of breakout will have to wait until '21 for now.

Yes, Rocker's probably the favorite at this moment, but a lot can change.

12:53

To the other part of your question -- yes, Pirates have my bet for #1 overall pick

Cardinals

12:53

When are we going to see the League announce a Minimum Games Played requirement rule for the 16 Playoff teams? If the Cardinals are not forced to play all 60 Games they will be fresher than all the other playoff teams.

Steve Adams

12:54

Hard to say they'll be fresher when they've got 55 games to play in 45 days.

12:55

I do wonder if there'll be some kind of minimum, but barring any further outbreak in STL, the Cards should be able to play at least 75% of their scheduled games. It's kind of a novelty season in some regards anyhow, so I imagine the league would be fine going by win% at that point

Griffin

12:55

We saw the Yankees has interest in Ken Giles last year. Any chance the Yankees gamble on him and his injuries to replace Tommy Kahnle

Steve Adams

12:57

Giles missed minimal time due to elbow inflammation last year and had 1.5 seasons of control remaining at that point. He's now a rental who's been out two-plus weeks due to a much more ominous forearm strain.

If the Yankees want to replace Kahnle, there are probably other places they can look for a less-volatile option.

Pirates fan

12:58

Your take on Byron Buxton? He's shown flashes of tremendous power of the last week or so. I wonder if it's for real (if he stays healthy)...and when he'll start stealing bases?

Steve Adams

1:01

He's shown power in the past, too. Buxton is among the most talented players in the game in terms of raw ability; he's also probably the most prone to break a collarbone, separate a shoulder, etc. by sprinting full-blast into the CF wall or laying out on a Superman dive to make a catch.

He's always going to strike out a lot and will likely only walk at an average rate at best (that's optimistic). Injuries will probably continue to be a problem. But I also think he'll continue to rank among the best defenders on the planet, regardless of position, and can be an above-average hitter and baserunner when healthy. He should be a 4 to 6 WAR guy if he can play 150-plus at some point.

Old Chief

1:01

I liked the newsletter a lot, so thanks for that insight. Would Seattle move Gonzales? I know he's under control and not old but he's no kid either.

Steve Adams

1:01

I don't think the Mariners signed him to that extension this winter just to move him.

1:02

Again, they see themselves as not too far off from being competitive -- and right now Marco is the only solidified arm they really have.

1:03

There's hope that he'll be joined by Sheffield, Kikuchi, Dunn and eventually Kirby, Gilbert and Hancock, but I expect them to keep him -- barring some Godfather-esque offer that they just can't turn away

Suspensions

1:04

Pretty amazing No Astros pitchers got Suspended for plunking A’s Batters 5 times in that 3-Game series, including Laureano 3 times. A’s did not plunk any Astros batters in that Series.

Steve Adams

1:05

I have a feeling this won't be the only time we're questioning suspensions (or lack thereof) surrounding an Astros-related incident in 2020. They don't have many friends around the game.

johnmac94

1:05

Are we going to hear "Down Goes Frazier" again or will he FINALLY get a chance to play every day?

Steve Adams

1:07

Depends on health throughout the rest of the roster. If Stanton, Hicks, Gardner, Judge and Tauchman are all healthy, there's no real way to work Frazier in daily. Some kind of rotation is inevitable. Last night was a good start to him hitting his way into a more permanent role, but if he slips at all, yeah, he could easily be optioned again. It does just kind of feel like some kind of move involving him is almost inevitable, though that'd change to an extent if the Yankees let Gardner go this winter or if he retired.

6-12

1:07

Sam Kennedy today said no one is untouchable for the Sox today. Have to believe Xander wouldn’t be traded, right? After him who is their biggest trade chip?

Steve Adams

1:10

Disclaimer: I've not yet read his comments. That said, it's hard to see them trading Bogaerts or Devers, but those would be their two most in-demand pieces by a wide margin.

Outside of that, with E-Rod shelved and Benintendi struggling+hurt, it's tougher to see many big-time trade assets. Anyone from the 'pen could go. Workman, Barnes, Hembree seem downright likely to be traded, in fact. Could probably find some interest in a Pillar and/or JBJ rental.

1:11

I have to think they'll listen on JDM, but he's a high-priced slugger with no defensive value who could opt out a month after he's acquired.

Mr Roctober

1:11

Rockies winning percentage right now 30% thru the season would be a 108 win pace in a regular season. Did Dick Monfort know something everyone else didn't when he predicted 94 wins for the Rockies?

Steve Adams

1:15

The Rockies' record to date is still the most inexplicable thing about this weird season. But Blackmon isn't going to hit .500 forever, and several of their pitchers seem like they're due to come crashing back down as well. As a team, their BABIP leads MLB by 18 points and is 50 points above the league average.

They could still make the playoffs though. They're a .500 team if they play even 18-24 ball from here on out.

Old Chief

1:15

Would the Sox pay some of Eovaldi's contract to clear payroll?

Steve Adams

1:16

I'm sure they would. Ownership traded one of the five best players in baseball this winter just to dip under the luxury tax, and it's not like Eovaldi is any sort of irreplaceable arm.

1:18

Ok, I have to wrap this up for the week. Thanks for joining this week. We'll have some more Front Office content mailed out to our subscribers in the coming days, and we'll have another subscriber chat this time next week.

Thank you again for supporting MLBTR. It is overwhelmingly appreciated, and it's humbling to have the support we've received to date. You guys rock. Feel free to ask me more questions on Twitter @Adams_Steve, and have a great weekend!

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