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Travis Sawchik
12:59
With the players' share of revenue declining for more than a decade, a lot of folks are wondering where money is being spent. I'm surprised there hasn't been a push by players (and large-market owners) to have a payroll floor to meet to go along with the luxury threshold
bananas
12:59
What's the next big market inefficiency? With the draft and international markets both neutered in spending options, and all teams moneyballing, are we past the days of small-markets being able to compete with the big boys?
Travis Sawchik
1:01
There's always something out there that is not valued properly. Now, the margins might shrink in some areas ... but I believe there is more that we don't know than we know
Regis Philban
1:01
Do the Pirates get Quintana? Whats the package?
Travis Sawchik
1:02
I know Ken Rosenthal and others have pegged the Pirates as a favorite. The Pirates have the assets to get a deal done. And they chased after David Price a few deadlines ago, so they've hunted big names/arms before. I could see it happening. I'm nmot sure if the Nova signing changes anything
John
1:02
Now that you work with fangraphs, do you still reside in Pittsburgh?
Travis Sawchik
1:03
I do! Please stop by for a French-fry smothered sandwich
Ellis
1:04
Are the Nats smarter to try and trade Harper before he walks, or are they better off holding on to him?
Travis Sawchik
1:05
It's all about the context of the team and/or belief in resigning him. I think Harper becomes a Yankee eventually, but Nats are too good right now to trade off one of the game's top stars
5 Run Homer
1:05
What is Marcus Stroman at this point? Closer to first half or second half of 2016?
Travis Sawchik
1:06
Good question. Not many comps with that body type. I just wonder about his durability.
rustydude
1:06
Chipper Jones and Jim Thome will be new players on the HOF ballot next year. Jones will probably get a lot of attention from voters in his 1st year. Do you see the same occurring for Thome?
Travis Sawchik
1:07
I think so. It's a crowded ballot these days, as we know, but Jones is a first-ballot talent. Thome's numbers suggest he is, too
jon
1:07
What is your view on the "X team won't trade with Y team" phenomenon? As much as it seemingly makes sense for fans, I don't see how it actively helps the rosters of the teams. Current example is Quintana makes infinite sense for the Cubs, yet that trade would almost certainly not happen.
Travis Sawchik
1:08
It might depend on how much ownership cares about the back pages of the local tabloids. I get the fear of trading in division, but no logical reason Chicago and New York teams can't make major deals when pieces fit. Fans will get over it if deal produces Ws
Matt
1:09
Regarding Quintana: At this point it seems inevitable that he won't be moved until the deadline, no? They want a package similar to Sale that other teams don't seem willing to pay. The immediacy and guaranteed relevancy at the deadline should make it easier for teams to swallow, right?
Travis Sawchik
1:09
White Sox are in a nice position where they don't have an immediate ticking clock thanks to his contract, so they can be patient and wait for the right deal to come along
EbenezerBatflip
1:10
Favorite Ohio beer brewery? Great Lakes? Rhinegeist?
Travis Sawchik
1:11
I know the Great Lakes lineup pretty well. I have a 12-pack of Dortmunder in house as we speak (I'm drinking Seltzer water at the moment, I promise)
Sonny
1:11
How excited should we be for Austin Meadows? Who does he most resemble on the Polanco/Marte/Cutch scale?
Travis Sawchik
1:12
Pretty excited ... if he can stay healthy. LHH athlete with plenty of projection left.
mike sixel
1:13
What would a payroll floor do? Make Oakland or TB pay bad players more money? Make bad teams sign 1 year FA contracts for HUGE money? How would that work, on a bad, or really young, team?
Travis Sawchik
1:14
Ask the Sixers? ... It would help baseball's middle-case of players. Players' share of revenue has fallen below, 50-50, I believe
Ryan S
1:14
Buxton had a brilliant September. The pedigree is still there. What's more likely: Another demotion or 20/20
Travis Sawchik
1:15
Buxton is one of the more interesting players to follow early in 2017. I want to believe. I'll say 20/20
powder
1:16
With the success of the KBO players' transitioning to MLB so far, and the more mixed (but larger sample) results of the Cuban league players, would you rank the leagues as equal in level or is one possibly a higher level of play?
Travis Sawchik
1:17
The KBO sample is still pretty small. ... But the KBO's stock is up
Jonathan
1:17
is there such thing as a drawback of analytics? for example, would analytics encourage teams to become more risk adverse?
Travis Sawchik
1:19
There are probably drawbacks in anything if you don't understand shortcomings of the tools, etc. But the good aspects outweigh the not-so-good
Jim
1:19
Are you a scout? What is your area of expertise? Thanks
Travis Sawchik
1:19
I am not a scout. Former newspaper man and lifelong baseball nerd
Ben
1:21
Hello Travis! Just saw that Hader is projected by ZIPS as the second most valuable pitcher for the Brewers and this just with 120 IP. What you expect from him both in 2017 and in the future?
Travis Sawchik
1:22
I do think he has a chance to be one of the Brewers' better arms. I love the ability he showed to miss bats in milb
Andrew
1:22
Do you think McCutchen can still play above-average defense in CF?
Travis Sawchik
1:23
I don't think so. He was last in baseball in DRS last season and it's a four-year decline
Burt
1:24
If you were in position to go back in time 90 days and handle the Rangers off-season, do you trade Darvish, Lucroy, Beltre, Jeffress & Dyson and deal with a bad 2017 & 2018 or keep them, trade Gallo for starting pitching for one last run and deal with a bad 2018-2021?
Travis Sawchik
1:25
I'm keeping that core for another run. Plus, it's not always easy to sell with teams placing a premium on pre-arb talent and prospects
Outta my way, Gyorkass
1:25
What do you realistically think it will take to allow some of the pitchers of Mussina/Schilling's caliber to make the HOF? Simply a "What the hell have we been thinking all this time?" revelation at year 15 on the ballot? Or, will it take structural voting rules changes?
Travis Sawchik
1:26
A larger ballot would help, but there probably should be new benchmarks in place for pitchers. Innings and total counting numbers are only going to continue to decline, I suspect. In Schilling's case, I'm not sure enough is made of his postseason success
Ronnie
1:27
How crazy was Keon Broxton's second half last year?
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